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halfcactusAbout:
Ya She (Silent House) is a series of books about a magical antique shop with a customer-of-the-week format. A donghua adaptation (free to watch on Youtube) came out last year. A full-cast audiobook came out this year on Missevan and is currently releasing 10-minute episodes of volume 1.
I haven't read the novel (or gotten past the Bronze Mirror episodes in the audiobook), but I saw the donghua some months ago and wasn't too enthused about it—I'm finding the novel/radio adaptation more my speed in terms of emotional resonance and atmosphere. I'm tempted to read the novel now that I'm finding out the writing style seems appropriate for my reading level (low)? But the next chapters might dip into lore, myth, and fantasy more, so idk, we'll see.
Episode 1
(footsteps)
(admiring gasp)
NARRATOR:
He Yiyao stared wonderingly at the round antique mirror that sat in the glass case in front of her, too mesmerized to blink.
SHOPKEEPER:
Interested? I can take it out so you can get a closer look.
HE YIYAO:
O—Oh. The antique shop owner spoke with a benign smile, and his voice was gentle, which put her at ease.
(Keys jingling as the shopkeeper unlocks the cabinet)
NARRATOR:
He Yiyao nodded eagerly, knowing full well that she probably couldn't afford this antique mirror, but still longing to hold it in her hands, to feel it with her fingers .
SHOPKEEPER:
This bronze mirror dates back to the Han Dynasty. This fish pattern is seldom seen—as mirrors from that era are typically carved with designs of the Four Auspicious Beasts. The red and green patinas have been preserved quite well. Legend has it that this is the prized possession of the great general Huo Qubing. You have an eye for treasure, Miss.
HE YIYAO:
:O
(smiles)
NARRATOR:
He Yiyao carefully held the bronze mirror, enchanted by the four koi fish that were carved with lifelike detail on its back. Their bodies were strong, fluid lines that formed shapes so characteristic you couldn't mistake one fish from the other. The craftmanship was so fine they almost seemed to move, gliding and darting through water.
The mirror was small enough to fit the palm of her hand. It was delicately thin, and unusually light—or at least much lighter than she expected. He Yiyao was beginning to suspect that the mirror was a counterfeit, but when she turned it over and saw its mottled face, she wasn't sure what to think anymore. The smooth—or mostly smooth—surface was full of scratches, each line a testament to the ravages of time. She could vaguely see her blurry outline reflected in the glass. The sight of it held a mysterious allure that renewed He Yiyao's reluctance to let go.
She had been on her way to her after-school class when she unwittingly wandered into this antique store. The name on the sign was "Silent House (Ya She)"—a most peculiar name that led her in.
HE YIYAO:
Excuse me, sir, why is your shop called "Silent House"?
SHOPKEEPER:
(chuckles)
Each antique in this house has a story, a story it has carried over the years, but remains unheard—for objects cannot speak. And so, this is the "Silent House".
HE YIYAO:
This shop may look shabby... and deserted... but if everything on display is genuine, a third-year high school student like me has no business shopping here!
Hmm?
NARRATOR:
Just then—just as she turned to leave, she saw the mirror.
HE YIYAO:
I want to get it. But how?
NARRATOR:
She didn't want to let go of the mirror. Its cold weight was strangely comforting, like the touch of it stirred some tenderness deep inside her.
He Yiyao's mind suddenly came up with an absurd lie.
HE YIYAO:
Ah, you know, our school drama club is staging a play, and we need an antique mirror. Can you rent this out to us for a month?
After all, I'm just attracted to the novelty. After a month, I'll probably be bored of this dirty old mirror. But... my request might be too unreasonable...
SHOPKEEPER:
Alright.
HE YIYAO:
!!!
Then what should I put down as collateral? Or—how much should I pay as deposit?
SHOPKEEPER:
You can just sign here and show me your school ID. As for the rental fee, a token amount will do—10 yuan.
HE YIYAO:
That's it?
I should have just directly asked for the price!
(unzipping bag)
Maybe I was overthinking and this mirror is a fake, after all.
NARRATOR:
He Yiyao was a little regretful, but she'd already said that she'd rent it. She could only grit her teeth and sign her name on the logbook.
