Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1734 - 949: High-Spirited (Part 2)

Jiang Ning inquired, "What number of dishes shall we prepare for our midday meal?"

The mention of food immediately refocused Xue Yuantong: "To begin, we have roasted pigeon, followed by snakehead fish. My intention is to pan-fry it, utilizing the induction cooker to replicate the grilled fish texture commonly found in roadside eateries."

Jiang Ning responded, "Excellent, incorporate some accompanying side dishes as well."

"Understood."

"I’ve procured a few tomatoes today, which I plan to transform into a candied tomato delicacy."

"Those tomatoes?" Xue Yuantong and the twin sisters’ eyes simultaneously brightened.

Jiang Ning chuckled, "Precisely."

"However, our selection of dishes feels somewhat incomplete; let us endeavor to catch some crabs."

He then took hold of a bucket, leading them eastward along the river levee. After a brief stroll, down upon the verdant grass, a modest stream branched off from the south, flowing into the Huishui River. The water was remarkably clear, its stones having been worn smooth and ovular by the perpetual caress of the current.

"The water is exceptionally pure," Xue Yuantong remarked, her voice laced with surprise.

She recalled this very stream once being a receptacle for filth and noxious odors, a victim of agricultural runoff and discarded refuse. It was astonishing, after an extended absence, to witness such a profound transformation.

Jiang Ning remained silent; the improvements were, naturally, a direct consequence of his stewardship.

He cast his Divine Sense across the stream’s expanse and gestured toward a modest stone.

Chen Siyu dashed forward and dislodged the stone, revealing a brown crab nestled in the shallow water. With a swift reach, she secured her catch, emitting a sound of pure delight.

Xue Yuantong and Chen Siqing also joined in, overturning stones; capturing crabs proved remarkably simple, akin to gathering pebbles.

Jiang Ning observed from their side, acting as a supervisor, subtly channeling his Spiritual Power to intervene only when a crab was poised to snap.

Chen Siyu exclaimed, "There are so many! Truly, a bounty! Our bucket is nearly full!"

Jiang Ning cautioned, "...If you have sufficient, that is ample. Refrain from catching an excessive amount; remember, you must still prepare them upon returning home."

Indeed, their haul had reached nearly thirty crabs. The young girls reluctantly began their retreat, while Xue Yuantong offered a final reminder to the crab brethren to maintain a low profile, to elude the grasp of any malicious individuals, and to hopefully endure until her subsequent visit.

Chen Siyu teased, "Tongtong, your optimism is quite touching!"

‘Optimism?’ Jiang Ning subtly waved his hand, guiding the crabs out of the stream and encouraging their swift relocation.

As they returned to the river levee, they encountered Lin Zida, propelling an electric tricycle accompanied by Zhuang Jianhui. The cargo area of the tricycle was laden with a water pump, a length of hose, and various implements including burlap sacks and shovels.

Xue Yuantong voiced her curiosity, "Are you preparing to empty the pond entirely?"

Lin Zida, upon recognizing them anew, beamed, "Today, not a single drop of water shall remain in this pond!"

Chen Siqing mused inwardly, ‘Such grand pronouncements.’

Chen Siyu reached into the bucket and extracted a crab, proudly announcing, "We've been diligently collecting crabs; we've amassed quite a collection!"

Jiang Ning gave the bucket a gentle shake, producing a sloshing sound. "Indeed, it is a substantial quantity. Join us for lunch; we’ll be savoring a few of these crabs."

"Thank you, but no need." Zhuang Jianhui offered a polite refusal.

He no longer perceived Jiang Ning as a direct rival; the sting of envy had significantly diminished.

Zhuang Jianhui acknowledged his prior narrow-mindedness, the oversight of his own inherent capabilities, and the limited scope of his former aspirations.

Currently, his ambition was to pursue grand objectives with a far more expansive vision!

He declared with a laugh, "No, thank you. Once the pond is drained, we shall have an abundance of snakehead fish, yellow catfish, mandarin fish, loaches, and countless other varieties. Feel free to take whatever you desire!"

Now, his spirit was brimming with ambition; the mere prospect of draining the pond filled him with a sense of boundless opportunity!

Fueled by this exhilarating thought, Zhuang Jianhui placed an arm around Lin Zida’s shoulder and bellowed, "Forward, charge, charge!"

Lin Zida twisted the throttle, and the tricycle lurched forward, moving with the determined gait of a seasoned workhorse.

Their laughter echoed through the air, a pure manifestation of youthful exuberance.

