Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1589: 869: New Year's Money (2)
Previously on Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation...
Capítulo 1589: Chapter 869: New Year’s Money (2)
Seated calmly, Jiang Ning declared: “You shut up too.”
The father of the little girl leaped to his feet abruptly, flung off his arm, and removed his coat, seeming prepared to throw punches.
The child behaved wildly: “Dad, he frightened me!”
Before Jiang Ning had a chance to respond, a couple of eager travelers quickly restrained the girl's dad: “Brother, hold back! On the final ride, a troublemaker got ejected by him.”
“He truly throws hands, just inquire with folks nearby!”
“Ejected?” The girl's father expressed disbelief.
“Yes, seized by the hair and hurled right through the exit.” The zealous uncle who earlier suggested yielding seats added: “Brother, amid the festive period, I advise you to show mercy!”
The girl's father eyed the uncle's sturdy build, pondered his options briefly, slipped his coat back on, and returned to his prior spot.
Jiang Ning averted his look, uninterested in violence save for extreme cases. In truth, he favored tranquility above all.
The train compartment's tension eased slowly, while a nearby lass with single eyelids texted her close pal: “Lu Lu, incredible! Today, I'm riding in such a serene coach!”
In Yuzhou, Geng Lu replied: “Wow, a serene coach? Does it feature some unique substance that muffles noise?”
Has everyday tech advanced to levels unknown to her?
The single-eyelid girl stole a peek at Jiang Ning and typed: “Nah, it's simply that troublemakers get silenced by this awesome dude.”
Geng Lu: “Ah, I see…”
…
The locomotive glided steadily onward, Jiang Ning unpacked a sack from his bag, extracted fruits and treats to occupy himself, and arranged them across the tiny table, covering it entirely.
Strawberries piled high in a dish came first, their vibrant crimson hue shining like glass, each bigger than an egg, adorned with tiny droplets that enhanced their juicy allure.
Next to the berries sat assorted duck delicacies—duck hearts, gizzards, tongues, and more—prepared by special cooks from Evergreen Liquid, glazed in savory sauce that glistened invitingly.
Pairing fresh strawberries with these saucy duck items formed an odd yet fitting mix; certainly, it balanced proteins with produce.
Using chopsticks, Jiang Ning grabbed a duck gizzard piece. Sourced from a fierce wild drake battling for romance at Qingyu Lake, one bite delivered a crisp yet tough chew, infused deeply with a masterfully crafted brine, yielding bold flavors in every layer.
Jiang Ning savored multiple bites; meanwhile, Pei Yujing beside him kept buried in her book.
Inwardly, Jiang Ning mused: “Silly girl, so fixated!”
He resolved to assist Pei Yujing's training.
Subtly, he directed the savory aroma toward her, letting it waft to her nostrils.
As the offspring of a grill house proprietor, Pei Yujing boasted strong tolerance, yet these were elite duck treats from Jiang Ning, and with dinner skipped, past 8 PM now, hunger gnawed at her.
She flicked a sidelong glance lasting a mere half-second, precisely when Jiang Ning noticed.
Eyes locking briefly, Pei Yujing swiftly faced away and resumed her reading.
Yet concentration fled as the intensifying scent prompted repeated sneaky looks.
Jiang Ning munched on a strawberry and remarked offhandedly: “Skipped dinner, huh?”
Pei Yujing resisted the kindness, responding: “I ate already.”
Jiang Ning: “Join me for some.”
Pei Yujing: “I'll grab a bite at Grandma's soon.”
Jiang Ning: “But you claimed you dined, right?”
Pei Yujing twisted her fingers, falling quiet: “…”
With chopsticks in hand, Jiang Ning tapped gently: “Haha, let me predict: arriving at Grandma's, she'll inquire ‘Jingjing, eaten yet?’, and you'll reply ‘Yes, outside’, then go famished through the night, correct?”
