Rebirth and making money first

Zhang Jing consulted Aunt Zhang and Aunt Zhuang about what gift to buy for a newborn. When they learned she was going to visit Zuo Panxue, they immediately became excited and offered some advice:

“Just buy a stroller!”

"Good baby strollers are too expensive, and cheap ones are hard to come by."

"Why not buy a silver longevity lock and a silver bracelet?"

"The silver nowadays is not pure. I cannot be held responsible if it causes harm to the children."

"Buy a set of baby clothes or a swaddle."

"If it doesn't work, buy milk powder."

“I’m afraid my child will only recognize one brand.”

Zhang Jing watched as Aunt Zhang and Aunt Zhuang argued to no avail, so she decided to find a solution herself. In the end, she bought a set of baby clothes, but she chose a larger size. She also bought a beautiful fruit basket nearby.

Zhang Jing only knew that Dazhuang's family was well-off, but she hadn't expected them to live in an upscale residential complex. There was a security guard at the gate, and after contacting Zuo Panxue, she waited for Dazhuang to pick her up.

Da Zhuang was delighted to see Zhang Jing. He took the fruit basket and led her home. After walking for a while, they saw many small, independent villas. At one of the houses, Da Zhuang said, "We've arrived." He rang the doorbell, and the door opened. Zuo Panxue smiled and invited Zhang Jing in.

While complaining about Zhang Jing spending money on gifts, Zuo Panxue asked the nanny to bring fruit and tea. "I specially asked them to buy shrimp and roast goose as extra dishes today. Please don't be polite to us." Zuo Panxue said, and asked Da Zhuang to look after the baby while she chatted with Zhang Jing.

It turns out that this is the wedding house given by my parents-in-law after the wedding. The old couple does not live here. They used to travel abroad, but now they are back for their grandson.

Da Zhuang came out at this time, and Zuo Panxue said, "Didn't I ask you to look after the baby?" Da Zhuang said, "Dad said he would look after it, so he asked you to go." Zuo Panxue said to Zhang Jing, "Then you sit down first. Da Zhuang, you talk to Teacher Zhang. I'll see if the baby needs a diaper change." Zhang Jing asked her to take care of the child first.

Da Zhuang sat down. Seeing that he was silent, Zhang Jing handed him an apple. "Da Zhuang, are you happy to be a father?" Da Zhuang said, "Yes." Zhang Jing asked, "Are your parents here to help you take care of the baby?" Da Zhuang said, "Yes, the baby is crying and I'm tired."

After a while, Zuo Panxue came out. Zhang Jing said she hadn't seen the baby yet and asked her to bring it out for a look. Zuo Panxue agreed. Zhang Jing asked where the restroom was and immediately went to wash her hands and tidy up. When she came out, she saw Zuo Panxue holding the baby. Dazhuang's father had also followed. Knowing that it was Dazhuang's father, besides being similar in appearance and height, he also had a refined demeanor.

Zhang Jing called him "Uncle." Dazhuang's father nodded and smiled, then turned his attention back to his grandson. He also told his daughter-in-law to sit down and not hold the child for too long, as it would cause back pain. Zhang Jing also went to look at the child. The chubby child had indeed recovered, and everyone excitedly discussed the situation. Then, the child yawned, and his grandfather said he was sleepy and it was time for him to feed and go to sleep.

"Bring the child back to my room, clean him up and come over to feed him." Dazhuang's father took the child back to the room, and Zuo Panxue let Zhang Jing do as she pleased. She went to feed the child and told Dazhuang not to just eat stupidly. "Talk to Teacher Zhang!" Dazhuang nodded.

Zhang Jing saw Zuo Panxue enter the room to feed her baby, and Dazhuang's father hadn't come out yet. She felt very strange and asked Dazhuang, "Your wife is feeding the baby, so you don't need to help?" Dazhuang said, "I'm stupid, and my dad is smart, so he helps." Zhang Jing was startled and asked quietly, "Dazhuang, where is your mom?" Dazhuang said, "Mom is taking care of herself."

Zhang Jing quickly changed the subject, "Da Zhuang, do you still go to class every day?" "Yes," Da Zhuang said, "I can see Alan and the class monitor." Zhang Jing sighed inwardly, not having a low IQ also has its advantages, isn't it a kind of happiness?

A table of dishes was served, and Dazhuang's father ate for a while before leaving. He said he would come back tomorrow and asked Dazhuang not to sleep too deeply at night. Zuo Panxue impatiently asked her father-in-law to stop coming here so often and spend more time with her mother-in-law at home. As the father-in-law left, he said, "She is so old, why does she need someone to accompany her? My grandson is the most important now, and my son has to take a back seat."

Zhang Jing rolled her eyes at Zuo Panxue and closed the door. Everyone ate together, but the nanny ate in the kitchen. Zuo Panxue explained that she was breastfeeding and could only eat the maternity meal, so she told Zhang Jing to be more polite. She also peeled a shrimp for Da Zhuang.

