Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

Li Ruoyue took Lu Zhu out of the mansion and went to the slums of West Street to look for a young man named Qi Lei. It turned out that Qi Lei was the top scorer in the imperial examination three years later, but his family was poor and he even had to rely on the help of his neighbors to survive.

Since he had no background or funding, he was able to stand out completely through his own efforts, like a golden phoenix from a poor background. Li Ruoyue decided to support him before he became famous so that she could cultivate him into her own secret power in the future.

The young boy Qi Lei, despite his poor family background, has a heart of gold and an indomitable spirit.

Qi Lei was born into a small family in the slums and faced hardships from a young age. His father died young, leaving him and his mother to depend on each other. His mother supported the family with a meager income, working diligently from dawn to dusk, just to provide Qi Lei with a safe haven. All this hard work left his mother mute. He and his mother struggled to survive in this world. Despite the material scarcity, Qi Lei never complained, knowing that every drop of sweat he shed now was for a better future for him.

In this environment, Qi Lei displayed a remarkable resilience and self-reliance from a young age. He understood that only through hard work could he change his destiny. Therefore, he devoted all his free time to studying, absorbing knowledge from everything from worn textbooks to old newspapers borrowed from neighbors. At night, when other children had long since fallen asleep, Qi Lei would still be buried in his studies under the dim light, his bright eyes gleaming with a thirst for knowledge and a vision for the future.

Qi Lei was not only bright and studious, but also possessed a kind heart. He often used his spare time to help elderly neighbors with their groceries or teach children to read and write. Although he wasn't wealthy himself, he always managed to squeeze out a little from his meager allowance to help those facing greater hardship. His kindness and optimism, like a ray of sunshine, illuminated every corner of the slum.

Facing the pressures of life, Qi Lei never gave up. His tenacity and perseverance allowed him to continue growing in adversity. His story is an inspiration to all those struggling in difficult situations, proving that even in the most difficult circumstances, as long as there is a dream, love, and hope in one's heart, one will be able to break out of the cocoon and bloom with one's own light.

Li Ruoyue's carriage stopped at the intersection. He saw Huiying, a child wearing patched clothes and with mud on his face, on the side of the road. Luzhu stepped forward and said, "Child, do you know where Qi Lei lives?"

The child said in a childish voice, "Who are you? What do you want to talk to Brother Qi about?" Lizhi smiled and touched his head. "We are his relatives. We have something to talk to him about, do you know?" "Just lead the way for us. Sister, I'll give you these two copper coins, okay?" The child was overjoyed when he saw the copper coins. He reached out to Luzhu for the money. "Sister, can you give me the money first? I'm going to buy a candy for my sister."

When Luzhu heard her, her heart was filled with pity. She took out a handful of candy from her purse and said, "Here's this for you. Can you take us there?" The little boy jumped in front and led the way to Qi Lei's hut.

A child shouted from a simple house, "Brother Qi, someone is looking for you." He said he would not go into the house, and when someone came out, he ran away, not forgetting to say as he left, "I'm leaving, I'm going to give candy to my sister, my sister will definitely be happy." Li Ruoyue looked at the direction the little boy ran and shook her head helplessly. What a poor child, he had to take care of the family at such a young age, and he was thinking about his sister at home. Their family had no worries about food and drink, but his sister still calculated himself like that. Was he lucky or unfortunate?

The moment Qi Lei walked out of the dilapidated hut, he was like the rising sun in the morning light, bringing with him hope and light. The hut, though dilapidated, held the dreams and struggles of countless days and nights.

The creaking wooden door of the dilapidated cottage seemed to betray the passage of time. The paint on the doorframe had long since peeled, revealing mottled wood grain, like the marks left on the wall by time. Sunlight filtered through the cracks in the eaves, illuminating Qi Lei's resolute face. He wore a slightly oversized, worn coat, the corners a bit disheveled from repeated repairs, but his eyes gleamed with an unyielding spirit.

He gently pushed open the wooden door, which was almost as tall as he was. The hinges made a slight sound, which was particularly clear in the quiet of the early morning. Outside the door was a narrow, winding alley, with equally dilapidated houses on both sides. The air was filled with a faint smell of cooking smoke and the scent of life.

Qi Lei took a deep breath. Though the air was tinged with dust and moisture, he could smell the scent of freedom and hope. He took a firm step down that familiar alley, each step filled with boundless longing for the future. His back stretched out in the morning sun, a sign of imminent emergence from his cocoon, a sign that he was about to begin a new chapter in his life.

