Wang Qiqi lay tucked in bed, chatting with Song Yao about various things. Naturally, Song Yao wanted advice on what to do with her newfound money, and also about lending money for her brother-in-law’s upcoming wedding.

Regarding these matters, Wang Qiqi genuinely didn't want to get involved. Even though Gong Peixing’s parents treated him poorly, they were still his parents and brother. What if Gong Peixing regretted not helping out when his only younger brother got married?

After hearing Wang Qiqi’s concern, Song Yao let out a long sigh. “I feel the same way, but when I think about how they acted when I got married, and how they were already busy buying a house before my brother-in-law’s wedding was even a definite plan, I get angry.”

“Actually, you could tell your brother-in-law, perhaps offer five thousand as your congratulatory gift for your brother’s wedding. It would be best to say this in front of many relatives so your in-laws can’t later accuse you of being stingy even though you have money,” Wang Qiqi suggested. “Besides, you currently have debts, so giving out this much is quite sufficient, sister. What do you think?”

Song Yao balked at the idea of giving away five thousand, genuinely reluctant. But she wasn't naive anymore. She knew that even though she had recently suffered a financial loss, in Gong Peixing’s eyes, she was a sensible and understanding wife. If she acted generously despite how unreasonable her in-laws were, winning Gong Peixing over completely and making him fully align with her wouldn't be difficult at all. “Right, small loss prevents bigger loss.”

“Exactly. And what will your in-laws’ relatives say about you? Oh, by the way, do they know you two are in debt?” Wang Qiqi suddenly remembered something and asked.

“They know.” Song Yao had handled this aspect quite well. “The money for the renovation and buying the house—we borrowed it all. We owe the bank, and we owe my parents. Even his aunt said I was a blessing Gong Peixing received. His aunt even gave me a thousand-yuan red envelope when we married, telling me not to tell outsiders.” Gong Peixing mentioned the large amount from his aunt because his family had renovated two rooms following a trend and charged high rent, considering it a gesture of thanks.

Wang Qiqi hummed softly. “It sounds like quite a few people over there have renovated their houses.” With Gong Peixing’s house serving as a demonstration, perhaps many nearby homes had started renovation work.

“Not really,” Song Yao denied. “They calculated the cost of renovation and realized it would take too long to recoup the investment. They figured it was better to just rent out the cement structure as is.”

That made a certain kind of sense, but it also showed a lack of foresight—renovation labor costs are only getting more expensive. “It’s a pity I don't have the energy to renovate a house. Otherwise, I’d want to buy one too.” Renting it out or waiting for demolition to get half a building in compensation would be a good return.

“If you had the chance, would you buy one?” Song Yao goaded her.

“I would,” Wang Qiqi said. She used to hide her wealth, but not anymore. “But why didn't you buy one?” Wang Qiqi found it strange. Song Yao should have some money available, and they likely wouldn't rush to pay off the mortgage early, nor would the aunt pressure them about repayment.

“Buying one felt like too much, considering my brother-in-law’s impending wedding. We discussed it, and we put the idea aside. But missing out on such a good opportunity makes us a bit unhappy. My husband and I have discussed partnering with you.”

Partnering? Wang Qiqi found that odd. “How do you plan to partner?” Honestly, Wang Qiqi really didn't want to cooperate. What if things got messy later? The house might not seem valuable now, but it could be worth a fortune later. People turn against even their own brothers over property. Wang Qiqi felt their current relationship was quite harmonious—she brought gifts when visiting, and everyone seemed pleased—but entering a business partnership might strain that relationship beyond repair.

Song Yao then explained her idea. “Our two families will contribute equally in funds, and we’ll split the rent fifty-fifty. Your brother-in-law will handle the daily management, but the house deed should be in Qiqi’s name.” Previously, Song Yao might have hesitated, as a house is a major asset; otherwise, she could have easily partnered with Song Ziwen. But Song Yao had her own worries. What if the future sister-in-law turned out to be troublesome? Wouldn’t she have wasted her money? Qiqi, however, was different; she was proud and wouldn't take advantage of her own family.

Wang Qiqi found the first part of the proposal reasonable, perhaps even a bit disadvantageous to Song Yao. But when she heard the latter part, Wang Qiqi nearly leaped out of bed, fearing the cold air seeping in. After a long pause, she asked, “Are you sure about that?”

Song Yao spoke softly. “If you can’t trust me, who can I trust? My parents treat me well now, but I’m still just a daughter; everything in the family belongs to my brother. As for Ziwen, even though we get along well now, that’s before the sister-in-law arrives. Once she’s here, if she has any ideas, will the house still be mine? Will my parents support me?” Song Yao laid out her thoughts. “I’m living here now because there’s no sister-in-law yet. I plan to save up for a couple of years, rent out this small place, and buy a bigger house.” That way, there would be room for a nanny to look after the children.

“Aren’t you worried your brother-in-law might let his parents live there?” Wang Qiqi wondered. If the Gong parents found out Gong Peixing and Song Yao bought a bigger place, they might demand to live with their elder son. It wasn't impossible.

