I'm dressed up as the timid eldest daughter, and the whole family has to listen to me!

Chapter 260 To Give or Not to Give a Dowry

Seeing Grandma Sun's state, Aunt Luo knew that the five taels of silver betrothal gift was hopeless. So, Aunt Luo gritted her teeth and said:

"Oh dear, Auntie, how could you say that? Since you've put it that way, I should give him a discount out of respect for you,"

As she spoke, Aunt Luo held up three fingers.

“I only want three taels of silver, no less. If they still can’t afford three taels, then we won’t marry our daughter to them. Let them look for other men.”

Upon hearing Aunt Luo's words, Grandma Sun narrowed her eyes, pondered for a moment, and then spoke:

"If this marriage were to end, would you really be able to live with yourself?"

Aunt Luo smiled at Grandma Sun.

"Auntie, what are you saying? Our Lianhua is as beautiful as a flower, in the prime of her youth. With looks like hers, what kind of family can't she find!"

Aunt Luo pulled Lianhua to her side and held up her hand to measure her size.

“Look at our Lianhua, she’s so capable and sensible. Although Su Shiyan’s family is well-off, our Lianhua is not worried about getting married. At this age, she should be picky. If Su Shiyan can’t come up with a dowry of three taels of silver, then we shouldn’t keep hanging on to this crooked tree.”

As she spoke, Aunt Luo poured Grandma Sun another cup of water.

"I just don't want to say it too explicitly, so you have to say it for me. This three taels of silver is the absolute minimum. You are my aunt and also Lotus's great-aunt. You have to ask for more betrothal money for Lotus. If word gets out, our family will have face, won't we? In the future, which of our younger generation won't respect you? After all, they all depend on you to find them a good marriage!"

Upon hearing Aunt Luo's words, Grandma Sun straightened her back and coughed a few times.

"I've noted down the three taels of silver you mentioned as a betrothal gift. I'll discuss it with Guihua later and see if she'll agree. If she really doesn't want to agree, then the marriage won't happen. But I also need to ask you first, how much dowry have you prepared for Lianhua?"

Upon hearing this, Aunt Luo's eyes darted around, then she gave a few dry laughs.

"Oh dear, Auntie, don't you know me? I've always been generous and treat my daughter very well. As for dowry, if the two of them are doing well, I'd even give her this house myself. Besides, once they get married, won't the two families be one family? Blood is thicker than water. The dowry I give her will eventually come back to me anyway. It's just a matter of passing the money around, whether I do it or not doesn't matter."

Grandma Sun couldn't help but laugh in anger upon hearing this.

"You've got a good plan. How come the money they give you as betrothal gifts isn't just going from one hand to the other? The dowry you give Lianhua will be her financial backing in her husband's family. If you don't give her a single penny, she won't be able to hold her head high in her husband's family. Do you think she'll be able to properly help her younger brother then?"

As she spoke, Grandma Sun glanced at Aunt Luo's expression and continued:

"I can't help but say you're short-sighted, only focusing on the immediate things. If you give him a bigger dowry, Lianhua will have face to speak of in the future, and you'll have even more face. People will say you're a generous mother-in-law, which will be a good help to the young couple."

Then, Grandma Sun sighed again.

"But you only care about your son's future, and you're so harsh on Lianhua. How can she treat you well after she gets married?"

Aunt Luo, feeling somewhat embarrassed after being lectured by Grandma Sun, smiled and said:

“Oh dear, I’ve already prepared her dowry, Auntie, you don’t need to worry. Just give her an extra tael of silver as a dowry, that would be perfect. In our surrounding villages, who prepares a dowry for their daughter? They say that once a daughter is married, she’s like water spilled from a cup. Whether she can come back to help her family in the future is another matter.”

Grandma Sun suddenly spat on the ground.

"What utter nonsense! I've never heard of a family not giving their daughter a dowry when she gets married. If that were the case, her family would be cursed to death by everyone in the surrounding villages. I've lived this long and have never seen such harsh parents."

As she spoke, Grandma Sun glanced with some pity at Lianhua, who stood silently to the side.

"She's still our own flesh and blood. What parent doesn't hope she'll have a good life after she gets married? Now you're even giving her a meager dowry of one tael of silver. How can you have the nerve to ask for three taels of silver as a betrothal gift?"

Seeing that Grandma Sun seemed genuinely angry, Aunt Luo quickly explained:

"Oh dear, Auntie, why are you still angry? That's not what I meant. I didn't say I wouldn't give it to her. I was just teasing you. How could I not prepare a dowry for her? I've raised her all these years, do I need a little dowry for her? This one tael of silver is my dowry for her, and I don't feel wronged. Don't worry, I absolutely won't let you lose face in this matter of face."

As she spoke, Aunt Luo glared at Lianhua, who was standing to the side.

"Don't just stand there like an idiot. Look how busy your great-aunt has been with your wedding. Now she's angry. Why don't you hurry up and go to the kitchen to prepare some good wine and food? Let your great-aunt stay here tonight and have a meal cooked by you so she can taste your cooking skills."

Upon hearing Aunt Luo's words, Lianhua nodded as if she had just realized something and said:

"Grandma, wait here for a moment, I'll go to the kitchen to cook."

As she spoke, Lianhua was about to go outside when Grandma Sun quickly reached out and grabbed her arm, shaking her head and saying:

“Good girl, your great-aunt won’t be eating here today. Uncle Niu will be coming to pick me up in his oxcart in a little while. I don’t want to let him go for nothing. Besides, if I go back by myself tomorrow, I’ll have to walk a long way. My legs aren’t very good, and I’m really worried about walking. It’s better to go back with his oxcart now. That way, I can suffer less.”

Upon hearing Grandma Sun's words, Lianhua looked at Aunt Luo with a troubled expression. Seeing this, Aunt Luo quickly glared at Lianhua, then walked up to Grandma Sun and said with a smile:

"Auntie, what are you afraid of? If you're afraid of walking, my son can carry you back to Sujia Village later."

Grandma Sun waved her hands repeatedly upon hearing this.

“I can’t afford to use your pampered son. Alright, alright. It’s about time. I have to go to the village entrance to wait for Uncle Niu. I won’t say any more to you. Now that things are clear, I’ll go back and ask Guihua what she thinks. We’ll go to her house together once the date is set.”