During every New Year’s festival, when Lu Nan’s eldest uncle talked about his gains in the stock market, her mother always listened with great enthusiasm. However, when her own daughter plunged into the stock market, her attitude changed.  

“How dare you buy stocks! Do you really think you’ll only make money and never lose? You’re way too bold! Do you know how many people lose everything? You think your uncle has never lost money? He just doesn’t talk about it!” In the end, Lu Nan’s mother even reached out and pointer at her daughter. 

This is considered bold? Lu Nan thought to herself. Then I’d better ask you to brace yourself for what I’m about to say next. 

She briefly explained that over the past four months, she had made money from the stock market and bought three properties—two paid in full and one with a mortgage. 

Lu Nan added, “The location is a bit remote, but the subway line leading there is already under construction. I don’t plan to live in them myself; all three have been handed over to an agency for rental.” She also mentioned that after deducting the mortgage, she still had a surplus of about a hundred yuan per month. 

Lu Nan’s mother let out a sigh of relief and said, “Well, that works. Using rent to cover the loan means I don’t have to worry about you starving yourself. But the remaining money isn’t enough for you to buy a car, is it? A Mercedes—I’ll take a look.” She checked the price and confirmed that the leftover money definitely wasn’t enough to buy one. 

Her mother was as impatient as ever. “Since you’ve already bought a house, just get a regular car.” As if she hadn’t spent the past few months pressuring Lu Nan to ask her father for money to buy a high-end car. 

Lu Nan explained, “I took out a 100,000 yuan loan for the car, with a monthly payment of over 4,000. I can afford it.” 

“Nonsense! How much do you even make at that job? Didn’t you say your base salary is only one or two thousand after becoming a full-time employee? So what if it’s a big company? The pay is terrible—I don’t even feel comfortable telling people about it,” her mother grumbled. “You’d be better off working at your father’s company.” 

This was the most unpleasant thing Lu Nan had heard today, and she frowned slightly. 

“You’ve already bought it, so forget it. From now on, I’ll send you two thousand a month to help with the car loan.” Mother Lu spoke without looking at her, continuing, “I don’t have more to give. But… wait a minute, the car cost nearly four hundred thousand, and you only have a hundred thousand in financing? After buying the house, you had less than two hundred thousand left, so where did the extra hundred thousand come from?” She wasn’t bad at math, and the numbers quickly clicked in her mind. 

“Mom, I haven’t finished talking yet…” 

When Lu Nan explained that she had mortgaged her two fully paid-off apartments to the bank and used part of the loan to buy the car (she corrected: only a small portion of it), Mother Lu felt like she might need some blood pressure medication. “What are you doing? When I was with your father, I lived in constant anxiety. Loan after loan—your father loved taking out loans. The day before the interest was due each month, I was already calculating it. Every year, when we had to refinance, I had to scrape together money a month in advance to cover the payments. I kept telling him to take out fewer loans, but he wouldn’t listen. You’re exactly like him!” 

If Lu Nan hadn’t been reborn, hearing her mother say these words at this moment would have left her completely disheartened. 

Think about it—a young woman in her early twenties, fresh out of college, had earned this much money through her own ability (or luck). She hadn’t squandered it, thinking she would be praised, only to be labeled as “just like your father” instead. 

Fortunately, I’m not who I used to be. Lu Nan lowered her eyes. 

I’ve changed—I’ve become better, stronger. 

So I hope that she, my mother, can change too. 

Those who save themselves will be saved by others. 

Even though she doesn’t yet have the will or courage to pull herself out of this situation, I can give her a hand and help her regain her footing sooner. 

After all, she is my… mother. 

After all, she wasn’t always like this to me. 

After all, she is just… unwell. 

Ignoring her mother’s scolding, Lu Nan instead looked at her seriously and asked, “Mom, have you ever thought about living in a different environment?” 

At first, Mother Lu didn’t quite understand what her daughter meant—or rather, she found it unbelievable. 

A different environment? Leaving the city she had lived in for so many years? 

“Yes, a different environment.” Lu Nan held her mother’s hand firmly and continued, “Look, I still have a million on hand… Hailin is a port city. Maybe you could consider moving there and starting a small business.” 

It would be better than this. 

Right now, she just stays home every day, overthinking, wallowing in self-pity, and waiting at the beginning of each month for her ex-husband to send child support. 

A person full of potential was being wasted. 

