Epiphanies of Rebirth Chapter 89 (Part 3)
Translated by Pure
Chapter 89.3 Extra [Sixteen years later-4]
The compound remained as tranquil as ever. In the midst of the increasingly clamorous Yan City, it stood as an oasis in a world dominated by steel and concrete. This place was enriched by the passage of time, and the older it became, the more comforting and inviting it appeared.
As soon as Lin Jingzhe's car entered the courtyard, a clear greeting echoed from above, "Uncle Lin!"
Subsequently, a small, plump figure catapulted down from the tree in Xiao Family's yard. Lin Jingzhe instinctively braced himself, a hint of alarm causing the hairs on his body to stand on end.
After gently placing the girl on the ground, Lin Jingzhe furrowed his brow, adopting an unusually serious demeanor. Just as he was about to utter a few words of caution, a carefree voice echoed from the house, "Zhuangzhuang (robust-robust), if you keep leaping off like that, be mindful—Uncle Lin might end up as flat as a pancake because of you!"
Lin Jingzhe raised his gaze to find Hu Shaofeng casually emerging from the house with hands tucked behind his back. Before Lin could offer a greeting, Fang Wenhao's discontented voice rang out, "Get lost! My Fang Qin has a proper name; I dare you to call her Zhuangzhuang again! Zhuang your uncle! Just because you were a scranny child doesn’t make her robust!"
"I wasn't skinny as a child, but I wasn't like your daughter. She’s just three, but weighs a kilogram more than an average seven-year-old toddler..." Hu Shaofeng barely exchanged pleasantries with Lin Jingzhe before turning around to engage in a verbal skirmish with the person from the house. Fang Wenhao noticed Lin Jingzhe standing outside with an exasperated expression. Seizing Hu Shaofeng's collar, he bellowed into the house at the top of his lungs, "He's back!"
After the announcement, Fang Wenhao pivoted back to Hu Shaofeng and exclaimed, "You piece of crap, I have to kill you today."
The little plump girl squatted in the yard, her eyes glued to the spectacle of her father clashing with their neighbor, Uncle Hu. With keen interest, she occasionally clapped her round hands and let out a stream of incomprehensible yet adorable exclamations. Her voice, high-pitched and sweet, resonated like an open jar of honey.
This charming chubby girl was Fang Wenhao's biological daughter. With her porcelain vase-like appearance—fair, round, and tough—she defies her age with a hearty appetite, easily downing three bowls of rice per meal. Despite her cherubic appearance, she possesses surprising strength, outpacing all the children in the compound in tree-climbing and wall-scaling feats.
Elders found great joy in the company of children like her. Lin Jingzhe shared this sentiment... he adored chubby children. Taking Zhuang—Qinqin in his arms, he gave her a kiss and inquired, "Where is your great-grandfather?"
Watching this unfold, Xiao Chi pursed his lips, harboring a strong dislike for children—especially the chubby ones!
Her robust, lotus-joint-like arms were raised as Fang Qin gleefully reached out to touch the face of her favorite Uncle Lin. Ignoring Uncle Xiao's cold gaze, she replied in her high-pitched voice, "Inside!"
As she spoke, Qi Kai emerged from the back seat of the car, eyeing the chubby girl in disbelief. "That— that—that..."
Before he could complete his question, a clamor erupted from the house. In the next moment, numerous elders squeezed their way out. Leading the group with a brazier in hand was Yu Shuyuan. When she locked eyes with Qi Kai, she paused for two seconds, then dispersed the children who had gathered for the spectacle. Placing the still-lit-brazier on the ground, she urged, "Quickly, quickly! Step over this brazier first[1]!"
The Xiao Family bustled with more life than ever before. Following Yu Shuyuan, nearly all the familiar elder faces emerged. Elder Fang, supported by a walking cane, stood at the doorway, observing quietly. The animated scene resembled a joyous occasion. Qi Kai found himself momentarily speechless as he beheld the figures preparing for the ceremony.
Swiftly regaining his composure, and without uttering another word, he moved forward and stepped over the blazing brazier.
Heat from the flames ascended from his feet, enveloping his entire form. A certain female senior approached, sprinkling grapefruit leaf water on his face, clasping her hands, and exclaiming, "Evil spirits be gone!"
