Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

Qi Jianlin's parents were working hard in the fields when they heard their eldest son's desperate cry, "Dad! Mom!" Startled, they looked up in the direction of the voice. They saw their eldest son running toward them like a madman, as if he were being chased by a demon.

The old couple's hearts instantly jumped into their throats, and all kinds of bad thoughts involuntarily emerged in their minds. Could something have happened at home? The child ran away in such a hurry and panic. What terrible thing had happened?

Qi Jianlin's mother was extremely anxious. Without giving it any time to think, she quickly dropped her farm tools and rushed forward, shouting, "Jianlin! Slow down! Don't fall! Tell me what's going on!" In her anxiety, she stumbled and nearly fell to the ground, but she didn't care and ran towards her son again.

Finally, the mother and son met at the edge of the field. The mother grabbed her son's hand and asked with concern and anxiety, "Son, what's wrong? Don't scare me! Is there something wrong at home?"

Qi Jianlin ran so hard that he was out of breath. He finally stopped and called out to his mother in a broken voice, "Mom, you...you should go home and check! My brother is in grandma's room!" His mother looked puzzled and frowned, asking, "What's wrong with him being in grandma's room?"

Qi Jianlin stamped his feet anxiously, shouting with a look of anxiety, "That's very dangerous in grandma's room! Think about it, from childhood to adulthood, has anyone in our family ever been to grandma's room? Let alone eat something as delicious as eggs!"

When Qi's mother heard this, her heart trembled, and the bitter memories of the past instantly emerged in her mind. Yes, ever since she married into this family, her mother-in-law had never taken care of her children, not even helping her during her confinement. For so many years, she had been the only one to manage the household chores and raise these children.

Forget eggs. Even within just two or three days of giving birth, she had to drag her frail body into the fields to work. If it weren't for her husband's thoughtfulness, occasionally sneaking her some delicious treats, like fresh wild fruits picked from the mountains or painstakingly found wild bird eggs, she wouldn't know how she would have managed to get through the day. Thinking of this, Qi's mother's heart tightened, and a sense of foreboding washed over her.

Qi's mother frantically grabbed her son's hand and hurriedly turned to walk back. But just as she turned around, her father's high-pitched and resonant voice suddenly rang out from behind her: "Mother, where are you going in such a hurry? What happened?"

Qi's mother stopped walking and, through tearful eyes, looked at the head of the family, who was standing in the middle of the field, hoe in hand. He looked puzzled and worried, his body still stained with dirt, and it was obvious that his wife's actions had disturbed him while he was working.

Mother Qi looked at the familiar and kind figure before her, and the grievances and fears in her heart suddenly burst out like a flood, and tears flowed uncontrollably down her cheeks. She sobbed and said, "My son...his father, please come back with me quickly, please!"

Qi's father, who had been confused at first, became extremely anxious when he saw his wife crying so heartbrokenly. He ignored his hoe and ran towards his wife and children, shouting as he ran, "Mother, don't worry, don't cry. Let's talk it over slowly. What's going on?"

Not long after, Qi's father ran to Qi Jianlin, breathless. Qi Jianlin was also extremely worried. Seeing his mother crying so hard that she could barely speak, he quickly interrupted his father and said, "Dad, something bad has happened at home! Please come with us back to see grandpa and grandma!"

When Qi's father heard this, his heart sank, a sense of foreboding washed over him. He thought his elderly parents had met with some unforeseen misfortune. Instantly, his face paled. Without a moment's pause, he swiftly slung the hoe he was carrying onto his back and, like an arrow from a bow, bolted towards home. As he ran, he panted and called out, "Sword Spirit! Hurry and bring your mother along with me. I need to get home first to see what's going on!" Without even waiting for a response from his wife and children, he took off, sprinting towards home like lightning.

And what about Qi's mother? She watched her husband's back as he fled like lightning, stunned for a moment. The tears that had been flowing continuously with grief and fear suddenly stopped, as if under a spell. She stood there, stunned, her eyes fixed on the receding, shrinking figure, her mind blank, completely bewildered. After a long moment, she finally regained consciousness, as if awakening from a dream, but her body was still stiff and unable to move. She could only silently pray that everything would be fine...

