Jiang Yu looked completely bewildered.

With more than half a month to go before Chinese New Year, isn't it a bit early to send out red envelopes now?

"The Lunar New Year is coming soon. If you have time, you can go and buy some New Year's goods that you like. If you really can't find the time, just wait until I come back."

Since entering the store, Shen Ying has recognized every ingredient she's seen in the military. Knowing she sources her goods in the city, they were worried she might face difficulties due to insufficient funds.

Many salespeople who rely on connections have an inherent sense of superiority: they are snobbish and look down on others.

Yesterday, the leader's wife mentioned that the shop assistants were making sarcastic remarks about customers, and many of her comrades were so angry just listening to it that they gritted their teeth.

Moreover, judging from past experience, if she weren't short of money, why would she be pickling vegetables in the middle of the night to earn money? It's probably a way of reminding herself that she needs to pay for her living expenses.

Shen Ying didn't object to her doing this, but there was one principle: the child had to come first. As long as it was good for the child, he didn't care how the money was spent; he could afford it.

Jiang Yu smiled and put the banknotes into her pocket.

"No problem, there's enough time. It should be ready before you get back."

In those days, one hundred yuan represented three months' income for an average family. Even if she brought home a lot of lavish meals, it wouldn't cost much. Moreover, the man meant that this money was specifically for buying New Year's goods, and living expenses would be separate.

My previous statement about not spending a man's money was entirely based on my own perspective. Looking back, raising a man's child and cooking for him—which of these things doesn't cost money, from groceries to supplements? Jiang Yu isn't good at math, and she can't afford to be financially dependent on him.

Her facial expressions changed so quickly that the man couldn't keep up and continued eating. This braised pork was indeed delicious; he'd have to run two kilometers tonight to gain weight.

As Shen Sui Sui ate her rice, she secretly glanced at her mother's grinning face and let out a silent sigh.

I hope Dad won't be such a scoundrel anymore!

After dinner, Shen Ying went outside to exercise, while the two children squatted by the stove, munching on bread and warming themselves by the fire. Jiang Yu is a bit of a scatterbrain and often forgets things. For example, the ribbon, or the pastries she prepared for lunch yesterday.

Sitting on the warm kang (heated brick bed), Jiang Yu took out the money from her pocket along with the large bills the man had given her. Now came the most exciting moment: counting the money.

Organize the crumpled coins neatly, wet your hands beforehand, and gently twist them.

Two cents, eight cents... Jiang Yu counted carefully twice, and there were more than forty yuan in total. Adding the one hundred yuan the man gave her, and the forty-two yuan left after altering the clothes, the total was one hundred and eighty-two yuan.

He lifted the corner of the blanket, put in a thick wad of money, and flattened it.

Jiang Yu lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), her excitement barely contained. She had read many period novels in her life, and in them, the female protagonists always seemed to thrive.

Investing money was as easy for them as eating, it was unbelievable. Even in an era where opportunities abound, one should always understand the current situation before taking action. As a result, in just two days, she became a 'rich' person.

Making money is like buying equipment and upgrading in a game—it's very rewarding. Jiang Yu struck while the iron was hot, adding another twenty pounds to yesterday's amount, and busily processed the cabbage. With experience, she moved much faster.

Shen Ying rushed over from outside and saw this scene, somewhat bewildered. Why would they give so much money and still have to pickle vegetables? Was it just to pass the time, or was there another purpose?

He thought about it, but he didn't dare to question her. He'd already given her the money, so why should he care what she did with it? Shen Ying lay down in bed and closed her eyes to rest.

He tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The woman was working in the outer room, and instead of helping, he came in to sleep. Was that alright?

After a two-minute internal struggle, Shen Ying quickly got up and reached out.

Jiang Yu thought she was too loud and had woken him up. Feeling a little embarrassed, she thanked him. Then... the man didn't say anything. And then... just like yesterday, he busied himself for a while before going to bed.

I slept soundly until the next day.

......

The following morning, while the mother and her two daughters were still fast asleep, Shen Ying had already closed the door, gotten up, and gone for a run.

He's well-liked in the village and is currently the most successful man in Shenjiazhuang. Villagers greet him warmly whenever they meet, asking when he returned and if he's had breakfast...

If Jiang Yu saw this scene, her lips would twitch again. Is the difference between people really that great?

At the village entrance, the women, led by Zhang Xinhua, gathered in a group, gossiping about this and that. The men who hadn't eaten at home shouted for them to go home and cook, but they firmly rebuffed them.

Zhang Meihua went to her house yesterday afternoon and, using her long tongue, found out all about Jiang Yu's story. Hearing that the girl had also been wronged, she recounted the scene at the factory gate. Feeling it wasn't hurtful enough, she embellished the story.

Zhang Xinhua held back all night, and as soon as it was light, she gathered a group of people at the base of the wall to spread the word.

When the topic turned to the heated scene, she simply took some people to Jiang Yu's house to confront her face to face.

Villagers usually kept their distance from Zhang Xinhua, but seeing her making such a fuss, many joined in to watch the spectacle. Seeing her stop in front of Jiang Yu's house, someone kindly offered a heads-up.

"Sister-in-law Zhang, her husband is back. If you come looking for trouble and get beaten up, we won't help you."

Zhang Xinhua rolled her eyes at the person speaking. She was slightly intimidated. Wasn't Shen Ying still in the army and hadn't taken his annual leave yet? What was he doing back now? Was it because of what happened with Lu Yi a couple of days ago? If that was the case, she had to seize the opportunity today, add fuel to the fire, and if she didn't get a divorce, who would?

At seven o'clock, Jiang Yu was still having a sweet dream when the chattering at the door started. She pulled the covers up, turned over, and frowned impatiently.

I planned everything last night: I'd sleep in until 8:30 this morning, then pack the jars and head out, just in time for the factory. I was secretly pleased with myself for being able to sleep in, but then someone started talking at the door this early in the morning. Is there some kind of event in the village?

Since no one informed her, she could continue sleeping.

She slept for an hour. Zhang Xinhua, standing outside the door, had kept two groups of people coming and going, her throat dry from talking, but the main character still hadn't appeared. She was a little discouraged and was about to go home for a drink of water before coming back to spread the word when she bumped into Shen Ying, who had just finished his run.

Shen Ying looked at the people gathered at the door, completely bewildered. His guess was the same as Jiang Yu's; he also thought that the village was going to hold some kind of meeting.

“Brother Shen Ying, it’s not that I’m saying this, but the whole story about your wife and that educated youth Lu has spread throughout the village. Some people even saw her not feeding the two children, but secretly taking money for them to use. The poor children have to fight with the family dog ​​for food.”

Zhang Xinhua looked at him with feigned pity and repeated the recent rumors. Upon hearing this, Shen Ying immediately understood why she had come to his doorstep and looked impatient.

He hated those gossipy people the most; they were always gossiping, and even a dog passing by would get a few words in their mouth.