Reborn in a small village in the 1990s

Wang patted Cheng Jinxiao's head with difficulty and said helplessly, "You, you still cry as much as you did when you were a child."

Wang was filled with bitterness. She didn't know if she would live to see that day, and the thought made her heart ache.

Here, the mother and daughter are reminiscing about their childhood. At first, they were crying with red eyes and choked sobs, but now they can talk and laugh. Wang Shi is also willing to eat.

the other side

Zhou Tianfu pulled Cheng Jinxi aside and asked, "Mom, you went to ask Auntie, what did she say?"

Cheng Jinxi said irritably, "No way! What an ingrate! You've been so good to him, and when I asked him, he refused to lend me the money, saying he needed it to keep it safe so he wouldn't be bullied in the future. Tell me what he means by that! It's like he's being wronged even though he's been sent back to his parents' house!"

Cheng Jinxi was holding her breath, unable to swallow it down. What she couldn't swallow even more was Wang's attitude towards her. "Then I went to your grandmother to complain, but your grandmother favored your aunt and didn't stand on my side at all. I had served her for several years, but she couldn't see any of my good deeds."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Tianfu immediately realized that he had no chance of getting the bride price and couldn't possibly raise the four thousand yuan. He couldn't help but feel resentful towards Cheng Jinxiao, "How could my aunt do this? I've always been closest to her since we were little, and I was the one who even brought her back home. Yet she won't even help with this small favor."

Zhou Yuren, who was standing aside listening to their complaints, patted Cheng Jinxi and Zhou Tianfu on the shoulders and advised, "Alright, alright, don't worry about whether Jinxiao lends us money or not. I have to say, you guys are being a bit ridiculous. Why would you ask Jinxiao for money in the first place?"

Cheng Jinxi glared at Zhou Yuren. "You go to sleep. Why are you getting up to eavesdrop on my conversation with our son? You're busy all day long and don't even have time to worry about our son's dowry. This dowry is making me so worried that I can't sleep at night. But you're sleeping soundly and snoring all day long. I don't think you care about our son's marriage at all."

After being rebuked, Zhou Yuren scratched his head and said, "I was sleeping soundly, but your conversation got louder and louder, so I couldn't sleep anymore and just listened to what you had to say."

After saying that, Zhou Yuren massaged Cheng Jinxi's shoulders and said, "Good wife, you've worked so hard these past few days. You know I've been busy in the fields all day, so busy that I haven't even had time to eat or anything, trying my best to earn money for our son's dowry."

Cheng Jinxi pushed Zhou Yuren, "Get lost! You're always the one with the most problems and the most excuses. Do you know how humble I was when I had to beg others for money? And you, you just stay in your field all day long and don't help me at all. I think you're doing this on purpose."

Zhou Yuren scratched his head, feeling a little guilty. "No, honey, I didn't do it on purpose. I was just busy."

Zhou Tianfu quickly said, "Dad, Mom, stop talking and help me figure out how to pay the bride price. I really like Huaihua and want to marry her. Besides, four thousand yuan is already a small amount in the nearby villages. Please think of a way to raise the money."

Cheng Jinxi gets a headache whenever the topic of bride price comes up. "Son, I've borrowed as much as I can. Your uncle and aunt borrowed several hundred yuan, and your uncle and aunt also borrowed several hundred yuan. The neighbors around here have also lent us a lot of money. Adding to the thousand or so yuan we already had, we've only managed to scrape together two thousand one hundred yuan. That's still a little over a thousand yuan, almost two thousand yuan. If we can't get the money from your aunt, who else can we borrow from? Who would be willing to lend us so much money?"

"In the end, it's all your aunt's fault. It's just two thousand yuan, and she wouldn't even lend it. She could have easily lent it. If she had that money, your dowry would have been covered, but she wouldn't. And she even praised me for being so good to her. What an ingrate!"

Zhou Yuren couldn't stand it anymore. He touched Cheng Jinxi's hand and said, "Alright, alright, stop talking. Your little sister has it tough too. You know how much gossip divorced women face in the village. It's good that she has a few thousand yuan for self-defense. Besides, she has no children. Didn't they say she can't get pregnant? I don't know if she'll have anyone to rely on when she gets old. At least we have a son and two daughters."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Jinxi immediately retorted, "Pah, pah, pah, what nonsense are you talking about? I won't allow you to say that. My little sister can't have children, it's not her problem, it's that Li Jin's problem. My little sister can have children, it's just a matter of time. I'll introduce her to a good family another day, she'll definitely be able to have children, and in the end she'll have someone to rely on."

