Chapter 10: You Must Be Sensible, No Dowry

Wang Juhua was the first to react, as if she'd been scalded, she thrust aside the item Liu Wenbin handed over and shouted sharply.

"What betrothal! Who agreed you were pairing up? Quickly take your stuff and leave! Our Su Yanhua isn't looking for a teacher! I don't approve this marriage! Get out, get out!"

Su Dazhuang also felt his face utterly shamed, waved his hand irritably: "Get out, get out, get out! Stop making a spectacle here! Can't you see we have important matters at home?"

Liu Wenbin, reddened by the sudden insults and expulsion, stood helplessly in place, his eyes behind the lenses filled with humiliation and bewilderment.

Su Yanhua was completely stunned; she hadn't expected such a reaction from her parents.

She had thought that bringing back a teacher as a suitor would let her hold her head high and crush Su Ruan, but she never imagined it would turn out like this.

She was both ashamed and angry, tears welling up: "Mom! Dad! What are you saying! Wen Bin…"

"What's all this noise! It's killing me! Can't you let anyone sleep!"

At that moment, an impatient duck‑like voice came from the inner room; the curtain was pulled aside, and Su Yaozu, with his hair a mess, rubbed his sleepy eyes as he staggered out, his face irritable from being woken.

He had been out partying somewhere unknown until dawn last night, only just dozing when the argument woke him, his mood terrible.

When he stepped out, he saw the whole room full of people and those nice things on the floor; his drowsiness vanished half‑way, and his eyes darted between the radio and the pork.

"Yo ho? So many goodies? Dad, Mom, this isn't a holiday—what are you doing?"

He swaggered over, reaching out to touch the radio.

Wang Juhua, still seething with anger, saw her son's unbecoming behavior and was even more incensed.

But out of concern for her son, she snapped his hand away: "Don't touch that! That's your sister's Betrothal Gifts!"

"Betrothal Gifts?"

Su Yaozu froze, only then noticing Jiang Ran, Su Ruan, and the imposing Jiang Family members nearby; he instantly grasped the situation, plastered a flattering smile on his face, and leaned toward Jiang Jianguo.

"Oh dear! You must be the father‑in‑law, right? I'm Su Ruan's brother, Su Yaozu! From now on we're family! Please look after us, please!"

His merchant‑like demeanor made Jiang Jiaojiao feel sick to her stomach.

Thinking that she was almost about to marry such a scumbag, she wished she could toss Su Yaozu into a bottle of white wine and wash away his porky stench!

Facing Su Yaozu's ingratiating flattery, Jiang Jianguo simply nodded lightly, saying nothing.

Su Yaozu didn't feel embarrassed; his greedy eyes swept over the Betrothal Gifts, then lingered as if he'd just spotted the frozen Su Yanhua and Liu Wenbin and the shabby items in their hands.

He sneered, his tone dripping with mockery and contempt: "Sis, what junk are you dragging back? Feeding the dogs? Can't you see the True Buddha here? Move it away, don't block the view! What a disgraceful thing!"

Those words were the last straw that broke the camel's back.

Liu Wenbin's face turned deathly pale; he flung the object in his hand onto the floor, turned without looking back, and rushed out.

"Wen Bin!" Su Yanhua glared resentfully at everyone in the room, especially Su Ruan standing by Jiang Ran, then sobbed and chased after him.

The house fell into an eerie silence.

Su Dazhuang and Wang Juhua's faces turned ashen; they were mortified beyond words.

Su Yaozu, oblivious, sidled up to Jiang Ran and ingratiated himself: "Brother‑in‑law? Heh heh, from now on I'll be hanging out with you!"

Su Yaozu's "brother‑in‑law" and his sycophantic grin made Jiang Ran feel so nauseated he almost vomited on the spot.

He didn't even spare a glance, his full attention on Su Ruan, and whispered, "Are you okay? You alright?"

Su Ruan shook her head slightly.

The Jiang Family watched the whole farce, their pity for Su Ruan and disgust for this bizarre family reaching a peak.

Jiang Jianguo inhaled deeply, making a firm decision.

This stifling household could not let Su Ruan stay any longer!

He stared straight at Su Dazhuang, his tone unquestionable: "Brother Da Zhuang, seems there's a lot of family business today. Let's cut to the chase—let's set aside the Betrothal Gifts; since the two youngsters are mutually inclined, I think we should arrange the marriage quickly. What do you think?"

His words were practically a notice, not a discussion—he wanted a swift resolution to end the farce.

Su Dazhuang and Wang Juhua dared not object now; they felt they'd disgraced themselves before the old Jiang Family and just hoped the God of Wealth would grant the request without backing out.

As for Su Yanhua, we can just coax her later.

Su Dazhuang hurriedly nodded like a drum: "Alright, alright! Factory Director Jiang, you have the final say! We have no objections! Absolutely no objections!"

Wang Juhua forced a smile and agreed: "Yes, yes, we'll follow the In‑laws' arrangements. For RuanRuan to marry into the Jiang Family is her greatest blessing!"

Just as everyone thought the matter was settled and the Jiang Family were about to exchange a few pleasantries before taking their leave,

the quiet Su Ruan, who had been standing beside Jiang Ran, gently spoke up.

Her voice remained soft and honeyed, yet carried an unmistakable firmness that rang clearly in everyone's ears.

"Father, step‑mother," she addressed them first, then looked at them calmly, "My marriage is set, and I'm happy. But according to tradition, the bride's family must also prepare a Dowry. I wonder what Dowry the family has prepared for me?"

The moment the word "Dowry" was spoken, the room fell into another eerie silence.

Everyone's gaze snapped instantly onto Su Ruan.

The Jiang Family were stunned; they hadn't expected Su Ruan to bring up the Dowry at this moment.

Su Dazhuang and Wang Juhua's faces turned extremely ugly in an instant, especially Wang Juhua, whose stare seemed ready to devour Su Ruan alive.

"This damned girl! How dare she bring up the Dowry now! Is she crazy?!"

The Jiang Family had already given such a hefty Betrothal Gift; they barely had time to spare, let alone spend more money on a Dowry for her!

Moreover, does the household even have any money? Even if it did, it would have to be saved for Su Yaozu to take a wife and for Su Yanhua to set aside some for herself!

Su Dazhuang's face darkened; trying to gloss over it, he forced a dry laugh: "RuanRuan, look at you… what are you saying? Don't you know the state of our family?"

"The Jiang Family is so generous; as long as we're aware, the Dowry can just be a token gesture—Jiang doesn't need our meager stuff…"

Wang Juhua quickly chimed in, her tone threatening: "Exactly, RuanRuan, a girl must be sensible! The Jiang Family's conditions are good; they won't fuss over these."

"Our family is struggling, you know that. You're about to start a good life, so you should think more about the household, think about your brother and sister!"