Rebirth: Start to Save the Treasure Girl

Gu Muxue stood in front of the living room door, looking slightly flustered. She hadn't expected Xue Rui's father to be so enthusiastic towards her.

However, she quickly composed herself, gave the two busy elderly people a sweet smile, and bowed slightly:

Happy Chinese New Year, Grandpa and Grandma.

Gu Muxue gave Yu Minlan a wink, and Yu Minlan quickly placed a large pile of gift boxes on the coffee table.

"This is my first time visiting your home, and I didn't know what you two would like, so I picked out some gifts myself..."

The two elderly people paused, and looked at each other.

Grandpa knew that Gu Muxue was Xue Rui's classmate. He had met her once last year, and she had left a deep impression on him.

Grandma was visibly taken aback when she saw Gu Muxue, and tentatively asked, "Who are you?"

"My name is Gu Muxue, you can just call me Muxue. I've been playing with Xiao Rui since we were little, and now..."

Gu Muxue spoke slowly, and when she got to this point, she glanced back at Xue Rui, signaling him to come over and introduce himself.

She didn't want to introduce herself. Lin Ruoxi had just left, and if she said she was Xue Rui's girlfriend, the two elders would most likely object.

Grandma simply thought the girl in front of her was a playful young woman and wanted her to guess her identity.

Did you play together since childhood? And you look so alike...

She clapped her hands together and said, "You must be a relative of Fangfang's!"

Gu Muxue and her daughter-in-law looked exactly alike when they were young. When Xue Jianfeng pushed Gu Muxue in, she even had the illusion that time had turned back twenty years.

But soon, Grandma noticed something was wrong: why were her daughter-in-law's relatives wishing her a Happy New Year?

"That's not right either... Let me guess again," Grandma muttered.

At this moment, Xue Rui hurriedly ran a few steps forward, put his arm around Gu Muxue's shoulder, and said, "Grandma, don't make wild guesses. Muxue is my girlfriend."

The moment she finished speaking, Grandma's chopsticks fell to the ground on the table with a "clatter".

Didn't one just leave yesterday? Why is another one here today?
Grandpa lowered his head and silently picked up his chopsticks. He had suspected their relationship last year, but Xue Rui didn't bring Gu Muxue home for the New Year, so he thought it was over.

So you didn't blow it up?
Xue Jianfeng looked at Xue Rui with a smile. He thought to himself that his old man was very conservative. After breakfast, Xue Rui was sure to get a scolding, and it was not impossible that he would get a beating.

Although it had no real educational value, that didn't matter; his purpose was simply to vent his anger.

Everyone was silent for a few seconds. The air around them seemed to freeze, and even the ticking of the second hand of the living room clock could be clearly heard.

Gu Muxue had anticipated this scene, but when she actually faced it, it still left her breathless.

Gu Muxue's expression remained unchanged as she reached out and gently pinched Xue Rui's waist.

Xue Rui received Gu Muxue's hint and winked at Xue Yao, signaling her to make some noise.

"Five hundred," Xue Yao mouthed silently.

Xue Rui smiled and nodded, saying that anything that can be solved with money isn't a problem.

"What's all the fuss about?" Xue Yao broke the silence, walking to the dining table and pulling out a chair for Gu Muxue.
"Sister-in-law, please sit down and eat."

"Thank you, Yao Yao."

Gu Muxue smiled gently. She had already eaten, but she still sat at the table, wanting to chat more with Xue Rui's family.

Before long, Ren Qunfang and Xue Xiaying also came downstairs. When they saw Gu Muxue, they exchanged a silent glance and saw a hint of nervousness and guilt in each other's eyes.

The two shook their heads and smiled wryly, wondering what was going on.

The two of them were actually afraid of a small child.

In traditional family values, everyone prospers or suffers together.

When children do something wrong, parents naturally feel insecure.

"Mu Xue is here." Ren Qunfang greeted her with a smile.

"Hello, Auntie." Gu Muxue waved with a smile.

The family gathered at the dinner table again, each with a smile on their face, but their smiles were tinged with embarrassment and guilt when they faced Gu Muxue.

They were all forcing smiles, and Xue Rui couldn't bear to look at them.

A smile that seems too deliberate only draws more attention.

Not long after, Grandma, as if conducting a household registration check, inquired about Gu Muxue's family and past.

"Daughter, how did you meet my Xiao Rui?" Grandma asked.

Gu Muxue glanced at Xue Rui with a smile, a sly glint in her eyes.

Xue Rui's heart skipped a beat; he had a bad feeling.

“We met when we were six years old and have been playing together since we were little. I even transferred to his high school. Xiao Rui has always liked to play with me since he was little, and started pursuing me when he got a little older…”

Gu Muxue looked at Xue Xiaying: "Teacher Xue, you are also a teacher at No. 2 Middle School, you must remember me."

