Rebirth and making money first

Mother and daughter never discussed the matter again after that. But Zhang Jing knew full well that she needed to prepare a lot for her mother's departure. As their separation neared, Zhang Jing silently pulled 2 yuan in cash from a drawer. She gently walked over to her mother and silently handed it to her.

When the mother saw the thick stack of banknotes, her face instantly turned a little ashamed. She frowned and said, "I don't want it. How can I dare to ask for your money now? Last time I took some money from you, but you kept complaining about me. You said you didn't care about me and even doubted whether you were my biological child! These words really hurt me!"

Zhang Jing listened to her mother's complaints, but she didn't get angry. Instead, she smiled and patiently stuffed the money into her mother's bag, saying gently, "Mom, are you still angry with me? Think about it, there are three of us siblings, and besides me who often gives you money, when have the other two ever taken the initiative to give you a penny? I'm the only one who's willing to let you control it, and you're still so stubborn!"

"I'm giving you this money so that you'll have more money on hand if you encounter any emergencies or need money urgently. You don't have to beg for money from others and have to rely on their attitude. And since you're old, don't worry about helping others all the time. As long as you take good care of yourself and stay healthy, it will be the greatest blessing for us."

Seeing Zhang Jing so persistent, her mother quickly reached out to push her away and said anxiously, "Oh, don't stuff it in, I can pack it myself." After that, the mother carefully took the 2 yuan in cash, counted it carefully, and then slowly wrapped it up and put it in her bag.

Zhang Jing asked again, "Mom, you still have two days before you leave. Is there anything missing at home? Do you want to buy some more? Also, you can't go back empty-handed with your old sisters, right? You have to bring some small gifts or something. And back home, your sister, my aunt, your nephews and nieces, they all have a big family. Why don't you bring something for them? It wouldn't be appropriate to go empty-handed!"

Perhaps the mother and daughter had broken the ice, and the mother regained her spirits. She called out to Zhang Jing:

"Stop nagging me here. I don't need you to teach me! Just do what you need to do and don't disturb me! Let me think about it!" Zhang Jing breathed a sigh of relief: as long as the old lady could still yell at her impatiently, it meant that she didn't care anymore.

I wonder how much work will be left for my family now that my mom is gone. She has to take care of two young children on her own, which is no easy task. Even if my mother-in-law helps out, her energy is limited, so the amount she can offer is extremely limited.

And her husband, Achen, lacks experience in taking care of children and needs more teaching. Thinking of this, Zhang Jing couldn't help but sigh deeply.

As for work, it seems I need to find time to ask the dean if he can grant me a few more months of leave. If that's not possible, then I'll just have to make up my mind and resign. After all, the child is the most important thing and needs my undivided attention.

Just when Zhang Jing was lost in thought, her mother came back not long after. Seeing her mother approaching cautiously, Zhang Jing asked, "Mom, what's going on?"

The old lady came up to Zhang Jing and said, "My dear, I want to discuss something with you." Zhang Jing glanced at her mother and replied casually, "Go ahead."

Then, the mother took out a thick stack of cash from behind her back and handed it to Zhang Jing. She stopped Zhang Jing and whispered, "Listen to me first, I've thought it through. I'll return the 20,000 yuan to you first, and treat it as if Xiaobing has already paid you 28,000 yuan. As for you, just change the IOU to 280,000 yuan. As for the change, I really can't come up with more. Why don't you just erase the rest, okay? If you don't want to, I'll slowly pay you back the change later! I'm begging you, I've never begged anyone like this in my life!"

Facing her mother's eagerly anticipating gaze, Zhang Jing's heart, which had just risen to the point of erupting in rage, softened instantly, as if being gently caressed by a gentle hand. She sighed helplessly and said, "Okay, Mom, since this is what you've always wanted, I agree." She carefully picked up the thick 20,000 yuan in cash and handed the extra money back to her mother, saying softly, "Consider this a small token of my appreciation. Please keep it safe!"

