Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1650 - 900: Unable to Cross the Boundary

Winter sunlight beamed brightly onto the doorstep, causing Xue Yuantong to pout as her mom’s words stung her heart.

Aunt Gu glanced at her daughter; after uttering just one sentence, Tongtong turned obedient in an instant.

Like a girl lacking drive... Aunt Gu remarked, "Fine, go ahead and open the seat cushion box."

Tongtong, brimming with curiosity, raised the scooter’s seat cushion and discovered neatly packaged clothes within.

Her eyes sparkled immediately, and her voice rose with excitement: "Mom, did you get these for me?"

Aunt Gu observed her daughter’s delight; though she knew it should bring joy, a wave of sadness washed over her. Tongtong once claimed to despise new clothes the most, yet now...

"Heavens, didn’t you say those girl’s clothes were cute? I spotted them by the roadside and picked them up for you." Aunt Gu replied casually.

Tongtong paid no heed to her mom’s tone; she clutched the clothes package gleefully and dashed inside the house.

Xue Chuchu had been chuckling nearby, amused by Aunt Gu’s teasing of Tongtong, but her laughter faded abruptly.

Jiang Ning questioned her, "Why’d you stop laughing?"

Xue Chuchu averted her eyes and stayed silent, heading back into the house.

Moments later, Tongtong hurried back to the doorway.

Jiang Ning saw she’d slipped into a white peach pink cotton coat, her legs clad in white tights that hugged soft, gentle curves, rendering her irresistibly adorable.

Jiang Ning let out an impressed "tsk tsk".

Tongtong felt a bit shy at first; she’d never donned such youthful outfits before, but Jiang Ning’s stare felt overly bold!

She rose on tiptoes, lifted her chin, placed one hand on her hip, and jabbed a finger toward Jiang Ning’s face in protest.

Jiang Ning stepped back, dodging her pointing finger.

Tongtong froze in place, lips pursed: "Hmph!"

Jiang Ning smirked: "Think you’re super cute, huh?"

Tongtong pursed her lips: "Hmph?"

Jiang Ning: "Okay, fine, I’ll admit—you really are adorable."

"Good call; Mom even got a hat for you, it’s super cute too." Xue Yuantong declared.

Jiang Ning: "Did Chuchu get one as well?"

Xue Yuantong: "Yep!"

Jiang Ning: "Then Chuchu dipped out too soon."

Xue Yuantong started heading inside to fetch a hat for Jiang Ning, but he waved it off politely: "Nah, I won’t put it on now—my scalp’s itching a little."

Xue Yuantong blinked in confusion: "Huh, itching? Didn’t you just wash your hair?"

Jiang Ning, eyeing the pink, childlike Tongtong, clarified: "It’s ’cause my head’s about to sprout some yellow hair."

…

Jiang Ning called Chuchu out from the house.

Xue Chuchu remained in her aloof, worldly-detached state, her tone cool but wise: "What is it?"

Xue Yuantong: "Mom got you a hat—come grab it with me!"

Xue Chuchu eyed Tongtong’s outfit and commented: "Looks great on you, really fits."

"Obviously!" Tongtong beamed with pride over her fresh attire.

She led Chuchu inside; Aunt Gu was busy rinsing veggies when Tongtong snatched the hat, only for her mom’s phone to start ringing.

With her mom’s hands full, Tongtong picked up the call, held the phone to her mom’s ear, and after a long chat, it finally ended.

Xue Yuantong promptly inquired: "Who called?"

Aunt Gu answered: "Your grandma’s sister’s daughter—you call her cousin aunt. She rang with New Year wishes and wondered if we could share a meal."

Amid the web of relatives, Xue Yuantong still pinpointed who this cousin aunt was.

She lived in Yuzhou City, yet Tongtong had only met her once, back in fifth grade at grandma’s place. The cousin aunt shone brightly, toting a pricey-looking bag that set her apart from the villagers. She lingered just one day at grandma’s but carted off heaps of local treats, including Tongtong’s beloved dried bean sprouts.

Tongtong asked naively: "Mom, why’s this New Year bringing calls from so many relatives wanting to get together? Nobody bothered before."

Aunt Gu, privy to the truth, knew well; previously, their family’s poverty kept folks away, fearing money requests, but now they probed slyly about Evergreen Liquid.

Aunt Gu eyed her daughter’s naivety and downplayed it: "’Cause I manage the kitchen at Evergreen Liquid."

Xue Yuantong’s eyes gleamed as she flashed a thumbs-up: "Awesome, just like my mom!"

Aunt Gu feigned a serious expression for a lesson: "Always use proper titles at work!"

Chuchu, off to the side, watched the mother-daughter banter and wished she’d stayed in.

Xue Chuchu donned her hat and trailed Tongtong outside to find Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning clutched a tiny bottle, offering Tongtong a sip.

After gulping it down, Tongtong exhaled warmly, sensation fuzzy: "Jiang Ning, what’s this? My whole body’s heating up!"

Jiang Ning stayed impassive: "Boiled water."

Tongtong dropped her playful act, shooting Jiang Ning a fierce glare and shaking him with her stare.

Jiang Ning’s fingers twitched, tempted to pinch her cheek, but with Chuchu nearby, he held back, sparing Tongtong some dignity.

Xue Chuchu mused quietly: ’Shouldn’t have come out.’

Jiang Ning turned toward the eastern farms and remarked: "Nice having water to sip; others hustle about and still take beatings."

…

Xingxing, a primary schooler hooked on online games—especially CF—loved nothing more.

His brother Huang Yuzhu and dad Huang Guan had dispatched him to the river dam today for ‘study.’

Xingxing found it laughable—studying? What a farce!

Like a kid on a field trip, Xingxing strolled leisurely, judging the rustic countryside through urban eyes.

He spotted the distant strawberry greenhouse—strawberries! Winter ones fetched tens of yuan per kilo. Snagging a few kilos to sell could fund days of gaming!

As he moved toward the greenhouse, the plump guide kid veered suddenly into the neighboring yard.

Xingxing queried, "Why not keep going?"

Dongdong, seasoned like a pro worker, replied smoothly: "Few tourists picking strawberries now, plenty of aunties in the greenhouse already. We’ll start as back-kitchen helpers first."