Pei Yujing gazed at Jiang Ning, feeling exposed, wondering, ‘How'd he figure it? I hate burdening Grandma and the family?’
Jiang Ning shook his head: “Such a stubborn one.”
Pei Yujing offered no denial, convinced that requesting a saved portion from Grandma would seem intrusive, so skipping a meal suited better—no harm in it.
Post-scolding, Jiang Ning reflected suddenly: in his previous existence at his uncle's, hadn't he acted identically?
A subtle sadness stirred within, prompting him to fetch two plastic mugs: “Head to the forward car for two hot waters; in return, I'll offer you treats.”
Pei Yujing protested, “Not worthwhile.”
Jiang Ning: “Too idle to stir, think of it as handing water to a parched wanderer in dunes.”
Thus convinced, Pei Yujing relented. Gripping the rail, she rose, her ebony tresses cascading like a falls, softly grazing her hips as she extended.
Jiang Ning pondered internally, ‘Truly stunning.’
Instantly after, irritation hit: ‘Cursed blond Ghost Fire.’
…
By the riverbank, in the simple dwelling.
Xue Yuantong's plea for frozen treats met a firm no from her mother, yet she stayed composed. Money in hand meant endless scoops whenever desired.
Regrettably, today's funds went to mom's new outfits, and departing, Jiang Ning swindled her remaining cash.
Her pockets stood empty now.
Boss Yang's berry patch shuts tomorrow, barring further shifts there.
Moreover, even rehired, Chuchu would refuse participation.
Hence, New Year's left Xue Yuantong resourceless.
Clasping her mom's arm, Xue Yuantong's gaze mirrored the soft bulb light: “Mom, what's my New Year's gift sum this time? Twenty or fifty?”
Though expenses soared lately, back then, off-brand munchies were bargains, and decent picks like Panpan's milky chicken bites ran mere bucks per pack, sustaining a full day, rendering dozens a treasure.
Aunt Gu eyed her offspring casually: “Hehe, so near-sighted.”
Without pause, she added: “Two thousand yuan for you.”
Xue Yuantong froze; two grand equaled a fortune! Enough to stockpile her snack stash fully!
“For real? No more sulking then! I'll splurge a buck at a time, toss the rest!” Xue Yuantong beamed at her mom in astonishment.
Aunt Gu, witnessing her child's petty dreams, reconsidered: “This year's fund totals two thousand, split even—you get one thousand, Jiang Ning the other.”
She cautioned: “Catch you with ice cream buys, and I reclaim everything!”
Xue Yuantong blinked in shock, probing: “And if Jiang Ning fetches me some?”
Aunt Gu: “His share vanishes too.”
Processing this, Xue Yuantong stepped back from mom and messaged Jiang Ning.
Aboard the train.
Jiang Ning felt his phone buzz, lifted it for a check.
“Jiang Ning, with a sudden thousand yuan windfall, what'd you purchase?”
To this, Jiang Ning texted back idly: “Whatever catches my eye.”
Xue Yuantong: “And for me?”
Jiang Ning: “Greedy for my cash? Bold move!”
Xue Yuantong: “You've got a thousand incoming; one ice cream for me won't hurt, right?”
She revived past favors: “Remember, heading home recently, I tended your plants, aired your linens, tidied your space, handled your break assignments; back at the dam, I cooked tasty meals, downloaded Tom and Jerry for your views, even laundered your clothes. How can you abandon me so coldly?”
Jiang Ning: “…”
Counterarguments escaped him.
“Full throttle, thousand on frozen delights—morning scoop, evening treat, pure bliss.”
Tongtong grinned widely.
‘However…’ she schemed silently, ‘Apologies, Jiang Ning, my funds remain mine to wield!’
Swiftly, she screenshotted his reply, displaying to mom: “See, Mom? Jiang Ning's pushing ice creams hard. I urged otherwise, failed, so regarding your two thousand…”
Aunt Gu scanned it, noting: “If he's this way, yours must be worse—no gifts for either this year.”