Chapter 3

Relying on his humor and the difficult conditions in the ward where there wasn't even a seat, Zhai Da barely managed to fool the homeroom teacher and a group of classmates.

When homeroom teacher Ding Rong left, she conveyed the school's concern: rest well tomorrow, and come back to school the day after tomorrow.

And she emphasized again that the college entrance exam is not the only way out. If Zhai Da repeats a year at this school, he can get a 20% discount. If he goes to work, her husband is in the electronics factory.

The second mock exam level won't be much different from the college entrance exam, and the third year of high school is already high-pressure. There have been cases of strings snapping in previous years. Just in the ten years she has been working, Dongyang County has had three people "fly kites."

In her view, Zhai Da fainting was because of pressure, but only Zhai Da knew that he was probably suffering from some aftereffects of rebirth, which caused a blunder.

If he had had the ambition of "being angry and anxious because of study" before, why would he have gone to a shitty junior college?

It was just that white moonlight Lin Shuyao looked unhappy when she left. If it weren't for the fact that rejecting Zhai Da in public could save face, why would she bother to come to the hospital to visit him right after the exam?

What for? For Zhai Da's repeat-year discount coupon?

As a result, the thing that was supposed to save face made her lose face instead. That Ayase Haruka, she wouldn't believe a word of it. Zhai Da was obviously being stubborn for the sake of face.

He just likes me! He just can't let go of his face!

The ward finally returned to quiet again. Zhai Da pulled the curtain and changed back into his own clothes.

After being slightly silent for a moment, Zhai Da took a deep breath.

Very deep, very deep... until his lungs hurt a little, then he exhaled slowly.

Then he made the brightest, most reassuring smile, pulled open the curtain, and gave it to his mother.

"Mom! Look, I'm doing great! Stop shedding tears!"

Yu Xiaoli wiped the corners of her eyes, laughing and crying: "Not shedding anymore, not shedding anymore... people who shed tears have no luck!"

This proverb, from who knows where, his mother had recited all her life. On the eve of her passing in her previous life, Yu Xiaoli in the hospital bed had comforted Zhai Da the same way.

Even though this middle-aged, slightly plump woman in front of him had been reduced to less than 80 pounds due to chemotherapy in the final stage of her life...

So the corners of Zhai Da's eyes became a bit moist instead.

At the hospital entrance, Yu Xiaoli pushed out a 28-inch bicycle from the shed. It was rusty, but very sturdy.

Actually, in 2008, there were already many electric scooters in the small county, but his mother was always reluctant, because one cost more than 2,000 yuan, and she often heard about whose electric scooter had been stolen.

So the 28-inch bicycle passed down by his grandfather became the only means of transportation for the mother and son.

Zhai Da's school was only one kilometer away, while Yu Xiaoli's unit was eight kilometers from home, so Yu Xiaoli usually rode it.

When he was very young, Yu Xiaoli used this bicycle to carry Zhai Da around the county, leaving him with friends for half a day here, and half a day there, so she could free up her hands to work in the factory.

And this old object actually became the second 【Equipment】 Zhai Da encountered.

When he saw his mother pushing the bicycle over, strange text actually appeared before his eyes. On his retina, a broken line started from the handlebar and connected to a rather high-tech text box, as if it were a game overlapping with reality.

"Discovered white special item, 【Sturdy Permanent 28-inch Bicycle】: This old bicycle, which has carried three generations, has never had even a single accident."

"Ownership status: Not owned, not activated."

"Effect: 1. Main body sturdiness +20%, 2. Riding safety +20%."

"Not yet activated, requires the host to obtain ownership."

"Note: Its crossbar is as hard as the spine of its original owner."

Zhai Da was stunned. This was really... unexpected yet reasonable.

A bicycle that has carried three generations...

Zhai Da took the initiative to take over the bicycle, pushed it forward, and said: "Mom, can you give me this bicycle?"

Yu Xiaoli was a bit confused: "What give or not give? Isn't it all family stuff? Are you going to sell it?"

"How much can selling it fetch? And this was left by Grandpa. Can this bike be mine from now on?"

"Then how do I go to work?"

"Consider it me lending it to you, no time limit."

Yu Xiaoli chuckled, always feeling that after her son woke up...

He became humorous!

Maybe Zhai Da himself didn't realize that the soul of an exhausted adult, just returned to a teenage body, generally wouldn't be so jumpy; there should be some disconnection and maladjustment.

