Since the Cao family's betrothal gift came over, Mrs. Xiao and Xiao Yan really showed off in the village. First, Old Xiao, Mrs. Xiao, Xiao Yan and of course Xiao Yuanhang, each of the four of them made a set of satin. Clothes, wear them out every day.
Occasionally, I would go to sit with people I didn't usually deal with, and act like a lady, which made people feel uncomfortable and because Xiao Yuanhang's status as a scholar was not easy to offend, I tolerated them again and again.
In their complacency, they lost all their last bits of popularity.
After receiving a wave of envy in the open and a wave of scolding in secret, Mrs. Xiao officially asked Widow Liu to call Xiao Yi and Xie Yushu to come to the old house to discuss matters. The discussion was of course about Xiao Yan's dowry!
Speaking of which, this is Xie Yushu's first visit to the Xiao family's old house. The courtyard covers an area of about one acre, with three main rooms, two wing rooms, and three east and west wing rooms. They are all brick buildings. There are two concierges on both sides of the main entrance. , there are chickens and ducks on the left, and a woodshed and various farm tools on the right. It is definitely a top-notch house in the village. No wonder Li is willing to endure it here and is unwilling to move out and give up the yard!
Although Xiao Yi was still on crutches, it did not hinder his walking, so he walked in front to lead Xie Yushu. When Xie Yushu followed Xiao Yi into the house, the whole family was there. Old man Xiao and Mrs. Xiao were sitting in the middle of the kang, and Xiao Yan was sitting in the middle of the kang. Next to the wife!
Seeing Xie Yushu come in, he went down to the ground and walked around in front of Xie Yushu, and asked Xie Yushu if the silver hairpin she was wearing looked good! How about her garnet red satin dress?
Xie Yushu said something perfunctory, and Xiao Yan believed it was true, raised her chin, turned around and sat down on the kang.
Xiao Yuanhang and Xie Yujiao sat on the stools opposite Old Xiao, Xiao Dayong sat by the kang, Li and several children stood in the corner, and Liu exaggeratedly knelt down behind Old Mrs. Xiao and beat her back!
There is no one who can show off like this! Seeing Mrs. Liu's tired and resentful look, these 200 copper coins are not easy to earn!
There was obviously no place for Xiao Yi and Xie Yushu to sit in the room, and they didn't care about sitting there, so they simply stood against the north wall.
When Old Man Xiao saw that everyone was here, he coughed and spoke.
"I've called you here to discuss Yanzi's dowry. Yanzi's husband's family is a wealthy Cao family in the next town. You all know this. Their betrothal gift is generous, so the dowry we can accompany us cannot be too small!
So your mother and I discussed Yanzi’s dowry. We have to buy six beddings, six sets of clothes, two wardrobes, and two sets of silver jewelry. The jewelry must have hairpins and earrings! And silver bracelets! Then there are thirty taels of silver!
We contributed the thirty taels of silver, the six beddings and six sets of clothes came from my wife's house, the fourth of two wardrobes came from me, and the second set of silver jewelry came from my second wife. "
After Old Man Xiao finished speaking, there was silence in the room.
Seeing that everyone was silent, Mrs. Xiao said coldly
"This is a major event in your sister's life. It is also a major event in our family. If your sister marries well, our whole family will be happy!"
When we met, I asked you to give some money to buy clothes and jewelry. If you run away one by one, I won't pursue it. Getting married this time is a big deal. If you, brother and sister-in-law, don't contribute, get out of here!
When the time comes, you will be kicked out of the house by your parents, which is unfilial and disloyal. Let’s see which village dares to keep you! "
After Mrs. Xiao finished speaking, no one said anything. Mrs. Xiao stared at Xie Yushu and spoke.
"Aren't you guys always capable? You're good at kung fu and hunting. I heard that you killed wolves in the mountains. You don't do any work in the fields anyway. From tomorrow on, you'll go into the mountains to hunt for Yanzi. Let’s collect the dowry! Twenty taels of silver for two sets of jewelry is enough, and it won’t be a difficult task for you! What do you think?”
Xie Yushu couldn't help but laugh after hearing this, what kind of family? Only two sets of silver jewelry are exported! They really dare to ask for it! You're welcome
"I don't have that much skill. I'm just a three-legged cat. I just relied on the crowd to kill one or two in the chaos. I wouldn't dare to go into the mountains alone!
Besides, this dowry thing has its own consequences. I will give as much as other sisters-in-law in the village give me. I dare not break the existing precedent! If I give too much, it will make things more difficult for others! "
Old Mrs. Xiao said dissatisfied
"Others are just marrying a loser, how can they compare with my daughter? Are they worthy? Our family is in a special situation, so just prepare as I say!"
Xie Yushu sneered in her heart and remained silent.
Mrs. Xiao turned to Mrs. Li again
"Ms. Li, why don't you act like a sister-in-law? Do you act like a sister-in-law?"
Li said in a low voice, "I listen to my boss."
Xiao Dayong couldn't hide, so he sighed and spoke
"Father, mother, in the past few days, the child's aunt has also proposed a marriage to Brother Song. The daughter of Lao Li's family in Xiawan Village is the child of her aunt's family next door. She is said to be hard-working and capable, and she doesn't need much in gifts. , five taels of silver, two dan of rice, I was just about to tell you, you see, Brother Song is also fourteen this year, and it is a good time to get married next year..."
"It's just right, what's just right? We're talking about Yanzi now, why are we talking about it? Brother Song is only fourteen! It doesn't matter if we wait for a year or two! Put down Brother Song's issue first, and we'll talk about it next year."
Xiao Dayong listened and said
"That's okay, then Mrs. Li and I will go out to look for work. I can't help you with how much we can earn before the girl gets married. Is it enough to make six sets of bedding and six sets of clothes?"
Of course Mrs. Xiao and the others were dissatisfied, but they didn't know how to argue, so they had to add that they should hurry up and find work. If there is work, let Brother Song and Brother Bai go with them. If you can earn more, don't think about cheating. If it’s not enough, don’t blame me for finding an in-law to marry Taohua early, and she can also exchange for some betrothal gifts!
Li Shi was so angry that she hugged Taohua, but she didn't dare to say a word!
Mrs. Xiao looked at Xie Yushu proudly
"Everyone should do it, and you'd better do it. If you don't blame me for being unkind, I'll divorce you and go back to your parents' home. If you're not afraid of embarrassing your parents, then give it a try!"
Xie Yushu didn't say yes or no, but asked
"How did the Cao family arrange the betrothal gift of one hundred taels of silver? Since Xiao Yan only brought back thirty taels, the remaining seventy taels are more than enough to purchase the dowry, so why force us to work so hard to earn the dowry? It wouldn't be good for Xiao Yan's reputation if word spread!
Furthermore, now that my family is rich, should I return the ten taels of silver that Xiao Yuanhang borrowed from me? I still have to pay back Qu Xiaodie! "
"You can think about the remaining seventy taels? It's a big deal for the fourth child to study. I have to leave fifty taels for the fourth child to study. The remaining twenty taels will be left for your father and us to take care of you in old age. Why, you still want to think about you. Dad, our pension money?”
"That's not the case. I think that since the fourth brother has fifty taels, shouldn't he also pay back the ten taels of silver he owes me? Anyway, the fourth brother has also paid the repair work this year, so he can't spend so much money at one time. , I don’t have to wait until next year’s autumn harvest, if I return my twelve taels, I will have enough money to buy Xiao Yan’s dowry, right?”
