Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation-Chapter 1562 - 857: Blocking the Path (Part 2)

In the past, most rural children usually only had a few cents on them, whereas city kids often had several dollars, dozens, or even hundreds as pocket money.

Many rural children, when encountering relatives from the city, often used trickery to exploit their Gold Coins.

Jiang Ning used to think this was the innate inferiority of rural kids, but later realized it was merely due to differences in resources and education.

"By the way, Brother Ning, are you spending New Year in the village?" Jiang Junlong asked.

Jiang Ning shook his head.

Jiang Junlong: "So you’re returning to the urban area? My dad is heading back this afternoon, he can give you a ride to the city."

His family planned to come back early on New Year’s Eve to celebrate, but first, they were returning home tonight, as their family wasn’t comfortable staying in the countryside.

Jiang Ning: "I’ll stay for another day and head back in the morning."

According to past events, tonight, Uncle Jingui’s wife would abscond with money, never returning to Jiangjiazhuang.

He stayed to lend a hand.

"Alright then." Jiang Junlong said regretfully.

Jiang Qianqian realized Jiang Ning was about to leave; it might be another year before they met again. She wanted to mention her family leaving in the morning, offering to accompany Jiang Ning partway, but unfortunately, their route didn’t pass through Yuzhou.

...

Jiang Ning and his cousins spent half the day wandering the village, and at last near Uncle Jingui’s house, Jiang Junlong was called by his uncle Jiang Qitian: "Longlong, time to go home."

Then, Jiang Qitian patted Jiang Ning, laughing heartily: "Ningning, spend New Year in the village, call your parents home for the holiday!"

Jiang Ning: "They can’t come back, I’m heading to Jiang Province to spend New Year with them."

Jiang Qitian frowned: "Hey, you can’t just focus on earning money, leaving your son alone at home, what kind of thing is that!"

He added: "After New Year, visit my home, I’ll prepare some holiday goods for you."

After saying goodbye, his uncle drove away.

Without Jiang Junlong as company, Jiang Qianqian felt awkward to continue hanging out with Jiang Ning, knowing their relationship wasn’t that close.

Jiang Qianqian felt a bit depressed, wondering why she had to be the sister?

Jiang Ning returned home to rest, as Wang Xue sent him a string of messages: "Jiang Ning, are you free tonight? It’s still at Hongyun Hotel, today is my birthday, plus it’s kind of a farewell party before I transfer schools. I’ve invited old classmates I used to hang out with, along with current high school friends, and arranged two tables of banquet, are you coming?"

"There’s Qing E, Li Jing, Ying Hui, Xiao Xiao, Di Zi..." she listed a series of familiar yet unfamiliar names.

Looking at these names, Jiang Ning, born in a small town, attending the village primary school, town primary school, and town junior high, had spent a deprived but solid nine-year compulsory education period there.

Scenes from his student days flashed through his mind, some happy, some sad, many unfair...

For him, these memories seemed distant, yet for many students, he had only been gone for a year and a half.

Jiang Ning replied: "Forget it, let’s meet next time when I come back."

Soon, a screenshot and a text message arrived.

Jiang Ning clicked in to find it was a chat screenshot between him and Wang Xue.

Wang Xue: "Ahhh, Ying Hui, he declined, how should I respond?"

Good gracious, she was careless enough to send it to the wrong person.

Jiang Ning said: "Reply [Okay, let’s arrange another time]."

Wang Xue realized she sent it wrong, she: "(crying)"

After sending this emoji, Wang Xue went silent, likely socially mortified.

...

Uncle Jingui’s wedding banquet was only held at noon, with one table covering all relatives.

But come evening, there was no banquet, everyone only had leftovers to eat.

Now that Jiang Ning was back in the village alone, with no food, and considering the time after his grandparents passed, he often went to Uncle Xiao Gui and Uncle Jingui’s for meals, so naturally, he was invited for dinner.

Uncle Jingui himself came to invite him, appearing at Jiang Ning’s doorstep with an especially bright and joyful face, today being his grand occasion.

He came up and patted Jiang Ning’s shoulder, warmly saying: "Ningning, you wouldn’t agree to help me with the bed-warming, I’m struggling even to give you money!"

Bed-warming is a custom in Yuzhou, usually inviting an unmarried boy from among close friends or relatives to sleep a night in the new room for good fortune.

Jiang Ning chuckled: "I’m not suitable, I’m too old."