“No,” Song Yao was very certain. “If we let them live there, the deed might even change names. Your brother-in-law knows that. Besides, I’ve calculated—the baby in my belly is a boy.”

Song Yao thought that even if Gong Peixing didn't consider her, surely he would consider their unborn child? “The younger brother bought a house; the elders and the younger one both have residences. Why should they live in my house? And besides, with all those debts, who will help us pay them off?”

“That’s fine too. We pay half the money, but the income split will be four-six, with me getting six. We’ll draw up a notarized agreement stating the property is half ours, split between our two families.” Wang Qiqi paused to consider. Paying the same amount of money without contributing to the upkeep felt improper, and over time, it might lead to issues. It was better to settle on a four-six split directly.

Song Yao hadn't expected Wang Qiqi to be so generous, even suggesting a notarization. With that guarantee, Song Yao had no reservations. “Then I won’t be polite, but let’s keep the split fifty-fifty.”

Wang Qiqi shook her head, insisting on the four-six split. Song Yao stopped arguing; getting money was good enough! “We’ll go look at houses tomorrow. Your brother-in-law has liked that one for a while but hadn’t finalized it.” Thinking that house would soon belong to her, Song Yao felt happy.

Great, this person had been waiting for her. “Well, if I knew you wouldn't mention notarization, I wouldn’t have brought it up. In ten or eight years, the house will be entirely mine,” Wang Qiqi said with mock annoyance.

Song Yao giggled. “You wouldn't,” she said with absolute certainty. “Let’s go to sleep now; we have to wake up early tomorrow.”

Wang Qiqi woke Song Yao up early the next morning. In a semi-conscious state, she helped Song Yao see Gong Peixing into a taxi. When Wang Qiqi finally became fully alert, she realized they had arrived at Gong Peixing’s ancestral home, but the car didn't stop; it kept going, which struck Wang Qiqi as odd. “Aren’t we at your brother-in-law’s hometown?”

“It’s my aunt’s maternal home; she’s the one who gave us the tip,” Gong Peixing explained.

Wang Qiqi murmured an acknowledgment. Soon, the taxi stopped. Stepping out, Wang Qiqi noticed the environment here wasn't as good as Gong Peixing’s main hometown, but the location was right by the main road. “It’s quite convenient to get in and out.” At least the road was good, making it easy for potential tenants to visit.

“Yes,” Song Yao said, slowly taking Wang Qiqi’s hand and following behind Gong Peixing. “By the way, have you contacted your aunt?”

“Yes. My aunt said the owner’s son is back in town, so as soon as the deal is settled and the money is transferred, the ownership can be switched immediately,” Gong Peixing remarked, surprised at how smoothly the house purchase was proceeding—it was incredibly fortuitous.

Wang Qiqi froze. When did buying a house get this fast? And more importantly, “You don’t actually have that much cash, do you?” Good heavens, where did this couple suddenly get so much money? This was far beyond what Wang Qiqi had expected.

“I made some money recently following a colleague’s lead in the stock market, but I’ve already pulled it out to buy the house,” Song Yao admitted with a hint of regret. After all, she had made a decent profit in stocks. But she really liked that house, and moreover, she gathered from Wang Qiqi’s tone that she wasn't overly optimistic about the stock market but was very bullish on real estate. Song Yao now understood how to proceed.

Wang Qiqi hadn't expected Song Yao to engage in stock trading. “Does your mother know?”

Song Yao thought, How dare I mention it to my family? “My uncle lost quite a bit trading stocks before, so my parents don't approve.” To them, earning money required being grounded; any surplus cash should go into the bank—though now they added buying property to that list.

Wang Qiqi knew about that; Wang Damei had even brought her brother-in-law to their house to borrow money, some of which was public funds. “The stock market can be good, but you have to watch it constantly. If the market turns bad, it all vanishes. Real estate is better. If you and your husband have the money, buy the house, renovate it, and rent it out; that’s a stable income. Perhaps the monthly rent could eventually reach ten thousand.” Wang Qiqi thought this wasn't just a dream; she herself had income from rentals, most from houses left by her grandfather. As for her own parents, while they earned a lot, they spent just as much; strictly speaking, they were spendthrifts. “Perhaps reaching fifty or sixty thousand a month isn't a dream either.” Wang Qiqi restrained herself, worried about frightening them if she said more.

Monthly income of over ten thousand? Song Yao and Gong Peixing couldn't even imagine it. Later, recalling that day's conversation, they would realize how right Wang Qiqi’s child had been. At that time, Song Yao and Gong Peixing had no idea how many properties they would eventually own, requiring a ledger just for collecting rent, along with hiring dedicated staff for maintenance and other matters.

【The Space Within the Necklace】Getting Rich by Carrying a Necklace【Happiness is Actually Very Simple】

Rebirth can also lead to simple happiness.

【Rebirth of 1976】Carrying a Baby to Find a Husband (To be continued)