# Xi Zixu, *Kaleidoscope of Death*, trans. Taida Translations, 2020 Original title: 死亡万花筒 > [!cite] > 西子绪 \[Xi Zixu]. *Kaleidoscope of Death*. Translated by Taida Translations. Taida Translations, 2020. [https://taidatranslations.wordpress.com/kaleidoscope-of-death/](https://taidatranslations.wordpress.com/kaleidoscope-of-death/). > [!summary] > It started off peculiarly; first, his domestic cat refused to let him cuddle it. > > Lin Qiushi soon found that a sense of disharmony and incongruity began to pervade everything around him. > > Then, one odd day, he pushed open a door, and he discovered that the hallway he was familiar with turned into a boundless corridor. > > At both ends of this corridor were twelve, identical iron gates. > > He pushed one of the doors. > > Thus, the story begins. > > Ruan Nanzhu said to Lin Qiushi, “When you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss will also gaze back into you.” > > Upon hearing this, Lin Qiushi sank into deep contemplation. He then pulled down the zipper of his trousers and aimed at the abyss… > > Ruan Nanzhu: “…Put your pants on properly!” --- ## quotes ‘The exact term “bear parent” doesn’t exist in English, and I have no idea what an English equivalent would be—it isn’t tiger mom or helicopter parent, that’s for sure. It’s basically a parent who spoils their kid rotten, but may also be very neglectful. This type of parent turns a blind eye to all of their own child’s misconducts, blames any misbehavior on other people (i.e. they refuse to admit their child is flawed and did anything wrong or that the reason their child constantly acts up is due to how they raised them), and always finds fault in other people, parents and kids alike, instead of their own child.’ [[Xi Zixu, Kaleidoscope of Death, trans. Taida Translations, 2020|(Xi Zixu 2020, chap. 37; translation note)]] ^704cd3 ‘Original: 就是头发有点绿. The literal translation is “It’s just that your hair’s a bit green”. This is referring to a green hat or the act of being cuckolded. This is part of an expression that translated into something like: To live a decent life, you must have a little green on your head. It pretty much means as long as you’re tolerant and close your eyes to certain stuff, you will lead a happier life, which is basically the equivalent of “ignorance is bliss”.’ [[Xi Zixu, Kaleidoscope of Death, trans. Taida Translations, 2020|(Xi Zixu 2020, chap. 34; translation note)]] ^2220da ‘Here he used 小哥 (Xiao Ge). Ge or Gege means “big brother” and is normally used to address blood-related older brothers or males older than you (as seen with how Cheng Qianli address his older twin and RNZ). However, “Xiao Ge” is used by those who know they are older than a younger person, yet still want to kiss up to/flatter the younger one by calling them “Big Bro” (as seen with ZRG calling LQS “Big bro”, despite clearly knowing that LQS is much, much younger.)’ [[Xi Zixu, Kaleidoscope of Death, trans. Taida Translations, 2020|(Xi Zixu 2020, chap. 17; translation note)]] ^ca390e ‘Ge or Gege means “big brother” and is normally used to address blood-related older brothers or males older than you (as seen with how Cheng Qianli address his older twin and RNZ).’ [[Xi Zixu, Kaleidoscope of Death, trans. Taida Translations, 2020|(Xi Zixu 2020, chap. 17; translation note)]] ^5e3278 ‘“Eating vinegar’ is another way of expressing jealousy.’ [[Xi Zixu, Kaleidoscope of Death, trans. Taida Translations, 2020|(Xi Zixu 2020, chap. 39; translator note)]] ^add375 ‘\[…] just saying 小姐 (xiăojiĕ) is an insult that’s equivalent to calling a woman “prostitute” and calling an older woman, who you would normally refer to as A Yi (Auntie), by jiejie (older sister) would result in your getting slapped.’ [[Xi Zixu, Kaleidoscope of Death, trans. Taida Translations, 2020|(Xi Zixu 2020, chap. 31; translation note)]] ^3e2038 ‘小姐姐 (xiăojiĕjie) — There’s really no word in English that holds the same meaning… Directly translated, it means little eldest sister/small older sister. People in China would normally call a cute, yet mature girl who looks young or who might be in the same generation as them by this; they use this when they see a young pretty woman, whose age is unknown or who they assume is slightly older, because it isn’t as rude or offensive.’ [[Xi Zixu, Kaleidoscope of Death, trans. Taida Translations, 2020|(Xi Zixu 2020, chap. 31; translator note)]] ^6ab726 ‘暖男 (the manly, family-oriented, competent man)’ [[Xi Zixu, Kaleidoscope of Death, trans. Taida Translations, 2020|(Xi Zixu 2020, chap. 20; translation note)]] ^908c25 ‘A woman’s waist is very sensitive and important, and only those close the woman (e.g. her husband, family, etc.) can casually touch her waist; anyone else who does so isn’t respecting the woman. In the same sense, a man’s head is very important, and only elders can touch their head; if anyone else touches their head like they would a child’s, it’s a sign of disrespect, since it would mean they find them inferior and don’t believe they deserve the same level of respect as an adult.’ [[Xi Zixu, Kaleidoscope of Death, trans. Taida Translations, 2020|(Xi Zixu 2020, chap. 46; translation note)]] ^a0c744