Uncle Jingui was speechless: "If you’re considered old, does that mean I’m ancient?"

Unlike those annoying relatives who forcefully seek topics to get closer, asking about grades, work, and relationships, Uncle Jingui didn’t ask but instead said: "Ningning, do you still play games now?"

Jiang Ning replied: "Occasionally, I’ll play a bit of LOL or CF, and sometimes some single-player games."

Uncle Jingui said: "I don’t play online games anymore, but I still play Plants vs. Zombies. The mobile version just came out, but sadly, the second edition is too much of a money trap. I’m playing the cracked version."

As they chatted, they walked along the gravel road from ten years ago. Only now, Jiang Ning was no longer the little boy chasing Uncle Jingui, asking why Pea Shooter should be planted behind the Sunflower.

And Uncle Jingui was no longer the carefree youth he used to be ten years ago.

The once bold aspirations all compromised by life now; Jingui married a woman who was divorced with a child, a boy no less, which even Dorgon couldn’t conquer.

This road inevitably led to its end, with Uncle Jingui welcoming guests who came to help, wearing a grateful smile.

Jiang Ning sat down at the dining table. Tonight’s dish was a stew of assorted dishes, mixing new and leftover food in a pot, also called a hodgepodge.

Even though mixing everything together usually leads to blended flavors, for some reason, the young Jiang Ning especially liked hodgepodge, recalling it as super tasty.

Soon, steaming ceramic bowls were brought to the table. Jiang Ning glanced at it, seeing shredded meat, squid, garlic scapes, tofu skin, beef tripe, yellow garlic shoots, all mixed together.

He grabbed a big bun, took a bite of the stew, and surprisingly, it tasted just like his memory, very flavorful and delicious.

He not only ate himself but also took a photo and sent it to Tongtong: "Eating hodgepodge but not bringing you any."

Tongtong, like people glued to their phones nowadays, was on standby next to her phone 16 hours a day. Seeing the familiar hodgepodge, she secretly swallowed her saliva, mixed with discontent against Jiang Ning.

"Hmph, if you don’t bring it, fine, do you think I care? Even a puppy won’t eat it!"

Call you arrogant! Tongtong felt relieved, as if seeking revenge.

Jiang Ning said: "I meant, want some hodgepodge? I’ll bring you some."

Xue Yuantong embarrassed: "I do."

Jiang Ning: "Haha, not bringing any."

Xue Yuantong was furious: "Why mention it then if you won’t bring it!"

Jiang Ning: "Just teasing you."

...

Night, eight-thirty.

Most rural people have healthy routines, and by this time, Uncle Jingui’s guests had already left, leaving only Second Grandma and Sister-in-law Gui to help tidy up the mess.

Neighbor Hanghang gave Jiang Ning a pack of firecrackers.

Jiang Ning snapped his fingers, created a spark, lit the firecrackers, and heard a "pia" sound.

Accompanying the sound of the firecrackers, Jiang Ning heard Uncle Jingui and the bride arguing.

Because of the host’s deliberate blunder during the wedding, the bride found an excuse to complain, holding it back all afternoon until it erupted that evening.

The bride’s son was bawling beside them, creating a noise attack that annoyed Uncle Jingui.

Uncle Jingui still spoke gently: "It’s alright, let’s live well together from now on."

"Just the two of us, huh? Where did you put my son?" The bride became more aggressive.

Second Grandma and Sister-in-law Gui tried to mediate but only made things worse.

At this point, a lean and sturdy man in a leather jacket, as determined as an iron tree, appeared beside the bride. He stared intensely, warning, "Jiang Jingui, before my sister married you, you assured me you’d treat her well. I came specially to help with her wedding, and this is how you repay me!"

Jiang Jingui tried to explain: "Brother, today was unexpected, the wedding..."

"Don’t say anymore, I’m not satisfied!" The lean leather jacket man grabbed his sister’s arm and led her toward the village entrance.

Jiang Jingui stepped forward to intervene, but the lean man struck him away with a single hand.

His palm stung fiercely as the other man’s strength was terrifying.

Jingui’s mother shouted: "It’s not right, going back should be done three days later, not the same night, we’ll become the laughingstock of the village!"

Uncle Xiao Gui hurried forward to pull them away, but the lean man shoved him off balance.

As the bride was about to leave the yard, Jiang Ning leaned against the door with indifferent eyes: "You can leave, but leave the gift money behind."