4: Chen Xi was born

As Lin Wei's belly grew larger, Chen Jun began to work even more desperately.

That night, Chen Jun dragged his leaden legs up the rusty iron ladder leading to the shantytown.

At the top of the ladder, he coincidentally met Old Zhao, a neighbor returning from work, and Little Li, who was just leaving for his night shift.

"Yo, Chen Jun? Just getting back? You're even later than us night shifters."

Old Zhao mumbled, chewing on a low-quality nutrient bar.

Little Li, standing nearby, yawned and chimed in:

"Brother Zhao, you don't understand. I saw Brother Chen at the 'Juli' freight yard unloading goods at five this morning. Good heavens, when I went to 'Xinke' Electronics Factory for my shift in the afternoon, I saw him on the assembly line again! Brother Chen, how many jobs are you working? Are you trying to kill yourself?"

Chen Jun merely gave a tired tug at the corner of his mouth, too exhausted to reply, and waved his hand as he shuffled towards his door.

Old Zhao clicked his tongue and said to Little Li:

"See that? That's a real man. For his wife and child, he'll swallow any hardship. Unlike us, who just earn enough to get by."

Little Li scratched his head:

"That's true... I heard his wife is due soon? Sigh, these days, raising a child is so expensive. Those nutrient supplements, basic vaccines... if it weren't for some federal subsidies, who could afford it? But then again, if they really give birth to someone with potential, C-rank or B-rank, and they get into the Federation's cultivation program, they'll soar to the sky, hey!"

"Dream on! How many years has it been since a decent talent emerged from our shantytown? They're all destined for F-rank, E-rank lives!"

Old Zhao scoffed, then lowered his voice,

"But seriously, Chen Jun's wife, her complexion looks pretty good. Maybe there really is some hope?"

The conversation between the two drifted into Chen Jun's ears, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly upward.

B-rank?

Who are they looking down on?

My child has an Innate Martial Body!

SSS Energy Affinity can only catalyze a top-tier Acquired Martial Body, with hope of reaching High War God Level!

An Innate Martial Body is guaranteed to reach War God Level Peak, and even has the hope of condensing an Acquired Star Body, becoming a great Planetary Level existence!

...

Pushing open the door, Lin Wei was frowning at the small mirror in the corner, her fingers gently tracing the faint blue under her eyes.

"What's wrong?"

He put down his toolkit, his voice hoarse.

Lin Wei turned around, forcing a smile:

"Nothing... I just feel tired lately, and my complexion isn't great. Sister Zhang from the building across the street saw me in the communal kitchen today and said I looked haggard, telling me to rest more and not neglect the baby in my belly."

Chen Jun's heart tightened.

"Don't listen to their nonsense, you're doing well."

He walked over, his movements somewhat stiff as he put his arm around her shoulder,

"The factory recently... has a lot of orders. It'll get better after this busy period."

He didn't dare to tell her he was working three jobs, afraid she would worry.

"Brother Jun,"

Lin Wei leaned into his embrace, her voice muffled,

"I always feel uneasy... Sister Zhang said her distant cousin's child recently tested D-rank affinity, and their family almost went crazy with joy, immediately applying for a low-interest 'Federation Future Seed' loan. What if... what if our child, both of us being 'F-rank', doesn't even have D-rank?"

Her words were filled with uncertainty about the future.

Chen Jun's arm tightened slightly, and the cold interface with the words [Absolute Guarantee] flashed through his mind.

He took a deep breath, saying with a certainty that he almost believed himself:

"What's there to panic about! Our child will definitely be stronger than us! I guarantee it!"

Can't reach D-rank?

What kind of joke is that?

That joke isn't funny at all!

Ten years!

Ten years!

The Aptitude I exchanged for ten years of my life!

How many ten-year periods does an ordinary person have in a lifetime?

Lin Wei seemed to be soothed by his tone and softly hummed in agreement.

...

The day of delivery arrived on a peaceful night. In the community medical center, they were not the only family.

The woman in the next bed had just given birth, and her husband was chatting with a coworker who had come to visit.

"Sigh, finally born, a little girl. Well, that's good, less pressure in the future."

The husband's tone was somewhat complicated.

The coworker comforted him:

"A girl is good too! More thoughtful! Besides, the Federation's policies are good now; girls can also participate in Aptitude surveys. If she really has C-rank or B-rank affinity, she can enter a civilian sequence later, stable!"

"Let's hope so... It's better than us toiling away every day."

Their conversation only made Chen Jun's mood more nervous.

When the loud cry that almost tore the roof off finally rang out, Chen Jun practically stumbled inside.

Lin Wei lay exhausted on the bed, her first words being:

"...Is the baby complete? Boy or girl? Can their Aptitude... be D-rank?"

"Complete! Very complete! A girl!"

Chen Jun's voice trembled violently as he took the heavy, earth-shattering wailing swaddled baby from the nurse, excitedly whispering:

"More than D-rank! Our daughter... she's definitely capable, she's our hope, from now on, her name will be Chen Xi!"

I'm finally a father!

Two lives lived, and a father for the first time!

In my previous life, I was still a virgin. I never thought I'd Transmigrate to another world and have a child. Tears well up!

[Offspring birth confirmed.]

[Aptitude judgment: Innate Martial Body.]

[Rules executed.]

The cold prompts flashed through his mind, but at this moment, his heart was filled with burning excitement.

However, the real challenge had just begun.

Formula milk, diapers, baby clothes... every expense made their already tight life even more stretched.

Lin Wei needed to recuperate and couldn't work.

Chen Jun was forced to work even harder, his sleep compressed to the extreme, his eyes deeply sunken. But every time he returned home and saw Chen Xi grow a little more, his eyes would light up a bit more.

Auntie Wang, a neighbor, often came to bring some old diapers. Looking at Chen Xi, who had an excellent appetite and constantly flailed her limbs in the crib, she exclaimed in wonder:

"Oh my, Weiwei, your child is truly extraordinary! This spirit, this vigor when nursing! I think she's no worse than that boy from the district's welfare home who tested C-rank affinity! You two are truly blessed!"

Lin Wei's pale face showed a relieved smile.

At night, Chen Xi finally cried herself to sleep.

Lin Wei gently patted the child, then suddenly whispered:

"Brother Jun, after Auntie Wang said that today, I feel a bit more at ease. In the future... we'll raise Xiao Xi well, and maybe we can really send her to the district's Public Kindergarten?"

Chen Jun looked at her and the child, nodding heavily:

"Yes, we'll definitely send her!"

He had long despaired of his own future.

But at this moment, looking at his sleeping daughter, a flicker of light ignited in his tired eyes.

"Daughter..."

He murmured softly, as if making a vow, and also to himself,

"This is my life. I Awakened a useless System, disgracing the Transmigrator army, but you are different... you are destined to soar high. Even if I have to sell everything, I will lift you up."