Jiang Ruyu put on the nightgown that her old friend Annie had sent her. It was a bright red dress with real silk ribbons and lace trim. She had written to Annie to tell her her wedding date when she sent New Year's gifts before getting engaged that year.

Later, she received a reply from Annie, who said she was very sorry that she could not attend her wedding in person and asked her to send her photos. Annie even thoughtfully sent her a few rolls of film. Knowing the situation in China, film was even harder to buy than cameras, so that's why she sent that.

Thinking about this, Jiang Ruyu said to Zheng Yang, "We haven't gotten our marriage certificate yet. Let's go tomorrow and take the film that Jiang Hui took to get it developed."

Zheng Yang was so focused on his wife's outfit that he couldn't take his eyes off her and couldn't hear what she was saying.

Jiang Ruyu looked up and saw Zheng Yang staring straight at her.

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The clothes she was wearing.

Jiang Ruyu's face flushed instantly: "What are you looking at?"

Zheng Yang suddenly raised his head: "Huh? I, I didn't see anything, I didn't see anything."

"Hmph, you're indecent, you scoundrel."

Zheng Yang pounced on her: "I can't believe my wife is so indecent, she's become a hooligan."

Jiang Ruyu pushed him away: "Get up, there's still important business to attend to. Go and get that wooden box."

Zheng Yang rolled over unhappily: "What are you doing, honey? Today is our wedding night. What important thing could be more important than this?"

"Of course, it's to count the money! Go quickly."

Zheng Yang reluctantly went downstairs to get the box for his wife, then turned around and took out his own savings.

Jiang Ruyu took the key, unlocked the brass lock, and found that the box was her grandmother's dowry box, which had now been given to her. She took out all the red envelopes inside.

Zheng Yang's eyes widened as he looked at the large number of red envelopes: "So many?"

Jiang Ruyu sighed: "Yes, I also think it's quite a lot."

Zheng Yang handed Jiang Ruyu his salary and the red envelopes given to him by his relatives.

"Why are you giving this to me? You should be our dad. He's the one who handles all the social obligations. These are all favors that others have repaid. Why are you giving this to me?"

Jiang Ruyu didn't want it. Even if she were short of money, she wouldn't take money that she shouldn't have.

Zheng Yang laughed. He knew Ruyu wouldn't take it: "Take it. Dad said that it wasn't easy to marry a wife into the family, so this money should be given to you. He's worked so many years and doesn't lack this little bit of money."

Jiang Ruyu looked at Zheng Yang and, seeing his earnest expression, accepted the money: "Use this money to buy good wine and food for Dad from now on, as a way of showing him respect."

"Then it's up to you. You're the lady of the house, so it's your decision."

Jiang Ruyu tried to hold back her laughter but couldn't help but burst into tears. She opened the several bankbooks and exclaimed, "My goodness, so much money? How did you save all that?"

There are six passbooks in total. One passbook has 1,500 yuan, and the other five passbooks each have 600 yuan, totaling 3,000 yuan. There is also a stack of undeposited banknotes clipped together, which looks to be about 100 or 200 yuan.

Zheng Yang smiled with some pride: "This 1,500 bill is what I have left over from my salary. The other bills I have here are the profit I made from helping people carry goods or running around buying and selling goods in different places. I'm afraid of being investigated, so I've deposited them in several banks."

Jiang Ruyu's eyes widened: "You run a black market?" Her voice was so soft it was barely a whisper.

Zheng Yang nodded: "Yes, it really makes money. I didn't dare to at first, but then I saw that everyone was doing it, so I followed suit. However, I usually don't go to the black market here, but to the black market in other places."

"How dare you? If you get caught, you'll be shot."

Zheng Yang also knew the seriousness of the matter: "Don't worry, I'm very careful. Every time I go, I disguise myself so that no one can recognize me. I'm also quite skilled and fast. And I don't go often. Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to myself."

Jiang Ruyu could tell from his expression that he was unwilling to give up this matter. To be honest, she could understand. Just like her, Zhao Ying, Wang Fang, and their sister-in-law and sister-in-law whom she had met through their introduction, she could earn more money than her salary by trading with them once a month. She wouldn't be willing to give it up.

"Then you should decide for yourself. Think about your family and me."

"Don't worry, I care about my life more than anyone else, and I definitely won't let anything happen to me."

The following year, Jiang Ruyu started counting money again.

Grandma gave her 66 yuan as a "backing money" and Grandpa gave her 99 yuan. Seeing Grandpa's red envelope, she guessed that it was because of the sewing machine that her second cousin got for his wedding. Grandpa was intentionally making up for it for her. However, although Grandpa received a subsidy every month, he probably didn't have much money left after giving her so much money all at once.

My uncle gave sixty-six, just like my grandmother. He gave so much because he felt guilty towards Jiang Ruyi, and she knew all of that.

Jiang Ruyu's eldest uncle gave her twenty-eight yuan and a cotton quilt. She knew that her second cousin had gotten married and bought a job in the past few years, so the family probably didn't have much money left. She felt a little hot in her hands when she took the money.

Jiang Ruyu was surprised that her uncle gave her twenty dollars. In fact, after Jiang Hongying divorced her uncle in such an ending, her uncle not only did not hold a grudge but also maintained contact with them. Moreover, he gave her so much money for her wedding, which was beyond her expectations.

Then came the red envelopes from my cousins. My second cousin and second brother gave the most. My second cousin gave me an 18 yuan red envelope and other gifts because of work.

Needless to say, her second brother always treated her like his own sister, and he gave her a red envelope containing twenty-eight yuan, which was already a considerable expense for their small family. Not to mention that the whole tea set also cost a lot of money.

Her older brother and cousin all gave her the same amount, ten yuan. This was considered normal interaction between siblings, and she didn't think much of it. People naturally have varying degrees of closeness or distance.

Jiang Ruyu was very grateful for the ten-yuan red envelope her older cousin gave her.

There was also Zhao Sufeng, who had already joined the army and was pregnant. After learning about her wedding, she sent back twenty yuan as a wedding gift.

There were also a few colleagues from her workplace who were quite nice to her, Uncle Zhang, and Manager Wang, whom Annie had to deal with every year. Some of them gave two yuan, Uncle Zhang gave five yuan, and Manager Wang gave ten yuan. Jiang Ruyu kept track of all of this. She would have to go to their places if they needed anything in the future, as she had to repay these favors.

She received nearly 400 yuan in red envelopes as gifts, which is normally impossible. However, she is lucky because her family loves her very much.

And that doesn't even include the two large red envelopes her father-in-law gave her; she counted them, and each one contained a hundred yuan. Add to that the dowry from the Zheng family, and this wedding has made her a rich woman.

"Isn't this red envelope from Dad too big?" Jiang Ruyu looked at Zheng Yang. Too much money was too much to handle.

"Just keep it. Our dad's rich; he's a wealthy old man."