Rebirth and making money first

When Zhang Jing called Zhang Xiaobing, he was immersed in joy and in an exceptionally good mood. Even his tone of voice became light and cheerful. "Sister, what do you want to talk to your brother about? Why did you suddenly think of calling me?"

Zhang Jing didn't mean to beat around the bush and asked directly, "I heard you recently got a new girlfriend. How far along are you two? Was the previous one completely over?"

Zhang Xiaobing felt a hint of embarrassment when she asked him so directly. He said a little sheepishly, "Oh, my sister! It's all because of the three criteria you and mom set for me! The previous one didn't meet the requirements, so we broke up a long time ago. But this one is pretty good, she already meets two of the criteria! And I've been to her house before, and the food they cook is really delicious, especially the bacon and sausage..."

Zhang Xiaobing wanted to continue praising her, but was interrupted by Zhang Jing rudely, "Let's get to the point. Where are you? Are you asleep? Are you pregnant?"

Zhang Xiaobing almost jumped up when he heard this, and said angrily: "Sister, can you please speak politely?"

Zhang Jing rolled her eyes. "Okay, now what's the situation?"

Zhang Xiaobing sighed and said, "I've already been to the girl's house, but her father hasn't made a clear statement. I don't know what he means, and if they don't agree, I won't force it. I just feel a little regretful that I won't be able to eat the delicious food her family cooks anymore."

"Oh? Then what about buying a house for 300,000 yuan?" Zhang Jing continued to ask.

Zhang Xiaobing scratched his head and explained awkwardly, "This is actually what her father told her. If she insists on dating me, her family is willing to give us 300,000 yuan to support us. As for the remaining money, we need to find a way to buy a house in Lijiang, Yunnan, and settle down. He definitely doesn't want her to marry far away."

"What are the housing prices in Lijiang?" Zhang Jing asked curiously.

Zhang Xiaobing smiled wryly and replied, "Three hundred thousand is only enough for a down payment, and it won't buy a very large house."

Zhang Jing said, "Mom is worried that you might marry into someone else's family!"

Zhang Xiaobing was a bit amused when he heard this and said, "Oh, the old lady is just imagining things all the time! She already has a son at home, so why would I need to go to her house? She's already getting mad before I know what's going on. She's really overthinking it. If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have told her."

Zhang Jing knew full well that in a previous life, Zhang Xiaobing's wife was this Bai girl from Yunnan. Back then, she was tall and strong, with dark skin, and had given birth to a son. To verify whether things had remained the same in her previous life, Zhang Jing deliberately asked, "Xiaobing, how is your work in Beijing? If it's not working out, you should come back. We already have a shop."

Zhang Xiaobing sighed and replied, "Well, I'm going to Shanghai to work in a few days. I've had some unpleasantness with my classmates here, and our relationship has become very strained."

Hearing this, Zhang Jing finally confirmed that the direction of her past life hadn't changed. So, she said to Zhang Xiaobing, "Xiaobing, you have some free time now. Why don't you call Mom back and put her mind at ease?"

Zhang Xiaobing nodded vigorously and agreed readily, "Okay, I'll give her a call later and ask how she's doing." Zhang Jing frowned slightly and said softly, "You have to think it over carefully. We already have a house and a shop. It's not much, but it's enough for us to live on. If you find collecting rent too much trouble, you can start a small business on your own. Don't let the hardship of working and the injustice you feel make you return home in disgrace."

Zhang Xiaobing scratched his head and smiled sheepishly, "Hey, sister, I get it. Actually, I just want to find a stable job and then consider other things." Zhang Jing sighed helplessly and continued to persuade, "Look, our family now has shops in Guangdong and Northeast China, and the annual rental income will be quite a lot in the future. Besides, your mother is old and in poor health, and needs someone to take care of her. If you really want to get married, why not find a suitable girl nearby who can take care of the family and give your mother peace of mind."

Zhang Xiaobing was silent for a moment, then slowly raised his head, looked at his sister seriously and said, "Sister, I understand what you mean. But I still want to go out and try my luck, and see if I can make some achievements. If not, I will come back and help take care of the housework." Zhang Jing listened to her brother's firm tone, and a complicated emotion surged in her heart.

She knew her brother had always longed to rise to prominence and prove his worth. But she also worried he might encounter difficulties and setbacks, or even lose himself. So, she said earnestly, "Okay, since you're so determined, go for it. But remember, no matter where you are, stay true to your original aspirations and don't be tempted by external temptations. Also, if you encounter any difficulties or unhappiness, remember to tell me. I'll always support you."

