Rebirth and making money first

After much deliberation, Zhang Jing finally decided to keep her stocks. She knew the risks this decision entailed, but she couldn't resist the deep desire for wealth. She admitted she was greedy, wanting more and more money, a desire that burned like a raging fire, unquenchable.

However, besides money, she had another obsession: buying a house. This obsession, like a venomous snake, tightly coiled around her, making it impossible for her to break free. She didn't understand why she was so obsessed with a house, but she knew that what she was pursuing was a home that truly belonged to her, a place that would bring her peace of mind and warmth.

After turning off her computer, Zhang Jing lay in bed in the darkness, tossing and turning but unable to fall asleep. Although she held considerable stock holdings, these fortunes paled in the face of soaring housing prices. She realized that even if she had become so-called wealthy, she still couldn't afford to buy a house.

At that moment, Zhang Jing suddenly understood her mother's deep anxiety and helplessness over her brother's wedding house. She regretted her insistence on forcing her mother to make such a difficult choice between their two children. Only then did she truly understand that things she once took for granted, things others often struggled to obtain.

They toiled silently, striving for their livelihood, simply to realize that seemingly unattainable dream—owning their own house. Faced with this reality, Zhang Jing couldn't help but feel an indescribable sense of emotion and sympathy. Perhaps she should help her brother, after all, he was her own brother. As for her mother, she also wanted to reassure her. As for her own house in Shenzhen, she still needed to work hard to earn money to buy one.

Zhang Jing decided to finish her current crocheting work first, then focus on her coding. She secretly congratulated herself on having two shops and two houses back home as a backup. She was also grateful for having a stable job and continuously improving her education. Furthermore, she had a considerable fortune in the stock market, approximately 800,000 yuan. If things continued to develop, becoming a multi-millionaire wouldn't be a fantasy; she might even be able to retire early and enjoy a leisurely retirement. Thinking of this, Zhang Jing's mood gradually brightened.

As long as I could buy a house in Shenzhen, even if I didn't get married, my life would be perfect... Zhang Jing fell asleep and had a dream. She dreamed she was broke again, feeling anxious and worried. She walked into a beautiful house and immediately fell in love with it. Someone said it was for sale for 3 yuan. But no one wanted it. Zhang Jing got anxious and immediately said she would buy it herself. Just as she was about to pay, she woke up. The depressed mood lasted for a long time.

Zhang Jing called her mother and asked, "Mom, how have you been lately? Are you feeling unwell?" Her mother replied with a smile, "I'm fine, don't worry!" Then she told Zhang Jing that A Yan had gone to Xinjiang and had sent the key to the house.

When the neighbors learned that Zhang Jing had purchased A-Yan's house, they all complained that it was overpriced and that Zhang Jing had gotten a bad deal. Zhang Jing's mother explained that she had inspected the house and discovered that A-Yan had left many of her belongings behind. She said she would clean it up and offer a monthly rent of 300 yuan to anyone who wanted to rent it. Finally, Zhang Jing's mother asked if she was willing to rent it out.

After a moment's thought, Zhang Jing replied, "Mom, based on current market prices, this apartment can only be rented for around 400 yuan. And if I rent it out, I'm worried the tenant won't take good care of it and cause damage. So, forget it. How about you move into that apartment? That would save you some trouble." However, her mother firmly declined, saying she didn't want to climb stairs because she was too old. She also promised to find a reliable tenant for the apartment, so Zhang Jing wouldn't have to worry.

Zhang Jing emphasized again: "Mom, I plan to wait for the compensation for that house when it is demolished, so no large-scale renovations can be carried out inside. The tenants must take good care of the house. In addition, the rent can be used to pay management fees and heating fees. As for the rent, you can charge 400 yuan, otherwise I would rather leave it empty. The extra money is my filial piety to you. Once there is any news of demolition, please notify me in time." The mother nodded in agreement, indicating that she understood.

Zhang Jing couldn't help laughing when the old lady mentioned Aunt Tian. It turned out that the old lady had been upset about Zhang Jing buying Aunt Tian's house because there was no news of the house being demolished, and Aunt Tian's family was living there for nothing. The old lady thought her daughter was too stupid and that Aunt Tian's family had taken advantage of her.

Zhang Jing quickly explained, "Mom, please stop complaining. We didn't buy this house for investment in the first place. We just wanted a place to live after the demolition. Besides, even if we rent it out, we'd only get fifty yuan a month at most. It might as well be a favor. After all, it's less likely to break down if someone lives there."

