Epiphanies of Rebirth Chapter 96 (Part 2)
Yep, this part is where our MC’s biological mother makes her appearance.
Translated by Pure
Chapter 96.2 Extra [Jiang Qiaqia]
Jiang Run switched off his phone in despair, his mind still reeling from the revelations of his blind date. The bride adorned herself in a million-dollar wedding dress at what was hailed as the wedding of the century.
Details unfolded about the thousands of pearls and rhinestones adorning the skirt's hem, the wedding favors featuring Hero's latest and most expensive mobile phone, and the bride's bouquet meticulously crafted by a renowned flower arrangement artist. The blind date delved into the surprising price of the bouquet, the origin country of every foreign rose at the venue, and the fleet of luxury cars illuminating the entire hotel parking lot, eagerly captured by the media's lenses. She had estimated the wedding cost through all the details she had collected, which had soared to an incredible figure of at least 100 million. While the blind date spoke with envy and longing, Jiang Run remained on edge throughout the entire conversation.
Another unproductive blind date left Jiang Run devoid of any interest in engaging with games upon returning home. Compelled by curiosity, he retrieved his cell phone to delve into the news, only to be disheartened by the content.
It seemed like a fairy tale, reminiscent of the weddings between princes and princesses.
As Lin Jingzhe's eye-catching lifestyle unfolded on the screen—luxury cars, opulent residences, money flowing like water—a stark contrast with Jiang Run's own world became palpable. The disparity between their two realities was more evident than ever.
Jiang Run couldn't shake off memories of his arrogant childhood demeanor, a source of enduring shame. The presence of Lin Jingzhe lingered relentlessly, casting a shadow even at the recent 1990s graduating class reunion of Liyun No.1 High School, where discussions revolved around this stark contrast from start to finish.
Due to safety concerns, Lin Jingzhe was absent, but Deng Mai returned, conveying his sentiments. He promptly directed private funds towards constructing another building for the school. Lin Jingzhe also orchestrated a gathering for Class 5 students, extending invitations for everyone to enjoy a paid trip to Yan City.
The school leaders, elated by the presence of such a capable and renowned alum, were practically beaming with joy. Lin Jingzhe's influence extended to the school's official website, where the information column brimmed with mentions of him. The upcoming teaching building was set to bear Lin Jingzhe's name, seemingly driven by a desire to ensure their flattery reached its maximum volume.
The spotlight that originally belonged to Class 1, the top-performing class, was entirely hijacked by Class 5, yet everyone seemed to accept this as the norm. Deng Mai, who had followed Lin Jingzhe out of Liyun Town and now enjoyed success, became the subject of countless envious glances.
While the students in Class 1 bemoaned Deng Mai's seemingly charmed life, they didn't hold back their resentment toward their former class teacher, Li Yurong. In their view, if Li Yurong hadn't compelled Lin Jingzhe to change classes, perhaps one of them would have been the fortunate one ascending to new heights instead of Deng Mai.
Amidst the fervor, everyone conveniently overlooked their silence when Lin Jingzhe was compelled to change classes. Instead, they resurrected the fleeting conversations from occasional reviews more than a decade ago, buried deep in their memories, as evidence of their initial connections. In the midst of this craze, Jiang Run found himself becoming the subject of mockery. While he may not have been in as stable a financial state as most of his classmates currently, when it came to relationships, he held the unique position of being Lin Jingzhe's biological first-cousin.
Nevertheless, the historical grievances between these cousins were common knowledge. Jiang Run's initial strategy of creating a clique to isolate Lin Jingzhe now appears inexplicably juvenile. The one-time victor has been thoroughly vanquished, emerging as a complete loser a decade later. This stands as the most apt illustration of the concept that ‘life is impermanent.’
Jiang Run fled amidst a sea of insincere expressions of regret and concern, and even now, he grappled with a lingering sense of profound loss.
Upon discovering that his son's blind date had ended up in another failure, an incensed Jiang Xiaoyun vented her frustration through tumultuous cooking at home, creating a cacophony of clattering pots and bowls, all the while casting indirect accusations into the air.
Jiang Run and his father sat shoulder to shoulder, absorbed in the TV news that abruptly disrupted the coverage of the recent wedding. A weighty silence hung between the father and son.
After a prolonged pause, Liu De let out a sigh.
"I wonder how your aunt is faring now—"
*******
In a distant country, snowflakes delicately descended from the sky.
A compact mobility scooter navigated through the falling snow, coming to a stop in the parking lot of an Asian supermarket. Stepping out of the driver's seat was a slender woman, not young, and dressed in slightly outdated attire. With weathered hands, she extracted a sizable shopping bag from the trunk, hoisting it onto her shoulder. Undeterred by the biting wind and swirling snow, she had driven for almost an hour to reach this destination. Although this Asian supermarket was situated in a remote location, its offerings were notably more affordable than those of most other Asian supermarkets.
"Beef, broccoli, tomatoes, wheat flour..."
She held up a piece of paper inscribed with English text, reading it slowly while meticulously verifying the price tags. It took a considerable amount of time before she successfully gathered all the items on her pre-planned list. Her cart was now brimming with the purchases.
Oh! Milk is on sale!
Her eyes immediately lit up at the crowded group of housewives in the fridge in the distance. A burst of strength came from her thin body as she squeezed into a group of bulky housewives with extraordinary fighting ability and grabbed two bottles of whole milk priced at $1.50 a gallon.