"Yes." Xue Xiaying gave an awkward smile.

Everyone looked on with longing, and the phrase "childhood sweethearts" came to mind.

Gu Muxue did not emphasize her status as Xue Rui's girlfriend because she and Xue Rui had too many past experiences and memories.

At the same time, she cleared herself of suspicion as a "third party" and put all the blame on Xue Rui.

Although she has accepted living with three people, who doesn't have a little temper?
Xue Rui looked around and found that almost everyone was staring at him, their eyes seeming to want to devour him.

hey~
Xue Rui sighed silently.

His carefully cultivated image as a warm and caring man, built up over half the Spring Festival, suddenly collapsed.

However, Xue Rui was secretly quite happy. He had actually prepared for the worst, but the girl didn't complain at all. Instead, she proved something to his family:

"I was the one who came first!"

His family's reaction was not as intense as he had imagined.

Generally speaking, while they disagree, their opposition is not particularly strong.

After the meal, Gu Muxue got up to clear the plates, but her grandmother sternly stopped her.

Putting aside Gu Muxue's air of a young lady, she always felt that her family owed Gu Muxue something, so how could she let Gu Muxue do such rough work?

"Grandma, I'm going to shamelessly stay for two more days. I can't just eat and not do any work."

Gu Muxue picked up the plate, and Yu Minlan, being very perceptive, followed suit.

Grandma watched Gu Muxue's busy figure and smiled with satisfaction. She said with emotion, "What a rare and wonderful girl..."

Xue Rui grinned. Lin Ruoxi did the same job, and he had never seen him praise her like this before. He was even a little touched.

However, when Xue Rui thought about Gu Muxue's family background, he immediately felt relieved.

That's human nature. No one would think a waiter shouldn't wash dishes, but if a wealthy person condescends to do the same thing, they'll always be hailed as "approachable."

"Xiao Rui, you must treat people well from now on," Grandma said in a particularly serious tone.

Xue Rui leaned back slightly, looking at his grandmother in disbelief.

He thought he was going to get a severe scolding, but that wasn't the case at all; his grandmother quickly accepted the situation.

No, are older people really that accepting?
Xue Rui thought the old man's values ​​were hard to change and that he was in a "hellish dungeon," but in reality, he was in a "beginner's guide."

"Grandma, what benefits did Mu Xue give you?" Xue Rui asked with a smile as he massaged his grandmother's shoulders.

Grandma pointed to her eyes and said, "Xiao Rui, who do you think treats you better?"

"Um…"

Xue Rui pondered for a long time. He had never thought about this question before and could not come up with an answer in a short time.

"Mu Xue treats you better," Grandma said to herself.

"Why?" Xue Rui was very puzzled. How did Grandma come to this conclusion after only meeting Gu Muxue once?

Grandma looked sharply at Xue Rui: "Don't just look at what you've gained, you need to see what they've gained and what they've lost."

"Lin Ruoxi is lucky to be with you. She went from being a country girl to a rich wife overnight. Do you think she's willing to accept you having two women?"
She's inherently petty; is she unwilling to argue with you? Or is she afraid to argue with you?

“Mu Xue is different. She shouldn’t have to suffer so much. You made a mistake with the timing. Have Lin Ruoxi come over after the New Year…”

Xue Rui looked at his grandmother in disbelief, as if he were seeing this old lady for the first time.

After spending just a few days with the two girls, they had almost figured out everything about him.

No wonder my grandfather was henpecked...

"Why are you looking at me? Go inside and lend a hand, go wash the dishes."

Grandma gave Xue Rui a push.

Xue Jianfeng had been eavesdropping for a long time, and he rolled his eyes in exasperation.

He knew his mother would favor Xue Rui, so he never had any hope of ever getting close to her.

He walked into the alley and found his elderly father squatting on the steps smoking, with a few crumpled cigarette butts at his feet and a slightly irritated expression.

Xue Jianfeng smiled slightly. His father's behavior was within his expectations. Although his father was not the one in charge at home, in the simple rural society, the man was still the apparent head of the household.

Therefore, Xue Rui's behavior will directly damage Xue Jianfeng's and his grandfather's reputation.

Xue Jianfeng paced back and forth in the alley, pulled a wooden stick from his neighbor's woodpile, weighed it in his hand, and then put it back in the woodpile...

No, the surface of pine wood is too rough and can easily scratch the skin.

Peach wood is smooth, but it's too hard and can easily injure bones.

Ok?
Xue Jianfeng's eyes lit up. He found a thick, dry paulownia tree and smiled with satisfaction.

Paulownia wood is lightweight, so even if the wood breaks, it won't damage the bone, allowing you to swing it around and hit it.