HE YIYAO:
If I still want it after a month, I'll definitely inquire about the price!
NARRATOR:
When the young shopkeeper looked at the name on the registration log, his fox-like eyes narrowed further. A long, slender finger traced over the freshly written "Yao".
Cryptically, he said—
SHOPKEEPER:
Oh, one last thing.
HE YIYAO:
Ah? What is it?
NARRATOR:
He Yiyao had been examining the mirror in rapt fascination, but those words made her look up.
SHOPKEEPER:
There's one thing you must bear in mind.
You must never wipe this mirror.
Never.
NARRATOR:
Hearing this, He Yiyao absently studied the shopkeeper's face. Some strange sense of humor appeared to tug on his lips, but she didn't think much of it then. She was too busy wrapping up the mirror, carefully placing it in her bag, and hurrying to the tutoring center.
***
(clicking pen)
(returning pen to its case)
NARRATOR:
That night, her homework finished, He Yiyao turned on her desk lamp and carefully turned the bronze mirror over in her hands.
HE YIYAO:
It's so blurry!
How did the ladies in the olden days manage to put on their makeup?
NARRATOR:
He Yiyao grumbled to herself. In the mirror, she couldn't see her face clearly, only its blotchy outline. The rough scratches were hard to ignore. She had been about to rub it clean with a screen-cleaning wipe but the moment she touched the glass the shopkeeper's words suddenly popped up in her head.
SHOPKEEPER:
You must bear this in mind: You must never wipe the mirror. Never.
NARRATOR:
He Yiyao helplessly put down the alcohol wipe.
HE YIYAO:
(sigh) There's no way this is a real antique. The shopkeeper was probably worried I'd rub away the antiqueness and find out. (giggles)
NARRATOR:
As she was about to set down the mirror, she gave it one last cursory glance, and her heart stopped.
In the mirror she could see the silhouette of a person...
That... wasn't her, was it?
At the very least, that hairpin wasn't on her head.
Not to mention, the person in the mirror didn't move when she moved.
HE YIYAO:
Who—who's there?
NARRATOR:
There was no reaction.
HE YIYAO:
(rubbing her eyes)
I must be seeing things.
???:
Who...
Who are you?
NARRATOR:
The voice was so soft that He Yiyao almost thought she'd imagined it. But she focused on the mirror, her gaze so intent it could probably melt glass.
???:
Identify yourself!
NARRATOR:
The voice was clearer this time.
There was no mistaking it—it came from inside the mirror.
Under the light of her lamp the mottled scratches were a lot more visible, but this time He Yiyao was sure that underneath them, the blurred figure in the mirror was not her.
???:
Who are you, friend or foe?
HE YIYAO:
Who are you calling a foe?
Ah...
Hark! I am called He Yiyao.
Am I going crazy? That, or...This really is an antique mirror, and it was used to seal a ghost?
???:
And I...
am Huo Qubing.
NARRATOR:
The response came much quicker this time, and the voice was much clearer.
It was the voice of a man.
(clanging metal sound)
(He Yiyao gasping)
The mirror slipped from her grasp and fell on the table with a loud crash.
HE YIYAO'S MOM (from outside):
Xiao Yao! Why are you still awake? It's 10:30! Did you forget about school?
HE YIYAO:
Okay, sorry!
NARRATOR:
He Yiyao hurriedly tucked the mirror inside a book and turned off the lamp.
(rustling sheets)
But as she lay on the bed, she tossed and turned, too restless to sleep.
HE YIYAO:
A ghost from a thousand years ago?
!!!
The legendary General Huo Qubing was... trapped in an antique mirror?
NARRATOR:
He Yiyao soon discovered that the bronze mirror didn't react to anything she did under regular circumstances. It was only at night, when the clock struck ten, that a change would come upon it.
HE YIYAO:
So you're Huo Qubing? The famous general from the Han Dynasty?
HUO QUBING:
General? I am a colonel yet. But it won't be long til I become general!
HE YIYAO:
But this book calls you a general! (flipping page) Could he be a ghost who shares the same name?
HUO QUBING:
(laughing) I know not this book you speak of. And you? How did you meet your demise? What trick of fate brought you into the mirror bestowed on me by my aunt?
HE YIYAO:
(gasp)
I died? When did that happen?
