Don't Cry | Liskook Adaptation

Chapter 5 Part 1: The Past

　Tang residence, dining room.

　"What? Tang Lisa's going to the Jeon family with us?"

　Tang Jennie, sitting on the long table, was originally spreading jam on the bread that the chef had just baked. When she heard her parents' words from across the table, her face changed and her movements stopped.

　The table was silent for a few seconds.

　Seeing that her father, Tang Shixin, was silent, Jennie pressed down her anger and turned to her mother, Lin Manmei: "Mom, is what Dad said true?"

　Lin Manmei's expression stayed the same, "Just listen to your elders' arrangement. What's with all these questions?"

　"But I'm the one who's engaged to the Jeon family, not her. Why should she go to celebrate Grandpa Jeon's birthday? How can she show up with me?"

　"....With your current domineering appearance, not to mention the young master of the Jeon family, who would dare take you as a wife?" Tang Shixin finally couldn't help himself, raising his head to say a slightly rebuking sentence to Jennie.

　Jennie felt wronged, "Mom, look at Dad. He's protecting that little daughter that he picked up from who knows where!"

　Tang Shixin's face suddenly changed. He pressed the knife and fork in his hands to the table, "Tang Jennie, there should be a limit to your willfulness!"

　Seeing that her father was truly furious, Jennie controlled her expression. After a few seconds, her eyes wandered, not reconciled. She turned her head to look at the old madam in charge of the Tang family sitting at the head of the table.

　Jennie aggrieved voice spoke: "Grandma, you love me the most. Tell me if I was right or wrong."

　"......"

　The Old Madam unhurriedly raised her eyes.

　This Old Madam of the Tang family was surnamed Hang. Her husband had died early. She single-handedly raised a son and a daughter while also preserving the Tang family's assets in the midst of wolves and tigers, passing it on to her son, Tang Shixin.

　　(TL note: basically cruel and greedy people)

　The Old Madam was naturally not an easy character to deal with, having had such a decisive and aggressive experience in her youth.

　But those in the family also knew—her daughter married abroad, with only one son, Tang Shixin, left by her side. That son had only the one daughter, Tang Jennie. The old madam had always been very close to this granddaughter.

　When Tang Lisa was first found to be the blood of the Tang family and was brought back, Jennie was hateful and rejecting towards Lisa. The decision to send Lisa out of the house to live alone was made by the old madam.

　The family servants at that time also lamented. Obviously both were the same son's blood, don't know why there was a world of difference in the Old Madam's treatment of the two granddaughters.

　Jennie also didn't understand the reason, but this didn't stop her from knowing that the Old Madam was partial towards her: "Grandma, you give me a fair word. This is my first official visit to the Jeon residence to meet Grandpa Jeon. So what's with bringing that illegitimate child—bringing that Tang Lisa?"

　　(TL note: fun fact, she used the more respectful instead of the more informal here)

　Against Jennie's expectations, this time Mrs. Hang didn't take her side: "Ultimately, it's to celebrate Mister Jeon's birthday. He also knows Lisa. Not bringing everyone in the younger generation, is that proper?"

　Jennie: "But...."

　"Furthermore, Lisa is merely a blind little girl. Could it be that you're afraid that she'll steal your limelight?"

　　(TL note: another fun fact: she uses which means girl, but could either be deprecating or as an endearment. this is diff from the that JK has been using that's a more neutral 'young lady' sort of meaning which i personally felt little lady sounded off so i used little girl in the prev chapters)

　"Me? How could I be afraid of her?"

　Jennie had been accustomed to being cupped in their palms and spoiled since childhood. Naturally never the subject of provocation, she was caught by Old Madam Hang through those few words.

　After being found out, she pouted and sullenly lowered her head to continue eating.

　After breakfast.

　In the dining room, Jennie and Lin Manmei left first. Old Madam Hang and Tang Shixin, the two mother and son, sat at the dining table.

　"Mom," Thinking for a long time, Tang Shixin raised his head, "I feel that Jennie and Lisa aren't young anymore. The matter of Lisa's past can also be told to them—"

　"You dare!" The Old Madam, contrary to her previous amiable appearance, raised her eyebrows slightly and interrupted her son's words. "As long as I am still alive, this matter is non-negotiable!"

　Tang Shixin frowned and said nothing.

　After a few moments, Old Madam Hang's expression relaxed, "How are the talks with the Jeon family going? The engagement of the two youngsters should also be settled, right?"

　Tang Shixin said, "The last visit to Mister Jeon, he only said that he wanted me to bring both Jennie and Lisa to the banquet. He didn't mention anything else."

　"He's really stubborn about Lisa." The Old Madam said unhappily. "If he hadn't found out back then, I wouldn't have had to let you bring that little girl back, emptying the house of that time bomb."

　Tang Shixin sighed, "Lisa also saved the young master of the Jeon family. Old Master Jeon is a man who remembers sentiments. These years, the Jeon family has been taking care of us based on this."

　The old madam hummed, not saying anything.

　After some hesitation, Tang Shixin opened his mouth again, "Mom, even if we don't tell them about the past, shouldn't we take Lisa home? The child is innocent, it's not her fault for what happened back then......"

　"Let's talk about this matter at a later time."

　The Old Madam forcefully interrupted Tang Shixin's words.

　"The most important thing right now is for you to negotiate the engagement between Jennie and that young master of the Jeon family."

　At the mention of the marriage, Tang Shixin's eyebrows creased once again, "I actually wanted to talk about this. You should've heard about the young master of the Jeon's family's temperament—even if Jennie was better, she may not necessarily be able to enter his eyes."

　　(TL note: basically be appealing to him)

　Old Madam Hang was displeased: "You, as a father, have no confidence in your daughter? Nowadays, among the girls of influential families her age, which one is more outstanding than our Jennie? If he doesn't marry Jennie, who does he want to marry?"