Rebooting 60, let's go on a rampage with the orange cat!

After dinner, Huai'an insisted on clearing the dishes, but Xiuzhi wouldn't let her, insisting that she rest properly, and then went to wash the dishes herself.

Huai'an hid in her room and quietly tore open the packaging of the oral vaccine. Inside was a sugar pill-shaped oral vaccine. She threw the packaging into her spatial storage, thinking about how to coax her mother into taking the sugar pill.

She had a sudden inspiration. She gently pinched a sugar pill in one hand and held a cup of spiritual spring water in the other. She walked to Xiuzhi's side and said, "Mom, open your mouth. This sugar bean is delicious. I'll feed you."

Xiuzhi was washing dishes when she quickly turned her head to the side and shook her head repeatedly, saying, "No, no, Aunt He bought this for you, right? Here, have some candy. I don't like sweets."

Huai'an was unhappy and said, "No, this is what I peeled for Mom. If you don't eat it, I'll get angry and I won't eat it anymore. Open your mouth quickly, it's just a small piece."

Xiuzhi saw that she was indeed holding a sugar pill the size of a bean in her hand, looking very careful and precious, with pleading in her eyes. Her heart softened, and she could only helplessly open her mouth and make a "ah-yi" sound while washing the dishes.

Huai'an quickly popped the sugar pill into her mouth and said urgently, "Swallow it quickly, don't chew, just swallow it." Then he took out a glass of water with his other hand and said, "I'll feed you water."

Xiuzhi swallowed the sugar pill, savored it for a moment, and said with a smile, "You're such a strange child. How can you know the taste if you don't chew it? And you want to give me water? It's not like I'm giving you medicine. The sugar pill is slightly sweet, not bitter, so why do you need to drink water?"

Huai'an laughed and retorted, "You have to rinse your mouth after eating candy, otherwise your teeth will hurt later. Hurry up and drink some water! Don't blame me if you have a toothache later!"

Xiuzhi said reproachfully, "I can't argue with you, I'll listen to you!"

Shi Renmei agreed, saying, "Huai'an is right. Toothache isn't a disease, but it can be excruciating! Rinsing your mouth is good; you should rinse your mouth after eating anyway."

Xiuzhi smiled and said, "I rinsed my mouth. Every time I finish eating, I dilute the leftover soup in my plate with a little boiled water and drink it. That way, I don't waste any food and I rinse my mouth at the same time."

Huai'an chuckled and said, "That doesn't count. You have to rinse your mouth with water. Mom usually takes care of me, and today I want to take care of Mom too. I'll give you water. Come on! Be a good girl, Mom!"

Xiuzhi felt a sweet warmth in her heart, while playfully scolding, "This child is getting naughtier and naughtier." Then she obediently took a sip of water from the cup in Huai'an's hand, gulped it down a couple of times, and swallowed it. She found it delicious, and then took a big gulp to finish the cup of spiritual spring water. She asked in surprise, "Why do I feel that this water is also sweet?"

Shi Renmei laughed and said, "Maybe it's because Huai'an fed you water, and you felt sweet inside, so everything you ate tasted sweet!"

Xiuzhi winked triumphantly at Huai'an and said, "An'an! Your dad's jealous!"

Huai'an thought to himself, "This is a sacred spring, how could it not be sweet?" He quickly walked to the table and poured Shi Renmei a glass of water, saying, "Dad, you drink some too!"

Shi Renmei said "Okay" and drank it down in one gulp. He tasted the water, poured himself another glass and drank it, then said, "It's sweet, as sweet as spring water. It seems different from what I usually drink."

Huai'an smiled and covered it up, saying, "It's probably because the water quality in the city has improved."

Shi Renmei thought for a moment and nodded: "Yes, it seems the city is currently carrying out water purification, especially in the countryside, where they're promoting it everywhere, telling people to boil water before drinking and not to drink tap water, saying there are bacteria in the water?"

Wang Xiuzhi thought for a moment and said, "But I still think the water tastes better today, Lao Shi, don't you think?"

Huai'an quickly brushed it off, saying, "Who cares? I'd love for the water to be sweeter; then we can save on sugar."

"Hahaha...that's true." The three of them laughed happily.

Life gets sweeter and sweeter; this is what happiness looks like—a family all together, safe and healthy, every ordinary yet heartwarming moment is sweet.

Huai'an was genuinely happy to see her mother successfully take the oral HPV vaccine and then swallow it with Lingquan water. Her heart was finally at ease.

However, all of this had to wait until 1964, when Wang Xiuzhi was 49 years old, to verify the effectiveness of the sugar pill vaccine. Only by surviving unharmed could it be considered a fatal blow that changed her fate.

Of course, starting in 1962, whether or not the mother fell ill could reveal some clues and signs, because this was directly related to whether Huai'an would be sent to the countryside with his mother, almost unable to return to the city, and almost buried by fate.

The days in July are particularly long. After dinner, it was still bright outside. Shi Renmei and her family of three carried gifts and walked toward Gu Jingxing's house.

As the sun sets and dusk approaches, twilight gradually seeps into the alleyways, and the last rays of light fade, adding a hazy hue to the streets and lanes.