Her arm strength surprisingly proved robust, likely a testament to the resilience she cultivated while establishing herself upon first arriving here. During that period, she toiled in a textile factory, working tirelessly day and night. All heavy loads fell upon the human frame, and her hands, accustomed to a life of pampering without ever having done laundry or housework, endured early torture and deformation. Paradoxically, this adversity rendered her body stronger than ever, and she rarely fell ill.
After securing the milk, she headed towards the checkout. A moment of hesitation occurred near the book counter, where she eventually picked up a children's fairy tale book and examined the price.
Ten dollars.
So expensive.
She retrieved her wallet, unfolded it, and meticulously counted the money her family had allocated for groceries and gas. After a prolonged moment of contemplation, she clenched her teeth and placed the book into her shopping cart.
Outside, darkness had descended, and the snowfall showed no signs of abating. A tall, robust black woman exited the supermarket, voicing her discontent with rough cusses at the inclement weather. A young man, presumably her son, stood by her side, opening an umbrella and offering comfort as he took the weighty bag, aiding her in carrying it.
Jiang Qiaqia observed the two figures gradually disappearing in the distance. She was momentarily lost in thought, then composed herself and headed towards the mobility scooter. The laden shopping bags weighed down on her shoulders like sandbags, causing them to droop. She clenched her teeth, mentally counting each step to steady herself, managing to reach and open the trunk without succumbing to the burden.
Once inside the vehicle, she opened the thermos cup and savored a sip of hot water, finally bringing a modicum of warmth to her hands and feet. The inhabitants of this challenging locale had grown accustomed to consuming cold tap water. While a cup of hot coffee in the supermarket setted one back two dollars. Jiang Qiaqia's body temperature tended to be on the lower side, a trait seemingly inherited from her mother. Back in China, having access to hot water at any time felt entirely unremarkable. However, after enduring a few freezing winters in her new surroundings, she quickly learned to appreciate its value.
The snow outside the window intensified, swirling and growing larger. Merchants and residents along the road had started adorning their shops and houses with Christmas wreaths. Upon departing the bustling neighborhood, the surroundings swiftly transitioned into quietude. Save for sporadic oncoming traffic, scarcely a soul roamed the streets. This place appeared even more secluded and serene than Liyun Town.
Security in the slums was notably more disorderly than in the city. Lately, there had been recurrent instances of inebriated homeless individuals hurling stones at passing cars, prompting Jiang Qiaqia to navigate with heightened vigilance. Fortunately, she had managed to reach home without incident.
Upon opening the door, heavy bags in hand, a dog's bark greeted her, and the warmth from the heater enveloped her face. Swiftly closing the door behind her, she set down the grocery bags and affectionately patted the head of the large dog that had come bounding toward her.
"Quiet down, Milk!" The hostess, in the midst of cooking, caught wind of the noise and beamed upon seeing her. "Qia, you're back. How was your trip?"
"It was fine, except for the chilly weather. Looks like we'll have continuous snow for the next few days." Jiang Qiaqia stowed the discounted milk she'd picked up into a refrigerator drawer, casting a brief glance at the scenery outside the window. However, she wasn't in the mood to appreciate it. "After this snow, the price of broccoli is most likely going to shoot up again."
The hostess offered a comforting pat on her shoulder, advising, "Don't venture too far for groceries in the future. Your health isn't at its best, and, besides, if anyone discovers..."
She left her sentence hanging, yet both women understood the unspoken implications. An awkward silence enveloped the room, with neither daring to verbalize what was left unsaid.
The silence was broken by a sweet voice from outside the kitchen, "Mommy! Grandma!"
A little girl, with a golden complexion and approximately ten years old, fluttered in like a butterfly.
Upon seeing her, Jiang Qiaqia's weathered face lit up with affection. She knelt down, opening her arms to embrace the girl, showering her with multiple kisses on her face. With a flourish, she presented the expensive storybook she had cradled in her arms, waving it in front of the child's eyes. "Tada, look what I have here?!"
The girl squealed in delight, leaving the hostess with a resigned smile. "Qia, you're spending your own money on things for Anna again."
Jiang Qiaqia gently touched the girl's soft head, and an endless sense of helplessness slowly surfaced amidst the countless wrinkles on her face. "Now that I have this illness, I don't know how many years I have left. At this age, I don't have any relatives around me... Anna has been under my care since she was a child, and she's like my own granddaughter. If I don't spend money on her, who else can I spend money on?"
In the eyes of the hostess, there was profound sympathy for this elderly woman who had looked after her family for nearly ten years.
When she first encountered Jiang Qiaqia, it was also winter, but in a different city's Chinatown. Jiang Qiaqia had suffered burns from hot oil and discreetly emerged from the kitchen in search of medicine.
At that time, she had recently undergone a breakup, finding herself sitting in the snow in tears while pregnant. Jiang Qiaqia carefully inched closer and offered a thermos cup, asking in fluent Chinese if she needed hot water.
Hot water wasn't what she needed; she required employment and someone who could look after her family while she worked. However, labor in this country was prohibitively expensive. Given her financial constraints, hiring a regular nanny was beyond her means.
However, Jiang Qiaqia was insistent on coming with her, expressing that as long as she ceased the strenuous daily labor, it would suffice even if she provided only a mouthful of food.
She was unaware of the other person's origin, only knowing that the woman seemed to have clandestinely crossed the country's coast and was duped by a human smuggler into working in an underground factory. Due to substantial debts in China, she hesitated to seek assistance from the embassy after falling victim to deception. When the chance to leave presented itself, she seized it.