Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1661 - 905: The Missing Person

Winter at the River Dam Bungalow.

As daylight dims, a vivid crimson glow lingers on the horizon, veiled in faint mist.

Brownish-black branches of the Yang Tree, the plump red sun, boundless fields—serenity and peace enveloped everything.

Exhausted birds returned to their nests, while Xingxing, drained from a full day in the strawberry fields, kept toiling away relentlessly.

His hands quivered with exhaustion.

Dongdong somehow grabbed a whip, positioned next to Xingxing, overseeing his labor, and kept warning, "When your dad comes to pick you up, if you dare complain, watch out, I’ll beat you to death!"

"Alright, alright, I won’t say a word," Xingxing agreed outwardly, yet inwardly he rebelled; today he was leaving the river dam for good!

What could Dongdong do? Hahaha!

Dongdong stared fixedly at Xingxing and suddenly chuckled: "You often go to Yucai Internet Cafe, right?"

Xingxing’s face paled instantly: "How do you know?"

Immense pride swelled in Dongdong, his robust build radiating dominance: "Because you can’t escape the Five Finger Mountain of mine, Dongdong!"

Truth be told, Jiang Ning had supplied that intel.

As Dongdong’s inaugural employee, great expectations rested on Xingxing.

Terror gripped Xingxing, who silently pledged, ’I’ll never visit Yucai Internet Cafe again!’

Dongdong leaned in abruptly, piercing his thoughts, and murmured mysteriously: "You may not go online, but dare you skip school? You’re in Class 3 of Grade 5 at Nanhong Primary School!"

Xingxing panicked completely—how did he know that too!

Scalp numbing, heart thumping in terror, he watched Dongdong advance nearly nose-to-nose: "Xingxing, even if I become a ghost, I won’t let you go!"

Xingxing shrieked "Ah!", his whole worldview teetering on collapse.

At that moment, a motorcycle rumble echoed from afar.

Xingxing blurted: "My dad’s here to pick me up!"

Dongdong glared: "Behave yourself!"

Dwelling on his grim future, Xingxing shuffled mechanically toward the bungalow’s west side.

From behind, Boss Yang lifted a strawberry basket: "Dongdong, hand this to him."

The boy performed well; Boss Yang wasn’t stingy.

Upon reaching the bungalow entrance, dad Huang Guan eyed his son, stunned to see the bratty demeanor vanished in one day.

He felt profound shock; was strawberry garden labor so potent?

Huang Guan couldn’t resist asking: "Xingxing, are you happy?"

Xingxing itched to scowl, but Dongdong sidled up, draping an arm over his shoulders.

Overwhelmed by the intimidating vibe, Xingxing squeezed out a smile: "Dad, I love it here, it feels like home."

Huang Guan, long hardened by manual toil, suspected nothing and praised repeatedly: "Good, good!"

Thoroughly satisfied, Dongdong offered the strawberry basket.

Huang Guan, flabbergasted like a bestowed vassal, flailed his hands: "I really can’t accept this, I really can’t!"

Zhang Yuantong at his side remarked: "That’s the fruit of your son’s labor, he deserves it."

Though Zhang Yuantong didn’t know Xingxing personally, his day’s work netted her almost 80 yuan.

After persistent coaxing, Huang Guan accepted grudgingly, pride shining on his face for his son.

Huang Yuzhu exchanged a few words with Jiang Ning, then the trio rode off.

En route, the anguished Xingxing shed silent tears.

Huang Yuzhu spotted his brother weeping and alerted dad promptly.

Huang Guan, up front on the motorcycle, grinned: "Look at this kid, barely gone and already missing it!"

Huang Yuzhu cottoned on: "He wants to overnight at the river dam!"

He soothed: "Don’t worry, bro, I’ll rise early tomorrow and take you back!"

Xingxing’s tears flowed harder.

"Hi, look at this kid, haha!" Huang Guan and Huang Yuzhu radiated joy.

Laughter intertwined with sobs aboard the motorcycle, embodying life’s rich tapestry.

Dozens of minutes later, the motorcycle pulled up at Huang Yuzhu’s old street.

Huang Yuzhu’s phone buzzed relentlessly; Tang Jing calling.

Huang Yuzhu disconnected first.

Tang Jing redialed, forcing him to answer, her chiding voice blasting: "I told you I have 200 free minutes each month, why do you hang up?"

Huang Yuzhu offered apologies.

After berating him awhile, Tang Jing conceded: "Yuzhu, I have to admit, the face cream you gave me is really good, not drying at all."

Earlier, on Yu Zhuma’s birthday, Tang Jing bestowed a full skincare suite, stunning Huang Yuzhu who couldn’t reciprocate—he hated freeloading.

Money tight for Huang Yuzhu, he meticulously chose a face cream for Tang Jing.

Tang Jing lauded: "I didn’t expect you to be so simple yet good at choosing gifts!"

Huang Yuzhu chuckled: "I had Wang Yan Yan from class recommend it."

Tang Jing’s expression soured immediately; she’d targeted Huang Yuzhu to dominate him against Wang Yan Yan.

Now...

The call fell silent for ages; Huang Yuzhu assumed she’d hung up.

Tang Jing wasn’t your typical woman; strategy was her forte.

Tang Jing mustered a smile: "Yuzhu, let’s have barbecue tonight. There’s a place where the drinks with the barbecue taste wonderful, my aunt just left, I can drink a few more cups."

Huang Yuzhu refused outright: "Your aunt just left? Now is the time to keep vigil! How can we go have barbecue?"

...

"Dongdong, you kid, not bad, come have meat at my place!"

Mr. Qian seldom beckoned Dongdong.

Not just Dongdong; Zhang Ruyun got an invite too.

That day, the river dam team’s collective triumph over Director Han’s clan lightened a deep-seated grudge from Mr. Qian’s youth, cheering him immensely.

Dinner unfolded in the main room; chilly weather aside, Granny Qian’s porridge held heat superbly, staying scalding even after long waits.

Zhang Ruyun clutched the bowl two-handed, basking in its cozy warmth—it was divine.