After dinner, people would bring out bamboo chairs and stools, gather in small groups around their doorways, fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans to cool off while chatting about everyday life or telling ghost stories and anecdotes, laughing and talking. Children would chase and play in the alleyways, making them lively and bustling. Some families would bring towels or tires to go for a picnic by the river, and it was common for adult men to go shirtless and wear brightly colored shorts. Others would bring their families out of their homes and gather at their doorways or in the alleyways, enjoying this rare cool time.

Along the way, the Shi family greeted their neighbors and acquaintances who were sitting in their doorways enjoying the cool air, their faces beaming with friendly smiles. As they walked, they chatted about everyday matters, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The Shi family walked through several narrow alleys, each filled with a familiar scent. They rounded the last bend and finally arrived at their destination—a spacious courtyard. Three or four families lived in this courtyard, maintaining a harmonious relationship and frequently visiting each other.

Upon entering the courtyard, the Shi family saw several elderly women bustling about. Some were chatting and relaxing in the cool air, some were washing vegetables and cooking, and others were playing with children.

On the other side of the courtyard, several teenagers were standing in front of a makeshift ping-pong table, swinging their rackets with abandon. Sweat streamed down their foreheads and cheeks, but they didn't care and remained fully focused on the intense match.

The younger children gathered around, excitedly cheering them on, each good shot eliciting a burst of applause. The whole yard was filled with a vibrant and joyful atmosphere.

Huai'an was immediately captivated, her feet rooted to the ground, unable to move. She was also a huge ping-pong fan, and seeing the white ping-pong ball bouncing back and forth on the table made her itchy to play.

Shi Renmei immediately recognized the boy in white swinging the racket and called out, "Gu Jingxing~ Are your grandpa and mom home?"

Gu Jingxing waved happily at the Shi family, handed the ping-pong paddle to another boy, and said, "Xiao Yi, you continue playing." Then he strode over to them.

He was tall and slender, wearing a white shirt and sporting short, jet-black hair. His angular face had deep-set eyes that shone with sincerity like two black gems. His high nose gave him a sense of determination and confidence. His tightly closed lips revealed a reserved and composed demeanor. His skin was tanned slightly by the sun, giving it a healthy glow.

He was a sunny boy with a bright smile on his face. He said enthusiastically, "Uncle Shi and Aunt Shi, they just finished eating and are at home now! Let me take you to find them." Then, Gu Jingxing reached out without hesitation and held Shi Huai'an's small hand tightly. He said firmly, "Let's go, little Huai'an, I'll take you to find them."

To those around them, Gu Jingxing was a fourteen-year-old boy already in the second year of junior high school (Gu Jingxing started school early, at the age of six), while Huai'an was an eight-year-old girl who hadn't yet started school. Huai'an's height only reached his chest, and the difference in their heights was so obvious that it could be described as worlds apart.

But Shi Huai'an didn't think so. Deep down, she was an adult. Suddenly being held by a big boy made her feel uncomfortable, and her face turned bright red. Fortunately, it was evening and the night was dim, so people couldn't see clearly. Huai'an tried to pull her hand away, but felt it being held even tighter.

Huai'an was a little speechless: Forget it! What am I, an old lady, afraid of? Just think of it as holding my grandson's hand.

Shi Huai'an is currently unable to adapt to the changes in her body, unable to reconcile her mind and body, and unable to identify as a little girl.

This attempt to look young is ridiculous! She felt a little ashamed of herself, but there was nothing she could do. She hoped she could merge with her body soon, since it was only the second day since her rebirth. If she had drunk the Meng Po soup, she wouldn't be in this awkward situation.

Gu Jingxing raised an eyebrow and asked with a meaningful smile, "You haven't started school yet, have you? Have you forgotten that I taught you to swim and play ping-pong when you were little? Why don't you call me Master!"

Master, is that so? Shi Huai'an was suffocating. She really couldn't remember who this boy in front of her was. Although she knew he had saved her yesterday, had she really met him before and had such a deep connection with him? She felt that she had been unbelievably charmed by a young man.

Her heart couldn't help but race. As a child, she was so playful that she had made so many friends—brothers, sisters, mentors, and so on—that it's impossible to remember them all. Childhood playmates are easy to forget quickly after a long time of playing together, and she had no recollection of them at all. Fortunately, it didn't matter.

Shi Huai'an replied evasively, "School starts on September 1st, and I've started preparing. Are you starting junior high?"

Gu Jingxing scratched the back of his head a little embarrassed and said, "Hehe~ I'm starting junior high school." Nowadays, most students enroll at 8 or 9 years old, and the normal age for sixth grade is 14. He started school at 6, so he is two or three years younger than his classmates, but he is tall and doesn't look small in class.

As Shi Renmei and her husband walked, they listened to their conversation with great interest.

Wang Xiuzhi interjected jokingly, "Oh, I didn't expect you to have a master protecting you! Luckily, you had this young master to protect you! Otherwise, yesterday would have been dangerous."

As they were talking, they walked up to an old man, and Gu Jingxing called out, "Grandpa, Uncle Shi and his family have come to see you."