After saying this, Cheng Jinxi was completely stunned. Why did she have to say so much to help Cheng Jinxiao? She was just an ingrate and not worth all her trouble.

Zhou Yuren smiled helplessly, "Look, look, even though you call your little sister an ingrate, you still can't help but speak up for her. That's how sisters are. They bicker for a while and then it's over. After all, even if you're broken, you're still connected by blood. You're sisters, and your relationship is incomparable to that of ordinary people."

"Besides, we've borrowed too much from your younger sister. Look, you borrowed a few hundred yuan from your second sister and eldest brother, but you borrowed two thousand yuan from your younger sister. She doesn't have much money to begin with, and you've borrowed all of it. What are we going to do when she asks for the money back later and we can't give it to her? Do as I say, we'll just borrow a few hundred yuan from your younger sister, and we'll think of a better way to pay the rest."

Cheng Jinxi felt uneasy after hearing this, because Cheng Jinxiao had indeed mentioned to her that she wouldn't lend two thousand yuan, but she could lend five hundred yuan.

But I was too angry at the time and didn't want to pay any attention to Cheng Jinxiao. Instead, I went straight to Wang's place and made a scene.

Seeing that Cheng Jinxi had taken his words to heart, Zhou Yuren stopped talking and lay down on the bed, pulling the covers over himself. He then said to Zhou Tianfu, "Tianfu, don't blame your aunt. She's had a hard time. And don't blame your mother for not being able to borrow money. She's been working so hard for you these past few days. If you're capable, go and borrow some money yourself. If you really can't, then wait until you have the money before you get married."

After saying that, Zhou Yuren planned to go to sleep; he was really tired after a busy day.

Seeing Zhou Yuren sleeping soundly, Cheng Jinxi was instantly annoyed. She kicked Zhou Yuren with her foot and said, "Sleep, sleep, all you know is how to sleep. You don't know how to solve problems, but you've been spouting a lot of high-sounding principles."

But it must be said that Cheng Jinxi did take Zhou Yuren's words to heart, and she went to bed feeling depressed.

"Tianfu, go to sleep first. Let's take it one step at a time. Mom will help you think about the bride price in a few days."

Before going to sleep, Cheng Jinxi said to Zhou Tianfu, and then closed her eyes. But her mind was filled with the image of Wang Shi forcing her to go back today, and the fact that Cheng Jinxiao was unwilling to lend her the gold necklace. She tossed and turned all night and couldn't sleep at all.

Zhou Tianfu scratched his head in frustration, his mind filled with thoughts of his sister Huaihua, but his family couldn't afford to get him a wife, so there was no use in worrying.

In the past few days, Cheng Jinxiao has not gone to the Cheng family. When she encounters Cheng Jinxiao, she doesn't speak and just wants to avoid her. She is angry on her own and doesn't know how to face Wang Shi and Cheng Jinxiao.

Several times, Cheng Jinxiang came to talk to Cheng Jinxi, saying, "There is no such thing as a grudge between sisters. We should help each other and understand each other. Big sister, don't be angry with Mom and little sister. After you left that day, Mom locked herself in her room and cried for a long time. She wouldn't let me into the room, but I could see it. She didn't even want to eat."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Jinxi was startled. She found it hard to believe. "Jinxiang, is what you're saying true? After I left, did Mom really cry for a long time? And couldn't even eat?"

That day, Cheng Jinxi went to see Wang Shi hoping to get her on her side, and she was also furious. But she didn't expect that Wang Shi would not only not speak up for her, but also tell her not to borrow money from Jin Xiao. Cheng Jinxi was instantly heartbroken and started arguing with Wang Shi, accusing her of favoritism. In the end, she was kicked out by Wang Shi.

But what she didn't expect was that after she left, her mother cried all afternoon and couldn't eat dinner. Cheng Jinxi felt a little guilty. Her mother's health was already poor, and now that she wasn't eating, her health would only get worse.

"So now, is Mom eating properly on time?"

Cheng Jinxi couldn't help but worry.

Cheng Jinxiang smiled helplessly, "Big sister, look at you, you care about Mom, and Mom cares about you too, but you're both stubborn and neither of you is willing to admit your mistakes."

Remembering what Wang had said about favoring Cheng Jinxiao, Cheng Jinxi muttered with some dissatisfaction, "Does Mom care about me? I don't think she cares about me as much as Jinxiao does."

