Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1576 - 863: Inheritance
Previously on Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation...
Mingya City District, Yuzhou City.
A sleek black Range Rover pulled up imposingly at the entrance, where the guard swiftly swung open the barrier. The vehicle glided smoothly inside before coming to a halt right outside a apartment block.
Yao Haikuo, behind the wheel, wrinkled his forehead: “Why’s my usual spot taken by some stranger’s ride?”
In the very next instant, he spotted the recognizable number plate, and relief washed over him.
Spotting a free slot, he parked his SUV and snatched up the hefty plastic sack, making his way to the lift. Once upstairs, he rapped on the door.
From within, Yao Yiyao, cradling a spotless Maine Coon, shouted, “Dad!”
Grinning, Yao Haikuo inquired, “Has Uncle Lou shown up yet?”
Right on cue, a man in his middle years emerged from the interior. Of average build, he stood tall with a posture as firm as a pine, his gaze piercing and intense, radiating an aura of authority.
Spotting Yao Haikuo, Lou Rui’s expression softened considerably, turning warm: “Brother Yao!”
Yao Haikuo felt a touch of awkwardness; he’d headed to the countryside farm stay for fresh produce but got caught up in a fierce round of “The King of Fighters,” completely spacing on the fact that company was due.
Hastily, he hoisted the bulging plastic bag as a gesture: “Brother Lou, knowing you’d drop by, I went out of my way to fetch a village-raised chicken and whipped up a batch of freshwater carp broth from the wild!”
“Looks like I’m in for something special today!” Lou Rui beamed, clearly pleased.
As longtime schoolmates, despite the passage of twenty or thirty years, they made it a point to meet up once or twice annually; such uncomplicated bonds were a rare gem for folks in elevated roles.
“In you go, in you go!” Stepping inside, Yao Haikuo caught sight of Mrs. Lou Rui and her daughter, then puzzled over: “Where’s Lun Lun?”
Lou Rui answered, “She’s off hanging out with friends.”
Following some light chit-chat, Yao Yiyao rinsed a bowl of blueberries and brought them out for the grown-ups.
Scooping up the Maine Coon, she headed to her room, eyeing the fair-complexioned girl with the delicate oval face: “Keke, you watching the screen?”
Perched on the bed’s rim, Lou Keke stared intently at her mobile, fully absorbed.
At the question, she glanced up with a grin: “Nah, I’m just messing around on it.”
Yao Yiyao plopped down next to her; Lou Keke made no effort to conceal her screen, and Yao Yiyao spied details on overseas student programs. Intrigued, she probed, “You considering going abroad for school?”
Lou Keke denied it with a shake of her head.
Yao Yiyao reflected: “Back a few years, Second Middle School hosted some international exchange kids. Our upperclassmen said they sported long locks and were real lookers. Sadly, soon as they settled in, the school rules forced haircuts on them.”
Lou Keke couldn’t help but chuckle.
Yao Yiyao went on: “Lately, no foreign exchanges have popped up. But our teacher let slip they could be bringing in top talents from aided rural academies to study with us.”
Abruptly, Lou Keke queried, “Does Yu Zhou Fourth Middle School run anything like that?”
“Um...” Beyond Yao Yiyao’s know-how, still she ventured: “Yu Zhou Fourth Middle School probably isn’t there yet. That said, backed by Principal Shao and Evergreen Liquid, it’s building a solid name. They might launch exchanges soon.”
Her mind drifting to Yu Zhou Fourth Middle School, memories flooded back of Jiang Ning and Xue Yuantong, plus their mouthwatering duck and sweet Osmanthus Lotus Root.
Just yesterday, she’d nagged her father to grab some tonics to pass along to Jiang Ning for the debt of gratitude from saving his life—debts like that don’t fade—yet with today’s get-together for old pals, it slipped.
Lou Keke’s eyes focused, and she responded, “Okay.”
“Ah, studying abroad feels worlds away, but I’ve got this other thing nagging at me.” Yao Yiyao vented.
Lou Keke wondered, “What’s up?”
With a heavy sigh, Yao Yiyao explained: “This afternoon, another of Dad’s former classmates is stopping by. I keep catching him teasing about a vow he made with his buddy way back: if their kids turned out boy and girl, they’d set up a marriage match.”
Lou Keke brushed it off lightly, “No sweat, it won’t come to that.”
...
City center, grocery store.
A sturdy, sun-bronzed man of middle age offered sincere guidance:
“Yu Zhu, when you see your uncle, mind your manners. He’s a major player in construction now. Your dad’s gig at Evergreen Liquid last time? That was all thanks to him! And your sister’s school troubles still hinge on his pull!”
Resembling a younger Huang Yuzhu carved from the same cloth, he laughed easily: “Chill, Dad.”
Pleased at the response, Huang Guan gave a firm nod. His firstborn was ever reliable.
Huang Guan hopped on his bike: “Fine, hop on. I’ll get you there.”
They motored straight to the neighborhood’s front, only to hit a blockade. The watchman signaled: “Can’t go through here. Take the north side!”
Huang Guan fished out a smoke promptly, flashing a amiable grin. The sentry eyed it—Huang Wan Yan—and barked: “I told you no, didn’t you get it? North entrance. What if you clip someone? You covering that mess?”
Out of choices, Huang Guan sheepishly turned the bike around, struggling a bit to reach the northern way in, then zipped into the complex. After hunting around for the right address, they at last reached Yao Haikuo’s unit.
Hearing the knock inside, Yao Yiyao scooped the Maine Coon and poked her head out, spotting her father and Uncle Lou with blueberry-tinted lips, deep in lively talk, looking almost afflicted.
‘Uh oh, my bad!’ Yao Yiyao stifled a giggle.
Unlatching the door, she faced a tanned middle-aged fellow. Startled for a beat, she courteously said, “Hi, who might you be?”
From the back, Yao Haikuo’s jolly tone boomed: “Guanzi, I’ve been expecting you ages!”
‘So he’s one of Dad’s ancient classmates... looking that aged.’ Yao Yiyao pondered quietly.
Then, a bronzed, straightforward youth stepped into sight past the older man.
On first look, he could pass for the man’s sibling.
Following her dad’s rundown, Yao Yiyao discovered he was the fellow’s boy, Huang Yuzhu by name.
Exchanging niceties, Yao Yiyao retreated to her room hugging the Maine Coon. Lou Keke, glancing at the hefty feline, prompted, “Doesn’t lugging it everywhere wear you out?”