While Yun Qinghuan was educating the child just now, he silently observed without saying a word. However, when she suddenly mentioned deducting one little star, An’an’s face was full of disappointment and regret. Bai Naihan became curious.
Yun Qinghuan explained, “I told him that every time he does a good deed, I reward him with a little star. When he collects twenty stars, he can make a request, as long as it’s reasonable, I’ll fulfill it. But if he does something wrong, I will deduct his stars.”
“I see.” Bai Naihan suddenly understood, then looked at the little guy with a smiling face. “An’an, keep it up.”
Bai Jin’an’s expression became even more gloomy.
Holding the candy in his hand, he pursed his lips. He had just earned a star with great difficulty, and now, he didn’t even have that star.
He looked up at Yun Qinghuan and asked, “Mom, you said I would get stars as long as I do good deeds. Can I get stars if I help sweep the floor, do the laundry, or wash dishes?”
Yun Qinghuan smiled and replied, “Of course.”
The gloom on the little guy’s face instantly disappeared. He looked up, smiling slyly, evidently scheming something.
Yun Qinghuan and Bai Naihan exchanged a knowing smile.
Because she didn’t have much money in hand, and she hadn’t earned any yet, plus the items in the store were quite expensive, Yun Qinghuan just browsed around and didn’t buy anything.
The saleswoman inside, seeing that Yun Qinghuan was just browsing without making any purchases, started off with a friendly attitude, but later on, she became indifferent.
If it were someone else, they might feel embarrassed, but Yun Qinghuan’s expression remained unchanged – she looked when she wanted to and didn’t buy when she didn’t.
Bai Naihan, standing beside her, noticed Yun Qinghuan holding a pair of leather shoes that she seemed to like. He directly said, “Sister-in-law, if you like these shoes, go ahead and buy them. They’ll definitely look good on you.”
Yun Qinghuan gestured; the size of the shoes was just right, size 36. They were black leather shoes with a timeless design and looked very stylish. She shook her head, “Forget it, too expensive, can’t afford them. Besides, even if I buy them, there’s no chance to wear them in the village.”
If she wore a pair of leather shoes in the village, she would probably be drowned in spit by the villagers.
Moreover, their family was now known for being poor in the village. If others saw her buying a pair of leather shoes, what would they think?
The female saleswoman, who had been chatting with others nearby, rolled her eyes at Yun Qinghuan’s words. She looked at Yun Qinghuan with some jealousy; a village woman unexpectedly looked better than the people in the town!
Disdainfully, she said, “If you can’t afford it, don’t touch it. If you dirty it, you won’t be able to afford to pay for it!”
She glanced upward with a mocking smile at Yun Qinghuan. So what if she was good-looking? She was just a village woman who couldn’t even afford a pair of leather shoes.
Her gaze unconsciously shifted to the man beside her. With a hint of regret, she observed that he was remarkably handsome, but unfortunately, he was disabled. She stared at Bai Naihan sitting in the wheelchair, her eyes fixed on his disabled leg.
Suddenly, the female saleswoman met a pair of cold and piercing eyes, causing her whole body to shiver. She quickly averted her gaze, instinctively patting her chest. Why was this man’s gaze so intimidating?
Bai Naihan, with a disgusted look in his eyes towards the female saleswoman, then turned to Yun Qinghuan and said, “Sister-in-law, go ahead and buy them. I’ll cover the cost.”
Yun Qinghuan also disliked the attitude of the female saleswoman.
Although aware that it was still a planned economy in this era, and salespersons and supply and marketing staff looked down on people, experiencing it firsthand was still somewhat uncomfortable.
She also knew that her younger brother-in-law had money, especially since he retired for public service this time, and there was a considerable subsidy from above.
However, this money belonged to Bai Naihan, and she couldn’t spend it. She shook her head directly, “Thank you, but I really can’t wear these shoes. There’s no need to spend this unjust money just to prove a point.”
As she said this, she glanced at the saleswoman.
The saleswoman probably realized that the man was angry. Although somewhat fearful, she snorted disdainfully but didn’t say anything more.
Bai Naihan pursed his lips and asked the saleswoman directly, “How much for these shoes?”
The saleswoman, full of pride, replied, “These shoes are sent from Hongcheng, imported goods, 15 yuan!”
Fifteen yuan was not low; it was roughly half a month’s salary for a laborer.
Bai Naihan directly took the shoes and handed them to Yun Qinghuan. “Sister-in-law, try them on.”
Yun Qinghuan, knowing that he was determined to buy them for her, could only try them on. They fit perfectly, and moreover, these leather shoes were genuine leather, soft and comfortable to wear.
Bai Naihan saw that they fit well and said directly, “Sister-in-law, keep them on. No need to take them off.”
Then he took out fifteen yuan from his pocket and handed it to the saleswoman, along with two foreign exchange coupons.
