Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1590: 870: Sweeping Away the Old

High-speed train.

Pei Yujing got two cups of tea, while Jiang Ning passed her some chopsticks. They both enjoyed bites of the duck together.

At first, Pei Yujing only planned to sample it, yet the special taste of the Qingyu Lake wild duck soon won over her taste—it wasn't merely pleasing to the tongue but also appeared to invigorate her mind.

As Jiang Ning ate, the chatty young girl opposite the walkway stayed silent for some time.

Her father repeatedly looked over at Jiang Ning, irritation flashing in his gaze, though Jiang Ning’s fame kept him from complaining.

Jiang Ning admired that defiant attitude. With his mana, he sent out a trace of scent, allowing it to float over to the father and daughter.

The young girl abruptly sensed a fierce hunger. Staring at the tempting meal, her eyes locked on without blinking, and she gulped repeatedly from the alluring smell.

“Dad, I’m hungry!” she yelled, “Starving!”

A kind old man, on the verge of sleep, got woken up and joked, “If you keep yelling, somebody might tell you off!”

“Dad, I’m hungry!” The young girl started sobbing and screaming, her cries sharp and loud.

The girl’s father journeyed solo with his child and lacked experience in looking after kids, so he carried no treats, putting him in a tough spot: “I’ll get you KFC right after we arrive!”

“I don’t want KFC. I want to eat strawberries, eat what they’re eating!” The young girl threw a fit nonstop, her high-pitched voice ringing through the carriage.

Some eyed the young girl, others glanced at Jiang Ning, wishing he’d intervene and end the disturbance. Folks always yearn for a savior to show up.

Regrettably, Jiang Ning refused to play servant to anyone.

He grabbed the paper cup and sipped the tea gently.

Bliss needs a backdrop, particularly with a tiny foodie causing a stir.

Jiang Ning acted like he heard nothing, employing his chopsticks to snag a glossy, oil-slicked duck gizzard soaked in sesame sauce and savored it slowly.

“How does it taste?”

Pei Yujing: “Delicious.”

Jiang Ning smiled, “This gets marinated with a formula from a top chef, a true heir to the craft. A single bite lingers in your memory forever.”

Pei Yujing fully concurred at this point.

“Here, try a strawberry. This season’s strawberries turn out really good,” Jiang Ning remarked casually.

The strawberries grown in the spirit field on Hu Qi Mountain ranked as Tongtong’s top pick. Each time, she’d fill her small mouth completely.

Pei Yujing cleaned her hands, took hold of a strawberry so vibrant red it glowed, and flawlessly shaped. When her teeth softly pressed in, the delicate skin cracked. First came the soft pulp that dissolved, neither tart nor overly sweet, but a subtle, cooling, creamy flavor, a soothing feel.

Then Pei Yujing reached the strawberry’s center, like popping a candy nucleus, as the sugary liquid flooded her mouth instantly.

She felt touched, having never encountered such an incredible strawberry before.

Jiang Ning: “Not bad, right?”

Pei Yujing: “Delicious.”

She sensed that even her breath held a light strawberry scent now.

Jiang Ning chuckled, “These are strawberries fed with Evergreen Liquid. They match the ones from the news, when President Shao dined with the officials.”

Pei Yujing paid close attention, though her expression stayed neutral, showing little shift.

“Alright,” Jiang Ning didn’t care about her mild response, and added, “When I offer you tasty treats, and you find them great after tasting, you ought to praise them rather than go quiet.”

Pei Yujing thought for a moment, forcing a confused look to compliment, “So delicious! I’ve never had such good strawberries. You’re amazing for getting Evergreen Liquid strawberries.”

“That’s too exaggerated,” Jiang Ning’s mouth quirked, “but it’s way better than before. Remember to act like this next time, alright?”

Pei Yujing nodded.

Jiang Ning handed her yet another strawberry.

He quietly spotted a spark of delight in Pei Yujing’s gaze.

‘If only I had shown more patience in my last life, it wouldn’t have ended this way,’ Jiang Ning reflected inwardly.

In his prior existence, Pei Yujing remained unchanged. Jiang Ning had carefully selected a scarce Disney-themed cup for her, yet upon getting it, she displayed neither grief nor glee, like everything stayed the same.

Jiang Ning then viewed presenting gifts to her as a dull task, truly frustrating, since his time and cash brought no emotional payback.

Even a fan offering a present would at least toss in a playful remark.

Afterward, Sister Ma informed him that Pei Yujing actually cherished the cup a lot and frequently used it at work for water.

Today, Jiang Ning realizes, ‘She simply doesn’t express it well.’

Right then, the young girl wailed, “Daddy, I want strawberries, I want strawberries!”

Her dad, catching the marinade’s fragrance, grew tempted himself, but following the earlier clash with Jiang Ning, how could he lower his pride?

Her dad barked, “Eat what? Isn’t KFC after getting off better?”

The kind uncle, unable to stand it, pulled a packet of cookies from his large sack, “Here, take some from uncle!”

The young girl seized the cookies and hurled them down, “I just want strawberries!”

The kind uncle stood stunned.

Jiang Ning lifted another strawberry, holding it a bit higher, and the young girl’s eyes gleamed like a famished wolf’s.

In the following instant, Jiang Ning chomped a big chunk, declaring, “I’m not giving you any!”

The young girl promptly broke into gut-wrenching cries.

Her dad shouted, “Stop crying, your crying is annoying me!”

The young girl pretended not to hear.

Her dad, lacking restraint, struck her twice, the smacks resounding loudly, as her wails filled the carriage.

Jiang Ning applied a cultivation technique to dampen the sound, then went on with his meal.

…

“Ladies and gentlemen, the train you are on is approaching Linzhou Station…”

Travelers gathered their bags and moved toward the exit doors.

After sampling Jiang Ning’s goodies, Pei Yujing experienced remorse, and with their separation nearing, she couldn’t resist inquiring, “When you get off later, how will you get back?”