Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation

Chapter 1834 - 1007: Competitive Tactics

April 3, 2015, cloudy.The River Dam Bungalow was filled with fragrance at six thirty in the morning, and Xue Chuchu stood in front of the gas stove, wearing a floral apron.

As the hot oil sizzled and popped, she skillfully dodged the splattering oil, using the chance to glance at Jiang Ning, who was sitting at the dining table, sipping tea.

Jiang Ning: "Is it almost ready?"

"It’s the last dish."

This morning there was one more dish than usual, perhaps because she wanted something from Jiang Ning.

"You can call Tongtong for breakfast now." Xue Chuchu lightly flipped the eggs in the pan with a spatula.

"Okay." Jiang Ning stepped out of the kitchen, walked outside the courtyard, the fields stretched endlessly. Next door, Mr. Qian was chatting leisurely with Uncle Tang, and he even snagged some of Uncle Tang’s pickles.

Mr. Qian glanced at Jiang Ning a couple of times; only after Jiang Ning went to Tongtong’s house did Mr. Qian say, "Old Tang, haven’t you noticed Jiang Ning has been quite attentive to Hua’s sister?"

Uncle Tang thought to himself, hasn’t he?

"Chuchu is quite a charming girl; what young man wouldn’t be fond of her?"

Previously, Zhang Ruyun was attentive too, but unfortunately, it led to nothing.

However, Uncle Tang didn’t enjoy gossip much and said, "They’re just kids, isn’t it normal for them to play together?"

Mr. Qian’s eyes twinkled: "Next time I’ll put in a good word with Hua’s sister."

Uncle Tang gave him a sweep, pondering: ’You sure have a knack for things, young fellow.’

Jiang Ning heard their conversation, but didn’t pay much attention. If Mr. Qian were to put some pressure on Hua Fengmei, it wouldn’t be a bad thing.

It’s the mother and daughter who would have the troubles, what does it have to do with Jiang Ning and Tongtong?

Jiang Ning walked to Tongtong’s door, pushed it open, and found Tongtong curled up under the covers, sleeping soundly.

"Tongtong, it’s time to get up, breakfast is ready!"

"Mm~" but she didn’t get up.

Jiang Ning said again: "Chuchu made eight dishes and one soup today; it’s really sumptuous."

Xue Yuantong opened her eyes: "Really?"

"Nope, just testing if you’re pretending to sleep."

"Jiang Ning!!"

Jiang Ning turned to leave and issued a warning: "Hurry up, or I’ll take Chuchu to school."

After breakfast.

Jiang Ning asked Xue Chuchu: "Will you ride with me or take your own car?"

Xue Chuchu thought yesterday was too conspicuous, so she chose to take Jiang Ning’s electric bike.

Before getting on, she gently said, "I’ll have someone come to replace the battery this afternoon; I won’t trouble you again."

Jiang Ning chuckled, her temperament was quite similar to the former Tongtong’s, except Tongtong always had a proud demeanor back then, unlike Chuchu’s sincerity.

Xue Yuantong sat on the bike, glaring at Jiang Ning: "Are you up to no good?"

Jiang Ning ignored her and drove the bike onto the road.

Passing by Xuefu Road yesterday, Xue Yuantong mused, "Another beautiful day, without bad people on the road."

Jiang Ning: "Thanks to me."

"It’s we who uphold justice!" Xue Yuantong emphasized.

Xue Chuchu thought internally: ’You both seem more like bad guys every time I look.’

Xue Yuantong waved her little hands: "Yesterday, we were dazzling, just like the new-generation warriors!"

"Especially with Chuchu following us."

Xue Chuchu’s smile vanished.

Jiang Ning: "Since we are fighting on the front lines, what does that make Chuchu?"

Xue Chuchu didn’t want any association with them, she quietly defended: "It has nothing to do with me."

Xue Yuantong: "No way, you’re our battle pet!"

...

Time passed to the second period of the afternoon physics class.

After this class, there will be three days off for Qingming; many boarding students have already packed their luggage and backpacks, ready to leave right after class.

Lu Qiqi flaunted her new manicure, slowly speaking: "Zhang Zhang, I suggest you don’t go home to meet your ex-boyfriend."

Xiao Shaoxiong looked at Zhang Zhaodi with a fox-like charm; his brother’s girlfriend recently had a breakup, and as a good brother, he felt obligated to advise: "Yeah, Brother Tie is probably still mad."

"Why don’t we stay here, relax in the urban area, distance creates beauty." Xiao Shaoxiong strongly recommended.

