Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1847 - 1016: Drawing Near

Zhang Chi faced Han Wen Nuan’s orders; he couldn’t refute them and had to carry two servings of fruit, delivering them with a scowl.

At the firepot restaurant, couples were chatting, kids were crying out loud. Zhang Chi glanced at the children and only felt the noise was annoying.

He felt a bit displeased: ’What the heck are you crying about? What problems do you have? It should be me crying instead!’

Just like that, Zhang Chi carried the fruit tray and walked over to Jiang Ning’s table.

Chen Siyu was surprised, "Sis, sis, did we order other fruits?"

Chen Siqing: "Didn’t you order the dishes?"

"Oh, well did I order other fruits?"

Chen Siqing: "I don’t think so."

Zhang Chi’s face was numb, transforming into an emotionless waiter: "A buddy sent these for you."

Chen Siyu was taken aback: "Zhang Chi, could it be that we misunderstood you before?"

Tang Fu also doubted: "Zhao Xiaofeng often comes to our class to find Qi Tianheng; the two of them say you’re the most ill-mannered person in Fourth Middle School."

Chen Siqing: "Maybe hearing is deceiving, seeing is believing."

Zhang Chi was simply doing Han Wen Nuan a favor, unexpectedly receiving praise from a few fools, he feigned sincerity: "A bunch of people jealous of my character, just malicious slander!"

Tang Fu praised him: "You’re really nice."

Zhang Chi noticed Tang Fu’s brand-name sportswear and took advantage, planning to borrow some money: "Recently I’ve been..."

But Jiang Ning smirked: "You missed sending the watermelon last time, now you send two more plates, nice."

Startled, Zhang Chi asked hesitantly, "How do you know?"

Jiang Ning chuckled: "I know everything."

Facing Jiang Ning’s scrutiny, Zhang Chi felt eerie and forced a laugh: "Hey, we’re classmates, how could I let you get shortchanged?"

Saying this, he hurriedly picked up the tray and left.

Tang Fu inquired: "Earlier, you said recently; what’s going on with you lately?"

Zhang Chi turned around with a smile: "I’ve been feeling a little bit sad lately."

Chen Siqing: "Melancholic Brother."

Tang Fu found it puzzling: "Why is he a bit sad?"

Chen Siyu confidently and knowingly said: "He’s working part-time, of course, he’s sad!"

Tang Fu: "Working part-time leads to sadness?"

Former experienced part-timer Jiang Ning replied: "Anyway, it won’t be as easy as your happy days now."

Chen Siyu: "Forget it, let’s eat first!"

Among the two fruit trays sent, one dish was sugared tomatoes.

Chen Siyu picked up a piece, tasted it, and commented promptly: "I think it’s just okay."

She had tasted tomatoes gifted by Jiang Ning!

Indeed, they were Hu Qi Mountain tomatoes.

Sister tasted some too and said: "There’s no tomato flavor."

Tang Fu retorted: "But why would tomatoes have a tomato flavor?"

Jiang Ning was startled, then agreed: "You’re right."

...

Zhang Chi returned to the kitchen to continue working; today was Qingming Festival, and the restaurant quickly filled with customers.

Zhang Chi cursed internally while working, occasionally passing Jiang Ning’s table and hearing their leisurely chatter made him feel even more sorrowful.

That year, at seventeen, at the firepot restaurant, standing like a henchman.

Zhang Chi vowed, ten years later, they all would have to toast him!

Stealing a moment to relax, Zhang Chi hid under the air-conditioning vent.

Han Wen Nuan finished delivering the pot base, wandered back, and discovered Zhang Chi’s eyes full of desire, just like the other male classmates, very much wanting her, which was disgusting.

Zhang Chi thought: ’Little Nuan is still great, I’ll use her to make more money.’

Although Han Wen Nuan’s straightforward words often pierced Zhang Chi’s heart, he still ’liked’ her.

Han Wen Nuan, following Zhang Chi at work, also mastered the art of slacking; she pulled out a new second-hand mobile from her pocket. Her previous phone was so laggy even a sloth would be driven crazy.

This new second-hand phone was bought through Zhang Chi’s connections, only 150 yuan, 1280x720 resolution, 8+32 memory, and a MediaTek octa-core processor.

Han Wen Nuan was getting fond of playing with her phone, using the restaurant’s WiFi, she opened QQ Space, and Lu Qiqi posted a stunning selfie; she thought she added the wrong person, re-examined several times, finally faintly recognizing the traces of Lu Qiqi’s features.

