Rebirth and making money first

Zhang Jing, Zhang Xiaobing, and the others returned home around 2:00 AM. It was still dark, so Zhang Jing thought for a moment and suggested to Zhang Xiaobing that they all get a room at a nearby guesthouse and stay there until daybreak before going home. Otherwise, they'd wake up their mother again. So, they found two rooms at the guesthouse near the station and fell asleep.

At daybreak, there was a commotion outside. Zhang Jing was finally woken by Zhang Xiaobing. She packed up the others, rented a car, and rushed home. When her mother saw them, she started complaining non-stop. Knowing they were all staying at the guesthouse, she felt bad for the money.

"I stayed up all night waiting for you. From dawn until morning, I didn't see you. I was wondering where you had gone. You're already home, why are you still wasting money staying in a guesthouse?" Zhang Jing said, "I'm worried you won't get enough rest. It's almost noon now. Why don't we just skip cooking and go out for dinner?"

Mom refused, saying, "You guys go out and eat. I'll just have a couple of bites." Zhang Jing looked at the leftovers in the kitchen. Knowing that the old lady often ate these, she refused to let her eat them and threw them away. She said that constantly eating leftovers could increase the risk of cancer. Since they were going out to eat, they should go out together.

Zhang Xiaobing also said: "Mom, we finally got home. Look at you, you don't even know how to enjoy the blessing? You go out to eat when you need to! It doesn't cost you anything. Why are you so upset?"

My mother said, "You are all rich now! You are all wealthy people! You don't care about this little money, and you also care about my food? I specially made extra food and saved it for two meals! Since you want to go out to eat, I will go out to eat well with you too. Do you think I don't know how to enjoy my blessings?"

On the way out, I saw many neighbors and acquaintances. They kept greeting me and said:

"When did you come back?"

"your child?"

"Is your sister back?"

"Is this your husband?" "Oh, stay a few more days and spend some time with your mother."

"It's not easy for the old lady. Usually, she doesn't even want to leave the house!"

During the greetings, Zhang Jing could see that her mother was very happy. She was worried about leaving her alone at home, so she planned to persuade her mother to return to Shenzhen with her.

The restaurant they chose was a large, Northeastern Chinese restaurant, so they all requested a private room. Zhang Xiaobing ordered the dishes quickly, while Ah Chen looked around curiously. Even Naituanzi surrounded Grandma and chattered, "Grandma, I want dumplings!" she requested.

The old lady said, "This restaurant doesn't have dumplings, only pies and other things. You can only eat Northeastern specialties. Grandma will make dumplings for you tomorrow."

The old lady kept yelling, "Don't order so much! I can't finish it all, the portions are big." Zhang Xiaobing said that he had finally come back and should eat what he was supposed to eat. Then he asked Zhang Jing what she wanted to eat, and Zhang Jing said she wanted some hot and sour shredded potatoes.

Zhang Xiaobing said, "You're out of luck? You came all this way just to eat some spicy and sour potato shreds? If I'd known you wanted this, I would have fried it for you in Shenzhen and let you eat as much as you wanted! Don't always get cheap food, give me some braised pork elbow!"

After dinner, Zhang Jing asked her mother, "Mom, how is Xiao Zhang now? Has he returned to Shenzhen?" Her mother said, "Probably not, as it seems that several houses have not been renovated yet." Zhang Jing thought for a moment and said, "In that case, I'll give him a call."

When Sister Zhang called Xiao Zhang, Xiao Zhang picked up the phone and said, "Hey, sister, how are you? Are you back?" Zhang Jing said, "I'm home and having dinner at the restaurant. Have you eaten yet? If not, come over. Let's have dinner together." Xiao Zhang said, "Sister, I've finished eating. Brother Sun and I are out. I still have some unfinished business, so I'll treat you to dinner tonight."

Zhang Jing asked about the decoration of her house, and Xiao Zhang said, "Sister, you can go and take a look. It's definitely suitable for moving in. If you are not satisfied, come to me and we can talk in detail tonight." After hearing this, Zhang Jing decided to go and take a look first. Her mother said that she had seen it many times and didn't want to go anymore.

