"Ding-dong, ding-dong." The sound of the doorbell echoed from outside. Wang Qiqi and Bai Ge looked up in confusion, exchanging glances. "Did you call your sister over?"

"Did you call Sister Yao Yao?"

Since it wasn't Song Yao coming, who could it be knocking? Shi Man was home, and Zhu Lina was also at home. "Manman, go open the door," Wang Qiqi called out.

Shi Man obediently went to open the door. It wasn't that she wanted to; it was because Zhu Lina was busy in the study, while Wang Qiqi and Bai Ge were occupied in the living room compiling some materials. Although Wang Qiqi had only taken the TOEFL exam once, she had recently managed to procure past TOEFL and IELTS exam papers through connections. She was busy organizing this data, which, naturally, came with compensation. And the person paying Qiqi wasn't anyone else but Bai Ge. Since Qiqi had initially helped out as a favor without receiving much benefit, Bai Ge considered the situation, especially knowing Wang Qiqi's mindset, and proposed this arrangement. Song Yao and Shi Man certainly wouldn't object to the suggestion.

Though Wang Qiqi didn't particularly care about the small payment, getting compensated for work, instead of working for free, always felt more uplifting, fueling her motivation to sort the materials. These past few days, apart from her daily exercises, she had been either busy translating for money or constantly processing documents. Shi Man would lend a hand occasionally. Wang Qiqi aimed to finish compiling all these materials before heading abroad.

Zhang Yan entered, greeted Shi Man, and then noticed someone who wasn't entirely unexpected. "Qiqi, Bai Ge." She wondered why Bai Ge wasn't at the graphics studio she owned, managing her business, yet was curled up here. And why were the two of them sitting on the floor? The coffee table, the sofa, and the surrounding floor were all covered in documents. She looked at Shi Man with surprise, thinking Qiqi’s thesis had already been approved, and she had passed her graduation defense; what was she up to now?

"Qiqi is putting together materials for the TOEFL and IELTS exams," Shi Man whispered in explanation. Since Zhang Yan had seen everything, there was no need to hide it, and Zhang Yan wasn't one to gossip.

TOEFL and IELTS exam materials? Zhang Yan mused that Qiqi had already passed, and Shi Man had too. "Could it be Bai Ge is going abroad?" But that didn't seem right either. Hadn't Bai Ge mentioned having younger siblings she needed to support? Didn't she start her business precisely so her younger siblings could live better lives? Even if she wanted to go abroad, it shouldn't be now; at least not until things stabilized.

Shi Man shook her head. "Bai Ge is planning to open a training school." This was news that genuinely shocked her, and she eagerly anticipated Zhang Yan's reaction.

Zhang Yan reacted just as Shi Man predicted; her mouth gaped wide open, so wide an egg could fit inside. Just as Wang Qiqi and Bai Ge finished the work in their hands and were about to greet Zhang Yan, they saw her expression. Bai Ge whispered near Wang Qiqi's ear, "After being classmates with Zhang Yan for so long, this is the first time I've seen her lose her composure like this." Zhang Yan was always the epitome of ladylike grace; Bai Ge had never seen her lose control before. She hadn't expected to witness this moment just as she was about to graduate, though it seemed her surprise was due to her.

"Oh my god, Bai Ge, you are incredible! You're opening a training school?" How could Zhang Yan not be excited? Opening such a school wasn't a simple feat; it wasn't something money alone could fix, especially since, in Zhang Yan's estimation, Bai Ge's background probably wasn't robust enough to support establishing a whole school. Yet, she had managed it.

Zhang Yan felt she absolutely had to tell Duan Xiaomin and the others who the real person to be jealous of was—it must be Bai Ge. She was truly profound and reserved. "Oh, Bai Ge, Bai Ge, you really should become a model for school employment and get on stage to give a speech."

