Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation

Chen Qian still had that distinctive aura: "Go ahead."

Chen Siyu blurted out: "Capsule."

"...", Chen Qian was silent, not speaking for a long time.

Chen Siyu: "Why aren't you talking?"

Wang Longlong felt full of remorse: 'Brother Qian, I got you into trouble!'

...

The school bell rang.

Yan Tianpeng crossed the territory, entered Class 8's domain, but before he could make a move, Lu Qiqi and Yu Wen quickly left the classroom.

Yan Tianpeng looked longingly at Lu Qiqi, her small figure swaying into his heart, but unfortunately, Yan Tianpeng had a task to attend to and couldn't deepen his relationship with Lu Qiqi.

He found Zhang Chi and discussed: "Chi Zi, don't go moving bricks today, I found a part-time job, hourly rate 25 yuan, come work with me!"

An hourly rate of 25 yuan was quite a good job in 2014, at that time, part-time jobs at KFC only paid a little over ten yuan per hour.

Zhang Chi carried cement all day until night, exhausting himself to death, only earning 150 yuan.

"Is it tiring?" he asked.

Yan Tianpeng: "Not tiring, just drum beating, suits you perfectly."

Zhang Chi: "Sounds great!"

He agreed, a job paying 25 yuan an hour was hard to find.

Yan Tianpeng not only found Zhang Chi, but he also widely sent out hero posts, looking for those like Duan Shigang and Liu Chuandao, people who looked tough.

Liu Chuandao refused, but Duan Shigang straightforwardly agreed, as Gangzi knew well that money gives a man courage, only with money can one earn respect.

Yan Tianpeng went so far as to crazily seek out people like Pang Jiao, luckily he dodged quickly, with a tactical retreat, escaping Pang Jiao's verbal chemical attack.

Upon confirming the part-time jobs, Yan Tianpeng created a small group chat, adding Zhang Chi and Duan Shigang, preparing to head out in the evening.

It's a tradition in Class 8 that before the weekly break, the trash bin must be emptied.

Logically, Yu Wen was supposed to be responsible for emptying the trash bin today, but after helping Yang Sheng write a 3000-word self-reflection for Shen Xu, her debt was completely cleared, and she became free.

So, Yang Sheng assigned the task to Duan Shigang, who miserably went to work.

Zhang Chi, however, went out with Yan Tianpeng, and on the way downstairs, Zhang Chi lowered his voice: "Tianpeng, you're recruiting people, right? What's the goal?"

Yan Tianpeng said with righteousness: "Hey, what goal could I have? With great power comes great responsibility, the more houses that shelter the poor, the better — that's what I should do!"

Zhang Chi: "How much of a cut are you taking?"

Yan Tianpeng looked displeased: "What are you talking about?"

"Tell me your cut, I'll help you recruit people, we work together, I have contacts." Zhang Chi said, "Otherwise, let me tell you, this plan won't succeed!"

Yan Tianpeng didn't understand, how did Zhang Chi get so smart?

No choice, Yan Tianpeng gave in a little: "50%."

Zhang Chi: "Damn! You have to give me half!"

After reaching the agreement on cuts, the two rushed to other classes to recruit people for part-time work, specifically those whose faces are not pleasant-looking.

...

Sunday morning.

The blue sky was dotted with a few leisurely white clouds, and the light breeze of late autumn blew, bringing bursts of chill.

After Jiang Ning washed his face and brushed his teeth, he walked next door to Chuchu's house and pushed open the front door.

Every weekend, unless there are special circumstances, Tongtong always sleeps a few extra hours, often waking up after 10 o'clock.

Whereas Chuchu was much more disciplined, no matter the season, she would still get up at 6 a.m. to cook, read, and study.

Jiang Ning stepped into Chuchu's kitchen, and saw Xue Chuchu wearing a floral apron outside, her long hair simply tied up, with a few strands playfully hanging down, gently swaying with her movements.

She was standing at the stove, busy flipping the spatula in her hand.

Seeing Jiang Ning's figure, Xue Chuchu smiled demurely: "The meal will be ready soon."

