Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1649 - 899: Real-Life Playing House (Part 2)

Huang Yuzhu felt completely helpless; his wayward little brother had strayed far from the path. Without setting him right, doom awaited him in the future.

After seeking Xue Yuantong's advice, he learned the river dam allowed work-study balance and featured a respected teacher!

This arrangement nurtured both body and spirit while providing guided studies—a perfect deal all around.

Huang Yuzhu quickly decided to ship his brother off to the river dam for education.

This morning marked when Huang Yuzhu delivered his brother here.

Another factor was Jiang Ning assigning Dongdong to labor, where kids once bullied by him first found safety through supervision, but soon turned to beating and scolding him in revenge, even morphing into the Evil Dragon.

Guiding children proves endlessly fascinating... though Jiang Ning reflected, isn't the grown-up world identical?

Seconds slipped away one after another.

A motorbike's rumbling growl pierced the river dam's grounds.

Jiang Ning wrapped up his chess match and rose to welcome his past-life buddy, stating: "Yuzhu, you’re here."

Huang Yuzhu hopped off the bike, offering a straightforward smile: "Have you eaten?"

Meanwhile, a man in his forties, exuding utmost sincerity and honesty, grinned at Jiang Ning and politely extended a cigarette.

Jiang Ning shook his hand in refusal, greeting: "Hello, Uncle."

Huang Guan then brought forward a teenage boy he held: "Here's my son, Xingxing—greet him properly."

The boy raised his head, face blank, silent as stone.

"See this child." Huang Guan remarked, stern-faced.

Jiang Ning brushed it off: "He’s still young."

He called Dongdong closer: "Show him the job."

Dongdong, veteran hand at the strawberry garden, boasted: "Our strawberry garden offers three meals daily, meat at every one!"

He showed off his powerful arms: "I’m only 9 years old this year!"

Huang Guan and Huang Yuzhu gawked, eyeing Dongdong's bull-like build. Just nine, you say?

"Beyond meals, snag strawberries too. Know 'em? Greenhouse variety costs dozens per pound!" Dongdong hyped eagerly.

Huang Guan, tough manual laborer, recognized winter strawberries' steep price—his household seldom indulged.

'Kid that age fed fully plus berries. Xingxing sure to love it, remote spot sans internet cafes.' Huang Guan mulled delightedly.

Jiang Ning coughed lightly.

Dongdong added right away: "Work heartily, eat superbly, plus Mr. Qian's lessons!"

At that moment, refined Mr. Qian emerged from indoors, positioned in eastern sun rays, radiant, chanting poetry fervently: "Last night the Dipper turned north, today the year starts east. Although I am in my prime, without salary, I still worry about farming."

Xue Yuantong lauded: "Good poem, good poem, truly a good poem!"

Though Xue Yuantong's acclaim rang genuine, Mr. Qian sensed sarcasm; this girl had grown sly!

Huang Guan, noting Mr. Qian's learned poise, perked up at once. Toil overseen by a teacher—flawless!

Gaze at this nine-year-old nearby; mature as grown-up, sharp in social graces!

Huang Guan hastily pressed his son to labor diligently.

Truth be told, strawberry garden gigs pay: Dongdong pulls 150 yuan daily, but broker Jiang Ning's toil claims 149, netting him 1 yuan per day.

Rookies like Xingxing fetch 80 yuan; Jiang Ning pockets 79.5, 0.5 raises Dongdong to greenhouse deputy manager, so Xingxing earns nil.

Still, solo this bred laziness in Dongdong.

Xue Yuantong suggested rivalry: random worker checks, best attitude per feedback wins race to General Manager.

Yet rollout paused till Xingxing qualified as full employee.

Huang Guan and Huang Yuzhu handed Xingxing to Dongdong, departing the river dam thrilled.

...

Dongdong upheld his facade, eyeing newcomer Xingxing closely.

Dongdong once bossed many lackeys, all greenhorns; Xingxing stood as genuine certified colleague before him.

"Hey, kid, you think you’re cool?" Dongdong called out.

Though tender-aged, Xingxing duped kin to haunt big net cafes; exposed to gang chiefs, Dongdong struck as chatty, no scare factor.

"Hey, Xiao Dong, do you play CF?" Xingxing inquired.

Dongdong queried, baffled: "What’s CF?"

Xingxing chuckled slyly; CF-ignorant, total rural yokel.

He scanned the river dam, demanding: "Escort me to strawberry garden for lounging—no berries in ages."

Dongdong forced a grin: "Your work attitude is very proactive, I like it!"

Dongdong alerted sovereign Jiang Ning: "I’m leaving!"

Jiang Ning nodded: "Yes, remember, you two are working voluntarily."

Xingxing bolted off, Dongdong pursued: "Aren’t you going to greet him? Otherwise, he’ll trouble you!"

Xingxing scoffed: "Why should I greet him? Who does he think he is?"

Dongdong: "Not pleasing him will have serious consequences!"

Young yet web-soaked daily with firm views, Xingxing counter-indoctrinated Dongdong: "When he dies, I’ll certainly be happy."

'Jiang Ning dead...' Rebellious spark hit Dongdong's thoughts, quashed fast to dodge king's wrath.

Dongdong wagged head: "Work well, there’ll be lots of benefits later on!"

Xingxing sized up goofy Dongdong, fully pegged, scheming to fool pudgy fool into sweat while berry-munching idly.

School days past, Xingxing relished pranking plump peers, lapping them easily.

Mr. Qian eyed Xingxing's receding form, pronouncing: "This kid won’t have much of a future."

Zhang Ruyun, sorrow somewhat mended, asked: "Teacher, how can you tell?"

Mr. Qian eyed him: "Ruyun, let me teach you today!"

"To see if a boy has potential, first look at his parents; you saw his dad, right? Riding a motorbike, the picture of sincerity, talking without daring to straighten up; how can such a kid have any prospects? What awaits him is a lifetime of unpaid mortgages and a lifetime of working jobs. If he can get a wife, living peacefully would mean big luck from ancestors."

Zhang Ruyun: "Then what counts as having a future?"

Mr. Qian peered west: "The two kids who’ve been frequenting the rural tourism place lately, their family must be in power, certainly have a future."

Zhang Ruyun puzzled: "At the end of the day, isn’t it just about the parents?"

Mr. Qian stated plainly, echoing: "Isn’t it just about the parents."

Thirty years prior, hadn't he burned with fervor yet ended as plain teacher retiree?

...

Ten in the morning.

Aunt Gu scooted home on electric bike. Lately Evergreen Liquid tasks lightened; morning stint complete, freeing Aunt Gu for daughter time.

Xue Yuantong hurried over instantly.

Aunt Gu beheld her young girl, evoking village life when market trips home drew pouncing hugs and treat pleas.

Aunt Gu's scooter barely parked before Xue Yuantong dove eyes into basket, rifling keenly.

Aunt Gu relished it deep down; cold 'oh's on returns would hurt far more.

Humans at times transcend lone survival; others' reliance grants life's deep purpose.

Yet spying daughter's ravenous stare, Aunt Gu directed: "If not, you take off your shoes and go in to rummage."