BlindBanana

I am a simple banana. I see Chinese characters, I go blind. No comprehension; Head empty.

[thebananatroll]

Hello! Just wanted to say that your translations have bever been paifnul to read. In fact, they were very smooth and easy to read for me before the jp version!

And yay to the Global release! Let's hope it lives a long life :>

Thank you so much~!! I'm glad it wasn't too painful LMAO and that it was helpful~

Hope everyone will have fun in the English release!! <3 <3 <3

[thebananatroll]

I am happy to announce!

The Tale Of Food is now out in ENGLISH! It's been out since 5th April! There's no need to translate or painfully endure my translations anymore! An official English version is out on GooglePlay! Go go go go!!!

[thebananatroll]

Hi I'm from your YouTube and I want to say thank you for the translations! I love the tale of food and I enjoy watching your videos!💕

Aw thank you so much~!! I'm glad you like the translations!

[thebananatroll]

Chapter 4, part 14 (End) 十四 . 日后谈。 . 四 Shísì. Rìhòu tán. 14 . Chit-chat some time in the future . Four

[冰糖葫芦] 哇--! Wa--! Wow—!

[冰糖葫芦] 这里是乐园吗! Zhèlǐ shì lèyuán ma! Is this paradise?

[东坡肉] 东坡先生啊, 我来到了真正的桃花源!-- Mister Dong Po, I’ve finally reached the real Peach Blossom Spring!-- ((The Peach Blossom Spring was a fable written by Tao Yuanming in 421 CE about a chance discovery of an ethereal utopia where the people lead an ideal existence in harmony with nature, unaware of the outside world for centuries.))

[西湖醋鱼] 喂喂喂你们两个, 别跟乡里人进城似的, 丢人。 Wèi wèi wèi nǐmen liǎng gè, bié gēn xiānglǐ rén jìn chéng shì de, diūrén. Hey, hey, hey both of you, don’t act like country bumpkins entering the city, shameful.

[Player] 哈哈哈, 鱼叔, 你就随他们高兴好了。 Hāhā hā, yú shū, nǐ jiù suí tāmen gāoxìng hǎole. Hahaha, Uncle Yu, just let them be happy.

[虾饺] 锵锵~又有新的贵宾来听虾饺唱歌了吗~ Qiāng qiāng ~yòu yǒu xīn de guìbīn lái tīng xiā jiǎo chànggēle ma ~ Qiang qiang~ Are there new distinguished guests coming to hear Har Gow sing~?

[虾饺] 咦? 少主? 是你回来啦! Yí? Shǎo zhǔ? Shì nǐ huílái la! Eh? Shao Zhu? You have returned!

[冰糖葫芦] 呀! 你是住在这里的神仙姐姐吗? Ya! Nǐ shì zhù zài zhèlǐ de shénxiān jiějiě ma? Ah! Are you a celestial immortal sister who lives here?

[冰糖葫芦] 我也想和漂亮的小姐姐做朋友! 神仙姐姐, 要不要和冰糖葫芦一块儿L玩呀? Wǒ yě xiǎng hé piàoliang de xiǎo jiějiě zuò péngyǒu! Shénxiān jiějiě, yào bùyào hé bīngtánghúlu yīkuài er L wán ya? I also want to be friends with the pretty young sister! Celestial immortal sister, do you want to play together with Bing Tang Hu Lu?

[虾饺] 神仙姐姐? 哈哈哈~ 少主这次带回来的食魂可真有意思呀~ Shénxiān jiějiě? Hāhā hā ~ shǎo zhǔ zhè cì dài huílái de shí hún kě zhēn yǒuyìsi ya ~ Celestial Immortal sister? Hahaha~ The Food Soul Shao Zhu brought back this time is truly interesting~

[虾饺] 小葫芦你听好了, 我是漂亮的小哥哥~ 会唱歌的小哥哥! 来, 我带你去空桑四处逛逛吧~ Xiǎo húlu nǐ tīng hǎole, wǒ shì piàoliang de xiǎo gēgē ~ huì chànggē de xiǎo gēgē! Lái, wǒ dài nǐ qù kōng sāng sìchù guàng guàng ba ~ Little Hu Lu, listen well, I am a pretty young brother~ A young brother who can sing! Come, how about I take you on a stroll all over Kong Sang~

[冰糖葫芦] 哇, 太好啦! 我听说这里有好多玩具, 好多庙会, 还有、还有… Wa, tài hǎo la! Wǒ tīng shuō zhè li yǒu hǎoduō wánjù, hǎoduō miàohuì, hái yǒu, hái yǒu… Wow, that’s wonderful! I heard this place has a lot of toys, a lot of temple fairs, and also ,and also…..

[Narration] 冰糖葫芦牵住虾饺的手, 一会儿朝这瞅瞅, 一会儿朝那望望, 两人一溜烟跑出了餐馆..... Bīngtánghúlu qiān zhù xiā jiǎo de shǒu, yīhuǐ'er cháo zhè chǒu chǒu, yīhuǐ'er cháo nà wàng wàng, liǎng rén yīliūyān pǎo chūle cānguǎn..... Bing Tang Hu Lu holds onto Har Gow’s hand, looking over here for a bit, looking over there for a bit, before the both of them run out of the restaurant in an instant….

[东坡肉] 哈哈! 这两个小娃娃! Hāhā! Zhè liǎng gè xiǎo wáwá! Haha! These two little babies!

[东坡肉] 咦等等……我闻到了酒的香味… 好像是从后厨传来的....我得去看看… Yí děng děng……wǒ wén dàole jiǔ de xiāngwèi… hǎoxiàng shì cóng hòu chú chuán lái de.... Wǒ dé qù kàn kàn… Eh wait…I smelled the fragrance of alcohol… It seems to be coming from the back kitchen…I must go take a look…

[西湖醋鱼] 一个二个都是小娃娃, 没出息。 Yīgè èr gè dōu shì xiǎo wáwá, méi chūxī. Each and every one of them are babies, good for nothings.

[???] 噢? 你说谁是小娃娃没出息? Ō? Nǐ shuō shéi shì xiǎo wáwá méi chūxī? Oh? Who are you calling ‘good for nothing babies’?

[Narration] 西湖醋鱼看见来人, 突然双腿一软, 向后跌去, 幸得他勉强扶住了桌子-- Xīhú cù yú kànjiàn lái rén, túrán shuāng tuǐ yī ruǎn, xiàng hòu diē qù, xìng dé tā miǎnqiáng fú zhùle zhuōzi— When Xi Hu Cu Yu sees the person who came in, his legs suddenly becomes weak, tumbling backwards, but luckily he barely supported himself with a table—

[熙颜] 西湖醋鱼, 好久不见。 Xīhú cù yú, hǎojiǔ bùjiàn. Xi Hu Cu Yu, long time no see.

[西湖醋鱼] 你、你… Nǐ, nǐ… You, you….

[熙颜] 你怎么了? 是不是饿了? 要不要给你做点吃的? Nǐ zěnmeliǎo? Shì bùshì èle? Yào bùyào gěi nǐ zuò diǎn chī de? Are you alright? Are you hungry? Should I make something for you to eat?

[西湖醋鱼] 不……不必。 Bù……bùbì. No….No need.

[西湖醋鱼] [Player], 我先走了, 有缘再会.... [Player], wǒ xiān zǒule, yǒuyuán zàihuì.... [Player], I’m going first, see you around…

[Player] 鱼叔你去那里! 那是厨房… Yú shū nǐ qù nàlǐ! Nà shì chúfáng… Uncle Yu, where are you going! That’s the kitchen….

[东坡肉] 你怎么进来了? 我不是在偷酒喝, 我是在品鉴这空桑的酒行不行-- Nǐ zěnme jìnláile? Wǒ bùshì zài tōu jiǔ hē, wǒ shì zài pǐn jiàn zhè kōng sāng de jiǔ xíng bùxíng— Why did you come in? I’m not stealing wine to drink, I’m evaluating if Kong Sang’s wine is any good—

[东坡肉] 哎你怎么倒地上了? Āi nǐ zěnme dǎo dìshàngle? Hey, why did you fall onto the ground?

[Player] ……….

[Narration] 走进房间, 看见鹄羹正凭窗远望, 眼神中似是藏有心事… Zǒu jìn fángjiān, kànjiàn gǔ gēng zhèng píng chuāng yuǎn wàng, yǎnshén zhōng sì shì cáng yǒu xīnshì… Walking into the room, I see Hu Geng looking out into the distance through the window, having this look in his eyes like there’s something on his mind…

[Player] 鹄羹?

[鹄羹] ……!

[鹄羹] 少主, 你怎么到我这里来啦? 若是有什么吩咐, 派纸鸢过来传话便是。 Shǎo zhǔ, nǐ zěnme dào wǒ zhèlǐ lái la? Ruòshì yǒu shé me fēnfù, pài zhǐyuān guòlái chuánhuà biàn shì. Shao Zhu, why did you come find me all the way here? If you have any orders, you can send a kite over to deliver the message.

[Player] 鹄羹, 你自广州回来以后, 便开始变得沉默寡言… Gǔ gēng, nǐ zì guǎngzhōu huílái yǐhòu, biàn kāishǐ biàn dé chénmòguǎyán… Hu Geng, ever since you came back from Guangzhou, you’ve become taciturn….

[Player] 此次西湖之行, 你也似乎藏有心事… Cǐ cì xīhú zhī xíng, nǐ yě sìhū cáng yǒu xīnshì… This time, the trip to West Lake, you also seem to have something on your mind….

[鹄羹] 许是入秋了, 我也难免伤春悲秋了起来.... 抱歉, 少主, 让你担心了… Xǔ shì rù qiūle, wǒ yě nánmiǎn shāng chūn bēi qiūle qǐlái.... Bàoqiàn, shǎo zhǔ, ràng nǐ dānxīnle… Perhaps it’s the coming of autumn, I too can’t help but feel sentimental for the changes of seasons and scenery…. Apologies, Shao Zhu, I’ve made you worry…

[Player] 我只是担心你… Wǒ zhǐshì dānxīn nǐ… I’m just worried about you…

[Player] 自你答应帮助我重建空桑以来已有些日子了.… Zì nǐ dāyìng bāngzhù wǒ chóngjiàn kōng sāng yǐlái yǐ yǒuxiē rìzile.… It’s already been a few days since you promised to help me rebuild Kong Sang….

[Player] 但我只知你名叫鹄羹, 是父亲所创菜肴化灵而来的食魂…. Dàn wǒ zhǐ zhī nǐ míng jiào gǔ gēng, shì fùqīn suǒ chuàng càiyáo huà líng ér lái de shí hún…. But all I know is that your name is Hu Geng, and that you’re a Food Soul that materialised from a dish created by my father…

[Player] 除此以外, 我对你一无所知。当然! 我不是强迫你向我坦诚, 我知道适当的时机,、足够长的相处时间, 我终会知道更多有关于鹄羹你的事情.... Chú cǐ yǐwài, wǒ duì nǐ yī wú suǒ zhī. Dāngrán! Wǒ bùshì qiǎngpò nǐ xiàng wǒ tǎnchéng, wǒ zhīdào shìdàng de shíjī,, zúgòu zhǎng de xiāngchǔ shíjiān, wǒ zhōng huì zhīdào gèng duō yǒu guānyú gǔ gēng nǐ de shìqíng.... Other than that, I don’t know anything about you at all. Naturally! I’m not forcing you to be open with me, I know when the time is right, after spending enough time together, I’ll eventually know more about Hu Geng and your matters.

[Player] 若是有什么我可以帮助你的地方, 请你一定要告诉我! Ruòshì yǒu shé me wǒ kěyǐ bāngzhù nǐ dì dìfāng, qǐng nǐ yīdìng yào gàosù wǒ! If there is anything I can do to help you, please, you must tell me!

[Player] 这也是为了报答你在我几近绝望的时候将我拉出深渊的恩! Zhè yěshì wèile bàodá nǐ zài wǒ jī jìn juéwàng de shíhòu jiāng wǒ lā chū shēnyuān de ēn! This is also in order to repay you the favour of pulling me out of the abyss when I was on the brink of despair!

[鹄羹] 谢谢... Xièxiè… Thank you….

[thebananatroll]

Chapter 4, part 13 十三 . 为民请命 Shísān. Wèi mín qǐngmìng 13 . Plea for the people

[宋嫂] 鱼叔! 不要签--! Yú shū! Bùyào qiān--! Uncle Yu! Do not sign—!

[Narration] 宋嫂在东坡肉的护送下从林中走了出来… Sòng sǎo zài dōng pō ròu de hùsòng xià cóng lín zhōng zǒule chūlái… Sister Song walks out of the forest under the escort of Dong Po Rou…

[西湖醋鱼] 你脱身了…!? Nǐ tuōshēnle…!? You escaped…!?

[Player] 鱼叔, 这易牙是我空桑仇敌, 每每随在身后阻挠我寻回亲人。 Yú shū, zhè yì yá shì wǒ kōng sāng chóudí, měiměi suí zài shēnhòu zǔnáo wǒ xún huí qīnrén. Uncle Yu, this Yi Ya is the enemy of my Kong Sang, always following behind me to get in my way of finding back my relatives.

[Player] 我猜测宋嫂很有可能已被易牙挟持作了人质。 所以我私下让东坡藏在暗处营救宋嫂, 而我们则在明处吸引易牙的注意力。 Wǒ cāicè sòng sǎo hěn yǒu kěnéng yǐ bèi yì yá xiéchí zuòle rénzhì. Suǒyǐ wǒ sīxià ràng dōng pō cáng zài àn chù yíngjiù sòng sǎo, ér wǒmen zé zài míngchù xīyǐn yì yá de zhùyì lì. I had guessed that sister Song was most likely taken away by Yi Ya to be used as a hostage. That’s why I secretly had Dong Po hide in the dark to rescue sister Song, while we attract Yi Ya’s attention in the open.

[东坡肉] [Player]的这个主意实在是好! 我在林子里找到被食魇挟持的宋嫂, 三拳两腿就把那些食魇全打趴在地了! [Player] de zhège zhǔyì shízài shì hǎo! Wǒ zài línzi lǐ zhǎodào bèi shí yǎn xiéchí de sòng sǎo, sān quán liǎng tuǐ jiù bǎ nàxiē shí yǎn quán dǎ pā zài dì le! This plan of [Player] is actually pretty good! I went into the woods to find sister Song who had been kidnapped by the Food Nightmares, with three punches and two kicks, I had all those Food Nightmares beaten to the ground!

[Player] 抱歉, 鱼叔, 一直瞒着你。 因为易牙此人十分精明, 若事先将计划告诉你, 我担心你的演技... Bàoqiàn, yú shū, yīzhí mánzhe nǐ. Yīnwèi yì yá cǐ rén shífēn jīngmíng, ruò shìxiān jiāng jìhuà gàosù nǐ, wǒ dānxīn nǐ de yǎnjì… Sorry, Uncle Yu, I’ve been keeping you in the dark. It’s because Yi Ya is an extremely shrewd person, if I had told you my plans in advance, I would worry about your acting skills….

[西湖醋鱼] 那你刚才对我说的话… Nà nǐ gāngcái duì wǒ shuō dehuà… Then what you said to me just now…

[Player] 那、那自然是真心实意的了! 鱼叔, 你是我最重要的亲人之一, 不管情况有多糟糕, 我都不会放弃任何一位亲人! Nà, nà zìrán shì zhēnxīn shíyì dele! Yú shū, nǐ shì wǒ zuì zhòngyào de qīnrén zhī yī, bùguǎn qíngkuàng yǒu duō zāogāo, wǒ dū bù huì fàngqì rènhé yī wèi qīnrén! That, that was naturally genuine and sincere! Uncle Yu, you are one of my most important relatives, no matter how terrible the situation is, I will never give up any one of my relatives!

[易牙] 可恶! [Player]你、你实在是-- Kěwù! [Player] nǐ, nǐ shízài shì— Damn it! [Player], you, you are truly—

[易牙] 你这么做, 根本就不符合, 主角人设啊!! Nǐ zhème zuò, gēnběn jiù bù fúhé, zhǔjiǎo rén shè a!! You doing this, is absolutely not in line with, the role of the main lead!

[Player] 阿, 易牙, 你的愚昧, 贪婪, 狂妄, 倒是十分符合“反派”人设了! Ā, yì yá, nǐ de yúmèi, tānlán, kuángwàng, dǎoshì shífēn fúhé “fǎnpài” rén shèle! Ah, Yi Ya, your ignorance, greed, and arrogance, are totally in line with the role of a “Villain”!

