The Husband Who Went to Mine Gold Is Back [The Nineties]

Xue Zilan's older sister, Xue Zi Mei, would rather die than marry her blind date, Zhang Xingzhou. She looked down on him for being a temporary pipe fitter with low pay and little income, unable to support a family. He was also a man of few words, with no sense of fun. In short, apart from his good looks, he had nothing going for him. So she persuaded Xue Zilan to marry him instead. Xue Zilan: If you don't want him, neither do I! In his previous life, Zhang Xingzhou couldn't stand being poor, so he went far away to seek his fortune, leaving his wife to manage everything at home. Two years later, he discovered a huge gold mine and returned home in glory, hoping to give his wife and children a better life. Instead, disaster struck and wiped them out. Reborn, Zhang Xingzhou proceeded with caution and told no one about his plan to mine for gold. Before setting out, he wanted to settle down first, just as he had in his previous life. But the gentle, considerate wife he remembered from his previous life rejected him at their very first meeting. Xue Zilan couldn't find a single thing she liked about him. "I don't agree." Zhang Xingzhou: ? He could put his career on hold. Winning over his wife came first! -- The young couple set up their own household after getting married, and money was tight. At first, everyone thought they were so poor they could barely put food on the table. But then... Reader's guide: A slice-of-life story about family and neighbors, with an ensemble cast. Coming soon: My Mom Came from the Imperial Kitchens [The 1980s]. Please add it to your collection! Peng Xiangnan had known since childhood that her family was different from everyone else's. Other kids were so hungry they grew thin and pale, and never got enough to eat. She ate braised shark fin, stir-fried phoenix tongues, and pork tenderloin stuffed in pastry every day, until her belly was round as a ball. When adults in other families were laid off, they wailed and complained bitterly. When her mom was laid off, she said nothing, hopped on a tricycle, and set up a street stall. "Come take a look! We've got steamed lamb, roast duck, braised goose, jarred chicken, stewed white eel, fish fillets in rich sauce, sea cucumber stew... We've got it all!" Whenever she tried to get to the bottom of it and asked, "Mom, why do we have so much food at home?" Her tough, no-nonsense mom would say, "Shut up and eat." -- Later, a handsome army officer showed up, claiming to be her biological father and offering to take her to the big city for a better life. Her mom stood in the doorway, cleaver in hand. "Anyone who tries to take my daughter away will have to go through me first!" The officer, carrying bags and bundles, beamed. "Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not here to break up this family. I'm here to join it." Her mom gave him a frosty look. "Hey, handsome, don't make up a story to hustle me." Theme: Your life is in your own hands.