Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation

Jiang Ning had just entered the classroom in the afternoon when he saw several classmates gathered around his seat.

Through the gaps in the crowd, he saw Ma Shicheng perched on a stool at the very back, his phone laid horizontally on the desk, playing "Qin Shi Ming Yue."

A few classmates couldn't stop discussing: "It's so good!"

"The special effects are really good, and the fight scenes are flashy."

"I heard they bought new technology for the 'fourth season', spending tens of millions on production."

During that period, "Qin Shi Ming Yue" was highly praised, considered a domestic gem just like "Kui Ba," and everyone had high expectations.

"Ma Shicheng, your video quality is so clear, much clearer than what I watched."

"I downloaded the ultra-high-definition version, each episode is over 200 MB, and it took me a long time to download," Ma Shicheng proudly said, as he always downloaded the clearest quality video when watching anime.

Jiang Ning didn't disturb them and walked out of the classroom, standing in the hallway to look over the campus.

It wasn't long before the students around Ma Shicheng left, still wanting more, as his downloaded "Qin Shi Ming Yue" had reached the last episode, and if they wanted to watch more, they would have to download new episodes.

The Wi-Fi in the small garden in front of the classroom was known to too many people, it was slow due to the number of connections, and it took him a very long time to download "Qin Shi Ming Yue," but luckily, he had found a new spot for Wi-Fi piggybacking.

Ma Shicheng decided that he would tap into the Wi-Fi at the "Yucai Internet Cafe" by the school gate after school that afternoon.

Once the crowd of students had dispersed, Jiang Ning returned to his seat.

Geng Lu turned her head to chat with Jiang Ning, who she had noticed when he first arrived because his seat was taken and she couldn't come over.

This made Geng Lu a bit annoyed at the students who had gathered around.

"Jiang Ning, did you know, in the class next door, class 1, someone is dating," Geng Lu gossiped.

Before Jiang Ning could reply, Ma Shicheng took over the conversation:

"Who is dating whom? Is the girl pretty?"

"The girl is Dong Jiayi," Geng Lu said.

Jiang Ning did remember that girl; she was pretty, and from his perspective, on the same level as Shen Qing'e.

"Really? No way," Ma Shicheng refused to believe, as class 1 was next door. Being a boy who was fond of pretty girls, he had long recognized all the pretty girls in his class and class 1.

Dong Jiayi, who could compare even in the beauty-rich class 8, was dating, and Ma Shicheng felt discontent.

Guo Kunnan and Dan Kaiquan nearby overheard the gist and stuck their heads over to join the conversation.

Seeing more people around, Geng Lu continued:

"Actually, it's not really dating. It's what a friend told me. She stays in the dormitory next to Dong Jiayi and heard that Wei Xiu Yuan from class 1 is pursuing Dong Jiayi, bringing her snacks and fruits every day."

Dan Kaiquan commented, "He definitely won't be able to catch up to Dong Jiayi."

Ma Shicheng agreed with him, united in their aversion:

"That Wei Xiu Yuan, yeah I know him. He's about as tall as our class president, but when it comes to being handsome, he's nowhere near me."

"He dares to pursue Dong Jiayi like that?"

"Damn, I remember the Yucai Supermarket by the gate is run by his family. I'm never going there again!"

Dan Kaiquan said, "Exactly, every yuan we spend at Yucai Supermarket will potentially transform into Wei Xiu Yuan's petty cash for courting Dong Jiayi."

Ma Shicheng wholeheartedly agreed; he would never fund the enemy.

Geng Lu was speechless, not understanding why their reactions were so strong.

"But speaking of it, the girls from class 1, they seem to have a different vibe," Ma Shicheng suddenly said:

"They have a sort of scholarly quality, especially dignified."

Dan Kaiquan agreed: "Right, I think so too. It's not surprising, really. To get into class 1, you need at least 700 points in the middle school exam, so their studies are a whole lot better than ours."

"Good at studies, pretty, and I heard she can dance too, I wonder who will be able to win her over." Dan Kaiquan sighed, although they were peers, there was an inexplicable sense of inadequacy when facing girls who did so much better in their studies, almost as if they were out of their league.

Geng Lu wasn't pleased to hear them praising the girls from class 1; class 1 was next to class 8, and the students often mentioned class 1.

But every time class 1 was brought up, it seemed like there was a lack of confidence, as if the students from class 1 were superior.

The students from the two classes were occasionally compared by some substitute teachers, and in their remarks, class 8 was always regarded as inferior to class 1.

The students knew this to be true, but were still disgruntled.

Geng Lu thought that although Dong Jiayi was pretty, had good grades, and a nice demeanor, her figure was completely flat.

Geng Lu looked down at herself and instantly felt much better.

The topic initially stirred up by Geng Lu took a turn when Ma Shicheng and the others began discussing the girls from Class 1.

...

After school in the afternoon, Jiang Ning went out to buy food as usual.

As Xue Yuantong took a cup of hot water, she lay limply on the desk, passing a bill over.

"Jiang Ning, get me a serving of grilled cold noodles, a cup of frozen fruit tea, and also a pork bun, with extra green peppers," she said.

Jiang Ning took the money, "You've been eating more and more lately."

Xue Yuantong asserted, "I only had half a bowl of rice for lunch."

"Right, right, you're definitely right," Jiang Ning responded noncommittally.

She indeed only had half a bowl of rice, it was just that Jiang Ning had noticed when he returned from the pawnshop at midday that the portions of the dishes were suspiciously small, not even half a plate each, almost as if someone had stolen some.

Xue Yuantong claimed that she had specifically waited for him to come back before eating. She pointed to the unmoved rice in the rice cooker as evidence.

Thus, the scant half-plate of dishes was mostly consumed by her.

Jiang Ning had hardly filled his belly at noon.

Not wanting to expose her, Jiang Ning took the money and went out to buy food.

There were numerous snack stands at the school gate, their aroma wafting in the air, dazzling and causing choice paralysis.

The food Xue Yuantong wanted provided a reference for Jiang Ning, saving him the trouble of deciding. One portion of each would do.

He arrived at the grilled cold noodles cart, where the stall owner was a kindly-faced grandma, with a schoolboy in uniform standing beside her.

Jiang Ning had heard from Ma Shicheng and the others that this place's grilled cold noodles were tasty.

"Two servings of grilled cold noodles, mildly spicy," he ordered.

Then he looked at the add-on area, "What other toppings can I add to this?"

The grandma smiled warmly, "The grilled cold noodles come with egg, and you can add spicy strips, sausages, and there's also..."

She was cut off mid-sentence by the schoolboy who continued,

"There's also loin meat, enoki mushrooms, and chicken fillets."

He looked sternly and seriously at Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning, seeing how familiar he was, couldn't help but ask,

"Is this your mom?"

The schoolboy replied, "No, I came to buy grilled cold noodles."

"Do you come here to eat every day?"

The schoolboy swallowed, "Sometimes I don't have money and just stand here watching."

Jiang Ning laughed, generously declaring,

"Today, your big brother will treat you."

The schoolboy was stunned beyond belief. Could such good fortune really exist in the world?

"Are you going to eat?"

"Yes!"

Jiang Ning spent eight yuan and bought the schoolboy a deluxe version of grilled cold noodles.

On his way back to the school with the snacks, Jiang Ning saw Ma Shicheng standing at the entrance of the 'Yucai Supermarket', having just taken a bottle of Coke from the freezer.

Seeing Jiang Ning, Ma Shicheng greeted him,

"Jiang Ning, see you in the classroom tonight."