A speech on stage? Bai Ge looked utterly unenthusiastic. "I don't want to be a target." To be honest, Bai Ge hadn't intended to let anyone know about the training school plans for the next two years; it was simply too envy-inducing. Regardless of sour remarks, Bai Ge worried about what outrageous comments might surface later. Weren't there enough rumors in the class when she first opened the graphics studio? Bai Ge had overheard some truly unpleasant things a few times, and she didn't wish to experience that again. "I'd rather quietly stay put and make money."

Zhang Yan understood why Bai Ge was keeping such a low profile. Anyone who had witnessed Duan Xiaomin's journey would deeply understand the importance of modesty; otherwise, if something unfavorable happened, the number of people mocking you would only increase. "It looks like you guys have finished most of the preparations." For opening such a training school, the most critical element was the teaching staff, but with Qiqi involved, this aspect probably wouldn't be too difficult.

"Almost done. We're just waiting for the renovations to finish before we start enrolling students." Bai Ge had been very busy lately too. Advertisements were out, and consultation calls were increasing. However, since it was a new school, while there were many inquiries, few people had made a final commitment. Bai Ge wasn't too worried about this; it was all within her projections, and she had countermeasures ready. But everything would depend on the completion of the renovations and the start of classes to gauge the actual outcome.

Zhang Yan understood. "Qiqi has shares in it too?" Although it was phrased as a question, her tone suggested certainty. Qiqi wouldn't miss out on such an obviously profitable venture, and given how long she'd been working on the materials, it seemed illogical for her not to have a stake.

Wang Qiqi shook her head and rose from the floor. "Excuse me, the floor is covered in materials. You’ll have to sit by the dining table." These past few days, Shi Man had been watching TV while standing behind the sofa because the area between the sofa, coffee table, and television had been completely occupied by documents.

No shares for Qiqi? Zhang Yan was very curious. She had assumed Wang Qiqi would be the one to come up with the idea, and Qiqi had been working on it for so long; it seemed odd she wouldn't have a stake. However, with Bai Ge present, she didn't press further.

Bai Ge washed her hands, grabbed some fruit, and emerged from the kitchen. "Qiqi doesn't have a share; her sister does." After placing the fruit on the dining table, Bai Ge picked up a tomato and started eating. After working so hard, enjoying delicious food felt like the ultimate happiness. "Zhang Yan, stay for dinner. I'll go buy groceries." If she didn't get out for a walk soon, Bai Ge felt she would suffocate. Her eyes and mind were filled with the twenty-six letters, and what terrified her even more was dreaming of the English alphabet and her least favorite English teacher from childhood.

Zhang Yan was about to politely decline when Wang Qiqi interjected, "Stay for dinner. I actually have something to discuss." It was already nearly three o'clock, and the matters to be discussed wouldn't be resolved in a few quick words.

Unable to refuse their persistent invitations, Zhang Yan stayed. Bai Ge took her wallet and headed to the market to buy groceries, simultaneously giving the others space.

Wang Qiqi recounted the details of the housing search she and Shi Man had conducted online over the past few days. "What do you think? Should we rent an apartment?"

"Are you planning to rent a villa-style house?" Zhang Yan genuinely admired them. She knew such houses usually had more rooms and larger common areas, meaning higher costs. "But apartments aren't cheap either; quite a few people are going to the UK to study this year."

Wang Qiqi nodded. "I checked online. Either there aren't enough rooms, or the facilities aren't great." In short, not a single place met Wang Qiqi and Shi Man's requirements.

"When are you planning to leave?" Seeing a place required an on-site visit. Even photos online couldn't guarantee the equipment was truly satisfactory. "Late July? Early July, I have something else to do."

Wang Qiqi saw how cooperative Zhang Yan was and thought, Was it this easy? Why did I bother discussing how to convince Zhang Yan with Shi Man before? "Around late July or early August. If you have no problem, let's book the tickets." Booking tickets in advance offered discounts.

