Ever since the Cao family sent over the betrothal gifts, Old Mrs. Xiao and Xiao Yan really showed off in the village. First, Old Mr. Xiao, Old Mrs. Xiao, Xiao Yan, and of course Xiao Yuanhang, each of the four of them had a set of satin clothes made and wore them out every day.
Occasionally, he would visit the homes of people he didn't usually get along with, putting on airs like a lady or young lady, which made them feel uncomfortable, but they also hesitated to offend him because of his scholar status. So they tolerated him.
In their smug self-satisfaction, they squandered their last bit of goodwill.
After openly garnering a wave of envy and secretly enduring a wave of scolding, Old Madam Xiao formally asked Widow Liu to summon Xiao Yi and Xie Yushu to the old house to discuss matters, which of course concerned Xiao Yan's dowry!
This was Xie Yushu's first time visiting the Xiao family's old residence. The courtyard covered about an acre, with three main rooms, two side rooms, and three wing rooms on the east and west sides, all of which were brick and tile houses. There were two gatehouses on either side of the main gate. Chickens and ducks were kept on the left, and firewood and various farm tools were on the right. It was definitely a top-class house in the village. No wonder Li Shi was willing to endure this humiliation rather than move out and give up the courtyard!
Although Xiao Yi still used a cane, it didn't hinder his walking, so he walked ahead to lead the way for Xie Yushu. When Xie Yushu followed Xiao Yi into the house, the whole family was there. Old Man Xiao and Old Mrs. Xiao were sitting in the middle of the kang (a heated brick bed), and Xiao Yan was sitting next to Old Mrs. Xiao!
Upon seeing Xie Yushu enter, he even got off the ground and walked around in front of her, asking her if her silver hairpin looked good and what she thought of her pomegranate red satin dress.
Xie Yushu gave a perfunctory "It looks good," and Xiao Yan believed her and turned to sit down on the kang (heated brick bed).
Xiao Yuanhang and Xie Yujiao sat on the stool opposite Old Man Xiao, Xiao Dayong sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), Li Shi and several children stood in the corner, and Liu Shi exaggeratedly knelt behind Old Lady Xiao and massaged her back!
This is really something else! Looking at Liu's tired and resentful face, those two hundred copper coins weren't easy to earn!
There was clearly no place for Xiao Yi and Xie Yushu to sit in the room, and the two of them didn't care to sit, so they simply stood against the north wall.
Old Man Xiao coughed once he saw that everyone was present and began to speak.
"I called you here today to discuss Yanzi's dowry. You all know that Yanzi's husband's family is the wealthy Cao family in the next town. They gave a generous betrothal gift, so our dowry can't be too small!"
So, your mother and I have discussed Yanzi's dowry. We need to prepare six quilts, six sets of clothes, two wardrobes, and two sets of silver jewelry, including hairpins, earrings, and silver bracelets. We also need thirty taels of silver.
We'll pay for the thirty taels of silver, the eldest son will provide the six quilts and six sets of clothes, the fourth son will provide the two wardrobes, and the second son will provide the two sets of silver jewelry.
After Old Man Xiao finished speaking, the room fell silent.
Seeing that everyone was silent, Old Mrs. Xiao said coldly
"This is a major event in your sister's life. It's also a major event for our family. If your sister marries well, our whole family will be proud!"
When I asked you to contribute some money for clothes and jewelry during the matchmaking process, you all disappeared without a trace, so I didn't pursue the matter. But this marriage is a big event, and if you, as the older brother and sister-in-law, don't contribute, then you can all get out!
If your parents kick you out of the house, that's considered unfilial and disrespectful. Let's see which village would dare keep you there!
After Old Mrs. Xiao finished speaking, no one uttered a sound. Old Mrs. Xiao stared at Xie Yushu and spoke.
"Isn't the second son's wife always been capable? She knows kung fu and can hunt. I heard you even killed wolves in the mountains. Anyway, you don't do any farm work. Starting tomorrow, you can go hunting in the mountains to raise money for Yanzi's dowry! Two sets of jewelry will be enough for twenty taels of silver. It won't be a difficult task for you! What do you say?"
Xie Yushu couldn't help but laugh. What kind of family is this? Asking for two sets of silver jewelry like that! They really dare to ask for that! She said bluntly...
"I don't have that much skill. I'm just a novice. I only managed to kill one or two people in the chaos because there were many of us. I wouldn't dare to go into the mountains alone!"
Besides, there are precedents for adding dowry; I'll give the same amount as other women in the village. I can't break those precedents! If I give too much, it will put others in a difficult position!
Grandma Xiao said with dissatisfaction
"Others are just marrying peasants, how can they compare to my daughter? Do they even deserve it? Our family's situation is special, so just do as I say and prepare!"
Xie Yushu sneered inwardly but remained silent.
Old Mrs. Xiao then turned to Li Shi.
"Li, as the eldest sister-in-law, aren't you going to say something? Do you have any manners as an eldest sister-in-law?"
Li said in a muffled voice, "I will listen to my boss."
Xiao Dayong couldn't avoid it any longer, and sighed as he spoke.
“Father, Mother, these past few days, my son’s aunt has also arranged a marriage for Song-ge. It’s the daughter of Old Li’s family in Xiawan Village. She’s the girl next door to her aunt’s family. They say she’s hardworking and capable, and the dowry she’s asking for isn’t much—five taels of silver and two dan of rice. I was just about to tell you. Look, Song-ge is fourteen this year. If we settle on a dowry, he can marry into the family next year…”
"What do you mean 'just right'? We're talking about Yanzi right now, why are we bringing up other things? Song-ge is only fourteen! Waiting a year or two won't hurt! Let's put Song-ge's matter aside for now and talk about it next year."
Xiao Dayong listened and said
"That's fine too. Then Li and I will go out and find work. We'll earn whatever we can before my sister's wedding. Whether it's enough to make six sets of quilts and six sets of clothes, I can't help you!"
Grandma Xiao and the others were naturally dissatisfied, but they didn't know how to argue back. They could only add that they should hurry up and find work. If there was work, they should let Brother Song and Brother Bai go with them. They should earn as much as they could. They shouldn't think about slacking off or cheating. If they didn't earn enough, they shouldn't blame me for finding Tao Hua a husband and getting her married off early. That way, they could also get some dowry!
Li was so angry that she trembled and hugged Taohua, but she didn't dare to say a word!
Grandma Xiao looked at Xie Yushu with a smug expression.
"Since everyone has agreed, you all had better do the same. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless and sending you back to your parents' home. If you're not afraid of your parents losing face, then go ahead and try!"
Xie Yushu neither agreed nor disagreed, but instead asked...
"How is the hundred taels of silver given by the Cao family being used? Since only thirty taels are being given to Xiao Yan to take back, the remaining seventy taels are more than enough to prepare the dowry. Why force us to work ourselves to the bone to earn the dowry? It wouldn't be good for Xiao Yan's reputation if word got out!"
Furthermore, now that the family has money, shouldn't they return the ten taels of silver that Xiao Yuanhang borrowed from me? I still need to repay Qu Xiaodie!
"You think you can even think about the remaining seventy taels? Your education is a big deal. We need to leave fifty taels for your education, and the remaining twenty taels are for your father and us to support us in our old age. What, you still want to covet our retirement money?"
"No, that's not it. I just think that since Fourth Brother has fifty taels, shouldn't he also pay back the ten taels he owes me? Anyway, Fourth Brother has already paid his tuition for this year, so he won't spend that much money all at once. There's no need to wait until next year's harvest to pay back my ten taels. Then I'll have enough money to prepare a dowry for Xiao Yan!"
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