Rebirth to Save Myself

Su Xia took some of the teacher's suggestions into consideration, and she had almost decided on the rest for her summer vacation trip. The two of them came out of the teacher's office separately, and were exhausted as soon as they got in the car.

"So, what did the teacher say again?" Chen Chunqi asked as the two got into the car.

"The teacher said that although my score was above the first-tier university admission line, some universities have higher admission scores, so I should be conservative in my application to avoid not being admitted." Chen Yuan sat sullenly in the back seat. She felt that she had worked very hard and exceeded the first-tier university admission line by so many points, so why did the teacher seem to think that she was not that great?

"My teacher wants me to aim for a top-tier university, but I'm not really interested. If I don't get accepted, some programs at certain schools will already be full by the time they're accepted in the second or third round. That's too risky, and I don't want to do it," Su Xia replied.

"Then let's go back and relax tonight, and we'll look at the application forms you brought back tomorrow." Chen Chunqi didn't say anything more; the two younger ones had only returned today. They were the type to have a blast, staying in a city for only two or three days before moving on. Even the youngest body would get tired after that.

"Hmm, let's go back and look at the photos. I even bought you some local specialties, all unique to the area." Chen Yuan's mood improved a lot as soon as she stopped mentioning college applications. They had gone from each person having one suitcase when they set off to each person having three suitcases now. Some things couldn't fit in the trunk, so they were shipped back directly, filling it to the brim.

As soon as they arrived home, Chen Yuan and Su Xia opened all six suitcases in the living room. Chen Chunqi went to the kitchen and came out to find the living room in a mess, and couldn't help but sigh, "Luckily, our house is big enough for them to run around in."

Su Xia first threw all the clothes that needed washing into the laundry basket, and the two of them filled the basket with clothes to wash. Then they put all the clothes that didn't need washing into a suitcase and packed them away. Next, they took out all sorts of souvenirs, such as seashells, a model of the Canton Tower, and a can of sand from the beach. The gifts they took out filled the space of a 24-inch suitcase.

Su Xia pulled out a hard drive and connected it to the computer next to the TV. This was something Su Xia had Chen Jianguo set up over the past two years. This way, the TV could also be turned into a large monitor, making it perfect for searching for resources online, watching movies, and playing games!

Let's look at it from the beginning.

"it is good."

The photos are taken from their first day in Xiamen, at different times of day, in bustling areas and in natural settings. Chen Chunqi looks at them with a smile, and every now and then she says to Chen Jianguo, "It's so good to be young!"

"Did you prepare an expense report for this trip?" Chen Jianguo suddenly asked.

"It's done. Now, please enjoy the expense record, mainly recorded by Xiaxia, with me assisting." Chen Yuan stood next to the TV like a clown, waving her hands to welcome the show.

Chen Jianguo didn't really care how much money they spent; he only had one requirement: the money had to be spent meaningfully, not recklessly. Otherwise, like gamblers who disappear instantly in a casino, even the largest fortune can't withstand such depletion. So he had the two of them record their expenses, which was also a way of making them understand that money is hard to earn.

"We mainly travel by high-speed train. If it's a long distance, we'll compare the prices of high-speed trains and airplanes. If the prices are similar, we'll choose airplanes first because they take less time." Su Xia listed transportation costs separately and then explained them one by one.

Chen Jianguo looked at the report Su Xia had prepared; it was simple, clear, and easy to understand at a glance. It was even better than some of the reports in their company. Su Xia then continued:

"In the city, we usually get around by bus and subway. We check the routes and plan our trips in advance, so we basically don't need to take taxis. We're not traveling during peak season or holidays, so hotels and guesthouses are relatively affordable. We book in advance on our phones and check in as soon as we arrive. The main expense is food, because Yuanyuan and I believe that when you come to a place, you have to try the local delicacies."

Su Xia opened the food photos she had compiled, and Chen Yuan began to describe them vividly: "This satay noodles are really delicious, and you can add as many toppings as you like. And this clam omelet—the clams inside are huge, bursting with juice in every bite. And this beef hot pot—it looks light and simple, but it really brings out the flavor of the beef itself. They use freshly slaughtered beef, and the texture is completely different from the beef we buy in the supermarket."