[Player] 不要妄想事情全都如你所愿。 易牙, 你所选择的对手绝不如你想象中那般好对付! Bùyào wàngxiǎng shìqíng quándōu rú nǐ suǒ yuàn. Yì yá, nǐ suǒ xuǎnzé de duìshǒu jué bùrú nǐ xiǎngxiàng zhōng nà bān hǎo duìfù! Don’t assume everything will go your way just because you want it to! Yi Ya, the opponent you have chosen is by no means the type that you thought was easy to deal with!

[易牙] 你什么都不明白, [Player]。 Nǐ shénme dōu bù míngbái, [Player]. You don’t understand anything, [Player]

[易牙] 空桑少主, 好戏…还在后头… Kōng sāng shǎo zhǔ, hǎo xì…hái zài hòutou… Kōng sāng shǎo zhǔ, hǎo xì…hái zài hòutou… Kong Sang Shao Zhu, a good show…has yet to come….

[Narration] 易牙轻蔑一笑, 身影消逝在林中…. Yi Ya smiles with disdain, his figure fading into the forest…

[Narration] 不日, 宋弟将赵恶霸抓获, 经过一番盘查, 挖出当年赵恶霸做过的种种恶劣行径, 还将他背后的势力连根拔起! Bù rì, sòng dì jiāng zhào èbà zhuāhuò, jīngguò yī fān pánchá, wā chū dāngnián zhào èbà zuòguò de zhǒngzhǒng èliè xíngjìng, hái jiāng tā bèihòu de shìlì liángēnbá qǐ! In the next few days, Younger brother Song would arrest Tyrant Zhao, go through a round of interrogation, dig out all sorts of Tyrant Zhao’s despicable conducts over the past few years, and even uproot his powerful backer!

[Narration] 当地百姓得知赵恶霸和那些贪官污吏得到了惩治, 无不拍手称快。 Dāngdì bǎixìng dé zhī zhào èbà hé nàxiē tānguān wū lì dédàole chéngzhì, wúbù pāishǒu chēngkuài. When the common people had learned that Tyrant Zhao and the corrupt officials had received their punishment, everyone without exception applauded and cheered.

[宋嫂] 各位大侠, 这么多年来无以为报, 只能-- Gèwèi dà xiá, zhème duōnián lái wú yǐwéi bào, zhǐ néng— Heroes, after so many years I had been unable to return the favour, I can only—

[Player] 宋嫂! 不要这样, 你快起来! Sòng sǎo! Bùyào zhèyàng, nǐ kuài qǐlái! Sister Song! Don’t be like this, quickly get up!

[Player] 立即将宋嫂和宋弟二人扶起..... Lìjí jiāng sòng sǎo hé sòng dì èr rén fú qǐ..... I immediately help to raise both Sister Song and Younger Brother Song…

[Player] 如今大仇已报, 今后你们二人有何打算? Rújīn dà chóu yǐ bào, jīnhòu nǐmen èr rén yǒu hé dǎsuàn? Now that the huge enmity has been avenged, what do the two of you plan to do from now on?

[宋弟] 官场黑暗....若不是为了报哥哥的仇, 我并不想当官…. Guānchǎng hēi'àn.... Ruò bùshì wèile bào gēgē de chóu, wǒ bìng bùxiǎng dāng guān…. Officialdom is dark….If it wasn’t for the sake of avenging my brother, I would have never thought of becoming an official…

[Player] 我倒认为, 你该继续当这个官, 为民请命。 若再回归渔夫身份, 那么将来百姓再有祸事, 谁又来替他们主持公道? Wǒ dào rènwéi, nǐ gāi jìxù dāng zhège guān, wèi mín qǐngmìng. Ruò zài huíguī yúfū shēnfèn, nàme jiānglái bǎixìng zài yǒu huòshì, shéi yòu lái tì tāmen zhǔchí gōngdào? In my opinion, you should continue being an official, to plead on behalf of the common people. If you were to go back to being a fisherman, and disaster were to befall on the common people once more, who would do justice for them?

[Player] 还记得当年那碗西湖醋鱼吗? Hái jìdé dàng nián nà wǎn xīhú cù yú ma? Do you still remember that bowl of West Lake Fish with Vinegar Gravy from back then?

[宋嫂] 他日若有甜.... Tā rì ruò yǒu tián.... If other days could be sweet…

[宋弟] 定不会忘记百姓辛酸! 你说的对! 是我糊涂了! Dìng bù huì wàngjì bǎixìng xīnsuān! Nǐ shuō de duì! Shì wǒ hútúle! I definitely won’t forget the common people’s bitterness! What you say is right! It was me who was confused!

[Player] 鱼叔, 准备启程了。你....还有什么要对宋嫂说吗? Yú shū, zhǔnbèi qǐchéngle. Nǐ.... Hái yǒu shé me yào duì sòng sǎo shuō ma? Uncle Yu, we’re ready to set off. You….have anything to say to Sister Song?

[西湖醋鱼] .......保重。 ....... Bǎozhòng. ………Take care.

[Narration] 结草衔环, 至死不忘。 西湖醋鱼想必有满腹担忧与不舍, 却只能欲言又止。 Jié cǎo xián huán, zhì sǐ bù wàng. Xīhú cù yú xiǎngbì yǒu mǎnfù dānyōu yǔ bù shě, què zhǐ néng yù yán yòu zhǐ. Expressing gratitude to one's benefactor, never to be forgotten until death. Xi Hu Cu Yu ought to be filled with worry and reluctance to part, but could only hold back the words he wanted to say.

[宋嫂] 这一路来, 实在不容易…有你们陪伴, 就如同酸中带甜。 所以今日, 我烧了些西湖醋鱼, 来与各位送行! Zhè yīlù lái, shízài bù róngyì…yǒu nǐmen péibàn, jiù rútóng suān zhòng dài tián. Suǒyǐ jīnrì, wǒ shāole xiē xīhú cù yú, lái yǔ gèwèi sòngxíng! Coming all this way and reaching to this point, it hasn’t been easy….Having all of you for company, it is like sweetness being brought from among the sourness. That’s why today, I’ve cooked some West Lake Fish with Vinegar Sauce, as a send-off for all of you!

[东坡肉] 送行宴怎么能没有东坡肉和酒呢! 来来来! 让我大显身手! Sòngxíng yàn zěnme néng méiyǒu dōng pō ròu hé jiǔ ne! Lái lái lái! Ràng wǒ dàxiǎnshēnshǒu! How could a farewell banquet be without DongPo Rou((the dish)) and wine! Come, come, come! Let me show you what I can do!

[冰糖葫芦] 我的冰糖葫芦可以当饭后甜点! Wǒ de bīngtánghúlu kěyǐ dāng fàn hòu tiándiǎn! My candied hawthorns can be used as after meal desserts!

[Narration 此番送行宴后, 众人再无遗憾… Cǐ fān sòngxíng yàn hòu, zhòngrén zài wú yíhàn… After the farewell banquet, everyone has no regrets…

[thebananatroll]

Chapter 4, part 12 十二 . 千钧一发 Shí'èr. Qiānjūnyīfà 12 . A thousand pounds hanging by a thread

[西湖醋鱼] [Player]! 东坡兄, 鹄羹兄弟! 你们有谁见过宋嫂吗? [Player]! Dōng pō xiōng, gǔ gēng xiōngdì! Nǐmen yǒu shéi jiànguò sòng sǎo ma? [Player]! Brother Dong Po, Brother Hu Geng! Has any one of you seen Sister Song?

[Player] 没有见过....怎么了? Méiyǒu jiànguò.... Zěnmeliǎo? No…Why?

[东坡肉] 我们正准备去找宋大人商量对策呢! 怎么, 宋嫂不在宋大人那儿吗? Wǒmen zhèng zhǔnbèi qù zhǎo sòng dàrén shāngliáng duìcè ne! Zěnme, sòng sǎo bùzài sòng dàrén nà'er ma? We’re getting ready to go find Lord Song to discuss the countermeasures! What, is Sister Song not with Lord Song?

[西湖醋鱼] 正是宋大人四处寻不到宋嫂, 才找到我这里来。 Zhèng shì sòng dàrén sìchù xún bù dào sòng sǎo, cái zhǎodào wǒ zhèlǐ lái. It’s because Lord Song couldn’t find Sister Song anywhere that he came here to find me.

[西湖醋鱼] 我去宋嫂屋里看过, 桌上仍放着泡好的茶, 但茶水已经凉了。 灯还亮着, 不过灯油快耗尽了..... Wǒ qù sòng sǎo wū li kànguò, zhuō shàng réng fàngzhe pào hǎo de chá, dàn cháshuǐ yǐjīng liángle. Dēng hái liàngzhe, bùguò dēngyóu kuài hào jìn le.... I went to Sister Song’s house to look, there was still brewed tea left on the table, but the tea was already cold. The lamp was still bright, but the lamp oil was running out….

[Player] 这么说来.... 似是昨夜临时去了什么地方, 到今晨仍未归来? Zhème shuō lái.... Sì shì zuóyè línshí qùle shénme dìfāng, dào jīn chén réng wèi guīlái? Saying it like that…. It seems like she had gone somewhere yesterday night, and has yet to return until now?

[鹄羹] .....

[Player] 鹄羹你是不是想说什么? Gǔ gēng nǐ shì bùshì xiǎng shuō shénme? Hu Geng, do you want to say something?

[鹄羹] 昨夜巡视的时候, 我确实看到宋嫂一个人走出了屋子… Zuóyè xúnshì de shíhòu, wǒ quèshí kàn dào sòng sǎo yīgè rén zǒuchūle wūzi… During last night’s patrol, I did see sister Song leaving her house alone…

[鹄羹] 但我当时并未多想, 所以…… 对不起! 少主, 全都是鹄羹的过失! Dàn wǒ dāngshí bìng wèi duō xiǎng, suǒyǐ…… duìbùqǐ! Shǎo zhǔ, quándōu shì gǔ gēng de guòshī! But I didn’t think much about it at the time, that’s why….. Apologies! Shao Zhu, this is all Hu Geng’s fault!

[Player] 这不是你的错, 鹄羹你不要太过自责。我们分头找吧, 希望宋嫂平安无事..... Zhè bùshì nǐ de cuò, gǔ gēng nǐ bùyào tàiguò zì zé. Wǒmen fēntóu zhǎo ba, xīwàng sòng sǎo píng'ān wú shì..... This isn’t your fault, Hu Geng, don’t blame yourself excessively. Let us split up and search, I hope sister Song is safe and sound….

[Player] 鹄羹, 你从上空搜寻。东坡, 你沿湖探查。 小葫芦, 集市你最熟悉了, 那就麻烦你到集市里找找宋嫂咯? Gǔ gēng, nǐ cóng shàngkōng sōuxún. Dōng pō, nǐ yán hú tànchá. Xiǎo húlu, jí shì nǐ zuì shúxīle, nà jiù máfan nǐ dào jí shì lǐ zhǎo zhǎo sòng sǎo gē? Hu Geng, you search from the skies. Dong Po, you search along the lake, Xiao Hu Lu, you’re most familiar with the market, can I trouble you to search for sister Song in the market?

[冰糖葫芦] 就交给小葫芦吧! Jiù jiāo gěi xiǎo húlu ba! Leave it to Xiao Hu Lu!

[西湖醋鱼] 那我.... Nà wǒ.... Then I’ll…..

[Player] 我跟你一起去通知宋弟, 然后搜寻一下附近的树林。 Wǒ gēn nǐ yīqǐ qù tōngzhī sòng dì, ránhòu sōuxún yīxià fùjìn de shùlín. I’ll go with you to inform Younger Brother Song, after that we’ll search the nearby woods.

[西湖醋鱼] 好! 这就出发! Hǎo! Zhè jiù chūfā! Alright! Then let’s go!

[Narration] 我跟在西湖醋鱼身后走在湖边的树林中, 他的步调很急, 就算没有看到他脸上的表情, 我也能感觉到他的关切…… Wǒ gēn zài xīhú cù yú shēnhòu zǒu zài hú biān de shùlín zhōng, tā de bùdiào hěn jí, jiùsuàn méiyǒu kàn dào tā liǎn shàng de biǎoqíng, wǒ yě néng gǎnjué dào tā de guānqiè…… I follow behind Xi Hu Cu Yu as we walk inside the lake’s forest, his pace is anxious, although I can’t see the expression on his face, I can still feel his concern….

[西湖醋鱼] ........

[Player] 鱼叔, 别着急。这么多人帮忙找宋嫂, 一定能够找到的。 Yú shū, bié zhāojí. Zhème duō rén bāngmáng zhǎo sòng sǎo, yīdìng nénggòu zhǎodào de. Uncle Yu, don’t worry. With so many people helping to find sister Song, we’ll definitely find her.

[西湖醋鱼] 宋嫂吉人自有天相, 我相信她没事.... Sòng sǎo jí rén zì yǒu tiān xiàng, wǒ xiāngxìn tā méishì.... Heavens will protect good people like sister Song, I believe that she is fine…

((吉人自有天相 jí rén zì yǒu tiān xiàng Heaven helps the worthy (idiom)))

[西湖醋鱼] 慢着, [Player], 先别动-- Mànzhe, [Player], xiān bié dòng— Hold on, [Player], don’t move—

[Player] 怎么了? Zěnmeliǎo? What’s wrong?

[西湖醋鱼] 树林....起雾了... Shùlín.... Qǐ wùle… The woods….has become foggy….

[Narration] 这片树林本就人烟稀少, 四下十分安静, 偶然的虫鸣也显得格外突兀… Zhè piàn shùlín běn jiù rényānxīshǎo, sì xià shífēn ānjìng, ǒurán de chóng míng yě xiǎndé géwài túwù… This forest is originally a sparsely populated place, it would be quiet everywhere, even the occasional sound of insects can seem particularly abrupt…

[???] 想要找宋嫂, 你怎么不来问问我? Xiǎng yào zhǎo sòng sǎo, nǐ zěnme bù lái wèn wèn wǒ? If you want to find sister Song, then why don’t you come and ask me?

[Player] .......果然。 ....... Guǒrán. …….As expected.

[易牙] 西湖醋鱼, 只要你愿意跟我签订契约, 宋嫂 , 双手奉还! Xīhú cù yú, zhǐyào nǐ yuànyì gēn wǒ qiāndìng qìyuē, sòng sǎo, shuāngshǒu fènghuán! Xi Hu Cu Yu, as long as you’re willing to sign a contract with me, sister Song, I’ll return her with both my hands!

[西湖醋鱼] 若宋嫂有何不测, 我必将你这孙子投进湖里喂鱼-- Ruò sòng sǎo yǒu hé bùcè, wǒ bì jiāng nǐ zhè sūnzi tóu jìn hú lǐ wèi yú— If anything happens to sister Song, I will throw you, this grandson, into the lake to feed the fishes— ((Grandson as in cursing, not really an actual grandson))

[易牙] 哼, 不愧是西湖醋鱼, 嘴还挺硬.... 只不过你的心肠倒不像你嘴上说的这般无情啊.... Hēng, bùkuì shì xīhú cù yú, zuǐ hái tǐng yìng.... Zhǐ bùguò nǐ de xīncháng dào bù xiàng nǐ zuǐ shàng shuō de zhè bān wúqíng a.... Hmph, as expected of Xi Hu Cu Yu, the mouth is quite tough… It’s just that your heart is not at all ruthless like the words you say….

[易牙] 西湖醋鱼, 契约书就在这里, 签与不签, 你自己决定吧-- Xīhú cù yú, qìyuē shū jiù zài zhèlǐ, qiān yǔ bù qiān, nǐ zìjǐ juédìng ba— Xi Hu Cu Yu, the contract book is here, to sign or not to sign, it’s your call—

[Narration] 易牙将一纸书抛在地上, 其上赫赫写着“ 宴仙录” 三个大字-- Yì yá jiāng yī zhǐ shū pāo zài dìshàng, qí shàng hèhè xiězhe “yàn xiān lù” sān gè dàzì— Yi Ya throws a book onto the ground, the large characters “Yan Xian Records” are written impressively on top of it—

[Narration] 西湖醋鱼的脸色很是难看, 我也知道他并不想去此等恶人之地。 只是易牙拿宋嫂性命做要挟, 我也不得不顺其意…… Xīhú cù yú de liǎnsè hěn shì nánkàn, wǒ yě zhīdào tā bìng bùxiǎng qù cǐ děng èrén zhī dì. Zhǐshì yì yá ná sòng sǎo xìngmìng zuò yāoxié, wǒ yě bùdé bù shùn qí yì…… Xi Hu Cu Yu’s complexion is truly horrid, I also know that he does not want to go to this sort of villainous land at all. It’s just that with Yi Ya holding sister Song’s life as hostage, I also have no choice but to obey…

[Player] 鱼叔, 虽然我真的很希望你能够到空桑来, 但若因此害宋嫂白白丢了性命, 我也不会原谅自己。 Yú shū, suīrán wǒ zhēn de hěn xīwàng nǐ nénggòu dào kōng sāng lái, dàn ruò yīncǐ hài sòng sǎo báibái diūle xìngmìng, wǒ yě bù huì yuánliàng zìjǐ. Uncle Yu, I had truly hoped that you could come over to Kong Sang, but if it causes sister Song to lose her life in vain, I could never forgive myself.