Qi Kai sniffled, his nose tingling, and his throat constricted. Finally, he offered a wry smile. "In this day and age, why are you all still so superstitious?"
However, for the first time, he sensed the warmth and hospitality of the Xiao Family, the very people he had feared since childhood.
Immersed in the long-missed excitement, he turned to look at Elder Fang standing at the entrance.
Elder Fang had become exceedingly old. The years had curved the spine that had remained as straight as iron throughout his life, now necessitating the support of his younger kin when he stood. Despite this, his eyes retained their sharp and clear gaze, radiating a righteousness that evoked a sense of inferiority in Qi Kai. Stationed at the doorway, Elder Fang fixed his attention on the once incompetent brat who had now grown stronger and more mature. After a brief moment, he snorted coldly, thumping the ground with his cane. "What are you standing there for? Come in!"
The Xiao Family home retained its serene Buddhist ambiance. Upon entering, Lin Jingzhe spotted his smiling grandmother-in-law seated on the sofa. The elderly lady maintained her plump and fair appearance, her smile still carrying an air of authority. She pulled Qi Kai to sit beside her, ready to engage in conversation, leaving the latter so intimidated that he dared not to move.
"You, as long as you've repented. If you ever face a hail of bullets in the future, remember to emulate your grandfather when he was young—be cautious and careful."
"Oh, grandma." Despite the elderly lady's advancing age, she retained a childlike demeanor. Although she has lost most of her teeth, Grandma Xiao insisted on indulging in sweets. Occasionally, she would chatter nonsensically, as she was doing now. Lin Jingzhe quickly stepped forward to rescue the visibly stiff Qi Kai.
With a smile, he addressed the elderly lady, saying, "We're living in a different era now; there's no need to worry about hailstorms of bullets. How are your new dentures holding up? Can you show me?"
Grandma Xiao, momentarily distracted by thoughts of guns and artillery, eventually complied, revealing the neat, strong, and beautiful set of dentures that Lin Jingzhe had arranged for her through a skilled foreign dentist.
"Hmm, your teeth look very good. It seems that you have thoroughly brushed them every day." Grandma Xiao’s words had an ominous undertone. Lin Jingzhe gently held the old lady's face, preventing her from saying more. He then turned his head towards Qi Kai, silently expressing his apology for her words.
Qi Kai's gaze lingered on the old lady, his eyes reflecting a mixture of emotions. When he noticed Lin Jingzhe's gaze, he snapped back to reality and silently shook his head.
The old lady on the sofa slowly spoke to her grandson-in-law, "Jingzhe, lately... my mouth has been lingering with a bitter taste..."
"Ah, what should we do?" Lin Jingzhe, brought back into the moment, couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this. He began to playfully coax the 'child.'
Grandma Xiao subtly expressed her cravings while holding his hand, "This lingering bitterness is affecting my appetite. It would be wonderful if there was something to add a little sweetness..."
Qi Kai calmly turned around, making his way to the dining room amidst Lin Jingzhe's amused laughter. On his route, he encountered Xiao Chi's icy stare, hesitating momentarily before being gently guided away by the attentive elders.
"Quick, have a bite of some pig trotters in noodle soup. It's a Hong Kong tradition; they say it can dispel bad luck——"
A substantial soup bowl, filled with starchy noodles and hefty portions of pig trotters, was pressed into his palm. Although these were not his preferred delicacies, Qi Kai refrained from expressing any aversion. Instead, he bowed his head and savored a mouthful of the broth, his face adorned with a genuinely content smile, "Delicious!"
"Your satisfaction is all that matters." Yu Shuyuan observed this remarkable shift in demeanor by this junior and couldn't help but draw comparisons to her son and son-in-law (Jingzhe), both of the same age. She felt a pang of regret for his unexpected turn of events and even somewhat desolate; though in the end, the mix of complicated emotions that manifested in a resigned sigh.
After successfully consoling the elderly lady, Lin Jingzhe finally rewarded her with a piece of milk candy. The old lady, visibly pleased, shuffled towards the Buddhist Hall, expressing her desire to light some incense for Bodhisattva.