At this moment, a brilliant smile immediately broke out on the mother's face. She accepted the money with great joy, muttering non-stop, "Oh, I understand. My daughter is so sensible! Then I'll accept it without hesitation! I've always known that you must be the one who understands your mother's thoughts the most! By the way, my daughter, please take out that IOU and revise it as soon as possible. Otherwise, what if something unexpected happens and you don't acknowledge it? What if I tell Xiaobing that his foreign debt is 280,000 yuan, so he doesn't have to pay back over 300,000 yuan! He will definitely be happy to know!"

Zhang Jing, though a bit uncomfortable at her mother's words, obediently dug the IOU out of her drawer. She picked up a pen and carefully wrote on it, "Today, my mother repays me a loan of 20,000 yuan on behalf of Zhang Xiaobing. The remaining balance is 280,000 yuan." After completing the note, she solemnly signed her name, as her mother had requested. Her mother, watching closely, watched her every move, fearing any mistakes.

After Zhang Jing signed, she deliberately asked her mother, "How about you sign yours too?" Her mother was taken aback, then after some thought, she agreed to put her name on the IOU. Thus, mother and daughter completed this special contract together.

Zhang Jing is now a mother. As she's had children and they've grown up, she's gradually come to understand a mother's feelings and actions. As a mother, she always hopes to give her children the best she can. She even wishes she could support them throughout their lives.

Of course, all of this was based on the premise that the child was the one she loved most. Thinking of this, Zhang Jing couldn't help but feel a little teary-eyed. In addition to feeling wronged, she also felt a sense of understanding and gratitude for what her mother had done.

Shaking her head, Zhang Jing put away the IOU. Thinking about the resettlement housing in her hometown, it seemed like a piece of cake to her. But since she wasn't planning on going back, she had to cut the Gordian knot. With trepidation, Zhang Jing dialed the familiar long-distance number. The friendly voice on the other end was her real estate agent.

After a few pleasantries, Zhang Jing couldn't wait to get to the point: "Can my resettlement house be delivered now?"

The staff on the other end of the phone patiently replied, "The houses have started to be delivered one after another, but you may have to wait a little longer for yours. However, it should be soon, so please don't worry!"

Zhang Jing breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this news, but then she launched into a barrage of questions: "Do I have to be there in person for the handover? What are the necessary procedures? And, if I plan to sell this house, what's the estimated price?"

Upon hearing this, staff member Xiao Liu was stunned for a moment. He said anxiously, "Sister, my dear sister, I suggest you reconsider carefully. Our houses are selling like hotcakes right now! For example, the apartment on your floor is completely sold out! And there are still so many people asking about the price. This type of apartment is currently around 50 yuan. Your apartment spans two floors, so the price will definitely be higher! How about this? I'll ask around for you. If there's a buyer interested, I'll contact you then. Is that okay with you? However, you must be present in person with valid identification to complete all the necessary procedures."

Zhang Jing paused for a moment, knowing full well that this request was difficult for her to fulfill. She pondered for a moment before asking, "Could your property management help me rent it out?"

The staff member quickly replied, "That's no problem. We can rent it out for you. But your house is still in rough condition. If you want to rent it out, you have to renovate it first. What are your plans?"

Zhang Jing immediately responded, "After the house is delivered, I will find professionals to take charge of the design and renovation. Please send me the floor plan when the time comes. We can proceed with both projects simultaneously without delaying each other."

When Xiao Liu heard this, a smile immediately appeared on her face, and she agreed without hesitation: "Sister, don't worry! I'll take care of this matter! I promise to handle everything properly and smoothly, and I will definitely not let you down!"

Zhang Jing put down the phone, wondering whether to sell the house or rent it out. As for her mother, she could live in Zhang Xiaobing's shop or continue living in the bungalow. She could live with him in Shenzhen anyway, so there was nothing wrong with that.

Zhang Jing didn't know that the moment she decided to sell her house, she had already given up on letting her mother live there. She no longer considered the hardships of climbing stairs in her old age, or the rejection and abuse she would face from her younger brother. Zhang Jing's mother had successfully helped her let go of the belief that caring for her was the prerequisite for everything. If the old lady were educated, she would surely know the literary term "letting go of things."

However, even if she knew, the old lady probably wouldn't keep it in her hands. At most, she would attribute this behavior to being "ungrateful" or "unfilial".