Rebirth and making money first

The little girl looked on eagerly. Everyone was planning a long trip, but no one was willing to take her. Her disgruntled feet kept stamping on the ground, mumbling that she wanted to go too. The kindergarten enrollment issue she'd been agonizing over seemed unresolved. She was instantly delighted to learn that they could take her out for a stroll.

Zhang Jing looked at Zhang Xiaobing and asked, "Xiaobing, who's responsible for signing for Mom's shop?" Zhang Xiaobing scratched his head and replied, "Sister, for those shops where the full payment was made at once, the rent was already transferred to Mom's account a year later. Only those with monthly payments need to go through the relevant procedures now." After saying this, he stared at Zhang Jing suspiciously and added, "Sister, you know these things, don't you?"

Zhang Jing's heart skipped a beat when she heard this, and she hurriedly asked, "So, did Zhang Zhi already receive the rent for her share?" Zhang Xiaobing looked at Zhang Jing as if she were a fool, sighed helplessly, and said, "Sister, you're not, are you?"

Zhang Jing frowned at her brother's words and began to recall. Suddenly, a flash of memory struck her: she had indeed signed a rental agreement. She'd been so lost in thought at the time that she hadn't paid much attention to the details. The thought deepened her sense of something was amiss, so she quickly pulled out her phone and called her mother.

Her mother's familiar voice soon rang out from the other end of the line: "Hello, Xiaojing! What's up?" Zhang Jing asked impatiently: "Mom, you bought the shop for our family. You've received the rent and got the property certificate, right? And the rent is also deposited into your card on time every month, right?"

Her mother smiled and replied, "Yes, Xiaojing, that's right!" Zhang Jing, feeling a little aggrieved, continued to ask, "Then, Mom, how much rent do you receive each month? And does Zhang Zhi collect rent as well? Why didn't you tell me about these things?"

Hearing her daughter's slightly complaining tone, the mother quickly explained on the other end of the phone, "Oh, I didn't do this on purpose to hide it from you. I was just worried that you would worry if you knew. Besides, these things are just trivial matters to me. I'm sure I can handle it properly, so don't worry too much."

However, Zhang Jing's heart didn't lighten after hearing her mother's words. Instead, it grew heavier. A strong feeling that her family had deliberately concealed the truth surged over her, leaving her feeling a bit breathless.

Could it be that I really have a conflict with my family members? Why do I always have so many conflicts and contradictions with them?

Thinking of this, Zhang Jing slowly sat down on the sofa in the living room, then collapsed like a deflated ball. She sat there quietly, motionless, her eyes empty, as if completely immersed in her own chaotic and complicated thoughts... At this moment, the words her mother had just said on the phone echoed clearly in her ears again:

"My dear, no matter how much money I have, it's all mine, so don't worry about it. I don't need you to give me any pension money! Look, my monthly pension, plus some other scattered income, is more than enough for me to spend. So, just live your life well. And if you have free time on weekdays, remember to help your brother more. If your brother can live a smooth and happy life and get better and better, that will be better than anything else for me."

At this moment, the words "helping brothers and sisters is also filial piety to parents" kept circling in Zhang Jing's mind, causing her to re-examine her relationship with her family and how to interpret the so-called filial piety.

Later, her mother mentioned the house Zhang Jing had bought. She said worriedly, "People are already starting to renovate their houses. Xiaojing, you have to be more careful! Although the outside world is wonderful, we have to leave a way out for ourselves, right? It's better not to sell this house if we can."

Hearing her mother's words, Zhang Jing couldn't help but recall her mother's difficult circumstances in her previous life. Back then, her mother was so old that even simple movements like going up and down the stairs became incredibly difficult for her. She truly needed to live on the first floor for greater convenience.

Thinking of this, Zhang Jing thought to herself: Never mind. If that's the case, I'll just hold off on selling the house for now. Just consider it a precautionary measure, to be prepared for any eventuality. It'll also help prevent my mother from nagging me all day. After the house is delivered, I'll find some time to find someone to help me renovate it.

At this time, Zhang Jing turned to look at Zhang Zhi, who was feeling guilty, and asked, "Little sister, are you collecting rent for your small shop? Have you got the property certificate? Why didn't I hear you say that?" Zhang Zhi answered confidently, "Sister, you didn't ask me! Besides, my small shop was won by our mother in a lottery, so the rent will not be transferred to us monthly until three years later, which is when we complete the formalities now. The same goes for the property certificate. I went there to do this today, but the rent probably won't be much. At most, it can only be used to slightly supplement the daily expenses of the family. My family also told me that his colleague who bought several shops made a lot of money. He even regretted not buying them at the time. What do you think, does this person have no vision and no luck in wealth?"

Zhang Jing looked at Zhang Zhi, an expression difficult to describe. Her mother had once told her not to worry about Zhang Zhi because she was under her husband's control. At the time, she hadn't quite grasped the profound meaning of that statement, but now, after experiencing some things, she suddenly understood. It seemed that besides herself, her younger siblings all knew that her mother had collected rent and obtained the business license. She'd kept it a secret from herself!

