Rebirth in the 90s: Her Counterattack and Redemption

Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Contradiction (Nu’an 51’s Intentions, Free Chapter)

July in Island City is not too hot, especially after five in the afternoon, when a gentle breeze caresses the face, it’s the most comfortable time of the day, and Luo Ye and Luo Feng decided to simply stroll back home instead of taking a ride.

The wintergreen shrubs in the flowerbeds along the road are dripping with lushness, and the fences of the residential compounds are covered with vigorously blooming roses of light red, deep peach red, and yellow, dispersing waves of fragrance to the nose. The French plane trees are at their most luxuriant in foliage for the year, with magpies perching on the branches, occasionally bursting into joyous calls. Walking in such an environment makes one’s mood unspeakably content.

Luo Feng takes a deep, satisfied breath: ”Ye’er, let’s go for a stroll in the evenings from now on. It’s quite boring just wandering around in our courtyard!”

”Sure, but going out for a walk every day can be annoying. We can mix it up, choose the route from our house to the seaside that passes the Eight Great Scenic Spots. The environment is nice, the air is good...” suddenly Luo Ye smiles mischievously: ”Brother, how about from now on, when we stroll to the seaside, you swim and I run along the shore? In winter we can do winter swimming, look at those elderly men and women in the winter swimming team, how robust they are. To protect me, brother, you have to get strong, right?”

Winter swimming? Luo Feng shudders reflexively: ”Spare me, please. Aren’t you afraid that once your brother plunges into the sea, he shall never return, and all you can do is sigh looking at the ocean?”

Luo Ye cocks her head and glances sideways at her brother: ”The elderly men and women in the swimming team haven’t drowned in the sea. Just the other day the TV reported about an old man, 72 years old, swimming throughout the seasons, even deliberately diving from high places in winter. Hey, brother, how about I sign you up for the winter swimming team?”

”Ye’er, you’re not serious, are you?” Luo Feng’s voice trembles slightly; his face scrunches up like a bitter gourd, unable to appreciate the beautiful scenery along the road anymore.

”Silly brother!” Seeing Luo Feng genuinely scared, Luo Ye laughs and pokes him on the forehead: ”Just kidding. We’ll talk about it when you’re old. Moreover, the average age of the members of the winter swimming team is over fifty. If you join, you’ll bring down the average age by several years. They wouldn’t want you.”

As they talk, the two have already entered the bustling downtown area. The scenery is still beautiful, but the sweet scent in the air is gone.

Luo Feng scrunches up his nose in distaste: ”Ye’er, when we get old, let’s move to the countryside to live. We’ll build a villa, some elderly friends can play chess, fish, plant flowers, grow vegetables. It will also be a place for the kids to breathe fresh air during the holidays. Just thinking about that kind of life makes me feel relaxed!”

”Brother, I don’t want to think about getting old yet!” Luo Ye looks at her brother speechlessly; she’s not even twenty and he’s already thinking about retirement. She hasn’t lived enough of her beautiful life yet, doesn’t want a face full of wrinkles. No, once the exams are over, she’ll start sprucing up her image. The prime of her youth can’t be wasted like this.

If Luo Feng knew that his sentimental moment spurred such a flurry of plans from his sister, he would be extremely proud!

”Clang, clang, clang...” A broken teacup filled with a few coins and banknotes suddenly blocks the path of Luo Feng and Luo Ye.

A woman in her thirties, with tattered clothes and dirty hair tied back with a black rubber band, her dark skin and dull eyes, sits next to a little girl about six or seven years old, wearing clothes too short and too small, patched up. Seeing Luo Feng look at her, the little girl holds up the teacup and shakes it, her voice pitiful: ”Big brother, big sister, please be kind. My dad was killed working on a construction site, and my grandma kicked my mom and me out. We have no place to live, no money for food...” As the girl speaks, she starts to sob, and the woman beside her pulls her into her embrace, silent.

Seeing Luo Feng reaching for his pocket, Luo Ye quickly pulls him back: ”Brother, let’s go!”

Luo Feng looks incredulously at his sister. Could his kind-hearted sister actually be indifferent to such pitiful people? During Luo Feng’s hesitation, the woman speaks: ”Kind people, it doesn’t have to be much, one or two cents will do. I just want to get the child some vegetables to eat. As for me, picking up leftover food is enough.” After saying this, she even pats her belly.

Luo Feng looked at Luo Ye for consultation. ”Ye’er, is it okay to give him the money we saved on transport?”

”Let’s go!” Luo Ye frowned, tugged Luo Feng, and began to walk away. After being pulled a few steps by Luo Ye, Luo Feng looked back with a dejected expression. A girl was bending over, tossing a few coins to a child. The woman seemed to be continuously thanking her. He sighed softly, turned back, and looked at his sister with complicated emotions. His lips moved, but ultimately he remained silent.

Luo Ye glanced at Luo Feng, her expression unyielding. ”Do you think I’m heartless?”

”No!” Luo Feng’s voice was muffled.

”Don’t pretend, your expression has already told me what you’re thinking...” Luo Ye paused, ”There’s nothing wrong with being kind, but it depends on the person. This woman is at most in her thirties, and she’s quite sturdy. Why does she need to do this? If it were an elderly person in their seventies or eighties, regardless of whether they are scammers or not, I would agree to help. But someone in their prime wanting to live on others’ charity is not deserving of sympathy!”

”Ye’er,” Luo Feng hesitated, ”Maybe she has no education and can’t find a job? A woman with a child, if not desperate, who would want to be so embarrassing?”

”All I see in her eyes is numbness, no shame or sorrow. Brother, my principle is not to give a cent to such people. As long as you’re with me, you’re not allowed to give either!”

”Ye’er, you’re too domineering!” For the first time, Luo Feng spoke harshly to his sister.

”It’s clearly because you lack discernment!” Luo Ye, not bothering to explain, hastened her pace in agitation. Seeing this, Luo Feng sighed and quickly followed, yet he did not catch up with Luo Ye, only silently trailed behind.

When Luo Ye and Luo Feng got home, Luo Zhenggang and Wen Xin were sitting on the sofa seriously discussing something. Hearing the door open, they turned to look. Wen Xin, puzzled, asked, ”What happened? Why the long faces, trying to compete with a donkey in looks?”

”Nothing. I’m going back to my room to study; I have an exam on Tuesday!” The mother’s teasing failed to alter Luo Ye’s expression. She greeted them and was about to return to her room but was stopped by Luo Zhenggang. ”Ye’er, don’t rush off. Let’s solve the problem first. Your mother and I were just discussing your matter. With your grades, it’s more reasonable to choose Arts. Why would you pick Science?”

”Dad, she wants to join the military academy!” Luo Feng blurted out first.

”Do I need your input on my matters?” Luo Ye glared fiercely at Luo Feng and snapped back.

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