Rebirth and making money first

The phone kept ringing. Without even opening her eyes, Zhang Jing reached for her pillow, intending to press it and go back to sleep. After searching for a long time without finding it, she opened her eyes and suddenly realized the room was dark. This wasn't the small house she'd rented. She was startled at first, as the phone continued to ring. She stood up and grabbed the phone, only to realize it wasn't her regular phone, but it looked familiar. The room was familiar, and she realized it was the apartment she'd rented in Shenzhen when she was younger.

Without giving her time to think, she answered the phone. A magnetic male voice came over the line, "Hello! I'll be at KFC soon, let's meet there." This voice, strange yet familiar, left Zhang Jing stunned for a long time. She subconsciously said "Okay." Then she realized, wasn't this her ex-boyfriend?

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Jing looked around the room and suddenly remembered why it looked so familiar. This was the house she'd rented when she was 30, working in Shenzhen! The landlord was an elderly woman, the mother of a colleague of Zhang Jing's. She rented one of the three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment to Zhang Jing. For 500 yuan a month, including utilities, it gave Zhang Jing a place to stay in Shenzhen, a city where land is so expensive.

I went back to the past. Zhang Jing pinched herself. It hurt. It wasn't a dream! I was reborn and went back to the past.

Zhang Jing didn't know why, but she felt her decades of novel reading hadn't been in vain. She knew it was pointless to dwell on it now, as she was blessed by heaven. No matter what, she wouldn't make the mistake of not saving money, as she had in her previous life.

In her previous life, Zhang Jing was a brother-supporting demon, successfully brainwashed by her mother. Her father was a playboy and absent, and her mother was obsessed with love. Eventually, they divorced, with Zhang Jing and her sister Zhang Zhi awarded to their mother, and her brother to their father.

The mother, who favored sons over daughters, could not bear the separation and frequently visited her son. This angered the mistress and her father, who thought the mother was being persistent and trying to contact her father. So, she took her younger brother and the mistress's son and left Northeast China and returned to their hometown in Shandong.

From then on, her mother lost interest in work and life, saving money to return home repeatedly, sending messages to her younger brother. Each time she returned, she would be haggard for long periods of time. Zhang Jing sensibly accompanied her mother, silently shouldering most of the household chores. Compared to Zhang Jing, Zhang Zhi was impatient. Her decision to stay with her mother was merely a temporary solution. Although younger than Zhang Jing, she was incredibly vain. Despite her father's frequent allowance, she yearned to return, feeling that her life with her mother was a never-ending struggle.

Zhang Zhi was an average student in her second year of high school, but she was very active in class. Her teacher knew she wasn't sure she'd get into university, and since a company needed a typist, especially one who had just graduated from high school, she recommended her, and that's how Zhang Zhi got a job.

Zhang Jing, however, was not guaranteed a job after graduating from technical secondary school, so she had no choice but to apply to work at her mother's factory, becoming a worker like other children of factory workers. As her classmates got married, her mother kept telling her, "You should wait to get married. You'll have to take care of the household and children after marriage. It'll be very hard! I suggest you have a few more years of fun, or you'll regret it. I won't harm you; this is all for your own good."

When someone tried to matchmake Zhang Zhi, her mother would always say, "My sister isn't married yet, so it's not my sister's turn," and instead suggest someone introduce Zhang Jing instead. Zhang Zhi's work offered good benefits, a relaxed schedule, and she loved dressing up. She was instantly in the spotlight, but Zhang Jing, on the other hand, was a down-to-earth person who listened to her mother's advice. In contrast, the younger sister had a clear advantage in the marriage market. Furthermore, the sisters' vastly different careers made it difficult for anyone to agree. Her mother repeated this practice, and after a few attempts, the matchmakers gave up and abandoned the project.

In her previous life, Zhang Jing always believed that her mother was sincerely thinking about her. Even before Zhang Zhi secretly resigned and went to work in the south, she privately found Zhang Jing and said, "Sister, if I get a good opportunity for development in the south, I will call someone and tell you. You should quit your job in the factory immediately and come to the south to find me. We can't delay here," Zhang Jing remained unmoved.

Zhang Jing always felt that her mother had suffered too much. She wanted to treat her well and be filial to her when she had money, so that she could have some comfort.

Zhang Zhi had been away for four months, also working in the south. But she had no money to mail back home. Zhang Jing was disgruntled, feeling that Zhang Zhi was inconsiderate of her mother. If she had earned money in the south, she would have definitely mailed it to her mother. After receiving the job news Zhang Zhi had sent her, she hesitated for a few days, but at Zhang Zhi's constant urging, she decided to go south to work. Before leaving, she told her mother not to worry, to take care of herself, and not to worry about money.