Lu Qiqi slightly frowned; she could hear Xiao Shaoxiong’s scheming.

Zhang Zhaodi looked disgruntled and said, "I don’t know who answered his call using my phone."

Lu Qiqi: "I suspect it’s Zhang Chi, but I have no proof."

Besides, even with evidence, what can be done?

Accuse Zhang Chi?

That’s hilarious; does Zhang Chi’s character really need any accusations? Is there anything in the world that could possibly harm Zhang Chi’s morals?

Lu Qiqi suddenly asked: "By the way, Jiang Ning is from the same hometown as you guys, right? Is he planning on going home?"

Xiao Shaoxiong’s expression stiffened upon hearing Jiang Ning’s name: "We aren’t familiar with him."

Zhang Zhaodi wasn’t familiar either, but Jiang Ning’s name had been echoing in her ears recently; she looked over to Jiang Ning’s place, which was empty as always.

Jiang Ning wasn’t staying in the classroom but went to the office to taste Guo Ran’s latest fruit tea creation.

Guo Ran took a sealed jar from the fridge, poured out a mix of pineapple, passion fruit, honey, and lemon, and made him a cup of fruit tea.

Teacher An Chan, who was nearby, also happily got a cup of tea.

An Chan was originally preparing lessons; she noticed the unique personalities in the office—the fragile and tearful Teacher Xiao Tao, the boisterous otaku Gao Heshuai, the most lively Guo Ran...

And Jiang Ning, who frequented the office often; wasn’t he here a bit too often?

Luckily, Guo Ran is single; if she had a jealous boyfriend, he might have taken issue.

An Chan sipped the tea, casually chatting: "Mr. Guo, haven’t your parents introduced anyone to you?"

Guo Ran: "Nope."

Ever since her mom video-called with Jiang Ning, the pressure for marriage had dropped exponentially.

An Chan was perceptive; judging by Guo Ran’s attire, she inferred that Guo Ran’s family wasn’t very wealthy, with only a small electric bike for daily commuting, and she was employed in a different city.

An Chan found it strange because for daughters from average families, passing the teaching qualification could significantly alter one’s opportunities through marriage.

The younger the age, the greater the chance for a change.

An Chan humorously remarked: "Ever since passing the teaching qualification, it feels like I’ve become a prized snack; all relatives seem eager to have a bite."

Guo Ran somewhat agreed, but she knew even better: "Once you’re in it, you realize that being a teacher is just an ordinary job."

An Chan laughed: "Others don’t think so."

Then she sighed a bit: "Sometimes I still find it quite annoying."

If it weren’t for the BMW her family bought, the number of suitors wouldn’t have been so overwhelming.

Right now, she only wants to focus on teaching.

Guo Ran thought about the various peculiar people like Brother Qiang she had been introduced to in past matchmaking sessions, and fell silent for a while.

An Chan: "Right?"

"Yeah," Guo Ran said.

In fact, she was curious why An Chan, with her education from East China Normal University, would come to Yu Zhou Fourth Middle School, but asking now would seem too intrusive.

An Chan, with a look of self-assured beauty: "Don’t even mention marriage; I don’t even want to date anyone."

Guo Ran suddenly felt these words sounded familiar; it seemed that after Gao Heshuai broke up, he had made a similar statement publicly.

At that moment, a tall, handsome man appeared at the door. He glanced around the office and spoke in a magnetic voice: "Excuse me, is Mr. Shan Qingrong here?"

Upon hearing this, An Chan looked over, paused for a moment, and replied: "Mr. Shan isn’t here right now. Do you need him for something?"

Shang Zhengyu: "I need him to approve something."

An Chan stood up, got him a chair, and spoke warmly: "Please sit down, I’ll call him for you."

Shang Zhengyu nodded: "Thank you for the trouble."

An Chan made a call, but no one answered.

At that moment, her otaku, Gao Heshuai, appeared at the office door. As soon as Gao Heshuai stepped in, he noticed An Chan smiling at him.

Gao Heshuai’s mood immediately improved by 3 points.

"Mr. Gao, do you have a moment? I need your help with something," An Chan said proactively.

Gao Heshuai immediately agreed: "Yes, I’m free. Just tell me."

An Chan’s smile blossomed: "I need you to help this friend find Mr. Shan Qingrong."

Gao Heshuai took a good look at Shang Zhengyu’s handsome face and slowly felt a "?" coming from within.

With a particular feeling, Gao Heshuai left.