Soon, a busload of people arrived at the voluntary management office. As soon as they got off the bus, they lined up, waiting for their identities to be verified and their signatures to be signed. At the counters of several service centers, staff members, already prepared, busily greeted the people who came to handle their business.

Zhang Jing glanced around sharply and suddenly found a salesperson who was familiar with her. So she quickly went to say hello, and the acquaintance asked her to stand in front of the line. Seeing this, Zhang Xiaobing, who was following closely behind her, also hurried to follow. Originally, Zhang Zhi and her family were planning to come over, but were directed to another reception table by a service staff. At this moment, Zhang Xiaobing was quick-witted and took over an empty table next to it. Seeing this scene, Zhang Jing nodded in her heart: "This arrangement is good. Everyone is busy with their own things and does not interfere with each other."

Before long, Zhang Jing successfully obtained two business licenses. She handed her ID and bank card to the staff so they could copy the relevant information for their records. Knowing that the subsequent procedures would be similar, she proactively told the others in her group to get their copies first and then come back to queue up for the service.

Next, it was time to sign the rental agreements. Without hesitation, Zhang Jing signed two agreements for the two shops. One shop's monthly rent was a whopping 7400 yuan, while the other's was slightly lower at 5500 yuan. A handling fee was also required. However, any changes during the lease period would be promptly notified via text message. Notably, the shops were already eligible for resale. As agreed, the rent would be officially credited to the tenants starting next month.

Zhang Jing gathered all the documents and went upstairs to her shop. It was bustling with people, and business was brisk. In a decade or so, online shopping would take off, and brick-and-mortar stores would be out of business. She'd better sell the shop then and cash in the profits.

Zhang Jing saw Zhang Xiaobing and Zhang Zhi's family coming out and told them she was going to the West Lake Temple to perform a ritual for Old Lady Xu's soul-return. She told them to take the car back as they pleased. Zhang Zhi's family were going to visit the shops, and Zhang Xiaobing thought about it and decided to go up to see his and his mother's shops as well.

Before leaving, Zhang Xiaobing called Zhang Jing and said he would call her after he finished his business. It would be best if she could catch the bus. Zhang Jing agreed and rushed to the temple.

Upon hearing about You Yuan's ritual, the female senior sister who worked in the reception hall immediately contacted the abbot. After discussion, they decided to use Zhang Jing's name to establish a lotus seat for Old Lady Xu under the name of Yang Shangren for three years. They would also hold a seven-day ritual for the salvation of the dead. They would also release animals, print sutras, support the poor, provide food for monks, offer alms, and perform the "Yama-mouth" ritual. Even then, they still hadn't used up all the money. Seeing that the main hall was still under construction, they decided to donate tiles and beams in Old Lady Xu's name as well.

Under Zhang Jing's generous hand, Mrs. Xu's money was perfectly transferred and offered to Buddhism. In front of the main hall, where incense curled, Zhang Jing hoped that Mrs. Xu would find liberation. As she clasped her hands together amidst the sound of Buddhist chanting, she finally found peace.

She also set up three family tablets in the Guanyin Temple. One had the names of her grandfather, father-in-law, mother-in-law, Achen, her own family of four, and her uncle inscribed on it; another had the names of Uncle Zhang, Zhang Yongle, Li Manyue, and Zhang Xiaoyu inscribed on it; and the last one had the names of her mother, herself, Zhang Zhi, and Zhang Xiaobing inscribed on it.

Zhang Jing knelt down in front of the Guanyin Hall and clasped her hands together, hoping that everyone would receive the Bodhisattva's blessing.

I explained to the reception hall that I couldn't come on the day of the memorial service, mainly because my child was too young. I was also in Shenzhen, so it wouldn't be convenient for me to travel. The host suggested there was a Liang Chan ceremony at the end of the month, so we could hold it together. If Zhang Jing was available, she could come, but if she wasn't, there was no pressure. After some thought, Zhang Jing agreed, agreeing to let the temple burn the ingot paper money on her behalf.

Upon exiting, Zhang Jing accepted the Buddhist scriptures and amulets given by the master. She was told that a video of the ritual would be sent to her and available via QQ. Satisfied, Zhang Jing burned all the receipts in front of the main hall.

Zhang Jing, feeling light and relaxed, had just come out when she received a call from her brother. "Sister, we're almost done. We're going to go back after dinner. Are you done yet?"

Zhang Jing said she had just finished and was getting ready for dinner. She'd be at the West Lake station waiting for their car to arrive. Zhang Zhi grabbed the phone and asked Zhang Jing to come over. She said it was still early for the bus to leave, and they had just found a restaurant, so there was still time for them to come over and eat together.

Zhang Jing thought about it and decided to rush over. The food was already on the table, and Zhang Xiaobing and the others had already eaten most of it. Zhang Jing was also hungry. She sat down and took a bite, but before she could swallow it, she heard Zhang Zhi ask, "Sister, how much is the monthly rent for your shop?"