Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1556 - 854: Now, I Have Faced Off Against the Elders

With such temptation in front of them, how many in the village can resist?

Jiang Ning cracked a watermelon seed and said, "Age is indeed a problem, too young..."

Pao’s father said ingratiatingly, "But my son’s in great shape; if he became a security guard or something... haha!"

He patted Jiang Pao, like patting a calf.

Jiang Pao’s face turned ashen. He saw his grand father acting obsequiously, and also saw Jiang Ning’s leisurely ease. He wished he could punch Jiang Ning and break this chaotic world.

But in his mind, he recalled the time after he beat up a supervisor, seeing his father carrying gifts, begging for forgiveness humbly, and his parents’ scolding afterward, along with their barely-contained disappointment.

Jiang Pao felt a myriad of emotions; all his rebelliousness seemed defeated by the harsh reality of life.

His father once said, "Who can’t fight? It’s just a matter of grit! Why don’t you try working in a factory for a few months?"

Under his father’s pressure, Jiang Pao forced out a smile uglier than crying and squeezed out a sentence from his throat, "Brother Ning, I think becoming a security guard wouldn’t be a problem for me."

"Well, recommending oneself," Jiang Ning smirked playfully.

He said, "There indeed is a vacancy for an Evergreen Liquid security guard."

Hearing this, Pao’s father’s eyes lit up, as bright as his welding skills.

He rubbed his hands excitedly, "You and your father..."

Jiang Ning shook his head, "It’s not easy to handle; I have so many relatives. If I accommodate everyone, wouldn’t it be chaos?"

Pao’s father patted Jiang Pao once more, as if displaying merchandise, "Look at my son..."

Before he finished introducing, two SUVs drove over from the east of the village. It was Jiang Qitian and Jiang Chao’s family returning from a tomb-sweeping trip.

Jiang Qitian’s Mercedes GLC drove by, and upon seeing Jiang Ning, he immediately stopped and rolled down the window, "Ningning."

Jiang Junlong hurriedly got off the car and came over.

Seeing the powerful Jiang Qitian family from the village, Pao’s father knew the conversation couldn’t go on. He said a few words to Jiang Ning and left with his son.

The young thug Jiang He was incredulous, "What, Brother Pao, you’re leaving just like that?"

Little Pao cried out, "Brother, what about my Ultraman?"

Jiang Pao felt more aggrieved than them, like a fully armed dog ready to fight an enemy, only to see the opponent pull out a gun and shoot him dead.

This was a battle from a higher dimension, not something he could control. The overwhelming feeling of powerlessness made him almost question his life.

In his grievance, his father said, "For your sake, I’ve begged everywhere. If you had any skills, would I need to beg? Look at Jiang Ning, isn’t he better than you?"

Jiang Pao, angered to the extreme, coldly said, "His father is better than you too."

With that said, Pao’s father was furious. He kicked him to the ground and then dragged him home.

...

Jiang Junlong glimpsed the father and son disappearing at the village entrance; he was puzzled, "That was Paozi, right? What happened?"

Jiang Ning said lightly, "A father teaching a son, nothing much."

Though Jiang Ning didn’t personally deal with Jiang Pao, the humbling stance of that father-son duo before him was a more significant blow to Jiang Pao than a beating could offer.

As they spoke, Jiang Qianqian got out of a BMW X5, and as soon as she saw Jiang Junlong speaking with a handsome young man.

At first glance, he was handsome, then looked again, even more, pleasing. His temperament was perfect, fitting her aesthetic perfectly.

Jiang Qianqian’s heart raced, she couldn’t help but tidy her collar and hair, keeping her appearance at its best.

The next second, she heard Jiang Junlong shout, "Qianqian, come meet Brother Ning, it’s been two years, hasn’t it?"

Jiang Qianqian was dumbfounded on the spot. She stared at Jiang Ning, unable to believe, "He’s Jiang Ning?"

Jiang Ning replied, "You’re Qianqian, right?"

Jiang Ning was a poor relative of Jiang Qianqian’s family, their relationship just so-so. Her father, Jiang Chao, had better ties with her uncle Jiang Qitian’s family, even having a better relationship with her little uncle’s family than with Jiang Ning’s family.

