Wei Fugui was furious and argued with Wei Shi for a few more minutes, but Wei Shi insisted on giving only 50 taels.
The Wei family was in the wrong and had no choice but to compromise in the end.
After the marriage arrangements were finalized, Old Lady Wei and her family left.
In the evening, Ye Erquan and Yinhua returned.
Madam Wei walked out of the house, pursed her lips, and said, "My lord, the wedding date has been set for October 15th, and the bride price is 188 taels."
As Ye Erquan put the farm tools into the storage room, he said coldly, "What's it to me?"
Madam Wei's expression changed slightly, but she still forced herself to say, "It's fine as long as you have no objections. Give me the betrothal gifts, and I'll go to formally propose marriage in a few days."
Ye Erquan glared at her angrily: "Dream on! Why don't you just say a thousand taels! I don't care if it's a bride price or a wedding gift, I won't give you a single copper coin."
Madam Wei's expression changed: "Are you speaking human language? That's your own son! The most important day of his life..."
"So what? Does asking me to pay make him my biological son? Wasn't he different when he talked back to me yesterday? I said I won't contribute a single penny! Take it or leave it! If you keep nagging, I won't attend the wedding!"
After saying that, Ye Erquan turned and went into the side room.
Ye Erquan and Wei Shi are now sleeping separately.
Wei Shi still slept in the main room, while Ye Erquan slept in the side room.
With a livid face, Madam Wei looked at Yinhua again: "Yinhua, you've saved up some money..."
Previously, Yin Hua received two taels of silver as pocket money every month. However, after the forced marriage incident, Ye Erquan never gave Wei Shi a single penny, and Ye Peng's pocket money also stopped.
Only the silver flowers remain.
In addition to the two taels, Ye Erquan would also give Yinhua 20 taels every month as food for the whole family.
Yinhua looked at her coolly: "Doesn't Mother have several hundred taels of silver? That's more than enough for a bride price and a wedding."
"Why are you still trying to squeeze out my few taels of silver? What's that even worth?"
Madam Wei was furious: "You brat, how dare you talk to your mother like that!"
Her thought was that she would try to save as much as she could, even if it was just a little bit.
Yinhua gritted her teeth and said, "I'm not wrong. If Mother really doesn't want to spend money, then don't get married. I believe Father would be willing to pay as long as it's not my cousin."
Ms. Wei wanted to go forward and twist the silver flower.
Yinhua had already dodged away and run into the room.
Wei wanted to curse, but fearing she would disturb Ye Erquan, she could only return to her room dejectedly.
Back in her room, she was so angry she felt like her heart was pounding. 50 taels of betrothal money! And the wedding banquet...
This is all money!
As she thought about it, Ms. Wei's heart bled incessantly.
But if she doesn't hold a banquet, or if she holds one in a very meager way, where will she put her face?
She's from a wealthy family!
This wedding must be a grand affair to slap my sister-in-law in the face! Only then can we shut up the villagers and let them know that she values strengthening family ties and that she's a good mother-in-law!
Regardless, Ye Peng and Wei Xiaojuan's wedding date was set for October 25th without any major incidents.
The next morning, Mrs. Wei went to inform all her relatives and friends that a banquet would be held on October 15.
When notifying each person, he would say, "I love my Xiaojuan so much. We know each other inside and out, and it's like we're family."
The villagers who were notified: "Hahaha, yes, yes, yes."
But in her heart she was thinking: Who doesn't know what you're really thinking?
The villagers all looked at her like she was a clown, treating her as a joke.
......
As for Jin Hua and Xiao Yan's embroidery shop.
Aside from the high sales volume on the opening day, sales gradually stabilized afterward. After deducting all costs, we could earn about two or three ounces a day.
Jin Hua no longer attends classes at the Shen family's house; she's busy with the embroidery shop every day.
Besides the two of them, there were two other embroiderers, and the four of them worked together.
Ye Hufen also helped out at the embroidery shop, doing some light lifting and carrying work. The shop paid Ye Hufen one tael of silver a month.
Soon, it was September 28th.
Ye Caiping's family had just finished breakfast when Shanzi walked in:
"Madam Ye, Mr. Shen has arrived."
Ye Caiping said happily, "Okay, I'll go out now."
Grandma Ye smiled and said, "Is this the bridge repairmen you brought? Can we go and take a look?"
"Of course, let's go together."
Grandma Ye, Grandpa Ye, Jin'er, Huan'er, and even Ye Daquan came to join in the fun. Ye Daquan came to freeload breakfast today.
The group arrived at the outer hall.
A short while later, Shen Zhiyan entered with an elderly man in his early sixties with white hair.
When Ye Caiping saw Shen Zhiyan, her eyes lit up slightly: "You're here!"
Shen Zhiyan's usually aloof expression softened with a smile: "Mm."
Grandma Ye rubbed her arms, "Hiss..."
Old Man Ye looked at her and asked, "Are you cold?"
Grandma Ye: "It's not cold."
She found it incredibly cloying.
Shen Zhiyan said, "Madam Ye, this is the most famous bridge builder in the southern region, Master Hong. You can call him Master Hong. Master Hong, this is Madam Ye."
Old Master Hong smiled and said, "Ms. Ye, it's a pleasure to meet you."
After exchanging greetings, the group began to discuss the bridge construction.
They first went to two villages to take measurements, and then returned to the outer hall to discuss the matter.
Shen Zhiyan took out a picture: "I do have some insights into this bridge."
She opened it and found many markings on it, which Ye Caiping couldn't understand. She asked curiously, "Did Mr. Shen draw this?"
"Um."
"You can build bridges?"
"I was interested when I was young and studied it a little."
Ye Caiping's eyes crinkled with laughter: "How come you can do everything!"
Shen Zhiyan's lips curled slightly, but his face remained calm and composed: "It's alright."
Grandma Ye, standing to the side, hissed, "It's getting savory!"
Jin'er and Huan'er stared, mouths agape: "..."
Old Man Ye: Why does he smell something sweet?
Ye Daquan: "Hehehe! Mr. Shen is really amazing."
Grandma Ye looked at Ye Daquan, who was grinning foolishly, with pity. "You should keep smiling now. The day Mr. Shen runs off with Caiping, you won't be able to smile anymore."
Shen Zhiyan and Hong Lao were still discussing the bridge's structure and dimensions.
Old Man Ye and his wife, Ye Daquan, Jin'er, and Huan'er listened for a while, but found it boring and couldn't listen anymore, so they left the outer hall one after another.
Ye Caiping didn't understand either, but she didn't find it boring at all.
I listened with a smile the whole time.
Every time Shen Zhiyan said a few words, his gaze would intentionally or unintentionally fall on her.
Old Hong: Hiss—should I leave too?
Outside the gate.
Duanwu was sitting at the doorway, chewing on a blade of grass.
Shanzi, who was standing nearby, asked, "Brother, why haven't you been sending over any small fish lately?"
Duanwu: "Sigh, lately the master has been busy writing poetry every day and hasn't gone fishing in a long time."
Shanzi sighed with emotion, "It's not easy. The little fish fry finally have a chance to grow into adult fish."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
