The cannon fodder female supporting role stirs up trouble in period literature

Zhang Xiufang saw that Hua Rendong realized her mistake, and her expression softened a little. "You don't seem to be as willful as the rumors say. It's good that you know you're wrong. Live a good life after you get married, and don't always bully your mother-in-law."

The people watching the excitement nearby also nodded, "I think Erhua was just young and naive, but now she's sensible and looks pretty good."

"Isn't it? I thought she would keep harping on the issue of the betrothal gift. Now that's good, Dongfeng's mother doesn't have to worry about it and cry all day long."

Xu Xiangfeng didn't expect Hua Rendong to say this. After being stunned for a moment, her brows slightly furrowed, and she looked at Hua Rendong with confusion and scrutiny in her eyes.

Hua Rendong pretended not to see the calculation in Xu Xiangfeng's eyes, and nodded to the onlookers, "Uncle, aunt, what you said is right, it's all my fault. I was wrong before, thinking that my uncle's family is the only one who earns a salary, and he has to support such a large family, so he can prepare three turns and one ring and four seasons of clothes for me. Brother Dongfeng's family has Aunt Xu and Brother Dongfeng who earn a salary, so a hundred yuan betrothal gift should not be difficult, but... Alas, all my mistakes are my fault. I will definitely change in the future. I will not make unrealistic demands without understanding Aunt Xu's family conditions. Please be a witness to this."

As soon as the voice fell, the discussion around him suddenly quieted down, and then exploded like a pot of boiling water, "What? How much did she say? One hundred yuan? Did I hear it wrong?"

"You heard me right. She said one hundred yuan. Oh, I've seen Xu Xiangfeng crying these past few days. She complained to everyone that she couldn't afford such a large gift. I'm still a flower girl and I want several thousand yuan."

"Really? When I asked her how much the betrothal gift was, she started to cry. I thought that was how much Hua Yatou wanted. Only a hundred yuan? Her and Dongfeng's monthly salary plus one yuan would be nearly seventy, right? After all these years, she couldn't even come up with a hundred yuan? Why don't I believe it? You don't want to get a good girl for free, do you?"

"Lao Bai, your daughter got married last year. How much do the in-laws gave as a gift?"

A bald uncle in the crowd smiled somewhat proudly and said, "Hehe, my daughter has a job, and her in-laws value her so much that they gave her 500 yuan as a dowry. They also bought her a three-turn and a ring, and didn't let my family pay for anything. We could only make a set of clothes and a quilt for the young couple."

"Ah? Why do I remember your daughter is a temporary worker?"

"What about temporary workers? Aren't they employees? Their salary is not much less than that of regular workers. If they are promoted to regular employees in the factory, they will also be regular employees."

Seeing that Lao Bai was unhappy, the man waved his hands and said, "No, no, that's not what I meant. I just think that your daughter is a temporary worker and can get a dowry of 500 yuan. Isn't it too much for Hua Yatou, a formal worker, to ask for only 100 yuan? Besides, her uncle's family also gave a dowry of three turns and one ring, and they want money and tickets. It will take nearly 1,000 yuan to collect it all. What does Dongfeng's mother want to do by crying all day? Don't you think Hua Yatou has no parents to love her and want to take advantage of her?"

As soon as this question was asked, the sympathy in the eyes looking at Xu Xiangfeng disappeared, and was replaced by condemnation.

Someone sneered, "Who knows? I saw her buying a lot of things at the supply and marketing cooperative before the New Year. This woolen coat cost more than a hundred yuan. And the shoes she wore on her feet and the watch on her wrist were not cheap. Did she spend all the money on herself?"

"Don't tell me, just look at how she has dressed over the years. If you say she can't afford a hundred yuan for the bride price, I really believe it!"

Seeing Xu Xiangfeng was about to open her mouth to argue, Hua Rendong hurriedly imitated Xu Xiangfeng's behavior and wiped her eyes back and forth with the back of her hand, "Woo woo, everyone stop talking, it's all my fault. If I had known Aunt Xu's family was so poor, I shouldn't have asked for the hundred yuan. Aunt Xu, I don't want the betrothal gift. Even before, Brother Dongfeng said he wanted to buy wood to make furniture and borrowed the two hundred yuan from me. Don't make it difficult for you. As long as Brother Dongfeng and I get married, the furniture is made for us, so it's only right that I pay some money. If Aunt Xu thinks that my betrothal gift is too much and this marriage can't be completed, just pay me back the two hundred yuan, and I won't ask for interest."

It was like a loud thunderclap, and the people who were still shocked by the one hundred yuan betrothal gift became even more uneasy.

"What? Dongfeng also borrowed money from Hua Yatou? Oh, I can't stand my temper anymore. I used to think it was not easy for Xu Xiangfeng to raise a child alone. She cried all day long as if she had suffered a great injustice. Who knew that this was her trick? She really got a free ride! Not only did she get a wife who can earn money for nothing, but she also became a good person. Otherwise, how can they say that the crying child gets the milk? This old woman can cry and trick the old man into losing everything."

The person who spoke was an aunt from the family compound named Cheng Yuzhen. She had said a few words to Xu Xiangfeng in the past because she couldn't stand her behavior. After Xu Xiangfeng wiped away her tears a few times in frustration, she got a reputation for bullying honest people. As a result, her son was in his twenties, but no girl was willing to date him.

Having caught Xu Xiangfeng's weakness today, Cheng Yuzhen will naturally not let her go easily.

Although the words were harsh, they seemed to have awakened everyone. Thinking back on the past, they all came to the same conclusion: as long as Xu Xiangfeng cried, someone would be disgraced.

Xu Xiangfeng was so anxious that sweat broke out on her forehead. She didn't expect that Hua Erhua, who had always been tongue-tied and could be easily angered by just a few words from her, would suddenly become like a different person. Not only did he grow a mouth, but he also turned the situation around with just a few sharp words.

If she allowed this damn girl to continue talking nonsense, the good reputation she had built up for half her life would be ruined.

Xu Xiangfeng stepped forward and grabbed Hua Rendong's hand, "Erhua, Auntie misheard you and thought you were talking about a thousand yuan as a betrothal gift. I misunderstood you and made you feel wronged. Auntie Xu apologizes to you. Will you forgive Auntie Xu?"

Hua Honeysuckle pulled her hand out of her palm, pouted her little mouth as if she was about to cry at any time, but what she said made Xu Xiangfeng very angry.

"Aunt Xu, you have lived in the same family compound for so many years, and I have never heard that you have hearing problems. Besides, on the day of the marriage proposal, you said that one hundred yuan was too little and you were afraid that I would be wronged. Did Aunt Xu mean that one thousand was too little? How much do you want to give me as a betrothal gift? Don't worry, Aunt Xu, my aunt said that they will not keep any of the Xu family's betrothal gifts and will bring them all back to me."

Xu Xiangfeng opened her mouth for a long time, but didn't dare to answer. If she said one thousand was too little, what if the Hua family wanted more? She really didn't have it.

But the strange looks from others made her feel uncomfortable. She became anxious and tears started to fall. “I…I…”

I struggled for a long time but couldn't utter a complete sentence.