Rebirth and making money first

The person she met in the internet cafe was Zhang Jing's old neighbor from junior high school. Zhang Jing called him "Brother Li." "Xiao Jing, when did you come back?" Zhang Jing looked at the aging Brother Li with a pang of sadness. Back then, she had been a fangirl of Brother Li.

"I just got back a few days ago. Long time no see!" Seeing that the internet cafe was not suitable for chatting, Brother Li invited Zhang Jing to find a restaurant to eat and chat. Zhang Jing agreed and even called her mother to tell her about it. Brother Li smiled and praised Zhang Jing, "You've grown up and become sensible. Tell your mother when you go out. That's great!"

Zhang Jing smiled, and Brother Li asked her what she wanted to eat. Zhang Jing said she was new and unfamiliar with the place, so she let Brother Li decide. Brother Li said, "Then let's go get hot pot. I'll drive to the city!" Zhang Jing agreed.

Brother Li said, "Xiao Jing, can you believe this? This is the first time you've had dinner with another woman without telling my wife. It's never happened before." Zhang Jing laughed and said Brother Li was hilarious. "You should say this to prove your loyalty to your wife! Aren't you divorced? When did you get married again?"

Li said he'd been married three times, and this was the third time, without a marriage certificate. "That's not marriage, it's just cohabitation or living together," Zhang Jing corrected him.

"Yes, yes, Xiaojing, you're right. It's mainly because my dad needs someone to take care of him, and I don't have time because of work. She also has a daughter to raise, and I supported her from sixth grade to her junior year in college. She calls me little dad and spends a lot of money. She just asked for a computer, and now she needs another 2000 yuan to prepare for a New Year's Day skiing trip to Yabuli with her classmates."

Zhang Jing said, "It seems like you guys get along well. Hasn't her biological father looked for her?" Li Ge said, "I haven't heard of that. Maybe he has, but he wouldn't tell me specifically."

Zhang Jing hesitated for a long time before asking Brother Li, "Brother Li, I have a question I want to ask you. Would you mind if I pretend I didn't ask it?"

"Xiao Jing, we have been neighbors for many years. You are like my own sister. There is no need to hide your words, just say it." Brother Li chatted with Zhang Jing while driving.

"You raise someone else's child. What if he turns out to be ungrateful in the future? You have given so much, are you willing to accept that? I still don't believe that you can't get dog meat." Zhang Jing finally asked out her confusion.

"Who says it's not true? I regretted it a long time ago. But there's nothing I can do. Now my mom is gone. My dad needs someone to take care of him. Hiring someone is expensive and there's no suitable one. Another reason is that my dad doesn't want outsiders in the house. If I take care of him, I won't be able to work. I'm also afraid that my dad will find me another mother."

"Now my wife and I have reached an agreement. She will help me take care of my father, and I will support her daughter's education. She said she felt insecure, so my father and I transferred the house to her name. When my father dies, your brother Li will be free."

"How did you get free?" Zhang Jing and Li Ge were talking as they arrived at the hot pot restaurant and found a quiet corner. Before Zhang Jing could even begin to understand the novel hot pot, Li Ge had already ordered beef, mutton, and shrimp.

The two continued their conversation, and Zhang Jing asked, "Why don't you get married?" Brother Li said, "Xiao Jing, I'm actually wary of her too. I give her 4000 yuan a month for household expenses, and I keep the rest in a card. There's over yuan, and it's linked to my phone number. I know every time something is transferred out. I scolded her for it last time and told her to tell me if she doesn't have enough money, and I'll transfer it to her. She's not allowed to use the money on the card."

Zhang Jing thought to himself, this man is really a scumbag. She genuinely takes good care of his father, but he still schemes against her. It seems that marriage, like living together, is all about exchanging benefits.

"In the future, if my dad dies and we separate, I'll split the house and the savings 50-50. I think I'm being kind, Xiaojing. Can you consider your brother Li a real man?"

Zhang Jing ate and said, "Brother Li, you should eat too. From what you said, it seems you've been very considerate of her. It means she and you have a tacit understanding. If things don't work out, then don't bother with it and just live a good life with her. If your father dies, you'll be old and need someone to take care of you. You won't be able to rely on your daughter either. If this woman can take good care of you and provide for your retirement, then give your wealth to her."

