After the introducer left, Jiang Manyue couldn't help but ask, "Mom, what if the Gao family doesn't agree? What if they insist on asking for fifty yuan and three hundred kilograms of fine grain?"
Miao Xianghua shook his head. "That's definitely not going to work. When your four sisters-in-law married into our family, our family didn't give us that much in terms of betrothal gifts. Why should we pay so much for your fifth brother's marriage? What would your four sisters-in-law think if they knew?"
Jiang Manyue thought about it and agreed. It is not the lack of wealth that is worrying, but the inequality. The first four sisters-in-law were of similar standards. It didn't make sense that the fifth brother should be so much better than the others.
"If the Gao family insists on asking for so much money and our family is not happy with it, then it's a failure."
Jiang Manyue thinks Gao Yingjuan is pretty good, and Fifth Brother seems to like her too. It would be a shame if it fails.
Miao Xianghua sighed, "It's all gone, but there's nothing we can do. Three hundred kilograms of fine grain! If our family really produces that much, life will be tough next spring. I can't let the whole family starve just for your fifth brother, can I?"
Jiang Manyue opened her mouth and wanted to say that she had a solution, but after thinking about it, she didn't say it out loud.
She had enough food to last her a lifetime, but how to get it out was still a problem.
If she said she got it on the black market, her mother would probably be scared to death. Not to mention giving it away as a betrothal gift, she would rather keep it at home for the rest of her life and not let anyone know.
Besides, her current income is all gray income, and she cannot tell anyone about it. If she sends so much food to her parents-in-law in a high-profile manner, it will be difficult to explain it to them.
She apparently relies on Lu Lin for her livelihood, so how can she subsidize her mother's family with so much food?
Jiang Manyue thought about it for a long time and decided to give up the idea. She accompanied her mother while working and chatting, and waited for the introducer to come and reply.
The introducer was used to doing this kind of thing. He ran back and forth without feeling tired. Before Jiang Manyue went home to cook dinner, he came again.
"Sister Xiang Hua, Yingjuan's mother said that the betrothal gift is essential. Her daughter Yingjuan is a good helper at home and outside the home. Such a good girl can be married to the city. Maybe she can even marry a worker and eat the rations. Such a small betrothal gift is not too high."
The introducer repeated the Gao family's exact words and added, "Sister Xiang Hua, I've really tried my best to persuade Yingjuan's mother, but she won't budge no matter what I say. Three hundred kilograms of fine grain and fifty yuan, not a single thing less, you see..."
Miao Xianghua gritted his teeth when he heard this. What did he mean by maybe she could even marry into the city and eat the food supply?
Does this mean that she looks down on her son Jiantao earning work points in the team?
The Gao family is looking at her family while thinking about supplying food?
"If her family is capable of marrying her into the city and eating the food rations, then let her marry. Who's stopping her? Are you looking down on my Jiantao, a peasant who earns work points?"
Miao Xianghua was unhappy, and the introducer quickly tried to persuade him, "Oh, that's not the case. The Gao family is also very satisfied with Jiantao. Yingjuan's mother probably just said that."
"She said it very straightforwardly. My Jiantao was still being criticized for nothing. What's the matter? She didn't find a worker. At the very least, if she found my Jiantao, she would have to ask for an extra betrothal gift, right?"
The more Miao Xianghua thought about it, the more unhappy she became. Could it be that the Gao family wanted to find a worker but failed, so they agreed to marry her son Jiantao, but they were not willing to give in and insisted on getting a larger betrothal gift to be satisfied?
The introducer looked miserable. Didn't he say that the girl was popular? How could it be said like this?
"Sister Xiang Hua, you... the Gao family was just saying it casually, as an example. Don't take it to heart."
Miao Xianghua was not happy. She didn't want to favor one over the other in the first place. Paying the extra betrothal gift made her family unhappy. Now she herself was unhappy, so she was even less willing to pay the extra money and food.
"Lian Zi, go back and tell her family I'm still saying the same thing: 35 yuan for the bride price, 50 kilograms each of rice and flour, and 100 kilograms of cornmeal. Oh, but you have to be precise. It's not fine cornmeal, it's coarse. Other families use a mix of fine and coarse grains, so why should we give all fine grains?"
The introducer's face became even more bitter. Last time it was 100 kilograms of cornmeal, and this time it was coarse cornmeal. Wouldn't this make the Gao family even more dissatisfied?
Miao Xianghua had made up her mind. Since the price was just like that, she would let the Gao family say whatever they wanted. If it didn't work out, she could still find someone else. She wouldn't delay the other person from marrying the worker.
The introducer kept looking at Jiang Manyue. Everyone knew that Miao Xianghua was the one who was most willing to listen to his daughter. If Jiang Manyue tried to persuade him, there might be some room for negotiation.
Jiang Manyue also noticed the introducer's pleading look and looked back calmly.
"Aunt Lianzi, why are you looking at me? My brother-in-law is talking about the big deal of the betrothal gift. What can I, a married sister-in-law, say? Just do whatever my mother says. Whether it works out or not, my mother will give you a big red envelope. You must have worked hard running around."
Jiang Manyue quickly denied the matter, saying that she was a married girl and was not suitable to get involved in such matters.
However, she also comforted the introducer. No matter whether it succeeds or not, the red envelope will still be given, so her hard work will not be in vain.
The introducer has no choice, but for the sake of the errand fee, she has to try harder. It is better to get it done than not. Then she can feel at ease when taking the red envelope, right?
After confirming with Miao Xianghua that the betrothal gift would remain the same amount, no matter what I said, the matchmaker refused to increase it. Then he left again, saying that he would go to Gao's house to discuss it again early tomorrow morning.
Jiang Manyue should have gone back, but she was still thinking about this matter, so she brought Lu Junan here early the next morning.
Jiang Hong's school hasn't started yet, but classes are about to start, and Lu Jun'an has to leave tomorrow.
As the separation was approaching and the next time they would meet would be during the Chinese New Year, the children hurriedly seized the opportunity to play together, and as soon as they got together, they disappeared.
Jiang Manyue stayed at home with Miao Xianghua, chopping grass for pigs and feeding chickens, chatting while waiting for the matchmaker's letter.
Before coming, Jiang Manyue had already agreed with her mother-in-law that she and Jun'an would have lunch at Jiang's house today, so she wouldn't have to run around just to listen to anything.
Jiang Manyue accompanied Miao Xianghua in doing housework for a long time, and finally waited for the matchmaker who hurried over.
However, one look at the introducer's face revealed that the Gao family would definitely not agree to the betrothal gift proposed by Miao Xianghua.
"Sister Xiang Hua..."
As soon as the introducer started to speak, Miao Xianghua waved his hand and said, "Okay, I get it. Her family will never agree, right?"
"Yes, her family said the betrothal gift must be that amount. If our family is unwilling to pay, then..."
Miao Xianghua immediately lost his temper, "No, no, no, can't my Jiantao find a good girl?"
The matchmaker was very frustrated. Both families refused to give in on the dowry and no one was willing to compromise. Before the two moves were over, the marriage fell through.
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