But he seemed to adapt very well.

【Clown's Love Letter】 actually had a significant impact.

Of course, even if he knew, he wouldn't care.

If I'm reborn and don't act wild? Didn't I waste my rebirth?

"Fine, fine, fine, this bike is yours from now on, Mom riding it will count as borrowing!"

It was simple between mother and son. With Yu Xiaoli's words, the description of the bicycle on the interface had already changed.

"Obtained ownership of 【Sturdy Permanent 28-inch Bicycle】, equipment effect activated..."

【Equipment】 doesn't possess magic itself; it's endowed by the system. After all, there are no supernatural powers in this world.

Probably except for him.

However, after owning and activating the equipment, the system doesn't seem to restrict him from lending it to others to use. This point is very important!

Zhai Da grinned. From now on, Mom will still ride this bike.

Safety is the greatest luxury, even if it's a 28-inch bicycle!

Must step on the Maybach again here, what a shitty car! If I had known, I would have bought a cheap M9. Maybe Xiao Yi could have driven it to the hospital by itself.

Out of the courtyard, Zhai Da, not wanting his mother to be more tired, strongly requested to ride it himself and let his mother sit sideways on the back.

Yu Xiaoli had ridden from the factory to the hospital, so she was actually very tired.

After trying slightly, Zhai Da started steadily and drove towards the direction where the sun was setting.

Facing the breeze that hadn't yet entered summer, he felt exceptionally refreshed. He didn't know if it was because his body had become young and his pores had opened, or if his mood had simply become beautiful.

At this age, he used to always think about carrying his beloved girl, like Lin Shuyao.

But starting over, he suddenly felt that being able to carry his mother was a better life.

His mother sat in the back, seeing that he really seemed to have no problems, finally felt a little relieved in her heart.

"Xiao Da, what do you want to eat tonight? Mom will make it for you."

Zhai Da smiled very happily: "Oil-fried jelly noodles!"

This is a specialty of this area. After his mother passed away in his previous life, he probably hadn't eaten it for ten years.

Because he rarely returned to Dongyang County. A place without family isn't home, and a place without longing isn't a hometown.

"Okay, then ride to the East Street vegetable market, and I'll buy you a fish head to stew soup to nourish your body."

I don't know if it was because he failed the exam, but Yu Xiaoli felt that Zhai Da was particularly obedient and patient today.

In the past, although they relied on each other, it was actually not easy to communicate with a teenager. One went to school and one went to work, and every day there was only a "nodding acquaintance." Whenever he said something, Zhai Da would be impatient.

Today, he felt exceptionally... easy to talk to.

Then I have to nag a few more words.

Yu Xiaoli began to nag in the back seat: "A good man has ambitions everywhere! Your grandfather was the same back then. He was just over 30 when he got into university, met that thing, and was sent directly to the Great Northwest. Didn't he still learn a lot of skills?"

"Mom is right, Grandpa was indeed amazing."

"Our Xiao Da is no stupider than any other child, just a bit short on luck. At worst, repeat a year, Mom will support you! Next year you'll be a man again!"

"Is repeating a year too far? This is only the second mock exam, can't we save it?"

"Then think about it slowly. Why are you so obedient today? Did you change your temper after fainting?"

"This is called a great awakening! Mom, don't worry, just watch! I will definitely make our lives better and better!"

"So young, and talking about living life... but being obedient is a good thing."

"Anything is fine! I'll listen to you!"

Fragmented little things, major things hinted at—Yu Xiaoli felt she hadn't talked so much with her son for a long time.

Zhai Da was the same.

Facing the wind dyed red by the setting sun, Zhai Da felt that the heart castrated by the big city, the heart that 40 million couldn't thaw, finally softened.

Forgive the Maybach for 3 seconds.

Plainness is the truth, really.

Life has to experience 30,000 sunsets. He remembered a text from high school, "I and the Temple of Earth," which said:

The sun is a sunset every moment and also a sunrise. When it goes down the mountain extinguished, collecting all the desolate residual light, it is also the moment it burns and climbs to the top of the mountain on the other side, spreading fierce morning glory.

So life will also experience more than 30,000 beginnings.

And he has now grasped the most precious one.

No matter which god you are, thank you!

"Listen to me? Then can I confiscate your phone?"

"Mom, what did you say? The wind is too strong, I can't hear you!"