Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1593 - 871: New Year (Part 2)

On this windless day, with the sun shining warmly, New Year’s Eve has arrived once more, and homework is the last thing on anyone’s mind.

Such carefree moments to play are rare, whether in a single year or over an entire lifetime.

Seated by the doorway, Aunt Gu and Hua Fengmei munch on pumpkin seeds, exchanging gossip, while the joyful sounds from their daughters bring gradual smiles to their lips.

Mr. Qian sips tea right outside, Uncle Tang savors soybean flowers, and Butcher Zhang scrolls through short videos...

All at once, Bi Yue emerges quickly from the eastern kitchen, clutching a pot, which captures the immediate focus of the group.

Unlike everyday folks such as Butcher Zhang or Mr. Qian, Bi Yue stands out a bit, not fully fitting into their social group.

After her father’s imprisonment and the sequential confiscation of their assets, Bi Yue’s lifestyle took a sharp downturn, and her once haughty attitude slowly diminished.

Just two days prior, when Butcher Zhang handed her two pounds of dog meat, she surprisingly returned a smile, devoid of her previous resistance and scorn.

Bi Yue rushed straight to Aunt Gu’s entrance. She looked at Aunt Gu, still holding onto some inner contempt, though she concealed it effectively, wise enough to go with the flow of circumstances.

Lately, using old ties, Bi Yue connected with a ‘socialite’ who had revived her fading family wealth by tying the knot with a rich family.

As she absorbed the socialite sister’s stories, Bi Yue felt excited, realizing that despite her family’s downfall, wedding into affluence could restore her comfortable existence.

The socialite sister stressed that culinary expertise was key to securing a wealthy match, since affluent clans favored dutiful spouses.

Influenced by this advice, Bi Yue purchased the socialite sister’s training materials, but tight on cash, she skipped paid cooking classes and opted to learn on her own.

Next, she set her sights on Aunt Gu, figuring that as a cook at Evergreen Liquid, her abilities had to be top-notch. Picking up a few tricks gratis would surely outshine lessons from a standard instructor.

Plastering on a grin, Bi Yue eagerly sought guidance: “Sister Gu, it’s New Year’s, isn’t it? I got myself a snakehead fish and tried cooking it, but it doesn’t seem right. Could you check it out?”

With those words, she raised the pot cover, unleashing a potent stench. Aunt Gu’s eyelids fluttered, and summoning her resolve, she peeked sideways.

The pot held a dark, gooey lump, faintly resembling a snakehead fish, its eyes glaring right back at her.

Aunt Gu: “No, this is...”

Observing from nearby, Mr. Qian let out a heavy sigh: “Such a shame, what a waste!”

Hua Fengmei nodded her head in concurrence.

Taking in the reactions from the crowd, Bi Yue mustered another forced smile and, leaning forward, inquired: “Sister Gu, with my dish like this, is it the pot’s problem or the snakehead fish?”

Mr. Qian sighed once more: “You didn’t even think to point at yourself!”

Bi Yue’s expression soured. She was an overseas-educated returnee, highly sought after. Opting for the civil service test would count as holding a master’s equivalent!

Naturally, she wouldn’t pass it.

Preparing meals is a talent even village women possess. So why couldn’t she manage it?

Refusing to yield, Bi Yue pressed on: “So, is it the pot or the fish at fault?”

Tongtong dashed up: “Obviously, it’s you, sis!”

Stunned into silence, Bi Yue struggled to process it right away.

Uncle Tang, the go-to peacemaker along the riverbank, had been dashing about earlier when Dongdong suffered a wasp sting.

Now, he suggested: “Yueyue, why not join me and your mom for New Year’s lunch? It’s tough seeing you both struggle like this.”

Bi Yue turned down the offer.

Aunt Zhang let out a sigh: “Yueyue’s endured so much hardship!”

Uncle Tang: “Indeed, I recall when your father was still active, luxury cars lined up during New Year’s to drop off presents. What a spectacle that was!”

Although Bi Yue secretly viewed these unrefined country dwellers with disdain, this comment stirred memories of those times, filling her with an odd melancholy.

Downcast, Bi Yue drew in a steadying breath, recalling the socialite route, and remarked: “What goes around comes around, and in the future...”

Tongtong bounded over: “Right, you lived so luxuriously before, what goes around comes around, so it’s bound to worsen!”

With that, Tongtong scampered away.