Cheng Jinxiang sighed. She knew that her eldest sister had always been dissatisfied, since their mother had spoiled Jinxiao more since childhood.

Cheng Jinxiang could only persuade her, "Big sister, it's because Mom is worried about you. You're married now and have three children, so you have someone to rely on in the future. What Mom is worried about is Jinxiao. You and I both know that Jinxiao is divorced and has no children, so her future is uncertain. Mom is currently bedridden and has no ability to help Jinxiao, so she will definitely worry more about Jinxiao."

Cheng Jinxiang's words made a lot of sense. Cheng Jinxi admitted that Cheng Jinxiang was right and felt a little regretful. She shouldn't have acted impulsively and gone to Wang's place to make a scene. She also felt that it was a bit outrageous of her to ask Cheng Jinxiao for two thousand yuan a few days ago.

Two thousand yuan was indeed too much, but Cheng Jinxi was too shy to admit her mistake first.

Cheng Jinxiang sighed. She had also tried to persuade her younger sister, but Jinxiao, like the older sister in front of her, kept her head down and didn't know how to speak. They were really two awkward people.

Meanwhile, Zhao Da'e had already gotten into Xiangzi's rickshaw and was heading to the county town.

Cai Xiaofeng promoted her Kangxi Spring Water to several organizations. Many leaders who tasted it exclaimed how delicious it was, and many people placed orders to have dozens of barrels of water delivered to their workplaces every month.

Now, Zhao Da'e came to the county town for one reason: to collect money. When the leaders of those units learned that the owner behind Kangxi Spring Water was a seven-year-old child, they became curious. No one believed that a seven-year-old child could run Kangxi Spring Water. They all wanted to see what Zhao Da'e looked like and whether she was really a seven-year-old girl. So, the leaders of several units decided to have a meal together, invite Zhao Da'e over, settle the money for Kangxi Spring Water in an instant, and also discuss future business.

Compared to the countryside, the county town is larger and more prosperous. There are four- or five-story buildings everywhere, as well as many shops, tricycles, bicycles, a few four-wheeled cars, and many vendors hawking their wares.

Zhao Da'e had rarely been to the county town, and the bustling scene caught her eye. Looking at the scenery outside the car window, the novelty made her especially excited today.

Xiangzi drove up to a hotel and stopped. Zhao Da'e looked at the rather upscale hotel and felt a little nervous. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down and appear relaxed and natural so as not to leave a bad impression.

Upon entering the hotel, Xiangzi gave the number of the private room he had reserved, and someone led Xiangzi and the other two to the room. Inside sat five people, all middle-aged men in their forties or fifties, dressed simply. Among them was Kuang Shouyi, an acquaintance of Zhao Da'e.

When Kuang Shouyi saw Zhao Da'e arrive, his eyes lit up, and he immediately introduced her to the others, "This is the little boss I told you about. I bought Kangxi Spring Water from her. She is indeed seven years old now. I'm not lying to you, am I?"

Zhao Da'e introduced herself, saying slowly, "Hello everyone, I am the owner of Kangxi Spring Water, my name is Zhao Da'e."

After saying these words, Zhao Da'e felt a little nervous.

The other four people all looked at Zhao Da'e with curiosity. One of them, a short, chubby middle-aged man, stared wide-eyed at Zhao Da'e in disbelief. "He really is such a small child, only seven years old, about the same age as my grandson. He's already selling water at seven, while my grandson is still playing in the mud."

Another tall, thin middle-aged man said, "That's right. My little granddaughter is eight years old, older than this child. Yesterday she drew on my arm with a paintbrush, and I can't wipe it off. It made me so angry. I can't hit her or scold her. If I'm even slightly angry, she starts to cry."

Cai Xiaofeng whispered to Zhao Da'e, "Boss, these two are purchasing agents from two big factories. The tall and thin one is called Liu Jianguo, and the short and fat one is called Liu Jianjun. They are brothers."

At first, Cai Xiaofeng went to Liu Jianjun's factory to promote Kangxi Spring Water. Later, Liu Jianjun thought the spring water tasted good and recommended her to Liu Jianguo's factory. In this way, Cai Xiaofeng closed two big deals.

Another person was a kind-looking middle-aged man, one of the older ones in the group, with some gray hair at his temples and wearing glasses. He smiled and said, "Young people these days are much more capable than our generation. I've taught so many students, and this is considered normal."