[Player] 如若你愿意承受去往宴仙坛受人差遣之苦, 我也会答应你, 我终会救你于苦海之中!   Rúruò nǐ yuànyì chéngshòu qù wǎng yàn xiān tán shòu rén chāiqiǎn zhī kǔ, wǒ yě huì dāyìng nǐ, wǒ zhōng huì jiù nǐ yú kǔhǎi zhī zhōng! If you are willing to bear the bitterness of going to Yan Xian Tan and be forced into servitude, then I will also promise you, in the end, I will save you from the depths of misery!

[Player] 鱼叔, 我不会放弃你的! Yú shū, wǒ bù huì fàngqì nǐ de! Uncle Yu, I won’t give up on you!

[西湖醋鱼] 你…呵呵呵....不错! Nǐ…hēhē hē.... Bùcuò! You….hahaha….not bad!

[西湖醋鱼] [Player], 你很有血性! 我西湖醋鱼相信你! [Player], nǐ hěn yǒu xiěxìng! Wǒ xīhú cù yú xiāngxìn nǐ! [Player], you really got guts! I, Xi Hu Cu Yu, believe in you!

[易牙] 识时务者为俊杰, 没想到空桑少主也有这样的一面? Shí shíwù zhě wéi jùnjié, méi xiǎngdào kōng sāng shǎo zhǔ yěyǒu zhèyàng de yīmiàn? Only an outstanding talent can recognize current trends ((An idiom. Meaning ‘A wise man submits to circumstances.’ )), did not expect Kong Sang Shao Zhu to have this side as well?

[Player] 易牙, 空口无凭。是不是应该让我们确认宋嫂是否安全, 再签这份契约? Yì yá, kōngkǒu wú píng. Shì bùshì yīnggāi ràng wǒmen quèrèn sòng sǎo shìfǒu ānquán, zài qiān zhè fèn qìyuē? Yi Ya, what you say are just mere words with no proof. Should you let us confirm if sister Song is safe first, then sign the contract?

[易牙] 呵, 当然没有问题! Hē, dāngrán méiyǒu wèntí! Heh, that’ll be no problem!

[Narration] 易牙伸手打了个响指, 等待林中食魔将宋嫂押送出来.... Yì yá shēnshǒu dǎle gè xiǎngzhǐ, děngdài lín zhōng shí mó jiāng sòng sǎo yāsòng chūlái.... Yi Ya holds out his hand to snap his finger, waiting for the Food Soul from within the forest to escort sister Song out…

[Narration] 然而过了好一会儿, 林中没有丝毫响应… Rán'érguòle hǎo yīhuǐ'er, lín zhōng méiyǒu sīháo xiǎngyìng… But after a moment has passed, there is not the slightest response from the forest…

[易牙] 怎么回事… Zěnme huí shì… What’s going on….

[Narration] 易牙又伸手打了几个响指, 林中依然没有丝毫响应…… Yì yá yòu shēnshǒu dǎle jǐ gè xiǎngzhǐ, lín zhōng yīrán méiyǒu sīháo xiǎngyìng…… Yi Ya snaps his fingers a few more times, but there’s still no response from the forest…

[Player] 怎么了? 该不会是....人质弄丢了吧? Zěnmeliǎo? Gāi bù huì shì.... Rénzhì nòng diūle ba? What’s wrong? It couldn’t be that….you lost your hostage?

[Narration] 易牙看到我脸上挂着自信的笑意, 恍然大悟-- Yì yá kàn dào wǒ liǎn shàng guàzhe zìxìn de xiào yì, huǎngrándàwù— Yi Ya sees the confident smile on my face, and comes to a realization—

[易牙] 你--!! Nǐ--!! You—!!

[thebananatroll]

Chapter 4, Part 11

十一 . 弟嫂重逢 Shíyī. Dì sǎo chóngféng 11 . Younger brother and sister in law reunion

[Player] 鱼叔, 你确定这个官老爷, 走的就是这条道? Yú shū, nǐ quèdìng zhège guān lǎoyé, zǒu de jiùshì zhè tiáo dào? Uncle Yu, are you sure that this official, would be using this path to travel?

[西湖醋鱼] 我行走江胡多年, 打探点消息还能有假不成? 小娃娃, 再耐心等等吧! Wǒ xíngzǒu jiāng hú duōnián, dǎtàn diǎn xiāoxī hái néng yǒu jiǎ bùchéng? Xiǎo wáwá, zài nàixīn děng děng ba! I’ve been traversing the Jianghu for many years, can I still scout out fake information? Little baby, just wait patiently!

[Narration] 我们几人蹲在路边从早晨等到晌午, 从晌午等到了傍晚, 除了几个无关紧要的路人走过, 并没有等来什么官人.... Wǒmen jǐ rén dūn zài lù biān cóng zǎochén děngdào shǎngwu, cóng shǎngwu děng dàole bàngwǎn, chúle jǐ gè wúguān jǐnyào de lùrén zǒuguò, bìng méiyǒu děng lái shénme guān rén.... The few of us were squatting by the roadside from early morning until noon, from noon until evening, other than some unimportant strangers passing by, there was no sign of the awaited official….

[Player] 我们都等这么久了……是不是… Wǒmen dōu děng zhème jiǔle……shì bùshì… We’ve been waiting for so long…haven’t we…

[西湖醋鱼] 先别急, 说不定他路上给什么事情耽误了! 再等会儿… Xiān bié jí, shuō bu dìng tā lùshàng gěi shénme shìqíng dānwùle! Zài děng huì er… Don’t rush, maybe he was delayed by something on the way! Wait a little longer…

[Narration] 又等了半个时辰, 冰糖葫芦早已经趴在我腿上呼呼大睡, 东坡肉的酒都喝完了, 硬是要跟着大家一起行动的宋嫂也靠在树干上睡着了……. Yòu děngle bàn gè shíchén, bīngtánghúlu zǎo yǐjīng pā zài wǒ tuǐ shàng hū hū dà shuì, dōng pō ròu de jiǔ dōu hē wánliǎo, yìngshì yào gēnzhe dàjiā yì qǐ xíngdòng de sòng sǎo yě kào zài shùgàn shàng shuìzhele……. After waiting for another hour, Bing Tang Hu Lu has already fallen asleep long ago and is snoring loudly on my lap, Dong Po Rou’s wine has finished, sister Song, who stubbornly wanted to follow everyone on this operation, has also fallen asleep against the tree trunk….

[鹄羹] 少主, 累吗? 要么先回去歇息, 鹄羹替你在这儿守着? Shǎo zhǔ, lèi ma? Yàome xiān huíqù xiēxī, gǔ gēng tì nǐ zài zhè'er shǒuzhe? Shao Zhu, are you tired? Or do you want go back and rest first, and let Hu Geng can keep watch over here for you?

[西湖醋鱼] 快看! 是不是来人了? Kuài kàn! Shì bùshì lái rénle? Quickly look! Is someone coming over?

[Narration] 路上终于出现了一队官兵, 簇拥着几辆马车, 徐徐前行.... Lùshàng zhōngyú chūxiànle yī duì guānbīng, cùyōngzhe jǐ liàng mǎchē, xúxú qián xíng.... A team of officers and soldiers can finally be seen on the road, escorting some carriages, slowly moving forward….

[宋嫂] 大人!民妇有冤情!请大人做主 Dàrén! Mín fù yǒu yuānqíng! Qǐng dàrén zuòzhǔ! Your Lordship! This married woman has suffered grievance! Requesting Your Lordship to give justice! ((民妇 - archaic term to refer oneself, specifically married women, when in front of someone with a higher rank))

[Narration] 宋嫂猛然冲到路上拦住了马车, 跪在面前.... Sòng sǎo měngrán chōng dào lùshàng lánzhùle mǎchē, guì zài miànqián.... Sister Song suddenly rushes out onto the road to stop the carriage, kneeling in front of them….

[???] 何事喧扰? Héshì xuānrǎo? What’s all the noise about?

[Narration] 车驾里那位大人掀开帘子走了出来… 他看上去十分年轻, 举止却相当庄重。 Chējià lǐ nà wèi dàrén xiān kāi liánzi zǒule chūlái… tā kàn shàngqù shífēn niánqīng, jǔzhǐ què xiāngdāng zhuāngzhòng. The man of high status inside the carriage raises the curtain and comes out… He seems to be quite young, but his bearing is considerably solemn.

[宋嫂] 大人! 是民妇! 民妇有冤情! 请大人做主! Dàrén! Shì mín fù! Mín fù yǒu yuānqíng! Qǐng dàrén zuòzhǔ! Your Lordship! It’s this married woman! This married woman has suffered grievance! Requesting Your Lordship to give justice!

[???] 你…你! 你拾起头来! Nǐ…nǐ! Nǐ shí qǐtóu lái! You…You! Raise up your head!

[Narration] 这位大人看见宋嫂, 行止突然有些激动。 待宋嫂抬起头来, 二人相视而望..... Zhè wèi dàrén kànjiàn sòng sǎo, xíngzhǐ túrán yǒuxiē jīdòng. Dài sòng sǎo tái qǐtóu lái, èr rén xiāng shì ér wàng..... When this man of high status sees sister Song, he suddenly becomes somewhat emotionally worked up. When sister Song raised her head, the two looked at each other…

[宋弟] 嫂....嫂? Sǎosǎo Sister….in-law?

[东坡肉] 这回可真是巧了! 我们要等的大官, 居然就是宋嫂的弟弟! Zhè huí kě zhēnshi qiǎole! Wǒmen yào děng de dà guān, jūrán jiùshì sòng sǎo de dìdì! This is such a coincidence! The big official that we were waiting for, turns out to be sister Song’s younger brother((in-law))!

[宋嫂] 小俊, 这些年过得可好? 没有遇到什么麻烦事吧? Xiǎo jùn, zhèxiē niánguò dé kě hǎo? Méiyǒu yù dào shénme máfan shì ba? Xiao Jun, have you been well these past few years? Did you encounter any troubles?

[宋弟] 嫂嫂, 我能有什么事, 这不还考取功名, 得了个一官半职。 倒是你, 这些年, 那赵恶霸没有为难你吧? Sǎosǎo, wǒ néng yǒu shé me shì, zhè bù hái kǎoqǔ gōngmíng, déliǎo gè yī guān bàn zhí. Dǎoshì nǐ, zhèxiē nián, nà zhào èbà méiyǒu wéinán nǐ ba? Sister-in-law, what sort of matter could I have? As a matter of fact, on top of passing the imperial exams, I got an official post in the government. But for you, these past few years, did that Tyrant Zhou cause any troubles for you?

[宋嫂] 多亏了这几位侠士, 这些年来一直护我周全, 那赵恶霸还是拿我没办法。 Duōkuīle zhè jǐ wèi xiá shì, zhèxiē niánlái yīzhí hù wǒ zhōuquán, nà zhào èbà háishì ná wǒ méi bànfǎ. Thanks to these heroes, protecting me continuously these past few years, that tyrant Zhao had no way of getting me.

[宋弟] 宋某在此谢谢各位照顾嫂嫂! Sòng mǒu zài cǐ xièxiè gèwèi zhàogù sǎosǎo! I would like to thank everyone for taking care of my sister-in-law!

[Narration] 宋弟正要鞠躬, 被西湖醋鱼制止了.... Sòng dì zhèng yào jūgōng, bèi xīhú cù yú zhìzhǐle.... Younger brother Song was about to bow, but was stopped by Xi Hu Cu Yu…

[西湖醋鱼] 官家不必行此大礼, 我等不过是看不顺赵家那厮! 倘若世间无甚义理, 便由我的拳头教他些个厉害! Guān jiā bùbì xíng cǐ dàlǐ, wǒ děng bùguò shì kàn bù shùn zhào jiā nà sī! Tǎngruò shìjiān wú shén yìlǐ, biàn yóu wǒ de quántóu jiào tā xiē ge lìhài! The official does not need to go through these grand courtesies, we just can’t stand the sight of the guy from the Zhao family! If there wasn’t any righteousness in this world, I would have used my fist to teach him something real good!

[宋弟] 这位大侠胸襟广阔, 实属不凡! Zhè wèi dà xiá xiōngjīn guǎngkuò, shí shǔ bùfán! This great hero is broad-minded, truly extraordinary!

[宋弟] 这些年来我一直在找机会调到杭州任职, 为的是让当年害死我哥的这些恶徒得到应有的惩罚! Zhèxiē niánlái wǒ yīzhí zài zhǎo jīhuì diào dào hángzhōu rènzhí, wèi de shì ràng dāngnián hài sǐ wǒ gē de zhèxiē è tú dédào yīng yǒu de chéngfá! I’ve been searching for an opportunity to be transferred and hold a post in Hangzhou these past few years, all for the purpose of having those scoundrels who murdered my elder brother receive their proper punishment!

[宋弟] 初回杭州, 官位尚未坐稳, 人脉还没熟络, 本来打算需得一段时间来进行部署… Chūhuí hángzhōu, guānwèi shàngwèi zuò wěn, rénmài hái méi shú luò, běnlái dǎsuàn xū dé yīduàn shíjiān lái jìnxíng bùshǔ… This is my first return to Hangzhou, my official position is not yet stable, I have yet to form a close network, my original calculation was that it would take some time before I could make any moves…

[宋弟] 但若有诸位侠士相助, 或许, 我们可以更早地惩治这些恶徒! Dàn ruò yǒu zhūwèi xiá shì xiāngzhù, huòxǔ, wǒmen kěyǐ gèng zǎo de chéngzhì zhèxiē è tú! But if all the heroes here were to help, maybe, we could punish these scoundrels even earlier!

[Player] 宋大人可已有对策? Sòng dàrén kě yǐ yǒu duìcè? Does Master Song already have a plan?

[宋弟] 略有想法。 当年赵恶霸犯下罪案的证据早已不可寻, 但像他这样的人, 定不可能洗心革面。 Lüè yǒu xiǎngfǎ. Dāngnián zhào èbà fàn xià zuì'àn de zhèngjù zǎoyǐ bùkě xún, dàn xiàng tā zhèyàng de rén, dìng bù kěnéng xǐxīngémiàn. A slight idea. The evidence of tyrant Zhao’s crime back then has long been lost, but with the way that he is as a person, it’s impossible for him to change his ways.

[宋弟] 若能寻得他新的犯罪证据, 凭我今日官位, 必能将他逮捕归案, 再将当年涉事之人连根拨起! Ruò néng xún dé tā xīn de fànzuì zhèngjù, píng wǒ jīnrì guānwèi, bì néng jiāng tā dàibǔ guī'àn, zài jiāng dāngnián shè shì zhī rén lián gēn bō qǐ! If we can find new evidence of his crime, with my current official position, we will be able to arrest him and bring him to justice, then root out the people involved back then!

[Player] 确实是个好主意! Quèshí shìgè hǎo zhǔyì! Truly a great idea!

[宋弟] 具体如何执行, 还需诸位配合, 制定出更周全的计划方可。 Jùtǐ rúhé zhíxíng, hái xū zhūwèi pèihé, zhìdìng chū gèng zhōuquán de jìhuà fāng kě. As for the specifics on how to execute this, I will need everyone’s cooperation, only then I can formulate an even more comprehensive plan.

[宋弟] 待宋某到府衙安置好, 便将详细的计划告知诸位吧。 Dài sòng mǒu dào fǔ yá ānzhì hǎo, biàn jiāng xiángxì de jìhuà gàozhī zhūwèi ba. Once I reach the government office to properly settle down, then I will inform everyone on the details of the plan.

[Player] 我同意, 宋大人这番安排很是妥帖。 Wǒ tóngyì, sòng dàrén zhè fān ānpái hěn shì tuǒtiē. I agree, Lord Song's arrangement is very appropriate.

[宋弟] 宋某再一次谢过诸位! Sòng mǒu zài yīcì xièguò zhūwèi! I once again thank everyone!

[thebananatroll]

Chapter 4, part 10 十 . 柳暗花明 Shí. Liǔ'ànhuāmíng Ten . Dense willow trees make the shade, the flowers are flourishing (Idiom) ((light at the end of the tunnel / every cloud has a silver lining ))

[宋嫂] 这是...... Zhè shì...... This is…..

