“Mother, Brother Liu Yan’s gift is small but heartfelt, and our family is not lacking in such small things,” Meng Xin quickly defended him.
"How much dowry does Young Master Liu intend to give to marry our Xin Xin?" Madam Meng glanced at her daughter indifferently, then looked at Liu Yan and asked.
“My Xin Xin told me that you’re in business, Mr. Liu, right? Then you can definitely give a lot of money as a gift.”
Gift money?
What kind of gift money?
Before Liu Yan could answer, Madam Meng spoke up again, "I don't need much, just one thousand taels of silver."
"One thousand taels!" Liu Yan stood up from the stool, somewhat distraught, and repeated excitedly:
"Xin Xin, you didn't say you'd need a dowry to marry me, did you?"
"And your mother still wants a thousand taels? You already suspect she's carrying my child, and she still wants so much? Isn't this trying to kill me?" Liu Yan shouted at Meng Xin.
Meng Xin was a little stunned by Liu Yan's sudden accusation, but then she thought of the baby in her belly:
"Mother, I don't need the dowry. Our family doesn't lack that little bit of money!"
"Just because you say we don't need anything doesn't mean we don't need anything. I've raised you all these years, put in so much effort, what's wrong with accepting a little money as a gift?" Madam Meng said coldly.
"Besides, parents don't accept wedding gifts when their daughters get married, Xinxin, I'm doing this for your own good!"
Madam Meng was somewhat disappointed, and looked at her earnestly.
"Xinxin, do you really want a thousand taels of silver as a betrothal gift?" Liu Yan asked excitedly.
"Brother Liu Yan, I..." Meng Xin looked at the disappointment in her mother's eyes, then at her beloved who was looking at her with reproach in his eyes, and hesitated.
"Mother, let's forget about the gift money. Brother Liu Yan's mother is still sick and needs money for medicine. We really can't afford that much. Could you reduce it?"
Meng Xin ultimately chose the person she loved, hurting her mother in the process.
"Xin Xin, I'm doing this for your own good," Madam Meng said coldly.
“Madam Meng, Xin Xin is pregnant with my child. You should agree to marry her to me. Otherwise, it won’t be good for Xin Xin’s reputation if word gets out,” Liu Yan chimed in.
"Yes, Mother." Meng Xin also knelt down at her mother's feet, looking silly.
Seeing this, Liu Yan gritted his teeth and knelt down as well.
"I see you love him so much that you can't even see your own mother!" Madam Meng was furious.
"Meng Xin, can't you see that she's using your pregnancy to threaten me?"
Meng Xin was taken aback and looked at Liu Yan, who was kneeling down beside her, with a mixture of belief and doubt.
"Xinxin, I didn't. Your mother is overthinking it," Liu Yan quickly denied.
"Xinxin, you need to understand, after you marry this lazy, good-for-nothing man, how will he support you?"
"Isn't daily life all about firewood, rice, oil, and salt? What doesn't cost money? What will you eat and drink when your child is born?"
“I’ve personally visited his residence. Looking down the street, all the houses are made of brick. Why is his house the only one made of adobe? Have you seriously considered these questions?”
"How much money did you give him, both openly and secretly, during the time you were with him?"
"That money would have been enough to build a brick house, so why are we still living in a dilapidated house that barely provides shelter from the wind and rain!" Madam Meng asked, enunciating each word clearly.
"I won't talk about the distant issues, I'll just talk about the immediate problem. You say he's sincere and loves you, so why didn't he come to propose openly and honestly, but instead did something shameful, like secretly getting you pregnant?"
Madam Meng's words were like a sharp knife piercing their hearts. Liu Yan lowered his head with a gloomy expression, his mind preoccupied with something unknown.
Meng Xin swayed and collapsed to the ground, muttering something she wanted to say, but swallowed it back down.
“Mrs. Meng, that’s because you’re too controlling of Xin Xin!” Liu Yan suddenly said.
"Do you think having money makes you all that matters? Do you know that Xin Xin has never been happy?"
"Normally, when Xinxin is with you, she's forced to put on a brave face? Only when she's with me can she be her true self."
"Xin Xin, is that what you think too?" Madam Meng asked, looking at her daughter whom she had raised with such care and effort.
“Mother, I…” Meng Xin lowered her head silently.
"Since that's the case, then you may leave." Madam Meng's tone was cold, and she suppressed the reluctance in her eyes that showed her motherly affection.
"Mother, are you going to send me away?" Meng Xin asked incredulously.
"If you choose to be with him today, I will pretend I never gave birth to you," Madam Meng said resolutely.
"No!" Liu Yan stopped kneeling on the ground and helped Meng Xin up.
"The Meng family's property was left by Xin Xin's father. Even if they leave, they should still receive their rightful share!"
"Mother, please grant my wish with Brother Liu Yan. He's good at business. After we get married, you can hand over the family business to him so you won't have to work so hard." Meng Xin still wanted to try her best.
Her mother works so hard managing the Meng family, and she can't help much. If Brother Liu Yan were to marry into the Meng family, her mother wouldn't have to work so hard.
"Oh? Does that mean you're going to marry into the family?" A hint of coldness flashed in Madam Meng's eyes.
"Xinxin and I are truly in love. It's just a matter of me marrying into the family. This little grievance is nothing, and I'm willing to bear it!" Liu Yan said with an air of righteous indignation.
"Tsk, they're clearly the beneficiaries, but they have to act like they've suffered a huge injustice," Jiang Hua couldn't help but complain.
The phrase "eating the property of the childless" suddenly came to Jiang Hua's mind. She couldn't guarantee anything about others, but given Liu Yan's nature, he would definitely do such a thing.
How many good people can be found among those who frequent gambling dens and brothels?
While it's said that a little gambling is harmless fun, you need to have the means to do it. What's the point of taking a woman's money and becoming addicted to gambling?
"Dr. Jiang, you!" Meng Xin was stunned. Was Dr. Jiang not going to help her either?
"Who do you think you are? When did it become your place to meddle in the Meng family's affairs!" Liu Yan glared fiercely at Jiang Hua.
Meng Xin, that brainless fool, has been believing this woman's words all along. If he's easily swayed by her words, how will he ever get the Meng family's assets?
"Shut up! Doctor Jiang is a guest of my household, and who are you?" Madam Meng said displeased.
He revealed his true nature in just a few words. I don't know what Xin Xin saw in him!
"Mother, I won't allow you to talk about Brother Liu Yan like that!" Meng Xin protested loudly.
"Mother, Brother Liu Yan is right, I have a share of the family property!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Meng nearly fainted from anger, and Jiang Hua quickly went to support her.
"I'm fine, Dr. Jiang." Madam Meng sat down, calmed herself down, and then looked at the two people in front of her, her tone icy:
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