Rebirth: Start to Save the Treasure Girl

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, as dawn broke, firecrackers crackled through the village, creating a joyous atmosphere.

Xue Jianfeng stood in the courtyard, with neatly arranged firecrackers in front of him. His expression was hesitant, and he would occasionally look down at his phone.

"Dad, are you sure you don't need to go that far? You're not going to wait for my sister-in-law to get up and help you, are you?"

Xue Yao assumed that her father was too afraid to set off the firecrackers and that he would have Lin Ruoxi do it again, just like last night.

"Tsk, I'm just worried that they haven't had enough sleep."

Xue Jianfeng retorted irritably, picked up an incense stick used for offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God from the ground, and slowly heated it with a lighter.

Xue Yao rolled her eyes and muttered, "Only children use incense when setting off firecrackers."

"You're a child, you do it." Xue Jianfeng smiled and handed over the incense.

"I'll do it, I'll do it."

After a scream, a series of crackling firecrackers rang out.

"Dad! Why didn't you tell me the fuse burned so fast?"

……

Rooms on the second floor of the villa.

Lin Ruoxi leaned against the headboard for a short rest, holding Xue Rui's head in her arms.

The moment the firecrackers went off, Lin Ruoxi instinctively covered Xue Rui's ears with both hands, then frowned and waited for the firecrackers to set off.

The sound of ten thousand firecrackers lasts only a dozen seconds, but it resonated in Lin Ruoxi's heart for a very, very long time...

Last night he took Xue Rui out to play. Based on her usual experience, Xue Rui should sleep an hour or two longer than usual.

Lin Ruoxi was afraid that the firecrackers would disturb Xue Rui's sleep, so she maintained this posture from the first firecracker at four or five in the morning until now, which is now past eight o'clock.

She raised her hazy eyes, and a ray of bright gold was reflected in Lin Ruoxi's eyes.

Uncle Xue said last night that the firecrackers would be set off before dawn, but now the sun is high in the sky and the sound of firecrackers is only just beginning to ring out in the yard.

Lin Ruoxi knew very well that Uncle Xue was taking care of her.

Once it quieted down outside the window, Lin Ruoxi reluctantly crawled down a little further.

She pricked up her ears and listened quietly to everything happening outside the window.

Before long, the sound of sweeping could be heard in the yard, and the sound of stir-frying could be heard downstairs.

Lin Ruoxi stiffened, her eyes filled with confusion.

She chose to take care of Xue Rui over doing chores, a little afraid of not making a good impression on her grandparents.

But she really couldn't bear to get up.

After agonizing for a long time, Lin Ruoxi finally breathed a sigh of relief when the sound of stir-frying disappeared.

Just as Lin Ruoxi was thinking this, Xue Xiaying's voice sounded from outside the door: "Lin Ruoxi, are you up?"

Xue Xiaying had learned her lesson, and she secretly resolved that she would never casually enter any place where Lin Ruoxi was.

"No...no." Lin Ruoxi responded immediately.

After shouting those words, Lin Ruoxi suddenly realized: How did she answer "I'm not awake"?

In an instant, Lin Ruoxi's face turned as red as a tomato. She shrank her face into the quilt, leaving only her big eyes staring blankly at the quilt.

Lying around in other people's homes, eating and drinking for free, and even sleeping in late in the morning, she's already a bad kid.

Lin Ruoxi was terrified of being scolded and felt extremely uneasy.

However, Xue Xiaying's gentle voice came from outside the door: "Get up quickly, Grandpa and Grandma are giving out New Year's money, and you'll get a share."

"Okay, Auntie, I'll get up right away," Lin Ruoxi said in a soft, sweet voice.

"Hmm, you finally got it right this time," Xue Xiaying joked.

Hearing Xue Xiaying's footsteps leave, Lin Ruoxi was once again caught in a dilemma.

Lin Ruoxi really wanted a red envelope, but she was also afraid that she wouldn't be there for Xue Rui when he woke up.

She calculated what time she got back last night, and then bent down to check on Xue Rui's sleeping state.

After confirming that Xue Rui wouldn't wake up anytime soon, Lin Ruoxi couldn't help but smile with delight. She kissed Xue Rui on the forehead and murmured to herself:
"Rui, I'll go downstairs and collect your New Year's money."

……

After quickly washing up, Lin Ruoxi hurriedly walked to the stairwell. She heard people discussing him in the living room downstairs, and she stopped in her tracks.

"Why isn't Xiao Rui's wife up yet?" Grandma asked.

"Who knows? Last night when I got up in the middle of the night, I saw him coming back from outside with his wife. He probably didn't go to sleep until two or three in the morning," Grandpa explained.

“I just called out, and Lin Ruoxi said she’d come down right away.”

Xue Xiaying explained.

Lin Ruoxi had one foot on the stairs, a happy smile on her face. She loved the atmosphere of the countryside.

Because the word "girlfriend" does not exist in the rural dialect of Hedong, most people will use "so-and-so's wife" instead.

Here, outsiders refer to her as "Xiao Rui's wife".

