Reborn as a Tough Army Wife-Chapter 59 - 57: Demand for a Dowry (Fourth Update, 40+)

Fang Xiu, seeing Luo Zhiming dare to yell at her, grabbed him and snapped, "Can I even be compared to your sister? I’ve never done anything as shameless as she has."

"And even with someone like me, didn’t your mom still pick on me? Last time she even said that if it weren’t for the belief that your brother’s leg couldn’t be healed, neither of us sisters would have wished to marry into the Luo Family, claiming that you absolutely must marry a city girl."

"Alright, alright, it was just an offhand remark, why are you making such a big fuss." Luo Zhiming knew his mother was harsh with words and had no choice but to coax Fang Xiu in a soft voice,

"Madam, I call you Madam, and I’m telling you, when we get back you’d better not talk nonsense. If you can’t keep your mouth shut, stay in your own room in the afternoon and don’t come out, lest you say something wrong and make my mom unhappy."

Only then was Fang Xiu satisfied, letting go of Luo Zhiming and muttering quietly, "Always worried about your mom being unhappy, as if I’m not unhappy."

As they talked, in just a few minutes, they arrived at the Luo Family’s place.

Zhou Yunmei had already heard from Luo Cuilan that Luo Zhiming and Fang Xiu went back to her parents’ home in the morning. She guessed they were likely called back by Fang Pingying.

Without speaking, Fang Pingying went straight into the cooking house to help Luo Honglan make lunch.

In the courtyard, Zhou Yunmei looked at the couple Fang Xiu and her expression, already quite dark, grew even darker. She looked at Luo Zhiming and asked, "What now, visited your mother-in-law’s place again? What chores did you help with at her house today?"

Knowing the situation at home, Luo Zhiming didn’t dare talk back and chuckled at Zhou Yunmei, "Mom, listen to you, what chores could there be at this time? Xiu’er and I were just playing outside."

Zhou Yunmei really wasn’t in the mood to talk to him, glanced at him, and casually commanded, "Don’t go out too much unless it’s necessary. If something happens at home, we still need to be able to find you."

Luo Zhiming nodded, then asked, "Mom, now that such an incident has happened with sister, what are we going to do?"

Hearing Luo Zhiming bring it up, Zhou Yun clenched her teeth in anger, "What else can we do? I wish she would die, making such a disgrace over and over again, soon it’ll make me too ashamed to face anyone in Luojia Village." freēwēbηovel.c૦m

"What’s there to be ashamed about? Our own family matters are no one else’s business. Anyway, it’s come to this, just let the Zhang family give the dowry, we’ll immediately start preparing the dowry and choose an auspicious date to get her married, and that’s the end of it."

Luo Zhiming actually didn’t see the big deal, since societal norms have changed, and there are cases where betrothed couples have faced a similar situation and were still accepted back. He nonchalantly consoled Zhou Yunmei.

Sitting in the courtyard, Luo Zhiyong felt extremely irritated. His own sister causing such a scandal, he always felt he was partly responsible, barely being at home throughout the year, not having enough time to take care of family matters.

He sighed deeply, also persuading Zhou Yunmei, "Mom, I say the same, given how things are now, scolding or beating won’t help, the only solution is to let them get married."

Zhou Yunmei nodded, now indeed there seemed to be no other good solution, and getting her married would settle everything once and for all. She really was too tired to worry about them anymore.

"Cui Lan, come over here," Zhou Yunmei called Luo Cuilan out from inside the house.

When Luo Cuilan came out, her eyes were red, and she was also feeling down.

After all, it’s her own daughter. Zhou Yunmei, seeing her like this, didn’t scold her anymore, but said to her, "In a moment I’ll go to the head of the village to ask about finding a lucky day this month for your marriage from those who watch the feng shui in the village. As for the betrothal money from Jianguo’s side, do you want to discuss it privately with him, or should I talk to his parents when they come later?"

As soon as betrothal money was mentioned, Luo Cuilan’s complexion started to look troubled, "Mom, you know what Jianguo’s family is like, although his stepmom is kind to him, after all, she is a stepmother, how much money can she take out for the betrothal?"

Zhou Yunmei was losing her patience again, her voice starting to rise, "So what are you planning to do? Just roll up a bundle and marry over there without even a bit of dowry?"

"Isn’t it up to the bride’s family to prepare the dowry? Didn’t my older brother and his wife say they would prepare dowries for me and Honglan?" Luo Cuilan said, glancing at Luo Zhiyong.

Luo Zhiyong’s eyebrows tensed slightly, as he didn’t understand the meaning of Luo Cuilan’s words.

He and Fang Pingying had been married for less than two months, and during the month of their wedding, he happened to be at home, handing over all the money to Zhou Yunmei, keeping only five yuan on himself, and this month is not over yet, the salary has not been sent.

Luo Cuilan thought he could find money to buy her a dowry. At the beginning, it was said to be arranged around Chinese New Year, saving up a bit then and asking Zhou Yunmei to contribute too, but now it was still two to three months away from New Year.

Before Luo Zhiyong could ask, Zhou Yunmei, unable to endure any longer, burst out at Luo Cuilan, "What exactly has Jianguo done to charm you so much that even though you’re not yet married, you’re so eager to speak for Jianguo’s family, wanting them to not pay a single cent for the betrothal and expecting our family to buy all your dowry?"

Pausing for a moment, Zhou Yunmei then continued, "According to the customs of our village, however much money the groom’s family brings in betrothal, the bride’s family should return an equal amount in dowry. I don’t care about your older brother’s side, but I don’t have much dowry to offer you."

As soon as Zhou Yunmei finished speaking, Fang Xiu also added, "That’s right, second sister, that’s the rule, you know. I’ve only heard that when a daughter marries well, the bride’s family can make a profit, but I’ve never heard of the bride’s family having to pay out. The dowry I brought when I married in, too, was bought with the betrothal money given by this side."

What Fang Xiu said was indeed the truth, Luo Cuilan couldn’t argue against that.

She thought for a moment, then turned to Luo Zhiyong and asked, "Big Brother, do you think the same way?"

Luo Zhiyong initially looked at Luo Cuilan without saying anything, only after a while did he ask her with a mild expression, "Cuilan, how much dowry do you think we should buy for you to be appropriate?"

"Didn’t you all say you’d buy my dowry?" Luo Cuilan spoke as if it was a matter of course, "I don’t want too much, just the same as what Fang Xiu had, the four main items, plus a few new outfits would be fine."

As Luo Cuilan finished speaking, Luo Zhiyong’s expression darkened, and his face showed a trace of suppressed emotion, feeling a chill in his heart.

He suddenly felt that his family members were not just unsympathetic, but completely selfish, always considering only themselves, without a thought for others.

Zhou Yunmei was like this, and so was Luo Cuilan.

Although Zhou Yunmei hadn’t spoken up about Luo Cuilan’s request for dowry money, her previous statement, "I don’t care about your older brother’s side," actually indicated that she also agreed with Luo Cuilan asking Luo Zhiyong for a dowry.

The more he thought, the colder Luo Zhiyong felt, realizing the years of effort he put into the family truly went unappreciated.

He took a slow deep breath, looked at Luo Cuilan calmly, and said, "Your big brother is just an ordinary person, I only get that much money a month in the military, apart from providing for your food and drink, I have no other ability, I can’t afford the dowry you want."

After a brief pause, he stood up, decisively stating, "Let’s do as Mom said, Jianguo’s family gives as much betrothal money, and you buy as much dowry otherwise, you can choose for yourself whether or not you want to marry." (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a recommendation ticket or a monthly ticket at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)