When Mother Lu heard her daughter say that, her first reaction was to shake her head. “Why would I go to Hailin? To do business? I’m not cut out for it. I’ve already fallen behind and become outdated.” 

“Mom, Mom, Mom! What are you afraid of?” Lu Nan tightened her grip on her mother’s hand. “You managed Dad’s affairs for years. You know exactly how a trading company operates. Now that you have the capital, why not give it a try?” 

“You’re too naive. Do you really think doing business is that easy? Where will the supplies come from? Where are the customers? What about the employees? And the funds…” Well, the funds were actually there. Mother Lu stopped talking. 

Lu Nan confidently said, “My current landlord, Teacher Zhang, has a son and daughter-in-law working in the U.S. They’re very interested in international trade. Right now, he’s looking for a partner in China—he’ll handle procurement requests, while the domestic agent will be responsible for sourcing goods. That’s the client! As for suppliers, Mom, you should still have contact information for many small household goods manufacturers, right?” 

When her daughter asked this, Mother Lu’s lips moved slightly, but she didn’t refute it in the end. Before her divorce, she had indeed copied a list of suppliers, as well as some client details and order information, from the company computer—just in case. However, she hesitated, “It’s been so many years. Who knows if these manufacturers have gone out of business?” 

That was just her stubbornness talking. 

“Most of them are probably still in business. Besides, verifying them one by one over the phone isn’t difficult,” Lu Nan countered, poking holes in her mother’s argument. “As for funds, we can start small. One million should be enough, right?” 

One million was indeed sufficient. But Mother Lu stubbornly said, “That’s your money, not mine.” 

“Then consider it a loan from me.” 

“Such big talk. I won’t take it. I wouldn’t be able to pay it back.” 

“If you can’t pay it back, the worst-case scenario is that the bank takes and auctions off two of the properties. I don’t mind at all. That money was unexpected anyway—if I can keep it, great; if not, I’ll just let it go. Besides, there’s still one mortgaged house left.” Even when talking about the worst-case scenario, Lu Nan remained optimistic. 

Mother Lu’s resistance weakened further, and in the end, she said, “Did you go out into the world just to learn how to argue back tenfold whenever I say something?” 

Lu Yang couldn’t hold back and let out a small laugh. 

Although he quickly turned his laugh into a cough, his mother still caught him red-handed. 

Mother Lu suddenly thought of another excuse. “No, I definitely can’t leave right now. Your younger brother is still in school. I have to take care of him.” 

Dragged into the conversation as an excuse, Lu Yang spread his hands innocently behind his mother’s back. 

Lu Nan said, “Lu Yang has been living on campus since elementary school. He only comes home for a full weekend every two weeks. Even if you start working, you can still visit every two weeks. And if, by any chance, you’re too busy to come back, he can stay with Grandma. Wouldn’t that work?” 

Before her mother could come up with another argument, Lu Nan continued, “If that’s still not acceptable and you’re really worried, I can transfer Lu Yang to a school in Hailin City. That way, you won’t have to worry. But of course, I think we need to ask for Lu Yang’s opinion first. If he’s willing to transfer, then fine. If not, we can’t force him.” 

Lu Yang blinked. Wait, were they talking about him now? 

“He’s just a kid. What does he know?” Mother Lu blurted out instinctively. Then she realized something and added, “You make it sound so easy—transferring schools? Without connections, how are we supposed to get him into a good school?” 

“Mom, you really don’t have to worry about this. I just said that my landlord is a teacher at a prestigious high school, and she knows people in the education system. If her connections aren’t strong enough, I have a client who is familiar with the leadership at Hailin City’s education bureau. I can ask him to inquire about it.” Of course, the client Lu Nan was referring to was Mr. Yuan. 

Lu Nan’s mother snorted, “Your bragging is getting more and more exaggerated. You have a client who knows an education bureau official? Even if they do, why would they introduce you? Just because you helped with their shipments?” 

Well, this… 

Lu Nan suddenly remembered something she hadn’t mentioned yet. “Actually, I changed jobs in June. I’m no longer with CIMC Logistics. I’m now at Yuan Chuan Group’s liquor sales company. I’ll be officially promoted to business manager in late September after my probation period.” 

“Liquor sales?” Her mother suddenly understood. “No wonder you sent home a case of alcohol during Mid-Autumn Festival.” 

Lu Nan clarified, “It was a company welfare gift.” 

“No, this job isn’t good. What kind of girl sells alcohol? It just doesn’t sound proper.” Her mother shook her head repeatedly. 

