Rebirth and making money first

Zhang Jing couldn't help but laugh at her mother's blatant snatching. Her eating manners were too ugly. Did she still think she was the foolish girl who was devoted to filial piety in her previous life? Her mother stared at Zhang Jing. Zhang Jing lay comfortably on the sofa and said slowly:

“Actually, I’ve always wanted to ask you a question.”

"what is the problem?"

"Am I... your biological child?"

The mother was anxious, "Why are you not my biological child?"

"Then why do you always pick on me and take advantage of me?"

"What did I do to make you think this way? Besides, I'm your mother, how can I hurt you?"

"It's the same thing again. Since you ask, I'll show it to you," Zhang Jing sat up straight.

The mother also sat down and faced Zhang Jing. "I have a clear conscience. Let's see what else you can come up with."

Zhang Jing said--

When I was little, they thought I was weak and wanted to kill me to lighten the burden. Leaving my sister and brother, a boy and a girl, would make a complete family. Don't rush to refute me, my grandmother and you both said the same thing. They also said it was all my father's fault, not allowing me to breastfeed or feeding me too little, and that it was me who refused to eat and cried all day.

What was even more outrageous was that they stripped the baby naked and put him on the edge of the bed, causing an accident to happen to me, the baby, who would either fall to death or freeze to death.

The mother was anxious, "Did your grandma tell you this?"

"Grandma said it was all Dad's fault. Can you swear you didn't do this?!"

What shocked Zhang Jing was that her mother suddenly lost her temper and burst into tears. "Life was hard back then, and you were weak. There was really nothing we could do!"

"Grandma said she rescued me after coming back from washing clothes outside. After a few such incidents, she decided to take me away. Because she couldn't take care of two people alone. She said she worshipped Guanyin Bodhisattva and she must save my life."

"Since I was little, I've heard you tell fortune-tellers that I have a hard fate and will bring bad luck to my parents. If you don't send me away, you'll get divorced or die. I was thrown back to the countryside and when I was brought back, I seemed two years younger than my sister."

I lived in the countryside, where my grandmother raised me with great care. My stomach and intestines were underdeveloped, and I was often sick. She lit a fire, held my clothes, and roasted them around the flames while calling my name. Uneducated, she used a traditional rural method to call back my soul. She placed a hot steamed bun on my stomach, covered me with warm clothes, and slept until I was well again the next day.

"You know what? My soul is often called away, so my grandma even bought a goat and milked it to feed me. My good skin is thanks to it. I'm not sick, nor am I possessed by evil spirits. I just have a weak stomach and slow growth. Regular massage will be fine. Grandma raised me with the utmost patience and love, actually to help you fill the gap. Because you don't even have this much patience!"

My mother explained, "Who would have understood then? Aren't you grown up? Your grandma treated you well, so you can't be unfilial. Treating me well is also the same as being filial to your grandma."

After I was brought home, you treated me differently because I was developmentally delayed and still wet the bed at six. You spanked and scolded me countless times, blaming me for causing you trouble. When I couldn't concentrate at school and didn't do well in my studies, you called me a country bumpkin and stupid. When it was time to work, you always told me I was older than them and that I should give in. You told me to do more work, and that the good things would be given to them first. Even when I went out to work to help with the family income, I sacrificed myself first.

I had a chance to take the exam to get my household registration, but I missed it because I didn't have the money to pay the city's capacity expansion fee. I mail most of my money to you every month, so where would I get the money? I asked you to borrow money for an emergency, but you always said you didn't have any. Even when I asked to pay you back, you insisted you didn't have the money. When it was overdue, you told me you could lend me money if you really couldn't borrow...

Before she died, my grandmother's mood changed drastically. She forced me to sleep with her. When I refused, she scolded me, saying I was afraid. As a mother, you actually said you were afraid too! Other mothers are willing to devote themselves to their children, and if their children get sick or die, they would be willing to take their place.

"But you just make me feel cold in my heart. I know I can't count on you for anything anymore. I even promised my grandma before she died that I would be filial to you and make your life worry-free! Because you are her dearest child. You are luckier than me because you have a good mother!"

You can't afford to marry your son, so you ask us to each contribute 10 yuan! Do you know how long it takes to earn 10 yuan? When you kill the rich and give to the poor, have you ever considered how I feel? Have you ever thought about how our lives would be if we really paid this money?

The mother said, "I'm just saying. If you have it, help your brother. If you don't, I won't force you. Didn't you guys go out?"

Zhang Jing smiled bitterly. "You always ask me why I don't get married? I've helped you support your family, and it's exhausting. I just want to be miserable for the rest of my life. I don't want to marry anyone and go through this all over again, unless it can bring me peace of mind, a sense of security."

"It takes money to stay flat, so I didn't dare give up. I even took on several part-time jobs. I bought a shop by chance, thinking that I would have some security for the future. When you used your savings to buy shops, you gave them to your younger brothers and sisters. But you left me out. They all got something. You thought you took care of all the children, but you didn't give me anything, and even said that I was sensible, so I didn't need to give anything."

"So, I suspect I'm not my biological child."

"This time I came back, I wanted to buy a house. It was also a precaution. I was afraid that if I couldn't leave Shenzhen, I would have nowhere to stay when I came back. In fact, I not only bought A Yan's house, but also Aunt Tian's house, and even that shop. In total, I spent over 100,000 yuan, and it's all in my name!"