[西湖醋鱼] 是冰糖葫芦, 你且试式! Shì bīngtánghúlu, nǐ qiě shì shì! It’s candied hawthorns, try it!

[Narration] 宋嫂接过西湖醋鱼手中冰糖葫芦。 咬了几口, 又咬了几口, 蓦然, 流下泪来… Sòng sǎo jiēguò xīhú cù yú shǒuzhōng bīngtánghúlu. Yǎole jǐ kǒu, yòu yǎole jǐ kǒu, mòrán, liúxià lèi lái… Sister Song takes the candied hawthorns from Xi Hu Cu Yu’s hand. She takes a few bite, and a few more bites, then suddenly, tears began to fall…

[西湖醋鱼] 宋嫂....你怎么……别、别.... Sòng sǎo.... Nǐ zěnme……bié, bié.... Sister Song…why are you….don’t, don’t….

[东坡肉] 看来你这法子也不好使嘛....还把人家宋嫂给弄哭了! Kàn lái nǐ zhè fǎzi yě bù hǎo shǐ ma.... Hái bǎ rénjiā sòng sǎo gěi nòng kūle! Looks like this method of yours didn’t work either…It even made Sister Song cry!

[Player] 嘘--你先别出声!   Xū--nǐ xiān bié chū shēng! Sh— be quiet first!

[宋嫂] 这冰糖葫芦....又酸....又甜..... 就好像, 我当日给小叔烧的那一碗鱼.... Zhè bīngtánghúlu.... Yòu suān.... Yòu tián..... Jiù hǎoxiàng, wǒ dāngrì gěi xiǎo shū shāo dì nà yī wǎn yú.... This candied hawthorn….it’s sour…and also sweet…. It’s just like, that bowl of fish I cooked for younger brother-in-law that day….

[宋嫂] 我不知道小叔现在过得怎么样… 但我希望他能走出痛失哥哥的阴霾…重新振作.....有前途....有出息.... I don’t know how younger brother-in-law is doing now… But I hope he can move on from the darkness of losing his brother….Pull himself back together…Have a promising future…Be successful…

[宋嫂] 但如果小叔看到我现在这副模样...他一定很失望…… Dàn rúguǒ xiǎo shū kàn dào wǒ xiànzài zhè fù múyàng... Tā yīdìng hěn shīwàng…… But if younger brother-in-law were to see me now…he’d surely be disappointed….

[Player] 宋嫂, 恶人终有恶报。即使人不能复生, 恶人也必须得到惩戒。 否则, 会有更多无辜的百姓遭受此等痛苦。   Sòng sǎo, èrén zhōng yǒu è bào. Jíshǐ rén bùnéng fùshēng, èrén yě bìxū dédào chéngjiè. Fǒuzé, huì yǒu gèng duō wúgū de bǎixìng zāoshòu cǐ děng tòngkǔ. Sister Song, evildoers will get their retribution in the end. Even if it won’t bring the dead back to life, the evildoers must still receive their dues. Otherwise, there will be more innocent people who will suffer from this type of pain.

[Player] 我们几个, 定会在你身边协助你, 支持你。 Wǒmen jǐ gè, dìng huì zài nǐ shēnbiān xiézhù nǐ, zhīchí nǐ. The few of us, will be by your side to assist you, to support you.

[Player] 鱼叔他是个糙汉子, 很多话没办法说出口。 今日我斗胆替他把这些话说了, 希望, 宋嫂你能够振作精神!   Yú shū tā shìgè cāo hànzi, hěnduō huà méi bànfǎ shuō chūkǒu. Jīnrì wǒ dǒudǎn tì tā bǎ zhèxiē huàshuōle, xīwàng, sòng sǎo nǐ nénggòu zhènzuò jīngshén! Uncle Yu is a rough man, unable to say a lot of words. Today, I will be so bold as to say these words on his behalf, I hope, sister Song, you can cheer up and lift your spirit!

[Narration] 西湖醋鱼有些不好意思, 躲在角落, 默默把头上斗笠按下来遮住了脸.. Xīhú cù yú yǒuxiē bù hǎoyìsi, duǒ zài jiǎoluò, mòmò bǎtóu shàng dǒulì àn xiàlái zhē zhùle liǎn.. Xi Hu Cu Yu, somewhat embarrassed, hides in a corner, silently pulling down the bamboo hat on his head to cover his face…

[Narration] 鹄羹、东坡肉、冰糖葫芦, 大家都仿佛想要证明我说的话是真的, 一致用坚定的目光回应着宋嫂... Gǔ gēng, dōng pō ròu, bīngtánghúlu, dàjiā dōu fǎngfú xiǎng yào zhèngmíng wǒ shuō dehuà shì zhēn de, yīzhì yòng jiāndìng de mùguāng huíyīngzhe sòng sǎo… Hu Geng, Dong Po Rou, Bing Tang Hu Lu, as if everyone wanting to prove that my words were true, they all use the same steady gaze to respond to sister Song.

[宋嫂] 谢谢你们....谢谢…..其实我早已经知道, 鱼叔和东坡兄弟对我多有照料… 只是没有想到, 你们这么有心.... Xièxiè nǐmen.... Xièxiè….. Qíshí wǒ zǎo yǐjīng zhīdào, yú shū hé dōng pō xiōngdì duì wǒ duō yǒu zhàoliào… zhǐshì méiyǒu xiǎngdào, nǐmen zhème yǒuxīn.... Thank you all….Thank you….Actually, I knew early on, that Uncle Yu and Brother Dong Po has treated me with a lot of care… It’s just that I never would have thought, you all would be so sincere…

[冰糖葫芦] 我听说, 最近会有一位大--官! 到这里任职。 我们要不要找官老爷替我们出头呀? Wǒ tīng shuō, zuìjìn huì yǒuyī wèi dà--guān! Dào zhèlǐ rènzhí. Wǒmen yào bùyào zhǎo guān lǎoyé tì wǒmen chūtóu ya? I heard, soon there will be a biiiiig official! Coming here to take a post. Should we go find the official to lead on our behalf?

[Player] 大--官? 比如今杭州城里的官都大吗? Dà--guān? Bǐrú jīn hángzhōu chéng lǐ de guān dū dà ma? Biiiig official? Are they bigger than Hangzhou’s government these days?

[冰糖葫芦] 那我就不知道咯! Nà wǒ jiù bù zhīdào gē! That I do now know!

[Player] 好, 事不宜迟, 我们明天就去打探打探消息! Hǎo, shì bùyí chí, wǒmen míngtiān jiù qù dǎtàn dǎtàn xiāoxī! Okay, no time to lose, tomorrow we will go scout for information!

[西湖醋鱼] 告官人有何用?  若他跟衙门里那些人沆瀣一气.... 倒不如直接斩了那赵恶霸来得痛快! Gào guān rén yǒu hé yòng? Ruò tā gēn yámén li nàxiē rén hàngxièyīqì.... Dào bùrú zhíjiē zhǎnle nà zhào èbà láidé tòngkuài! Is there any use reporting to the official? If he is in cahoots with those people in the Yamen…. It would be better to execute that tyrant Zhao directly!

[Player] 以暴制暴并非上策, 我相信官人之中定有如东坡先生这样的清流。 Yǐ bào zhì bào bìngfēi shàngcè, wǒ xiāngxìn guān rén zhī zhōng dìng yǒurú dōng pō xiānshēng zhèyàng de qīngliú. Fighting fire with fire isn’t really the best plan, I believe that there are those who are clean like Mister Dong Po among the government officials.

[东坡肉] 嘿嘿, 希望这位新来的大官可以治一治府衙里的坏风气! Hēihēi, xīwàng zhè wèi xīn lái de dà guān kěyǐ zhì yī zhì fǔ yá lǐ de huài fēngqì! Hehe, hope this newly arrived big official can cure the bad practices in the government office!

[thebananatroll]

Chapter 4, Chapter 9 九 . 冰糖葫芦 Jiǔ. Bīngtánghúlu Nine. Candied Hawthorns

[???] 卖冰糖葫芦! 卖冰糖葫芦了哟! Mài bīngtánghúlu! Mài bīngtánghúlule yō! Selling candied hawthorns! Selling candied hawthorns!

[东坡肉] 嘿, 我找到了! [Player]! 在这里! Hēi, wǒ zhǎodàole! [Player]! Zài zhèlǐ! Hey, I found it! [Player]! Over here!

[???] 嘻嘻, 这位小哥哥, 要买冰糖葫芦吗? 不好吃不要钱! Xī xī, zhè wèi xiǎo gēgē, yāomǎi bīngtánghúlu ma? Bù hào chī bùyào qián! Hehe, this older brother, want to buy candied hawthorn? If it’s not tasty, then no need to pay!

冰糖葫芦 Bīngtánghúlu Candied Hawthorns

[剔透晶莹 天真烂漫] 曾是江湖郎中献与宋光宗宠妃的奇药 勇揭皇榜使他的勇气与生俱来 常见于北方冬日的他身着棉袄 游遍了人间的太街小巷 [Tītòu jīngyíng tiānzhēn lànmàn] céng shì jiānghú lángzhōng xiàn yǔ sòng guāngzōng chǒng fēi de qí yào yǒng jiē huáng bǎng shǐ tā de yǒngqì yǔ shēng jù lái chángjiàn yú běifāng dōngrì de tā shēnzhe mián'ǎo yóu biànle rénjiān de tài jiē xiǎo xiàng [Sparkling and clear, naive and innocent] Was once the miracle cure offered to Emperor Guang Zong of Song’s beloved Imperial Consort by a Juanghu doctor Inherited the courage of that man that took the emperor’s notice He who is commonly seen in the northern winter wearing a cotton-padded jacket Travelling all over the human world’s street and alleys

[Player] 得来全不费功夫! 这刚出门, 就找到了“冰糖葫芦”! 看来今日运势是大吉呀! Dé lái quán bù fèi gōngfū! Zhè gāng chūmén, jiù zhǎodàole “bīngtánghúlu”! Kàn lái jīnrì yùnshì shì dàjí ya! Found it through sheer luck when I least expect it! Just exited through the door, and we’ve already found “Bing Tang Hu Lu”! It looks like today’s fortune is very auspicious!

[冰糖葫芦] 找我买糖葫芦可是找对人了, 我这儿的冰糖葫芦, 保准好吃! Zhǎo wǒ mǎi tánghúlu kěshì zhǎo duì rénle, wǒ zhè'er de bīngtánghúlu, bǎozhǔn hào chī! If you’re here to buy candied hawthorns then you’ve come to the right person, my candied hawthorns here, are guaranteed to be tasty!

[Player] 我当然知道你这糖葫芦好吃! 因为, 你就是"冰糖葫芦”本魂呀! Wǒ dāngrán zhīdào nǐ zhè tánghúlu hào chī! Yīnwèi, nǐ jiùshì"bīngtánghúlu” běn hún ya! Of course I know that these candied hawthorns of yours are delicious! Because, you are the soul of “Bing Tang Hu Lu”!

[冰糖葫芦] 诶! 你、你怎么知道的? 可不许说出去哦…万一被别人知道了, 不跟我玩儿了怎么办? Éi! Nǐ, nǐ zěnme zhīdào de? Kě bùxǔ shuō chūqù ó…wàn yī bèi biérén zhīdàole, bù gēn wǒ wán erle zěnme bàn? Eh! You, how did you know? Don’t say it out loud….If other people found out about it, what would I do if no one wants to play with me anymore?

[Narration] 看着冰糖葫芦着急的模样, 灵光一闪, 想到一个坏主意... Kànzhe bīngtánghúlu zhāojí de múyàng, língguāng yī shǎn, xiǎngdào yīgè huài zhǔyì… Seeing Bing Tang Hu Lu looking anxious, I got struck by inspiration, coming up with a naughty idea…

[Player] 我可以不说出去, 但如今你身上散发的气息呀....啧啧啧..... Wǒ kěyǐ bù shuō chūqù, dàn rújīn nǐ shēnshang sànfà de qìxí ya.... Zézé zé..... I could keep quiet, but the air your body is giving off right now….tsk tsk tsk….

[Narration] 假装作出一副很是为难、特别怜悯的模样摇了摇头..... Jiǎzhuāng zuòchū yī fù hěn shì wéinán, tèbié liánmǐn de múyàng yáole yáotóu..... Pretending like I was put in a difficult position and giving an especially pitying look, I shake my head…

[Player] 或许不久, 你就会被人发现你并不是凡人! 我也不知道你留在凡间会不会.... Huòxǔ bùjiǔ, nǐ jiù huì bèi rén fà xiàn nǐ bìng bùshì fánrén! Wǒ yě bù zhīdào nǐ liú zài fán jiān huì bù huì.... Maybe soon, you would be discovered by other people that you’re not mortal at all! I don’t know if you would even be able to stay in the mortal world…

[冰糖葫芦] 那、那你说我该怎么办嘛! Nà, nà nǐ shuō wǒ gāi zěnme bàn ma! Then, then tell me what should I do!

[Player] 我知道三界之中有个好地方, 可以收留你! 那里风景优美, 居住着各色食魂, 开着餐馆, 营着庙会, 招待来自三界的食客 …… Wǒ zhīdào sānjiè zhī zhōng yǒu gè hǎo dìfāng, kěyǐ shōuliú nǐ! Nàlǐ fēngjǐng yōuměi, jūzhùzhe gèsè shí hún, kāizhe cānguǎn, yíngzhe miàohuì, zhāodài láizì sānjiè de shíkè…… I know a good place in the Three Realms, it can take you in! That place has elegant sceneries, all kinds of Food Souls living there, opening restaurants, running temple fairs, entertaining diners of the Three Realms…..

[Narration] 随着我一系列的描述, 冰糖葫芦露出一副向往的神色.... Suízhe wǒ yī xìliè de miáoshù, bīngtánghúlu lùchū yī fù xiàngwǎng de shénsè.... Following my strings of descriptions, Bing Tang Hu Lu shows a look of yearning….

[冰糖葫芦] 有、有庙会?! 别卖关子了, 你说的到底是哪里啊? There are, there are temple fairs?! Don’t keep me guessing, where is this place that you’re talking about?

[Player] 那里叫“空桑”, 是独属于食魂的仙乡! 听说啊…. Nàlǐ jiào “kōng sāng”, shì dú shǔyú shí hún de xiān xiāng! Tīng shuō a…. That place is called ‘Kong Sang’, it’s a fairyland that’s exclusive for Food Souls! Or so I heard….

[Narration] 凑到冰糖葫芦耳边小声道.... Còu dào bīngtánghúlu ěr biān xiǎo shēng dào.... Leaning into Bing Tang Hu Lu’s ears and whisper….

[Player] 我只跟你一个人说啊…… 那里天天都在做各种有意思的游戏! 什么翻花绳、抽陀螺、捉迷藏… Wǒ zhǐ gēn nǐ yīgè rén shuō a…… nàlǐ tiāntiān dū zài zuò gè zhǒng yǒuyìsi de yóuxì! Shénme fān huā shéng, chōu tuóluó, zhuōmícáng… I’m telling this only to you…. There are all sorts of fun games you can do there! Something string patterns, spinning tops, hide and seek…

[冰糖葫芦] 啊! 我要去! 我、我一定要去的! 快告诉我怎么样才能去空桑玩儿! A! Wǒ yào qù! Wǒ, wǒ yīdìng yào qù de! Kuài gàosù wǒ zěnme yàng cáinéng qù kōng sāng wán er! Ah! I want to go! I, I have to go! Quickly tell me how to go to Kong Sang to play!

[Player] 嘿! 遇到我, 你就走运啦! 我就是空桑的少主[Player], 瞧见我身后这几个小哥哥老叔叔了么? 他们都是要跟我一道去空桑定居的! Hēi! Yù dào wǒ, nǐ jiù zǒuyùn la! Wǒ jiùshì kōng sāng de shǎo zhǔ [Player], qiáojiàn wǒ shēnhòu zhè jǐ gè xiǎo gēgē lǎo shūshule me? Tāmen dōu shì yào gēn wǒ yīdào qù kōng sāng dìngjū de! Hey! Meeting me, it’s your lucky day! I am Kong Sang’s Shao Zhu [Player], do you see these older brother and old uncle behind me? They’re going to follow me to Kong Sang to live!

[西湖醋鱼] “老”叔叔 … “Lǎo” shūshu… “Old” Uncle…..

[冰糖葫芦] 那、那你也把我带上嘛! 带嘛带嘛! 等我去了空桑, 一定......一定做个好孩子! Nà, nà nǐ yě bǎ wǒ dài shàng ma! Dài ma dài ma! Děng wǒ qùle kōng sāng, yīdìng...... Yīdìng zuò gè hǎo háizi! Then, then you have to take me with you too! Take, take! Wait till I get to Kong Song, I will…I will be a good boy!

