Chapter 1310

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Zhou Zhihao outside the house, the more he thought about it, the more unbalanced he felt inside, and the more he thought, the more his anger flared up.

While inside the house, the Li family and the Wang family were still getting along harmoniously and joyfully.

They were chatting very happily, and had already started discussing the matter of the bride price!

"In-laws, regarding the bride price, you name a figure!"

Seeing that Li Zhenxing and Luo Jiaxin, the couple, had not spoken up about the bride price for a long time, Wang Zhangtian took the initiative to bring it up.

Li Zhenxing said:

"No need, no need. The custom on our side, everyone understands it. What bride price is needed? Getting married by just going through the motions is fine!"

This was Li Zhenxing's honest truth; deep down, he indeed did not want a bride price.

In his heart, he thought: his own daughter, damaged goods like her, being able to marry off was already good enough; how could he have the nerve to ask for a bride price from others?

Luo Jiaxin, however, felt a bit unwilling in her heart. No bride price — wouldn't that make it look like they were giving their daughter away for nothing?

But since Li Zhenxing had already said this, she couldn't refute his words in front of the Wang family. After all, Li Zhenxing was her husband; she had to give Li Zhenxing some face.

Fortunately, Wang Zhangtian was still relatively good at socializing.

Li Zhenxing said with his mouth that he didn't want a bride price, but he didn't dare truly believe that no bride price was needed.

So he hurriedly said:

"It's needed, it's needed. Whether it's more or less, this bride price absolutely cannot be waived. Mother-in-law, why don't you name a figure?"

Wang Zhangtian smiled and looked at Luo Jiaxin.

Luo Jiaxin politely smiled back:

"This bride price isn't something we want for ourselves, but for Yaohua and my daughter to use when they start a family. How about just giving 88,888?"

"88,888, huh……"

Before Wang Zhangtian could speak, Zhao Lifen had some objections.

Because the custom here is that the bride price is very low. Generally, just ten or twenty thousand for an auspicious number is enough. Some even only need 8,888 or 9,999. In short, the bride price would never be very high.

So, this 88,888 bride price — in the eyes of out-of-province people, it's pitifully little. But in the eyes of ordinary families here, especially rural families, it actually already counts as a not-small sum.

After all, in this day and age, for an ordinary family to save up 88,888 isn't such an easy thing.

Seeing Zhao Lifen's expression looking a bit off, Luo Jiaxin hurriedly said:

"I was just saying it casually. However much you can give, give that much. In any case, I'm still saying the same thing: the bride price isn't collected by me and her dad, but for the two of them to use for starting a family and having children in the future!"

Zhao Lifen didn't doubt the truth of Luo Jiaxin's words. After all, they only had Li Yuncui this one only daughter. It was impossible for them to be like other families, taking the bride price money to support Li Yuncui's older or younger brothers or whatnot.

"Alright, 88,888 it is. We won't haggle over the price. It also counts as doing our part to help Yaohua and Yuncui establish a family and career!"

Wang Zhangtian gritted his teeth and agreed.

Not long ago, he had just helped Wang Yaohua buy a car, and the loan hasn't even been paid off yet.

Now they have to come up with 88,888 in bride price money. For the Wang family, this is actually no small pressure.

After all, their family was not well-off to begin with.

Wang Zhangtian and Zhao Lifen, as they grew older, not only did their income not rise, but it actually dropped quite a bit.

Not long ago, Wang Zhangtian was laid off by the factory. When he went to interview at other factories, no one wanted him; they disliked his old age.

He searched for a long time but couldn't find a job. In the end, he could only go work as a security guard for someone.

Zhao Lifen's situation is about the same. Now she works for a domestic service company outside, doing cleaning work.

And Wang Yaohua has been lying flat for a long time. After being with Li Yuncui, he did want to make something of himself, but because his education and abilities couldn't keep up, and he was unwilling to work in a factory, in the end he could only deliver takeout in the county town.

Fortunately, takeout unit prices are still decent these days. His salary is actually not low; it's just a bit hard.

Seeing Wang Zhangtian agree so readily, Li Zhenxing hurriedly said:

"Actually, this much bride price isn't needed. Just a token gesture is fine. Don't take my wife's words to heart. She's just a woman; what does she know? When the time comes, just seal a red envelope and send it over; that'll count as the bride price being set!"