The old lady was furious when she heard this. "Is your mother so untrustworthy?" Zhang Jing said, "Do you believe what you asked for today?" The mother was furious. "Whether you admit it or not, I am your biological mother. Don't think you can get around me!"

Zhang Jing said, "Given your energy, old lady, I know I can't keep secrets for too long. Let me tell you my plan. I paid for all the houses I'm selling, and they're all in my name. If you want to put your name or your son's name on one, just give me the money. But this is before the house is demolished. If the price goes up after the demolition, I won't sell it. I know you're doing this for your son. You and your mother can discuss it. I'll be leaving in a few days, so I'll wait for your news."

Her mother said, "You know how hard it is for us to make money, yet you still force us." Zhang Jing said, "I'm not forcing you. I agree that you can move in and improve your living environment. You can do some small business in the shop. As long as you pay for the water, electricity, and heating, that's not too much to ask, right?"

Seeing her mother still pondering, Zhang Jing added fuel to the fire. "You can't rely on your son alone for your retirement. You need to diversify your investments. No matter how much you plan, it's useless! When you get old, anything can happen."

The mother thought for a moment and said, "Then you have to keep your word. If your brother doesn't have a house when he gets married, you have to give him one to live in." Zhang Jing said, "You can't just give it away for free. Nothing good comes easy. You can let him live there for free. What if he gets divorced and wants to give half to the woman? Wouldn't I be a fool? Or you can call him and ask him which of my two rooms and one shop he wants to buy? If he doesn't have money, just write me an IOU. Anyway, he'll have money after he collects rent from the shop in Huizhou. A man can't be without pressure!"

Her mother decided to call Zhang Xiaobing. After understanding the situation, Zhang Xiaobing asked, "Can you live in so many houses?" Zhang Jing rolled her eyes, too lazy to listen to the mother and daughter's argument, and simply went out for some fresh air. Not long after, she heard her mother calling her, "Come here and talk to your brother. I can't explain it clearly."

Zhang Jing picked up the phone and said, "Sister, you're amazing. Did you buy another house?" Zhang Jing ignored him and asked directly, "How much private money do you have?" Zhang Xiaobing said, "How much money can I have? I still have to pay the monthly mortgage."

"Don't talk nonsense. I bought two rooms and a shop at home with full payment. I've already told the old lady the details. She insisted on giving you one. I definitely can't give it to you for free, so I can sell you one. I'll explain the characteristics of the three rooms in detail. Which one do you choose?"

After Zhang Jing finished her introductions, Zhang Xiaobing was still undecided. An idea struck him, and he asked, "How about you help me choose?" Zhang Jing paused. She knew no matter which one she chose, she'd be criticized, and she hated being forced into this situation. "How would I know how much money you have? You decide which one you want. The prices are 4, 5, or 6."

Zhang Xiaobing asked if it could be cheaper. Zhang Jing replied, "You're going to have to pay the transfer fee, so why don't you just not buy it?" Zhang Xiaobing then put his mother on the phone. After discussing, they decided on the shop for 6 yuan. But his mother was only willing to pay 5 yuan. Zhang Jing relented and agreed to 6 yuan. But he had to change his name to Zhang Xiaobing next time he came back, since he couldn't come back anyway.

Zhang Jing was once again pressured by her mother to sign a transfer agreement. Her money was in a fixed-term deposit, and she was told it would be returned when she withdrew it. Zhang Jing said she wouldn't be able to return at that time, so she decided not to transfer the funds. Her mother then told her to wait while she borrowed money from a coworker and withdrew from a current account. She scraped together 5 yuan and gave it to Zhang Jing, saying she had spent all she had and asking her to take the remaining money next time.

Zhang Jing suppressed her inner shock and said, "Forget it, forget it. If it is transferred to your name, 5 will be enough, and will be a filial piety to you. If it is transferred to your son's name, you have to return the to me." When her mother heard this, she immediately said, then transfer it to her name.

Zhang Jing called the salesperson and paid a small fee to change the name to her mother's. She deposited 5 yuan in cash into her own account. After checking the balance, she knew it was time to leave. She gathered all her documents before leaving.

The mother also breathed a sigh of relief. "Don't blame me. You'll understand when you get married and have children."

After receiving the property certificate, Zhang Jing heard rumors that her mother had borrowed money to buy the store. They implied that her children were ignorant and were leaving their mother in debt while earning money outside.

Zhang Jing ignored her, and her mother kept the shop's property certificate. Zhang Jing also wrote a receipt for the 5 yuan sale to her mother, signed and stamped it, and asked her mother to keep it. She also told her, "If you want to live well in your old age, you must register this property in your name. If you give it to your son, who will get it?"

The old lady said, "Do I need you to tell me?" Zhang Jing said, "I need the household registration booklet, so I'll take it with me. I'll mail it back to you when you need it." The old lady said, "I'm your mother after all. You can't marry someone secretly without telling me!"

Zhang Jing said, "You're overthinking it, old lady. There's no chance of me getting married. I want to buy a house in Shenzhen, and I need a household registration book." "You want to buy a house again? Have you made a fortune? How much money do you have? Even though you have money, why do you insist on asking me for 5?" A series of questions came to Zhang Jing.