Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1714 - 935: Transaction (Part 2)

Just the mere thought of the scenario sent a wave of excitement through Guo Kunnan! He was certain she would be moved to tears!

"However, a problem has arisen," Guo Kunnan mused with a troubled expression. "Her life's hardships are so numerous, I can hardly offer her solace."

Ma Shicheng responded, "Employ your intellect, do what is within your means. After all, online affections cannot sustain everything."

Guo Kunnan took this advice to heart and returned to his seat. He glanced again at his phone screen, noticing a new message from [Cherry Dumpling]:

"Anan, my period has started, and my stomach is really aching."

Guo Kunnan's heart felt like it was shattering. He impulsively sent a daring reply: "If only I could rub your stomach, my hands are warm."

Cherry Dumpling replied, "But we are too far apart."

In that instant, Guo Kunnan almost blurted out that he was in Yuzhou, right in Yuzhou City! Yet, he held back.

He began to apply his mind, and suddenly, his eyes lit up – an idea struck him!

Fearing his phone might make a sound, Guo Kunnan nudged his deskmate. "Brother Quan, could I borrow your earphones?"

Dan Kaiquan paused his music, looking perplexed. "Are you watching a movie?"

Unable to contain his burgeoning excitement, the young man divulged his brilliant plan to Guo Kunnan: "Peach's period arrived, but we're too distant for me to physically rub her stomach. So, I've decided to call her."

Dan Kaiquan appeared bewildered. "You plan to comfort her with a phone call? We're in class right now."

Guo Kunnan beamed with pride. "I'll instruct her to set her phone to vibrate, place it on her stomach, and then not answer the call. That way, it will feel as though I'm rubbing her stomach."

Dan Kaiquan was utterly dumbfounded. 'What kind of futuristic, cyberpunk nonsense is this?'

Having successfully borrowed the earphones, Guo Kunnan initiated a QQ call, but his face immediately fell the next second.

"What's wrong, Brother Nan?" his deskmate inquired.

Guo Kunnan, puzzled, asked, "Why is she already on another call?"

Dan Kaiquan casually remarked, "Perhaps someone else is already rubbing it for her."

...

While Guo Kunnan was preoccupied with matters of the heart, in another part of the school, Gong Jin and Wang Yong were struggling to even meet their most basic survival needs.

The girl in front of them, Pang Jiao, continuously groaned, "Hungry, so hungry..."

Several times, when Gong Jin zoned out, he momentarily imagined a zombie outbreak had occurred.

Wang Yong nudged him. "Brother Jin, are you feeling hungry too?"

Regardless of the privileges Gong Jin's family afforded him, he was, after all, merely a teenager experiencing a growth spurt. By the third late-night study session, hunger was indeed setting in.

"Do you happen to have anything to eat?" Gong Jin inquired.

"Yes, yes!" Wang Yong eagerly produced a pack of pork jerky from his desk.

Guo Kunnan inwardly praised, 'Not bad.'

He tore open the package and took his first bite. Suddenly, the desk beneath him shook violently, making him instinctively think an earthquake had begun!

Then, his gaze met Pang Jiao's greenish eyes.

Beside him, Wang Yong quickly handed another small pack of pork jerky to her.

Pang Jiao ripped it open and unceremoniously stuffed the contents into her cavernous mouth. Her eyes then fixed on him again.

With no other options, Wang Yong handed her yet another small pack. Pang Jiao devoured it greedily.

Wang Yong quickly shielded the remaining pork jerky with his arm. "No more, no more! We need some for ourselves!"

Pang Jiao didn't press for more. She left her seat, her considerable frame moving with a surprising urgency. She ambled through the hallway, where various students kept handing her snacks – small buns, sausages, and even 'monkey kisses' candies.

Her robust hands continuously accepted the offerings, tearing open wrappers with practiced ease and stuffing the contents into her mouth.

Guo Kunnan watched in stunned silence as someone handed her a chicken claw. Pang Jiao chewed it and swallowed it whole, bones and all, without any apparent effort.

He couldn't help but think of the ancient mythological creature, Taotie. 'Is this creature even human?'

In the front row, Chen Siyu observed Pang Jiao's insatiable feasting and was left speechless.

"She clearly eats during every night study session. Why doesn't she eat more at dinner?"

Bai Yuxia replied, "Because she attempts to diet during the afternoon."

Chen Siyu exclaimed, "Isn't that just dieting in vain? I don't understand."

Bai Yuxia gave her a pointed look. "You stated this afternoon that you would study diligently tonight and refrain from chatting."

Chen Siyu fell silent.

Pang Jiao finally paused at Zhang Chi's desk.

From the platform, Wang Longlong announced, counting the time, "Pang Jiao, you have two more minutes to eat!"