Zhang Jing received her first month's salary of 1 yuan, and she wanted to leave it all to her mother. Zhang Zhi advised her not to be foolish, saying that if she gave it to her mother, she would save it for her brother. It would be more convenient for her to spend it herself. After all, she had just started working, so it was normal not to send money back yet.

Zhang Jing refused to listen. She had seen her mother worry about money so many times. She secretly thought her mother would be happy if she had money, but then she realized she didn't have any. It just so happened that Zhang Jing met a man through work. This man was incredibly caring. Unfortunately, he was ugly, and Zhang Jing was bored, so they continued dating.

As the man accompanied Zhang Jing on her mailing of money, he was surprised she only mailed 400 yuan to her mother for the Lunar New Year. He asked her why she didn't send more. Knowing she had already spent all, he angrily inquired, "Why didn't your sister send anything?" Zhang Jing smiled wryly, saying her sister was a spendthrift and had little left. Zhang Jing saw the pain in the man's eyes.

Zhang Jing gave her first time to this man, more out of gratitude than love. Later, Zhang Jing regretted it. There were many ways to repay the man, but she chose a ridiculous one. Especially knowing that this man was married and had children, she questioned him why he didn't tell her earlier. The man replied confidently, "You didn't ask either?"

Zhang Jing was furious, her perspective completely shattered. She'd underestimated human nature, and after a hasty breakup, she left the city. Arriving in Shenzhen, a distant relative offered her a job. Zhang Jing prepared to embark on a new struggle, for herself and her family.

At the same time, Zhang Zhi was also involved with a married man, the vice president of her workplace. He had her enrolled at the Shanghai International Studies University, a move they'd more accurately call investment or gilding. It was rumored that several of the company's bosses had done the same thing, sending their mistresses to improve their education. Zhang Jing could only describe herself as having had her world transformed.

Zhang Zhi only completed two years of schooling, partly because she was a poor student and also because she was dazzled by the glamorous world of Shanghai. Another reason was that the vice president fell in love with someone else and regretted it. Despite graduating from Shanghai Jiaotong University, she wasn't as generous as her Hong Kong boss.

Zhang Zhi interrupted her studies, and years later, Zhang Jing still felt resentful of Zhang Zhi for not helping her. Even if she had paid an extra year's tuition, she could still have graduated.

Zhang Jing was helpless. She had paid for her brother's household registration and school tuition. How could she have extra money? She assumed Zhang Zhi wasn't struggling that much, so she didn't ask since she didn't mention it.

In her new life, Zhang Jing only wanted money. She hoped this time she could live a better life than her last, at least without having to worry about money. And her boyfriend wouldn't let go.

In their previous life, the two had been entangled for over a decade. Zhang Jing knew him well enough, and wondered if they could rekindle their past relationship this time around? Even if it wasn't possible, she'd still try, she reassured herself. She didn't believe it couldn't happen. During that time, Zhang Jing had dated three times, all ending in failure. Only when she met her ex did she realize that a good man could truly erase the past.

I'm going to meet up later, for an interview, of course. It's a good opportunity to meet my ex-boyfriend. They'd been dating for 14 years without getting married. Zhang Jing wanted to get married, but A-Long didn't want to, and he couldn't bear to let her go. In the end, Zhang Jing reluctantly broke up. Now I think it was all because of lack of money.

Zhang Jing greeted her old landlord and walked down the street, feeling as if she were in a dream. Shenzhen, the Special Economic Zone, was still bustling. Zhang Jing knew she had to work a thousand times harder to stay in the city. She was all alone, without any help.

With only a few thousand dollars left, she needed to find a job and secure food and shelter. Drawing on her past experiences, she also needed to buy a house quickly. Zhang Jing knew she was running out of time.

My ex-boyfriend couldn't help me at all, and my constant support made him take me less seriously. This time, I started by getting my ex-boyfriend back and changing my life.

Zhang Jing confirmed she had no system or storage, and her memory wasn't great, but she did have the experience of more than twenty years. While sitting at KFC, she decided to check out the securities exchange instead of the job market, having failed to find a job there in her previous life. Finding a job was difficult, but Zhang Jing didn't regret quitting.

A man sat across from Zhang Jing and said, "There's someone here." Only then did Zhang Jing realize it was A-Long. "I know, it's me," A-Long said, smiling gently. "Have you eaten yet? I haven't. If not, I'll go buy some. What do you want to eat?"

Zhang Jing regained her composure. "I'll have a hamburger and a medium Coke, thank you!" she said hurriedly. She knew too well that this man was a bit of a jerk. If you didn't want him, he really wouldn't buy it. He ate while you watched. This was the scene in the previous life. This time, he didn't like it.

A-Long was stunned for a moment, then said "OK," and went to order with a sheepish smile. Zhang Jing was still debating whether to go to the Securities Exchange or A-Long's restaurant after dinner, but there was still time to think. She had to take this man down first.