Rebirth: Start to Save the Treasure Girl

Xue Rui came downstairs, intending to call Lin Ruoxi upstairs to check on the room, when he heard Xue Yao and Lin Ruoxi talking in the distance. He stopped and listened carefully.

"Yaoyao, what brand do you usually wear?" Lin Ruoxi asked patiently.

Xue Rui had given her her sister's clothes before, and now that she thinks back, many of them were brands that weren't available in Hedong, and she probably had to buy them online.

"Sister-in-law, you don't need to worry about this. I'll ask my brother for money and buy it myself later," Xue Yao replied nonchalantly.

"Are you going by yourself?" Lin Ruoxi asked doubtfully.

"Yes, of course I'll go by myself. It would be too embarrassing to ask someone to accompany me for something like this."

“I…I went with your brother.”

Lin Ruoxi recalled that when she bought underwear, Xue Rui accompanied her and even helped her choose the style.

"My brother is really shameless. If he wants to come with me later, sister-in-law, please stop him for me."

Xue Yao's lips twitched. She thought to herself that she absolutely couldn't let her older brother do this kind of thing, otherwise how would she get her kickbacks?

"Um, okay."

……

Xue Rui coughed twice, lifted his leg and walked downstairs, the conversation around him abruptly stopping.

"Xixi, what are you talking about with Yaoyao?"

Xue Rui glanced at Xue Yao's reaction and noticed that she was more excited than anyone else when she heard these words.

"Brother, I want to buy new underwear. Sister-in-law Mu Xue asked me to buy it."

Xue Yao used Gu Muxue as a shield.

Xue Rui nodded upon hearing this and took out two hundred yuan from his wallet: "Is that enough?"

"Not enough, good underwear is very expensive..." Xue Yao pouted and said.

Lin Ruoxi looked surprised. Xue Rui bought her things that were all expensive, so why were they cheaper when it came to her sister?

So she repeated what Xue Rui had told her: "Rui, a girl's undergarments shouldn't be too cheap; they should reduce pressure and prevent sagging..."

“Yes, yes, yes.” Xue Yao nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Xue Rui glanced at the curvaceous Lin Ruoxi, then at the flat-chested Xue Yao, and his expression gradually became strange.

They're just planting two peanuts, and they've even put up a greenhouse for it?

And it relieves stress? Where does your stress come from?
Of course, Xue Rui didn't dare to say these things directly; he didn't want to fight with Xue Yao during the New Year.

Xue Rui's lips curled up slightly: "Yao Yao, your shoelace is untied."

Upon hearing this, Xue Yao subconsciously glanced down and saw that she was wearing slippers. She said irritably, "Childish."

"Xi Xi, your shoelaces are untied too." Xue Rui said the same thing to Lin Ruoxi again.

Lin Ruoxi leaned forward and bent down to take a look.

"Yaoyao, have you noticed anything different about your movements?" Xue Rui asked.

Lin Ruoxi and Xue Yao exchanged a glance, then fell silent as they looked at each other's figures.

Xue Yao glanced at it enviously, then quickly looked away, a faint sadness lingering in her heart, her expression slightly embarrassed.

She recalled how, back in school, boys would point and whisper about her behind her back.

Lin Ruoxi looked at Xue Yao, her eyes also filled with envy.

She used to have a figure like Xue Yao's; she was very agile when climbing trees and ladders, and her work didn't obstruct her view.

Things are different now. It's so inconvenient to do anything. Every day, I get two deep marks on my shoulders from the straps.

Xue Rui looked around and noticed that the two of them envied each other.

Xue Yao was a little insecure, while the little girl didn't care about her figure at all.

Xue Yao noticed Xue Rui's gaze and assumed he was mocking her. She said irritably, "I've put all my nutrition into my brain, unlike some people who are all brawn and no brains."

Xue Rui frowned; he was indeed very concerned.

"Oh, you're right, adults aren't very bright."

Xue Rui stroked Lin Ruoxi's head and said, "Here is a living example of the opposite."

Lin Ruoxi nodded obediently. Xue Rui said he was stupid, so be it.

Xue Yao clenched her teeth. Whether or not she got her skin filled was no longer important. The key was to make her brother suffer a setback as soon as possible.

She took out her phone, opened Gu Muxue's WeChat interface, pressed the call button behind her back with one hand, and then asked with a smile:
"Brother, do you think Sister-in-law Xixi is prettier, or Sister-in-law Muxue?"

Xue Yao brought out a question that could cost her her life.

Now that she was in front of Lin Ruoxi, she bet her brother would say Lin Ruoxi was pretty, so she called Gu Muxue.

Xue Yao wants to show Xue Rui that there are consequences for bullying her!
Xue Rui paused for a moment: "Yao Yao, I think we need to add another person for comparison."

"Our mom, right? She can't be included."

Xue Yao sneered. She had already guessed her brother's trick. As long as they dragged their mother into it, it would be a form of "moral blackmail." It was always right to say that their mother was good.

