Rebirth and making money first

Zhang Xiaobing, Zhang Jing's younger brother, is five years younger than her. He is short and quiet. Years ago, after his parents divorced, Zhang Xiaobing was awarded to his father and returned to live with him in his hometown. However, since his father remarried, Zhang Xiaobing's life has been miserable.

Although his stepmother didn't abuse him directly, she made him take care of the family's food and clothing, leaving him with almost all the household chores, even doing the laundry. Meanwhile, her own son lived a pampered life, well-fed and well-clothed. Furthermore, his stepmother often instigated his father to discipline Zhang Xiaobing, while she herself played the role of a gentle and loving mother.

Due to this long-term treatment, Zhang Xiaobing gradually lost interest in his studies. By the second half of his third year of junior high, he began skipping classes frequently, even taking his stepmother's young son with him to play. By the time his father and stepmother discovered what was happening, it was too late. Despite this, Zhang Xiaobing managed to obtain his junior high school diploma; however, his stepmother's son completely abandoned his studies, even prying open the teacher's desk during class to steal money. He even went to the police station and, to escape punishment, resorted to self-harm, hitting himself on the head with the police station's kettle. The police station was forced to release him, as he was still young.

He was taken home for education, but he refused to change his ways, and no matter how much he was scolded, beaten, or coaxed, he refused to set foot in school again. Finally, after being beaten again, the child ran away from home. It was later discovered that he had taken over 7,900 yuan in borrowed money for goods, further exacerbating the family's situation.

The stepmother cried and begged her father to go find him, but her father, furious, refused to go. The stepmother blamed Xiaobing for the mistake, and since others were chasing her for a loan, she persuaded her father to sell Zhang Xiaobing's household registration and have him replaced by someone else serving in the army. Thus, Xiaobing became an illegal resident.

Eight months later, the stepmother's son sent a message to her. He was helping someone raise ducks in the suburbs of Beijing. He was detained and could not return. When he saw his old family who came to buy ducks, they sent someone to pass on a message home, hoping to rescue him.

After a period of deliberation, the stepmother and father finally found the child. The boy said that as soon as he left home, he began to squander his money recklessly, feasting and drinking lavishly. However, it wasn't long before he attracted attention and his money was stolen. Hungry, he met a kind old man who gave him a sesame seed cake. Believing the man to be a good person, he followed him closely, refusing to leave no matter how hard they tried to dissuade him. He feared punishment upon returning home, and he knew stealing was wrong, believing even his mother couldn't protect him.

After thorough questioning, the old man learned that the child was illiterate and hadn't even graduated from elementary school. After testing him, he discovered he could barely read, which reassured him. He then took him to his duck farm in the suburbs of Beijing and made him work, providing him with food but no wages. If he disobeyed, he would be beaten. He also threatened him that if he didn't work hard, he would be forced to beg for a living.

Like a farmhand, he experienced the bitterness of the old society in the new society, rarely seen. The old man greeted customers who came to buy ducks. After working for him for a long time, the old man was sure that he couldn't escape, so he let him receive customers. He finally found an opportunity to contact his family. When his mother went to pick him up, the old man refused to let him go. He insisted that he had eaten a lot of food at his house and needed money. Finally, his father said, "If you don't let me go, I'll call the police and accuse you of kidnapping children." Only then did he let the old man go.

Reborn, Zhang Jing watched these events unfold. Every one of them was the work of her younger brother, Zhang Xiaobing. The thought of Zhang Xiaobing was terrifying. He was a ruthless man.

In a previous life, Zhang Xiaobing's mother secretly brought him home and paid for someone to help him get a household registration. When Zhang Jing returned home to visit her family, she was surprised to discover her mother had arranged for him to learn welding skills at a private factory. He earned 150 yuan a month, but mother and son agreed to save 120 yuan each month, leaving 30 yuan for pocket money.

Zhang Jing was single-mindedly determined to support her younger brother, unconcerned with her mother's objections. She even sold everything she had to support her younger brother's college education. Dedication paid off, and her younger brother finally earned his college diploma and, along with several classmates, moved to Beijing to pursue his career. From then on, whenever he sent money home, he would compete with Zhang Jing to see who could send more, hoping to earn their mother's approval.

At first, Zhang Jing was quite happy, thinking her brother was very ambitious. But gradually, she realized something was amiss, and the comparison between them gradually degenerated into jealousy. Even so, the kind-hearted Zhang Jing thought her brother might be young and impetuous, and a bit of competitiveness was normal. Even though she could sense that he harbored deep resentment towards her, she still tried to rationalize it for him, believing that his actions were simply a desire to prove to their mother that he was no less capable than his sister.

But things are different now. Zhang Jing no longer clings to those same sentiments. After all, her past life experiences have made her deeply aware of the depths of her brother's cruelty and ruthlessness. He once colluded with her mother, ruthlessly depriving Zhang Jing of everything, even forcing her into a desperate situation when her mother was old and frail, leaving her unable to live or die. Ultimately, all the wealth was seized by her brother, and his attitude towards Zhang Jing and her sisters was extremely cold, devoid of any familial warmth.

Now, just like in his previous life, Zhang Xiaobing had a girlfriend. This girlfriend was a native Sichuanese, and he was deeply in love with her. They lived together in Beijing, renting a basement. Zhang Xiaobing, aware of his limited financial resources, sought help from his mother. As expected, his mother turned to Zhang Jing, but Zhang Jing evaded the question, saying she would discuss the matter in detail after her mother arrived.

Meanwhile, Zhang Zhi also called to complain about her mother's favoritism toward her younger brother, claiming she, too, couldn't come up with 10 yuan. She demanded, "Why sell your daughter to support your son?" Perhaps overwhelmed by her pregnancy, Zhang Zhi forgot this and complained to Zhang Jing, "Mom is going too far! She said I got married without a word and she didn't even receive a betrothal gift. She also said I married a divorced man with a child, and that I was raising a daughter for nothing."

Zhang Zhi said firmly, "If there's no one to take care of me during my confinement, I absolutely cannot agree to let my mother come over!" Furthermore, she even deducted a portion of her husband's airfare and only allowed her mother to come by train. Hearing this, Zhang Jing couldn't help but feel a familiar sense of unease. She realized that she had been too soft-hearted, clinging to past relationships.

When Zhang Jing learned she was moving to the company's dormitories, Zhang Zhi agreed. She urged her to make sure everything was settled before returning to Huizhou to meet her. She also repeatedly warned her not to give her brother the 10 yuan. Zhang Jing reluctantly replied that she had already given all her earnings from her part-time job to her mother, and now she had absolutely nothing left.