[Narration] 似乎是意识到自己表现得并不像个乖小孩, 冰糖葫芦赶忙缩了缩脖子, 被他那副紧张又认真的模样逗乐, 我忍不住摸摸他的头… Sìhū shì yìshí dào zìjǐ biǎoxiàn dé bìng bù xiàng gè guāi xiǎohái, bīngtánghúlu gǎnmáng suōle suō bózi, bèi tā nà fù jǐnzhāng yòu rènzhēn de múyàng dòulè, wǒ rěn bù zhù mō mō tā de tóu… Seemingly realising his own behaviour is not at all like a good child, Bing Tang Hu Lu hurriedly shrinks back his neck, causing me to be amused by his nervous and earnest look, I couldn’t help but pat his head…

[Player] 嘻嘻, 好呀! 不过去空桑之前, 我们还要帮助一位夫人达成心愿。你可愿意帮忙? Xī xī, hǎo ya! Bù guòqù kōng sāng zhīqián, wǒmen hái yào bāngzhù yī wèi fūrén dáchéng xīnyuàn. Nǐ kě yuànyì bāngmáng? Hehe, okay! But before going to Kong Sang, we will need to help a madam fulfil her wish. Are you willing to help out?

[冰糖葫芦] 我愿意! 我愿意! Wǒ yuànyì! Wǒ yuànyì! I’m willing! I’m willing!

[thebananatroll]

Chapter 4, part 8

八 . 寻觅良方 Bā. Xúnmì liáng fāng Eight. Looking for a remedy

[东坡肉] 你不如…不如试试送花? 姑娘家家的, 不都喜欢花花草草之类的东西? Nǐ bùrú…bùrú shì shì sòng huā? Gūniáng jiā jiā de, bù dōu xǐhuān huāhuā cǎocǎo zhī lèi de dōngxī? Why don't you... why don't you try sending flowers? Don’t girls from every family like these sorts of flowers and plants?

[西湖醋鱼] 不行, 宋嫂花粉过敏! Bùxíng, sòng sǎo huāfěn guòmǐn! Can not, sister Song is allergic to pollen!

[东坡肉] 那.....送一只小动物? Nà..... Sòng yī zhǐ xiǎo dòngwù? Then….gift a small animal?

[西湖醋鱼] 宋嫂后院养了那么多鹅啊鸭的, 还送? 嫌人家不够累啊? Sòng sǎo hòuyuàn yǎngle nàme duō é a yā de, hái sòng? Xián rénjiā bùgòu lèi a? Sister Song’s backyard already has so many geese and ducks, still want to give more? Don’t think she’s tired enough?

[东坡肉] 那就.....送她些发簪手镯项链什么的...... Nà jiù..... Sòng tā xiē fā zān shǒuzhuó xiàngliàn shénme de...... Then……give her some hairpins, bracelets, necklaces, and whatnot….

[西湖醋鱼] 戴那些东西在身上会影响她劳作的! 而且我觉得她也不会喜欢这种玩意儿。 Dài nàxiē dōngxī zài shēnshang huì yǐngxiǎng tā láozuò de Érqiě wǒ juédé tā yě bù huì xǐhuān zhè zhǒng wányì er. Wearing those things will interfere with her work! Moreover, I have a feeling she won’t like these sorts of things either.

[东坡肉] 哎呀! 这又不行, 那又不行, 送礼物怎么这么难啊… Āiyā! Zhè yòu bùxíng, nà yòu bùxíng, sòng lǐwù zěnme zhème nán a… Aiya! This also can not, that also can not, why is giving gifts so difficult…

[Narration] 出了无数个主意但都被西湖醋鱼驳回的东坡肉, 就差在地上打滚了.... Chū liǎo wúshù gè zhǔyì dàn dōu bèi xīhú cù yú bóhuí de dōng pō ròu, jiù chà zài dìshàng dǎgǔnle.... Dong Po Rou whose countless ideas were all rejected by Xi Hu Cu Yu was about to roll on the ground….

[Player] 其实并不麻烦, 只是你们两个没找对方法。 Qíshí bìng bù máfan, zhǐshì nǐmen liǎng gè méi zhǎo duì fāngfǎ. It’s actually not that troublesome, it’s just the two of you haven’t found the right method yet.

[Player] 二位本身就是食魂, 怎么会没有想到用“食物”作文章呢? 就连宋嫂都知道做一碗鱼给弟弟以寄托思念。 Èr wèi běnshēn jiùshì shí hún, zěnme huì méiyǒu xiǎngdào yòng “shíwù” zuò wénzhāng ne? Jiù lián sòng sǎo dōu zhīdào zuò yī wǎn yú gěi dìdì yǐ jìtuō sīniàn. Two of you are Food Souls, how come never thought of using ‘Food’ as inspiration? Even sister Song knew to make a bowl of fish to give to the younger brother as something to remember fondly.

[西湖醋鱼] 可我、我只会做西湖醋鱼…… Kě wǒ, wǒ zhǐ huì zuò xīhú cù yú…… But I, I only know how to make West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy….

[东坡肉] 我会做东坡肉! 大口吃肉, 大口喝酒, 保证来精神! Wǒ huì zuò dōng pō ròu! Dàkǒu chī ròu, dàkǒu hējiǔ, bǎozhèng lái jīngshén! I can do Dong Po Rou! A big mouthful of meat, and big mouthful of wine, guaranteed to liven up the spirit!

[Player] 大口吃肉大口喝酒来精神的人是你东坡肉! 我倒是有个建议。 Dàkǒu chī ròu dàkǒu hējiǔ lái jīngshén de rén shì nǐ dōng pō ròu! Wǒ dǎoshì yǒu gè jiànyì. The person who’ll liven up with a big mouthful of meat and a big mouthful of wine is you, Dong Po Rou! I actually have a suggestion.

[Player] 你们听过宋光宗皇帝这个故事么? 宋光宗宠爱的黄贵妃生了怪病, 整日食不下咽, 变得面黄肌瘦。 Nǐmen tīngguò sòng guāngzōng huángdì zhège gùshì me? Sòng guāngzōng chǒng'ài de huáng guìfēi shēngle guài bìng, zhěng rì shí bùxià yàn, biàn dé miànhuángjīshòu. Have any of you heard the story of Emperor Guang Zong of Song? Emperor Guang Zong of Song’s favourite Imperial Consort Huang contracted a strange illness, couldn’t swallow down food all day, becoming malnourished and sickly in appearance.

[Player] 御医用了许多名贵药材也不见她好转。 那皇帝见爱妃这般憔悴亦是心急如焚, 最后无奈之下只好张榜求医。 Yù yīyòngle xǔduō míngguì yàocái yě bùjiàn tā hǎozhuǎn. Nà huángdì jiàn ài fēi zhè bān qiáocuì yì shì xīnjírúfén, zuìhòu wúnài zhī xià zhǐhǎo zhāngbǎng qiú yī. Imperial doctors used a lot of precious medical ingredients but did not see her improve. That Emperor was also distraught seeing his beloved imperial concubine so haggard, until finally he was left with no choice but to open a notice seeking medical treatment.

[Player] 后来有位江湖郎中揭了榜, 给这黄贵妃开了个方子-- 冰糖与山楂煎熬, 每顿饭前吃五到十枚。 Hòulái yǒu wèi jiānghú lángzhōng jiēle bǎng, gěi zhè huáng guìfēi kāile gè fāng zi— bīngtáng yǔ shānzhā jiān'áo, měi dùn fàn qián chī wǔ dào shí méi. Afterwards, a Jianghu doctor took the notice, and gave Imperial Consort Huang a prescription— Boil rock sugar with hawthorn, eat 5 to 10 pieces before each meal.

[Player] 起初众人还将信将疑, 结果不出半月, 贵妃还真的病愈了。 你看宋嫂现在也是“食不下咽, 面黄朋瘦”, 所以我想-- Qǐchū zhòngrén hái jiāngxìnjiāngyí, jiéguǒ bù chū bànyuè, guìfēi hái zhēn de bìng yùle. Nǐ kàn sòng sǎo xiànzài yěshì “shí bùxià yàn, miàn huáng péng shòu”, suǒyǐ wǒ xiǎng— Everyone was skeptical at first, but within half a month, the Imperial Consort really recovered. You’ve seen that sister Song was also “Unable to swallow food, malnourished and sickly in appearance”, so I thought—-

[东坡肉] 所以我们也要去张榜求医! 嘿, 我懂了! Suǒyǐ wǒmen yě yào qù zhāngbǎng qiú yī! Hēi, wǒ dǒngle! So we should also open a notice seeking medical treatment! Aye, I get it!

[西湖醋鱼] 这样啊? 那我赶紧去准备纸笔.... Zhèyàng a? Nà wǒ gǎnjǐn qù zhǔnbèi zhǐ bǐ.... Is that so? Then I’ll go prepare a brush and paper without delay….

[Player] 哎你们两个....回来! 我的意思是去街上买几串冰糖葫芦! 冰糖葫芦就是当时郎中开的那个“方子”, 它如今在民间已相当流行。 Āi nǐmen liǎng gè.... Huílái! Wǒ de yìsi shì qù jiē shàng mǎi jǐ chuàn bīngtánghúlu! Bīngtánghúlu jiùshì dāngshí lángzhōng kāi dì nàgè “fāng zi”, tā rújīn zài mínjiān yǐ xiāngdāng liúxíng. Haa you two….Get back here! My meaning is to go buy some sticks of candied hawthorns from the street! The “prescription” the doctor prescribed back then was precisely these candied hawthorns, it’s already quite popular among the people now.

[西湖醋鱼] 哦, 原来是这样啊.... Ó, yuánlái shì zhèyàng a.... Oh, so it’s actually like this…..

[Player] ....算了算了, 我跟你们一起去街上找找着吧。要是没找着, 我们就自己做吧! .... Suànle suànle, wǒ gēn nǐmen yīqǐ qù jiē shàng zhǎo zhǎozhe ba. Yàoshi méi zhǎozhe, wǒmen jiù zìjǐ zuò ba! ….Forget it, forget, I'll go with you to the streets to find it. If we can’t find it, then we’ll just make it ourselves!

[thebananatroll]

Chapter 4, part 7

七 . 弄巧成拙 Qī. Nòngqiǎochéngzhuō Seven . Backfire

[西湖醋鱼] 宋、宋嫂....你、你今日....今日有空吗? 要不要去…西湖上....划划船? Sòng, sòng sǎo.... Nǐ, nǐ jīnrì.... Jīnrì yǒu kòng ma? Yào bùyào qù…xīhú shàng.... Huà huáchuán? S-Sister Song…..D-do you…have any free time today? Do you want to go…. on a boat ride……on the West Lake?

[宋嫂] 鱼叔今日有这兴致? 也好, 那就把我家那条打渔的小船-- Yú shū jīnrì yǒu zhè xìngzhì? Yě hǎo, nà jiù bǎ wǒjiā nà tiáo dǎ yú de xiǎochuán— Does Uncle Yu have the mood for it today? Very well, then let’s take my home’s fishing boat—

[西湖醋鱼] 不、不, 我、我借来一条画舫, 所以…… 所以想试一试这画舫...好不好使… Bù, bù, wǒ, wǒ jiè lái yītiáo huàfǎng, suǒyǐ…… suǒyǐ xiǎng shì yī shì zhè huàfǎng... Hǎobù hǎo shǐ… N-no, I, I borrowed an ornate boat so…. So I wanted to try this ornate boat….see if it’s good or not…

[宋嫂] 哦? 好呀! Ó? Hǎo ya! Oh? Okay!

[宋嫂] 住在西湖边上这么多年, 从来没有试过泛舟湖上游历风光… 以往出船都只是为了打渔… Zhù zài xīhú biān shàng zhème duōnián, cónglái méiyǒu shìguò fànzhōu húshàng yóulì fēngguāng… yǐwǎng chūchuán dōu zhǐshì wèile dǎ yú… I’ve stayed by the West Lake for so many years, but never before have I tried boating on the lake to experience the scenery…. I only went out on the boat to fish…

[西湖醋鱼] 若能令你快慰些许, 我便可安心去-- Ruò néng lìng nǐ kuàiwèi xiēxǔ, wǒ biàn kě ānxīn qù— If I’m able to comfort you just a bit, I can leave with an ease of mind—

[宋嫂] 哎呀呀! 这画舫、画舫漏水了! Āiyā ya! Zhè huàfǎng, huàfǎng lòushuǐle! Aiyaya! The ornate boat, the ornate boat has a leak!

[西湖醋鱼] 什么! ? Shénme! ? What!?

[Narration] 湖水一会儿就浸满了半条船, 不管西湖醋鱼怎么往外瓢水都无补于事.... Húshuǐ yīhuǐ'er jiù jìn mǎnle bàn tiáo chuán, bùguǎn xīhú cù yú zěnme wǎngwài piáo shuǐ dū wúbǔ yú shì.... In just a short while, the boat has been filled halfway with lake water, no matter how much Xi Hu Cu Yu scoop out water with a ladle, it didn’t help the situation at all…

[Narration] 最终, 画舫沉了.... Zuìzhōng, huàfǎng chénle.... Eventually, the ornate boat sank….

[西湖醋鱼] 东坡肉你--! 啧, 你这画舫也太不结实了吧! 才到湖心就沉了! Dōng pō ròu nǐ--! Zé, nǐ zhè huàfǎng yě tài bù jiēshile ba! Cái dào hú xīn jiù chénle! Dong Po Rou, you—! Tsk, this ornate boat of yours is also too flimsy! It sank as soon as it reached the centre of the lake!

[西湖醋鱼] 昨日我跟宋嫂两人各取了一块木板, 硬生生从湖心游了回来! Zuórì wǒ gēn sòng sǎo liǎng rén gè qǔle yīkuài mùbǎn, yìng shēngshēng cóng hú xīn yóule huílái! Yesterday, both sister Song and I took one plank each, and stiffly swam back from the centre of the lake!

[西湖醋鱼] 两人上了岸, 跟个落汤鸡似的! 不但没让宋嫂高兴, 反倒还让她落得了一场大病! Liǎng rén shàngle àn, gēn gè luòtāngjī shì de! Bùdàn méi ràng sòng sǎo gāoxìng, fǎndào hái ràng tā luòdéliǎo yī chǎng dàbìng! When both of us reached the shore, we looked like drowned rats! Not only did it not make sister Song happy, it even made sister Song suffer from a serious illness!

[东坡肉] .....我、我怎么会料到这画舫会沉啊… 我从西街把这画航捡回来的时候看着还挺结实的啊... ..... Wǒ, wǒ zěnme huì liào dào zhè huàfǎng huì chén a… wǒ cóng xī jiē bǎ zhè huà háng jiǎn huílái de shíhòu kànzhe hái tǐng jiēshi de a… ….I, how could I foresee that this ornate boat would sink… It looked pretty sturdy when I brought the ornate boat back from the West Street….

[西湖醋鱼] 你这小子! 居然用西街捡来的破船诓我, 怪不得…… Nǐ zhè xiǎozi! Jūrán yòng xī jiē jiǎn lái de pòchuán kuāng wǒ, guàibùdé…… This child, you! To actually take a broken boat from the West Street to deceive me, no wonder….

[西湖醋鱼] 喷, 罢了! 如今要紧之事, 是速将宋嫂送去医馆! Pēn, bàle! Rújīn yàojǐn zhī shì, shì sù jiāng sòng sǎo sòng qù yī guǎn! Peh, forget it! The most important thing right now, is to quickly send sister Song to a medical centre!

[Player] 我去探望过宋嫂了, 只是风寒, 无碍。这是我写的药方子, 你去药铺把药抓来,听药师的吩咐将药煎好, 再送去给宋嫂饮服吧。 Wǒ qù tànwàngguò sòng sǎole, zhǐshì fēnghán, wú ài. Zhè shì wǒ xiě di yàofāng zi, nǐ qù yàopù bǎ yào zhuā lái, tīng yàoshī de fēnfù jiāng yào jiān hǎo, zàisòng qù gěi sòng sǎo yǐn fú ba. I’ve went to visit sister Song, it’s just a common cold, nothing harmful. This is the prescription I wrote, you go to the drugstore and bring the medicine, listen to the pharmacist’s orders in order to concoct the medicine well, then send it to sister Song to drink a dose of it.

[西湖醋鱼] 你还会治病? 不错, 我这就去买药! Nǐ hái huì zhì bìng? Bùcuò, wǒ zhè jiù qù mǎi yào! You can also treat illnesses? Not bad, then I’ll go buy the medicine!