The ritual of dispelling bad luck at the dining table continued, with Lin Jingzhe silently observing the proceedings from the sofa. Glancing at the clock, he noted it wasn't yet time for his sisters to return home.
With idle time on his hands, Lin Jingzhe retrieved his mobile phone and logged into his Immortal blog account. He shared the sunny photo that Xiao Chi had taken to his personal account——
Lin Jingzhe: {Reunited with an old friend; my mood is as bright as today's sunshine.}
Upon sharing the photo, Lin Jingzhe's account was inundated with numerous fans. Die-hard supporters showered him with declarations of love and compliments on his appearance. Among the interactions, someone pointed out a noteworthy difference:
—Mr. Lin’s FanGirl Support Team: {lololololol This photo of Mr. Lin is not blurry for once. What a rare treat!}
This comment swiftly rose to the top, and Lin Jingzhe, in high spirits, responded:
—Lin Jingzhe: {Photographer: @XiaoChi}
Everyone: "…………………………"
Acknowledged! Acknowledged! Acknowledged! To flaunt it so openly, they had no choice but to acknowledge it!
Fans struggled to contain their emotions. They wanted to protest, but how could they when their idol was so fond of showcasing his marital bliss? Their comments were reluctantly filled with forced smiles:
—{Then...thank you 192. I hope to see many more of his masterpieces in the future…}
—{Honestly, if there’s someone who can keep our Mr. Lin away from the camera in the future, that might not be a bad thing…}
Lin Jingzhe casually brushed off the last comment and stood up feeling refreshed. Yu Shuyuan had generously filled Qi Kai's stomach with over a quarter kilogram of pig trotters noodle soup, leaving him slumped and bleary-eyed. Satisfied, she finally started calling everyone to come and eat.
As Lin Jingzhe settled down to eat, he noticed someone was missing. Turning to Yu Shuyuan, he said, "Grandma probably didn't hear. I'll go call her."
Quickly walking to the Buddhist Hall, he lifted the curtain and was surprised to find it empty. He looked but still couldn't find a sign of her. He had seen the old lady tremble her way toward this direction; how could she suddenly vanish?
Raising his voice, he called out, "Grandma?"
The altar table under the Buddha statue suddenly made a clanging sound, startling him so much that he almost jumped up on the spot.
Lin Jingzhe eyed the rustling table warily. It shook slightly, and he frowned, about to step forward to investigate. That's when he saw a figure slipping out from under the table.
Lin Jingzhe: "……………………"
The old lady stood up swiftly from her crawling position, her steps now light and fast, nothing like the weak pace she had when she entered the hall.
Their eyes met, and the old lady quickly and alertly glanced around the Buddhist Hall. When she saw that only Lin Jingzhe was there, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Lin Jingzhe's expression gradually hardened. "Grandma?"
Grandma Xiao's lips moved as she uttered slowly, "It's time to eat, right? I'll be there right away..."
Ignoring her, Lin Jingzhe strode toward the altar table. The old lady, realizing the situation, hurriedly stepped forward to intervene.
Despite her efforts, she couldn't halt him in time. In the next moment, Lin Jingzhe lifted the thick tablecloth covering the altar table. His eyes suddenly sharpened as he extracted two small bamboo baskets from within. "What's going on?"
These bamboo baskets, size akin to washbasins, were brimmed with an assortment of fine fruit candies, milk candies, and both opened and unopened chocolate boxes. Judging by the usual allowance of sweets granted to the old lady by the Xiao Family, it was glaringly evident that she had been accumulating this stash for quite some time.
Grandma Xiao, overcome with sadness during the unexpected and stern questioning from her usually gentle grandson-in-law, harbored deep regrets. If only she had indulged in the candy right away instead of storing it in her small treasury.
Or perhaps she shouldn't have lingered so long, admiring the beauty of her private hoard just moments ago. Now that everything had come to light, she was subjected to an interrogation.
Bodhisattva, why did you not warn me in advance!?
No more incense for you today! Grandma Xiao drooped her eyebrows pitifully, nursing bitter thoughts in her heart.
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Footnote:
[1] Stepping over a brazier (跨火盆) - the practice of walking over burning coals is said to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.
