Rebirth and making money first

Zhang Jing happily bought a large amount of goods, including black fungus, cultivated ginseng, and various candies (all of which were her favorite delicacies), and she happily planned to take them all to faraway Shenzhen. As she surveyed the pile of items, she noticed that the black fungus took up a considerable amount of space. After a moment's thought, she decided to mail them to the post office, saving space in her luggage while ensuring their safe arrival. Furthermore, the sweet candies and a large bag of corn kernels weighing five pounds, purchased from the wholesale market, were also packed into a box and sent to her faraway home.

While filling out the mailing form, Zhang Jing was torn between choosing the right mailing method and insurance options. A postal worker nearby laughed at her hesitation, but still offered some helpful guidance.

After mailing the package and returning home, Zhang Jing was surprised to find Aunt Chen sitting in the living room. She was holding something heavy, tightly wrapped in newspaper. She knew it must be the 10,000 yuan in cash.

Zhang Jing sighed inwardly, but her face remained expressionless. Only her mother, feeling somewhat guilty, explained, "Look, the money your Aunt Chen lent us hasn't been used yet, so I figured it would be best to return it to her first. After all, if we run into any difficulties in the future, we can look after each other."

Aunt Chen nodded in agreement after hearing this, "Yes, big sister, you're right! We know each other so well now, so just talk directly. I heard you've already booked a house, and I'm so happy for you! What's even more coincidental is that we actually live in the same neighborhood, so it will be so convenient for us to visit each other in the future! If your Aunt Liu knew about this, she would be so envious! I'll call her later to tell her and see how she reacts!"

Zhang Jing's mother glared at Aunt Chen and said angrily, "Hey, could you please just quiet down and stop making such a fuss? I don't want anyone else to know about my daughter buying a house. It would be too ostentatious, wouldn't it? It's not good, is it?"

Aunt Chen disagreed, "Oh, my dear sister, your idea is wrong. Look at how many people who buy houses are eager to shout it out so that everyone on the street knows about it. We are upright. My daughter bought a house for her, but you don't allow us to tell others about it? What's wrong with us? I'll go out and tell everyone I meet. If the child is capable, we will also be proud! If you have powder, put it on your face. Look at Xiao Liu buying a house, everyone knows it. You're right to listen to me!"

Zhang Jing paid no attention to the two old ladies' chattering. She picked up the cleaned tomatoes and started eating them in big mouthfuls. Aunt Chen, who was standing by, smiled with concern and a hint of flattery, and said softly, "Jing, I heard that your old house was demolished. How much compensation did you pay? It's a considerable sum of money. You must keep it safe and don't lend it to others easily, otherwise it will be gone forever. How about this, you tell your mother the truth? After all, she is your biological mother who gave birth to you and raised you. How could she harm you, right?"

In fact, Zhang Jing knew everything clearly. She knew Aunt Chen and her mother very well. The reason why she asked these questions so enthusiastically was simply to find out the specific amount of the compensation.

So, she pretended to sigh helplessly, and replied with a sad face: "Well, it's not much actually, just a few hundred thousand. I just bought a new house recently, and I spent one-third of it on the down payment alone. The remaining funds have to be reserved for decorating the house and purchasing furniture, appliances and so on. I dare not use it casually. And after I return to Shenzhen, I plan to buy another house to pay the down payment, and then pay the mortgage on time every month. When you calculate it this way, there is really not much left on hand!" After that, she shook her head gently, as if she was quite worried about the current financial situation.

Aunt Chen frowned and said, "Based on that calculation, funds are indeed quite tight. But, Xiaojing, didn't you already own a property? Why are you planning to buy another one now?" Zhang Jing smiled and patiently explained to Aunt Chen, "Aunt Chen, you may not know this, but I previously bought a house in an old neighborhood at a relatively low price, but I didn't expect it to be demolished soon. So, this time, I'm hoping to buy a brand new apartment."

"Not only that, this new house must also have convenient transportation conditions and complete living facilities. It is best if it is the kind of property that will not be easily included in the demolition plan. Only in this way can our family live in peace!"

Then, Zhang Jing continued, "Aunt Chen, you must come to Shenzhen with my mother when the time comes! I'll cover all the food, accommodation, and entertainment expenses, and you'll definitely enjoy an all-round luxurious trip! By the way, there's one more important thing, which is that you must apply for Hong Kong and Macau passes in advance. Once everything is ready, we can go to Hong Kong together to broaden our horizons and experience the charm of this international metropolis. We can also try our luck in the casinos in Macau and maybe even make a small fortune! Haha..."