[Player] 食疗也, 药膳也, 皆有互通之处嘛! 我也只是略知一二。 Shíliáo yě, yào téng yě, jiē yǒu hùtōng zhī chù ma! Wǒ yě zhǐshì lüè zhī yī'èr. Food Therapy, Medicinal cuisine, they’re all interconnected in some way! I only know a little bit about it.

[Player] 鱼叔你怎么了? 看上去病恹恹的…你该不会也得了风寒? Yú shū nǐ zěnmeliǎo? Kàn shàngqù bìng yān yān de…nǐ gāi bù huì yě déliǎo fēnghán? Uncle Yu, what’s up with you? You look unwell….it couldn’t be that you also caught a cold?

[西湖醋鱼] 哎, 我说.... 你纸上写的“三碗水煎成一碗水"。是什么意思啊? Āi, wǒ shuō.... Nǐ zhǐ shàng xiě de “sān wǎn shuǐ jiān chéngyī wǎn shuǐ". Shì shénme yìsi a? Haa, I say… This “Decoct three bowls of water until it’s one bowl of water” that you wrote in this paper. What does this mean?

[西湖醋鱼] 我都煎了老半天了, 煲里的水还是分毫不减。 我便硬生生将药喝得只剩一碗…才给宋嫂盛去…   Wǒ dū jiānle lǎo bàntiānle, bāo lǐ de shuǐ háishì fēnháo bù jiǎn. Wǒ biàn yìng shēngshēng jiāng yào hē dé zhǐ shèng yī wǎn…cái gěi sòng sǎo shèng qù… I’ve been decocting for half a day, but the water in the pot still didn’t reduce. I forced myself to drink the medicine until there’s only one bowl left….then I served it to sister Song…

[西湖醋鱼] 唉, 不过我总算明白了, 为何此药只能喝一碗... 我昨天喝了两三碗……嗝~今天、今天就成这个样子了…… Āi, bùguò wǒ zǒngsuàn míngbáile, wèihé cǐ yào zhǐ néng hè yī wǎn... Wǒ zuótiān hēle liǎng sān wǎn……gé ~jīntiān, jīntiān jiù chéng zhège yàngzile…… Haa, but I finally understand, why only one bowl of this medicine should be drunk…. Yesterday, I drank two to three bowls…Ge~ Today, Today, I became like this….

[东坡肉] 哎哎哎!鱼叔, BBanana, 我来咯! 给你们带了点儿好东西! Āi āi āi! Yú shū, BBanana, wǒ lái gē! Gěi nǐmen dàile diǎn er hǎo dōngxī! Hey hey hey! Uncle Yu, [Player], I’m here! Brought you guys something good!

[Narration] 东坡肉打开背上的竹筒盖, 一股醇厚的酒香立马四散开来。 他倒出来一碗.... Dōng pō ròu dǎkāi bèi shàng de zhútǒng gài, yī gǔ chúnhòu de jiǔ xiāng lìmǎ sì sàn kāi lái. Tā dào chūlái yī wǎn.... Dong Po Rou opens up the bamboo lid on his back, the rich and mellow smell of wine immediately spreads out. He pours out a bowl….

[东坡肉] 闻闻看, 香不香! 这喝酒啊, 能让人心情变好! 我特意准备了这亲手酿的酒, 让宋嫂尝尝! 说不定, 药到病除! Wén wén kàn, xiāng bù xiāng! Zhè hējiǔ a, néng ràng rén xīnqíng biàn hǎo! Wǒ tèyì zhǔnbèile zhè qīnshǒu niàng de jiǔ, ràng sòng sǎo cháng cháng! Shuō bu dìng, yào dào bìng chú! Take a whiff, isn’t it fragrant! Drinking this wine, it can allow one’s mood to become better! I’ve especially prepared this wine that I personally brewed, let sister Song have a taste! Maybe, it could cure her illness!

[西湖醋鱼] 你还来? 我就不该找你! 净给我出些馊主意! Nǐ hái lái? Wǒ jiù bù gāi zhǎo nǐ! Jìng gěi wǒ chū xiē sōuzhǔyì! You still come? I shouldn’t have looked for you! Only giving me bad ideas!

[东坡肉] 鱼叔, 这些意外, 谁也没有料到不是? 相信我! 这回喝我的酒, 准成! Yú shū, zhèxiē yìwài, shéi yě méiyǒu liào dào bùshì? Xiāngxìn wǒ! Zhè huí hē wǒ de jiǔ, zhǔn chéng! Uncle Yu, these mishaps, who could have predicted this? Believe me! This time, drink my wine, it’ll definitely work!

[西湖醋鱼] 宋嫂刚才喝过药, 怎么能喝酒! 不喝不喝! 拿回去! Sòng sǎo gāngcái hēguò yào, zěnme néng hējiǔ! Bù hē bù hē! Ná huíqù! Sister Song just drank medicine, how could she drink wine! Won’t drink, won’t drink! Take it back!

[东坡肉] 鱼叔就试一试嘛…那谁谁! “酒中八仙”的贺知章都提过, 饮酒是人生一大乐事也! Yú shū jiù shì yī shì ma…nà shéishéi! “Jiǔ zhōng bāxiān” de hèzhīzhāng dōu tíguò, yǐnjiǔ shì rénshēng yī dà lèshì yě! Then, Uncle Yu have try…..That what’s-his-name! The “Eight immortals in wine”’s He Zhi Zhang mentioned this before, drinking wine is one of life’s greatest joys!

[Narration] 推推搡搡之间, 东坡肉背上没有盖上盖的竹筒里漏出来一地的酒, 香气蔓延三里.……… Tuī tuī sǎng sǎng zhī jiān, dōng pō ròu bèi shàng méiyǒu gài shàng gài de zhútǒng lǐ lòu chūlái yī dì de jiǔ, xiāngqì mànyán sānlǐ.……… While pushing and shoving between them, wine leaked onto the floor from the uncovered bamboo tube on Dong Po Rou’s back, the aroma spreading out for three Li.

[辣条君] 香....真香.....嘻嘻.....我要喝酒....! Xiāng.... Zhēnxiāng..... Xī xī..... Wǒ yào hējiǔ....! Fragrant….Really fragrant…..Hehe….I want to drink wine….!

[东坡肉] 你是什么鬼东西? 休想抢我的酒! Nǐ shì shénme guǐ dōngxī? Xiūxiǎng qiǎng wǒ de jiǔ! What sort of ghost-thing are you? Don’t even think of snatching my wine!

[thebananatroll]

Chapter 4, part 6 六 . 东坡与酒 Liù. Dōng pō yǔ jiǔ Six . Dong Po and wine

[东坡肉] 哎, 不是我说, 你们要卖假酒, 也模仿得像一些吧? Āi, bùshì wǒ shuō, nǐmen yào mài jiǎ jiǔ, yě mófǎng dé xiàng yīxiē ba? Hey, it wasn’t me who said it, you all wanted to sell fake wine,, how about imitating with some similarity?

[东坡肉] 假酒都卖得这么没诚意, 你这坛子里掺了那么多水, 三岁小孩儿喝了都不会醉!   Jiǎ jiǔ dōu mài dé zhème méi chéngyì, nǐ zhè tánzi lǐ cànle nàme duō shuǐ, sān suì xiǎo hái'ér hēle dōu bù huì zuì! Even selling fake wine with such insincerity, so much water has been mixed inside this jug of yours, even a three year old child won’t get drunk after drinking this!

东坡肉 Dōng pō ròu Dong Po Pork

[竹杖轻胜马 烟雨任平生] 曾伴随苏轼见其荣辱起落 对其作品生平如数家珍 最喜手持竹杖 脚穿芒鞋 饮酒郊游 直至肴核既尽 [Zhú zhàng qīng shèng mǎ yānyǔ rèn píngshēng] céng bànsuí sūshì jiàn qí róngrǔ qǐluò duì qí zuòpǐn shēngpíng rúshǔjiāzhēn zuì xǐ shǒuchí zhú zhàng jiǎo chuān máng xié yǐnjiǔ jiāoyóu zhízhì yáo hé jì jǐn [A bamboo walking stick is better than riding a horse Living one’s life no matter mist and rain] Once accompanied Su Shi and witnessed his rise and fall of honour and disgrace Treats his works in life with great familiarity ((This ‘his’ refers to the poet)) Likes holding a bamboo staff in his hand and wearing straw shoes on his feet the most ((this ‘his’ refers to the Food Soul)) Goes out drinking wine , soon all the dishes and fruits are gone

((Wow they really cut the original poem sentences short. Bamboo cane, light, better than horse. Misty rain, no matter, all in one’s life. Poem by Sū Shì, Art name Dong Po))

[店家] Shopkeeper 走走走! 哪里来的流氓, 居然敢砸我们家招牌! Zǒu zǒu zǒu! Nǎlǐ lái de liúmáng, jūrán gǎn zá wǒmen jiā zhāopái! Go go go! From where did this rogue come from, to actually dare to smash our signboard!

[店家] 这可是正宗的东坡酒! 由苏大人亲自酿造, 文人雅士小酌一口, 立马诗兴大发! 你这种粗野鄙夫怎知其中的奥妙!   Zhè kěshì zhèngzōng de dōng pō jiǔ! Yóu sū dàrén qīnzì niàngzào, wénrén yǎshì xiǎo zhuó yīkǒu, lìmǎ shīxìng dà fā! Nǐ zhè zhǒng cūyě bǐ fū zěn zhī qízhōng de àomiào! This is genuine Dong Po Wine! It was personally brewed by Master Su himself, literary scholars take one sip, at once will have poetic inspiration! What does an insolent and lowly man like you know about the secret inside it!

[东坡肉] 你你你! 居然还敢拿子瞻先生做文章! 你这掺了水的劣酒, 如何比得了子瞻先生酿的蜜酒? Nǐ nǐ nǐ! Jūrán hái gǎn ná zi zhān xiānshēng zuò wénzhāng! Nǐ zhè cànle shuǐ de liè jiǔ, rúhé bǐ dé le zi zhān xiānshēng niàng de mì jiǔ? You, you, you! Actually dare to make an issue using Mister Zi Zhan! This inferior wine of yours mixed with water, how could it possibly compare to the mead brewed by Mister Zi Zhan!

((Dong Po’s courtesy name Zi Zhan))

[东坡肉] 我平生最憎的便是玷污子膽先生名声之人! Wǒ píngshēng zuì zēng de biàn shì diànwū zi dǎn xiānshēng míngshēng zhī rén! The thing I hate most in my entire life are people who tarnish Mister Zi Zhan’s reputation!

[Narration] 东坡肉说罢便开始撸袖子, 吓得店家一跳三退…. Dōng pō ròu shuō bà biàn kāishǐ lū xiùzi, xià dé diànjiā yì tiào sān tuì…. Dong Po Rou starts rolling up his sleeves once he finishes speaking, causing the shopkeeper to leap from fright and retreats…

[西湖醋鱼] 东坡兄! 谁又得罪你啦? 这么恼火? Dōng pō xiōng! Shéi yòu dézuì nǐ la? Zhème nǎohuǒ? Brother Dong Po! Who has offended you again? So irritated?

[东坡肉] 鱼叔! 好巧! 喏, 就是这酒家, 不但卖假酒, 还侮辱子瞻先生的手艺! Yú shū! Hǎo qiǎo! Nuò, jiùshì zhè jiǔjiā, bùdàn mài jiǎ jiǔ, hái wǔrǔ zi zhān xiānshēng de shǒuyì! Uncle Yu! What a coincidence! Look, it’s this restaurant, not only are they selling fake wine, they’re also insulting Mister Zi Zhan’s craftsmanship!

[东坡肉] 我随子瞻先生游历多年, 虽不能说十分懂酒… 但这到底是不是东坡酒, 我还是有资格说了算的! Wǒ suí zi zhān xiānshēng yóulì duōnián, suī bùnéng shuō shífēn dǒng jiǔ… dàn zhè dàodǐ shì bùshì dōng pō jiǔ, wǒ háishì yǒu zīgé shuōle suàn de! I’ve travelled with Mister Zi Zhan for many years, although I can’t say I completely understand wine… But whether this is Dong Po wine or not, I’m still qualified to have the final say!

[西湖醋鱼] 何必跟这种毫无诚信可言的商贩较真? Hébì gēn zhè zhǒng háo wú chéngxìn kě yán de shāngfàn jiàozhēn? Why bother with this kind of dishonest vendor?

[东坡肉] ......也是。换作子瞻先生, 应该也不会放在心上! ...... Yěshì. Huàn zuò zi zhān xiānshēng, yīnggāi yě bù huì fàng zàixīn shàng! ……..Fine. If Mister Zi Zhan were in my shoes, he also wouldn’t take this to heart!

[东坡肉] 咦鱼叔, 你旁边这位是....? Yí yú shū, nǐ pángbiān zhè wèi shì....? Hey Uncle Yu, this person next to you is….?

[Narration] 西湖醋鱼向东坡肉讲述了一遍我的来意.... Xīhú cù yú xiàng dōng pō ròu jiǎngshùle yībiàn wǒ de láiyì.... Xi Hu Cu Yu tells Dong Po Rou the purpose of why I’m here…

[东坡肉] 原来是空桑少主! 幸会! 不知道空桑的酒, 是个什么滋味? 有机会, 还真想去尝尝看! Yuánlái shì kōng sāng shǎo zhǔ! Xìng huì! Bù zhīdào kōng sāng de jiǔ, shìgè shénme zīwèi? Yǒu jīhuì, hái zhēn xiǎng qù cháng cháng kàn! So it turns out to be Kong Sang Shao Zhu! Nice to meet you! Don’t know if I could have the pleasure of knowing what Kong Sang’s wine would taste like? If there’s a chance, I’d really wish to go and have a taste!

[Player] 以往空桑有不少爱酒的食魂, 这酒的品质自然也差不到儿去。 像这桂酒、蜜酒、罗浮春, 不都是你专门… Yǐwǎng kōng sāng yǒu bù shǎo ài jiǔ de shí hún, zhè jiǔ de pǐnzhí zìrán yě chà bù dào er qù. Xiàng zhè guì jiǔ, mì jiǔ, luófú chūn, bù dōu shì nǐ zhuānmén… In the past, the number of Wine-loving Food Souls were not few, the quality of wine is naturally not bad. Like osmanthus wine, honey wine, Luo Fu Chun(glutinous rice wine), all specialised by you….

[Player] 咳哼....都是有专人酿制的。 Hāi hēng.... Dōu shì yǒu zhuānrén niàng zhì de. Ahem….All were brewed by a specialist.

[东坡肉] 哟阿! 听上去, 这酿酒的人, 好像还挺识货? 哎空桑少主, 不如…你就带我空桑看看嘛! Yō ā! Tīng shàngqù, zhè niàngjiǔ de rén, hǎoxiàng hái tǐng shìhuò? Āi kōng sāng shǎo zhǔ, bùrú…nǐ jiù dài wǒ kōng sāng kàn kàn ma! Wow! Listening to this, this brewer, seems to be quite knowledgeable? Hey, Kong Sang Shao Zhu, it would be better….if you’d just bring me to Kong Sang to have a look!

[东坡肉] 这凡间的泉水酿酒虽好..... 但我还想式试, 三界美食圣地空桑的山水, 能酿出什么酒来! Zhè fán jiān de quánshuǐ niàngjiǔ suī hǎo..... Dàn wǒ hái xiǎng shì shì, sānjiè měishí shèngdì kōng sāng de shānshuǐ, néng niàng chū shénme jiǔ lái! Although spring water from the secular world is good for brewing wine… But I still want to try, the holy land of culinary delicacies, Kong Song’s mountain water, what sort of wine could be brewed from it!

[Player] 你要是有这想法, 那我自是无任欢迎! 听闻你东坡肉是出自子瞻先生之手的名菜, 与那金蟾戏珠、醉青虾、五关鸡并称为“东坡四珍”? Nǐ yàoshi yǒu zhè xiǎngfǎ, nà wǒ zì shì wú rèn huānyíng! Tīngwén nǐ dōng pō ròu shì chūzì zi zhān xiānshēng zhī shǒu de míng cài, yǔ nà jīn chán xì zhū, zuì qīng xiā, wǔ guān jī bìng chēng wèi “dōng pō sì zhēn”? If you have this thought, then I greatly welcome you! I heard you’re the Dong Po Rou dish that came from Mister Zi Zhan’s hands, together with Golden Toad Playing Pearls, Drunken Freshwater Prawns, Wu Guan Chicken, you’re all called “The Four Treasures of Dong Po”?

