Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1614 - 882: I’ll Catch It for You Now

In Hui Province, on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, winter cast a harsh chill over everything.

Inside the kitchen, Jiang Ning positioned himself before the stove. Vivid red flames danced from the burning wood, with steam billowing up from the pot, transforming the house into a cozy spring haven amid the cold.

The fire's glow cast light on Jiang Ning's features in its flickering reflection, while his gaze settled upon the chopping board.

Tongtong, apron fastened snugly at her waist, resembled a miniature grown-up as she skillfully prepared the foodstuffs. Sounds of clanging cookware and slicing veggies filled the air, accompanied by her self-directed mumbling:

"First up, beef stew featuring cabbage and vermicelli, followed by beer duck, garlic ribs, and wrapping with stir-fried okra. Wait, we skipped okra since Jiang Ning mentioned he dislikes it."

As she rinsed the beef, Xue Chuchu chimed in, "Yet I recall okra being quite nutritious..."

Midway in her words, Xue Chuchu caught herself and trailed off.

Jiang Ning inquired, "Nourishes what exactly?"

'Always poking at sore spots,' Xue Chuchu kept her expression icy and detached, refusing to answer him.

Xue Yuantong devoted all her attention to the midday feast. Their exchange held no appeal for her, so she pressed on, "Without okra, we can skip the veggie side. We've got the beef stew with cabbage anyway, plus tomato mushroom tofu soup coming up."

"Three substantial mains plus a soup, and we'll boil up some rice. That ought to suffice for four folks, yeah?" Tongtong appeared to question the pair, though it felt more like her usual solo chatter.

By comparison, Xue Chuchu stayed quiet during meal prep. Jiang Ning figured she lacked Tongtong's lively appeal.

Jiang Ning: "That's plenty."

Xue Yuantong: "Alright."

Jiang Ning kept stoking the flames. Amid winter, the stove offered the coziest spot, and seated by it, with Tongtong's murmurs in his ears, a genuine familial glow emerged.

During his previous existence, Jiang Ning had been solitary since youth, drifting aimlessly. Following exhausting shifts, he frequently relied on delivery food, which in winter occasionally turned frigid upon arrival.

These days, though, every bite came piping hot. The vision from his recollections of an ideal household—maybe a bustling silhouette in the cooking area—now unfolded right in front of him.

What folks chase throughout existence often starts off already in their grasp.

Yet, countless individuals let it slip away.

...

Jiang Ning snapped a picture of the stove and shared it to the class group, declaring a home-cooked lunch that afternoon.

The group buzzed with energy, classmates showing keen excitement.

Guo Kunnan: "Who's preparing the food?"

Jiang Ning: "Xue Chuchu."

Glancing over the display, Dong Qingfeng envisioned that captivating form and messaged: "You deserve to die!"

Jiang Ning had merely kicked off the discussion, but it veered from the chef's identity to debates on parental cooking roles at home.

Duan Shigang mentioned his mother handled their cooking and noted her enjoyment of it, earning a sharp rebuke from Lu Qiqi.

"Which woman in this world truly enjoys cooking? That's pure oppression!" Lu Qiqi stressed.

Duan Shigang endured the unexpected strike like a stray pup on the street, while Yu Wen and Wang Yan Yan unleashed verbal barrages, labeling him a mommy's boy, an entitled sort, and even a reviver of the Great Qing— the girls' argumentative prowess stunned, leaving the chat lopsided.

Duan Shigang fumed; in person, he could handle a dozen Lu Qiqis with ease. But sadly, this was online!

Duan Shigang fired back, "My father covers the grocery costs, my mother handles the cooking—is there an issue?"

Lu Qiqi: "Why assume your dad funding groceries and your mom cooking makes sense?"

Duan Shigang: "Doesn't it?"

Lu Qiqi: "Heh, why not run a help-wanted post and check [Seeking full-time cooking helper, boss funds ingredients, helper eats with us but no pay]."

"Observe the responses. If applicants flock in, the boss loses out. If none show, the helper does."

Zhang Chi, ever the pragmatic earner: "Nobody'd bite, obviously—no wage, that's basically free labor, right?"

Lu Qiqi: "Spot on."

Yu Wen and Wang Yan Yan swiftly backed her, and even impartial gals like Meng Zi Yun initially thought it rang true.

Duan Shigang abruptly grasped: "Hold on, that's my parents sharing a life—why tally it that way?"

Lu Qiqi doubled down: "Thus, your mom ends up shortchanged, your dad the beneficiary."

Duan Shigang momentarily lacked a comeback.

Guo Kunnan and Dan Kaiquan sensed the flaw but struggled to articulate a swift reply.

Guo Kunnan @Ma Shicheng: "Brother Ma."

Lu Qiqi shrugged it off, doubting Ma Shicheng had a riposte.

Ma Shicheng chimed in: "Don't get fooled; it's a blatant false analogy."

"Try framing it like: [Hiring full-time shopping assistant, assistant foots grocery bill, boss cooks, joins meal sans pay], then watch applicants. If they swarm, the chef loses. If barren, the payer does."

Zhang Chi, the shrewd worker: "Hell, this boss has it easy—no pay plus I cover costs to work for him? Forget it, the original ad was fairer."

Guo Kunnan, upon reading, burst out: "Whoa, viewed like that, you're right!"

Ma Shicheng: "If you nitpick profits so harshly, nobody truly gains—shouldn't spouses just enjoy life side by side?"

Lu Qiqi found herself stumped, unable to reply.

Noticing Lu Qiqi's quiet, Duan Shigang brimmed with joy and revered Ma Shicheng further. Shame he couldn't navigate society now, else he'd eagerly bring him on board.