Zhang Jing grew increasingly excited as she spoke, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. This pie was painted so well, she'd already gotten herself into a frenzy. If they didn't believe her, they'd still be asking about the demolition compensation. Sure enough, Aunt Chen was also eager to get out and about.

"That's great! Xiaojing, your Aunt Chen is satisfied with what you said. Don't worry, I will definitely go with your mother. Your classmate's mother also went to visit her daughter in Shenzhen. She just came back with dyed and permed hair, like an old witch. She was so proud that I couldn't remember her last name. It was right on the tip of my tongue, what was it?" Aunt Chen thought bitterly.

Seeing that Zhang Jing still couldn't remember who she was, her mother said, "She's a very good student. Her father is the workshop director, and his last name is Xu. Her mother used to be a salesperson in a store."

"Are you talking about Xu Hongmei?"

"Yes, yes, it's Xu Hongmei," Aunt Chen said suddenly. "Xiao Jing, you don't know, ever since Xu Hongmei's father died, her mother has let herself go. She and an old lady both fell in love with the same old man, and they even fought over him. The two sons said they didn't listen and couldn't control him, and the daughter-in-law simply didn't care. Since there was no way to let the daughter take care of him, she went to Shenzhen."

"When do you think that old witch ever cooked? Hongmei's father used to do all the laundry, shopping, and cooking, and that woman never had to do housework. But after her husband died, she did everything. In order to woo the old man, she even cooked and sent meals to him every day!" Aunt Chen was very disdainful when she mentioned this.

Zhang Jing asked curiously, "And then? Who did the old man choose?"

"They chose that old lady! They said they didn't like her personality and she was too embarrassed to see anyone, so she went to stay with her daughter in Shenzhen for a few months." Zhang Jing said, "So, that old man is not a good person either. He doesn't like her but doesn't say it directly. He always asks her to send him food. What the hell?"

My mother interrupted, "She didn't ask to send it, but she insisted. She's so persistent, she's not afraid of losing face. We all know it. So many people laugh at her behind her back. She's really not giving her children any face. She can't live without a man."

Zhang Jing said, "Everyone, please understand each other and stop talking about these things. If our classmates knew about this, how would we still be able to get along with Xu Hongmei? She'll eventually go home."

Aunt Chen said quickly, "We know, but let's just talk about it privately at home. We can't mention it outside. We can't bring shame to ourselves by talking about her. We dare not tell anyone that our child is a classmate of hers. We can't afford to lose face!"

"Then Aunt Chen, you and my mom can go to Shenzhen and stay for a few months. Have fun and take lots of photos. Then you'll get to see a big city!"

"Okay, that's it. I'll go deposit the money and we'll talk next time. If you need money, just let me know. Don't hesitate! Your Aunt Chen didn't hesitate to be polite to your mother even though she was short of money."

After sending Aunt Chen away, Zhang Jing's mother suggested that they return the 3 yuan to Aunt Liu. This would save her from being too anxious to leave the house, fearing a burglary. Zhang Jing told her to figure it out on her own, realizing her mother was truly incapable of teaching her. "Anyway, I won't answer questions about the demolition compensation, and I won't lend money to anyone. Just figure out how to handle it. I'm going to a classmate's house for dinner today."

The old lady was skeptical, saying they'd been friends for decades, who would do that? Zhang Jing didn't comment and went out to surf the internet. She wasn't stupid enough to show off at a friend's house and be asked how much she'd received in compensation for the demolition. She simply went to a restaurant to eat some dumplings and then went to an internet cafe.

There were quite a few people inside, so Zhang Jing found a quiet corner. She turned on her computer and checked the stock market. The market was fluctuating, but the general trend was positive. Her assets had exceeded 10 million yuan, bringing her closer to her goal. Oh, and there was a long bear market in her past life. Should I avoid it? What year did it start? Zhang Jing began to ponder again. She had worked hard to become rich, but was it true that even the rich suffered?

The most difficult thing in life is that many things have to be decided by one person, no matter whether they are right or wrong, no one can help you decide.

Zhang Jing hates this situation, but she often faces it. She doesn't know if other people experience it.