She remembered one year when Jiang Chao and they returned to the village for New Year and bought gifts; Jiang Hu, Jiang Yang, Shen Xuan, all had a share, only Jiang Ning did not.

Since then, he hadn’t liked Jiang Chao’s family.

Jiang Qianqian had grown up beautiful, coming from a big city in Su Province, she was demanding. Jiang Ning and she hardly spoke growing up; the most lasting memories from his past life were Jiang Qianqian’s glamorous social media posts. She seemed always to be traveling, staying in five-star hotels, chasing celebrities’ concerts, musical performances, stage plays...

Jiang Ning heard his parents mention in passing that Jiang Chao’s business grew larger, monopolizing barbecue supply raw materials in an area, later buying a villa in a big city.

Even though their grandparents came from the same village, with a generation’s effort, Jiang Qianqian and Jiang Ning’s lives diverged completely.

Jiang Qianqian stood before Jiang Ning, gazing into his traditional ink-like eyes; she still couldn’t accept that he was her cousin?

Jiang Qianqian forced a smile, "Hello, Brother Ning."

Jiang Ning: "Hmm."

He turned to his cousin Jiang Junlong, interested in the topic, "Did you bring the model aircraft?"

Jiang Junlong responded gleefully, "Of course I did! It’s rare to come back, the village is perfect for flying!"

Thus Jiang Qianqian felt left in the sidelines.

Soon after, Hao Hao, after being beaten, ran back. He had dried his tears, swearing to be a strong child.

He was puzzled and asked, "Uncle, if my mom passes away, can I have her phone?"

Jiang Ning: "Phones also die with time, it won’t last that long."

Hao Hao was a bit sad; suddenly he had an idea, "What if my mom dies before the phone?"

Jiang Ning struggled to maintain composure.

Jiang Qianqian’s lips curled up, she replied eagerly, "Give it to a child who studies well."

Hao Hao felt even more heartbroken.

...

Jiang Ning’s body remained in the countryside, but his heart cared for everyone.

He guessed Teacher Guo Ran might be lonely at home during the winter break, so he sent her some wedding photos, showing her how weddings are celebrated in the countryside.

In his previous life, he had told Guo Ran, countryside banquets were really enjoyable. Though seemingly not hygienic, after the feast, you wouldn’t feel any stomach ache at home.

Guo Ran curiously said she must come to try it; unfortunately, Guo Ran later encountered an incident.

At this time, in another city hundreds of miles from Wamiao Town, in a residential building.

The heater emitted warmth in the living room; Guo Ran was leaning on the sofa, covered with a thin blanket, watching ’Zhen Huan’ on the 55-inch TV in the living room.

Mrs. Guo instructed earnestly from the side, "When you go on a blind date this afternoon, I’ll teach you what to say; you say, [I’m not good with words; when I first saw you, my mind went blank, like a piece of white paper]."

"Then you say, [It’s not my first time on a blind date, but it’s my first time feeling moved because I met you]."

Guo Ran tried hard not to laugh, her mouth almost crooked.

Beside them, the honest and sincere Mr. Guo also didn’t want to speak.

Guo Ran couldn’t hold back anymore, "Mom, you talk so much, why don’t you go on the date instead of me?"

Mrs. Guo shouted, "Ranran, do you want to ruin this family?!"

"How old are you this year? If you don’t get married, don’t have children, when you grow old and pass away at home, no one will even know!"

Guo Ran nonchalantly replied, "So what, even if someone finds out, would I come back to life?"

Mr. Guo coughed gently, persuading kindly, "If someone discovers you before you die, there’s a chance to save you, but if no one knows at all, then there’s no hope, my girl!"

Guo Ran didn’t want to deal with her parents. She replied to Jiang Ning’s message, "Having a peaceful year is hard, would love to visit your village for a banquet..."

Jiang Ning replied promptly, "Afraid it’s not possible this year, wait till May Day or National Day, I’ll take you to a banquet."

Guo Ran gazed at the message, her mind imagining the scene of them at a banquet, and she couldn’t help but smile, "Okay, I’ll drive you home then."

Like a mother who knows her daughter well, Mrs. Guo noticed her daughter’s happy look and muttered, "Talking to that student of yours again?"