Wang Zhangtian hurriedly said:

"It's needed, it's needed. 88,888 actually isn't that much. Let's pick a date, finalize the marriage. At the engagement ceremony, we'll bring the bride price money!"

Luo Jiaxin smiled:

"Father-in-law, didn't expect you to be so generous. Then my Yuncui marrying your son — I can rest easy!"

Her family has no son needing to save up bride price money, but that doesn't mean her family doesn't need money!

Previously, Li Zhenxing did business and owed a whole buttload of debt. To this day, it still hasn't been fully repaid!

With this 88,888 from the Wang family, they'll probably be able to clear the debts on hand.

When the time comes, no one will be chasing debts anymore, and she can go back to living in the city.

This meeting, on the surface, the two families were harmonious and joyful.

After eating a meal, Wang Zhangtian took his wife and son, said goodbye, and left.

They got into the small sedan they had driven over.

Zhao Lifen immediately dropped her smile, unable to hold back from cursing:

"That Luo Jiaxin really dares to open her mouth. She actually has the nerve to ask for 88,888. She doesn't even look at what kind of goods her daughter is!"

Wang Zhangtian wore a long face:

"Can you say a few words less?"

Zhao Lifen, however, said:

"I'm just saying, I'm not afraid of them hearing it. We Cantonese people, when have we ever had such a high bride price? She's not afraid of people laughing at her either! Besides, we're not that well-off either. 88,000 is no small sum!"

Wang Zhangtian gave a cold laugh:

"You think 88,000 is high? Good thing your son didn't find someone from out-of-province. If he had found someone from out-of-province, wouldn't you have even bigger objections?"

Zhao Lifen then said:

"Of course. That's why I told Yaohua long ago, he can find anyone, regardless of height, weight, looks, or skin color, as long as she's not from out-of-province!"

Wang Yaohua was driving the car, a dry smile hanging on his face:

"Mom, Yun Cui's mom already said it, didn't she? This bride price money is for me and Yun Cui to start a family and build a career in the future. Anyway, the money ultimately ends up in my hands. Why do you have such big objections?"

Zhao Lifen, however, said:

"I think she has ulterior motives!"

Wang Zhangtian said coldly:

"Nonsense. How are they ulterior motives? They don't have a son, just this one only daughter. In the future, when the two of them pass away, everything in their family will belong to our son. Our son gets to marry their daughter, you should be secretly laughing!"

Zhao Lifen, however, said:

"If it's not ulterior motives, then it's deliberately making things difficult for me! Anyway, my intuition tells me exactly that!"

Not to mention, sometimes a woman's intuition is just that inexplicable, yet strangely accurate!

And at this time, the other side.

Inside the Li Family's dilapidated house.

Li Yuncui lowered her head, only now asking the doubt in her heart:

"Mom, why did you make Yaohua's family give so much bride price? This doesn't comply with the regulations!"

Seeing that Wang Zhangtian, Wang Yaohua, Zhao Lifen, and the others had already left, Luo Jiaxin only now spoke openly:

"Isn't it all because of your deadbeat dad! The debts he incurred doing business, we still haven't paid them off! This 88,000 bride price, 10,000 for you, the remaining 78,000, to pay off your dad's debts!"

Li Zhenxing originally still had quite a few complaints, but after hearing Luo Jiaxin put it this way, he had nothing more to say, just burying his head and smoking cigarettes.

Recently those creditors have been pressing even more urgently.

Indeed, we must hurry and clear the debt.

Even if we can't clear it all, we have to pay back a portion first.

Otherwise, when the time comes, if those creditors come to collect debts at Li Yuncui and Wang Yaohua's wedding ceremony, the face lost would be the Li Family's!

Li Yuncui heard this, but was unwilling:

"Mom, didn't you say that 88,000 was to be kept for me and Yaohua to use for starting a family?"

Luo Jiaxin, however, said:

"You two starting a family won't use much money. You can't even give birth anymore, how much money could you spend? If you could give birth, then you'd need to raise children, I'd have nothing to say. But you can't give birth, so this money must be used where it counts!"

Seeing Li Yuncui's face still very unwilling, Luo Jiaxin then said:

"You'd better not be unwilling. He is your birth father, you helping your birth father pay off debts, isn't that only right and proper? Do you still remember, from childhood to adulthood, your dad spoiled you to the heavens! If you're not even willing to help with this bit, then you really are a white-eyed wolf!"