The old lady sighed helplessly, but still felt a little unwilling. She said, "Ah, you are too soft-hearted, always thinking about others. But your Aunt Tian often gives me vegetables she grows, which can be considered as knowing how to repay kindness."

Zhang Jing smiled and comforted her mother, "Mom, you can be a little gentler when you talk to Aunt Tian. Don't be so overbearing. She doesn't owe us anything, so there's no need to be like that. You have so many coworkers, but it's rare to find someone as accommodating and coaxing as Aunt Tian. So you must cherish this friendship and don't let her down."

The old lady was so anxious when she heard this that she jumped up and down. "Oh my! When was I so arrogant? I was just doing it for her own good! Besides, I treat your Aunt Liu, Aunt Zhang, and Aunt Li the same way."

Zhang Jing knew she couldn't convince her mother, so she quickly changed the subject. She asked if the shop was ready. The old lady beamed, saying she'd rented it out to someone else as a warehouse. Stunned by her impressive feat, Zhang Jing hurriedly asked who it was rented to and how much it was for. Her mother replied, "It's your classmate, Xiao Wang, who runs the supermarket."

Zhang Jing finally remembered Xiao Wang, but they weren't classmates. When they were young, Xiao Wang practiced qigong with his mother, and Zhang Jing, despite her frail health, joined in. Later, he was assigned to lead the group, but since there were so many elderly people, she couldn't memorize the movements. Xiao Wang only went sporadically. His mother went every day, but for some reason, she disliked Zhang Jing. Naturally, Zhang Jing ignored her.

It later transpired that Xiao Wang had long had his eye on Zhang Jing, but his family was unanimously opposed. The reason was simple: Zhang Jing was frail and looked like she couldn't endure hardship. Consequently, his mother, convinced that Zhang Jing had seduced her son, always held her in high regard. Zhang Jing, inexplicably, endured long periods of targeted treatment.

Xiao Wang eventually married a tall woman, fulfilling his mother's wish. They had a daughter and ran a thriving supermarket together. However, Xiao Wang began having affairs with other women, causing chaos in their family. Despite this, they remained together and continued their life. By then, Zhang Jing had already left the area and moved to Guangdong.

Xiao Wang's ideal lover is probably Zhang Jing. He always asks his acquaintances if Zhang Jing has returned to her hometown. Every time he sees Zhang Jing's mother, he shows extra warmth and even charges the old lady a dollar or two less for the things he sells to her. This makes the old lady very happy. "His wife won't give me any discounts, not even a penny less. So I always shop when he's in the store, so I can save some money." The old lady is proud of her wit. Zhang Jing couldn't help but ask, "Isn't this a bad idea? After all, we're taking advantage of others!"

"I didn't force him, he just wanted to. He always asks me about your situation and when you'll be back. Do you think I can't tell? You're not coming back anyway, so I'll just keep you hanging. The one dollar and fifty cents off I get from shopping is enough for me to buy a steamed bun."

Zhang Jing said, "Madam, are you just short of this one steamed bun?" "Stop talking nonsense to me! Don't mind your own business." Mom didn't take it seriously. Zhang Jing asked again, "How much would you rent your shop as a warehouse per month? Don't you think you can't afford the rent when the time comes?"

My mother said, "1200 yuan a month, payable every six months. He said he'd had his eye on this big shop for a while, and let you snag it first. He'll use it for six months and then move when he finds a suitable space." Zhang Jing said that if they move early, you'll have to refund the rent. My mother said it was already agreed.

Speaking of Zhang Xiaobing, his mother said he's dating someone from Yunnan. This time, they're engaged, and instead of asking for a dowry, they're offering 30 yuan to buy him a house in Yunnan. "Isn't this just a plan to get my son to marry into her family? She has older brothers and sisters, and she doesn't want to come to Northeast China herself, so she wants my son to go there. She has bad intentions. If my son goes there, who will I rely on for my retirement? If you make me angry, I won't give him anything!"

Zhang Jing advised his mother, "Isn't this still undecided? It's still up in the air, so don't rush it." His mother said he'd already been to the woman's house, and what if they arranged for them to live together and she got pregnant? "Wouldn't that be incredibly frustrating? I can't sleep when I think about it, and my gums are burning. And you, get on with your personal business, and stop nagging me."

Zhang Jing said, "Mom, you have a really rich imagination! Let me find some time to call him and ask about the situation. There's no point in worrying about it. Just take care of your own health." After hanging up the phone, Zhang Jing breathed a sigh of relief. After thinking about it, she finally called Zhang Xiaobing.