Classmate Xiao Shaoxiong bragged about his newly bought Samsung S6 phone, posted several pictures, Han Wen Nuan searched the price on Taobao, astonishingly it was more than five thousand yuan!

She looked at the next post, posted by high school friend Ma Jiale, holding flowers, seated inside a luxurious private room, gold necklace on the table, holding a cigarette, with the caption ’Seeing someone important this afternoon, send your blessings to me!’

Han Wen Nuan silently gave him a like, among the likers was also Town High School student Zhong Huai.

Zhang Chi suddenly said: "Who the heck is he that you’re liking his post?"

Han Wen Nuan replied: "From our town high school, his family has a lot of influence."

Her QQ was personally requested by Ma Jiale, who was wealthy, surrounded by brothers, and a prominent figure at Town High School; Han Wen Nuan could only accept the friend request.

Of course, she could refuse, but disrespecting Ma Jiale might bring more trouble.

Through this method, Ma Jiale had added almost all the pretty girls in the grade.

Zhang Chi dismissed: "Just a useless scion, if he were in front of me, one slap and he’d behave."

Han Wen Nuan considered it just Zhang Chi tough-talking.

After all, Ma Jiale’s father had shady dealings in town in his early years, possessing significant influence.

Zhang Chi cursed and then threw it aside.

To prevent Little Nuan from quitting, he casually suggested: "After work, let’s eat firepot and then find a place to get a massage, treat ourselves."

Han Wen Nuan: "You’re treating?"

Zhang Chi: "Huh? I was hoping you’d treat me!"

Han Wen Nuan: "No way."

She worked hard part-time to earn money, but spent it on massages, in the end what’s left to show?

Zhang Chi shook his head: "You live too boring, if I had your savings, I’d have already indulged!"

Han Wen Nuan pondered and suddenly asked: "What if your money runs out?"

Zhang Chi was carefree: "I believe in miracles; once I had only one yuan on me, then I played the slot machine, and miraculously won eighty yuan."

Han Wen Nuan commented: "I also believe in miracles, once I had only 50 cents, and a miracle happened."

Zhang Chi’s eyes brightened: ’Could she be...’

Han Wen Nuan expressionlessly: "Guess what, the miracle was that despite three days of hunger, I didn’t starve to death."

Zhang Chi: "..."

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly queried: "What’s the point of you earning money?"

The frail Han Wen Nuan stood by the air-conditioner outlet, gazed at the fancy dining area outside.

She replied: "I’d also want to ask you, if one day you win five million in the lottery, but your parents suddenly fall ill and need 4.99 million for hospitalization, what will you do then?"

Zhang Chi, without hesitation, answered: "I’d be grateful that when they need money most, I happen to have the means..."

Han Wen Nuan hadn’t expected Zhang Chi, seemingly reckless, to actually possess such filial piety.

However, Zhang Chi continued: "Throw them a grand event!"

...

Chuchu and Tongtong returned to the village, silently containing their journey’s encounters in their hearts.

They visited the neighbor’s home for a look.

Xiao You, not knowing much, embraced her tablet in the kitchen, uttering "TIMI" to initiate Rhythm Master gaming.

She said: "Mom, when I was coming back by bus earlier, there was a fight on the road!"

Aunt Hua: "Stay away from it."

For ordinary families, getting involved with such things is quite troublesome.

Xiao You: "A guy blocked Chuchu’s family’s way, demanding her WeChat!"

This statement caught Aunt Gu’s attention while she was helping with the cooking: "What happened afterward?"

Xiao You continued her game play without looking up: "Later Sister Tongtong gave her WeChat, then we were allowed to leave."

Aunt Gu furrowed her brow, such an incident occurring on a trip to the town.

Aunt Hua noticed Xiao You still engrossed in her game and scolded: "Playing, playing, always playing, should just have this game removed!"

Xiao You raised her head, seriously pledging: "If Rhythm Master is ever taken down, I’ll personally end human civilization."

Aunt Hua was trembling with anger, could this be the daughter she personally raised and educated?

Aunt Gu consoled Aunt Hua with a couple of words, then called out the kitchen window: "Tongtong, come over here."

Tongtong heard and ran to the window near the kitchen in the yard, smilingly asking: "Mom, is the meal ready?"

Aunt Gu: "Tell me about the incident you encountered downtown."

Xue Yuantong realized Xiao You slipped up, her long-standing instinct for risk-avoidance, made her instinctively prepare to cover up, much like her dark scheming experiences during junior high by Tang Die and her group.

But noticing her mother’s concerned eyes, Xue Yuantong suddenly abandoned the intention to conceal.

Two years have passed, her mom has grown stronger too.