An Chan then initiated a conversation with Shang Zhengyu: "Why are you looking for Mr. Shan?"

Shang Zhengyu, a self-made man with technical skills but not an otaku: "My sister recently needed something, so I came to apply for her leave."

An Chan awkwardly chatted: "You really care about your sister."

Shang Zhengyu was pleased to hear this: "Of course, my sister likes me the most at home."

An Chan: "You’re such a good brother."

Shang Zhengyu: "Thank you for the compliment."

Guo Ran and Jiang Ning exchanged a glance, each with a slightly strange smile on their lips. What an astonishing conversation.

After a while, Gao Heshuai brought Shan Qingrong over.

Shang Zhengyu and Shan Qingrong chatted for a bit, showed a newspaper featuring him to demonstrate his strength, and briefly described his career prospects, and Shan Qingrong agreed.

After that, Shang Zhengyu took the approval slip and left, saying to An Chan: "I enjoyed chatting with you."

He then nodded towards Jiang Ning, feeling that anyone with connections to Evergreen Liquid was worth a little recognition.

After Shang Zhengyu left, An Chan noticed something and proactively asked: "Jiang Ning, do you know him?"

Jiang Ning: "Yeah, I know him."

Shan Qingrong, who was quite perceptive, understood the situation after sorting through the details a bit. Looking at An Chan’s curious probing expression, he also cast a sympathetic glance at Gao Heshuai, thinking to himself: ’Poor Xiao Gao.’

So Shan Qingrong took the initiative to say: "His name is Shang Zhengyu, the founder of Vivian Game Company, and he’s not even thirty yet; his net worth is over a billion."

Upon hearing this, An Chan was stunned, her expression quite forlorn.

A billion... For families like hers, the gap in wealth was increasingly more understandable, especially with Shang Zhengyu being so young.

Guo Ran exchanged another glance with Jiang Ning, as if to say: ’It seems like she had a bit of a heartbreak.’

Shan Qingrong thought to himself: ’Xiao Gao, buddy, I’m helping you this time; the rest is up to you.’

An Chan’s voice was slightly choked: "He’s amazing, isn’t he..."

Such prowess in the entire country is definitely outstanding, even if she stayed in Shen City, it would be rare to meet such a successful person.

Guo Ran was also amazed: "So young and promising!"

Jiang Ning sipped her homemade fruit tea: "It’s alright."

An Chan stiffly turned her face, looked at Jiang Ning, and said seriously: "It’s not just alright; it’s already the top tier."

Jiang Ning chuckled: "That’s really amazing then."

...

After the second class in the afternoon ended.

Xue Yuantong, holding a table tennis racket, said leisurely: "Jiang Ning, let’s go play ping-pong."

Chen Siyu: "My sister and I will come too!"

Zhang Zhaodi, who hurriedly packed her bag, looked at their leisurely demeanor and suddenly felt a sense of inexplicable melancholy. Unlike them, she had to rush back to the small town of her hometown to catch the bus.

Xiao Shaoxiong said beside her: "Zhaodi, why not stay? I know my brother best!"

Zhang Zhaodi refused politely: "I should go back and explain."

Xiao Shaoxiong: "Alright then, I’m heading home too; I forgot to charge my power bank!"

"Never mind, it’s too heavy, not taking it!" Xiao Shaoxiong put the power bank in his desk hole.

Gradually, the classmates in the class dispersed, leaving only the diligent Chen Qian, the honest one in a school uniform, Dan Xiao.

...

Jiang Ning and Tongtong, after playing ping-pong, rode to Yu Zhou Second Middle School and picked up their battle pet, Chuchu.

Back at the dam, Xue Yuantong initially wanted to call the two of them to stroll around the market on the dam together.

Xue Chuchu explained: "My mom called workers to come and change the battery for the electric bike, and they’ll be here soon."

So Jiang Ning and Tongtong chose to wait for her.

Soon, a middle-aged man on a three-wheeled vehicle arrived at the bungalow door: "Is it this electric bike?"

Xue Chuchu: "Yes."

The middle-aged man, holding tools, adeptly dismantled the electric bike, checked the old battery, and quoted a price: "Do you want to give me this old battery? I’ll offer you a recycling price of one hundred fifty."

"Okay."

Just as the words were out of his mouth, a van drove up from the west side of the bungalow. Several big men jumped out of the van and quickly surrounded the middle-aged man fixing the electric bike. The leader rudely scolded: "Do you have a license? Do you know Boss An? How dare you collect batteries?"