Zhang Xiaobing was well aware of his sister's love and support for him, and this family affection made him feel warm. Then, as if remembering something, Zhang Jing suddenly said, "By the way, didn't you say you wanted to get married? How much money have you saved?" Zhang Xiaobing replied in a low voice, "Well... not much, I just don't know how much the other party wants." Hearing the guilty tone in Zhang Xiaobing's voice, Zhang Jing felt uncomfortable too.

After they hung up, Zhang Jing held the phone for a long time, not letting it go. The conversation with her brother kept coming to her mind. She knew her brother was worried, but she also understood that marriage was not a simple matter and required careful consideration.

She sat on the sofa, looking out the window with a somewhat lost look in her eyes. She was already in her thirties, and time waited for no one. While her friends had all married, had children, and were living stable lives, she was still struggling alone. Although she had a successful career, deep down she still longed for a warm family.

She couldn't help but reflect on her life choices. Perhaps she'd been too focused on work over the years and neglected her relationships. Perhaps it was time to adjust her priorities and spend more time finding the right person. After all, the older you get, the narrower your options become.

At the same time, she sincerely hoped her brother could find his own happiness. He had lacked a sense of security since childhood, and he deserved a bright future. She believed that as long as he persevered and worked hard, he would be able to realize his own value in life. She would do her best to help him and bring him back on the right path.

Zhang Jing took a deep breath and decided to take a proactive approach to her love life from now on. She planned that if A-Long couldn't give her the life she wanted, she would bravely step out of her comfort zone, try to meet more people, and create opportunities for herself. One day, she would meet the person she would spend her life with.

Over the next month, Zhang Xiaobing's actions shocked Zhang Jing. A friend had found him a job in Shanghai, so he rented an apartment there. A black girl from the Bai ethnic group in Yunnan Province kept in touch with him, and he persuaded her to leave for work. But when he arrived in Shanghai, he discovered she was poorly educated and intolerant of hardship. Besides Zhang Xiaobing, she also had a childhood sweetheart at home.

I had planned to work in Shanghai and see the world, but I couldn't handle the hardship. My money was almost gone, and I had no money left for the trip home. I ended up living with Zhang Xiaobing, and gradually got used to lying down. Zhang Xiaobing didn't mind. But then I realized the woman was pregnant, and fearing her family would find out, she planned to have an abortion.

Zhang Xiaobing wanted a child but didn't dare push too hard. Desperate, he turned to Zhang Zhi, who offered him advice: Call his future father-in-law—the Bai village chief, a Communist Party member who already had a pension of over 3,000 yuan. Letting his father-in-law make the decision would be more beneficial than worrying about it himself.

Things went surprisingly smoothly. When the father-in-law found out, he asked them to go back to Yunnan to discuss the matter. He also asked them to give up their rental apartment and quit their job. Otherwise, he would personally go to Shanghai to arrest the man.

Zhang Xiaobing successfully satisfied his father-in-law and his family. His wife was a sure thing, and they still didn't ask for a betrothal gift. Touched by his father-in-law's understanding, Zhang Xiaobing unilaterally agreed to transfer his household registration to Yunnan. His mother, returning from the city to the countryside, would never be able to accept this.

Zhang Jing's mother informed her of her brother's situation. She said, "I've raised a son for nothing. I can't care about him anymore, because I don't have the money to pay him anyway." Zhang Jing lamented, "It's best not to keep a man when he grows up. If you keep him, he'll become an enemy." She consoled her mother, "Don't you still have me? How about I find someone to marry into our family?"

The mother was furious: "I have a son! My son is not dead! Why do I need others to interfere? Don't make trouble. Get married quickly!"

Zhang Xiaobing and his wife, manipulated by their father-in-law, were able to apply for low-rent housing, freeing him from the 30 yuan he had to pay. He also suggested that, aside from paying for the child's diapers and milk powder, they could move back to the countryside with their entire family, just like their older brothers and sisters-in-law. Of course, he had an additional responsibility: to pay for his mother-in-law's medicine.

It seemed like a trap, yet Zhang Xiaobing felt incredibly happy. Zhang Jing decided to be more vigilant, determined not to let him bring the whole family down with him. She also had to constantly remind her mother to have a backup plan, as her future retirement was in jeopardy.

Once again, I marvel at the fact that men should not be left alone when they grow up! When they have a wife, they ignore their mother.