Lin Ruoxi bit her lip. Now that she represented Xue Rui's partner, her image represented Xue Rui's reputation...

Gu Muxue also told her not to embarrass Xue Rui.

Thinking of this, Lin Ruoxi took a deep breath, pulled back her foot, and tiptoed back to change her clothes.

According to custom, one should wear new clothes on the first day of the Lunar New Year. As a newlywed bride, Lin Ruoxi felt she should dress up nicely to make Xue Rui look good.

A few minutes later, Lin Ruoxi put on some simple makeup, took a deep breath, and slowly walked downstairs.

Because of time constraints, Lin Ruoxi simply applied eyeliner and lipstick.

However, due to shyness and a good mood, Lin Ruoxi's complexion was very rosy, adding a perfect touch of natural blush to her already delicate face.

The living room is on the first floor.

"Ding-deng-deng~"

Upon hearing footsteps, everyone simultaneously looked up and gazed towards the stairs.

Lin Ruoxi wore a beige coat, and the low-heeled boots added a few centimeters to her already tall figure. Especially without Xue Rui's height advantage, she appeared even more slender and upright.
With her long, flowing hair and lips even redder than the New Year couplets, she looked like a star straight out of a calendar, captivating everyone's attention.

"Happy...Happy New Year." Lin Ruoxi felt a little embarrassed by the stares.

"Who is this beautiful woman?" Xue Yao asked in shock.

Lin Ruoxi seemed a little unfamiliar today; she was so beautiful that Lin Ruoxi didn't dare to greet her.

For a moment, everyone stared in disbelief.

"Xiao Rui hasn't woken up yet?"

Grandma's voice brought everyone back to their senses.

"Grandma, let...let him sleep a little longer."

Lin Ruoxi spoke weakly, her voice carrying a hint of pleading.

"We'll start eating if he doesn't get up."

Ren Qunfang waved to Lin Ruoxi, signaling her to sit down and eat.

"That won't do. He must eat the first meal on the first day of the Lunar New Year. Go and call him," Grandpa said coldly.

Lin Ruoxi was momentarily dazed, and said softly, "I...I'll take it up to him."

"Never mind him, let's eat first."

Xue Jianfeng served Lin Ruoxi a bowl of wonton noodles.

Xue Jianfeng grinned; he had personally witnessed Xue Rui and Lin Ruoxi driving away.

Two girls in one night?

Xue Jianfeng believes that no one could get up under his own weight.

Xue Yao held the bowl and stuffed large mouthfuls of noodles into her mouth, thinking that as long as she finished breakfast, she could get a red envelope from her elders and use it to get her skin treated.

Xue Yao was already impatient and wasn't even chewing her food properly. Xue Jianfeng glanced at his daughter with her legs wide open, then at Lin Ruoxi eating slowly beside her, and a wave of sorrow washed over him.

Should daughters be raised in luxury?
Who the hell said that?

The contrast is too obvious.

Lin Ruoxi, who grew up in poverty, was as dignified as a girl from a noble family, while his daughter looked like a refugee...

"I'm stuffed."

Xue Yao patted her belly, stretched out her palm to Xue Jianfeng, and blinked her eyes repeatedly.

"Give, give."

Xue Jianfeng looked very impatient. He took out a stack of red envelopes from his pocket and gave one to each of Xue Yao and Lin Ruoxi.

Xue Yao immediately beamed with joy, but the joy in her eyes vanished instantly after she opened the red envelope.

"Uncle, I'm all grown up now, I don't need any New Year's money."

At this moment, Lin Ruoxi was declining Xue Jianfeng's offer when Xue Yao's dissatisfied voice suddenly came from behind her:

"How come it's only two hundred yuan?"

"Don't give it back to me." Xue Jianfeng reached out to snatch it.

Xue Yao leaned back abruptly, glanced at the envelope, then turned and snatched Lin Ruoxi's red envelope, opening it without hesitation.

"A thousand?" Xue Yao put the red envelope back, looking at her father in disbelief with a questioning gaze.

Why?
He gives his own daughter two hundred, but gives someone else's daughter a thousand?
Xue Jianfeng's face immediately darkened, because he wanted to treat everyone equally. He had to give Gu Muxue the same amount he gave Lin Ruoxi today. The amount of one thousand was the result of his comprehensive consideration.

But now Xue Yao feels resentful.

He sighed helplessly, "Fine, I'll make it up for you, okay?"

"No, tell me why you gave her a thousand?"

Xue Yao pouted; it wasn't that she cared about the money, she was just feeling very uncomfortable.

Suddenly, she noticed out of the corner of her eye that her grandmother was also counting red envelopes under the table, some thick and some thin.

"Grandma, are you being biased too?" Xue Yao asked, her eyes brimming with tears.

Grandpa frowned: "How can you talk like that? When a new bride visits for the first time, she should be given a big red envelope. You're one of our family members, what are you comparing yourself to others for?"

Ren Qunfang pinched the bridge of her nose, her expression slightly helpless. Her daughter was really being unreasonable.

