Whoosh!
No one knew how much time passed,
but finally, Jerry's mom snapped out of her daze.
And the first thing she did?
Rushed to the front door, checking the locks,
even peeking through the cracks to make sure no one was snooping around.
Jerry watched, half laughing, half speechless.
"Mom, what are you doing?"
"What else?!"
his dad said dryly.
"She's making sure no one gets funny ideas about all that money."
Once she was satisfied everything was secure,
Mom hurried back to the table.
Still stunned,
she couldn't stop running her hands over the stacks of cash,
like she was touching treasure.
After a long while,
she swallowed hard and asked in a tiny voice:
"Jerry... all this money...
really came from selling those worthless weeds?"
It was almost too much to believe.
They had grown up thinking of wild greens as nothing—
stuff even wild pigs wouldn't touch,
growing everywhere, rotting with the seasons.
And now?
Seven years' worth of family income,
from junk no one even wanted.
It was mind-boggling.
Jerry chuckled.
"If you don't believe me,
you can ask Dad.
You know he's never lied to you, right?"
In their house,
Dad might be the 'man of the house' on paper,
but in reality?
Mom ruled.
And Dad, bless his heart,
had never once lied to her.
Sure enough,
Mom turned to Dad with a sharp, suspicious look.
"Lin, tell me straight—what's going on here?"
Dad, caught in her gaze, shivered a little.
The hand holding his pipe even trembled.
In most households, the man was the pillar.
Here?
Jerry was top dog,
Mom was second,
and Dad... well, he was the smiling, henpecked support staff.
And honestly?
He was perfectly happy with that.
Family harmony over pride any day.
Facing her intense stare,
Dad quickly said:
"It's true!
I saw the whole thing myself.
Jerry sold a whole truckload of wild greens to a vegetable buyer.
The cash was real—he handed it right over."
Hearing her husband's words,
Mom finally relaxed.
A huge grin broke across her face as she grabbed Jerry's hand:
"My son really is something!
Turning trash into gold—who else could do that?"
Jerry just smiled faintly.
This wasn't really "talent"—
just the advantage of living his life twice.
His real talents would shine later—
when he wasn't making a few thousand,
but hundreds of millions.
Then, Mom's face clouded over.
"Wait!"
she said urgently.
"If wild greens are this valuable...
won't the other villagers figure it out too?"
Sharp as ever, even without much schooling.
Jerry nodded, impressed again by his mother's instincts.
He had worried she might panic under pressure,
but clearly, she had the right head for this.
He explained calmly:
"Mom, if anyone asks,
just tell them we sell the greens to the city for pig feed.
We barely make enough to cover gas."
"Plus, since Dad knows how to drive,
they'll assume they can't do it without hiring a truck and driver.
They'll think it's too much hassle for too little money."
Simple.
Effective.
Keep the true market hidden.
Buy up everything quietly.
Build his empire behind the scenes.
Mom nodded, understanding.
Her eyes shone with pride.
Jerry glanced at the clock.
"Mom, Dad and I are heading back out for another run.
You stay here and keep buying greens."
"Take all you can get.
Tomorrow, you'll come along with Dad to learn the ropes."
"After that, when I go back to school,
I'm leaving the whole operation to you."
Mom panicked a little.
"Me?!
Son, I barely went to school...
What if I mess it up?"
Jerry had expected this reaction.
Everyone feared the unknown at first.
He patted her hand reassuringly:
"Mom,
you're the only one I trust with this."
"You know I only got three days off.
I can't skip school to sell greens forever, can I?"
At this point, Dad chimed in, puffing on his pipe:
"Who needs school?
You've already found a way to make money!
Quit and focus on business!"
Mom immediately whirled on him, smacking his arm.
"You big dummy!
It's because he went to school that he's smarter than the rest!"
"You want him to end up like us, stuck in a village forever?"
Dad looked a little dazed.
Wasn't he just agreeing with Jerry?
How did he become the bad guy again?
Turning back to Jerry,
Mom straightened her shoulders and said firmly:
"Son,
you go back to school.
Leave the business to me."
"I might not have much education,
but your mom doesn't back down from a fight!"
She understood perfectly.
Without education,
Jerry might make some quick money now,
but his long-term future would be capped.
No.
Her son wasn't meant for small things.
He was destined for suits, skyscrapers, and millions.
No matter how tough it got,
she would stand behind him—
building his stronghold while he chased the stars.