Xue Rui sighed softly and pointed at Xue Yao, saying, "Yao Yao, I'm talking about you."

"Yaoyao, you need to have confidence!" Lin Ruoxi encouraged Xue Yao.

Previously, Lin Ruoxi noticed that Xue Yao was somewhat insecure, and she guessed that Xue Rui should praise Xue Yao now to help his sister regain her confidence.

Xue Yao tried hard to suppress the corners of her mouth, never expecting her older brother to have such a sweet tongue.

Xue Yao said hesitantly, "Then, including me, who's the prettiest?"

"If you only look at her face and figure, Xixi is prettier."

Xue Rui smiled and patted Lin Ruoxi's head.

Lin Ruoxi smiled sweetly. Xue Rui had stated his conditions, which meant he was planning to praise every girl.

"If we consider fashion sense and overall demeanor, Mu Xue is prettier," Xue Rui added.

For these kinds of tricky questions, you can just exaggerate the advantages.

Xue Yao understood what was going on. She looked at Xue Rui with expectant eyes, as if to say: What about me?

However, after waiting for a long time, Xue Rui still did not answer.

"And there's a younger sister too."

Lin Ruoxi gently tugged at Xue Rui's sleeve, hinting that there was a third person to praise.

"What's wrong with her?" Xue Rui remained unmoved.

"When is Yao Yao the most beautiful?" Lin Ruoxi asked directly.

"Her?" Xue Rui grinned and whispered to Lin Ruoxi, "She's just there to make up the numbers, because I don't want any of the girls I like to be at the bottom."

Xue Yao's jaw made a "crunching" sound.

"I'm so angry! Don't you dare run away!"

"The tigress is unleashing her fury! Xixi, protect me!"

"Don't fight..."

……

On the other end of the phone, Gu Muxue sat in the sunroom on the roof, smiling and resting her chin on her hand. She glanced in the direction of Xue Rui's hometown and could vaguely make out the outline of Xue Rui's old house.

Xue Rui's house is so lively, it's a pity today isn't her time.

"Xue'er, why are you at Grandpa's house this year?"

A kind voice interrupted Gu Muxue's thoughts. She pressed the hang-up button and smiled slightly at her grandfather:
"Grandpa, I wonder if you can't come back yet?"

However, her grandfather's sharp gaze seemed to see right through people, causing Gu Muxue to subconsciously look away.

“Your heart isn’t at Grandpa’s house.” The old man said, glancing towards the next village.

In an instant, Gu Muxue's face flushed red; her thoughts, as expected, could not be hidden from her grandfather.

A moment of silence followed, then the two walnuts in the old man's hand made a dull clattering sound.

“My comrade-in-arms who lives in Chang’an is coming to visit me after the New Year. He also said he would bring his grandson. You should make the necessary preparations in advance.”

The old man left a message, took out a medal, placed it on the table, and turned to leave.

Gu Muxue held the medal in her hand, lost in thought for a long time. It was the Vietnam War Medal. She had heard her grandfather tell stories of the battlefield since she was little. Today, her grandfather's words seemed to have a hidden meaning, as if he wanted to introduce her to a potential partner...

But what did Grandpa ask her to prepare? It must be hard to refuse...

She had to make her stance clear if she disagreed, so as not to offend her grandfather.

The best course of action is to bring Xue Rui along.

She opened WeChat, took a picture of the medal, sent it, and briefly explained the situation.

……

At Xue Rui's home.

Mr. and Mrs. Xue arrived late, carrying large and small bags as they entered.

In fact, New Year's Eve is a time for family to celebrate together, and there's no need to visit relatives and friends; there aren't many rules to follow.

Xue Rui was explaining things to Xue Yao to try and make his sister feel better.

"Yaoyao, back in the day, I didn't have your advantages," Xue Rui said in a mature tone.

Xue Jianfeng's lips twitched as he listened, and he retorted irritably:
"How old are you, kid? How can you compare to me back then? Did I ever ask you for food or drink?"

Xue Rui frowned and looked at Lin Ruoxi: "Xixi, why don't you say something too?"

In an instant, Xue Jianfeng was rendered speechless by the rebuttal.

Lin Ruoxi is a rare exception. Even compared to those born in the 70s, her conditions were far more difficult.

Xue Rui chuckled and asked, "How much pocket money do your parents give you each month?"

"Four hundred, one hundred a week," Xue Yao said, pouting.

Xue Rui's eyes widened suddenly. Four hundred yuan wasn't enough?

"Do you know how much pocket money I used to have? Single digits."

Xue Rui's expression was extremely unpleasant.

"Huh? Is it really that bad?"

Xue Yao frowned, suspecting that her brother had exaggerated.

“Your brother didn’t lie to you. I’ve heard that you can stay up all night at an internet cafe for ten yuan, so his limit is ten yuan.”

Xue Jianfeng looked smug, as if he were showing off some remarkable achievement.

