Chapter 316 Regardless of gender, they can only have the surname Li!
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It's impossible for me to suffer a loss.
Li Shiyue would never allow herself to suffer a loss; if anyone was to suffer a loss, it should be someone else.
So, how was Li Xiatian and Jiang Huai's marriage finally resolved?
The following day, Li Shiyue and Li Xiatian specially invited Jiang Huai to their home and solemnly told him the Li family's attitude.
"Mr. Jiang, our Li family, from my aunt down to myself, is very happy about my sister's marriage to you."
Sir, you are a man of great talent and have the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations). In my family, I am the only one who holds the title of a sixth-rank military officer.
Compared to the Chiang family, our Li family has only been settled in Andong for four or five years, and we're still struggling to make a living from the land.
Don't listen to what Li Shiyue said, which was all about "belittling" his own family and praising Jiang Huai. In fact, this is just a rhetorical technique, a technique of praising by first belittling.
Jiang Huai was a smart man, and he could read between the lines. He naturally guessed that what Li Shiyue was about to say was the truth.
As for what Li said earlier?
Heh, it's nothing but superficial pretense.
Sure enough, at this moment he heard Li Shiyue change the subject: "But, I only have two older sisters, and each one is my closest relative."
When it comes to arranging a relative's marriage, whoever is in charge should think carefully before making a decision.
Mr. Jiang, wouldn't you agree?
What could Jiang Huai say?
He nodded in agreement.
Feeling that she had laid the groundwork enough, Li Shiyue turned to look at her mother and Zheng Meiniang sitting at the head of the table before turning to look at Li Xiatian. Then, she looked at Jiang Huai with a smile and said, "Mr. Jiang, my sister is simple-minded and doesn't think things through. What she said to you before is not true."
Hearing Li Shiyue say this, Jiang Huai wasn't angry. Instead, he felt that the stone that had been floating in the air in his heart could finally be put to rest.
He knew, of course, that what Li Xiatian said to him was not going to stand the test of time.
Li Xiatian is indeed simple-minded, and he knows that she genuinely likes him.
Although Jiang Huai had once held a sliver of hope that the Li family might accept Li Xiatian's own words out of affection for her,
However, he also knew that, given Li Shiyue's temperament, it was impossible for her to agree.
See, just one night later, Li Shiyue turned around and told him directly, "Those things don't count."
Li Shiyue raised an eyebrow at Jiang Huai. Seeing that he showed no disappointment or surprise, but rather an expression of "I knew it," she felt somewhat dissatisfied.
"Fine, fine, Jiang Huai, you know perfectly well that our family won't agree to my sister's promise, but you don't stop her and just let her say it. Aren't you hoping that we might just agree?"
Li Shiyue always suspected others of the worst possible intentions, especially those with whom her family had any vested interests; she was always on guard against them from the very beginning.
Of course, you can think whatever you want, but you can't just say it out loud like that.
Some things are best kept to yourself.
"Mr. Jiang probably doesn't know that his aunt originally intended to marry off her daughter, and didn't necessarily want his older sister to marry into the family."
Little did I know that before I could even tell my sister this, she brought her husband home herself, and immediately declared that she wanted him to become a son-in-law in the Li family.
At this point, Li Shiyue stood up and bowed solemnly to Jiang Huai.
Shi Tou, Li Qiutian, and Li Xiatian, who were sitting to the side, also stood up and bowed to Jiang Huai.
Jiang Huai appeared somewhat bewildered, but only he himself knew what he was really thinking.
“My sister is childish and did not think things through in such an important matter. On behalf of my sister and the Li family, I apologize to you, sir. I hope you will forgive us for our sincerity.”
Before Jiang Huai could respond, Li Shiyue sat down, and Shi Tou, Li Qiutian, and Li Xiatian followed suit.
Li Shiyue picked up the teacup on the table, took a slow sip, put the teacup down, and said to Jiang Huai with a fake smile, "Nowadays, this is how our Li family thinks."
If Mr. Jiang intends to marry her, as long as they continue to live in Lijiatun after the marriage, the courtyard where Mr. Jiang currently resides can be used as part of his sister's dowry.
"Sir, you are a man of great talent. It is a great blessing for our Li family that you and my elder sister are married."
Having discussed the first option, Li Shiyue continued talking without stopping and immediately mentioned the second option.
"But if you don't mind marrying into the Li family, we will definitely pay the dowry within our means. After the marriage, all the children my sister and you have will only have the surname Li, regardless of gender!"
Although you are all alone, you have many relatives. For such an important matter as marriage, why don't you go back to your clan and discuss it with your close relatives?
"I'll have my third brother find someone to take the gentleman back to Jiangjia Village, okay?"
As Jiang Huai expected, Li Shiyue dismissed him with just a few words.
Before noon, Li Shiliang drove the cart with Jiang Huai out of Lijiatun and headed towards Jiangjia Village.
Jiang Huai didn't go back to seek his relatives' opinions on his marriage. Someone like him, who lost his father and mother at a young age, was already used to making his own decisions.
He understood the implication in Li Shiyue's words and realized that if he wanted to stay with Li Xiatian and hold onto everything he had, he had to show the sincerity he deserved.
Li Shiliang dropped Jiang Huai off at the entrance of Jiangjia Village and then drove the cart towards the prefectural city. Li Shiliang was just about to deliver goods to a paper shop in the prefectural city.
Standing at the village entrance, Jiang Huai saw that Li Shiliang's carriage was no longer visible on the road. Only then did he turn around and walk into the village. He didn't even go home; instead, he went to the home of Jiang Qi, the clan chief of Jiangjia Village.
"...That's how it is, Seventh Grandfather. If any family in the clan wants to buy my house, just sell it at the lowest price."
I have relied on your care since I was a child, and now, apart from this house, I have nothing to repay you with.
If your family can accept it, Seventh Grandfather, just give us what you think is appropriate.
As for the land that the clan has placed under my name, I will leave it as it is this year, but starting next year, I will take back the quota.
"Once Xia Tian and I get married, that spot will naturally be used to put Xia Tian's family's land in the plot."
Jiang Huai stood up, bowed to Jiang Qi, straightened his back, and said to Jiang Qi, "Once the date is set, if Grandpa Qi has time on that day, it would be nice to come over for a drink."
After leaving Jiang Qi's house and returning to his own home, Jiang Huai stared blankly at every plant and tree in the yard, the wooden bucket by the well, and the rows of vegetables planted in the corner of the yard.
"Oh, Huai-ge'er, you're back!"
Jiang Huai's thoughts were interrupted. When he looked up, he saw that it was his neighbor's aunt calling him.
“Hey, Auntie, I knew from the way the vegetables were growing when I got back that you must have been taking care of them for me.”
Thank you!
"Auntie, please pick these vegetables and take them home to eat later. I don't come back often these days, so I'm afraid I won't be able to take care of them."
While Jiang Huai was exchanging pleasantries with his neighbors, Jiang Qi put some tobacco into his pipe, lit it, and sat down in the yard to smoke.
The way he was smoking and sighing made his wife and sister-in-law whisper among themselves.
"Sister-in-law, what's wrong with Father-in-law?"
"I don't know. Huai-ge from the fourth branch came by and stayed for a while. After he left, my father-in-law was like this."
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