(checking if she can feel pain)
Ouch! That really hurt...
to Huo Qubing:
I'm perfectly alive! I'm even going to school! And studying!
HUO QUBING:
?
Then on what grounds can you claim that I'm dead? I too am alive and well! I even ride horses! And shoot arrows!
HE YIYAO:
If I'm not dead... and he's not dead... does that mean... this mirror can cross time and space and link two worlds together?
HUO QUBING:
Hey! Since you claim not to be a ghost, then reveal your face! Or is your countenance too ghastly that you must conceal it?
NARRATOR:
He Yiyao had already forgotten the shopkeeper's advice—that she was not to wipe the mirror. Feeling adventurous, she carefully began to wipe the glass clean.
With every swipe, the mirror grew brighter and brighter. Just as her hand was starting to cramp, the voice—that detestable voice—called out from the mirror, full of mischief:
HUO QUOBING:
Heavens! With hair so unkempt— you still dare to say you're not a ghost?
HE YIYAO:
!!! You—!
(shoves away the mirror)
[EPISODE END]
Translation notes:
A lot of liberties taken—I have a (possibly bad) habit of ignoring the wording to keep the image/effect (something that I feel is more forgivable in subtitles).
The chapter title is actually 鱼纹镜 (fish-patterned mirror), but since the fish motif is something something you see in ancient Chinese bronze ornaments, I just went with "bronze mirror" since it's shorter and easier to fit into the thumbnail. The narration refers to this object as "antique mirror", "bronze mirror", and "mirror".
"Fox-like eyes": 细长的眼眸眯得更细了 - something like "his long, thin eyes got thinner (because he narrowed them)" but... words...
Huo Qubing's speaking style: He uses archaic pronouns but he's not super old-timey (from what I can tell). I made the subtitle version use Shakespearian pronouns but I'm not really confident they are done well (+ I'm still not sure this is the right approach) so I'm keeping the "regular" version here. /o\
EDIT: I checked the novel and he does speak in a more old-timey way there. The 9Hz adaptation must have simplified it/modernized some of the phrasing so it's easier for casual listening, but kept the pronouns so we can see the shift in his speech patterns later on. Although the changes are (IMO) marginal, there are other parts of the novel (for example the prologue) that are written in a faux-classical way as the shopkeeper himself is an ancient being. I'm not sure how to handle that but it's a good thing I'm not planning on translating the book or the rest of the radio adaptation. XD
Colonel: 校尉 - this appears to be the rank under general; IDK anything about military ranks but there's a Wiki page that uses the word colonel. Other dictionaries (forgot which ones) have it down as "military officer", "field officer" and "captain".
Ya She (Silent House) is a series of books about a magical antique shop with a customer-of-the-week format. A donghua adaptation (free to watch on Youtube) came out last year. A full-cast audiobook came out this year on Missevan and is currently releasing 10-minute episodes of volume 1.
I haven't read the novel (or gotten past the Bronze Mirror episodes in the audiobook), but I saw the donghua some months ago and wasn't too enthused about it—I'm finding the novel/radio adaptation more my speed in terms of emotional resonance and atmosphere. I'm tempted to read the novel now that I'm finding out the writing style seems appropriate for my reading level (low)? But the next chapters might dip into lore, myth, and fantasy more, so idk, we'll see.
Episode 1
(footsteps)
(admiring gasp)
NARRATOR:
He Yiyao stared wonderingly at the round antique mirror that sat in the glass case in front of her, too mesmerized to blink.
SHOPKEEPER:
Interested? I can take it out so you can get a closer look.
HE YIYAO:
O—Oh. The antique shop owner spoke with a benign smile, and his voice was gentle, which put her at ease.
(Keys jingling as the shopkeeper unlocks the cabinet)
NARRATOR:
He Yiyao nodded eagerly, knowing full well that she probably couldn't afford this antique mirror, but still longing to hold it in her hands, to feel it with her fingers .
SHOPKEEPER:
This bronze mirror dates back to the Han Dynasty. This fish pattern is seldom seen—as mirrors from that era are typically carved with designs of the Four Auspicious Beasts. The red and green patinas have been preserved quite well. Legend has it that this is the prized possession of the great general Huo Qubing. You have an eye for treasure, Miss.