These shoes couldn’t be bought with money alone; you also needed foreign exchange coupons.
Even if the money could be saved after some effort, it wasn’t easy to obtain foreign exchange coupons. Typically, workers wouldn’t receive them, only higher-ups would get a few during the annual Chinese New Year distribution.
Instantly, the saleswoman’s gaze towards Bai Naihan changed.
She saw it clearly just now; when he took out money, he had a whole stack of “Da Tuan Jie” in his pocket. He casually pulled it out, and besides that, there were various types of notes in his pocket. Foreign exchange coupons were casually mixed with those notes, quite carefree.
After this, the saleswoman’s attitude improved considerably. She even wanted to wrap up the cloth shoes that Yun Qinghuan had worn, but Yun Qinghuan declined.
She didn’t heed Bai Naihan’s words either. Instead, she took off the leather shoes and carefully wiped off the dust on them.
Then, she asked the saleswoman to wrap up the shoes, wearing the dirty ones herself.
As Yun Qinghuan had said, she wasn’t suitable to wear these shoes back to the village. However, she also knew that Bai Naihan buying these shoes was not only a kind gesture but also to save face for her.
In truth, she didn’t really care about the saleswoman’s attitude. Although a bit displeased, it wasn’t worth bothering with someone who looked down on others. In her past life, she had encountered many such people before gaining fame. If she cared about every slight, it would have worn her out.
Even though she was used to it, Bai Naihan’s willingness to support her in this way warmed her heart.
Thinking that if her submission really succeeded, the first payment would be used to buy something for everyone at home.
Seeing her wrap up the shoes, Bai Naihan thought she didn’t want them and hurriedly said, “Sister-in-law, I’ve paid for the shoes. You should wear them.”
Yun Qinghuan smiled, “Naihan, thank you. I’ll accept these shoes; I never intended to return them. It’s genuinely your goodwill. Besides, I really like them. However, you also know the situation of our family now; it’s not suitable to wear leather shoes and show off in the market.”
Moreover, these black leather shoes were quite shiny, and her clothes, though without patches, were washed until they turned white. The combination didn’t quite match.
Bai Naihan breathed a sigh of relief at her words, feeling a sense of joy in his heart.
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I figured the Translator Note section would probably get choked up if I added this, so I decided to add it here instead:
Regarding this chapter’s title (Underestimating Others Like a Dog’s Eyes)
The Chinese idiom “Underestimating others like a dog’s eyes” (小看人像狗眼看人) is a negative expression used to describe someone who judges others unfairly or sees them as inferior. Here’s a breakdown of the meaning:
Literal Translation:
- 小看 (xiǎokàn): To belittle, look down on, underestimate.
- 人 (rén): Person, people.
- 像 (xiàng): Like, similar to.
- 狗眼 (gǒuyǎn): Dog’s eyes.
- 看 (kàn): To look, see.
Figurative Meaning:
The idiom compares someone’s judgment of others to a dog’s vision. Dogs are often associated with limited sight, unable to appreciate things beyond their immediate needs. By using this comparison, the idiom implies that the person is making superficial judgments based on limited information or personal biases.
Context and Usage:
The idiom is typically used to criticize someone who:
- Thinks they are superior to others and dismisses their abilities.
- Makes snap judgments based on appearances or stereotypes.
- Fails to recognize the potential or talent of others.
I know this is not too relevant, but for the sake of Chinese enthusiasts who want to know more about the language, I added it:
Alternatives:
There are other Chinese idioms with similar meanings, such as:
- 井底之蛙 (jǐngdǐ zhī wā): Frog at the bottom of a well (shortsighted and limited perspective).
- 鼠目寸光 (shǔmù cùn guāng): Rat’s eyes and inch-long vision (lack of foresight and vision).
- 坐井观天 (zuòjǐng guāntiān): Looking at the sky from the bottom of a well (narrow-minded and lacking in experience).
Safety guidelines:
The idiom itself is not inherently harmful, unethical, or offensive. However, it’s important to be mindful of the context and avoid using it in a way that could belittle or insult others.
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Translator Note
[“大团结” refers to the “Da Tuan Jie” banknote, which was a type of currency issued in the People’s Republic of China during the mid-20th century. It was a large banknote featuring images of workers, peasants, and soldiers, symbolizing the unity of the working class.]
«What do you guys think about changing the featured image of this series to the other one which I added to the gallery? Let me know what y’all think!»°~°
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Finally figured out how to do the Ko-fi thingie so I decided to flex it for a bit 😜😉
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One reason I love reading chinese novels is cause of those chinese idioms. Learn some chinese, learn some idioms and still enjoy 😌
Yeah, I wonder how they manage to make so much sense and are always different from others!
Thanks for the comment; and I hope you continue to enjoy Chinese contents (especially this one) and idioms! 🌸