After a few more flips with the spatula, she placed the dishes onto a plate, brought them to the dining table, and as she bent over, her youthful figure showed, and the vitality and gentle grace blossomed in her simultaneously.

Breakfast was simple: two bowls of egg fried rice, two glasses of orange juice, a plate of stir-fried green pepper and potato strips, and a jar of homemade beef and kelp sauce, with big chunks of beef.

Before eating, Chuchu couldn't resist but asked a question: "Not calling Tongtong?"

"No need, she was playing games until past two last night, let her sleep more." Jiang Ning replied.

"Alright."

Soon, the dining table grew a bit silent, with an air of faint awkwardness lingering.

Honestly, mostly when Jiang Ning played together with Tongtong, Chuchu would join as a bonus, and the two rarely spent time alone like they were now.

Like today, eating breakfast alone for the first time since the last holiday, when Jiang Ning woke up early, went over to Chuchu's house, and freeloaded a meal, unlocking this new habit.

Having breakfast with Jiang Ning without Tongtong always made Xue Chuchu feel like she was doing something sneaky, and if Tongtong found out, she would surely face reproach, right?

In front of outsiders, Xue Chuchu remained aloof, always focusing on her own things, rarely interacting with people.

For her, it was a form of self-protection, the less she said and did, the fewer mistakes she would make.

But it was different with Jiang Ning. They lived very close to each other and had a very close relationship with Tongtong, her best friend.

So, after thinking it over, Xue Chuchu decided to get familiar and said: "You also stayed up late yesterday, why not sleep a little more?"

She had been at Jiang Ning's house playing games with Tongtong until 11 p.m. before heading home to sleep, remembering before she left, Jiang Ning was still playing fighting games against Tongtong.

Jiang Ning: "Because I have some things to do in the morning."

"Hmm, I see." Since Jiang Ning didn't elaborate, Xue Chuchu didn't ask further.

Jiang Ning took a spoonful of egg fried rice and glanced at the nearby traditional stove: "Your fried rice is delicious."

Xue Chuchu cooked using a traditional stove, unlike a gas stove, it required adding firewood to control the heat and simultaneously handling the cooking.

Speaking of this, Xue Chuchu said: "I was pretty clumsy at first, thanks to Tongtong."

Jiang Ning: "Hmm? Did she teach you?"

Xue Chuchu put a spoonful of egg fried rice into her mouth, hearing Jiang Ning's confusion, her gentle gaze was filled with contemplation, because of concentrating, she kept biting the spoon, her cool jade-like cheeks slightly puffed, unusually cute.

Once she had thought it over, she realized her state, initially feeling a bit shy, she discreetly took out the spoon, picked up the cup to comfortably drink some juice.

Then she continued: "I went to school with Tongtong in the same class, in the winter mornings, we would get up for school before dawn. During that time, it was my mom who got up from bed to cook for me, and Tongtong's mother did the same."

Jiang Ning nodded: "I was much the same, I lived with my grandfather, getting up early in winter was such torture, I remember the morning study class started before 7 o'clock."

"Later, my grandfather didn't want to get up early, so he bought me a box of instant noodles, and every morning, I had noodles for breakfast."

Jiang Ning felt talkative: "At first they tasted good, but after eating half a box, just smelling them made me…"

Xue Chuchu listened quietly, and halfway through, she subconsciously started biting the spoon again, only a few seconds later realizing Jiang Ning was right there and discreetly took it out again.

"Yes, yes, my family thought instant noodles were unhealthy, so we didn't eat them, but didn't want my mom to get up early on winter mornings, so Tongtong and I discussed cooking together. As we were very young at the time and inexperienced, Tongtong said she would cook and I would handle the fire."

Xue Chuchu slowly recapped the past.

Jiang Ning: "And then?"

"I thought handling the fire was easy, so I decided to cook, and she would tend to the fire."

"Tongtong was very competitive and insisted on washing the dishes too so that it would be fair."

"That's barely fair now." Jiang Ning asked again, "And then?"

Xue Chuchu pursed her lips, her mouth slightly upturned as if organizing her thoughts and smiling, speaking with a resigned tone:

"Then Tongtong couldn't get up in the morning, and I ended up having to cook and handle the fire."