Rebirth and making money first

Director Chen approached Zhang Jing with a beaming smile and told her that the stocks he'd traded with her had all gone up significantly. He'd made a killing selling them. He wanted to thank Zhang Jing and treat her to a meal, but he also wanted to ask her for other good stock recommendations.

However, in response to Director Chen's question, Zhang Jing simply smiled and said congratulations. Director Chen suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, I remember you said you passed the accounting exam, right?"

Zhang Jing nodded and replied, "Yes, I've passed the beginner's exam and am currently studying for the intermediate level." Upon hearing this, Director Chen quickly said, "Great! How about this? Bring us your beginner's certificate for record. We can increase your salary slightly going forward. Once you get your intermediate certificate, we'll give you another raise." Zhang Jing exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? There's such a thing as that? I never knew that before."

Director Chen explained, "Yes, this young city is undergoing rapid changes every day, full of opportunities and challenges. We need a diverse range of talents to support the city's development." Zhang Jing agreed, saying with emotion, "I always thought it was just a slogan, but I didn't expect it to be truly implemented by everyone. But when I think about it, it's a natural thing."

At this moment, Zhang Jing suddenly realized a terrifying truth—she had already entered middle age! This filled her with fear, for she knew she had no particular advantages. If she didn't work hard to improve herself, she might soon be eliminated by this cruel society. A strong sense of crisis washed over her, and she resolved to improve herself no matter what.

After all, her company couldn't protect her forever, and if it weren't for Uncle Zhang's help, her situation would have only gotten worse. So, she decided to visit Uncle Zhang when she had some free time, and ask about his recent stock investments. However, the more important thing now was to deal with the situation at hand. When Director Chen asked about her stock situation, Zhang Jing replied that she hadn't checked yet because she planned to hold on to her investments for the long term.

Director Chen seemed dissatisfied with this and asked, "Ajing, how long exactly do you mean by long-term holding? I'd like to know that, too." Zhang Jing answered without hesitation, "Twenty years." Upon hearing this number, Director Chen almost jumped up and asked in astonishment, "Are you kidding?" Obviously, he found such a long investment period hard to believe.

Zhang Jing said she wasn't joking and opened her stock account to show Director Chen. "Brother Chen, this is my stock account. You're the only one who can see it besides me and the securities firm. You must cherish this opportunity!"

Director Chen was stunned after reading it. He stared at Zhang Jing's stock page without saying a word until Zhang Jing closed the page. Then he came to his senses and said, "Sister, no, ancestor! The stock god!" Zhang Jing said, you are drooling. Director Chen wiped his mouth, knowing that Zhang Jing was making fun of him, and he didn't have time to care.

"Do you think it's too late for me to get in the car now?"

"As long as the stock market is open, there are always opportunities," Zhang Jing replied with a classic quote, which didn't make Director Chen feel any better. He regretted selling too early, missing out on a lot of profit. Zhang Jing advised him that making quick money in the stock market carries a lot of risks. Short-term profits were barely enough; she planned to play the long game; after all, she didn't have the time to monitor the market every day.

Director Chen scratched his head and gave a flattering smile: "A Jing, I still have some money...but the money from the last sale has been transferred back to my hometown to build a house. I'm under a lot of pressure here...Can you help me out again?"

Zhang Jing looked at him helplessly. "If you still want to live a comfortable life ten or twenty years from now, you have to invest in the long term! If you can get on board the stocks I told you about now, hurry up! There are a few other stocks that are also good, but you'll need to be patient."

Director Chen nodded obediently like a primary school student: "Ajing, tell me again, this time I will listen to you in everything!"

Zhang Jing was speechless. "That depends on what price range you're looking for. You should first take a look at the ones I just recommended, but I don't think you have enough."

Director Chen nodded in agreement. He felt unhappy when he thought about it. He waved his hand to send Zhang Jing away, then continued to count the capital in his hands, forgetting about inviting Zhang Jing to dinner.

After leaving the office, Zhang Jing suddenly realized she'd said something wrong. She slapped her head in frustration, wondering, "How could I have exposed myself so quickly?" She worried about her emotional intelligence, a flaw that hadn't improved even after her rebirth. Whenever someone said something nice, she couldn't help but open up, expressing her thoughts and feelings without reservation. Others saw this as foolishness.

