Chapter 15 The betrothal gift should be used to subsidize my brother
"Okay, okay, the child is still young."
Mother Zhong was furious as she watched the scene.
After all, there's no point in making such a fuss in someone else's home. If there's any unpleasantness, just close the door and solve your own family's problems.
But seeing Zhong Xiaohua crying and shaking, looking so pitiful, she felt sorry for them and hurried over to separate them.
Father Zhong protected Zhong Xiaohua behind him and tried to persuade her: "Forget it, forget it, Sister Hong, you are really something. Why bother with the child?"
Who would have thought that when Zhong Hong heard this, she immediately threw away the hoe, put on a new face, and stuck to Zhong's mother with a smile.
"Oh, Zhong Shao's sister-in-law, you're not young anymore. My little Hua is 23 years old every year after her birthday. When I was her age, I was already holding a baby!"
Mrs. Zhong was caught off guard by the strong man's push and almost stumbled and fell.
However, Zhong Hong's eyes rolled around, and she was immersed in her own sweet dream.
"Your Siqi and my Xiaohua are only a few years apart in age. I think they're a good match... Our two families know each other well, so I think it's a good match."
Mr. and Mrs. Zhong looked at each other.
This means that he is here to matchmake for Zhong Siqi.
Zhong Siqi was holding the child, sitting on the edge of the bed like a quail. He was already feeling uneasy because of the stare from this woman who suddenly appeared. Now that he was called out, he immediately jumped up and was the first to object.
"No, I don't want it."
Zhong Hong's face froze and she felt a little embarrassed.
She didn't expect that the Zhong family seemed easy to talk to, but Zhong Siqi spoke so bluntly and directly, without giving them any face at all.
"Our Xiaohua is also pursued by someone."
No matter what, she couldn't lose her momentum, so she continued to be stubborn.
"Last year, three or five young men from the factory and village came to me and proposed marriage. The bride price was a motorcycle... Alas, I refused because I just wanted to find someone I know well for Xiaohua. I've known your family for so long, so the bride price is easy to negotiate."
"Oh? How much should it be?" Zhong Qiao looked at her with amusement.
"I just want a watch, a quilt, a sewing machine, and a bicycle..." Zhong Hong listed a few names in succession, her face wrinkled with smile.
The Zhong family and others fell silent and looked at each other in tacit understanding.
These days, a sewing machine alone is not cheap, and the average family will only buy four major items when getting married.
She applied for more than a dozen of them as if she was daydreaming. Who would these betrothal gifts be used to subsidize? It is not difficult to guess that it would be used to subsidize their precious son.
Zhong Qiao looked at Zhong Xiaohua with mixed feelings.
Zhong Xiaohua's makeup was all smudged from crying, her blue eyeshadow mixed with pale foundation, her face was covered with snot and tears, flowing into long, turbid noodles.
She had an ordinary baby face and sparse hair. Due to long-term malnutrition, she was dark and thin, with wrists as thin as matchsticks. She even spoke weakly and looked sick.
Paired with this set of clothes that obviously don't fit, it looks like a child secretly wearing adult clothes, which is funny and weird.
She really didn't mean to belittle Zhong Xiaohua. Every factory and village was vying for Zhong Xiaohua. Zhong Hong was really boastful.
Zhong Siqi's face turned red and he stammered, unable to speak.
He had never dealt with such a thing before. He simply believed that marriage was a lifelong event and firmly rejected arranged marriages. He wanted to find a girl he truly loved, just like his classmates...
In his heart, Zhong Xiaohua is an unfamiliar elder and a sister. How can they get married?
"No, no, it's really not appropriate. I still have to go back to school. I'm afraid I'll delay Sister Xiaohua."
Zhong Siqi's face turned red and he waved his hands repeatedly, wishing he could kowtow to Zhong Hong on the spot. Then he pulled at Zhong's mother's clothes with a helpless look on his face.
Mother Zhong patted the back of his hand to show that she was relieved.
She stood up and said calmly, "Sister Hong, my child is still studying, so let's put marriage aside for now."
When Zhong Hong heard this, she instantly became contemptuous, curled her lips, and muttered softly: "What's wrong with studying? Didn't your Zhong Qiao give birth to two children before she finished her studies?"
"At worst, you can marry our Xiaohua. You can take care of the child, and Siqi can go back to school. If you ask me, how can you start a family and build a career without starting a family first? Your Siqi is not young anymore. If he gets married soon, you can also hold your grandchildren."
Zhong Qiao's face turned slightly cold.
She looks very much like Zhong's mother when she was young, with delicate and beautiful features. If it weren't for the past year and a half of wasting time, her skin would have gone from being as smooth as a baby's to being covered with closed comedones. With her curly hair, she would have been a real Hong Kong beauty.
At this moment, those cold eyes were fixed on Zhong Hong.
Zhong Qiao finally spoke: "Cousin Hong, since there is nothing wrong, our family will not send you off."
Zhong Hong's eyes almost popped out.
She said so much, but in the end, a junior, did he mean to drive her away?
Zhong's father then said in a deep voice, "Sister Hong, we're all acquaintances now. My daughter has her own ideas about marriage, and we have no right to interfere. If you have time, you should worry about Zhong Xiang's marriage first! Besides, my daughter is still weak and needs to rest. If you have nothing else to do, then I won't send you off."
Okay, okay, the father and daughter sang in unison and ordered the guests to leave.
Zhong Hong's nostrils grew bigger with anger, the fawning smile on her face gradually disappeared, and a cold light flashed in her narrowed green eyes.
The "gentle" smile on her fat face completely disappeared and was replaced by harshness in an instant.
Zhong Hong let go of Zhong's mother's arm, let out a few dry laughs, and said sarcastically: "Oh, it's my fault. Your family has two college graduates, which is amazing. No wonder you look down on my little flower."
"Alas, my girl, it's your fault that you're so stupid that you gave up after studying for a few days." Zhong Hong pulled Zhong Xiaohua over and sobbed, pretending to cry, "My girl, it's because we are too good to be with her!"
"Mom, forget it, let's go." Zhong Xiaohua's face twitched slightly, which was the reaction when one's self-esteem was hurt.
She is not pretty, has no education, and has a gambling father, a useless brother, and a bad-tempered mother. Anyone who knows about her family situation would like to stay away from her.
However, in order to get the bride price, her mother has been arranging blind dates for her in the past six months. As long as the bride price is high and the man's family can help her brother, her mother is willing to marry her off.
But how could the local prominent and honest families look down on their family?
Therefore, she was despised at home and was also despised and ridiculed outside.
She's used to it.
Mother Zhong stood farther away, fearing she would go crazy. She could not help but say in a cold voice, "Sister Hong, this is not a matter of disdain. My child is still studying and has a future. If you really want to do good for Siqi, you should know some etiquette."
Zhong Hong was stunned, raised her head in silence, and a trace of barely perceptible hatred flashed in her eyes.
The person she hated most in her life was Zhong Shao.
The eldest daughter of a Hong Kong capitalist, when she was young, had flamboyant curly hair and painted a spooky red lipstick. Isn't it just that she was reincarnated better than them? What's so noble about that!
Whenever we met in the past and had a conflict, Zhong Shao always spoke in such a literary way, making me look like a fool who didn't know etiquette!
The bastard at home saw Zhong Shao a few times and lost his mind. He got drunk, lost his money, came back and beat her up. He also called her a yellow-faced woman and said she was not as pretty and fashionable as Zhong Shao!
She hated the Zhong family more than her husband, especially Zhong Shao.
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