Reborn in a small village in the 1990s

After figuring this out, Zhao Da'e decided to build a water plant, process the water into mineral water, and sell it to more people.

But that's all for the future. Money has to be earned little by little, and progress has to be made step by step; there's no rush. As the saying goes, "Haste makes waste," and Zhao Da'e doesn't want to achieve a qualitative leap all at once. That would easily backfire.

Zhao Da'e sincerely thanked Zhuo Jun for reminding him, saying, "Uncle Zhuo Jun, thank you for reminding me."

Zhuo Jun shook his head, feeling that this was no big deal. "Don't say that. I didn't actually do anything. Besides, I think you have a talent for business, and your future achievements will definitely be greater than mine."

Such a promising talent; if she were his own daughter, he would definitely nurture her well.

That's what she said, but Zhao Da'e had already deeply remembered that if she successfully established the water plant, she would owe Zhuo Jun a favor.

After finishing the meal, they should have gone home, but Zhao Da'e wanted to stroll around the county town. Since they were already there and had earned so much money, Zhao Da'e wanted to buy some things for his family.

Xiangzi and Cai Xiaofeng were definitely in favor; they had just received their wages and also wanted to buy things in the city.

Upon arriving at a department store, Zhao Da'e headed straight for the clothing section, hoping to buy her mother a fashionable and attractive outfit. However, she was disappointed with the result. The clothes here were mostly ordinary styles found on the street, unlike the Hong Kong-style jeans she had imagined in her previous life. The clothes were all bland and lacked any distinctive features; several of them were even ones she had seen last year.

Zhao Da'e even went to ask a staff member again, "Sister, do you sell jeans here?"

The staff member shook his head and said, "We don't sell jeans. Those jeans are only available in coastal areas like Tongzhou. We don't sell them here. But young lady, you're quite well-informed. I've only ever seen people from Tongzhou wearing jeans. In remote areas like here, they're not sold at all."

Not for sale?

Zhao Da'e had some doubts. In her previous life, she had seen jeans for sale in this county town. When she was eight years old, she came to the county town with her family and opened a physical store that specialized in jeans. The business was booming. However, she heard that the owner of the store went to Tongzhou to buy the jeans and then brought them to this county town to sell, making a profit from the price difference.

Thinking of this, Zhao Da'e had a sudden inspiration. If others could do it, why couldn't she? She could go to Tongzhou to buy jeans, then sell them in this county town and raise the price. After all, jeans weren't sold here yet, so the price could be increased. She could even buy some trendy clothes from other regions.

Moreover, it's not limited to selling clothes; it can also include trendy physical books, tape recorders, televisions, and so on.

With this idea in mind, Zhao Da'e was eager to try it out. He couldn't wait to rush to Tongzhou to buy some goods, sell them, and make a fortune.

We also can't let go of that water plant that Zhuo Jun mentioned.

After having this idea, Zhao Da'e has no interest in buying anything. She wants to first inquire about the process of setting up a water plant and the process of opening a physical store. Zhao Da'e guesses that she will consider opening a physical store first, as the initial investment cost is less than that of opening a water plant.

If you want to open a physical store, you need to find a location, rent a shop, and calculate the costs of labor, utilities, customer traffic, customer base, etc. But these can be ignored for now. The most important thing is to find a shop with high customer traffic and a relatively large space to rent. Then you have to go to Tongzhou to purchase the goods yourself.

As for opening a water plant, she couldn't just use her own well, because the water would eventually be exhausted. Not far from Zhao Da'e's village, about tens of kilometers away, there was a spacious lake called Longquan Lake. Zhao Da'e had only been there once or twice, but in her memory, the lake water was crystal clear, to the point that it was drinkable after a little boiling. If she could get a water extraction permit, apply for the necessary permits to set up a plant, and buy the water filling equipment, then opening a water plant would be a sure thing.

But Zhao Da'e knew that reality might not be as wonderful as he imagined. However, Zhao Da'e was well aware that money could solve all difficulties, and that there was nothing he couldn't do with more money.

She would have to ask for the opinions of her elders when she got back, such as her great-grandfather Zhao Tingming.

When it was time to meet up with Cai Xiaofeng and Xiangzi, Zhao Da'e realized that she hadn't bought anything; she had only been thinking about opening a physical store.

"Boss, why didn't you buy anything?" Cai Xiaofeng asked.

