Chapter 2 Dowry
After meeting Zhao Yuzhi, Zhou Chengli became anxious. He was worried that the Zhao family would really marry Zhao Yuzhi off to someone else, so he quickly went to the Zhou family's old house to find Old Madam Zhou.
Song Yushu was unaware that a major surprise awaited her; all she could think about now was how to open a shop and make money.
For the past few days, she's been staying home and not cooking, pretending to be angry, leaving her two ungrateful twins starving until they're dizzy and lightheaded. Then, she secretly cooks for herself in the middle of the night.
Zhou Lao Er is now so busy that he's in a rush to save up for his son's betrothal gifts. When he returns home, he not only can't get a hot meal, but Song Yushu won't even leave the door open for him. So he simply moves into the carpenter's shop, which is convenient for him to work during the day.
After seeing that no one was outside, Song Yushu took his private savings and went out.
Zhoujia Village is not far from the town, only half an hour away. Unfortunately, they ran into the female lead, Zhao Yuzhi, at the village entrance.
"Aunt Wei!"
Originally, Song Yushu didn't intend to pay any attention, but Zhao Yuzhi stopped him directly.
"What's up?"
"I... Chengli and I genuinely want to be together. I just want to ask, what exactly are you unhappy about with me? Are you only happy if you break us up?"
Before Song Yushu could even sigh at her commendable courage, Zhao Yuzhi was already in tears.
Soon, several women who often chatted at the village entrance excitedly gathered around upon seeing this.
"Mrs. Wei! Why did you have to push that young girl to this point? Look how badly you've bullied her!"
"I didn't bully anyone," Song Yushu realized at this point that Zhao Yuzhi was a bit ruthless.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuzhi cried even harder, her tears flowing like a tap, unstoppable. Song Yushu was dumbfounded; it was the first time she had ever encountered someone who could cry so much.
But now is not the time to watch the play; she's in a hurry to get to town!
"Get out of the way! You're all staring at her like she's a monkey. Of course she's going to cry! Don't blame everything on me! I don't have time to argue with you!"
However, Song Yushu was ultimately unable to leave, and Zhou Chengli arrived as if he had caught a whiff of something.
"Wei! What are you doing bullying Yuzhi!" Zhou Chengli rushed over as soon as he heard that Song Yushu was bullying Zhao Yuzhi at the village entrance.
Song Yushu knew he couldn't explain himself today, so he decided to make a bigger scene.
"Yes! I don't agree to your marriage. Since you're all here, I'll be frank: the Zhao family is too poor, and I don't want to be a kept man!"
Song Yushu stood with his hands on his hips, which was very infuriating, making Zhou Chengli and Zhao Yuzhi look like a pair of star-crossed lovers.
"What a tragedy! With such a wicked stepmother as Wei, Zhou Xiucai must have had a tough time these past few years!"
"Yes, a scholar can't even decide on his own marriage!"
At this point, the tide turned in one direction, and those who had initially thought the Zhao family was too poor began to sympathize with the young couple.
When the Zhou family arrived, everyone around them urged them to go to the Zhao family to propose marriage, so that Song Yushu, that wicked woman, wouldn't get her way.
The Zhou family was at a loss. They had been hesitant about the marriage, but in the end, it was Old Madam Zhou who stepped in to deal with it: "It's just that Chengli's father has been busy earning dowry these past few days. He was going to propose to the Zhao family in a few days, but we didn't expect this Wei woman to cause such a fuss. It's truly a misfortune for our family!"
“Since the old lady says so, then I won’t care anymore. If Zhou Chengli doesn’t treat me like his mother, then I’ll pretend I don’t have this son. What happens to him in the future is none of my business,” Song Yushu seized the opportunity to interject.
"Hmph! Chengli is my own grandson. His marriage is none of your business as a stepmother. Just don't come crawling back to him when he becomes successful," Old Mrs. Zhou said, disapproving of her shallowness, and directly took charge of Zhou Chengli's marriage.
“Alright! Everyone heard it, so you can be witnesses from now on,” Song Yushu said, beaming with joy after achieving his goal.
For a time, the people of Zhoujia Village were completely baffled.
The next day, Old Mrs. Zhou took her things and the matchmaker to the Zhao family to propose marriage. However, she came out cursing and swearing less than half an hour later.
"That Cripple Zhao is really audacious! Twenty taels of silver, why doesn't he just rob someone?"
As soon as Mrs. Zhou returned to the Zhou family home, she couldn't help but lash out.
"What? Twenty taels? Has the Zhao family gone mad? Do they really think their eldest daughter is some kind of noble lady?"
"Twenty taels is enough to marry a girl in town. Zhao the Cripple is really treating the Zhou family like a sucker!"
The wives of the eldest and third sons of the Zhou family immediately started cursing.
Zhou Chengli was stunned upon hearing this.
“Impossible! Yuzhi isn’t that kind of person, Grandmother! There must be some misunderstanding!” Zhou Chengli knelt down immediately.
"What are you doing? Get up quickly!" Old Mrs. Zhou was surprised that Zhou Chengli valued Zhao's girl so much, and quickly helped her up.
The people from the eldest and third branches of the Zhou family felt their hearts sink. Twenty taels of silver—how could the second branch of the Zhou family, who had supported Zhou Chengli's studies for so many years, possibly afford it? In the end, it would fall on their shoulders.
"Chengli, twenty taels is no small sum. Grandmother really can't make that decision!"
“Chengli, your third aunt knows many people in town, a hundred times better than Zhao Yuzhi. Why insist on marrying her?”
"That's right, your aunt will help you find a few later!"
The eldest and third branches of the Zhou family became anxious and tried to dissuade them.
"Enough! I will only marry Yuzhi in this lifetime. If you won't help me, I'll find my own way!"
Zhou Chengli found their behavior extremely unsightly and turned to leave.
"What a terrible mistake!" Old Mrs. Zhou sighed, feeling deeply regretful. How could she have agreed to this marriage in front of so many people!
If they don't pay the bride price now, her scholar grandson will probably hold a grudge against them.
Before the Zhou family could reply, Zhou Chengli delivered some terrible news to them.
After leaving the Zhou family, Zhou Chengli went directly to find Zhao Yuzhi.
Zhao Yuzhi naturally knew he was angry, but she had already figured out Zhou Chengli's temperament, so she started crying before he could say anything.
“Brother Zhou, my father wants to marry me off to Master Shen in town as a concubine! Over the years, he has accumulated a lot of debt to support his family, and he is thinking of using this dowry to pay off the debt so that my younger siblings can have a better life in the future. I don’t want to hold you back!”
She naturally dared not say that her father was a gambler, otherwise who would dare to marry the daughter of a gambler? Originally, she did not want to push so hard, but the news that the Zhou family had come to the Zhao family to propose marriage had already been spread, so she bet that the Zhou family would have to save face to acquiesce to her father's demand for such a high dowry.
Zhou Chengli was indeed heartbroken upon hearing this: "Don't be afraid, I will definitely marry you this time. But can we postpone the betrothal gifts? I will definitely be able to make up for it after I pass the imperial examination in two years!"
"Two years is too long. I'm afraid my father can't wait that long. But I can try to persuade him," Zhao Yuzhi said, feeling reassured after she had calmed him down.
Finally, Zhao the Cripple made Zhou Chengli sign an IOU, requiring him to repay it within three months.
When Grandma Zhou found out, she felt dizzy and almost fainted. She had originally wanted to go and discuss it with the Zhao family, but she didn't expect Zhou Chengli to be so reckless.
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