Qi Jianlin's face was filled with anxiety. He quickly stepped forward, grabbed his mother's slightly rough hand tightly, and shouted anxiously, "Mom! Please don't be stunned anymore! We have to go home quickly! If we go back too late, I really don't know what will happen!"

I was still lost in my own thoughts, but hearing Qi Jianlin's words was like being struck by thunder, and I snapped back to reality. I nodded hurriedly and said, "Right, right, right! We have to hurry! We can't delay!" Then I reached out and shook Qi Jianlin's hand, and we broke into a jog together, dashing towards home.

Along the way, Qi Jianlin and I walked with a hurried, unsteady pace, as if something terrifying were chasing us. The wind whistled past our ears, lifting our hair and clothes. Qi Jianlin kept glancing back as he ran, as if afraid someone or something unexpected might suddenly appear and block our path. I gritted my teeth, trying to keep up with him, silently praying that I could return home safely and quickly.

Qi's mother hurried home, holding her son's hand. Along the way, she was filled with confusion and anxiety, wondering what had happened. When they entered the house, they found it unusually quiet, both inside and out, without a single sound. This strange silence made the mother and son quicken their pace, heading straight for the main house.

Upon entering the main room, Qi's mother saw Qi Jianlin's grandparents and father sitting quietly around the bed. Their youngest son sat between them, oblivious to the tense atmosphere, playing freely and carefree. He occasionally uttered baby sounds and occasionally burst into hearty laughter, as if he were the only one in the world who was happy.

However, aside from the youngest son's innocent voice, there was no other sound in the house. The five of them sat in silence, no one speaking. A heavy, oppressive feeling hung in the air, making it difficult to breathe.

Mother Qi watched the scene unfold, her heart growing increasingly uneasy. She hesitated for a moment, but finally mustered the courage to step forward and softly ask, "Grandpa and Grandma, what's wrong with you? Did something happen?" As she spoke, she subconsciously reached out, wanting to hug her mother-in-law's little son.

At this moment, the mother-in-law, who had been silent all the time, suddenly changed her expression and shouted sternly: "Stand there and don't move!" The mother-in-law's voice was like a thunder, exploding in the silent room. Qi's mother was so scared that she trembled all over and her outstretched hand froze in mid-air.

Qi's mother stood there, feeling a little helpless. She asked hesitantly, "Mother-in-law, what's wrong with you?" Then she reached out to hug the child.

However, Qi's mother-in-law interrupted impatiently, "Why are you hugging me? Have you finished your work in the fields? It's only been so long, and you're all back! Don't you think an old woman like me should do all the work in the fields? All you do is eat all day, and you don't do any work at home. You keep eating, eating, eating, eating. Sooner or later, I'll eat you all out of money or even to death!"

Hearing her mother-in-law's words, Qi's mother's face flushed red, and she felt very embarrassed. She replied timidly, "No, mother-in-law. I was worried that my youngest son would be home alone without anyone to take care of him, so I was anxious and hurried back to check on him. Don't worry, I'll go back to work in the fields right after I see the child."

But Qi's mother-in-law still refused to give in. She waved her hand impatiently and said, "Alright, alright, you've seen it all. Then hurry up and get back to work in the fields! All day long, you don't know how much you care about us elders. Help us share some of the housework and farm work, and all you want is to eat and drink for free!"

Just as Qi's mother-in-law was scolding her daughter-in-law, a loud and rapid shout suddenly came from the noisy yard: "Is Old Qi at home? Is anyone home? Is anyone home? Is anyone home?" The voice became louder and louder, as if afraid that the people in the house could not hear it.

Mother-in-law Qi's words of scolding her daughter-in-law were interrupted by the sudden shout. She was stunned for a moment, and then a trace of impatience appeared on her face, but she stopped scolding her daughter-in-law and responded loudly in a hoarse voice: "Someone is there! There is someone at home! Come to the main room quickly! They are sitting in the main room!" As she spoke, she hurriedly prepared to go downstairs to greet the visitor.