Chapter 54: The Awakening of the NEET Generation 12 (End)

The cherries kept getting better and better, and the family's income grew steadily. Soon, Ren Xin was about to graduate. Her professor was reluctant to see her go and suggested she pursue graduate studies, saying that it would give her a greater edge in the job market.

Ren Xin shook her head, half joking as she said, “I’m planning to move back home and let my parents support me.”

The professor stared at her in surprise, then pointed at Ren Xin, probably believing her family had something lined up for her. What a shame for such an outstanding student, but everyone has their own path in life, so he didn’t try to persuade her.

When Ren Xin returned to her hometown, she couldn’t help but smile at the village that now looked nothing like it did before. Over the past few years, everyone had made money. People in the countryside are straightforward—when they get some money, the first thing they do is build houses. The more spacious, the more grand, the better!

The Ren Family had already built a small, two-story house. Ren Xin herself had designed the plans, after all, her IQ was 200, and that was no joke.

Now, Father Ren and Mother Ren were raising several pigs, along with dozens of chickens, ducks, and geese. Otherwise, they’d have nothing to do and would get lazy. Tending the fruit trees was the biggest job these days.

“Dad, Mom, I’m back! I’ve come running home to you, so you can take care of me~”

Father Ren and Mother Ren were delighted and immediately replied, “Of course we can take care of you! Just stay at home.”

Afterward, Ren Xin occasionally took on translation jobs online. The money she made was more than enough to support herself. Sometimes, people in the village would gossip, saying things like, “Ren Xin is a university graduate, but she didn’t even get a job after graduating, just came back home. Her family spoils her too much.”

When Father Ren heard such talk, he went straight to their doors and shot back, “Your kid is so great? Your kid isn’t even good-looking, eats a ton, can’t do anything right, earns just 1800 yuan a month, and is silly enough to giggle like an idiot every day…”

Everyone: “……”

Ren Xin actually felt her father was wasting his talents—his rap skills were incredible! Wasn’t this exactly the right material?

Later, everyone realized that it wasn’t that Ren Xin wasn’t earning money—she was making plenty, all while staying at home.

As the years went by, she couldn’t escape her family’s nagging about marriage. “You’re not young anymore. You can’t just drift through life all day. While your dad and I can still help you look after a child, you should hurry up.”

Ren Xin confidently waved her hand. “I've paid for health insurance and social security. The latter half of my life is well taken care of. It’s fine if I don’t get married.”

At that, Mother Ren launched a full-scale, all-angles campaign to change Ren Xin’s mind—until Ren Xin finally took both her parents traveling.

“We’re going to see the world. Once you see for yourselves, you’ll realize that living alone can be even happier than being with someone else. A woman doesn’t have to get married or have children for her life to be complete.”

Ren Xin took Father Ren and Mother Ren traveling far and wide, sometimes setting off on road trips, making sure they tried every new thing.

Mother Ren eventually stopped pressuring Ren Xin to get married. Her daughter knew so much and would always make the best choices for herself. Just as her husband had said, in the end, a child’s life is theirs to live.

When the two of them were old and gray, they leaned against each other in rocking chairs, letting the fresh breeze brush their faces as they quietly watched the sunset.

Ren Xin sat nearby, peeling apples for them. “Dad, Mom, am I your pride?”

Father Ren laughed heartily, “You are our greatest pride in this life, and the reason we live.”

Mother Ren nodded in agreement.

Ren Xin laughed with them. “Being your daughter makes me incredibly happy, too~”

— Translator's Notes —

– build houses: In rural China, constructing a multi-story, modern house in one's ancestral village is the ultimate symbol of 'mianzi' (face) and success, signaling to the community that the family has prospered.