And these beef balls! The chef used two big iron bars to pound them out, and they were so chewy! Ever since then, I've thought supermarket frozen meatballs are just so-so. We bought some and sent them back; did you guys try them?

“Yes, the taste is definitely different from the beef balls you buy in the supermarket. Your dad ate five in one go,” Chen Chunqi smiled and then answered Chen Yuan.

"Hehe, we thought we had to let you guys try this delicious food. There was also a lot of beef offal over there. I was hesitant to eat it at first, but the smell was so strong it filled my nostrils. I tried a bite, and it was amazing. Then, we went to Guilin. It really is just like the place depicted on the RMB. We even checked off some of those places."

Next, we went to Changsha. There was so much delicious food there! I could eat rice noodles three times a day and still not get tired of it. The milk tea there was also very good—not too sweet, with a tea flavor, and it tasted different from other milk tea shops I'd been to. And Tianmen Mountain was absolutely amazing! Climbing those steps felt like I was ascending to heaven.

Next, I went to eat hot pot, which was really fragrant and spicy. I originally wanted to eat hot dry noodles too, but then I came back.

After Chen Yuan finished speaking, she downed most of a glass of water; her mouth was dry from talking so much. Next came a series of selfies and photos of the two of them together. Chen Chunqi picked out one to use as her WeChat Moments background—a photo of Su Xia and Chen Yuan standing atop Tianmen Mountain. Although they did post on WeChat Moments, most of the good photos were taken with a camera. Since phones didn't yet have those ultra-high-resolution cameras like they would in the future, Su Xia planned to Photoshop the images to create a viral sensation on WeChat Moments later.

"Xiaxia, did you take all these photos?" Chen Chunqi asked.

"Yes, Xiaxia took all the photos. She made me look so beautiful." Chen Yuan said proudly. Su Xia had been studying the camera the whole way, trying to figure out which angle would look best.

"They're really nice, they all look good."

"Thank you, Mom."

After finishing dinner, Su Xia returned to her room, took a shower, and sat down at her desk to prepare for photo editing. Just then, Lu Jingnian sent her a video call. Su Xia answered and asked, "How did you know I was back?"

"I saw Chen Yuan's post on WeChat Moments. What are you planning to do now?"

"Getting ready to work on the images."

"I didn't expect you could do this, you're amazing."

"That's right, I'll learn it after I go and learn it."

"Are you coming back now to submit your college applications before leaving again?"

"Let me see. I missed Liuzhou this time. I wanted to go there to eat snail rice noodles. It's better to go to Yunnan in the spring, and I'd like to go to the north in the winter to see the snow."

"Then we'll probably only have the middle piece left."

"Yes, I want to go to Sichuan Province, I want to go to the new autonomous region, I want to go to Xi'an, and I want to go to Suzhou."

Are you planning to travel all over the country?

"Yes, I want to. I'll go during the winter and summer vacations. It'll be too much trouble to ask for leave when I'm working."

"You act like you've actually worked a job, speaking so convincingly."

Su Xia was taken aback and almost let slip what she had said. She quickly added, "I just read about how hard working people work online and listened to their complaints."

“Yes, but I’ll earn money for you to go out and have fun.” Lu Jingnian thought about it and felt that this suggestion wasn’t very good, so he said, “Let’s earn money together and go out and have fun together.”

"Great idea! Let's take Yuanyuan and the others on a road trip then!"

"I'll probably have to go out and do part-time work soon."

"Doesn't your dad give you living expenses?"

"I'll give you some, but not much. If you want something you like, you'll have to earn the money to buy it yourself."

"Not bad, not bad, experiencing life."

“We’ll talk later.”

"it is good."

Su Xia and Lu Jingnian were chatting and processing images at the same time, and they had already finished one batch. She was indeed a bit tired from the long journey, so she played on her phone for a while before falling asleep.

In her dream, it was the summer after her college entrance exam. She wanted to go out and get a summer job, but her mother refused. Then, on the grounds that she was idle at home, her mother made her responsible for the family's three meals a day and housework. So she was forced to get up at 5:30 to cook porridge, and then prepare vegetables to cook breakfast for her parents who had to go to work.

