Unconventional [Rebirth] - Chapter 29

Rong Jingtang still had matters to attend to in Yi Dian, so he could not return to Qing City with Jiang Rui. He simply instructed Sui Ming to escort him back.

Jiang Rui, however, said, “I’ll go back by myself. It’s inconvenient for you if Sui Ming isn’t by your side.”

“I don’t lack this one person by my side,” Rong Jingtang said.

“Even so, there’s no need. I can go back on my own,” Jiang Rui insisted with a frown.

Rong Jingtang was silent for a moment and then asked, “Do you dislike Sui Ming? Why?”

Jiang Rui thought, Isn’t that obvious?

“It’s not quite dislike, just that we don’t naturally get along; I find him somewhat unlikable, that’s all. There’s no particular reason. Perhaps Sui Ming feels the same way about me.”

Rong Jingtang said, “No, Sui Ming wouldn’t dislike anyone. He’s different from others; his heart holds only loyalty.”

Jiang Rui felt a vague displeasure at Rong Jingtang’s trust in Sui Ming. He believed that Sui Ming was indeed loyal to Rong Jingtang, but this loyalty was different from the unconditional loyalty Uncle Cheng held. Sui Ming’s loyalty carried an ulterior motive.

However, Sui Ming was Rong Jingtang’s right-hand man, and he was just a friend Rong Jingtang had recently met. Anyone could say those words, but he could not.

Jiang Rui was about to return to Qing City, and they didn’t know when they would see each other again. He didn’t want to go against Rong Jingtang’s wishes at this time. In the end, he agreed to let Sui Ming escort him back.

Upon reaching the Qing City train station, Sui Ming intended to take him back to the supermarket, but Jiang Rui stopped him. “My parents don’t know you. If they happened to see you, it would just cause trouble. I’m very familiar with Qing City, so you don’t need to see me off. You should head back soon.”

Sui Ming looked at him. “I promised my employer I would see you back. I won’t leave until I’ve seen you to your doorstep.”

Seeing his insistence, Jiang Rui smiled slightly. “Suit yourself.” Then, he turned and walked out of the station.

Sui Ming followed. After a while, he suddenly asked, “Young Master Jiang is always so amicable to everyone. Why do I seem to be an exception? Is there something I’ve done wrong?”

The smile on Jiang Rui’s face did not waver. “You should ask yourself that.”

Sui Ming said, “I don’t understand what Young Master Jiang means.”

“If I offended Young Master Jiang in any way before, for the sake of my employer, I hope you will not hold it against me. If I misunderstood, and Young Master Jiang simply doesn’t like me as a person, then I will try to appear less in front of you in the future,” Sui Ming said, sounding very earnest.

Jiang Rui stopped walking.

He looked at Sui Ming with a faint smile and said, “Your master isn’t here right now, so you don’t need to say these things to me. I don’t like you, and I’m afraid you feel even stronger about me. I despise people who act intelligently in front of me and put on a show. I can turn a blind eye in front of your master, but please spare me the effort now.” A wolf that can’t be tamed insists on pretending to be a loyal local dog.

Sui Ming remained silent.

Jiang Rui shook his head, ignored him, and flagged down a taxi.

Sui Ming did not leave until he watched Jiang Rui enter the Jiang Hai Supermarket.

Jiang Rui’s parents hadn’t opened the shop today, so Jiang Rui used his own key to open the door. They were upstairs busy with their month-end calculations and didn’t realize their son was standing right in front of them until then.

“Rui Rui! When did you get back, son? Why didn’t you let us know so your father and I could pick you up at the station? Did you eat well outside these past few days? Did you have any trouble with the climate in Yi Dian? Look at you, you’re so thin your chin is sharp!” He Furong’s voice trembled with excitement the moment she saw her son. She rushed over, hugging him and showering him with worried questions, terrified that her son had suffered the slightest hardship outside.

Jiang Jianjun had missed his son dearly, too, but unlike He Furong, he didn’t express his feelings so directly. He just patted his son’s shoulder, a smile on his face.

Jiang Rui had been on the train for over twenty hours. His parents quickly urged him to take a shower and then sleep soundly in bed. They could have a good chat, the three of them together, after their son woke up tomorrow.

Jiang Rui obediently took a shower and returned to his room, but instead of sleeping, he entered the secret realm to cultivate.

As Jiang Rui’s cultivation deepened, his connection to Miao Xuan became clearer. Miao Xuan also said that at this speed, once Jiang Rui reached the Mid-Foundation Establishment stage, he would be able to converse with him freely even outside the secret realm.

Waking up from his meditation, Jiang Rui calculated the time. It was still early before dawn in the outside world, so he took out the jade slip of the ∗NinefoldDanmingSutra∗ that he hadn’t finished memorizing last time and continued to study it.

The next day.

During lunch, Jiang Rui’s parents constantly reminded him to be harmonious with his classmates when he got to school. The couple didn’t know where they had heard it, but they were told that city students had bad tempers and were afraid their competitive son wouldn’t get along with his classmates.

“School starts the day after tomorrow, Rui Rui. Although we aren’t exactly city folks, we are living in the city now. Don’t feel inferior to your classmates. Your mother and I are already planning to find someone to process our family’s residency permits to Qing City. It’s only a matter of time,” Jiang Jianjun said, putting a piece of food on his son’s plate.

Jiang Rui nodded obediently and smiled. “Thank you, Dad.”