This remark pushed Bi Yue to the edge, nearly driving her to explode right there!

...

10:30 a.m.

Outside the security post at Sunshine Deer Court.

Dressed in his security uniform, Zhang Chi grabbed his phone to dial his grandparents. It rang a few times before someone finally picked up.

Speaking with unusual earnestness, Zhang Chi said: “Grandpa, where are you? I’ve booked a table for us!”

His debt-dodging father was in hiding, his cold-hearted mother had vanished, leaving his grandparents as the sole relatives he truly valued.

“What, you can’t make it now?” Zhang Chi’s pitch sharpened abruptly, “Why the sudden change, what about the ride, don’t you have a car?”

“Oh, Uncle’s household is in trouble? They need your help, so you’re stuck there?”

Zhang Chi’s voice brightened briefly: “How about Grandma then?”

His face fell: “Tied up, always occupied, that’s positive, sure...”

He ended the call, plunging the guard post into quietness, where he sat lost in thought for some moments.

Zhang Chi glanced southward along the road, finding it deserted, as folks had already headed home for the holiday by now.

He shifted to peer north, where lines of stone-faced apartments stood, his eyes drifting past the panes to glimpse warm family gatherings within.

At last, his stare settled on the security post, adorned by him with the couplet: [Year after year, free of cares, everlasting joy in Chang’an]

Regrettably, joy eluded him entirely.

Zhang Chi checked the group chat, spotting Lu Qiqi berating Yan Tianpeng for daring to ask her out on New Year’s Eve; she bluntly told him to scram, unleashing a torrent of curses, before adding: “Yanan, Wenwen, don’t forget to join for New Year’s Eve tonight!”

Yu Wen: “Count me in, I’ll don my outfit later, it’ll blow you away.”

Jiang Yanan: “Not budging until we meet up.”

The chat appeared lively and united.

Zhang Chi hit his limit: “Why fuss over New Year’s Eve? Crossing from 2014 to 2015 in a blink changes zilch... total nonsense!”

Following his outburst, he noticed that Lu Qiqi, who once would clash with him, now simply overlooked it.

An unusual hush settled over the group.

Now Zhang Chi felt the discomfort.

Abruptly, the expansive world seemed to exclude him completely.

Zhang Chi set aside his phone, eyeing the street beyond, his emotions swirling.

New Year’s Eve, this day marks New Year’s Eve, lights glow in homes everywhere, yet he remains solitary.

In his gloom, a silhouette emerged at the far end of the barren street; Yan Tianpeng biked hard, arriving at the complex’s gate.

Under Zhang Chi’s astonished watch, Yan Tianpeng clapped his shoulder, tone brimming with vigor: “Buddy, I figured you’d be working, come on, join me for New Year’s lunch at my house!”

Seeing his audacity, Zhang Chi sensed a surge of warmth, struck by the bond of friendship, and couldn’t resist confirming: “For real?”

Yan Tianpeng chuckled: “Just pulling your leg, nah, of course not!”

“You jerk!” Zhang Chi felt profoundly slighted; he was already at rock bottom, so why rub it in!

On the verge of snapping.

Yan Tianpeng turned solemn: “Not my home, we’re hitting a restaurant, my old man reserved a spot.”

...

Prior to the New Year’s Eve midday meal, Xue Yuantong ignited more fireworks.

Recalling Jiang Ning’s absence from the riverbank, she captured footage of the bursts for him in distant Linzhou, attaching a voice note: “

“Firecrackers crackle, bidding farewell to the old year, hehe, I’ve aged another year!”

Hearing her playful tone, Jiang Ning responded: “You’re still just a child.”

Xue Yuantong fired back via voice: “Hmph, I’m no child!”

Jiang Ning: “I’ve reached three centuries, so yes, you’re a kid.”

Xue Yuantong: “Three hundred years? Piece of cake, I’ll make it to a thousand.”

Jiang Ning: “Bold, so you aim for a thousand, and I’ll push to a thousand and one.”

Xue Yuantong paused, puzzled: “Why try to outlast me?”

Then realization dawned, touching her: “Jiang Ning, are you afraid of passing before me and leaving me to grieve alone, so you plan to hang on an extra year?”

Jiang Ning brushed it off: “Look at your silliness; it’s because I’m a year your senior.”

Flustered and irked, Xue Yuantong: “As if I’d want to go at the same time as you!”