Lin Ruoxi stared blankly; this was the first time she had faced such a situation, and she didn't know how to handle it for a moment.

She bit her lip, lost in thought.

Xue Rui only taught her how to "politely accept New Year's money," but not how to handle this situation...

Lin Ruoxi turned her gaze to Xue Xiaying.

Xue Xiaying used to be her teacher, and now she is her aunt. Lin Ruoxi subconsciously consulted her elder.

However, Xue Xiaying kept her head down and remained silent, pretending not to see anything.

She subconsciously reached into her pocket and stuffed the red envelope inside.

Xue Jianfeng had given her a portion early that morning, containing three thousand yuan...

If Xue Yao and Lin Ruoxi found out, they would definitely have a huge fight.
Therefore, she absolutely cannot get involved now.

At this moment, the grandfather looked extremely impatient. He bluntly handed the red envelope to Lin Ruoxi and said, "Take it, child, and don't worry about Yao Yao."

Lin Ruoxi looked at the thick red envelope in front of her, and then at Xue Yao, who was standing to the side with tears in her eyes. She felt very uneasy.

Although she had no parents, she could understand Xue Yao's feelings.

Just like seeing Xue Rui and Gu Muxue together on New Year's Eve, her heart ached terribly.

Knowing that Gu Muxue and Xue Rui hadn't done anything, he felt a surge of relief.

But... in the end, she still secretly took away Xue Rui's first time in the car.

Xue Yao is in the same emotional state as she was last night, only her feelings are more pronounced now, and she needs someone to comfort her.

But Xue Yao won't accept compensation. How should I coax her?

It's not scarcity that's worrisome, but inequality. Would Xue Yao be happier if she received less?
Thinking of this, Lin Ruoxi stood up, took out the money from the red envelopes, kept only one hundred yuan in each envelope, and handed the rest of the money to her grandparents with both hands.

"Child, what are you doing?" Grandma asked, her face full of confusion and her voice trembling slightly.

Could it be that there's something wrong with my own home?

The girl is unhappy and doesn't want to be with his grandson anymore?
Grandpa glared at Xue Jianfeng reproachfully: "Look at the daughter you raised."

Ren Qunfang hurriedly picked up the money and stuffed it into Lin Ruoxi's hand: "Xixi, be good and keep the money."

Lin Ruoxi shook her head and said softly:
“I came here to spend the New Year with Xue Rui and his grandparents, not to ask for money. I’ll be happy with 100 yuan.”

Lin Ruoxi believed that she had done nothing wrong, because her grandmother should have only given Xue Rui one or two hundred yuan.

After Lin Ruoxi said this, everyone looked at each other, speechless for a long time.

Grandpa's lips trembled slightly, and a warm feeling quietly flowed through his heart.

Other people's daughters are always compared to their in-laws, and the elders give them more gifts when they meet them.

If they don't receive enough, they'll inevitably complain behind your back.

But the girl his grandson brought back was unlike any other woman he had ever married.

Xue Jianfeng looked at Lin Ruoxi in disbelief, thinking to himself, "Who the hell taught her this?"

Lin Ruoxi is so good at manipulating people's hearts!
Xue Jianfeng realized he had underestimated Lin Ruoxi; this girl was quite cunning.

Xue Yao stopped crying and stared blankly at Lin Ruoxi.

Neither of her two sisters-in-law is easy to deal with!
One sentence put her in the eye of the storm!

Are there no sisters-in-law who are obedient and let their sisters-in-law do whatever they want?
"I do not want it."

A chill ran down Xue Yao's spine. She scrambled upstairs, afraid that if she delayed even a few minutes, she would be subjected to the "judgment of the eyes" of her entire family.

Grandma stood up, put the money back into the red envelope, and kept stuffing it into Lin Ruoxi's pocket, her expression very serious: "You must take this money. If other people's wives have it, you must have it too."

Grandma used almost all her strength to hold Lin Ruoxi's hand down tightly.

That's often how it is; the less someone wants something, the more people are willing to give it to them.

"Don't refuse, accept it." Xue Jianfeng nodded in agreement.

Lin Ruoxi couldn't refuse and had no choice but to accept the red envelope.

……

Meanwhile, on the second floor.

"Bang bang bang!"

"Brother! Get up!"

Xue Yao angrily pounded on Xue Rui's door.

Not long after, Xue Rui's angry voice came from inside the room: "Yao Yao, what's wrong with you?"

Xue Yao felt wronged for no reason, and she believed that everything should be blamed on Xue Rui.

After all, how could someone as naive as Lin Ruoxi say such a thing?

Xue Yao believed that Xue Rui was the one who instigated it all.

"You must have taught him!" Xue Yao's angry voice rang out.

"What do you mean, 'I taught'?"

Xue Rui, still half-asleep, cursed irritably.

"Lin Ruoxi! She doesn't accept red envelopes, how am I supposed to accept one?" Xue Yao complained.

Xue Rui grinned: "I taught you, so what?"

"Bastard!" (End of Chapter)