The note read in a strong, decisive hand:
“Nanzhi, I’ve gone to work. After you get up, remember to eat breakfast. Aunt Wang is at home, you don’t need to worry. Go do what you want to do. You can also come work at the food factory—an introduction letter has already been prepared for you. Take it and report to Director Wu. Also, keep the passbook safe. If you want to buy anything, just buy it. You don’t need to save money.”
Shen Nanzhi looked at the words filled with care and concern, and warmth slowly spread through her heart.
She carefully folded the note and placed it into a small box in the drawer.
Then she picked up the passbook and opened it. Lines of savings records appeared before her eyes.
She counted them.
Tens, hundreds, thousands… it actually added up to over ten thousand yuan!
For people in the 1980s, this was an enormous fortune.
In her past life, after Jiang Feng’s company went public, she once wanted to open a shop, but he scolded her harshly.
He said she was ungrateful and restless, unwilling to be a wealthy wife and insisting on causing trouble outside.
He even froze her bank card, leaving her with nothing.
That sense of helplessness and passivity—she never wanted to experience it again.
In this life, she would become her own boss and control her own destiny!
A strong determination began to grow and spread within her.
The 1980s was an era full of opportunities and challenges.
She would seize this chance, rise against the wind, and become a leader of this era.
Shen Nanzhi carefully examined the passbook. Besides monthly wages, there was also 3,000 yuan in compensation for a work injury—all of it was Lu Xiangyang’s personal money.
The Lu family was a prestigious household in the capital, extremely wealthy, and did not need Lu Xiangyang’s money at all.
In that case, she could use this money to start a business first and repay it later.
Just as she was about to put the passbook away, a voice sounded in her mind:
“[Host has become a ten-thousand-yuan household. System bank account can now be activated. System supermarket can be unlocked to purchase needed goods…]”
Then, as if controlled by something, she used the passbook to open a system bank account and activate the system supermarket.
Seeing the supermarket exactly like the one in her dream last night, Shen Nanzhi realized she had bound to a system supermarket.
What a pleasant surprise!
A knocking sound interrupted her thoughts and pulled her back to reality.
She changed her clothes and opened the door.
Aunt Wang stood outside with a blank expression, her eyes filled with dislike and reluctance.
Clutching her clothes, Shen Nanzhi said slightly awkwardly, “Good morning, Aunt Wang! Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Aunt Wang kept a stern face. “You know that? Hurry up.”
She was a servant of the Lu family, sent from the capital to Jiangcheng to take care of Lu Xiangyang, and she was very attentive.
But her attitude toward Shen Nanzhi had always been poor.
From yesterday until now, she had not shown her any kindness.
Although Shen Nanzhi felt a little uncomfortable, she did not show it.
After all, in the entire family compound, except for Elder Jiang, no one liked her.
They despised her for being an orphan, called her a jinx, and said she had a fate that brought death to her parents.
She did not want to stay in the compound and be hated.
After breakfast, she told Aunt Wang she would not be back for lunch, then rode a brand-new Phoenix women’s bicycle out of the compound under the envious gazes of others.
She arrived at a secluded alley.
Based on her memories from her past life, Shen Nanzhi knew that a young man who had just returned from overseas lived here—Zhou Wenxuan, a future real estate tycoon.
Standing in front of the old house, she knocked on the door.
In her past life experience, she knew that the most profitable business at the moment was electronics.
She planned to use the system supermarket to start an electronics business.
However, she needed a returned overseas Chinese identity as cover to avoid suspicion.
Zhou Wenxuan was the perfect choice.
After a long wait, neighbors nearby grew impatient and peeked out to see what was happening.
Finally, dragging footsteps came from inside.
“Who’s knocking so early in the morning? Can’t people sleep?”
With a curse, the door opened, revealing a curly-haired young man.
He raised his head, showing a handsome face with arrogance and anger.
Before he could even speak, his gaze froze on Shen Nanzhi’s beautiful face.
After sizing her up, he curled his lips into a flirtatious smile.
“Well, not bad looking. Didn’t get satisfied last night? Came early in the morning looking for me?”
Laughter erupted around them.
The neighbors pointed and insulted Shen Nanzhi, calling her shameless and seductive.
Her expression darkened.
Suddenly, she raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face.
“Zhou Wenxuan, did you come back from Australia just to chase women?”
Her voice was cold and sharp.
The action was so fast that no one could react.
Zhou Wenxuan, just awakened and slapped, was furious beyond reason.
But before he could retaliate, the words “Australia” and “chase women” snapped him awake.
Only then did he notice Shen Nanzhi’s outfit—floral batwing shirt and jeans.
Excited, he asked, “You also came back from abroad?”
Shen Nanzhi shook her head. “No, let’s talk inside.”
She walked straight into the house.
Zhou Wenxuan followed.
After Shen Nanzhi explained her purpose, he finally reacted.
“You mean you want me to use a returned overseas identity to sell electronics and cooperate with supply and marketing cooperatives?”
“Exactly.” Shen Nanzhi nodded seriously. “This is the fastest way for you to make money. Since you came back, isn’t it to build something on your own? This is your best opportunity.”
“No!” Zhou Wenxuan refused immediately. “Smuggling is illegal! I won’t do it!”
Seeing his moral stance, Shen Nanzhi sneered inwardly.
She knew that in just one month, this man would do anything for money because of Su Mian.
She came to him not only for his identity, but also to cut off Su Mian’s financial path.
“It’s not smuggling. I’ll handle the goods. You just handle the business negotiations.”
She took out an electronic watch from her bag and handed it to him.
Zhou Wenxuan was amazed by its appearance and instinctively took it.
Black strap, dark gold surface, shimmering beautifully under sunlight.
“See, this shows the time here, and this shows the calendar.”
She pressed the two side buttons and demonstrated the functions.
“And it even has a night glow feature—you can see it clearly at night.”
After showing all its functions, she placed the watch on his wrist.
Zhou Wenxuan looked at it with delight.
“How much is this watch?”
“Cost price: 20 yuan.”
Shen Nanzhi bought it for 6 yuan.
She knew he wouldn’t believe the truth.
After all, electronic watches at this time mostly came from Shenzhen, and the channels were extremely restricted and risky.
So saying 20 yuan was reasonable.
Zhou Wenxuan immediately took out money—two 20-yuan bills and one 10-yuan bill—and handed it to her.
“I’ll buy it.”
Shen Nanzhi shook her head with a smile. “If you want it, you don’t need to pay.”
But Zhou Wenxuan didn’t want to accept it for free.
He quickly changed his tone back to his usual flirtatious attitude:
“What, falling for my looks and trying to seduce me?”
Shen Nanzhi wasn’t some naive girl and didn’t blush at his teasing. She didn’t have time to waste on him.
“It’s a cooperation. This watch can be sold for 60 yuan at the supply store. You use your overseas Chinese identity to negotiate with them. After deducting all costs, we split 50/50. What do you think?”