Two days later, Ashley sat on an old Greyhound bus, watching the rural landscapes of Hell County fly by outside the window. Golden wheat fields, lush green pastures, and distant mountains all seemed to be calling to her with a mix of emotions. The familiar scenery evoked a complex feeling within her.
The original Ashley had a complicated memory of this place—cherishing the warmth of childhood but also having a deep resentment towards the "country" life. However, the new Ashley saw infinite possibilities in these humble landscapes.
The Taylor family farm was located about 80 miles west of Philadelphia, on the outskirts of a small town. It wasn't large by any means, but the family had a certain stature in the local community. The farm not only ran an agricultural business but also made some small investments in various commercial ventures. While they weren't wealthy, they led a decent life.
The bus stopped at the town's station, and Ashley stepped off with her simple luggage. Before she could adjust to the afternoon sun, a tall figure rushed towards her.
"Ashley!"
She was enveloped by the familiar scent—sweat, the faint smell of tobacco, and the rough hands of Jack Taylor, her older brother, a true American tough guy.
"Let me see you," Jack scrutinized her closely, studying her face, "You've lost weight."
Ashley couldn't help but smile. In this era, "losing weight" was considered a compliment for women, but she knew she was still far from slim. However, in Jack's eyes, she would always be the little sister who needed protection.
"I'm fine, Jack," her voice was slightly choked, "Really, I'm fine."
"That bastard Eugene didn't bully you, did he?" Jack's eyes flashed with dangerous light. "If he dared…"
"He doesn't dare anymore." Ashley patted Jack's arm, "Trust me, he won't dare again."
Jack looked at her curiously but didn't ask any further questions. He took her luggage, "Let's go. Eric and Ben are waiting for you. Mom has already prepared your favorite apple pie."
They got into Jack's pickup truck and drove along the familiar country roads toward the farm. Ashley stared out of the window, her mind already formulating plans.
"Jack," she suddenly spoke, "How is the farm business going now?"
"Not bad," Jack replied while driving, "This year's corn harvest is great, and the apple orchard is also doing well. But…"
"But what?" Ashley asked.
"Mom's worried," Jack said, glancing over at her, "She's concerned that competition from big agricultural companies is getting tougher. We small farmers might not last long."
Ashley nodded thoughtfully. The American agricultural industry in the 1980s was undergoing profound changes, and small farms did face a tough battle. But she also saw this as an opportunity.
"Any other issues?" she asked.
"Well," Jack hesitated, "A new big supermarket has opened in town, and many people have stopped coming to our farm direct sales store. Ben says we need to figure something out."
Ashley's eyes lit up. This was the information she needed.
Half an hour later, they arrived at the Taylor farm. It was a classic American farm—white and sturdy, surrounded by green lawns, and behind the house, fields stretched as far as the eye could see. Though it wasn't luxurious, it was neat and cozy.
As soon as the door opened, Ashley was greeted by a warm hug.
"My little angel," Katherine Taylor, her mother, enveloped her, eyes full of tears. "You're finally back."
Katherine was an elegant woman, always dressed properly, even in a rural environment. Ashley knew from the original memories that her mother had once been active in the Philadelphia social scene before marrying her father and moving to the farm.
"Mom," Ashley gently rubbed her mother's back, "I'm home."
"Ashley!" Two more voices joined in.
Eric Taylor stepped out of the house in his white doctor's coat, obviously just returning from the hospital. As a surgeon, he worked in a nearby city hospital and was considered the "most successful" in the family.
Ben Taylor then came running from the backyard, his hands still stained with paint. He was the family's artist and also handled the farm's finances.
"Look at our little princess," Ben smiled, "Finally free of that useless man."
"Eugene?" Eric's face turned serious. "I told you, he was no good. How are you feeling now, Ashley?"
Ashley was surrounded by her three brothers, and she felt a warmth she had never experienced before. In her original world, she had been an orphan and had never known the unconditional love of a family.
"I'm good," she said, her voice steady. "Really, I'm good. And I have some ideas."
"Ideas?" Katherine asked curiously.
Ashley looked around, ensuring no one else was around, then said, "I want to start over. Not just my personal life, but also our family business."
The four of them were taken aback. In their minds, Ashley had never been one to show interest in business.
"What do you want to do?" Eric asked.
"First, I want to understand our current financial situation," Ashley's voice grew professional. "The farm's income, expenses, investments, and the operation of the direct sales store."
Ben's eyes showed a flicker of reaction, "Are you interested in this?"
"Very interested," Ashley said firmly. "I learned a lot from Eugene. Although most of it was illegal, it taught me some useful lessons."
Of course, this was a fabricated excuse, but they seemed to accept it without question.
"Alright," Ben said, "If you're serious about this, we can talk about it in detail tonight."
"Great," Ashley smiled. "Also, I'd like to hear your thoughts on the new supermarket in town."
"You mean Walmart?" Jack frowned. "That store has definitely stolen some of our regular customers."
"Walmart?" Ashley's mind clicked. She knew that the 1980s were when Walmart began its massive expansion, and it had caused significant disruption to traditional small businesses. But she also knew this meant an opportunity.
"We need to find a way to counter this," she said, "But before we do, I want to rest and then sit down with all of you to talk."
"Of course," Katherine pulled her daughter's hand, "Your room is ready, and we've been waiting for you. Tonight, let's all get together."
Ashley followed her mother inside, feeling the warmth of the familiar surroundings. Here, there were memories of her childhood, the love of her family, and the beginning of a new life.
She walked to the window, looking out at the fields and distant mountains, already starting to plan. Eugene was just the beginning; the real challenges lay ahead. But now, she had the strongest support of all—her family.
"Ashley," Katherine called from the door, "Dinner is ready."
"I'll be right there, Mom," Ashley turned toward the dining room, her heart filled with anticipation.
At the dinner table, the family gathered together, warm and joyful. Ashley looked at the people who loved her, silently making a vow: she would not only create a better future for herself but also bring glory to her family.
"By the way, Ashley," Ben suddenly spoke, "Do you know? A Chinese guy recently opened a small factory in town to produce daily goods. I heard he's got quite the business acumen."
Ashley's ears immediately perked up. A Chinese immigrant, a daily goods factory—this sounded significant.
"What's his name?" she asked.
"David Chen. I think he's from California," Ben replied.
David Chen. The name stuck in Ashley's mind. Maybe, he would be her first important business partner in this new world.
"I'd love to meet him," Ashley smiled. "Maybe we can collaborate."
The three brothers exchanged surprised looks. This Ashley was truly different from before.
"Little sis," Jack spoke up, "If you need any help, we've got your back."
"Yeah," Eric nodded, "Don't worry about money, we'll figure something out."
"And I," Ben added, "I can help with all the paperwork and financial analysis."
Ashley looked at her brothers, who were sincerely supporting her, and felt a rush of gratitude.
"Thank you all," she said sincerely, "With your support, I'm confident we can create miracles."
Katherine looked at her daughter, her eyes filled with complex emotions. This Ashley had truly changed—she had become more mature, more confident, and more… dangerous.
But no matter what, she would support her daughter.
"Well then," Katherine raised her glass, "To Ashley's new beginning, cheers!"
"Cheers!" the family echoed.
Ashley lifted her glass, already planning for the next day. The first step was understanding the family's financial situation. The second step was investigating that David Chen and his factory. The third step was creating a strategy to combat Walmart.
This was just the beginning, but she couldn't wait to start.