Zhang Yan nodded to indicate she had no issues. "After we get there and find a place..." She wanted to know the subsequent arrangements. If there were none, she was thinking of waiting until later and letting Qiqi and the others decide. However, knowing Wang Qiqi, she must have a plan if she was heading over so early.

"Well, we were planning to..." Wang Qiqi paused in thought. "We were planning to look around some interesting places after finding housing."

Zhang Yan figured Wang Qiqi and Shi Man would have such an idea. "Do you have any specific places in mind?" If not, she could offer suggestions.

How should they explain this? Wang Qiqi and Shi Man exchanged glances. It wasn't that they hadn't researched travel destinations; the problem was that after researching, they hit a major snag. Wang Qiqi scratched her head sheepishly. "Manman and I haven't reached a consensus yet."

"There are so many places we want to see; we can't decide," Shi Man thought. Europe was vast; Britain alone offered enough choices.

Zhang Yan chuckled, looking at their troubled expressions. "What's there to worry about? Just visit the places one by one. We still have a year, maybe even more." Zhang Yan suspected that after finishing their master's degrees, Wang Qiqi and Shi Man might not look for jobs immediately—or wait, they had already secured their positions. "How about I draft a plan?"

Zhang Yan making a plan? Wang Qiqi and Shi Man looked at each other. Compared to them, it seemed a certain person hadn't been to Britain yet, though perhaps she had gone and just hadn't mentioned it.

"Actually, several of my online friends are avid travelers; they've been to many places, and I chat with them often. I even occasionally write travel diaries and submit them to foreign media to earn some fees." Zhang Yan hadn't intended to share this, but if she didn't mention it now, Qiqi and the others would inevitably find out after she left. There was no need to keep it secret.

Writing travel diaries? Wang Qiqi's eyes widened. "Heavens!" She never imagined Zhang Yan was so avant-garde. While this was a crucial way for backpackers abroad to fund their travels, very few people in China operated this way. Wang Qiqi never dreamed someone close to her was earning money like this.

Shi Man looked at Zhang Yan, then down at herself, and then looked up with sudden excitement. "Zhang Yan, you really write travelogues for those magazines?" Oh my god, Shi Man was thoroughly impressed with Zhang Yan. She was studying economics! After four years of study, Shi Man thought even the best writing style would get corrupted by such mundane subjects, so it was truly admirable that she could persist. Shi Man had only one thought: making money wasn't that hard; if you looked closely, you could find many avenues around you to earn it.

Bai Ge's view on travel was that it was something rich people did. For her, whose career was just starting and who had elderly parents and younger siblings to support, travel seemed utterly unreachable. Yet, here was Zhang Yan, managing to travel and earn money simultaneously. "Impressive." Bai Ge gave Zhang Yan a thumbs-up. She hadn't expected to hear such explosive news after coming back from buying groceries. She really wanted to exclaim, Is our dorm room blessed with great Feng Shui? Why are so many successful people emerging from it?

Zhang Yan saw Wang Qiqi and the others looking at her with admiration and felt genuinely embarrassed. What they saw as impressive methods were, in her parents' eyes, just plain messing around.

Zhang Yan understood her elders' expectations, but she was human too. She wanted to ensure that when she was old, she wouldn't have regrets, even if she took a few years off to relax before eventually returning to the life path planned by her parents. But she could tell herself that she had indulged herself while young. "Actually, I only gathered the courage because Qiqi persuaded me." If it hadn't been for Wang Qiqi's words back then, Zhang Yan knew she might still not have found the nerve.

Wang Qiqi looked utterly surprised, then pointed to herself, signaling Zhang Yan to confirm she hadn't mixed up the names. Wang Qiqi couldn't recall ever persuading Zhang Yan about anything. But Zhang Yan nodded earnestly, assuring her she wasn't mistaken, which confused Wang Qiqi. "Did I really persuade you? I really don't remember." If she had truly said something, why would she look so astonished upon hearing what Zhang Yan was doing now?

