Epiphanies of Rebirth Chapter 87 (Part 1)
Translated by Pure
Chapter 87.1 Extra [Sixteen years later II]
Lin Jingzhe and Xiao Chi entered Zhou Family's house at 7:30 in the evening.
Lin Jingzhe looked somewhat embarrassed as he explained, "The company contacted us during the afternoon..."
The sky had already turned dark, with a crescent moon hanging in the sky. The night wind blew in from the open window as the sound of the TV program echoed in the Zhou Family's living room. Zhou Haitang had a smirk on his face, Gao Sheng stared at the high-collared shirt his childhood friend was wearing in silence, while Deng Mai wordlessly stood up and closed the window.
"...You stinky brat." Mother Zhou laughed helplessly and accepted the gift he brought, pretending that she was unaware. "I've saved all the food for you, stinky brat. Telling me that you’re visiting in the morning. I specifically went to the vegetable market to buy a whole duck for you. It’s been cooking for almost ten hours now; the bones are probably melted by now— Hmm, what did you buy? Randomly spending money again!"
She opened the bag to find a velvet box. After opening it, inside was a ruby gemstone necklace. The gemstone looked high in quality and exquisitely cut, something obviously worth a lot of money.
Lin Jingzhe had grown more and more experienced in dealing with women. Seeing her shining eyes, Lin Jingzhe smiled and took the necklace out of the box. He gathered her wavy hair in his hand and asked her to hold it, and then went around behind her to put the necklace on for her.
"Do you like it?"
Mother Zhou glanced at the mirror in the entrance hall, glared at him angrily, and happily touched the necklace as she walked towards the living room.
Lin Jingzhe then walked up to Hu Yu, who had been standing nearby smiling at him, and gave her a hug. He also took the opportunity to put on a pair of ruby earrings on her. "Great Professor Hu, long time no see~"
As Hu Yu aged, her posture had grown increasingly slimmer. When Lin Jingzhe hugged her, he had to bend his body a little further than compared to a decade or so ago. However, the years had not eroded her scholarly countenance. She patted Lin Jingzhe's back gently and softly censured, "Mischievous child."
After Hu Yu passed the postgraduate entrance examination in 1992, she was directly accepted by the old professor who tutored her before the examination, and became his oldest and last disciple. At nearly fifty years old, she was considered ‘elderly’ among her fellow competitors and could be said to be very lucky to have been given this opportunity.
Normally it would be difficult for someone at her age to find a job after graduation, but fortunately, although Hu Yu was not young, she was very serious about her academic studies. She published several well-regarded papers during her graduate studies, so she was directly recommended by her teachers after graduation to stay at the university to teach. She first started as a lecturer, and was promoted to associate professor in 2002. During that time, she began to participate in several research projects under her teacher's name. Later, due to some of the projects being so well received, as well as her outstanding teaching quality and positive student evaluations, she was formally promoted to professor before her retirement.
After retiring, her family suggested that she stay at home to rest. However, after staying at home for several months, while eating well and living leisurely, her energy inturn became increasingly depleted. After Gao Sheng finally relented and agreed to her return to university, she immediately reinvigorated. During that time Mother Zhou laughed and teased Hu Yu, saying that she was probably born with an innate duty of educating others. From then on, the rest of the family members maintained this as an inside joke and began to address her as ‘Great Professor Hu’.
Hu Yu patted him and Xiao Chi and asked them to play amongst themselves, and then went into the study to revise her lesson plan while still feeling her new earrings. The Zhou Family had a dedicated study for students. It was originally created for Gao Sheng and Zhou Haitang when they needed to review for exams. Unexpectedly, after the two boys graduated, they avoided that room like a plague, thus it became Hu Yu's territory.
It was worth mentioning that the Gao Family finally bought a house in Zhou Haitang's community a few years back. What is even more coincidental is that their house is situated directly above the Zhou Family's residence, which can be seen as the realization of a long-standing desire shared by both mothers. Seizing the opportunity, the two families decided to demolish the ceiling and truly commence cohabitation. They developed a close bond, and it became customary for them to share a spacious common area. Furthermore, with the departure of Gao Sheng and Zhou Haitang, the elders no longer felt as lonely.
Mother Zhou loved this new necklace so much that she couldn’t bear to take it off even after a long period of admiration in the mirror. Thus she paired it with a new dress and happily went into the kitchen to cook for her stinky brats.
Lin Jingzhe leaned against the kitchen door and complimented her, "How beautiful!"
Mother Zhou glanced at him from her peripherals. She looked as if rebuking him, but in fact she ate it right up; if she had a tail it would be wagging in the air.
"Oh, drop the praises, you’re just fueling her ego! She’s already at this age, but still refuses to acknowledge it! Lately, she has been causing quite a commotion, insisting on visiting the hospital for that... what do they call it... a facelift! I don’t understand those kinds of things, but you kids know! Please help me advise her!" Father Zhou, seated in the living room, harbored a multitude of grievances, which he vented with great fervor. Ever since his wife had attained professional success, Lin Jingzhe had become the sole individual in the household capable of reining her in.
