Author's Note: Greetings! It is almost Chinese New Year! In honor of this moment, I was inspired to write this fanfiction to give you a glimpse of my Chinese heritage through Miraculous Ladybug.
In some parts of the story, Marinette's relatives will speak in Chinese. For English readers, I placed the translation in parenthesis.
Example: Ni hao (Hello)
I hope you enjoy my Chinese New Year Miraculous Ladybug story.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Strings of firecrackers sizzled and popped.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Gongs and cymbals rang.
It was two days before Chinese New Year, and already high spirits filled the air. Red lanterns, red couplets, and red signs covered the stores and houses of Chinatown. Crowds of people scrambled in and out of stores buying food and decorations. The streets were bustling with activity as everyone prepared for the festivities.
The same went for the Dupain-Cheng household as a pig-tailed girl went up and down a stepladder to hang up red, diamond-shaped signs written with the Chinese word "Fu" (Good Fortune). Meanwhile, a little red kwami was twirling and flying right outside the kitchen door as she listened to Tom and Sabine Dupain-Cheng make chopping sounds on the cutting board. Yay! There was going to be dumplings this Chinese New Year! Marinette just stuck another red, diamond-shaped sign on the wall when there was a knock on the front door.
"I'll get i- Wooooah!"
Thud!
Marinette and stepladders always had a rocky relationship that ended with her lying on the floor. Quickly, the clumsy girl got back up and opened the door. Her heart soared when she saw her famous uncle, Chef Wang Cheng, standing before her with bags of ingredients. Her mother said that their family from China would be coming over. And with Uncle Cheng here, the Chinese New Year dinner will be unforgettable. But then, Uncle Cheng stepped to the side to reveal an even bigger surprise. Grandpa and Grandma Cheng are here! It has been years since she last saw them. Squealing, Marinette gave her maternal grandparents a hug.
"Wah! Mari, ni zhang dé zhème gāo. Hao piàoliang!" (Wow! Mari, you've grown so tall. So pretty!) Grandma Cheng cheered as she turned her cute granddaughter around to get a good look, "Ni you nán péngyou ma?" (Do you have a boyfriend yet?)
Marinette froze. She still did not know Chinese, and she did not understand what her grandma just said. In this awkward moment, she did her best to communicate.
"Uh … N- Nin hao. (Hello) … Wo si (I is) … Marinette."
Creak! "Bàba, Māmā, ni láile!" (Papa, Mama, you arrived!)
Phew! Mom to the rescue.
Entering the living room, the Cheng relatives laid down their baggage and showed the gifts they brought for Chinese New Year. Uncle Cheng brought ingredients to make a special meal. Sabine explained that their uncle would make traditional dishes to bless the new year. There would be fish for abundance, chicken for family togetherness, noodles for long life, tang yuan (sticky rice balls) for unity, and nian gao (sticky rice cake) for "more things".
Grandma Cheng took out a box and opened it to reveal a new, shiny, red qipao dress for her beloved granddaughter. Marinette's eyes were entranced by the shine of this silk dress as both her grandma and mother held it up to see how well it fits. As Sabine and Grandma Cheng discussed something in Chinese, Marinette noticed her grandpa walk over to the "Fu" (Good Fortune) sign and was shocked when he turned it upside down. Marinette's Chinese was bad, but she was sure the word went the other way… didn't it?
Grandpa Cheng looked at the floors in the building and shook his head. He said something in Chinese, and her mother explained that grandpa was saying how it was important to sweep the floor and clean the entire house before Chinese New Year's Eve. On the first day of Chinese New Year, no cleaning was allowed. That is so strange, Marinette thought.
Then, Marinette's nerves shook when her grandpa walked up and patted her hair as he said something else in Chinese.
"Mom, what is grandpa saying now?"
"He said that you need to wash your hair. On Chinese New Year, we cannot use water to shower or bathe."
Gross!
Marinette cringed more and more as she heard more of the strange Chinese traditions. You can't cut your hair on Chinese New Year because it makes you lose good luck. You can't cry on Chinese New Year otherwise you will be crying all year. Never say "sì" (the number four) because it is unlucky and sounds like death. At the stroke of midnight of Chinese New Year's Eve, all the doors and windows must be opened to let the old year out.
Buzz! Buzz!
Oh, good! Alya called.
"Excuse me. I need to answer this," Marinette quickly blurted before dashing up the stairs to her room.
"Hi, Marinette! Are you excited for Chinese New Year?"
"Kind of."
"Kind of?"
"Well … let me explain. My Chinese grandparents are here."
"Oh! How exciting!"
"Yeah … well … it was. Now, it feels awkward. It was one thing that I can't understand what they are saying because they speak Chinese. But now, I learned all these strange things the Chinese do or don't do."
"What strange things?"
"We can't clean the house on Chinese New Year. We can't shower or bathe. Don't cut your hair. Don't say 'si'."
"Wow! I just thought you just play music and set off fireworks."
"At first, I was excited to celebrate my Chinese heritage. But now, I can't relate to my Chinese side at all. From the different language to different customs. It feels like a different world."
For moment, there was an awkward silence. Then, Alya spoke.
"Well, now is your chance."
"Huh?"
"Now is your chance to get to know your Chinese side. Listen to your grandparents. Learn the meaning of these customs. When you think about it, learning these things can be exciting. Scary at first, but also exciting."
"I suppose so. There is probably an interesting story behind this. … You're right. I should take this chance to learn about the Chinese."
"That's the spirit. And about the language problem, I know just the solution."
"That's okay. My mom-"
Beep!
Too late! Alya hung up.
As soon as Marinette put her phone down, her cute, little kwami friend emerged from hiding and floated in front of her.
"You know, Marinette, I can tell you a thing or two about Chinese New Year. In fact, I was there when Chinese New Year started."
"You were?"
"Yup! Let me tell you about one of your predecessors and the Nian beast."
Author's Note: Here's the first half! Enjoy it now before "The Chinese Legend" comes out and reveals Marinette's grandmother.