Although the dilapidated hut behind him is a witness to his growth, his eyes are always looking forward, to the unknown road full of challenges and opportunities. His steps are steady and firm, as if to declare to the world: no matter how bumpy the road ahead is, he has the confidence and courage to greet every dawn.

The moment Li Ruoyue saw Qi Lei walk out, she finally understood what it meant to be untainted by the mud. In such an environment, he walked out without a trace of inferiority, but instead with a strong sense of pride, a kind of self-confidence and determination that looked down on everything.

Qi Lei saw two beautiful girls standing at the door. They were wearing gorgeous clothes and had elegant temperaments. At first glance, they were obviously the daughters and maids of a wealthy family. He couldn't help but feel a little surprised, but he didn't think that someone like him would have any intersection with rich people. After all, they lived in different worlds, with different backgrounds and identities. So, when he saw these two girls, he thought, "Is there anything I can do for you?" "We don't know each other, and I don't know if there's anything I can do for you."

Li Ruoyue looked at Wang Qilei with a puzzled look and said: "Mr. Qi, can we go inside to talk?"

Qi Lei felt that there was nothing for him to worry about, so he invited the lady to his cabin and left the door open, not wanting to attract criticism.

Li Ruoyue walked into Qi Lei's bare little house and saw a tattered bed, a table with missing legs, and several rickety chairs. The walls had peeled away, revealing the bricks underneath. The room was filled with a stale, oppressive smell. She frowned, a wave of sympathy welling up in her heart. Is this where Qi Lei lives? How can he study with peace of mind in such an environment? She decided to help Qi Lei improve his poor living conditions.

Li Ruoyue said to Qi Lei straight away with a smile, "I've heard you're incredibly talented, so I've come here to help you. From now on, you don't have to worry about making a living anymore. Just focus on your studies. When you pass the imperial examination, it will be our chance to realize our ambitions together."

Qi Lei was very confused. How did the young lady in Quaker know that he was talented and needed his help? He thought about it over and over again but couldn't figure out the reason.

Qi Lei said frankly, "Miss, I have no power or influence, and I have a sick mother at home. I don't know what I can give you?"

Li Ruoyue said directly without hesitation: "I will treat your mother's illness and take care of your food, clothing, housing and transportation. You just need to study hard and help me when I need you."

But he was still a little worried, and added: "However, if you ask me to do something that is against the will of heaven, I will never do it; I will not do anything that goes against human ethics." After saying that, he looked at Li Ruoyue firmly, as if waiting for her response.

Li Ruoyue firmly told him, "Don't worry, I won't let you do these things. I've spent money and effort to train you, and I will never let you do those trivial things. I will let you stand upright in the court and do something for the people and the world."

Qi Lei's heart ached as he thought of his mother's illness. He knew how much his mother's health meant to the family, and the disastrous consequences if she didn't receive timely treatment. Then he looked at his own situation: penniless and with no way out. But then, he met this benefactor who offered him help and support. This kindness filled him with gratitude and also ignited a deep resolve within him.

Qi Lei knelt on the ground with tears streaming down his face, bowed deeply to the benefactor and expressed his gratitude: "Thank you for your kindness, Miss. Qi Lei will definitely live up to your expectations!" He knew this was a rare opportunity, a crucial moment to change his destiny. He secretly told himself that he must cherish this opportunity, study hard for the imperial examination, and live up to the expectations of the benefactor and his mother.

Li Ruoyue smiled and helped Qi Lei up, encouraging him to move forward bravely. She believed that Qi Lei had the potential to become a good official who served the people, and as long as he worked hard, he would be able to realize his dream.

Qi Lei stood up, his eyes gleaming with determination. He decided to prove his worth with concrete actions, to repay the kindness of his benefactor. From this moment on, he would go all out, working even harder on the scientific expedition, and striving for his mother's recovery.

Li Ruoyue and Qi Lei had agreed on this, and then she asked, "Where is your mother? I can take her pulse and treat her if she has any problems." Qi Lei then asked, "Miss, do you know medicine?" Lu Zhu grumbled unhappily, "Why are you so talkative? Of course our young lady knows medicine. Otherwise, how could she treat the old lady? You are such a fool!"

Qi Lei was surprised. How could this young lady even know medicine? But thinking about his mother's illness, he led her to the kang in the inner room. There, sprawled on the tattered quilt, lay an old woman with gray hair and a withered face. Her complexion was sallow, and she had little flesh on her body. She hummed softly to ease the pain.