OPEN YOUR MASK, PRINCESS!
Episode 546 RECALLS THE ORIGIN OF
“Aaaarrggghhh! Pain... please just yes.” Screaming again sounded from Grace's room, the sound of the girl screaming until it sounded into the living room. Even Kao Jing who was sitting on the living room sofa to watch over him alone until the head bobbles heard the screams of her daughter.
Grace held back a cry for not being able to hold the pain when an old woman pulled out the fine fur on her face with a thread. Several times Grace screamed, grimaced in pain and the woman seemed to have been so immune that she ignored Grace's discomfort. If it wasn't for Kao Jing asking to find a matchmaker (the person in charge of arranging Tionghwa weddings) and running a series of complicated rituals for modern people like Grace, of course Grace won't last until that minute.
“A little more, stay on the left cheek. Hold it again yes, miss.” Pinta the matchmaker persuaded with a wide smile.
Grace remained a manyun, next to her cheek still felt faint but she had been asked to continue again. “I don't want any more, Ama.. please cooperate yes, later if my father asks just say it's done. I'm willing to pay your angpaom triple...”.
“Eheem...ahem...” Kao Jing's deheman voice disperse Grace's reason to bribe the old woman.
Grace's heart seemed almost dislodged when she heard the voice of her father who was very close. Slowly he turned his head and found Kao Jing standing straight while folding his hands and looking at him sharply, like catching a victim and not going to take it off. Grace smiled smirkingly, failing was her intention. “He he... dad, I was just kidding kok.” Grace said she was afraid.
Kao Jing shook his head quickly, there was no way he would act decisively to his girl who was about to give up her single life. He should be gentle to convince her to finish what has already begun. “Have you finished the joke? Come now go on again, father accompany here.” Kao Jing exclaimed as she took a sitting position on Grace's sofa room.
Grace's face changed completely, wanting to cry for real because now her father entered as a security guard in the room. He can't dwell anymore, “Dad... Can it be stopped? This really makes me tormented.” Whine Grace who showed a spoiled attitude to her father.
Kao Jing sighed, glanced at the sad-looking Grace then stared gently at the passive matchmaker standing up. Kao Jing nodded softly, asking the woman for a moment to be able to have a four-eye talk with Grace.
“I prepare the others first, if you are ready to call. Excuse me.” The old woman resigned for a moment. Kao Jing escorted her to Grace's doorstep, then closed the door.
The old man walked slowly over to Grace who saw him in surprise. I don't know what his father wanted to say until he had to close the door. Kao Jing sat back but next to Grace who was still sitting on the bed. The old man's smile expanded, then grabbed Grace's hand to hold. Grace kept quiet, letting her father start what he wanted to talk about.
“Unexpectedly the hand that used to be tiny grasped this size has almost matched my palm. Not unexpectedly, tomorrow is no longer held by father, but there is already another man who is responsible for holding your future. But Grace, there's one thing I asked of you.” Kao Jing paused her words to see for a moment Grace's reaction to what she had just said.
“What father? Say...” pinta Grace who has since been moved to hear Kao Jing's sincere expression to him.
“Where you stand, that's where the sky you hold. But don't forget where we came from. The blood that flows in our bodies, the name that labels our origins, I ask you to keep it. Even though we have already been crossed out from the descendants of the Li clan, but the blood in our bodies cannot be drained and replaced by other blood. It means that in this life, even though we are not recognized but as smaller, we must recognize our ancestors.” Said Kao Jing steadily, his gaze staring into the sky of the room. There was a sense of tightness that filled his heart, as well as regret that he could no longer express. Had it not been for his faults, he might not have been expelled from the lineage, would not have lost a son, would not have seen his daughter marry instead in the ancestral residence, he said, and will not experience a regretful old age. It was too late for Kao Jing, but not for Grace.
