Chapter 111: 109. Getting Married Costs a Layer of Skin (Seeking first-time subscriptions, seeking monthly votes!)

On February 6th, Zhang Sicheng, Liu Lu, and Zhang Siyan arranged some of their own affairs.

Zhang Sicheng and Liu Lu had been prepared for a long time, so they finished quickly; they had already gotten everything ready.

Over at Biaoxue Company, they scheduled the game's launch for New Year's Eve, and Wu Ying took the lead in choosing to stay behind to work overtime.

This was one of the reasons why Zhang Sicheng chose to go over so early, because he did not want to be the last one to return to preside over the big picture.

Although this time period was not the best time for a game launch, for a small company like Biaoxue, it actually did not make much of a difference; it could be considered finding an auspicious time slot.

Things were also simple for Zhang Siyan; relying on her relationship with Qian Li, there was no need to say much about these matters at all.

"You should get some good rest. I've seen Zhang Shu running back and forth quite often during this time, and every time, my heart aches for him. You should also be considerate of Zhang Shu and not let him worry too much," Qian Li said.

During this period, Zhang Ran had indeed been coming over to see them often. Now that Zhang Siyan and the others had their own company and office space, it was basically enough to go to Kangshilan once a week.

Although their company was not very large in scale right now, it already had seven or eight employees, and the monthly cash flow and turnover were not low.

Of course, Zhang Siyan could also feel Zhang Ran's care and love, and she said with a smile, "I know. Alright, stop talking about me. What about you?

You shouldn't be too tired either. Our career has just started, and it won't do to wear yourself out. You should also find time to go keep your uncle and aunt company."

Qian Li waved her hand and said, "Forget it. Right now, whenever I see them, it's just arguing. It's meaningless. Let's wait until they cool off before talking about it."

"What's wrong? What conflict are you two having again?" Zhang Siyan asked hurriedly.

Qian Li complained, "What else could it be? They urge me to go on blind dates every single day. I don't know what kind of stimulation they received, but ever since last month, whenever they see me, there is only one topic: finding a boyfriend, getting married, and having children. I'm almost annoyed to death by them."

Upon hearing that it was this, Zhang Siyan immediately breathed a sigh of relief, "You aren't young anymore; you should consider this matter. Don't be afraid of marriage because of my situation; I just had bad luck."

Zhang Siyan's tone was relaxed and her expression was natural. Seeing this, a heartfelt smile appeared on Qian Li's face.

Being able to say these words so calmly, Qian Li knew that her best friend had truly moved on.

"It has nothing to do with you. I just don't want to get married right now. What's so good about marriage? It's just daily chores, arguing every day over trivial matters—it's enough to annoy you to death."

"Are you not planning on getting married at all?"

"I really do have that thought."

"Then what will you do when you're old?"

"Isn't there still Susu? When the time comes, I'll give all my assets to Susu and let her provide for my old age."

"Hehe, I don't even count on her to provide for my old age, what are you counting on?"

"Go on, Susu isn't like that."

Just as Zhang Ran's family was making preparations, in Gan Province.

Liu Kai's family was eating lunch, but the atmosphere at the dinner table was not very good.

"Xiao Kai, how did your talk with Panpan's family go? What did her parents say?" Ever since Liu Kai arrived home, Xiao Chunhua had been asking incessantly. Although Liu Mao did not speak, his eyes also revealed a look of inquiry.

Liu Kai sighed and said, "Mom, why don't we just forget it? I'm not in a rush to get married right now."

"Still not in a rush? How old are you! Ah!" Once these words were out, Xiao Chunhua immediately became anxious, her voice rising by an octave.

"You'll be twenty-seven this New Year. If you can't find someone now, you'll be a bachelor for the rest of your life."

"Haven't you seen the news? Your generation will have thirty million bachelors. If you don't look now, it will be even harder to find someone in the future."

Liu Kai's father, Liu Mao, interrupted his wife's nagging and said, "Is it that their family is asking for too much in bride price?"

Liu Kai did not speak, but he nodded silently.

Liu Mao took a deep breath and said, "How much? Our family still has some savings on hand; it should be enough."

"Two hundred and eighty thousand," Liu Kai said in a low voice.

"How much? Are they selling their daughter?" As soon as Xiao Chunhua heard this number, she immediately refused to accept it.

Liu Kai wore a bitter smile. In fact, his girlfriend's mother did not just put forward this one condition; the bride price was only a part of it. There was also the requirement that a marital home must be bought in the city, and it must be written in both of their names.

Although they did not require the house to be bought in full, they did say that the down payment could not be less than fifty percent.

And that was not all; there was also a car.

In any case, adding all the miscellaneous things together, it couldn't be done without one million.

This wasn't getting married at all; it was completely skinning their family alive.

This was also the reason why Liu Kai hadn't said much since he got back.

It was simply too much. He knew his family's situation; let alone one million, they couldn't even come up with five hundred thousand.

When Liu Mao heard this number, he was also slightly startled. Although he had some psychological preparation, he hadn't expected it to be this much.

However, thinking of his son's age, he hardened his heart and said, "Two hundred and eighty thousand is two hundred and eighty thousand. We can come up with it. You go find Panpan tomorrow and tell her we agree."

Although Xiao Chunhua also felt uncomfortable in her heart, thinking of her son, she did not dwell on this issue. Instead, she said, "Sigh, let it be. Besides, this girl Panpan is good-looking, she's a city girl, a university graduate, works at a bank, and her personality is good too. This bride price is about right."

She was actually convincing herself; otherwise, she really would have been somewhat reluctant.

But there was no help for it. Who told her son to be so old and still not married? People his age already had sons who could run errands, and the two old folks were anxious.

When Liu Kai heard his parents say this, although he felt somewhat moved, he still feigned a relaxed tone and said, "Forget it, there's no need. Besides, it's not like I can't find a girlfriend."

Although he said that, he couldn't bear to part with his girlfriend. Thinking of her silly appearance, Liu Kai couldn't help but feel a stinging pain in his heart when he said those words.

His girlfriend didn't even know about these conditions yet; they were all things he had discussed with her mother at the time, and he hadn't dared to tell his girlfriend.

But to ask him to skin his parents alive for this—no, not just skin them, but strip away their flesh and blood too—he couldn't bear it even more.

"Then go find one! Find a silly girl like your sister, that way you won't have to spend a single cent." Xiao Chunhua vented her anger on her son.

Liu Kai did not speak, but Liu Mao heard the implication in his son's words and said, "Does her family have other conditions?"

Since it had come to this, Liu Kai did not hide it anymore and said directly, "A house, fifty percent down payment, at least five hundred thousand, and a car—ten-plus thousand is the starting price."

Once these conditions were out, the two old folks were truly dumbfounded. They had originally prepared for a major financial blow, but they hadn't expected the bloodletting to be this severe.

The atmosphere suddenly fell silent. After a long while, Liu Mao said, "You discuss it with her family and see if the down payment can be thirty percent first, and if we can buy a cheaper car for commuting first, will that work?"

It was really because Liu Kai was getting old, and he had finally found a decent partner who was a city girl with a good job and high education; the two old folks really did not want to wait any longer.

"How about this, when your sister comes back this year, let them also contribute some money, at least two hundred thousand," Xiao Chunhua said, gritting her teeth.