Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation-Chapter 735 - 443

Yang Sheng: "No, I have a few workers; they usually help me with chores."

...

After understanding the master-servant relationship, Tang Fu’s mouth hung open in surprise, unable to speak.

It took her a while to come back to her senses, Yang Sheng’s approach had opened up a new world for her—could this really be done?

After her sudden realization, Tang Fu became interested. She asked, "Can I do the same thing?"

Yang Sheng instinctively wanted to say, "I’m afraid you’ll get cheated out of your pants."

But since they were friends, Yang Sheng gently stated,

"No."

Tang Fu didn’t believe it and decided to put off further consideration; after all, there was still a long time until school started.

She would definitely make Yang Sheng take a second look at her capabilities.

Tang Fu eyed the bucket in Yang Sheng’s hand and, thinking about the water purifier in the distance, volunteered to share the burden: "Give me the bucket; I’ll carry it. You shouldn’t have to bear the load alone."

Her character was frank and generous; she didn’t want her good friend to be at a disadvantage.

Suddenly, Yang Sheng suggested, "Let’s split it fifty-fifty; I’ll carry the bucket on the way there, and you carry it back."

After hearing this, Tang Fu felt the method of division was excellent, "One trip each—that’s quite fair!"

Yang Sheng was too tired to retort: "Indeed fair."

Reaching the community water purifier, Yang Sheng studied it for a moment, inserted two coins, and filled a bucket with water.

Then it was Tang Fu’s turn to carry it back.

On their way back, Tang Fu had a puzzled expression, the more she thought about it, the more something seemed off.

...

At the boys’ residence, in the living room.

Dong Qingfeng took a gulp of chilled Coke and stretched his legs contentedly: "Comfortable!"

Guo Kunnan dropped a pair of playing cards and also gulped down his Coke as they played Fight the Landlord.

"What are we eating tonight?" Dan Kaiquan asked.

Huang Zhongfei had already considered this: "I know a restaurant. Let’s try some local specialties—fried chicken, tofu soup, and sweet potatoes in syrup."

Dan Kaiquan was tempted; since last night until now, the only food they’d had was a bucket of instant noodles when they woke up in the afternoon.

"Alright, just as you said. And don’t forget to send us the bill, monitor—lodging, last night’s barbecue, and the taxi fare," Dan Kaiquan reminded.

"No rush, we’ll settle up tomorrow," Huang Zhongfei said.

Dan Kaiquan didn’t inquire further; he wasn’t the least bit worried about being overcharged by the monitor. The monitor’s character had been well witnessed over the past year.

Dan Kaiquan certainly admired someone who would lend money to Zhang Chi.

In fact, he was more concerned that the monitor might undercharge them.

"Are you guys heading straight back to Yuzhou tomorrow?" Dong Qingfeng played his card and asked the group.

"Yeah, we’ve got our tickets already," Guo Kunnan said.

"I was thinking of looking around some more," Dong Qingfeng said. "This vacation is pretty rare, and once we get to our second year, we won’t get many days for summer break."

Even though he and Dan Guo usually had a tepid relationship in class, often engaging in tit-for-tat and mutual mockery, he found it comforting to travel in a boisterous and familiar group.

If he were alone, he wouldn’t dare to order much, fearing he couldn’t finish it all.

"I’d like to explore too, but I probably won’t have much money left" Dan Kaiquan said.

Between accommodation, tickets, cable car rides, transportation, and meals, although he hadn’t calculated everything in detail, he had spent nearly five or six hundred.

And with dinner tonight and the fare back home, he had only brought a thousand yuan for the trip. He estimated he’d be lucky to have three hundred left upon reaching home, so playing around wasn’t on the cards.

Otherwise, Dan Kaiquan would absolutely love to visit two more cities. Although the trip to Tai City was a bit tiring from climbing, tasting delicious foods and witnessing breathtaking scenery he had never seen in his life was truly exhilarating!

Now he understood why people enjoyed traveling.

Unfortunately, he was out of money.

Guo Kunnan was thinking along the same lines; his sister had given him about a thousand yuan, too.

Dong Qingfeng felt somewhat regretful after listening.

Huang Zhongfei chimed in: "Yang Sheng and Tang Fu are planning to head to Peng City."

Dong Qingfeng’s regret disappeared instantly. What about Guo Kunnan and Dan Kaiquan? They could all take a hike!

His enthusiasm surged: "They’re going to Peng City?"

His face lit up with joy, "I’m familiar with Peng City. I know a guy who runs a guesthouse by Yunlong Lake, great value for the money."