The old man sat on a bamboo chair, looking at the Shi family. He tried to stand up with his cane, but Shi Renmei quickly stepped forward to help him up, saying, "Grandpa Gu, please sit down. We've come to express our gratitude."

Grandpa Gu also heard about his grandson saving people, and nodded with a smile, saying, "It's what he should do."

Wang Xiuzhi piled the gifts she was carrying on the small table and said sincerely, "This is just a small token of our appreciation. If it weren't for Gu Jingxing yesterday, Huai'an would have been in grave danger and almost lost his life!"

At this moment, Gu Jingxing's mother brought out a sliced ​​watermelon from the inner room and said, "Come, come, sit down and eat watermelon, and chat slowly."

Huai'an quickly greeted them one by one: "Hello, Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt!"

Gu Jingxing's grandmother also came over and sat down, fanning herself with a palm leaf fan. "Oh my, she's so polite. You've taught her so well. But you can't bring things here. Take these back for the children to eat." She then stroked Huai'an's head and said, "She's so lovely. The little girl is so pretty. I wish I had a granddaughter like her. Gu Jingxing is such a naughty boy."

Everyone started chatting and laughing.

Shi Huai'an lowered his head a little shyly, munching on watermelon and listening to the adults chat.

When Gu Jingxing was getting a little bored after she finished eating a slice of watermelon, he took her hand and said, "Come on, I'll take you to play ping-pong. It'll get dark soon and we won't be able to see anything."

Shi Huai'an thought to himself, "You need to change this habit of grabbing people's hands all the time. Isn't this era supposed to be very feudal? Is it really this open-minded now?"

Shi Renmei urged, "You go play with Brother Jingxing, we'll chat with Grandpa for a while."

She was practically dragged by Gu Jingxing to the ping-pong table to watch, because her short legs couldn't keep up with Gu Jingxing's long legs, which was really annoying.

Gu Jingxing teased her, "Call me Brother Jingxing, I'm your savior."

Huai'an felt a little embarrassed. This was just a young boy, and she couldn't bring herself to call him that. She blushed slightly and said, "Jing... thank you for saving me..."

"What happened? Have you forgotten me? Have you lost your memory? Did your brain really get waterlogged in the river?" Gu Jingxing asked, a little puzzled. "Didn't you always call me Brother Jingxing? But calling me Jing... it really suits my taste..."

He laughed without restraint, showing no sign of being a city lord.

Huai'an felt a little confused. Was there a story behind this?

For some reason, Huai'an seemed a little nervous in front of Jingxing. Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her head and couldn't help but touch her forehead with her hand.

Why is it that among so many people and things, she doesn't remember anyone named Gu Jingxing? Even though they had crossed paths before, seeing him brings a long-lost sense of warmth and familiarity, yet Huai'an's mind remains blank.

She suddenly remembered that in her past life, she had undergone a brain examination because she suffered from headaches in her old age. The doctor said that a severe head injury she experienced when she was young might have caused some memory loss, or selective amnesia...

Could it be that she really has lost a part of her memory? Is it related to Gu Jingxing? Could the head injury she suffered when she was young be related to Gu Jingxing? This is all so confusing!

Shi Huai'an shook his head and pressed his temples, trying to calm himself down.

At some point, the chubby orange cat "Duoduo" and several stray cats silently appeared on the yard wall, lining up and keeping a close watch on the movements inside. Perhaps Shi Huai'an and Duoduo had a telepathic connection, because she immediately noticed Duoduo's gaze and they exchanged glances.

The two boys by the pool table were locked in a fierce battle, but when Gu Jingxing arrived, Xiao Yi, who was at a disadvantage, took a break.

He handed the racket to Gu Jingxing, nodded to Shi Huai'an, and asked, "Your sister's here, hey! Little one!"

Shi Huai'an was speechless for a moment, his mind screaming: Screw you, call me grandma... Of course, she didn't say anything, just rolled her eyes and said, "Call me whatever you want."

Gu Jingxing raised his thick eyebrows and laughed, "She said she doesn't remember us, hahaha... Isn't that funny? She's the kid we rescued that day. She learned to swim with me and is considered my apprentice, or you could call her my sister."

Upon hearing this, the other children all drew out an "Oh..." in understanding, meaning that you would protect her from now on.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi grinned, gave a thumbs-up, and nodded, saying, "That's truly remarkable! He bravely rescued a child from drowning. I've been struggling to find something to write about for my composition, so I'll write about this tomorrow."

Huai'an's heart sank. Could it be that she really had lost a part of her memories about Gu Jingxing...?

Gu Jingxing clasped his hands in a salute and joked with everyone, saying, "No need to exaggerate, we're all family."

Xiao Yi chuckled and then introduced the boy opposite him: "This is Zhao Lei from the school team next door. He's here to challenge us. He plays basketball quite well."

Wearing a red jersey, Zhao Lei scoffed, "You've brought reinforcements! And you're a hero for it? Are you even good at ping-pong?"

Gu Jingxing grinned and said nonchalantly, "If I'm better than you, that's fine. Come on, let's have a competition."

Zhao Lei felt a little annoyed and got into a fighting stance, saying, "Come on then."