[东坡肉] 真是好见闻! 你说的另三珍同我情同手足, 我们曾陪伴子瞻先生半生。今后, 也要将他的精神流传后世! Zhēnshi hǎo jiànwén! Nǐ shuō de lìng sān zhēn tóng wǒ qíngtóngshǒuzú, wǒmen céng péibàn zi zhān xiānshēng bànshēng. Jīnhòu, yě yào jiāng tā de jīngshén liúchuán hòushì! Quite knowledgeable! The other three treasures you speak of are like brothers to me, we’ve accompanied Mister Zi Zhan for half his lifetime. In the future, we will pass on his spirit to future generations.

[Player] 不过“东坡四珍”之中也只有你拥有“东坡”之名, 所以说你是最能代表东坡先生的食魂吗? Bùguò “dōng pō sì zhēn” zhī zhōng yě zhǐyǒu nǐ yǒngyǒu “dōng pō” zhī míng, suǒyǐ shuō nǐ shì zuì néng dàibiǎo dōng pō xiānshēng de shí hún ma? But among “The Four Treasures of Dong Po”, only you possess the “Dong Po” name, so could it be said that you’re the best Food Soul to represent Mister Dong Po?

[东坡肉] 过誉, 过誉。我的前身, 乃是那徐州回赠肉。熙宁十年, 子瞻先生曾亲率百姓共同抗洪, 奋战七十多个昼夜, 才保住了危在旦夕的徐州城。 Guòyù, guòyù. Wǒ de qiánshēn, nǎi shì nà xúzhōu huízèng ròu. Xī níng shí nián, zi zhān xiānshēng céng qīn lǜ bǎixìng gòngtóng kànghóng, fènzhàn qīshí duō gè zhòuyè, cái bǎozhùle wēizàidànxì de xúzhōu chéng. I’m overrated, I don’t deserve so much praise. My predecessor was the meat that was gifted back in Xu Zhou. In 1077, Mister Zi Zhan personally led the common people to fight against the flood together, struggling for more than 70 days and nights, and was able to save Xu Zhou city from the brink of destruction.

[东坡肉] 后来, 徐州人民为表谢意, 纷纷杀猪宰羊犒劳子瞻先生。 先生推辞不过, 便教家人将猪肉制成红烧肉, 来回赠百姓。 Hòulái, xúzhōu rénmín wèi biǎo xièyì, fēnfēn shā zhū zǎi yáng kàoláo zi zhān xiānshēng. Xiānshēng tuīcí bùguò, biàn jiào jiārén jiāng zhūròu zhì chéng hóngshāo ròu, lái huízèng bǎixìng. Afterwards, the people of Xu Zhou, wanting to express their gratitude, killed the pigs and slaughtered the sheeps one after another to offer to Mister Zi Zhan as reward. Mister Zi Zhan couldn’t decline, and later taught his family to make red braised pork using the pork and gifted it back to the common people.

[东坡肉] 感念于这段民众情, 我得以化灵, 自此追随先生。 待到先生在杭州再次抗洪后, 百姓们便将这道菜称为“东坡肉”啦。 Gǎnniàn yú zhè duàn mínzhòng qíng, wǒ déyǐ huà líng, zì cǐ zhuīsuí xiānshēng. Dài dào xiānshēng zài hángzhōu zàicì kànghóng hòu, bǎixìngmen biàn jiāng zhè dào cài chēng wèi “dōng pō ròu” la. Through the deep feelings of gratitude from the masses, my spirit was able to materialise, accompanying Mister Zi Zhan since then. After Mister Zi Zhan fought a flood once more in Hang Zhou, the common people called the dish “Dong Po Rou”.

[Narration] 东坡肉在讲述苏轼的故事时, 脸上神采奕奕, 眼里也泛着光。 他对子瞻先生的崇敬之情, 可是画在脸上的… Dōng pō ròu zài jiǎngshù sūshì de gùshì shí, liǎn shàng shéncǎi yìyì, yǎn lǐ yě fànzhe guāng. Tā duì zi zhān xiānshēng de chóngjìng zhī qíng, kěshì huà zài liǎn shàng de… While Dong Po Rou was narrating Su Shi’s story, his face was glowing, and his eyes were shining. His feelings of reverence towards Mister Zi Zhan, was written all over his face…

[Player] 真是羡慕你, 能够陪伴子瞻先生一生, 最终继承他的意志。 若是世上多几位这样的父母官, 宋嫂就不至于有那样凄惨的过往了… Zhēnshi xiànmù nǐ, nénggòu péibàn zi zhān xiānshēng yīshēng, zuìzhōng jìchéng tā de yìzhì. Ruòshì shìshàng duō jǐ wèi zhèyàng de fùmǔguān, sòng sǎo jiù bù zhìyú yǒu nàyàng qīcǎn de guòwǎngle… I truly envy you, being able to accompany Mister Zi Zhan throughout his entire life, until ultimately inheriting his will. If earth had more of these types of local officials, sister Song’s past would not have become so miserable…

[东坡肉] 宋嫂之事…我也略有耳闻.... Sòng sǎo zhī shì…wǒ yě lüè yǒu ěrwén.... Sister Song’s matter…I also somewhat heard about it….

[东坡肉] 哎? 鱼叔, 你说你是特意来找我的? 有什么事, 是我东坡肉可以帮上忙吗? 你且说, 兄弟我一定为你两肋插刀! Āi? Yú shū, nǐ shuō nǐ shì tèyì lái zhǎo wǒ de? Yǒu shé me shì, shì wǒ dōng pō ròu kěyǐ bāng shàng máng ma? Nǐ qiěshuō, xiōngdì wǒ yīdìng wèi nǐ liǎng lèi chā dāo! Hey? Uncle Yu, you said you especially came to find me? What’s the matter, is it something that I, Dong Po Rou, can help with? Go ahead and say it, brother, I will definitely put down my life for it! ((两肋插刀 - liǎng lèi chā dāo - lit. knifes piercing both sides (idiom); fig. to attach a great importance to friendship, up to the point of being able to sacrifice oneself for it))

[西湖醋鱼] 插刀倒不至于。 只是我…最近有一事不解, 想来还是你有些主意.... Chā dāo dào bù zhìyú. Zhǐshì wǒ… zuìjìn yǒuyī shì bù jiě, xiǎnglái háishì nǐ yǒuxiē zhǔyì.... It’s not so serious to that point. It’s just that I….recently have a matter that I’m puzzled with, and thought that maybe you might have some ideas…

[东坡肉] 哎唷! 居然还有鱼叔你这个老江湖不懂的事儿? Aiyo! Unexpectedly there are matters that you, Uncle Yu, this old wanderer, don’t understand?

[西湖醋鱼] 唉, 且听我道来。宋嫂她近日.... Āi, qiě tīng wǒ dào lái. Sòng sǎo tā jìnrì.... Haa, listen to me for now. Sister Song, recently she….

[Narration] 西湖醋鱼断断续续地把宋嫂之事原委向东坡肉交代了... Xīhú cù yú duànduànxùxù de bǎ sòng sǎo zhī shì yuánwěi xiàng dōng pō ròu jiāodàile… Xi Hu Cu Yu disjointedly explains the whole story of sister Song’s matter to Dong Po Rou…

[东坡肉] 哟! 没想到鱼叔你五大三粗的, 还有这几分侠骨柔情呢! Yō! Méi xiǎngdào yú shū nǐ wǔdàsāncū de, hái yǒu zhè jǐ fēn xiágǔ róuqíng ne! Oh! Didn’t expect you, Uncle Yu, this big and imposing man, to still have some bones of chivalry tenderness!

[西湖醋鱼] 唉, 莫要打趣。 宋嫂于我正如子瞻先生于你, 可谓恩重如山。我又如何能眼见她平白受辱! Āi, mò yào dǎqù. Sòng sǎo yú wǒ zhèngrú zǐ zhān xiānshēng yú nǐ, kěwèi ēn zhòng rúshān. Wǒ yòu rúhé néng yǎnjiàn tā píngbái shòurǔ! Haa, quit teasing. What sister Song is to me is the same as what Mister Zi Zhan is to you, it could even be said to be a debt of gratitude as heavy as a mountain. How can I watch her be humiliated for nothing!

[西湖醋鱼] 你若能想出个些主意来, 令宋嫂心中宽慰, 咱也能安心去惩办恶霸不是! Nǐ ruò néng xiǎng chū gè xiē zhǔyì lái, lìng sòng sǎo xīnzhōng kuānwèi, zán yě néng ānxīn qù chéngbàn èbà bùshì! If you’re able to come up with some ideas, allowing sister Song’s heart to feel relieved, we can also punish the evil tyrants with a peace of mind!

[东坡肉] 这你可就问对人了! 我看那墨客文人为让姑娘展颜, 总喜欢用这招-- Zhè nǐ kě jiù wèn duì rénle! Wǒ kàn nà mòkè wénrén wéi ràng gūniáng zhǎn yán, zǒng xǐhuān yòng zhè zhāo— Then you’ve come to the right person! I’ve seen those literary scholars making young girls smile, they always like to use this trick—

[东坡肉] 前有元稹薛涛的“双栖绿池上, 朝暮共飞还” ; 后有温庭筠与鱼玄机的…… Qián yǒu yuán zhěn xuētāo de “shuāng qī lǜ chíshàng, zhāo mù gòng fēi hái”; hòu yǒu wēntíngyún yǔ yú xuánjī de…… Before there were Yuan Zhen and Xue Tao’s “This pair alights upon the green surface of the pond, Evening and morning, coming and going” ; There’s also Wen Ting Yun and Yu Xuan Ji’s… ((Poem is ‘A Pair of Birds upon the Waters’ from Xue Tao, poetess of the Tang Dynasty))

[东坡肉] 呃, 他俩写的是什么来着.....总之! 这事儿就包在我身上了! È, tā liǎ xiě de shì shénme láizhe..... Zǒngzhī! Zhè shì er jiù bāo zài wǒ shēnshangle! Eh, what did those two write about….In short! Just leave this matter to me!

[thebananatroll]

Chapter 4, part 5 五 . 经年往事 Wǔ. Jīng nián wǎngshì Five. Events of past years.

[Player] 这事也太荒唐了! 作恶之人有官府庇护, 行侠之人却要逃跑? 西湖醋鱼, 你赶紧给我解释清楚! Zhè shì yě tài huāngtángle! Zuò'è zhī rén yǒu guānfǔ bìhù, xíng xiá zhī rén què yào táopǎo? Xīhú cù yú, nǐ gǎnjǐn gěi wǒ jiěshì qīngchǔ! This matter is too absurd! Those who do evil have the government’s protection, but those who are chivalrous must flee? Xi Hu Cu Yu, you quickly give me a clear explanation!

[西湖醋鱼] 哎....这件事解释起来, 一匹布这么长…… Āi.... Zhè jiàn shì jiěshì qǐlái, yī pǐ bù zhème zhǎng…… Haa….To explain about this matter, it’s complicated and can’t be explained in a few words….

[西湖醋鱼] 多年前, 宋嫂同她的丈夫和小叔隐居在西湖边, 一家以打渔为生。 日子虽然过得并不富裕, 却也平顺舒心.... Duōnián qián, sòng sǎo tóng tā de zhàngfū hé xiǎo shū yǐnjū zài xīhú biān, yījiā yǐ dǎ yú wéi shēng. Rìzi suīránguò dé bìng bù fùyù, què yě píngshùn shūxīn.... Many years ago, sister Song lived by the West Lake with her husband and younger brother-in-law, the whole family made a living by fishing. Although the days were not rich, it was still smooth and comfortable….

[西湖醋鱼] 一日, 宋嫂正在湖边浣纱时, 遇见了游湖的赵恶霸。 那腌臜泼才看她貌美, 使生了色心, 派人使了些阴谋手段, 害死了宋兄 Yī rì, sòng sǎo zhèngzài hú biān huàn shā shí, yùjiànle yóu hú de zhào èbà. Nà ā zā pō cái kàn tā mào měi, shǐ shēngle sè xīn, pài rén shǐle xiē yīnmóu shǒuduàn, hài sǐle sòng xiōng. One day, when sister Song was doing laundry by the lakeside, she met tyrant Zhao who was swimming in the lake. That disgusting brute saw her beauty, gave birth to lust, dispatched people to carry out a scheme, and murdered older brother Song.

[西湖醋鱼] 宋家叔嫂得知亲人被迫害, 十分气愤。 两人一起上官府告状, 企求官府伸张正义。 Sòngjiāshū sǎo dé zhī qīnrén bèi pòhài, shífēn qìfèn. Liǎng rén yīqǐ shàng guānfǔ gàozhuàng, qǐqiú guānfǔ shēnzhāng zhèngyì. When Song Family uncle and sister-in-law found out about their close relative being persecuted, they were extremely furious. Both of them lodged a complaint to the government together, seeking for the government to uphold justice.

[西湖醋鱼] 他们哪知, 官府里有人与那赵恶霸是一伙儿的! 不但没有受理宋家叔嫂的控诉, 反而将两人一顿棒打, 赶出了官府……… Tāmen nǎ zhī, guānfǔ li yǒurén yǔ nà zhào èbà shì yī huǒ er de! Bùdàn méiyǒu shòulǐ sòngjiāshū sǎo de kòngsù, fǎn'ér jiāng liǎng rén yī dùn bàng dǎ, gǎn chūle guānfǔ……… How could they have known, in the government there was someone who was in league with that tyrant Zhao! Not only was the Song family uncle and sister-in-law’s accusation not accepted, they were instead both beaten by sticks, driven away from the government…

[西湖醋鱼] 担心那赵恶霸再来寻仇, 宋嫂让宋弟立刻收拾行装出逃… Dānxīn nà zhào èbà zàilái xún chóu, sòng sǎo ràng sòng dì lìkè shōushí xíngzhuāng chūtáo… Worried that tyrant Zhao would come back to seek revenge, sister Song had younger brother Song pack up his things and flee….

[宋嫂] .......

[宋嫂] 你说的没错…… 他们……都是一个鼻孔出气的….都不是什么好人.... Nǐ shuō de méi cuò…… tāmen……dōu shì yīgè bíkǒng chūqì de…. Dōu bùshì shénme hǎorén.... What you said is right…. They’re….all the same….none of them are good people….

[西湖醋鱼] 你.....你都听见了…… Nǐ..... Nǐ dōu tīngjiànle…… You….you overheard us…….

[Player] 对不起, 宋嫂.....我只是想了解这件事的前因后果, 希望能够帮上忙.... Duìbùqǐ, sòng sǎo..... Wǒ zhǐshì xiǎng liǎojiě zhè jiàn shì de qiányīnhòuguǒ, xīwàng nénggòu bāng shàng máng.... Sorry, sister Song…I just wanted to know the cause and effect of this matter, hoping to be able to lend a helping hand….

[Narration] 宋嫂勉强露出一个笑容, 对我了摇头… Sòng sǎo miǎnqiáng lùchū yīgè xiàoróng, duì wǒle yáotóu… Sister Song barely puts forth a smiling expression, shaking her head at me…

[宋嫂] 没关系.....我知道你不是那些坏心肠的人.... Méiguānxì..... Wǒ zhīdào nǐ bùshì nàxiē huài xīncháng de rén.... It’s alright…I know you’re not one of those people with bad intentions….

[宋嫂] 赵恶霸的目标是我… 小叔一人势单力薄, 若执意阻拦, 怕只会重蹈夫君的…… Zhào èbà de mùbiāo shì wǒ… Xiǎo shū yīrén shì dān lì báo, ruò zhíyì zǔlán, pà zhǐ huì chóng dǎo fūjūn de…… Tyrant Zhao’s objective is me…. Younger brother-in-law is weak alone, if he’s determined to obstruct, I’m afraid he’ll only follow down the same road as my husband….

[宋嫂] 临行前我为他烧了一碗鱼, 加糖, 加醋… 鱼有酸有甜, 希望他不会忘记哥哥的仇... Lín xíng qián wǒ wèi tā shāole yī wǎn yú, jiātáng, jiā cù… yú yǒu suān yǒu tián, xīwàng tā bù huì wàngjì gēgē de chóu… Before leaving, I cooked for him a bowl of fish, added sugar, added vinegar… The dish is sour and sweet, hoping he won’t forget to avenge his brother…

[宋嫂] 他日生活若甜, 也不要忘记更多老百姓受欺凌的心酸.... Tā rì shēnghuó ruò tián, yě bùyào wàngjì gèng duō lǎobǎixìng shòu qīlíng de xīnsuān.... The days of his life seemed sweet, yet unable to forget the common people’s sadness of being bullied and humiliated even more….

[Narration] 说到此处, 宋嫂已便咽得说不出话来, 匆匆回了屋… Shuō dào cǐ chù, sòng sǎo yǐ biàn yàn dé shuō bu chū huà lái, cōngcōng huíle wū… Speaking up till here, sister Song then chokes up until no more words could come out, hurriedly returning home…

[Player] 所以鱼叔你是打算为宋嫂伸张正义吗? Suǒyǐ yú shū nǐ shì dǎsuàn wèi sòng sǎo shēnzhāng zhèngyì ma? So Uncle Yu, are you planning to uphold justice for sister Song?