Now Cai Xiaofeng calls Zhao Da'e "Boss," after all, Zhao Da'e really helped her make money and really gave her so much money, so Cai Xiaofeng calls him "Boss" willingly.

Zhao Da'e scratched his head, looking embarrassed, and said, "I was lost in thought for a moment and didn't buy anything. Don't worry about me, it's getting late, let's go back quickly."

Before even arriving at the department store, Zhao Da'e had already deposited her 5,600 yuan into a savings account at the bank. She had also specifically put 3,000 yuan into another savings account, intending to use this money to help her aunt pay for her cousin's betrothal gifts. Combined with the 3,000 yuan she earned last month, she now had 5,600 yuan in savings, of which 3,000 yuan had been lent out.

To open a shop, you need at least tens of thousands of yuan.

Zhao Da'e estimated that it would take several months to save up the money.

On the way back, Zhao Da'e said to Cai Xiaofeng, "Xiaofeng, if you have time this month, can you help me find a shop that I want to sublet? It needs to be a large one with good foot traffic. The rent is not a problem. If you can find one for me, I will give you an extra raise."

Upon hearing about the pay raise, Cai Xiaofeng's eyes lit up. "Okay, boss!"

Now, Cai Xiaofeng is much more confident than when she first met Zhao Da'e; she's radiating confidence.

By the time they returned to the village, it was nearly evening. In the morning, Cheng Jinxiang had told Zhao Dage to come to the Cheng family's house for dinner. Cheng Jinxiang planned to cook a nice meal so that Cheng Jinxi and the others could come over and eat together, so that the whole family could get together. To prepare this, Cheng Jinxiang specially bought some pork at the market and also stewed chicken soup. She spent the whole afternoon working on the meal.

When Zhao Da'e arrived at the Cheng family's house, Cheng Jinxiang had already cooked the meal. Zhu Yufeng also came over to help stir-fry a few dishes. The aroma was so enticing that Zhao Da'e's mouth watered. She had been busy all day and was starving.

A large group of people were gathered in the courtyard, but Zhao Da'e felt something was off, a feeling he couldn't quite put his finger on.

The aunt who usually tries to liven things up didn't say anything and seemed a little uncomfortable sitting there, while the younger aunt looked troubled, her brows furrowed, as if she wanted to say something but didn't know what to say.

The adults at the dinner table all had their own thoughts, even the aunt seemed to have her own agenda, while only a few of the younger generation ate heartily.

Zhao Da'e wanted to know what had happened, so she looked at her mother, Cheng Jinxiang, wanting to ask for an explanation. Cheng Jinxiang knew her daughter well, so she whispered in Zhao Da'e's ear, "I'll explain it to you properly later."

During the meal, Zhu Yufeng casually mentioned to Cheng Jinxiao, "Jinxiao, after the New Year, your sister-in-law will find you a good family. I guarantee you'll get married in style."

Hearing Zhu Yufeng's proactive help to Cheng Jinxiao, Cheng Jinxi's expression changed, clearly not looking good, but she didn't say anything. Because of the misunderstanding over the loan, she didn't want to get involved in Cheng Jinxiao's affairs now. Although Zhou Yuren had tried to persuade her for a long time, she still couldn't let go of the resentment in her heart.

Cheng Jinxiao hesitated. She wasn't in a hurry to find a good family to marry into right now. She wanted to work and save some money first. So she said, "Sister-in-law, it's too early to find a good family after the New Year. I want to wait a bit."

Zhu Yufeng was not satisfied when she heard this and immediately retorted, "How late is 'later'? By then, no good families will want you anymore. Jinxiao, it's not that I'm criticizing you, but you are a divorced woman now. It's not easy to find a second marriage. If you keep being picky, no one will really marry you. Besides, you're getting older now, and you should find someone to rely on."

Cheng Jinxiang couldn't stand it anymore. She felt that her sister-in-law Zhu Yufeng was wrong. If marriage was about finding someone to rely on, then why did she have to go back to her parents' home? She had suffered so much injustice in her husband's family. "Sister-in-law, look at what you're saying. You can't rely on a man at all. It's better to rely on yourself and your children. Look at me. I've been married for ten years, and I've suffered so much injustice in my husband's family. Tiesheng only knows how to side with his mother and doesn't side with me and Da'e. You're so lucky to have met my brother. He loves you and won't let you suffer. Mom respects you and treats you like her daughter. But Jinxiao and I aren't so lucky."