No wonder the old man always used paulownia wood.

You could say you learned from being beaten up.

"Dad, aren't you angry?"

Xue Jianfeng placed the stick on the steps, signaling to his elderly father to go up and teach Xue Rui a lesson.

Grandpa looked down and asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"

"Just like how you taught me back then, you beat me when I did something wrong!" Xue Jianfeng said indignantly.

"That's your son, why don't you go?" A dark cloud gradually gathered between the grandfather's brows.

This old woman loves her grandson so much, why are you making me unlucky?

"I can't control myself anymore, you'll have to do it for me. You give me a demonstration," Xue Jianfeng flattered.

The moment he saw the old man grip the stick, Xue Jianfeng revealed a malicious smile.

However, Xue Jianfeng noticed that the old man's expression seemed somewhat familiar.

He instinctively took a step back. He remembered that the old man always had this expression before he hit him.

Oh no, this is a sign that they're about to beat me up!

With a loud "thud," the stick struck Xue Jianfeng hard on the back.

Xue Jianfeng scrambled away, yelling, "Dad, why did you hit me?"

"Didn't you ask me to demonstrate?" Grandpa persisted, following behind.

"How embarrassing during the Chinese New Year!"

"It's alright, the neighbors are used to it."

With another "thud," Xue Jianfeng took another hit and couldn't help but shout:
"Didn't you see the stick is cracked from hitting it?"

"Paulownia wood won't hurt anyone."

The old man felt much better.

A neighbor was squatting by the roadside, eating sunflower seeds with great interest. I hadn't seen this scene in a long time, and for a moment I even felt a little nostalgic.

"Why are you beating your son again? What did Jianfeng do this time?" An old man passing by stopped the two.

Grandpa paused for a moment, realizing that the person who had spoken to him had Alzheimer's disease.

Standing behind the old man, Xue Jianfeng thought to himself, "There are still many good people in the village. Sure enough, a peacemaker has stepped forward right away."
"He doesn't study properly," Grandpa said dismissively.

"He deserved it." The old man nodded and continued walking forward.

Xue Jianfeng immediately scratched his head and said, "That doesn't make sense!"

……

Xue Rui came out of the kitchen, frowning as he listened intently. He vaguely heard his elderly father's screams coming from outside the door. He asked his grandmother:

"Grandma, I think I heard my dad shouting something."

Grandma was watching TV at the time. Without turning her head, she said, "I was sitting in the living room the whole time and didn't hear you."

Xue Rui nodded, thinking that perhaps he was just imagining things.

"Xiao Rui, come upstairs for a moment. Why can't you open this cabinet?" Ren Qunfang's voice came from the second floor.

In an instant, Xue Rui's hair stood on end, and he dashed towards the second floor.

Grandma was startled and laughed, scolding, "Why are you so nervous? Anyone who didn't know better would think you were hiding someone in the cupboard."

Upon hearing this, Xue Rui stumbled and almost fell on the stairs.

Grandma watched Xue Rui's retreating figure and muttered to herself, "Did he really hide it?"

A short while later, Xue Rui rushed into the room, where Ren Qunfang was trying to open the sliding cabinet.

Lin Ruoxi, inside the closet, pressed herself tightly against the closet door, afraid of being discovered by Xue Rui's mother.

"Mom, what are you doing in my room?" Xue Rui said, trying to push his mother out of the room.

"Mom will change your sheets and blankets," Ren Qunfang said.

“I’m an adult, I can change it myself,” Xue Rui said helplessly.

"No." Ren Qunfang patted Xue Rui on the shoulder and pointed to the hair on the bed sheet, saying:

"Xi Xi's hair is still on the bed. Mu Xue is sleeping with you tonight, so you have to erase all evidence that Xi Xi was here, right?"

Xue Rui glanced at the cabinet subconsciously, wondering if Lin Ruoxi would be saddened by her mother's words.

Xue Rui said softly, "Mom, don't be so sensitive. What can you tell from hair?"

“You’re wrong. Women are the most detail-oriented creatures. Just because she doesn’t say it doesn’t mean she doesn’t care. You have to pay attention to the details,” Ren Qunfang said earnestly.

Xue Rui was overjoyed. His mother was actually helping him?
"I understand, I'll change it now." Xue Rui nodded emphatically and pushed his mother out of the room.

Ren Qunfang stood outside the door, her brows furrowed, feeling as if she had become someone who "aided and abetted evil."

At this moment, Xue Yao led Gu Muxue to the second floor.

"Sister-in-law, my brother's room is over here, and I live next door to him."

Ren Qunfang instinctively blocked the doorway because Xue Rui hadn't finished tidying up yet.

"Yaoyao, help your brother make the bed."

"Let me do it."

Gu Muxue said with a smile. (End of this chapter)