Zhang Jing and Zhang Xiaobing rushed to their new home with their family. Upon opening the door and taking a look inside, Zhang Jing was delighted with the interior design, both upstairs and downstairs. She felt that this house met her future living needs. Naituanzi excitedly climbed up to the second floor, and Zhang Xiaobing was equally pleased.

The second floor had a large Simmons mattress, a wardrobe, and a round table with chairs. Even the curtains were perfectly coordinated. Naituanzi said she wanted to sleep upstairs, but she also wanted the bunk bed downstairs. It was hard to decide.

Zhang Xiaobing said, "Sister, it looks like the furniture here is complete. Why don't we stay here tonight? We can buy anything we need later. As for bedding, let's get it from Mom first."

Zhang Jing said, "You stay downstairs for now. Your brother-in-law and I will stay upstairs. Buy whatever you need later. I'm having dinner with Xiao Zhang tonight." Zhang Xiaobing said he had dinner plans with classmates and wouldn't be eating at home. Zhang Jing planned to take Ah Chen, Naituanzi, and the old lady with her. "Let's move everyone's luggage over to the new house now."

Zhang Xiaobing and Achen took Naituanzi to get some things, while Zhang Jing stayed behind to clean up. They returned quickly, and Naituanzi was left by his mother for an afternoon nap. Zhang Jing found four coins, washed them, and placed them in the four corners of the room, even upstairs. She also instructed that no one should touch them, saying they were for warding off evil. Zhang Xiaobing laughed at Zhang Jing's superstition and ignored her.

After a quick wash and a nap, Zhang Jing woke up, complaining that her quilt was too heavy and considering buying a new one. Zhang Xiaobing said he wouldn't be staying there for many days anyway, so he'd just make do. Zhang Jing refused, suggesting they could just live in the new house, cook their meals, and at least have easy access to the bathroom.

Achen kept looking at Zhang Jing anxiously, pulling her closer and saying, "Achen, you can't leave me." Zhang Jing thought about it and decided to take Achen with her wherever she went. Zhang Jing quickly wrote down the missing toiletries in the room and prepared to take Zhang Xiaobing and Achen on a shopping spree. She also said she would move in today.

As expected, Zhang Jing finished her shopping in just one afternoon. After returning home and setting things up, she had all the basic supplies, except for the occasional thing she forgot.

I met Xiao Zhang in the evening. Xiao Zhang brought Xiao Sun with her. We had a lively conversation while eating. Xiao Zhang, who had become quite Northeasternized, raised her glass and said, "Sister Zhang, I actually wanted to buy all the things in your room, but I was worried you wouldn't like them."

Zhang Jing said, "I'm satisfied with everything. You're excellent! We'll continue our cooperation when the Shenzhen house is relocated." Xiao Sun was also happy to have Zhang Jing as a client. Of course, Zhang Jing hadn't forgotten the reward she had promised Xiao Zhang. Xiao Zhang said, "Sister, you're my real sister! If you have any questions, just ask me, and I'll handle it for you!"

Xiao Zhang and Xiao Sun finished their work and will return to Shenzhen next week. They thanked Zhang Jing for the business she brought them. Zhang Jing was curious about her own house, which Xiao Zhang was using as a model. How many people decorate their homes exactly like their own? At this point, Xiao Zhang and Xiao Sun laughed. They said people in Northeast China want to renovate to the luxury of first-tier cities while also wanting to retain local characteristics, resulting in a messy mess. But they're happy with it! Currently, Zhang Jing's home is unique. Zhang Jing was relieved and made it clear that she didn't want any strangers to come and see her home in the future. Xiao Zhang and Xiao Sun also promised they wouldn't do that again and even agreed to replace Zhang Jing's home with a high-end lock for free.

After a few days of hard work, the room finally felt like home. Zhang Xiaobing had already moved in, sleeping on the lower bunk of the bunk bed, while Grandma Tuanzi moved to the upper bunk. Zhang Jing and her husband slept upstairs and asked her mother to move in, but she refused, saying that if she moved in, her house would be ruined.

Zhang Jing tried to persuade her, but she was worried about what would happen to the dog if she went there. She told her to give it to someone else and move in while they were all around. "There's someone over there who'll sweep the snow in the winter, so you can live there. You don't have to chop wood or make coal, you can use a gas stove." Her mother said, "You don't understand. The water here is always on, and the monthly bill is only 2 yuan. You can use as much as you want, because the water meter runs over there."

