Chapter 145 The Dowry Returned
Granny Zhang shouted, "What dowry? The Lu family is so poor, where would they get a dowry? It's our Zhang family who gave five taels of silver as a bride price, they should return it."
Shu Yu was not very clear about the details of their marriage, so she could only look to the old lady.
The latter rushed out, pointing her finger at Granny Zhang's nose and cursing, "What shameless thing are you saying? Our Lu family may be poor, but when Da Ya got married, we gave her everything we could. Not to mention, two years ago, before my second son's leg was injured, we managed to scrape together two taels of silver for his dowry. There were also bedding, clothes, and cabinets, dressing tables, and chests that my second son made himself. He even went out of his own way to cut the wood. They were all new and good quality. How come you have no dowry here?"
The old lady reached into her bosom and pulled out a piece of paper. "This is the dowry list. You'd better read it carefully. You gave us five taels of silver as a bride price, but we didn't accept it. We brought it all back for Daya so that she would have some money to rely on in your Zhang family. Now, you've embezzled all that silver and stuff, haven't you?"
Shu Yu leaned closer to take a look and found the handwriting on the dowry list somewhat familiar.
He couldn't help but glance at Tang Xiucai; it seemed... this was also written by him.
No wonder he was the first to suggest that the dowry and bride price should be divided among the respective families; he must have been very clear about this matter.
The Zhang family was speechless. Granny Zhang's face turned bright red, but she still stubbornly insisted, "Let's not talk about the chests and cabinets. She's holding all the silver herself. Who knows how much there is?"
The old lady sneered, "Da Ya, tell me, where did your dowry money go?"
Da Ya pursed her lips. "Not long after we got married, my mother-in-law said that the family was in financial difficulty. In order to build a few extra rooms for Zhang Shucheng's in-laws, she also owed some money. She asked me for two taels of silver to pay off the debt."
Later, they used various excuses to gradually plunder the area.
He was either sick, or there was a happy occasion in someone's family that required giving money as a gift, or he had to give red envelopes to his nephews and nieces during holidays. Zhang Shu gave all the wages he earned from odd jobs to Granny Zhang; he never gave her a single penny.
Therefore, whenever she was sick or in pain during festivals, the money spent was all from her dowry.
Over the course of two years, another one or two ounces were gradually given away.
The remaining four taels of silver... somehow, one morning when I woke up, they were suddenly gone.
She said her house had been burgled, but her mother-in-law said it must be because she was forgetful and didn't know where she put it.
The more she talked, the more her mother-in-law would scold her, attacking her by focusing on the fact that she couldn't have children.
After several incidents, Daya realized that her house had indeed been burgled, but it was an inside job.
But she had no evidence and couldn't rashly accuse her in-laws of taking her money. If word got out, not only would she lose the money, but her situation would become even more difficult.
Later she learned to hide things, otherwise the piece of cloth she gave to Shuyu would have been stolen long ago.
It was precisely because they realized they had missed out on such a fine piece of fabric that they became increasingly furious and tormented her even more.
After hearing what Da Ya said, everyone looked at Granny Zhang with disdain.
It's one thing to torment your daughter-in-law if she can't have children; such things are not uncommon. But to steal your daughter-in-law's dowry is disgusting.
Village Chief Yan felt even more ashamed. He pointed at Granny Zhang and demanded, "Why haven't you returned the dowry to her yet?"
(End of this chapter)
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