Lin Ruoxi felt a pang of heartache because she realized she had once been richer than Xue Rui.

Xue Yao lowered her head, feeling reprimanded. She realized that compared to her older brother, her current situation was actually quite good.

"If you want to recharge for games, go earn the money yourself." Xue Rui crossed his arms.

Xue Yao's problem stems from being spoiled since childhood and having no clear concept of money.

It's too late for Xue Jianfeng to impose restrictions now.

"Where am I supposed to make money?" Xue Yao frowned.

"Ten yuan for helping with cooking and washing dishes, twenty yuan for the second time, thirty yuan for the third time..."

Xue Rui began to explain the game rules.

He knew all too well the allure of games to Xue Yao, and he himself had made his fortune in the gaming industry, so he was intimately familiar with the rules of continuous "check-in".

Increasing the sunk cost for players can prevent Xue Yao from giving up halfway and also prevent her from getting too lucky and drawing the skin prematurely.

"If it's interrupted, the price will revert to ten yuan," Xue Rui said with a smile.

In this way, Xue Yao will definitely be able to extract the skin before the event ends.

Xue Yao counted on her fingers: three meals a day, starting from the fourth day, that's three hundred yuan a day...

She nodded decisively and agreed: "No problem."

Upon hearing this, Xue Jianfeng's eyes lit up. He had mentioned to Xue Yao that she could earn pocket money by doing housework, but Xue Yao had simply given up and kept pestering him with tantrums.

The price that Xue Rui proposed became very high in the later stages, giving Xue Yao a reason to persevere.

He nodded admiringly at Xue Rui; his son's methods were indeed superior to his own.

Young people are like this; when they're old enough to be supported by their parents, they treat money like game currency.

Only after you start earning your own living can you understand how difficult it is to make money and regret your past extravagance...

Xue Jianfeng believes that the responsibility for the huge gap between the two children lies entirely with him.

His greatest honor in life was raising a mature and sensible son. Everyone around him praised him for it.

But he also knew that Xue Rui's success had little to do with him.

"Xiao Rui, come over and chat with your dad for a bit," Xue Jianfeng said gently.

Xue Rui glanced warily at Xue Jianfeng, subconsciously took a step back, and whispered to Lin Ruoxi:
"Xixi, protect me."

"Tsk~ I'm not going to hit you, why are you so nervous?" Xue Jianfeng said patiently.

"That's hard to say," Xue Rui said, unmoved.

"come here!"

"Look, you're in a hurry."

Xue Jianfeng's brow twitched, and he slowly sat up from the sofa.

"XiXi, run!"

"Okay!" Lin Ruoxi took Xue Rui's hand and nodded politely to Xue Jianfeng.

……

The two stepped out of the room, the crisp air filled with the aroma of food: stir-fried scallions, fried tofu...

Villagers are preparing food for the Lunar New Year.

However, there's no need for that at his house; Lin Ruoxi had already made preparations in advance.

A diesel tractor belching black smoke passed by, and firecrackers occasionally went off in the alley. The diesel fuel mixed with a faint smell of gunpowder was quite pleasant.

Suddenly, Lin Ruoxi pinched Xue Rui's nose: "Don't smell it."

Xue Rui chuckled, his voice muffled, "Xi Xi, why are you so nosy?"

Lin Ruoxi pouted, still not letting go of Xue Rui's nose: "Where are we going?"

"Just wandering around." Xue Rui shrugged.

Because he rarely returns to the village, he is a stranger to many in the village.

Just as Xue Rui was thinking this, he heard an older woman's voice greeting him:

"Isn't this Old Xue's grandson? He's back for the New Year?"

"Yes, Happy New Year, Auntie." Xue Rui nodded and greeted her.

Turning around, Xue Rui looked surprised and muttered to himself, "So I'm the only one with a bad memory?"

"Rui, don't you know? You and your uncle look a lot alike," Lin Ruoxi reminded him with a smile.

Xue Rui shook his head, not seeing any resemblance.

"Hello, sister." A child greeted Lin Ruoxi from the roadside.

"Hello, little friend, how many points did you get on your final exam this year?" Lin Ruoxi asked with a smile.

Lin Ruoxi didn't know what to talk about with the child, as they seemed to have nothing in common, so she simply asked about his academic performance.

The child stared blankly, pouted, and turned to leave.

“Every age group has its own worries. Children are afraid of being asked about their grades, and adults are afraid of being asked about their careers…” Xue Rui explained with a smile.

Lin Ruoxi, this "other people's child" type, of course, can't understand it.

She excelled academically from a young age and started her own company at a young age...

It seems that no matter how you look at it, Lin Ruoxi is the strongest character during the Spring Festival.

"Rui, what are they doing?" Lin Ruoxi asked, pointing in one direction.

Xue Rui looked up and saw several young people squatting by the roadside smoking, and not far away, several neatly dressed middle-aged couples were chatting, looking like they were on blind dates.

"It started before the New Year? Is the competition that fierce?" (End of Chapter)