It's worth mentioning that Mother Zhou demonstrated commendable perseverance. As Haitang Non-staple Food Incorporated expanded, Mother Zhou found herself at the helm of numerous events and conferences, day in and day out. However, as she approached her fiftieth birthday, she began to feel a lack of endurance. It was then that she discovered the wonders of fitness. Regular exercise not only kept her body in shape but also maintained the luster of her hair and the slenderness of her figure, even to this day.
However, as she delved deeper into the world of beauty, Mother Zhou began to indulge in frivolous desires. One day, she would express a desire for a nose augmentation, and the next, she would lament the shallowness of her double eyelids. According to Father Zhou, it seemed that she was now considering a facelift.
"No one asked for your opinion!" exclaimed Mother Zhou as she angrily banged the pot.
"Go ahead, I support you. Auntie, I will support you in whatever you do." The moment Lin Jingzhe interjected, Father Zhou widened his eyes in surprise and jumped up from the couch.
Mother Zhou was momentarily taken aback, but soon a smile graced her lips. She reached out and gently pinched Lin Jingzhe's face, admiring his flawless complexion that remained unblemished even in his thirties. "Good child."
A reward was sure to follow the praise. The electric pressure cooker let out a final hiss, and the room fell into a serene hush. With a deft hand, Mother Zhou lifted the lid of the pot, delicately scooped out the aromatic rice with a rice paddle, and served two bowls for the two children.
This steamed rice was far from ordinary; it was a culinary masterpiece starring diced potato and shredded ham. The ham, carefully selected with an even distribution of fat and lean meat, was first sizzled to perfection over high heat, rendering its delectable fat, before the potatoes joined the party. Together, they were poured into the pressure cooker, mingling with the uncooked rice grains, ready to be transformed into something extraordinary. The rice was no longer just a simple grain; it was now dressed up for a grand dance. The tantalizing aroma of the ham and potatoes enveloped the rice, creating an intoxicating symphony of flavors. Each bite was a harmonious blend of textures and tastes, a true delight for the senses.
After enduring a long and arduous physical labor, the long since famished Lin Jingzhe consumed a bowl in a matter of moments.
"Allow me to locate a suitable hospital for you." Lin Jingzhe stated, dabbing at his lips before continuing, "Whilst cosmetic surgery is not without its merits, the selection of a suitable medical facility and skilled practitioners must not be taken lightly. After all, it is a procedure that necessitates the use of a scalpel. They’ll need to make a slice here, and make a cut here and here."
With a deliberate slowness, he extended his finger and grazed it across Mother Zhou's forehead and behind her ears. His speech was measured and unhurried, as if he were discussing the art of slicing pork. As his icy fingers glided over her flesh, the muscles in Mother Zhou's back tensed involuntarily.
She lowered the heat and turned to face him, her voice hesitant as she asked, "...Do they truly need to make so many cuts?"
"Yes." Lin Jingzhe appeared oblivious to her timidity as he spoke, his words laced with a sincere thoughtfulness. "It is best if you make a decision soon. The recent weather has been rather pleasant, but should the temperature soar, the wound may succumb to inflammation. And once inflammation takes hold, the ensuing complications shall prove exceedingly burdensome."
Mother Zhou: "………………"
"I remember there is a hospital in Yan City that can perform facelift surgery. I will contact them tomorrow for you. If all goes according to plan, it would be wise for you to swiftly attend to the company's affairs. However, I must warn you, once the surgical anesthesia fades away, the pain can be quite unbearable. Imagine lying in bed, unable to savor even a morsel of food. Recovery will call for at least a month's worth of rest and recuperation…"
As Lin Jingzhe reached for his phone, seemingly eager to schedule her surgery, Mother Zhou's heart skipped a beat. A wave of fear washed over her, making her feel nauseous. Without a moment's hesitation, she darted forward and grabbed his arm, desperately trying to halt his actions. "The—There’s no need to rush! Recently, that uh– a new product release, yeah, there’s a new product that’s just been launched, where do I have the time for this? How about we discuss this another time?"
Lin Jingzhe wanted to say something else, but Mother Zhou interrupted him directly, "G–G–Get out! I’m cooking here, don't make trouble for me."
Xiao Chi glanced at Lin Jingzhe, who had a mischievous smile on his face. He tossed the dirty tissue into Xiao Chi's arms and confidently strutted towards the living room, where the rest of the family cheered him on.
Xiao Chi clenched the tissue in his hand and looked at Lin Jingzhe’s back with abyss-black eyes. He just wanted to drag him into a room and press him on the bed to teach him a lesson.
But in the end, he took a deep breath, removed his coat, rolled up his sleeves, and walked into the kitchens. "Allow me to help."
Mother Zhou let out a sigh of relief, accustomed to Xiao Chi's willingness to lend a hand. She gave him the spatula and directed him on how to adjust the heat.