Zhu Yufeng was a little unhappy. She was just saying what she was doing when Cheng Jinxiang came over and undermined her. Just as she was about to continue, the old lady Wang, who was sitting in the middle, spoke up, "Alright, stop talking and let's eat. Let Jinxiao decide her own marriage. She can get married whenever she wants. Don't force her."

After saying that, Wang started coughing violently. This winter was even colder than last year, and Wang's body couldn't take it.

Seeing this, Cheng Jinxiang patted Wang Shi's shoulder with heartache, "Mom, please talk less, eat your food first, and don't talk anymore."

Seeing Wang's expression, Zhu Yufeng didn't argue back, lest Wang cough up more from her anger. On the surface, she would behave herself, but behind the scenes, she would arrange a few good marriages for Cheng Jinxiao.

Cheng Jinxi looked at Wang Shi with some resentment, then at Cheng Jinxiao. In her heart, her mother always favored the younger one.

After the meal, Cheng Jinxi stayed behind to clean up the table and wash the dishes, while Cheng Jinxiang pulled Zhao Dage aside to talk to him, "When you go home with your aunt, don't mention your aunt. Recently, your aunt and aunt have had some conflicts."

A fight? Zhao Da'e was dumbfounded. How could her aunt have a fight with her older aunt so soon after she got home?

Seeing Zhao Da'e's bewildered expression, Cheng Jinxiang sighed and said, "After your aunt found out that your aunt had brought back a gold necklace worth two thousand yuan from Qiqihar, your aunt wanted to borrow money from your aunt to make up for the bride price. But your aunt was unwilling to give all the money, so they had a falling out. Your aunt went to complain to your grandmother, but instead, she was kicked out by your grandmother."

"I only invited your aunt over for a meal in order to ease the conflict between your aunt, your other aunt, and your grandmother. I thought we could talk things out and not keep everything bottled up inside, since we're all family. But their relationship is still the same, and I really don't know what to do."

"Big Goose, I'm telling you this today so you won't get involved. It's not appropriate for kids to meddle in adult matters. And don't judge whether your aunt is bad or your little aunt is bad. I'm telling you this because you're well-behaved and it's easy for me, but don't cause any trouble, understand?"

Zhao Da'e didn't listen to Cheng Jinxiang's instructions at all. Instead, she was thinking about how things had turned out this way. She was supposed to give some of the money from selling water to her aunt as a dowry, but she never expected that her aunt would be so eager to ask her younger aunt for the money.

It's understandable that my aunt wouldn't give me all the money. After all, she has no one to rely on now, my grandmother's health is failing, she has no children, and she only has so much money. My aunt borrowed it, and I don't know when she'll pay it back. If my grandmother passes away, my aunt won't be able to stay at the Cheng family's house any longer; she might have to move out. Money is involved in all of this. Although she said she would build a new house, it's not even finished yet, so anything is uncertain.

Thinking of this, Zhao Da'e couldn't help but sigh and said, "Auntie is really something. I already told her I would take care of my cousin's dowry, but why is she in such a hurry?"

Seeing that Zhao Dage was willing to help Cheng Jinxi, Cheng Jinxiang sighed and said, "Dage, I know you want to help your aunt, but the bride price is not a small amount. It's about four thousand yuan. Even if your aunt tries to raise money from all over the place, it might still take about two thousand yuan. You can't help much with that. When you go back with your aunt, comfort her. Everything will be alright. Don't worry about the bride price for now. I'll take out a few hundred yuan of my own savings and give it to your aunt to help her out in a pinch."

Zhao Da'e shook his head and took out a small savings book from his pocket, saying to Cheng Jinxiang, "Mom, I'm not joking. I really can take out the money to help Auntie with the bride price."

This passbook was opened by Cheng Jinxiang in the county town, and there is three thousand yuan in it.

Cheng Jinxiang was stunned for a moment, staring blankly at the bankbook Zhao Da'e had taken out. Seeing this, Zhao Da'e could only smile and reply, "Mom, have you forgotten? Your daughter has started a water-selling business. This three thousand yuan is this month's income. I plan to take this money out and give it to Auntie so she can raise the dowry money and help my cousin get married."

Zhao Da'e had mentioned the water-selling business to Cheng Jinxiang before. She didn't intend to hide it, since she would be the one to pay for the new house in the future. Since she was going to take out the money, Cheng Jinxiang would definitely ask her where the money came from, so it was better for Zhao Da'e to tell the truth from the beginning.