Zhang Yan recounted the time they ran into each other at the library and what had transpired. "So, it was you who encouraged me."

Zhang Yan stated the facts, and Wang Qiqi recalled the incident. She remembered Zhang Yan seemed in a bad mood that day, so she had chatted with her briefly. She hadn't expected that a simple remark about not waiting until old age to regret things would lead Zhang Yan to make this decision.

After a long pause, Wang Qiqi blurted out, "If your parents find out that what you're doing is because I persuaded you, will they..." Wang Qiqi didn't know how to finish the sentence.

"They'll probably want to kill you," Shi Man remarked, noticing that Zhang Yan mentioning why she made this decision suggested her parents didn't support her actions, perhaps even strongly opposed them, yet Zhang Yan persisted.

Wang Qiqi gasped sharply. Even though she knew this was likely the case, did they have to say it so directly? Bai Ge watched Wang Qiqi's face change, patted her shoulder, "Qiqi, you need to be careful in the future, or else..."

Wang Qiqi looked pleadingly at Zhang Yan, hoping for some other piece of news, but Zhang Yan's words crushed her last hope for salvation. "My parents are very dissatisfied with my actions. They just don't know yet that I was impulsive because of what you said."

Although Zhang Yan didn't explicitly state what her parents might do, the implication was clear. Her mouth gaped wide again. "So, too many words often lead to mistakes. I think I should maintain silence; silence is golden." I was just too eager to be a teacher; why did I meddle in the first place? Now I've done something wrong.

Wang Qiqi felt she needed to make amends, especially preventing Zhang Yan from continuing down this mistaken path. She organized her thoughts quickly. "Zhang Yan, I think, well, we spent four years in university, and now a master's in this field—it's a real waste to give up your major, don't you think?"

"Especially since a year in the UK—living expenses, tuition—that's not a small number." Speaking of this, Wang Qiqi suddenly recalled something. "Are your parents still supporting you financially?" Although Zhang Yan said she was earning money by writing travel diaries, Wang Qiqi doubted that the fees alone could sustain her for a year in Britain. She wondered if this girl was using money saved up over the years, plus past New Year's money. This thought put significant pressure on Wang Qiqi.

"They support me," Zhang Yan confirmed firmly. "If they cut off my funding, how could I afford to study abroad?"

Wang Qiqi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. "That's good. Your parents are quite broad-minded." Such open-minded parents were rare. Many parents in China, when their children deviate from the planned path, immediately resort to economic blockade. Only when they see it has no effect do they seek other solutions. Zhang Yan's parents hadn't done that; perhaps because they were educators, they were more inclined toward the concepts of raising children that Westerners followed.

"They are quite open-minded," Shi Man compared internally. If she were in Zhang Yan's situation, her parents would never give her money for overseas study. They would surely think she was just sightseeing and spending their hard-earned money on pleasure trips.

Bai Ge nodded in agreement, but what she was thinking was that her own children couldn't be so extravagant in the future. She had spent so much money and effort supporting her child through university and abroad just for them to sightsee? Of course, she supported appropriate travel and leisure, but it shouldn't be treated as the main focus, right?

Open-minded? Zhang Yan smiled and shook her head, recounting the struggle and the agreement she had struck with her parents. "So, from now until the next four years, I can live the life I want, but after that, I have to follow their path."

Shi Man bluntly stated, "If you don't return home then, what can they really do to you? Besides, as long as you can support yourself, that's enough." Shi Man felt Zhang Yan's parents were over-controlling, deeming everything 'no'—were they treating Zhang Yan like a three-year-old?

Wang Qiqi thought she knew it; Chinese parents weren't that open-minded, just as she predicted. This girl had completely forgotten her previous assessment of Zhang Yan's parents. "Who knows what will happen in the future? Maybe if you work hard and establish your own career, they will recognize your approach when they see your future is secure." Of course, Wang Qiqi had an unvoiced thought: what if Zhang Yan found a suitable man by then, got married, and how would Zhang Yan's parents discipline a married daughter, especially if she married a foreigner? They would have even less control then.

