How about starting a business?

"If you opened a shop, how much could you put up?" Chi Qing continued asking.

"We've been married for so many years, but apart from the house and car our parents bought us when we first got married, we've saved practically nothing over the years. He felt guilty about the divorce. My family bought the car in the first place, and each family paid half the down payment on the house, so I'm getting both. He's taking Doudou back to live with his parents, but I'll be responsible for the mortgage from now on. There's practically nothing in savings."

Wang Xiaoyan said miserably, "Just thinking about the mortgage makes my head hurt."

"Then how about this? We'll partner up. You put in the work and the skills, and I'll invest in opening the shop. I'll cover the costs," Chi Qing said promptly.

Wang Xiaoyan suddenly raised her head. "Qingqing, that's a lot of money. I've worked in a bakery before, but what if... That's no small sum for you, either."

"You've got skills, experience, and drive. Why worry about what-ifs before you've even started?"

Seeing that she still looked a little worried, Chi Qing said firmly, "Just answer me this: do you have the guts to do it? Do you want to make money?"

Looking at Chi Qing, Wang Xiaoyan even wanted to slap herself. What am I hesitating for? This is clearly a huge opportunity heaven has sent my way, and I'm still hemming and hawing when Chi Qing is taking the bigger risk!

"All right, I'm in!" Having thought it through, Wang Xiaoyan replied resolutely, "Qingqing, tell me how this partnership would work."

"Good!" Chi Qing said. "Right now, I'm thinking of two options. First, I hire you as the manager, with full responsibility for everything in the shop. I'll pay you a salary based on the market rate, plus a year-end bonus based on the shop's earnings. The other option is that you contribute your skills for a stake in the business. No salary, just a share of the profits. As for the split..."

Chi Qing considered it for a moment, then said, "Thirty-seventy. Thirty for you, seventy for me. If you choose the second option, I can lend you some money at the start to tide you over. You know my situation. I have to go to work, so I can only be a completely hands-off owner."

Privately, Chi Qing hoped Wang Xiaoyan would choose the second option. After all, she was bound to be a hands-off owner, and Wang Xiaoyan would surely put more care and effort into it if she had a share of the profits.

As she listened to Chi Qing, Wang Xiaoyan's eyes grew wider and wider. At first, she thought it was impossible, then she was astonished that Chi Qing actually had so much money. Then she began imagining how feasible it was, until she felt as though life was full of hope again.

"I'll take the second option."

Wang Xiaoyan had always been efficient and straightforward. Although the first option was safer, with an opportunity right in front of her, she had to give it a shot. Besides, Chi Qing was clearly taking the bigger risk. She couldn't take none at all herself.

"All right, then go home and put together a detailed budget and plan. Mainly the budget."

Chi Qing said happily, "I'll transfer the first payment to you now. Send me your bank account number."

"Huh? There's no need to rush, is there? You're transferring money to me already?" Wang Xiaoyan was a little dazed and a little touched. Chi Qing really trusted her so much.

"You'll definitely need to visit the market to make your plans, and that all costs money. Of course I should transfer it early so you can get started sooner." Chi Qing thought, I'm in a hurry to transfer the rest of today's money to you. Then I can relax for the day.

Wang Xiaoyan insisted that even brothers should keep their accounts clear, so, in their haste, the two found a notebook in the car and handwrote a simple agreement, then used lipstick instead of an ink pad to put their fingerprints on it.

Chi Qing had intended to transfer all the remaining 305,000 yuan to Wang Xiaoyan, but after hesitating, she kept 45,000 yuan, planning to have a little fun at the mall later.

As soon as Wang Xiaoyan received the money, she added a supplementary clause to the agreement stating how much she had received and stamped it with her fingerprint.

What Wang Xiaoyan did made Chi Qing even more certain she had made the right choice.

After they finished discussing things, Wang Xiaoyan also planned to drive back to the city. After all, she had originally come back to ask her parents for help, but now that she had new hope in life, she decided not to worry the elderly couple just yet. She would come back to see them once she was doing a little better.

Chi Qing, meanwhile, raced straight to the city's upscale shopping mall at lightning speed. Today, she planned to use those forty-odd thousand yuan to buy the first luxury handbag of her life.

Chi Qing herself had no particularly deep love for luxury goods, none of that frenzy of having to buy them. But with more than enough money, what woman could refuse a luxury handbag?

The city where Chi Qing lived was a third-tier city. Although most luxury brands had moved in, some top-tier luxury brands were still absent, such as Hermès and Patek Philippe. Even some of the brands that had opened stores didn't carry their full product ranges, and popular handbags were often unavailable.