"Alas, Xiaojing, your brother Li is unwilling to accept this! I divorced your sister-in-law because she cheated on me. We both found other men outside, and then my daughter wanted us to remarry. I wanted to remarry for the sake of the children, but she refused. It's obvious that she hasn't had enough."

"Your mother kept saying that I bullied your sister-in-law, and I had no way to defend myself. Later, I simply stopped explaining and let her do whatever she wanted!"

Zhang Jing explained on her mother's behalf, "Actually, my mother always thought you were smarter than my sister-in-law. My sister-in-law is four years older than you and she's a bit of a fool. Even if she was cheated, you're still responsible. The old lady divorced herself, and she wanted my sister-in-law to be happy. In her eyes, you dumped my sister-in-law, which is a typical act of ingratitude."

"You are absolutely right. Every time I meet your old lady, she always says to me, 'Jianjun, you abandoned Fenglan on the road. You are so unkind and have a bad heart! Fenglan is so pitiful. She cried so miserably in my house. If there is something that you can't resolve, why don't you talk it out nicely?'" Brother Li looked helpless.

"I was scared. I didn't dare pass by your house and took a detour home." Brother Li saw Zhang Jing busy eating and helped to pick up the shrimp and put it in her bowl. "There's something I've been wanting to tell you. Don't scold me when you hear it, I'll tell you."

Zhang Jing was so happy with her meal that she waved her claws, "Don't be polite, go ahead." Li Geshan smiled, "Actually, after my mom passed away, I wanted my dad and your mom to be a couple. But every time I see your mom, I don't dare to mention it, for fear that she'd scold me. Do you think she would scold me?"

Zhang Jing wiped her hands and mouth and glanced at him. "Yes, absolutely! After your mother fell ill, she heard that your father treated her badly and slapped her in the face! This incident alone has spread throughout the coworkers. The old lady even cursed your father at home, saying he was a heartless person. She said that no matter how bad your mother was, she had given birth to three children for him. How could he have done such a thing?"

Li Ge's eyes instantly turned red. "That's it. I had no choice but to come back. I asked my sister to come back to take care of me. I gave her 8000 yuan a month so that she wouldn't work outside. She agreed and even forced me to advance her three months' salary. I took the money, but she never came back. There was not even a letter. It was so hard for me at the time. I followed my mother every day. When she went to the supermarket to open other people's things, I had already agreed with them that she was sick and I would pay for any food she damaged."

Zhang Jing said, "So you're lucky you didn't mention it to my mom, so you didn't get scolded. Your dad isn't considered a good person in my mom's eyes anymore." Brother Li said, "How dare I mention it now? I'm just talking to you in private, don't tell your mom, or you, Brother Li, will be too embarrassed to see Auntie in the future!"

Zhang Jing said, "Stop! I have something to tell you. Just so you know, don't get angry. This has something to do with you!"

Brother Li said, "Wait a moment. Tell me, Brother Li, is it a good thing or a bad thing?" Zhang Jing thought for a long time and said, "I can't judge it either. Tell me and analyze it yourself." "Okay, tell me."

Zhang Jing said, "I'm sorry, Brother Li. I've been using you as a shield to keep myself single all these years. My mom always calls me, and her coworkers at home keep pushing me, constantly introducing men to me and forcing me to go on blind dates. I have no choice but to tell those old ladies, 'You've always been my favorite. I want to marry you!' and ask them to be my matchmaker. I won't accept anyone else."

You don't know how suffocating it was to have a bunch of old ladies surrounding me and gossiping about you. They said you were a lunatic, had lots of affairs, and were irresponsible. If I married you, they'd say, "I'd have no money and no worries," or "It's just a good lid without a good pot." I'm telling you this ahead of time, just to prepare you. I've been much happier these past few years.

But every time I go home, I ask about you. Every time I ask about you, I make you hate me. "I'm so sorry. Your dad and mom's relationship is hopeless with me, so don't even think about it."

Zhang Jing hadn't finished speaking when she saw Brother Li was stunned. She couldn't help but feel guilty, "Actually, I'm just using your reputation to stay single!"