Uncle smiled as he said, “Baozhu, your cousin Yueyue is breaking off her engagement.”

Wang Baozhu stared in disbelief. “Sis, you’ve finally come to your senses?”

“I could tell long ago that Ma Xiangyang and his family were no good. I thought you’d never see it.”

Jiang Manyue wiped her tears. “You were right. I finally understand who my real family is.”

They all sat down to eat. It had been a long time since she’d felt the warmth of family like this.

Wang Baozhu had returned from town with her bag full of clothes. After graduating from high school, she’d started selling clothes in the market to make ends meet.

She’d tried several times to get a job at the chemical fertilizer factory, but there were never any vacancies. Selling clothes helped contribute to the household income.

“Dad, Mom, I sold a few more outfits today in town and earned thirteen yuan.”

“But the weather’s too hot lately. It’d be great if I could open a little clothing shop.”

“I’ve found a space in town, but the rent’s one thousand yuan a year.”

She glanced at her parents while eating, hoping they’d support her dream.

“Baozhu,” Uncle frowned, “selling clothes isn’t a long-term solution.”

“Your mom and I still want you to get a job at the chemical fertilizer plant. A proper job will help you settle down and find a good match.”

“Besides, running a street stall can’t compare to a work unit. A thousand in rent is too much—we don’t have that kind of money.”

Wang Baozhu looked disappointed. “Dad, what’s wrong with private business? A bunch of new shops have opened in town lately.”

“That Sun family shop selling steamed buns, and the pastry store down the road, they’re both doing really well.”

Jiang Manyue glanced at the bag of clothes next to Baozhu’s feet—the ones she’d been selling.

She remembered how she used to love sitting with old Mrs. Lin next door, learning how to sew. Her handiwork had always been praised.

Back then, when work was slow, she’d help neighbors with sewing to earn a bit of pocket money.

Sadly, everything she earned in her past life was sucked dry by Ma Xiangyang’s bloodsucking family.

In university, she had chosen fashion design at South China Textile College. This time, she would make that dream a reality.

Seeing an opportunity, she said, “I think running a clothing business is a great idea. I support Baozhu.”

Baozhu’s eyes widened. “Sis, you mean it? You think doing business is okay too?”

“Yes.” She knew how people at this time looked down on private businesses, worshipping work unit jobs instead.

“Uncle, Aunt, I’m willing to invest. Let’s open a clothing shop together.”

“Really? You’re the best!” Baozhu hugged her arm tightly.

Uncle looked stunned. “Yueyue, that money didn’t come easy for you.”

“Yes, the rent isn’t cheap. What if you lose money?” Aunt still didn’t feel right and lightly smacked Baozhu’s arm. “You shouldn’t drag your cousin into this.”

Jiang Manyue smiled indulgently. “Don’t worry, Uncle. I believe we can do it.”

“And I don’t have a job now. I can’t just sit around and burn through money.”

“The country’s doing well. There’s no rule that says you have to work in a state unit. Baozhu and I can earn money our own way.”

After the 1983 reforms, private businesses had started popping up like mushrooms after rain. Those who moved early made fortunes riding the wave.

Uncle and Aunt exchanged a look and quietly stepped into the back room.

Aunt returned with a handkerchief wrapped around something. When she unfolded it, inside were dozens of yuan bills.

“This is everything your uncle and I have saved over the years. It’s a little over eight hundred yuan.”

“Yueyue, you don’t have a job now. If you want to start a small business, take it.”

Jiang Manyue looked at the money. Uncle couldn’t work, so they must’ve saved this bit by bit over a long time.

Beside her, Wang Baozhu looked shocked and aggrieved. “Mom, didn’t you just say we had no money?”

So now they suddenly had money, just because it was for Jiang Manyue?

Pouting, she muttered, “Are you two even my real parents? I’ve always suspected Sis is your actual daughter.”

Tears welled in Jiang Manyue’s eyes as she pushed the money back. “I already have money.”

“Uncle, Aunt,” she said, taking out the three thousand yuan and the IOU, “this is what I got from selling my job.”

“It’s not safe for me to hold this much cash. I want you to keep it for me.”

“What?” Wang Mingshan stared. “You want to leave that much with us?”

She couldn’t keep the money on her. The Ma family would definitely try to get their hands on it.

Her uncle and aunt were the only ones she trusted now. Only with them could she feel safe.

The Jiang Manyue before them was no longer the love-struck fool from before.

Aunt smiled and nodded. She didn’t argue and accepted the money. “Alright, Yueyue. I’ll keep it for you and give it back whenever you need it.”

Jiang Manyue kept just one hundred for living expenses and handed the rest to her aunt.

As for Baozhu’s shop, she planned to check out the storefront the next day.

What man could ever be more reliable than money?

She glanced at the clothes Baozhu had sold that day.

Inside the bag were summer women’s outfits, simple white shirts and skirts.

“Baozhu, these are the clothes you sold today?”

Baozhu grinned. “Pretty good, right? These are trendy now. That skirt sold like crazy.”

“I buy each one for five yuan, and sell it for seven. Two yuan profit per piece.”

She bought them from a shop in the provincial capital. The styles were generic and unoriginal, and the cost wasn’t cheap.

But Jiang Manyue’s gaze landed on a bolt of blue denim nearby, and her eyes lit up.

She ran her hand over the fabric. “Baozhu, give me this denim.”

Baozhu blinked. “What for, Sis?”

“To make money, of course.” She smiled and patted her cousin’s shoulder. “You’ll see tomorrow.”

She already knew exactly where fashion trends were heading in the coming decades.

They agreed on the time to set up the next day, and Jiang Manyue brought the denim home.

As soon as she stepped inside, she smelled something burnt. Black smoke drifted from the kitchen.

“Cough cough.” She covered her mouth and nose, frowning.

Ma Hongxia walked out holding two plates of scorched food and glared at her. “You finally decided to come home? You were gone all day and didn’t cook.”

She snapped, full of righteous fury.

If it weren’t for hunger, Ma Hongxia, who never lifted a finger unless she had to, would never have set foot in the kitchen.

Jiang Manyue used to do all the cooking and cleaning, acting like the household maid.

And yet the first time she stayed out for one day, her spoiled little sister-in-law was already losing her mind.

Ma Xiaojun’s stomach rumbled. He sat at the table, picked up some burnt egg, took a bite, and instantly spat it out.

“Bleh! This tastes awful!” He threw down his chopsticks and pointed at Jiang Manyue. “You greedy, lazy woman—go make something edible!”

Ma Hongxia barked even louder. “You left everything for me to handle.”

“Jiang Manyue, why are you just standing there? Go cook.”

Ma Xiaojun yelled, “I want braised fish and tomato-egg stir-fry!”

“Yeah, and don’t forget green pepper shredded pork,” Ma Hongxia added with a snort, even placing orders now.

They really thought they could keep bossing her around like she was still their free maid.