Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation

Chapter 1844 - 1013: Solitude

"Comrade, all our processes at the Environmental Protection Bureau are absolutely compliant and legal... Who authorized you?"

Director Zhang’s voice was dry, attempting to utilize his usual official tone, but the tools he once used to crush others now seemed incredibly fragile.

As he spoke more and more, his logic gradually became confused, and eventually, he began to complain: "Comrade, do you know how difficult grassroots work is?"

The man in the dark suit had a cold gaze, his voice devoid of emotion: "The procedural issue will be addressed later. Please cooperate immediately now."

Director Zhang’s face turned pale, his posture seemed to hunch instantly, like a little old man.

Captain Zhou helped maintain his dignity with handcuffs and escorted him to the police car.

Boss An beside him was as silent as a cicada in winter. He had long heard that there were some disagreements between Evergreen Liquid and Vice Mayor Li, while Director Zhang and Vice Mayor Li were in the same faction.

Boss An was well aware of the importance of relationships. As the saying goes, since ancient times, commoners shouldn’t fight officials. Although Evergreen Liquid had a big business, attempting to stir up the waters in Yuzhou seemed too far-fetched to Boss An.

But who would have thought that retribution would come so quickly!

Upon this thought, even Boss An’s graceful face looked somewhat unpleasant. His environmental business depended entirely on Director Zhang, and if Director Zhang were unlucky, he would surely be implicated!

An Chan originally intended to say a few good words for Jiang Ning, but somehow, the high-ranking Director Zhang ended up being taken away.

An Chan looked at her father again, who had always been assertive and unyielding. Now, his face was unexpectedly changeable, revealing hints of panic.

The entire situation was unexpectedly reversed.

Xue Yuantong glanced at An Yue, ’Hmph, fond of complaining, aren’t you?’

She pointed at An Yue, enthusiastically reporting: "Officer, yesterday they even forcefully bought other people’s old batteries! So arrogant!"

An Yue’s face turned white as he hurriedly refuted: "Don’t slander me!"

Captain Zhou listened and thought that this matter might be beneficial to the entire case. Furthermore, last time, after Captain Zhou returned, he investigated the identities of the river dam residents and learned that Xue Yuantong’s family were employees of Evergreen Liquid.

Captain Zhou regarded this as an opportunity to make a stand. He immediately said: "You come along with us as well."

An Yue didn’t dare resist and could only suppress his anger.

Xue Yuantong took out a banner from the net under the dining table, smoothed it out, and hung it at the entrance. It strikingly displayed eight large characters: "Acting righteously, full of moral integrity."

It was truly brilliant.

Captain Zhou was amused.

Xue Yuantong’s small hand shifted direction, unexpectedly moving slowly towards Boss An, who loved to lecture.

Boss An grew more anxious as he sensed something was wrong. If he were taken away now, he would definitely have no time to destroy evidence!

Boss An instinctively dodged.

The next second, Xue Yuantong changed her gesture, smiling brightly: "Just kidding."

Boss An realized he was tricked and his face became extremely unpleasant. The river dam girl had gone too far!

Captain Zhou was very perceptive. He sensed something was amiss and immediately said: "You come along with me too!"

Boss An: "?"

Captain Zhou left with Director Zhang and Boss An. The subordinates of Director Zhang, who had been clamoring about various inspection duties, just felt their minds were blank.

Their support had fallen, their future, likely gone.

Xue Yuantong ponderously questioned: "Are you still inspecting our old batteries?"

The young subordinate hastily ran to the business car, got in, and drove away, not pausing for a moment.

Jiang Ning looked at the few people at the door, feeling they spoiled the scenery, and waved his hand: "Alright, disperse."

An Chan witnessed all of this, her mind in turmoil.

Good news, Director Zhang was taken away by the disciplinary committee, which meant her crisis was resolved, and she didn’t have to marry Mr. Zhang.

Bad news, her father was also taken away, and her family was facing a crisis.

She looked at Jiang Ning, her mind thundering, why did this classmate named Jiang Ning know that Director Zhang would be investigated?

...

The entrance to the bungalow was once again peaceful.

Jiang Ning continued eating, and Tongtong kept eating as well.

Xue Chuchu’s watery eyes held a trace of doubt, why did the car arrive just after Jiang Ning spoke? Was there such a coincidence in the world?