After they went to work, Su Xia had to take the family's clothes, which had been washed the day before, to the river to wash. Because they lived in an old house without running water, Su's mother bought a large bucket to store water. Every day, Su Xia would carry the bucket, one bucket at a time, laboriously pulling it up from the well. When Su Xia was little, she would collect water bucket by bucket; as she grew older, she would carry two buckets, each about the size of a paint bucket, back and forth to collect water.

After filling the water tank, she had to prepare lunch. Because they used a coal-fired stove, it needed to be cooked in advance, otherwise there wouldn't be enough time. After cooking the dishes and having her parents come home and eat, she would have to wash the dishes. There was no afternoon nap because it rained a lot in the summer, and her aunt's family had dried rice and peanuts, which she had to help harvest. In her mother's words, "We live with our aunt, so it's only right that we help out."

The problem is that Su Xia does most of the work. She's called by her mother to the fields to help her aunt before dawn, a routine she has to follow every summer. As for Su Yue and Su Yaoche, their mother says they're too young to work and will only cause trouble. So, Su Xia, the eldest sister, has to take on all the work.

After dinner, the family took a shower and went out to play. This routine continued from Su Xia's first day in Pucheng until she left for university. However, when she returned home on holidays, she found that Su Yue and Su Yaoche didn't need to do the chores she used to do, despite being older. Puzzled, she asked Su's mother.

Su's mother replied, "They need to study hard; they don't have time to do these tiring jobs."

Look, how biased Su's mother is. She clearly has three children, but she only treats her eldest daughter this way. No matter how much Su Xia does, she can't get a single good word from her, nor can she change her heart. She would occasionally argue with Su's parents, accusing them of favoritism and mistreating her. Su's father would bluntly say, "People's hearts are inherently biased. Look at anyone, whose heart is in the middle."

Waking from a dream, Su Xia stared blankly at the ceiling. She'd read online that unhappy people spend their entire lives healing from their childhood trauma. But even after a second chance at life, Su Xia still couldn't let go of the debts her parents had placed on her in her previous life. She still vividly remembered how she felt back then—the hurt, the indignation, the heartbreak. How could one simply ignore the things they experienced in this life?

"Xiaxia, are you up yet? Breakfast is ready." Chen Chunqi's voice came from the doorway, and she knocked.

"Get up, I'll be going out in a bit." Su Xia shook her head and then said, "Luckily, I have them now."

Su Xia quickly washed up and then went to the dining table to have breakfast with Chen Chunqi, Chen Jianguo, and Chen Yuan. They chatted as they ate.

"Once you've submitted your college applications, you can go out and have fun again. Take this opportunity to plan your trip."

“Mom, it’s been over a month, I don’t think they’ll come back. Yuanyuan and I will be away at school and won’t have time to come back. I’ll spend this time at home with you and prepare the materials for the start of school.”

"No need, going out to play can broaden one's horizons. I think Yuanyuan has changed a lot, not bad."

"Mom, the way you're saying this makes it sound like your daughter was stupid before."

“I didn’t say that; you admitted it yourself.”

"Dad, look at what Mom is saying!"

"I admit that going out to play can indeed broaden your horizons."

"Pfft, hahahaha." Su Xia couldn't help but burst out laughing. Chen Jianguo and Chen Chunqi's coordinated lines were absolutely brilliant!

"You, you, the three of you are bullying me!" Chen Yuan stood up angrily and pointed at the three people.

"Alright, alright, sit down and eat."

Forced by her mother's tyrannical power, Chen Yuan sat down and continued eating. She muttered every now and then, "They're bullying me."

Both students had excellent grades, so they both applied to universities in the first batch of undergraduate admissions. Su Xia's first choice was Hunan University, followed by Xiamen University, both majoring in photography, with Chinese language and literature as a backup. Besides photography, she liked literature and literature, and since she also wrote novels, this major was also a good choice for her.

Chen Yuan had originally planned to apply to the same university as Chen Wenwei, whose first choice was Electronic Information Science and Technology at Wuhan University. So Chen Yuan also chose Journalism and Human Resource Management at Wuhan University, while Su Xia selected Nankai University for them, a university with a long and established history.

After making these selections, I was indeed urged to set off on my travels.