HE YIYAO:
:O
(smiles)
NARRATOR:
He Yiyao carefully held the bronze mirror, enchanted by the four koi fish that were carved with lifelike detail on its back. Their bodies were strong, fluid lines that formed shapes so characteristic you couldn't mistake one fish from the other. The craftmanship was so fine they almost seemed to move, gliding and darting through water.
The mirror was small enough to fit the palm of her hand. It was delicately thin, and unusually light—or at least much lighter than she expected. He Yiyao was beginning to suspect that the mirror was a counterfeit, but when she turned it over and saw its mottled face, she wasn't sure what to think anymore. The smooth—or mostly smooth—surface was full of scratches, each line a testament to the ravages of time. She could vaguely see her blurry outline reflected in the glass. The sight of it held a mysterious allure that renewed He Yiyao's reluctance to let go.
She had been on her way to her after-school class when she unwittingly wandered into this antique store. The name on the sign was "Silent House (Ya She)"—a most peculiar name that led her in.
HE YIYAO:
Excuse me, sir, why is your shop called "Silent House"?
SHOPKEEPER:
(chuckles)
Each antique in this house has a story, a story it has carried over the years, but remains unheard—for objects cannot speak. And so, this is the "Silent House".
HE YIYAO:
This shop may look shabby... and deserted... but if everything on display is genuine, a third-year high school student like me has no business shopping here!
Hmm?
NARRATOR:
Just then—just as she turned to leave, she saw the mirror.
HE YIYAO:
I want to get it. But how?
NARRATOR:
She didn't want to let go of the mirror. Its cold weight was strangely comforting, like the touch of it stirred some tenderness deep inside her.
He Yiyao's mind suddenly came up with an absurd lie.
HE YIYAO:
Ah, you know, our school drama club is staging a play, and we need an antique mirror. Can you rent this out to us for a month?
After all, I'm just attracted to the novelty. After a month, I'll probably be bored of this dirty old mirror. But... my request might be too unreasonable...
SHOPKEEPER:
Alright.
HE YIYAO:
!!!
Then what should I put down as collateral? Or—how much should I pay as deposit?
SHOPKEEPER:
You can just sign here and show me your school ID. As for the rental fee, a token amount will do—10 yuan.
HE YIYAO:
That's it?
I should have just directly asked for the price!
(unzipping bag)
Maybe I was overthinking and this mirror is a fake, after all.
NARRATOR:
He Yiyao was a little regretful, but she'd already said that she'd rent it. She could only grit her teeth and sign her name on the logbook.
HE YIYAO:
If I still want it after a month, I'll definitely inquire about the price!
NARRATOR:
When the young shopkeeper looked at the name on the registration log, his fox-like eyes narrowed further. A long, slender finger traced over the freshly written "Yao".
Cryptically, he said—
SHOPKEEPER:
Oh, one last thing.
HE YIYAO:
Ah? What is it?
NARRATOR:
He Yiyao had been examining the mirror in rapt fascination, but those words made her look up.
SHOPKEEPER:
There's one thing you must bear in mind.
You must never wipe this mirror.
Never.
NARRATOR:
Hearing this, He Yiyao absently studied the shopkeeper's face. Some strange sense of humor appeared to tug on his lips, but she didn't think much of it then. She was too busy wrapping up the mirror, carefully placing it in her bag, and hurrying to the tutoring center.
***
(clicking pen)
(returning pen to its case)
NARRATOR:
That night, her homework finished, He Yiyao turned on her desk lamp and carefully turned the bronze mirror over in her hands.
HE YIYAO:
It's so blurry!
How did the ladies in the olden days manage to put on their makeup?
NARRATOR:
He Yiyao grumbled to herself. In the mirror, she couldn't see her face clearly, only its blotchy outline. The rough scratches were hard to ignore. She had been about to rub it clean with a screen-cleaning wipe but the moment she touched the glass the shopkeeper's words suddenly popped up in her head.
SHOPKEEPER:
You must bear this in mind: You must never wipe the mirror. Never.
NARRATOR:
He Yiyao helplessly put down the alcohol wipe.