Zhang Chi faced Pang Jiao directly and produced a bag of chicken-flavored chunks, purchased for four yuan at the supermarket. "That'll be 8 yuan!"

Pang Jiao glared. "Only you would dare to rip me off like this!"

Zhang Chi remained unfazed. "Buy it or leave it, but you must pay me first!"

Pang Jiao initially resisted the humiliation, but her stomach's insistent growls overruled her pride.

Wang Yanyan, seeing no other option, produced a 10-yuan note.

Zhang Chi, visibly pleased, quickly accepted the bill.

Pang Jiao demanded loudly, "Give me back my two yuan!"

Zhang Chi rummaged through his pockets, finding no change. "I don't have any coins on me right now. I'll pay you back next time."

Pang Jiao demanded, "No, you must compensate me this instant!"

Wang Yanyan countered with sarcasm, "Selling it for eight yuan without any change?"

Zhang Chi recognized his error and placated her, "Then make it ten yuan."

While munching on chicken chunks, Pang Jiao angrily slammed the desk, sending a spray of chicken flavor directly into Zhang Chi’s face!

"Compensate me now!" she shrieked.

"There’s no change available," Zhang Chi replied, wiping his face with a pained expression. Earning money was truly arduous.

He retrieved a one-yuan duck neck from a hidden compartment in his desk. "I'll offer you this duck neck; I'll value it at two yuan."

Now, Pang Jiao became incensed. "I do not want it! It only sells for one yuan at the store. I demand you return two yuan to me!"

Zhang Chi grew irritated. How was he supposed to possibly repay her?

"If you refuse the duck neck, then return the chicken chunks, and I shall refund your money!"

At that precise moment, the entire classroom descended into a profound silence.

Cui Yu exclaimed, "Chi Zi, that was an overly impulsive move!"

Duan Shigang added, "Chi Zi, you are still too young and rash!"

Then, Zhang Chi witnessed Pang Jiao open her cavernous mouth, an action that seemed to eclipse the very sky.

Liu Chuandao, who had been seated next to him, sensed the escalating tension and discreetly shifted away.

Zhang Chi bellowed, "Are you completely disregarding all rules and decency?"

Wang Yanyan chimed in, "You instigated this! Feifei, Shengnan!"

From the southeast corner of the classroom, Gong Jin felt as though two immense mountains were looming behind him.

Zhang Chi roared, "Where are my brothers!"

The classroom remained eerily silent, not a single soul responding to his plea.

Zhang Chi’s gaze fell upon Duan Shigang.

Duan Shigang internally pondered: 'Would I truly stand before this monstrous force for a friend?'

It wasn’t a question of willingness, but simply of sheer impossibility!

The atmosphere became suffocatingly awkward.

Pang Jiao conceded, "Refund, refund!"

Zhang Chi, consumed by a surge of intense rage, felt utterly furious.

Money represented his very survival!

Amidst the charged environment, Xin Youling intervened, "Pang Jiao, please eat first."

She then quietly retrieved two coins and placed them upon Zhang Chi’s desk.

Zhang Chi stood completely stunned, never anticipating that the former class president, whom he had once betrayed for monetary gain, would offer assistance at this critical juncture.

Zhang Chi accepted the money and presented it to Pang Jiao. "Here is your change!"

Pang Jiao contemptuously took the chicken chunks and retreated to her seat.

Gong Jin found his appetite completely vanished.

Having received the two yuan, Zhang Chi produced a packet of Taiwanese sausages and offered them to Xin Youling. "These retail for two yuan elsewhere. I'm not seeking profit; I'm giving them to you at cost!"

Xin Youling declined, "There’s no need; it’s merely two yuan."

Zhang Chi earnestly insisted, "I have no funds to repay you today, and by tomorrow, I will likely have forgotten this debt entirely!"

"Please take them. Even if you don't consume them, they can be offered to a stray cat."

Xin Youling reluctantly accepted his offering.

...

Following the conclusion of evening study.

The vast, star-studded sky cast its luminescence upon the long asphalt road of the river dam. In the distance, the bungalows situated beneath the dam glowed with warm light.

Jiang Ning, accompanied by Xue Yuantong, rode towards home, anticipating a much-needed rest.

"Faster, Jiang Ning, can't you accelerate further!"

"If not, perhaps I should take the reins!"

Xue Yuantong urged from the rear seat. Having not seen Chuchu all day, she had already arranged for her to await her at the entrance.

Jiang Ning guided the electric bike down the river dam, continuing a short distance before turning towards the cluster of bungalows.

Xue Chuchu, clad in a simple school uniform, stood with quiet composure in the gentle breeze.

Only upon perceiving the silhouette of the electric bike did a flicker of warmth appear in her clear, expressive eyes.