How did he know these things? Could it be related to his executive parents?

These thoughts lingered in her heart, yet Xue Chuchu wasn’t one to inquire deeply. She didn’t voice them and just kept them buried within, continuing her meal.

Xue Yuantong didn’t take what happened to heart at all. She happily said: "Chuchu, Jiang Ning said he’ll take me to the small park tomorrow, hehe!"

Xue Chuchu took note of Tongtong’s behavior.

She understood Tongtong well, even without Jiang Ning, Tongtong might have gone to the small park on her own, but definitely not as happily as now.

She remembered Tongtong wasn’t like this before.

’If Jiang Ning takes me to play...’ Xue Chuchu might thank Jiang Ning for sparing his time to accompany her, but it’s hard to say she’d be very happy.

Tongtong continued to plan: "I want to buy lots of snacks, eat them in the park, never be a fool to buy overpriced snacks!"

"Catch lots of fish, come home in the evening, coat them in flour and fry them, then simmer them in the pot with tender tofu!"

Jiang Ning: "Eating fish for two meals in a row?"

"Don’t worry, what I make is really delicious!" Tongtong drank a big mouthful of coconut water, declaring with confidence.

With her at home, it seemed filled with joy at all times.

Xue Chuchu, however, remained silent, speaking only occasionally.

At this moment, she thought, ’Tongtong, you’re likely not going to get your wish.’

...

At three in the afternoon, Aunt Gu returned from work to the River Dam Bungalow.

Xue Yuantong was playing games in Jiang Ning’s bedroom. She had borrowed another new account from Jiang Ning, and was dominating the canyon.

Her phone was set on a stand, open on a video call, with Chen Siyu’s face on the screen.

"I’m planning to take Jiang Ning to the park tomorrow," Tongtong announced solemnly, "I might take Chuchu along too."

Chen Siyu was gnawing on a braised duck’s paw, awkwardly praising: "You’re so talented, so skilled at having fun."

Xue Yuantong barely accepted her compliment.

Xue Yuantong casually manipulated Little Fishman, easily taking down four enemies, one of the kills was even snatched by Chen Siqing.

Xue Yuantong noticed a flaw: "Oh, your sister’s girl-gun is quite good, showing significant improvement."

Chen Siqing poked her head out: "What do you mean?"

Chen Siyu quickly pushed her sister’s head out of view, laughing: "My sister has some talent for gaming."

Chen Siqing’s voice came from off-screen: "What gaming, what gaming talent, I don’t get it."

Xue Yuantong immediately showed a suspicious expression, ’Something’s off, they’re hiding something!’

Chen Siyu thought quickly, her wrist shook, and the new braised duck paw she picked up naturally fell.

She exclaimed in panic: "Ah, it fell on my clothes again! It’s so oily, hard to wash!"

"Tongtong, what should I do?" she pleaded.

Xue Yuantong was indeed distracted, and she naturally said, "Whatever absurdity with duck feet, you bring them over, I’ll just wipe them all out!"

Seeing Tongtong’s suspicions fading, Chen Siyu breathed a sigh of relief and secretly glanced towards the bedroom.

That was her mom helping her out, too bad Tongtong didn’t ask Jiang Ning to join in today, otherwise her mom would be showcasing skills for her daughter!

Showcasing their charming abilities!

Tongtong was gaming, a message from mom popped up on the screen: "Tongtong, stop playing, come home, there’s something going on."

Xue Yuantong curled her lips, no way she’d reply.

Two minutes later, Aunt Gu sent a red envelope.

Xue Yuantong clicked on it instantly.

As Aunt Gu tidied up things, she got annoyed: "This kid, playing on the phone and not replying to my messages!"

Xue Yuantong quickly typed: "Mom, I’ve got red envelope auto-open on."

Aunt Gu: "Oh, so you can still reply to my message?"

Xue Yuantong: "Mom, I’ve got red envelope auto-open on."

Aunt Gu: "Alright, my mistake then."

Xue Yuantong sent the same reply again.

She giggled while holding her phone: "Jiang Ning, haha, I am just too smart!"

Jiang Ning used Divine Sense to scan next door and found Aunt Gu approaching.

He raised a thumb: "You’re too smart."

Xue Yuantong: "Of course, just look at what I’m capable of!"

Ten seconds later, Aunt Gu came over to take Tongtong away.