At this precise moment, Gong Jin finally ascended the river levee, his gaze fixed on the departing tricycle, a curse escaping his lips: "Damn it, I haven’t even joined them yet!"

...Back at their residence.

Xue Yuantong tipped the snakehead fish into a stainless steel basin typically used for washing vegetables. She crouched beside it, observing the fish. The specimen, weighing a substantial three pounds, was sizable, its markings eerily reminiscent of a python.

With her bare hands, Xue Yuantong seized the

Chen Siyu exclaimed, "Foolish, luckily I have two brushes."

Another brush was produced, and she furiously scrubbed at the crab.

Jiang Ning, meanwhile, was constructing a small grill, complete with charcoal. He retrieved a glass bottle containing a golden, crystallized substance – honey, harvested from the ancient wild bee nest atop Hu Qi Mountain.

Currently, Hu Qi Mountain was a treasure trove of ingredients, much like Qingyu Lake, which teemed with various rare fish species.

Having prepared his tools, he then activated his Divine Sense, surveying the scene at the river dam.

Lin Zida and Zhuang Jianhui were busy shoveling dirt into bags, their objective to dam the watercourse. They estimated it would require considerable time to fully drain the pond.

Jiang Ning found a small stool, settling down to browse his phone, beginning with QQ Space.

The first entry was from Lin Zida, showcasing his water pump by the river, accompanied by brotherly photos with Zhuang Jianhui.

A flurry of likes appeared below, with Wei Zishan commenting, "Playing pretty big!"

Several other unfamiliar individuals also extended congratulations.

Lin Zida’s social circle appeared quite ordinary, offering little of significant interest.

Continuing his scroll, Jiang Ning encountered Yun Tingting’s sweaty exercise photos, which even revealed cleavage, garnering hundreds of likes.

The comments were, without exception, effusive praise of her beauty, with many requesting she post more.

Only Chai Wei’s comment stood out, acting as a beacon of righteousness: "When you post these pictures, do you think about when you wore a princess dress asking your dad if you were pretty? Don’t post anymore, Yun Tingting, you deserve love."

Yun Tingting retorted, "What are you pretending for? If you don’t like it, why did you add me?"

Cui Yu chimed in with a mocking tone, "He thinks this way you’ll look at him differently."

After observing QQ Space for a while, Jiang Ning returned his attention to the class group chat.

Zhang Chi and others were engaged in a spirited debate about which city boasted the highest concentration of wealthy individuals.

Guo Kunnan asserted it was Shen City, citing its status as China's most prosperous locale.

Zhang Chi countered that it was the Capital, due to its position as the paramount center of power.

Liu Chuandao proposed Peng City, referencing its designation as a special economic zone.

Duan Shigang, however, refuted all their claims, declaring Xiangjiang to be the wealthiest place, home to the most affluent populace.

The debate grew heated, with each participant vehemently defending their viewpoint, the chat page quickly filling with their individual opinions.

Lu Qiqi expressed her discomfort, stating, "What's there to argue about, as if winning the argument makes you rich."

The four fell silent following her remark.

Yu Wen then made an appearance, ostentatiously flaunting her supposed wealth: "Recently, I feel so misunderstood. I wear gold when I go out, and people say I’m with a sugar daddy. I’m stunned!"

Lu Qiqi inwardly scoffed, thinking, 'What a show-off!'

Jiang Yanan chimed in, "Don’t mind them; those people just love to stir trouble."

Wang Yan Yan also displayed her displeasure towards Yu Wen, considering her an ordinary woman who was unnecessarily boastful and vying for the position of class monitor. Envy clearly filled her.

Wang Yan Yan then messaged Zhang Yifei privately: "Have you noticed Yu Wen being overly active lately? Isn’t it inappropriate?"

The impetuous Zhang Yifei concurred wholeheartedly, rashly posting in the group chat: "Why, when I wear gold, no one says I’m with a rich guy? Some things, people are doing, and heaven is watching."

The entire class was left stunned, trying to picture the two-hundred-pound Zhang Yifei adorned in a gold ring – a truly beautiful image, they mused.

Wang Yan Yan thought with helpless exasperation, 'What a foolish teammate!'

Noticing the group's silence, Zhang Yifei assumed the current class monitor had been intimidated by her boldness. She then declared, "Go ahead, ban me if you want, I’m not afraid!"

Wang Longlong cleared his throat, reassuringly stating, "Ahem, no worries, our class group is very inclusive."

Hu Jun added, "Really? Let everyone enjoy a picture of centipedes and leeches fighting!"

Hu Jun has been muted.