Zhang Yan hadn't thought that far ahead, but Shi Man's suggestion was something she had never considered. It wasn't that her parents had that much influence, but doing so would be the most unfilial act for a child. Her parents' starting point was always her well-being. "I can't travel forever; I also need to consider my future. Of course, if I find a cause during my travels that is worth dedicating the rest of my life to, I would be willing to betray my parents."

Wang Qiqi felt like she was about to faint. She really wanted to smack her own head. Damn it, she explicitly told herself not to speak carelessly, but then she said something so thoughtless. She only had one thought: perhaps today wasn't a good day for her to talk. She felt perilously close to death. She supported her neck with one hand and her waist with the other, walking forlornly toward the sofa.

Bai Ge watched Wang Qiqi's strange movements, completely bewildered. "Qiqi, what's wrong with her?" Her posture was bizarre. Was it because she squatted too long? But that didn't make sense either; if it were due to squatting, why was she still walking that way? "Qiqi, you..."

Wang Qiqi said dejectedly, "Don't mind me; I need to focus on proper work. Manman, the dinner tonight is up to you." She felt she needed to complete her tasks before the situation escalated further, ensuring no regrets in her life. Alright, Wang Qiqi admitted she was being dramatic and confused; she really needed to adjust her state of mind.

Seeing Wang Qiqi dive back into the pile of documents, Bai Ge said, "Qiqi, have you gone a little silly from being busy compiling materials recently?" Although, as a boss, seeing an employee work so diligently was pleasing, Wang Qiqi's state seemed off. Was the pressure a bit too much recently? Thinking of this, Bai Ge was startled by her own thought. She called out loudly, "Qiqi, the materials aren't urgent; we're just starting preparation for enrollment."

Zhang Yan understood a bit better. "Qiqi, don't worry. Any choice I make is mine alone. What you said that day only solidified my decision." However, Zhang Yan was also quite curious. The Wang Qiqi in her mind would never be so volatile. She found Qiqi particularly strange today; was it due to excessive stress?

"It's fine, it's fine, I know, I know," Wang Qiqi replied without getting agitated and continued working on the floor.

White Dove and Zhang Yan both looked toward Shi Man, their eyes questioning whether the situation with someone was alright. Shi Man merely shrugged. "Qiqi sometimes retreats into her own little world. Don't worry, she'll regulate herself in a moment." Although Shi Man spoke with such assurance, showing no trace of concern, she nonetheless rose and walked over to the television set, turning on the stereo. Soon, a piece of piano music filled the room.

After completing this task, Shi Man returned to the dining table. "Being cooped up inside has made Qiqi's moods a bit unpredictable. Once this whole matter is sorted out, she'll bounce back." To be honest, Shi Man hadn't been in a great mood lately either. "No one whose last sight before closing their eyes was English letters, only to open them again to the sight of English letters, could possibly maintain a consistently cheerful disposition, especially since Qiqi started getting so deeply involved in this."

White Dove watched Wang Qiqi working diligently and knew that Qiqi wasn't doing it for money; the compensation she offered meant nothing in her eyes. But what could she offer her? White Dove pondered this question deeply, realizing she truly needed to sit down and think it through.

Rebirth in the Seventies Pen Name: Tantai Erbai

Fang Qian was reborn back into the 1970s, discovering that so many things could be redone.

In this unique era, opportunity was everywhere: antiques and jade scattered about, and commerce waiting to be revived from ruin...

Fang Qian thought, now that she has been reborn, she must ensure those who harmed her perish, bring happiness to those who loved her, and guarantee her family lives together in blissful harmony.

(^__^) This story focuses on the heroine's revenge, combining business management with farming narratives. RS