Chapter 70 Dowry
As soon as the three returned to the village entrance, they saw a large crowd of people gathered there.
In the center of the crowd, a brand-new truck loaded with furniture was arguing fiercely with Liu Zhixia's two sisters-in-law.
"Have you Liu family no shame!" Gu Mansheng said aggressively, hands on her hips. "Today is my wedding day! These things were clearly bought for me by Huaiyuan! How did they become yours?"
Zhou Juan was amused by her: "You educated youth are really something! Don't you know whether your Lu family spent money on furniture or not? This is the betrothal gift from our son-in-law. Does it automatically become your family's just because you're getting married today?"
"With Lu Huaiyuan's stinginess, would he buy you these things?" Shen Hongmei retorted directly, "You've disgraced the Lu family, and you still expect him to buy you a radio, sewing machine, and earphone?"
"Don't look down on me!" Gu Mansheng retorted angrily. "No matter what, today is a good day for Huaiyuan and me! This stuff must have been bought for him by his father! But you, Liu Zhixia, the groom's family gave so many betrothal gifts, and you still want them to buy furniture? Does his family have mountains of gold and silver? Are they willing to spend so much money?"
These words immediately sparked whispers among the surrounding villagers.
"That's true. The dowry Xia reported last time was the most I've ever seen!"
"Yes, where else around here can you find such a generous family that not only gives betrothal gifts but also a complete set of furniture?"
"Looking at it this way, only the brigade leader's family has the confidence to do this."
"But... we're marrying Gu Mansheng, is it really necessary to go to such lengths..."
Upon hearing the shift in the wind, Gu Mansheng immediately became smug and yelled at the person who had just spoken, "So what if I have a bad class background? It's the brigade leader's only son getting married! How could we not take it seriously?"
She looked at the furniture in the car with delight, counting each piece: "Bed, table, chair... oh, it even has thirty-two legs!"
With her hands on her hips, she arrogantly surveyed the room, pointed at a girl who had recently gotten married, and loudly boasted: "When you got married, did you only have sixteen legs? Seeing my thirty-two legs, are you envious? Let me tell you, even if my family background wasn't good, I still married better than all of you!"
The girl stomped her feet in anger and retorted defiantly, "The driver didn't even say it was for you! It's probably for the Liu family! The Liu family can give so much in betrothal gifts, why can't they afford this little bit of furniture?"
Instantly, everyone's eyes were focused on the driver.
The young man, feeling anxious and sweating profusely under the gaze of so many people, exclaimed, "Ladies and aunties, I'm just a driver! How would I know there were two weddings in your brigade today? The documents are with my driver; I really don't know whose they are!"
"What kind of work is this!" Shen Hongmei said irritably. "You don't even know which family to send it to?"
Zhou Juan quickly pressed her down and calmly said to the driver, "Young man, don't panic. Where's your driver? How can we contact him?"
"His car is carrying valuable stuff, so he's driving slowly. He should be here soon!" The young man wiped his sweat. "It's a joyous occasion, everyone, please don't argue. Once my master arrives, everything will be clear!"
"There's something else? Something even more valuable than these thirty-two legs?" Gu Mansheng's eyes lit up upon hearing this. "Could it be... a three-round watch and a ring?"
She thought smugly, while everyone looked expectantly towards the intersection.
However, instead of a second car, Liu Zhixia, Shen Yi, and Xu Zhigang arrived.
Gu Mansheng looked at Liu Zhixia with disgust: "Aren't you already engaged? Why are you still flirting with this soldier? Trying to have your cake and eat it too?"
Liu Zhixia and Shen Yi exchanged a smile, walked up to her, and said calmly, "Gu Mansheng, these things are the betrothal gifts my husband prepared for me. If you want them, go ask Lu Huaiyuan for them yourself."
"Your husband?" Gu Mansheng exclaimed as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world. "Liu Zhixia, my engagement with Huaiyuan and I started much earlier than yours! My father-in-law must have already ordered the furniture! What makes you think your man could scrape together all this in such a short time? Your dowry must have emptied his coffers, right? Stop trying to put on a show!"
"Oh?" Liu Zhixia raised an eyebrow. "I heard that Lu Huaiyuan said in public a long time ago that you shouldn't even think about getting a single penny of betrothal gifts or dowry?"
This statement was immediately confirmed by the surrounding villagers!
Everyone's expressions changed instantly! Could it be... that these things are really for Liu Zhixia? Then she must have married into a very good family!
Seeing the envious glances directed at Liu Zhixia, Gu Mansheng was furious and tried to argue, "That was Huaiyuan's way of giving me a surprise! What do you know! What family doesn't have a dowry for a wedding? My wedding was so rushed that I didn't have a betrothal gift, so of course the dowry can't be less! Today is Huaiyuan and my big day, and these things belong to our family!"
After she finished speaking, she even sighed dramatically, striking a victorious pose:
"Liu Zhixia, I advise you to stop being so stubborn. When the master craftsman arrives later, he says he's going to deliver the things to the Lu family. I'd like to see you embarrass yourself in front of the whole village. How will you face the banquet tomorrow then!"
Liu Zhixia crossed her arms and watched her with a leisurely air, as if she were looking forward to a good show.
"Of course you have face! How could you not have face? Tomorrow, not only will everyone come to my house for dinner, but they'll also have a good discussion about how you blocked my family's bride price from entering the house in front of the whole village."
Gu Mansheng sneered in disgust, and was about to continue her mockery when her gaze suddenly fell on Liu Zhixia's wrist!
The smug expression on her face froze instantly!
"Little sister!" Zhou Juan followed her gaze and immediately exclaimed in surprise, "Where did you get this watch...?"
She lifted Liu Zhixia's wrist and showed everyone the brand-new watch that gleamed in the sunlight!
"Oh my god! It's a watch!"
"Is this the Seagull brand?"
Everyone around gathered around, their eyes filled with amazement and envy.
“My man bought it for me,” Liu Zhixia’s voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by everyone, “one of the betrothal gifts.”
"One of the betrothal gifts?!"
The girl who had just been mocked by Gu Mansheng immediately shouted, "I knew it! She even bought a watch, so this car full of furniture, and the bicycle, sewing machine, and radio in the car behind, must all belong to Xia! Isn't this a complete 'three turns and one sound' set?"
"Impossible!" Gu Mansheng's pupils suddenly contracted, and she screamed!
She frantically tried to snatch Liu Zhixia's wrist, but Shen Hongmei shoved her away: "Get out of here! This is such a precious thing, can you afford to pay for it if you break it!"
"Where would a country bumpkin like me get 130 yuan to buy this watch?" Gu Mansheng roared indignantly. "Liu Zhixia, where did you steal this from?"
"One hundred and thirty yuan!" Everyone gasped.
Upon hearing the price, those around him who were about to touch the item quickly withdrew their hands in fright.
"Stolen?" Liu Zhixia laughed.
She slowly took out a brand-new invoice from her pocket and waved it in front of Gu Mansheng.
"Look carefully, this is my man, he bought it for me."
Gu Mansheng stared intently at the invoice; every word on it felt like needles piercing her eyes.
She staggered back two steps, muttering to herself in a daze:
"Impossible... This is impossible... How could you possibly be worthy of... How could you possibly be worthy of..."
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