Dan Kaiquan, "Didn’t you just come back from Peng City?"

Dong Qingfeng, righteous and proud, "You don’t understand. If the class president is willing to be our tour guide, what’s it to me to be a guide for everyone just this once?"

"Show you around Peng City, Yunlong Mountain, Yunlong Lake, the Aquarium."

Seeing his attitude, Dan Kaiquan thought to himself: ’Damn, if I weren’t so broke, I’d definitely go and see what you’re up to.’

Dan Kaiquan’s mind was still quite nimble. If his family wouldn’t give him money for travel, he could think of ways to make some, like asking Brother Ma for connections.

And then wait until he had saved enough money to go out and have fun.

With that thought, he said, "Brother Ning is really enjoying it, winning that travel prize he can’t even spend all of it."

During the past two days, thanks to Xue Yuantong’s storytelling, everyone knew they had won the prize, enough to last an entire summer vacation.

Dong Qingfeng, "Luck isn’t something you can envy."

He felt pretty good, knowing that this summer trip wouldn’t be too monotonous, at least there was someone to pick up the tab for meals.

...

Playing cards until four in the afternoon, Dan Kaiquan and Guo Kunnan decided to go out for a stroll and relax. freёnovelkiss.com

Huang Zhongfei said, "There are ping pong paddles in the house, you can take them, the community has a ping pong table."

Guo Kunnan stood at the window for a while and said, "Two old men have taken over the ping pong table."

Dan Kaiquan scoffed, "Come on, let’s go challenge the old men!"

"I practiced ping pong with the PE teacher Gu Wei last time; he taught me a few tricks. Playing a couple of old guys on the street should be a piece of cake." Dan Kaiquan was brimming with confidence.

Dong Qingfeng wasn’t great at ping pong, but he knew all too well not to boast about his ping pong skills, since there were so many skilled players out there—it was too easy to get schooled.

After the two left, Dong Qingfeng said, "Let’s go over to the girls and ask about the situation in the next city."

As soon as Dan Kaiquan descended the stairs, he ran straight to the ping pong table.

The players were two tank-top-clad old men, totally engrossed in their game. Dan Kaiquan couldn’t see what the fuss was about and thought to himself, ’What kind of playing is that?’

He shook his head from the side, looking downright disdainful.

One of the old men was skinny, with grizzled hair and beard, but his eyes were sharp and bright, like those of an eagle in the sky, full of vigor.

The gaunt old man noticed the two young men with paddles and instantly understood.

He chuckled, "Lads, care for a couple of rounds?"

Dan Kaiquan was keen on the idea. Showing off his paddle, and quite proud of his improved skills, he said, "Old man, don’t blame me for not going easy on you."

The old man was amused, "If you can beat me, you can pick whatever ice cream you want from the store’s fridge."

Dan Kaiquan and Guo Kunnan looked at each other. Was there really such a good deal to be had?

Thinking about posting a picture of their victory on their Moments, how cool would that be?

Dan Kaiquan got excited.

The other, stockier elderly man gave up his spot, and Dan Kaiquan served. The old man returned the shot effortlessly.

Dan Kaiquan’s movements were broad and forceful, ferociously smacking the ball! The ping pong ball zoomed out!

But he did not make an impact, as the old man blocked it with ease.

As the ping pong ball flew back, Dan Kaiquan tried to return it, but he found the ball slippery and elusive. It slid off the paddle and flew away.

Embarrassed, Dan Kaiquan picked up the ball, making excuses, "Haven’t played in a while, I’m not in form, not in form. Give me a moment to warm up."

The game went on.

Dan Kaiquan got thrashed and was sent scurrying across the floor.

Only then did he realize he was facing a master. They were not on the same level at all—he was completely out of his league!

As the sun set, Dan Kaiquan’s figure collecting balls appeared extremely bedraggled.

Regret filled his heart.

Guo Kunnan, not wishing to humiliate himself further, thought of Yang Sheng, who was even better at the game, and immediately shouted, "Old man, don’t leave, I’ll call someone to play against you!"

Dan Kaiquan quickly said, "Hurry and get someone, call Yang Sheng!"

Back when they played ping pong at school, Yang Sheng beat all of them single-handedly, forcing them to sign servitude contracts.

What was once their humiliation had, at this moment, become their salvation.

The gaunt old man strokes his cherished paddle, his smile brimming with Confidence, "You all just call, my earlier offer still stands."

Guo Kunnan ran back, and soon the figures of Yang Sheng and Tang Fu appeared.