Zhang Jing said, "I'll pay for the utilities." The decision was final. She asked Zhang Xiaobing to call a taxi to see if the old lady needed anything moved. She finally reluctantly moved, discarding all unnecessary items.

The old lady decided to move all her useful things over there. Zhang Xiaobing got angry and said, "Some of these things you'll never use. And there's nowhere to put them, so why would you move them over there? You don't even need to move the beds or anything like that, just take the quilts. As for your pillows, pick out the nice clothes and take them over there, and leave the rotten ones here. Take the valuables over there, and put the worthless ones here. Who wants your stuff? No one will want it even if you throw it away!"

Seeing her mother's reluctance, Zhang Jing said, "Since it's close, if you need anything, just come over and get it. If you have enough there, you don't need to take anything. That way, you can live in both places. If not, you can just rent out or sell the bungalow. You're not living there anyway."

My mom asked, "Why sell it? That's my house." Zhang Jing replied, "I know it's your house. You can still sell it now. It won't be worth anything in the future. Who would want to move to a place that's being demolished? Forget it." Zhang Jing remembered that area from her previous life. In the end, it wasn't demolished; the government stopped the demolition.

As expected, someone soon came over to ask Zhang Jing's mother, "Are you going to sell your house?" Zhang Jing asked her mother if she wanted to sell it or not. She advised her mother that it was best to sell it, because she bought this house specifically for you to live in. If you don't sell it now, you won't be able to take care of it, so why bother? The house and the shed are all falling apart. What's the point of you staying there?

Zhang Xiaobing also persuaded his mother to sell the house. A direct transfer of ownership would save him the trouble and keep the money in his own hands. "You can live in your daughter's house until you die. She won't be back for a long time anyway. Why don't you come back to Shenzhen with us? We've sold all the houses here!"

The old lady asked, "No one else is selling, why should I?" Zhang Jing replied, "It's because no one else is selling that you should sell. You can get a good price for it! In the future, you won't be able to sell it even if you want to. Don't forget your daughter's vision. Trust me and listen to me!"

Zhang Jing directly announced that her mother's house was for sale! She would sell it to someone who offered a suitable price! Unexpectedly, her fellow villager Aunt Liu and her daughter soon came over. Knowing that her mother wanted to sell the house, they wanted to buy it and asked her mother to name a price.

Wanting to buy it for her daughter, Zhang Jing asked curiously, "Aunt Liu, your family already has many houses, why do you want to buy this one?" Aunt Liu's daughter said, "Sister, our family has many houses, but they are all my brother's. None of my parents' houses can be registered in my name, and I want to leave a way out for myself."

After hearing this, my mother thought about it and said, "If you really want it, I'll sell it to you for 2 yuan. This is because your mother is from the same hometown, so I'll give you a discount. Others have offered up to 3 yuan." This price was indeed very cheap at the time, and Aunt Liu agreed immediately after hearing it.

Zhang Xiaobing and Zhang Jing thought the price was a bit low, but their mother insisted on selling it to a fellow villager, so she had to give it a discount. Later, when Zhang Jing and the others were still about to object, she said angrily, "I'm happy to sell it to Aunt Liu. Even 18,000 yuan is fine. You don't know, they often help me buy groceries when you're not home. Since they take care of me like this, I'm the boss, and none of you have any objections!"

The house was sold quickly with two witnesses. The name of Aunt Liu's daughter was written on it, and the transfer of ownership would be handled by Zhang Xiaobing with his mother's ID. Zhang Jing didn't expect that after returning home, she would stimulate her mother and actually sell her old home.

With the help of Zhang Xiaobing and Zhang Jing, my mother quickly packed up her belongings and moved out everything she could use. She was still reluctant to part with the things she couldn't use anymore. When Aunt Chen found out, she came to my mother and said, "You should have moved in sooner so we could visit you more often. It would be so nice to live in a building where we could throw away all the junk that needed to be thrown away. Xiao Liu got a great deal this time. If I had known, I would have bought it! Your dog is doing well at my house. Come visit him when you have time."

