Chapter 33: Shenhao System (32)

【Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully completing the tasks of this plane and achieving the lifetime achievement of "Harmony Ambassador"! The next task plane is pending activation, and reward points are being calculated...】

Before she knew it, thirty years had passed since Xie Yang arrived in this world.

Over these thirty years, the money she kept for her own expenses never exceeded five million, and the vast majority of her earnings were either donated to give back to society or simply handed over to the state.

In addition to periodically donating money, goods, and various advanced technologies purchased from abroad or rewarded by the System to the state, she also transformed the once poor and backward Xiaoling County into the nation's wealthiest, the world's most beautiful, and the most advanced cultural and tourism county in terms of medical care and security.

The real estate—such as tea plantations, orchards, farms, old cloth shops, Chinese restaurants, and auto repair shops—that she had originally contracted or bought as a second classroom for technical school students and to alleviate employment pressure for graduates, had, after thirty years of development and expansion, become the golden signboard of Xiaoling County, ranking among the top revenue-generating enterprises in the country and even the world.

As for this "Harmony Ambassador" achievement award bestowed upon her by the Main System, Xie Yang felt she was worthy of it.

But is there really no practical reward, just honor?

Main System: 【Isn't honor enough? Besides, even if I gave you material rewards, you wouldn't be able to take them with you.】

Xie Yang: "..."

Fine, then give me some time; I want to go take one last look at my original "newbie village."

The places in this plane that she called her "newbie village" totaled only two:

First, the former site of Wanhua Residential Quarter in Nancheng;

Second, the Xie Family stronghold—Xiaoling County.

Wanhua Residential Quarter once brought her over three billion in demolition compensation. After thirty years of development and change, it had become one of the premier districts in Nancheng—the tallest landmark buildings, the top Medical Center, the most cutting-edge technology companies, and the most luxurious river-view mansions were all located here.

Xie Yang wore a well-fitted, modified cheongsam, a delicate, hand-embroidered handbag draped over her arm, and her hair was cut into a slightly curled, ear-length bob. On the bridge of her nose sat a pair of smart sunglasses produced by her own technology company, integrating navigation, photography, defense, one-touch emergency calling, and many other functions.

This time, she brought no bodyguards, and she walked with a light, elegant gait, circling the former site of Wanhua Residential Quarter.

With her fair, lustrous skin and thick, black hair, if she didn't reveal her age, no one would be able to tell that this was a little old lady who had already passed fifty.

"Hey, miss! Only residents are allowed in here."

A young security guard dutifully stopped this unfamiliar face.

Xie Yang nodded with a smile, but as she turned to leave, she was called out by an exclamation: "You... are you Xie Yang?"

Across the street, an elderly woman with silver strands mixed into her temples, weariness between her brows, and a slightly plump figure was pushing a stroller. She looked left and right, and after confirming it was safe, she walked over quickly.

"You are Xie Yang, right? For so many years, other than seeing you on Television and online, this is the first time I've met you in person. You don't seem to have changed much, unlike me... You haven't recognized me, have you? I'm Bai Xuanxuan! Back when Wanhua Residential Quarter hadn't been demolished yet, we were neighbors upstairs and downstairs for a few years."

Xie Yang: "..."

It was actually Bai Xuanxuan!!!

Looking at the woman before her, whose figure had lost its shape and whose complexion was haggard, Xie Yang found it truly difficult to connect her with the "child of someone else" from her memories—the one who often wore a long white dress, had flowing hair, a smile at the corners of her mouth, and was held up as a role model by so many parents.

"This... is this your granddaughter or your daughter's daughter? How cute!"

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Xie Yang bent down to tease the little girl in the stroller who was holding a doll.

"Oh, she's my youngest daughter."

Bai Xuanxuan smiled awkwardly and self-consciously smoothed back her bangs, where her hairline had receded.

"I didn't expect to be able to conceive again at this age. But my eldest and second child got into universities in other cities and stayed there to work after graduation, and my third child goes to a boarding school and doesn't come home often. Having Xiaobao makes me feel less lonely now that I'm retired."

"..."

"You had four kids?"

Xie Yang didn't know whether to be shocked or impressed.

"My husband loves children."

A girlish, sweet smile appeared on Bai Xuanxuan's face, which was covered in crow's feet, making one feel that she and her husband must have a very good relationship.

"By the way, why did I hear on the news that you never got married? What are you thinking? How can a woman not get married? Don't you feel lonely? It's not that I'm lecturing you, but a woman's ultimate destination has to be a family. Otherwise, no matter how much money you have, what's the point of returning to a cold, empty house!"

"..."

Bai Xuanxuan seemed to have a lot of energy for chatting, pushing the stroller and following Xie Yang, talking as they walked.

Until her husband called—

"Where are you? It's this late and you're still not home to cook? Do you want to starve me to death?" The man's tone was extremely impatient.

Perhaps because the speaker was on, being scolded by her husband in front of Xie Yang made Bai Xuanxuan feel she had lost face.

She raised her voice and retorted: "I'm the one who cooks every day, what have you done? You say you're writing, but in reality, aren't you just holding your phone, scrolling through videos and reading novels? Tell me, how many words did you write all morning?"

"Bai Xuanxuan, are you trying to start a fight?"

"Didn't you start it?"

"Fine, if you're so capable, don't come back!"

"Oh, great! You tell me not to come back just because we argued a few times? You better be honest, is there someone else out there?" Bai Xuanxuan shrilly questioned, refusing to let it go.

"You were the one who wanted to have Xiaobao in the first place, and after she was born, you dumped her on me to raise alone. I'm a human, not a machine, I get tired too!"

"..."

Looking at the woman with messy hair and eyes reddened by grievance, Xie Yang, that wicked person, really wanted to interject and ask: Sister, is this the "woman's ultimate destination" and "warm family full of the smoke and fire of life" you were just bragging about a few seconds ago?

But in the end, she said nothing and quietly slipped away.

She had lived a free and easy life, unmarried and childless, but it wasn't intentional; she simply hadn't met anyone who made her heart flutter.

There were many excellent men around her, but she always felt something was missing when it came to falling in love.

Plus, the Shenhao System seemed unable to stand seeing her idle, issuing her tasks and rewards every few days. She was too busy traveling the world to complete tasks and collect rewards to have time to indulge in romance.

Fortunately, her Xie Shuling never pressured her in this regard, unlike other parents who would say "I don't care if you marry or not" while secretly longing for it—hoping their children would marry and hoping to hold grandchildren soon, often making pointed, indirect remarks to urge marriage.

Her Xie Shuling truly respected her wishes; it seemed that as long as she lived healthily and without pain, the old lady was satisfied.

What Xie Yang didn't know was that Xie Shuling had once had a dream, a dream where her daughter committed suicide by slitting her wrists in the rented room at Wanhua Residential Quarter and couldn't be saved.

In the dream, she had cried her heart out.

After waking up, feeling the pillowcase soaked with tears, Xie Shuling vowed that as long as her daughter lived safely and healthily, she would be satisfied.

As long as she didn't break the law, her daughter could do whatever she wanted.

If she didn't want to marry, then she wouldn't marry.

In this world, there are so many married couples who become bitter enemies; marriage is not necessarily always happy.

As long as the daughter herself feels happy, what difference does it make whether she is single or married?