Speaking of the house Zhang Jing bought, Zuo Panxue couldn't help but sigh. "Zhang Jing, you're such a fool. You always emphasize relying on yourself, but the rules of this world are that men express themselves by conquering the world, while women should rely on men's strength to conquer the world. Why make life so hard? If a woman doesn't know how to care for herself, how can she expect others to? You just can't understand this."

Hearing this, Zhang Jing asked curiously, "So, do you regret it now? After all, you're a college graduate, and your parents are quite capable. By comparison, your starting point was much higher than mine, and you had a wider range of choices."

Zuo Panxue smiled faintly and replied, "What do I have to regret? I have endless money, property, cars, and can travel everywhere. I can sleep until I wake up naturally every day. Aside from the lack of love in my marriage, everything else is perfect! In fact, I already experienced love when I was in college."

Seeing that Zuo Panxue was a little excited, Zhang Jing quickly comforted her: "Okay, don't be too excited. After hearing what you said, I'm starting to be jealous of you." It seemed that Zuo Panxue had made her very happy, but Zhang Jing knew that if she was really happy, why would she show off to her?

At this moment, Zuo Panxue finally remembered to ask Zhang Jing about herself. Zhang Jing shrugged helplessly and said, "As for me, apart from finding a man who loves me but has nothing, I'm completely broke in every way. Although I have a house, a shop, and my own business, it pales in comparison to you. The man I met now is even worse than the previous one. He's like a chicken rib and a real headache!"

Zuo Panxue said, "Why don't you just throw it away? Are you going to keep it for the New Year? Chicken ribs will be thrown away sooner or later. No matter how long you hold them in your mouth, they won't turn into meat!"

Zhang Jing said, "The most important thing is that I want to have a child as soon as possible, but I haven't found a suitable one yet. I'm not young anymore, and it's difficult to kill the father and keep the child." Zuo Panxue rolled her eyes. "You're braver than me. I'll keep an eye on this matter for you."

After Zhang Jing got home, washed up, and turned on her computer, A-Long called. "Are you home yet? What do you want to eat? I'll bring it over." Annoyed, Zhang Jing refused directly, "No, I've already had dinner at a colleague's house, and a colleague is staying at my house now. You can eat by yourself." A-Long paused, "Then I won't go over. I'll come over tomorrow." Zhang Jing said, "Let's talk about it tomorrow."

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Jing cursed herself internally, feeling she had lost everything. She kept thinking about breaking up, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to do it. She worried that A-Long would keep pestering her, but she didn't know how to completely break free from him. She felt that this relationship had become a stumbling block to her career, leaving her feeling incredibly frustrated. Although she technically had a boyfriend, in reality, she was no different from being single.

Not long after, Zhang Jing received a call from her younger sister, Zhang Zhi. She confided in her about her daughter's daily struggles, including the problems she faced with her mother-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, and her husband's children from a previous marriage. Through her sister's descriptions, Zhang Jing deeply grasped the difficulties and limitations of being a housewife. She couldn't understand why well-educated women would settle for a dull life, consumed by the daily necessities of life.

At this thought, Zhang Jing couldn't help but worry about the fertility issues she might face in the future. If she did become pregnant and have a child, would she have to face such a tedious life? She couldn't imagine how exhausted and helpless she would become, constantly busy with her child's feeding, drinking, and toileting, leaving her with no time for herself.

And all this is just the beginning. What if the child gets sick? What if the child doesn't do well in school? These questions are like heavy shackles, weighing down Zhang Jing and making her feel breathless.

However, reality is so cruel that she seems to have few options. She knows she can't keep avoiding this problem, but she doesn't know how to face it. Perhaps she needs more courage and determination to face the challenges ahead.

Shaking her head, Zhang Jing buried her anxiety deep within her heart. Now wasn't the time to dwell on this, she told herself; she had more important things to do. So, she turned on her computer and resumed typing. She knew that only in that imaginary world of fiction could she find true freedom and happiness. There, she could freely create characters and stories, letting her imagination run wild.

"I am a lonely soul, forever searching for another soulmate. Finding one is my fortune, not finding it is my fate!" Zhang Jing typed these words on her keyboard, her heart filled with emotion. She felt like a lone traveler, constantly searching for someone who could connect with her soul. But in this complex world, where could such a person be?

If she couldn't find someone, could she just settle for someone else? This thought suddenly crossed Zhang Jing's mind, sending a wave of panic through her. She had asked herself this question countless times, but each time, she couldn't come up with an answer. She knew that settling meant giving up her ideals and pursuits, accepting an imperfect life. But at the same time, she also understood that sometimes, life doesn't always go the way we want it to, and we must learn to compromise and adapt.

At this moment, Zhang Jing deeply admired those who could make do. She didn't know if their understanding was shallow, or if they were deliberately blinding themselves to the unpleasantness. But regardless, they were braver than she was, daring to face reality and accept the imperfections of life.

As for Zhang Jing, she needs more time to think and find her own answers. She knows that this road will not be smooth, but she is willing to try, explore, and find the lifestyle that truly suits her.

Everyone is comparing, trying to find others' misfortunes to boost their own confidence. Zuo Panxue is like this, as is Zhang Zhi and Zhang Jing. Only through comparison can one feel happy!