My mother solemnly handed over the keys and said to Aunt Liu, "Everything here, the firewood and coal, is left to you. Please use as much as you can." Aunt Liu's daughter said, "Don't worry, Auntie, I will definitely clean this house well. This is also my house."

The family finally settled into their new home. Mom slept on the lower bed of a bunk bed, fearing she might also have disc her lumbar disc, so she had to sleep on the lower bed. My younger brother, Zhang Xiaobing, slept on the upper bed of the bunk bed, and Naituanzi followed Mom's lead. Achen and Zhang Jing lived upstairs, and it was also very quiet. Together, these few people slowly put the house in order.

Zhang Zhi called every day to talk to her mother and daughter. By the way, she asked Zhang Jing what was going on here. Zhang Jing said she was very busy here and had no time to talk to her. In fact, Zhang Jing was also busy meeting with classmates during this period.

Upon learning that Zhang Jing's mother had sold her house to a fellow villager, many neighbors and colleagues regretted not selling sooner. Zhang Jing thought, knowing her mother would live in this house from now on, she would feel at ease. Zhang Jing privately asked her mother if she wanted to return to Shenzhen with her, but she refused. Zhang Jing then cautiously suggested that her mother find a companion, but she still refused. Zhang Jing said that her three siblings had no objection to her mother finding a companion, saying that having a companion would make life easier in old age. As long as people in the countryside were diligent, they would be fine. Her mother remained silent, and Zhang Jing sighed.

Speaking of the shop, Zhang Jing asked Zhang Xiaobing and his mother what their plans were. The owner had recently given up renting the shop, so his mother was considering taking it back. But she wasn't sure what to do with it. Zhang Jing asked Zhang Xiaobing if he wanted to come back and start some business. Zhang Xiaobing said he didn't want to come back either. But keeping the shop there was a hassle, so Zhang Jing suggested selling it.

Zhang Xiaobing and his mother objected immediately, "Sell everything? What are you selling? Why not rent it out to someone else and run a business there?"

The shop was quite remote, with a second floor for living and a downstairs space for business. Zhang Xiaobing was also worried, so he discussed the issue with his classmates while out for dinner. Zhang Jing also discussed the issue with her classmates, and even went out to ask Aunt Liu's daughter if she wanted to start a business.

Ah Hua asked, "What kind of business can I start?" Zhang Jing said, "That shop is just sitting there, so why don't you learn something? You can live in it and sell something. Even if it's stewed food, you can learn how to make it."

Ah Hua said, "Sister, I'm really not cut out for this! You could tell me to do something else, but I can't handle it on my own!" Zhang Jing was also discouraged. However, before Zhang Jing could decide what to do, Zhang Xiaobing had already found one. He had a classmate who was planning to sell pancakes. There was no need for major renovations; the water and electricity were already available.

By now, everyone had reached a consensus on the rent collection issue. After all, the rents at the Yiwu Small Commodity Wholesale Market in Huizhou had already honed their tolerance. However, Zhang Jing felt that the family shop wouldn't generate much profit, only a few hundred yuan a month. Zhang Xiaobing was also somewhat tempted, but he hadn't made up his mind yet.

She told Zhang Xiaobing that the shop wasn't worth much if she rented it out. It would be more cost-effective to sell it, since she hadn't paid much when she bought it. She could sell it now, take the money, and do anything else with it. She wouldn't have to worry about it.

Because of Achen, Zhang Jing often went everywhere with him. Whether it was grocery shopping, shopping, or even eating out, she would take Achen with her. Achen gradually got used to it, but occasionally he would still ask Zhang Jing, "When are we going home?"

Zhang Jing said she wanted to go back too, so she asked Zhang Xiaobing: "Your vacation is almost over, isn't it time to go back?" Zhang Xiaobing said, "I'll go back after my shop is settled."

Zhang Jing reminded Zhang Xiaobing, "People's hearts are unpredictable. If you rent the shop to your classmate and he or she can't keep it, you'll be left with the shop! Are you going to rush back to find a tenant? You won't earn any income, and you'll have to spend energy and pay for utilities and heating! My advice is to try to sell it."

Zhang Jing's mother scolded her, "You want to sell everything? You're such a troublemaker! Saving money isn't easy. I know you're rich! You might not like these few hundred yuan in rent, but Xiaobing isn't as capable as you. Could you please stop caring so much?"