Tongtong didn’t forget to remind: "Jiang Ning, Jiang Ning, the game, don’t lose!"

Gradually, her voice faded, and Jiang Ning’s bedroom was left with just the game background music from the desktop speakers.

After returning home, Xue Yuantong said seriously: "Mom, can you give me a little face? I’m already grown up!"

"I bought ice cream for you. Want some?"

"Yes."

"Adults aren’t this greedy," Aunt Gu said calmly.

"So can I have ice cream?"

"I didn’t buy any," Aunt Gu said.

Xue Yuantong sighed quietly.

"Pack up some things; we’re going back to the village later," Aunt Gu instructed.

Xue Yuantong’s mouth opened: "What?"

She had already made plans with Jiang Ning to hang out at the park tomorrow, how could she break that promise!

Aunt Gu looked at her daughter’s expression and spoke earnestly: "Tomorrow is Qingming Festival, it’s time to go home and pay respects."

Xue Yuantong was silent. A towering figure appeared in her mind, but it had been so long she couldn’t quite remember her father’s face.

In families like theirs, certain words had become taboo, avoided silently over the years.

Finally, Xue Yuantong asked: "Mom, what kind of person was Dad?"

Aunt Gu paused, then her tender face appeared nostalgic: "Your dad, he was the best to you."

"Back when you were small and couldn’t remember things, there was a time your dad wanted to earn some money, planned to go into the city for some rapeseeds to sell. You begged to go, so he took you with him. I remember when he came home, he had a bag from KFC in his hand."

Xue Yuantong’s eyes widened: "Wasn’t our family quite poor back then?"

Aunt Gu smiled: "Yes, he was very young at the time and didn’t have much money, but you kept clamoring for it."

Xue Yuantong said nothing.

She had always thought the first time she ate KFC was when Jiang Ning took her.

Aunt Gu: "Go back and see him."

Two bungalows by the river dam were bought by Tongtong’s father. When he was seriously ill, selling those two bungalows might have bought him more time, but the frail man just shook his head with a smile, refusing as he looked at young Tongtong.

Because of this, the mother and daughter didn’t end up drifting.

Xue Yuantong: "Okay."

"Chuchu will join us later," Aunt Gu said.

...

The next day, Qingming Festival.

Tongtong and Chuchu went back to the village, leaving Jiang Ning all alone.

Uncle Jiang Qitian called, claiming the whole family went on a trip, leaving only him, and asked if Jiang Ning would like to go to his restaurant for lunch, and the two of them could have some mutton hot pot.

Jiang Ning told him to focus on his business.

Chen Siyu called again: "Did Tongtong leave?"

Jiang Ning: "She did."

Chen Siyu: "Won’t be coming back, right?"

Jiang Ning: "No, why are you inquiring about this?"

"Just asking around."

Ha, playing it quite genuinely.

Chen Siyu: "My sister and I found an amazing hot pot place, we decided to treat you to hot pot, and bring along the big oaf Tang Fu."

Jiang Ning, having nothing else to do, accepted: "Sure."

Upon hearing Tang Fu’s name, perhaps due to a rise in Divine Sense, he suddenly had a realization. In the past life, it seemed Tang Fu suddenly disappeared from Fourth Middle School for a period.

Could it be, Tang Fu really got pushed down the mountain during the last promise with the late aunt?

Chen Siyu: "We’ll be waiting for you at home!"

Jiang Ning found his titanium gray electric bike, just as he was about to ride it, suddenly noticed a unique aura on the bike.

Oh, it turns out the bike was borrowed by Tongtong for Chuchu yesterday.

Not paying it any mind, he rode to the entrance of Chen Siyu’s apartment complex where the twins were waiting by the roadside; the roads in their neighborhood were rather congested today, given the holiday.

What kind of riding skill does Jiang Ning possess? With a flick of the bike tail, he stylishly zipped through the traffic, precisely parking in front of the two girls.

Chen Siyu immediately launched her praise skill: "You’re really amazing, Jiang Ning, you got here in one go, not like me, always taking forever even with my hands!"

As soon as these words left her mouth, people around turned to look, a young woman next on an electric bike blushingly spat inwardly. Was there a time young girls played so wildly!

Jiang Ning, struggling to hold a straight face, urged: "Stop babbling, hop on."