HE YIYAO:
(sigh) There's no way this is a real antique. The shopkeeper was probably worried I'd rub away the antiqueness and find out. (giggles)
NARRATOR:
As she was about to set down the mirror, she gave it one last cursory glance, and her heart stopped.
In the mirror she could see the silhouette of a person...
That... wasn't her, was it?
At the very least, that hairpin wasn't on her head.
Not to mention, the person in the mirror didn't move when she moved.
HE YIYAO:
Who—who's there?
NARRATOR:
There was no reaction.
HE YIYAO:
(rubbing her eyes)
I must be seeing things.
???:
Who...
Who are you?
NARRATOR:
The voice was so soft that He Yiyao almost thought she'd imagined it. But she focused on the mirror, her gaze so intent it could probably melt glass.
???:
Identify yourself!
NARRATOR:
The voice was clearer this time.
There was no mistaking it—it came from inside the mirror.
Under the light of her lamp the mottled scratches were a lot more visible, but this time He Yiyao was sure that underneath them, the blurred figure in the mirror was not her.
???:
Who are you, friend or foe?
HE YIYAO:
Who are you calling a foe?
Ah...
Hark! I am called He Yiyao.
Am I going crazy? That, or...This really is an antique mirror, and it was used to seal a ghost?
???:
And I...
am Huo Qubing.
NARRATOR:
The response came much quicker this time, and the voice was much clearer.
It was the voice of a man.
(clanging metal sound)
(He Yiyao gasping)
The mirror slipped from her grasp and fell on the table with a loud crash.
HE YIYAO'S MOM (from outside):
Xiao Yao! Why are you still awake? It's 10:30! Did you forget about school?
HE YIYAO:
Okay, sorry!
NARRATOR:
He Yiyao hurriedly tucked the mirror inside a book and turned off the lamp.
(rustling sheets)
But as she lay on the bed, she tossed and turned, too restless to sleep.
HE YIYAO:
A ghost from a thousand years ago?
!!!
The legendary General Huo Qubing was... trapped in an antique mirror?
NARRATOR:
He Yiyao soon discovered that the bronze mirror didn't react to anything she did under regular circumstances. It was only at night, when the clock struck ten, that a change would come upon it.
HE YIYAO:
So you're Huo Qubing? The famous general from the Han Dynasty?
HUO QUBING:
General? I am a colonel yet. But it won't be long til I become general!
HE YIYAO:
But this book calls you a general! (flipping page) Could he be a ghost who shares the same name?
HUO QUBING:
(laughing) I know not this book you speak of. And you? How did you meet your demise? What trick of fate brought you into the mirror bestowed on me by my aunt?
HE YIYAO:
(gasp)
I died? When did that happen?
(checking if she can feel pain)
Ouch! That really hurt...
to Huo Qubing:
I'm perfectly alive! I'm even going to school! And studying!
HUO QUBING:
?
Then on what grounds can you claim that I'm dead? I too am alive and well! I even ride horses! And shoot arrows!
HE YIYAO:
If I'm not dead... and he's not dead... does that mean... this mirror can cross time and space and link two worlds together?
HUO QUBING:
Hey! Since you claim not to be a ghost, then reveal your face! Or is your countenance too ghastly that you must conceal it?
NARRATOR:
He Yiyao had already forgotten the shopkeeper's advice—that she was not to wipe the mirror. Feeling adventurous, she carefully began to wipe the glass clean.
With every swipe, the mirror grew brighter and brighter. Just as her hand was starting to cramp, the voice—that detestable voice—called out from the mirror, full of mischief:
HUO QUOBING:
Heavens! With hair so unkempt— you still dare to say you're not a ghost?
HE YIYAO:
!!! You—!
(shoves away the mirror)
[EPISODE END]
Translation notes:
EDIT: I checked the novel and he does speak in a more old-timey way there. The 9Hz adaptation must have simplified it/modernized some of the phrasing so it's easier for casual listening, but kept the pronouns so we can see the shift in his speech patterns later on. Although the changes are (IMO) marginal, there are other parts of the novel (for example the prologue) that are written in a faux-classical way as the shopkeeper himself is an ancient being. I'm not sure how to handle that but it's a good thing I'm not planning on translating the book or the rest of the radio adaptation. XD
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