A few days later, Zhang Jing found her job replaced by a beautiful new girl, but she didn't feel resentful. After all, these people were brought into the company through connections, and she herself had gotten in that way. Speaking of this, Zhang Jing thought of Uncle Zhang and was grateful for his help. However, she hadn't contacted Uncle Zhang for a long time and didn't know how he was doing now.

Zhang Jing was reassigned to the Finance Department, where she was responsible for odd jobs and errands. She was also given responsibility for the cafeteria's accounts. Although she no longer had to teach, her workload didn't decrease significantly. She was also assigned the task of registering students and clocking them in. Despite this, Zhang Jing still felt marginalized. She felt uncomfortable not contributing anything.

She called Uncle Zhang, and they chatted for a while. Zhang Jing asked Uncle Zhang out for dinner, saying she wanted to discuss stock issues. Uncle Zhang agreed, and they met at the same restaurant. Zhang Jing knew she needed Zhang Zhi's guidance, so she bought some Shanxi Fenjiu for Uncle Zhang.

The two met at the restaurant as scheduled. Zhang Jing's gift delighted Uncle Zhang. He told her he was getting married again. Zhang Jing berated him for not telling her sooner and asked why he hadn't brought his wife. Uncle Zhang said it was hard to explain. His marriage had turned his family upside down. His last trip to Huizhou to buy a shop was due to disagreements with his son and his wife. He wanted to provide some security for his wife.

Zhang Jing joked, "Uncle Zhang, if I had known I would marry you, you would have fallen out with your son anyway." Uncle Zhang said, "Just don't make things more difficult for me." When talking about married life, Uncle Zhang said it would be easier to be alone.

As they chatted about their lives, they discovered they were both a mess. Zhang Jing hurriedly recounted her current situation in detail, focusing on whether she should sell her stocks and buy a house, or wait until she had enough money to buy one, and whether there was any point in continuing her job.

Uncle Zhang dissuaded Zhang Jing from resigning, saying this company was a good place for retirement. While the salary wasn't high, it covered social security and medical insurance, and she could retire in 20 years. Other things weren't easy to say, but at least she'd have a pension. Since Zhang Jing had earned her accounting certificate, it was bound to be needed sooner or later. There were signs already, considering she was working in the finance office. So, the key was to earn her intermediate and advanced certificates.

When it came to housing, Uncle Zhang was somewhat dissatisfied with Zhang Jing's idea. He bluntly pointed out, "If you want to settle down in this city, you first need a place of your own. There's still a policy that grants household registration if you buy a house. If you miss out, you'll miss out. Don't keep complaining about not having money. If you really want to buy a house, you'll always find a way. If that doesn't work, just get a loan!" Zhang Jing nodded repeatedly in agreement. She echoed, "If you can't afford a new house, consider a pre-owned one. If you can't afford the city center, choose an area outside the city." Uncle Zhang's words resonated deeply with Zhang Jing.

Zhang Jing couldn't help but express her deep regret: "I already have a boyfriend, but I still have to bear the pressure of buying a house alone. I feel really wronged." Uncle Zhang comforted her, "No matter whether you are a man or a woman, everyone needs to have the capital to settle down. Focus on your current life first, and let everything else take its course. God will have his own plans." Hearing this, Zhang Jing's heart suddenly dissipated, and she sighed with emotion: "Listening to your words is worth ten years of reading!"

Speaking of stocks, Zhang Jing asked Uncle Zhang how his stock trading was going. Uncle Zhang said it was hard to describe, and Zhang Jing jokingly said it was "successful in love, unsuccessful in gambling." Uncle Zhang questioned Zhang Jing, and Zhang Jing said she had found the God of Wealth. Uncle Zhang asked her to elaborate, and Zhang Jing said she had chosen a few stocks and planned to hold them long-term, waiting for the dividends. Uncle Zhang looked at Zhang Jing with pity again, and Zhang Jing pretended not to understand and ate heartlessly.

After a full meal, Zhang Jing asked Uncle Zhang to help her find a secondhand house. Her requirements were: two or three bedrooms, move-in ready, installment payments. A more remote location would also be acceptable, as long as it was cheap. Uncle Zhang reluctantly agreed, but told Zhang Jing not to get her hopes up. She had to prepare the money first.

Zhang Jing's shawl was spotted by someone at work, but she simply said someone else had bought it. They'd already taken the deposit, and now they were just waiting for her to deliver it. But that couldn't dampen their enthusiasm; they each ordered one, and three more were placed. She sighed and went back to work.