Grace tightened her grip as she saw a sad look on her father's face, without needing an explanation she already understood that her father was remembering the figure of Chen Kho. Every time she thought of him, Grace felt the same sadness. “Dad, don't remember the sad thing in the past.” Pinta Grace with a soft look at Kao Jing. He could not bear to see the expression on the man's face that looked like he was devastated.
Kao Jing smiled and shook her head slowly, “No Grace, father does not remember the sad thing. Soon your good day will come, there must be no sadness. We cannot forget those who have been close to us, but that does not mean remembering them should be sad. Grace, I'm just asking you to keep our custom, too. Later tell your son too, so that he knows where his mother came from.”
Grace smiled, she thought too far about her father's heart. But it turns out that what is asked is to inherit their ancestral customs wherever they are. Grace began to understand and catch Kao Jing's intentions, she nodded her head as a sign that she understood and supported him. “Good dad, Grace understands.”
“Good, you need to know that the tradition of shaving facial hair, eyebrows, removing hair on the side of the ear is one of the customs. All the Li ladies who are getting married will do it. And don't forget that you are also one of Ms. Li. You are Grace Li.” Kao Jing said with a charismatic smile.
Kao Jing chuckled at her daughter's spirit to avoid what she asked for. “Dad knows it hurts, but if a little held for the sake of intention, sure it's not as painful. Even then according to the story of his mother's father, he could run it without feeling pain. All that from yourself, if you feel it hurts, your subconscious will make it really hurt.”
Grace fell silent, wanting to understand and accept, but it was very difficult. “Hmm... can I wear a little anesthesia?” hail Grace with confidence.
“No.” Kao Jing replied firmly.
Grace Manyun returned, inevitably she had to obey her father's will. “Alright if there is no other choice, I will strengthen myself.”
Kao Jing stood up, turning to Grace with a smile. “Follow dad to my room.”
The old man led the way, Grace obeyed without a word. When passing through the living room and saw the matchmaker was preparing candles, sweets and various other preparations for the day. The old woman seemed to give orders to Fang Fang who was helping her while occasionally sounding laughing. When they realized Kao Jing and Grace were walking through the living room, they stopped laughing and smiled and just said hello.
Grace went into the room when her father first entered the largest room of this apartment. He gasped when he saw the bedroom was blocked by a closet, and behind the bulkhead became another room in the room which was converted into an altar room. Grace could read the names on a small board written in Chinese calligraphy. One that Grace knew well was the names Li San Ji and Li Chen Kho as well as the names of her mother, the other two she did not recognize even though she could read them.
The shock that Grace felt made her silence for a moment, feeling sad because only in this way she and her father could remember the figure of people who had been close to them during life. “Dad...” Glazed Grace with teary eyes, as well as Kao Jing.
“This is what I secretly do, want to feel close to those who at once will not forget our custom. Respecting ancestors, remembering those who have ever existed. Without them, there would be no us. It's just a symbol of respect, because the day after tomorrow you have to do the honors before being taken out of this house. Ask permission and blessing to your grandparents, mother, uncle and brother. You understand what Dad means?” Kao Jing asked who hoped to resuscitate Grace fully.
Grace nodded in understanding, fully understanding that her father had completely regretted and punished himself by always remembering the mistakes he made, to the point of leaving the Li family scattered. The regret he wanted to redeem by praying and honoring those who had left. And Grace can also afford to not complain anymore, even if she was raised in a modern way, but she will not forget the origin. The girl cupped her hands together in front of her chest, closed her eyes and prayed for the serenity of those whose names were on the altar.
“I understand dad. Excuse me dad.” Grace bowed respectfully and was about to pass from before her father.
“Where are you going to Grace?” Kao Jing asked in surprise.
Grace looked at her father and smiled optimistically. “Solve the next cheek, father.” Grace replied, blinking one eye.
❤️❤️❤️
Hi guys, while waiting two more days to finish, yuk read the author's latest novel. The genre of fantasy romance, yes more or less the same as this story genre. Please support yes, love, like and comment on that story 🙏 thanks.