The Xu family is exceptionally efficient.
Xu Ningyan was still in the Tuanjie Brigade when Xu Yinlai and Shen Yue'e were called back by the Xu family.
Rumors have spread that the Xu family has emptied their coffers to prepare a dowry for Xu Zhenzhu.
Look, our family's savings are all gone, it's not enough, so we have to call our second son from the city back to help with the dowry.
Xu Ningyan was at Aunt Xie's house. When she came back last time, she asked Aunt Xie to pickle a batch of salted eggs, thinking that she would take them back to the county this time.
Aunt Xie's salted eggs are exceptional; when boiled, the yolks are orange-red, sandy, and oily, with a perfect balance of saltiness and a delicious, oily texture.
It was the best salted duck egg Xu Ningyan had ever eaten.
Even Gu Zhiyuan liked it very much.
When the two of them eat porridge or noodles, they like to cook two of them to go with it, and they consume them very quickly.
So every now and then she would ask Aunt Xie to pickle a batch of salted eggs. Her payment was to bring Aunt Xie some things each time, such as a piece of cured meat, half a pound of kelp, a bag of brown sugar, half a pound of biscuits, and some needles and thread.
Aunt Xie was already happy that someone appreciated her skills and that she could get paid for her work, so she was full of energy.
Without Xu Ningyan urging her, she would estimate the days and start pickling duck eggs at the brigade herself.
Since Xu Ningyan had been visiting for a long time, the two were not polite.
Seeing that Aunt Xie was tidying up the vegetable garden, Xu Ningyan went to help.
Let's chat a bit.
Then the conversation turned to the Xu family.
Aunt Xie, who usually doesn't like to gossip, couldn't help but sigh: "What a foolish family! I heard that the Xu family didn't want the Lu family's dowry and even paid for the dowry themselves! That's one thing, but they're going to empty the brothers' savings! What kind of parents and sisters do this?"
"Pearl only cares about her appearance and is trying to climb the social ladder! If the Lu family is really that rich and powerful, aren't they afraid of being laughed at for putting on a show? People won't say that Pearl is sensible and considerate! They'll probably laugh at her for being worthless and having no real means to support her!"
"The most pitiful ones are Er Ya and San Ya. With Pearl as a comparison, when it comes to marriage proposals, people will probably all expect the Xu family to provide dowries. If things don't turn out this way, Er Ya and San Ya will be a laughing stock!"
As an older person with more experience and a clearer perspective, he immediately saw that the Xu family's actions were inappropriate.
Unfortunately, the Xu family members are now too hot-headed to listen to any advice.
If you try to persuade them further, the Xu family will think you're just jealous of them.
The others weren't fools, so they naturally stopped mentioning it and just waited to see the Xu family make a fool of themselves.
Aunt Xie sighed a couple of times, then, realizing Xu Ningyan might misunderstand, said, "Siya, don't overthink it. It was just that this old woman couldn't stand it and said a few words. Luckily, you've broken off your ties with them and are engaged to Xiao Gu, so it won't bother you!"
Xu Ningyan didn't think much about that; instead, she was quite interested in how much flesh Miao Cuihua and Xu Zhenzhu would take from Xu Yinlai's family.
At this moment, the Xu family...
Xu Yinlai and Shen Yue'e looked at Miao Cuihua and Xu Zhenzhu with astonishment.
They received news that Xu Zhenzhu was going to marry Lu Kai at the beginning of next month.
First, she was overjoyed, never expecting that Xu Zhenzhu had actually managed to snag Lu Kai, this golden son-in-law. From now on, they would be in-laws with the Lu family.
We might be able to leverage the Lu family's influence at that time.
Therefore, when they heard that they were asked to come back to discuss Xu Zhenzhu's marriage, they didn't think much of it.
I reckon they're just discussing how to make it look better and more presentable. At most, the older brother and sister-in-law will contribute a little, that's all. How much money could they possibly have?
He could take this opportunity to remind Xu Zhenzhu that after marrying into the Lu family, she should quickly find a job for their second son.
The policies are getting stricter and stricter now. If we don't come up with a solution soon, my second child might really have to go to the countryside.
So the two of them returned to the Unity Brigade in high spirits.
Unexpectedly, as soon as they entered the house, before they could even sit down and catch their breath, they were bombarded with such a bombshell.
"Mom, say it again? I didn't hear you clearly! How much money did you ask us to give for my little sister's wedding?"
Miao Cuihua was still hoping Xu Yinlai would contribute money, so she wasn't angry. She repeated, "The eldest and third sons each contributed one hundred. You three brothers should be treated equally, and I won't favor any of you. You should also contribute one hundred!"
Shen Yue'e jumped three feet high: "What a joke! Even the county leaders don't spend this much when they marry off their daughters! Three hundred yuan? That's enough to marry two wives! Our family doesn't have mountains of gold and silver, where would we get the confidence to give such a large dowry?"
Miao Cuihua shot her a cold, electric gaze. Shen Yue'e, feeling somewhat weak, added, "If you want such a large dowry, how much betrothal gift will the Lu family offer?"
The Xu family members looked embarrassed and remained silent.
Xu Yinlai and his wife immediately sensed something was wrong.
Xu Zhenzhu herself said, "There is no bride price!"
Xu Yinlai couldn't sit still any longer: "No bride price? You're giving away so much dowry? Little sister, are you crazy?"
"I'm not crazy!" Xu Zhenzhu used the same tactics she used to persuade the Xu family to convince Xu Yinlai and his wife.
Unfortunately, this couple had seen a bit of the world in the county town and weren't so easily fooled.
Xu Yinlai frowned: "Why only two jobs? Who are you planning to give them to? The eldest and third sons' families? Your second brother's family doesn't need any?"
Xu Zhenzhu was stunned for a moment, then gritted her teeth and said, "Then three jobs."
Xu Yinlai pressed on, "Are you sure the Lu family will agree to give you three jobs if you don't ask for a bride price? Have you already mentioned it to the Lu family? Have they agreed?"
Xu Zhenzhu choked, then stammered, "Not yet, I plan to bring it up after I get married and have a child—"
Xu Yinlai interrupted him: "So you're not sure yet! You're just making assumptions, and you want our whole family to be involved?"
Others were fine, but Xu Yejun's wife was so excited she wanted to wave a flag and shout, "My God, in this big family, finally there's a sensible person like my second uncle!"
Xu Zhenzhu became anxious: "Brother Lu is completely devoted to me, he agrees to anything I say. He even arranged my job. Once I have a child with the Lu family, what are two or three jobs to the Lu family?"
Xu Yinlai scoffed. He had already inquired about the Lu family's situation: "Lu Kai is the second son of the Lu family. He has an older brother who has already given birth to two sons for the Lu family. Even if you get pregnant with a son as soon as you marry into the family, you won't be considered precious anymore!"
Xu Zhenzhu's face flushed red: "What do you know! The eldest brother of the Lu family is in the army. Uncle Lu doesn't like his eldest son at all. He values the eldest brother the most, and everything in the future will be handed over to the eldest brother—"
Xu Yinlai waved his hand: "It's the same question again. Are you sure that if you don't ask for a dowry and bring your own, the Lu family can transfer your job to the county town? Have you mentioned this to the Lu family? Have they agreed?"
Xu Zhenzhu was somewhat embarrassed and angry: "Bringing these things up before marriage, doesn't that make the Lu family think I'm manipulating them? How can I bring this up? Can't I just bring it up after the wedding? You don't trust me, but don't you trust Brother Lu?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