“Mom, we’re not talking about my job right now. We’re talking about your job.” 

“What do you mean ‘your job and ‘my job? Let me tell you, I am your mother. When it comes to your affairs, you need to listen to me. As for mine—I’m not old yet, so you have no say in them.” 

At this point, there was no point in continuing the conversation. 

Lu Nan could tell that her mother had taken in too much information tonight and was now resorting to unreasonable arguments just to maintain her authority as a parent. Instead of clashing with her, she turned to Lu Yang and said, “Hey, little bro, feeling full? Want to go visit Grandma?” 

“What visit? It’s late, why would you drive out now? Just stay home.” Their mother cut in firmly. Then she glanced at the property certificate and car keys on the coffee table and added, “Put your things away. Go to bed early tonight. No sleeping in tomorrow—we’re heading to your Grandma’s first thing in the morning. I’m going to wash the dishes. Lu Yang, go do your homework.” 

As her mother walked away, Lu Nan called after her, “Mom, how long do you need to think about this? I have a one-million-yuan loan, and the interest accrues daily.” 

Her mother paused for a moment but acted as if she hadn’t heard and went straight to the kitchen. 

Lu Yang silently clapped for his sister: Wow, sis, you’ve really leveled up. 

Lu Nan flicked her little brother’s forehead and mouthed, Go do your homework! Otherwise, if Mom can’t win against me, she’ll take it out on you. 

*** 

Sure enough, Lu Nan understood their mother better than her little brother did. 

Mother Lu was not someone who could be easily persuaded. 

After washing the dishes, she applied hand cream while walking into the living room and brought up the old topic again: “This job of yours is not going to work. Quit it.” 

Lu Nan had been flipping through TV channels but sat up straight when she heard this—not to “prepare for battle,” but because if she didn’t sit properly while talking to her mother, her mother would take it as disrespect. “I think my job is quite good.” 

“Good? What’s good about it? Selling alcohol? Does that sound respectable? I sent you to college, got you into a top university, just so you could sell alcohol and put on a smile for people?” Making harsh remarks had always been Mother Lu’s specialty. 

A similar argument had erupted in her past life, so this time around, it had far less impact on Lu Nan. She even took the time to seriously explain, “I’m not selling alcohol. My job is to liaise with and support distributors. The actual sales are handled by their sales staff.” 

“That still doesn’t sound good,” Mother Lu insisted stubbornly. “You and your brother were put under my custody. Do you know how much pressure that put on me? If I don’t raise you properly, your father and his relatives will all gossip behind my back. Lu Nan, I’ve raised you since you were little, not so you could end up in a job like this. You could be a teacher—you got your teaching certificate in college, didn’t you? Just start as a contract teacher at your uncle’s school and work toward getting a permanent position. Wouldn’t that be much better?” 

Lu Nan turned up the volume on the TV slightly. 

Mother Lu’s face darkened as she scolded, “What, now that you’ve got wings, you can’t even stand to listen to me anymore?” 

“The walls aren’t soundproof. Don’t let Lu Yang hear this,” Lu Nan replied calmly. “I don’t like teaching, and I don’t like a nine-to-five job. Besides, I don’t see anything wrong with my current work. I put in the effort and get paid—what’s the problem? If selling alcohol were illegal, then the government should ban it. Since it’s legal, why shouldn’t I do it?” 

Mother Lu, who tended to speak recklessly when emotional, blurted out, “Because doing this will make your father look down on you! He already sees me as worthless, and if you end up running around in all kinds of weather, catering to others as a sales rep, he’ll look down on you too. Someone like him will just turn around and casually tell his relatives and friends: ‘It’s because her mother didn’t raise her right.’ Then what does that make me? A failure!” 

Her mother’s face turned red as she continued, “Look, you already have a house and a car. Get a stable job! Take the civil service exam, be a teacher—either way, people will say you’re ambitious and respectable. Do you think salespeople can find good partners? Families with good backgrounds are already picky about children from single-parent families, saying they might not be as emotionally stable. If your job is unstable too, in the marriage market, kindergarten teachers, nurses, elementary school teachers, and accountants will all be more desirable than you!” 

At this point, her tone grew earnest. “I wouldn’t lie to you. Given your situation, you can’t rely on your father, and as for me, I’m useless—I can’t help you much. You were lucky to make money in the stock market this time, so just come back home. No matter what, I would never harm you.”