[西湖醋鱼] 呵, 伸张正义说不上, 只是那厮不晓道理, 恁地由他欺侮宋嫂那么多年! 既是天道不公, 我便想凭这一身武艺.... Hē, shēnzhāng zhèngyì shuōbushàng, zhǐshì nà sī bù xiǎo dàolǐ, nèndì yóu tā qīwǔ sòng sǎo nàme duōnián! Jìshì tiāndào bùgōng, wǒ biàn xiǎng píng zhè yīshēn wǔyì.... Heh, don’t even mention about upholding justice, that guy simply doesn't know reason, letting sister Song to be bullied for so many years! Since the way of heaven is unfair, I’ll just rely on this one body’s martial arts…

[Player] 抱歉, 今日.....坏了你的事… Bàoqiàn, jīnrì..... Huàile nǐ de shì… Sorry, today….I’ve ruined your matter….

[西湖醋鱼] ....算了。只是没想到你这小姑娘年纪轻轻, 却也颇有胆识, 当真少见。 .... Suànle. Zhǐshì méi xiǎngdào nǐ zhè xiǎo gūniáng niánjì qīng qīng, què yě pǒ yǒu dǎnshì, dàngzhēn shǎojiàn. ….Forget it. Just didn’t expect you, this little lady, so young but still courageous and insightful, truly a rarity.

[西湖醋鱼] 对了, 你如何得知我本名为西湖醋鱼? Duìle, nǐ rúhé dé zhī wǒ běn míng wèi xīhú cù yú? That’s right, how did you find out my real name is Xi Hu Cu Yu?

[Player] 我叫[Player], 是那三界美食圣地空桑的少主。 此番前来,是想邀请你前往空桑, 在那里安居乐业。 Wǒ jiào [Player], shì nà sānjiè měishí shèngdì kōng sāng de shǎo zhǔ. Cǐ fān qián lái, shì xiǎng yāoqǐng nǐ qiánwǎng kōng sāng, zài nàlǐ ānjūlèyè. I’m the player, the Shao Zhu of the Holy Land of Culinary Delicacy Kong Sang of the Three Realms. This time around, am here to invite you to leave for Kong Sang, to live in peace and happily work there.

[西湖醋鱼] 哦, 原来是空桑来的大人。 空桑有酒吗? 包吃包住吗? 不干活儿, 能来钱吗?   Ó, yuánlái shì kōng sāng lái de dàrén. Kōng sāng yǒu jiǔ ma? Bāo chī bāo zhù ma? Bù gān huó er, néng lái qián ma? Oh, so it turns out to be the master of Kong Sang. Does Kong Sang have alcohol? Enough to eat and live well? If unwilling to work, will there still be money?

[Player] 哈哈瞧你这问的, 空桑包吃包住。若愿意在空桑的餐馆里做做菜, 农场里干干活儿, 海里捞捞鱼, 每月还有酬劳。 Hāhā qiáo nǐ zhè wèn de, kōng sāng bāo chī bāo zhù. Ruò yuànyì zài kōng sāng de cānguǎn lǐ zuò zuò cài, nóngchǎng lǐ gàn gàn huó er, hǎilǐ lāo lāo yú, měi yuè hái yǒu chóuláo. Ha ha look at what you’re asking, Kong Sang has enough to eat and live well. If willing to make dishes in Kong Sang’s restaurant, do manual labour in the farm, catch fishes in the sea, every month will have payment.

[西湖醋鱼] 听上去很不错啊! 若是能替宋嫂了结了惩办恶霸这桩心愿, 去空桑养养老, 也挺好! Tīng shàngqù hěn bùcuò a! Ruòshì néng tì sòng sǎo liǎojiéle chéngbàn èbà zhè zhuāng xīnyuàn, qù kōng sāng yǎng yǎnglǎo, yě tǐng hǎo! It sounds pretty good! If I am able to accomplish this wish of punishing the tyrant on sister Song’s behalf, leaving for Kong Sang to enjoy a life of retirement, is also very good!

[Player] 你真的这么想吗? 太好了! 宋嫂这桩事, 我也很在意。 不消你说, 我也会尽力协助你帮她了结心愿的。 Nǐ zhēn de zhème xiǎng ma? Tài hǎole! Sòng sǎo zhè zhuāng shì, wǒ yě hěn zàiyì. Bùxiāo nǐ shuō, wǒ yě huì jìnlì xiézhù nǐ bāng tā liǎojié xīnyuàn de. Do you really think so? That’s great! For sister Song’s matter, I’m also concerned about it. Without you saying anything, I’ll also spare no effort to aid your assistance in accomplishing sister Song’s wish.

[西湖醋鱼] 不错! 够义气。 Bùcuò! Gòu yìqì. Not bad! Enough righteousness.

[西湖醋鱼] 只是近来宋嫂总是唉声叹气, 莫非是近来渔收不利? Zhǐshì jìnlái sòng sǎo zǒng shì āishēngtànqì, mòfēi shì jìnlái yú shōu bùlì? But recently sister Song has been constantly sighing, Could it be that the fishing harvest has been bad lately?

[Player] 或许是宋嫂想念小叔了, 又或许是这些流氓恶霸让她忆起了过往的伤心事.... Huòxǔ shì sòng sǎo xiǎngniàn xiǎo shūle, yòu huòxǔ shì zhèxiē liúmáng èbà ràng tā yì qǐle guòwǎng de shāngxīn shì.... Maybe sister Song misses her younger brother-in-law, or maybe it was these tyrant hoodlums that made sister Song remember sad things from the past…

[Player] 内心的伤口一旦被撕开, 压抑许久的悲伤也会如洪水猛兽般溢出..... Nèixīn de shāngkǒu yīdàn bèi sī kāi, yāyì xǔjiǔ de bēishāng yě huì rú hóngshuǐměngshòu bān yìchū..... When the wound of the heart has been torn open, sorrows that were suppressed long ago would overflow like severe floods and fierce beasts…

[Player] 与亲人生离, 与丈夫死别, 这般痛楚, 你我又如何能感同身受… Yǔ qīn rénshēng lí, yǔ zhàngfū sǐ bié, zhè bān tòngchǔ, nǐ wǒ yòu rúhé néng gǎntóngshēnshòu… The separation from relatives, and the death of a husband, this kind of suffering, how could you or I really know what it feels like to be in her shoes…

[西湖醋鱼] 你…很懂得体谅他人。 Nǐ…hěn dǒngdé tǐliàng tārén. You’re…very understanding and sympathetic to others.

[Player] 我...是吗? 哈哈! Wǒ... Shì ma? Hāhā! I….am? Aha!

[Player] 不过我们也不能让宋嫂就这么消沉下去呀。 是不是该找点什么能让她稍微高兴起来的事情? Bùguò wǒmen yě bùnéng ràng sòng sǎo jiù zhème xiāochén xiàqù ya. Shì bùshì gāi zhǎo diǎn shénme néng ràng tā shāowéi gāo xīng qǐlái de shìqíng? But we also can’t let sister Song continue being depressed. Shouldn’t we find something to cheer her up a little?

[西湖醋鱼] ....行! 我想到了! 我这就去! .... Xíng! Wǒ xiǎngdàole! Wǒ zhè jiù qù! ….Ok! I got it! I’m gonna go!

[Player] 哎! 去哪儿! 等等-- Āi! Qù nǎ'er! Děng děng— Hey! Go where! Wait—

[thebananatroll]

Chapter 4, part 3 and 4

三 . 帐中恶霸 . 一 Sān. Zhàng zhōng èbà. Yī Three. Evil tyrant in debt . One

[西湖醋鱼] 等、等等! 你听我解释! Děng, děng děng! Nǐ tīng wǒ jiěshì! W-wait! You listen to my explanation!

[Player] 还有什么借口! 说来给我听听! Hái yǒu shé me jièkǒu! Shuō lái gěi wǒ tīng tīng! What other excuses do you have! Let me hear it!

[西湖醋鱼] 哎不是, 我为什么要跟你解释这些? 小姑娘赶紧离开这种地方, 别打扰大爷我办事! Āi bùshì, wǒ wèishéme yào gēn nǐ jiěshì zhèxiē? Xiǎo gūniáng gǎnjǐn líkāi zhè zhòng dìfāng, bié dǎrǎo dàyé wǒ bànshì! Ai no, why do I have to explain these things to you? Little girl, quickly leave this sort of place, don’t disturb this uncle’s work!

[Player] 你在这种地方要办什么要紧事呀? Nǐ zài zhè zhòng dìfāng yào bàn shénme yàojǐn shì ya? What sort of important work do you have to do in a place like this?

[西湖醋鱼] 嘁! 说了你也不懂! 说了你也帮不上忙! 赖着我做什么, 你赶紧-- Qī! Shuōle nǐ yě bù dǒng! Shuōle nǐ yě bāng bù shàng máng! Làizhe wǒ zuò shénme, nǐ gǎnjǐn— Tch! Even if I say it, you won’t understand! Even if I say it, you won’t be able to help! Hanging onto me for what, you hurry—

[???] 是谁在那里唠唠叨叨, 坏了爷的兴致! Shì shéi zài nàlǐ láo láo dāo dāo, huàile yé de xìngzhì! Who is it that’s blabbing on and on here, ruining this lord’s mood!

[Narration] 门厅里走出一位权贵之人, 身上穿金戴银, 前前后后七八个护卫拥着……… Méntīng lǐ zǒuchū yī wèi quánguì zhī rén, shēnshang chuān jīn dài yín, qián qiánhòu hòu qībā gè hùwèi yōngzhe……… A powerful man comes out of the foyer, dripping gold and silver on his person, surrounded by seven or eight bodyguards…..

[???] 哟呵! 这不是鱼叔嘛! 今天怎么有兴致来风月阁作客啊? 要不要爷我, 给你推荐几个相熟的… Yō hē! Zhè bùshì yú shū ma! Jīntiān zěnme yǒu xìngzhì lái fēngyuè gé zuòkè a? Yào bùyào yé wǒ, gěi nǐ tuījiàn jǐ gè xiāng shú de… Oh hey! Isn’t this Uncle Yu! Why today have the mood to visit Feng Yue Pavilion today? Want this lord, to recommend some acquaintances to you……

[西湖醋鱼] 废话少说! 赵恶霸, 爷爷我今日来风月阁寻得便是你! 若你再派人去纠缠宋嫂, 我定将你沉到西湖去喂鱼! Fèihuà shǎo shuō! Zhào èbà, yéyé wǒ jīnrì lái fēngyuè gé xún dé biàn shì nǐ! Ruò nǐ zài pài rén qù jiūchán sòng sǎo, wǒ dìng jiāng nǐ chén dào xīhú qù wèi yú! Don’t talk nonsense! Tyrant Zhao, I, this grandpa, today came to Feng Yue Pavilion to search for you! If you send people to pester sister Song again, I will absolutely sink you down into West Lake to feed the fishes!

[赵恶霸] 啧, 我道是作甚, 原来是来搅和我同宋家娘子的好事! Zé, wǒ dào shì zuò shén, yuánlái shì lái jiǎohuo wǒ tóng sòng jiā niángzǐ de hǎoshì! Tch, I understand what’s going on, it turns out you came to spoil the good matter between me and Song family’s lady!  

[西湖醋鱼] 哼。口无遮拦, 你这厮在此横行霸道多年, 我便是来替天行道! Hēng. Kǒu wú zhēlán, nǐ zhè sī zài cǐ héngxíngbàdào duōnián, wǒ biàn shì lái tì tiān xíngdào! Hmph. Shooting off your own mouth, you’ve been tyrannizing here for so many years, I am here to enforce justice on behalf of the Heavens!

[赵恶霸] 哟! 瞧你说的。就许你看上宋嫂, 不许我公平竞争? Yō! Qiáo nǐ shuō de. Jiù xǔ nǐ kàn shàng sòng sǎo, bùxǔ wǒ gōngpíng jìngzhēng? Oh! Look at what you’re saying. Only allowing yourself to fall for sister Song, not allowing me a fair competition?

[西湖醋鱼] 赵恶霸, 今日饶你不得! Zhào èbà, jīnrì ráo nǐ bùdé! Tyrant Zhao, today you won’t be spared!

[Narration] 西湖醋鱼闻言火冒三丈, 剑闻声出鞘, 那赵恶霸的护卫也纷纷持剑出鞘。 众人在风月阁中一触即发, 吓得姑娘客人纷纷离场..... Xīhú cù yú wén yán huǒmàosānzhàng, jiàn wén shēng chū qiào, nà zhào èbà de hùwèi yě fēnfēn chí jiàn chū qiào. Zhòngrén zài fēngyuè gé zhōng yīchùjífā, xià dé gūniáng kèrén fēnfēn lí chǎng..... Xi Hu Cu Yu became furious when he heard those words, the sword making a well-known sound when being unsheathed, those bodyguards of Tyrant Zhao’s also unsheath their sword one after another. Everyone in Feng Yue Pavilion is on edge, the frightened girls and customers leaves the scene one after another….

[Player] 原来是要替宋嫂出头, 你怎不早说! Yuánlái shì yào tì sòng sǎo chūtóu, nǐ zěn bù zǎo shuō! So it’s to stand up for sister Song’s behalf, why did you say so!

三 . 帐中恶霸 . 二 (part 2)

[西湖醋鱼] 嘁! 官兵来了, 快走! Qī! Guānbīng láile, kuàizǒu! Tch! The government soldiers are here, let’s go quickly!

[Player] 官兵来了该走也不是我们走呀? 杀人作恶的是那赵恶霸, 怎么一 Guānbīng láile gāi zǒu yě bùshì wǒmen zǒu ya? Shārén zuò'è de shì nà zhào èbà, zěnme yī The soldiers are here but the ones who should be leaving shouldn’t be us? The one who murdered and commits evil is that Tyrant Zhao, why— [西湖醋鱼] 那赵恶霸在官府里有靠山! 一时半刻说不清楚, 反正被官兵抓到就麻烦了! Nà zhào èbà zài guānfǔ li yǒu kàoshān! Yīshí bàn kè shuō bu qīngchǔ, fǎnzhèng bèi guānbīng zhuā dào jiù máfanle! That Tyrant Zhao has a backer in the government! Can’t explain it clearly in a short time, in any case it would be troublesome if we get arrested by the soldiers!

留下硬刚谁怕谁! Liú xià yìng gāng shéi pà shéi! Stay firm and resolute, who’s afraid of who!

问鹄羹该怎么办? Wèn gǔ gēng gāi zěnme bàn Ask Hu Geng what should be done?

脚底抹油赶紧溜~ Jiǎodǐ mǒ yóu gǎnjǐn liū ~ Oil the sole of the feet and slip away~

((No matter what choice, same result))

[鹄羹] 就听鱼叔的, 先撤退吧, 少主。 Jiù tīng yú shū de, xiān chètuì ba, shǎo zhǔ. Just listen to Uncle Yu, let’s retreat first, Shao Zhu.

[Player] .......好吧。 ....... Hǎo ba. ……..Okay.

[thebananatroll]

Thank you for translating! I don't always have the brain power for translating so your translations help a lot.

I've been translating daily encounters here and there, but, to be honest, I'm curious too whether there are minor differences in jp or whether the text was adapted for jp audience. 👀

It's really interesting to compare the differences between servers and language choices and adaptations.

Here's hoping it will! The game is very pretty indeed. And the characters are really nice as well 🥺

Thank youuu~ Ehehe i try to translate when I can on my free time~ So it can be quite slow ooooohoho I also wonder if JP server changed anything in the text for JP audience 👀 *Trueee Learning about their characters as I translate the main story is such a bonus~*

[thebananatroll]

Hi! I wanted to join the anon and say thank you as well. I really like Tales of Food and while it's easier to understand what's going on with jp server here it's not thebsame as the original.

Thank you so much! It would be nice if the game gained more attention 🥺

Aaaaaaaaaa Thank you for reading my translations! I'm curious what the differences are in JP's servers 👀 since there seem to be minor differences between different servers~ Although my version is the SEA version, so it's also not the original hahaha

I started translating with TW's server, I think, for the intro and chapter 1. When I switched over to SEA after it's release, I went through the translations again and found some small differences like added lines and different words here and there. But they're really minor so it's okay~

And me too I hope the game becomes more popular since such a pretty game!

[thebananatroll]

thank you so much for translating tale of food! ❤

Aaaaaa thank you so much for reading the translations too!! ❤️❤️❤️