He Furong also spoke. “Rui Rui, I asked around. The Thirteenth High School doesn’t allow day students. Our home is close to your school now, and I will visit you often. Study hard at school. Your father and I discussed your meal and pocket money: we’ll give you 150 yuan in total every month. Don’t be stingy with money. If it’s not enough, just ask your mother for more.”

Based on the consumption level at the time, a high school student in school could not spend 100 yuan, even if they ate and bought some snacks. After all, even in Qing City, a family with better means only had an income of five or six hundred yuan a month. Prices were still very low, especially in public schools, where things were very cheap. 150 yuan a month for a high school student was definitely considered wealthy.

Jiang Rui was very clear on this fact, so he said, “Mom, I don’t have many places to spend money at school. 150 yuan a month is too much.”

He Furong glared at him. “Too much? What’s too much? Other children complain that their parents don’t give them enough money. Why do you complain when your mother is willing to give you more? Gongzi, your Uncle Zhao’s son in the east of the village, is still sulking with your Uncle Zhao because he wants more pocket money for the start of school. Why are you unhappy when your mother is willing to give you more?”

Jiang Rui immediately said, “How could I? How could I? 150 yuan is perfect. I can even treat my classmates to an ice cream or a drink at school.”

Who knew that He Furong would frown again upon hearing this? She turned to her husband and said, “We only thought about Rui Rui eating and drinking well at school, but Rui Rui also needs to socialize and exchange favors with his classmates at school. If he treats them to something, that’s also money. Furthermore, city kids are particular and probably look down on those three- or five-jiao ice creams and drinks. If we calculate that way, 150 yuan might still not be enough.”

Jiang Jianjun never managed the finances and wasn’t as meticulous with money as He Furong. He immediately said, “Then let’s make it 300 yuan.”

He Furong looked at her son, seemingly asking if 300 yuan was enough.

Jiang Rui: “…”

He was going to school, not to eat and treat guests!

“150 yuan is fine, that’s enough. I’m full. I’ll go back to my room to read now. I heard some students started remedial classes at school a month ago. The competition at Thirteenth High is fierce, so I can’t fall behind,” Jiang Rui said. Without waiting for Jiang Jianjun and He Furong to speak again, he quickly retreated to his room.

He Furong was angry and helpless. She complained to her husband, “You say, is Rui Rui too obedient, or what? Giving him money is like taking his life.”

Jiang Jianjun laughed heartily. “You praise our Rui Rui for being sensible and obedient to everyone you meet, and now you’re complaining about him being too obedient? How are you so hard to please?”

He Furong slapped his arm. “You know that’s not what I mean.”

On the day school started, Jiang Rui originally wanted to take his luggage by himself and let his parents look after the supermarket at home. However, He Furong vehemently refused to let her son go alone, as if her son might be kidnapped on the way to school. Jiang Rui was always compliant with his parents. Since He Furong insisted on going, he had no choice but to follow her wishes.

Many parents came to drop off their children, and there were several sedans parked at the school gate, arousing unconcealed envy in the eyes of passersby.

He Furong looked at the parents riding motorcycles and driving sedans to drop off their children, then at the old-fashioned, cross-bar bicycle, which her son was pushing, that she and her husband had bought seven or eight years ago. It didn’t even have a basket, and the bike frame was visibly worn.

Most of the other children carried small leather suitcases or travel bags for their luggage, or at the very least, sturdy shopping bags. Only she held the long woven sack commonly used in the village, its opening tied shut with a thin hemp rope.

He Furong suddenly regretted it. My son’s grades are so good; it wouldn’t make a difference where he went to school. Why did I insist on him coming here? Was it really just because of the high teaching standard here?

Or was it just because of my own vanity?

She had just reached the school gate and could already feel the stinging gazes from the surroundings: gazes of contempt, pity, and disgust… My Rui Rui is a village child, competitive and proud. How much grief will he suffer in this environment where he doesn’t fit in?

He Furong looked at her son beside her and wanted to open her mouth and say, Son, let’s not go here. It’s the same if we go to the high school in town.

With Jiang Rui’s grades, any teacher at the town high school would prioritize cultivating him as a key student. No one would look down on him because he was from the countryside, his parents were poorly dressed, or his appearance wasn’t flashy. Everyone would treat him with extra respect.

Her son was the top scorer in the city’s high school entrance exam. He should be highly regarded and have more dignity at school, not like this, where people first noticed the broken bicycle he was pushing and her, his mother, dressed like a village woman…

It shouldn’t be like this.

He Furong’s eyes blurred with tears. Warm liquid traced down her face. Watching the school gate grow closer, she screamed inwardly: Speak! Quickly speak! Take your son away from this place that doesn’t belong to them! Quickly speak!

“Mom, let’s go in together.”

Jiang Rui, already taller than his mother, reached out and carefully wiped the tears from her face, speaking in a gentle voice.

He Furong looked at the same smile on her son’s face as always, and those eyes, which seemed to see into the deepest parts of her heart. Her tears flowed even more profusely. Her son knew; he knew everything…

“Rui Rui…”

“Mom, let’s go in together,” Jiang Rui said again.

The sixteen-year-old boy held his mother’s hand tightly. As he looked toward the gate of Thirteenth High School, his expression was gentle, giving the false impression of sincere earnestness. However, upon closer inspection, one would notice that in the depths of those eyes—

They were pitch black and utterly empty.