Chapter 106: Chapter 106

"Alright, alright, we’ll do as you say! I’ll go to my daughter’s house this afternoon and ask my granddaughter; she should know when Yongsheng can get a break and come home! Then I’ll let you know! We also need to quickly prepare all the necessary items for the wedding!" Grandpa Wang, having married off a daughter and welcomed two daughters-in-law, knew exactly what needed to be prepared for a son’s wedding.

"Alright then! We’ll just wait at home!" Grandpa Niu also felt relieved.

"Brother Wang, let’s discuss the dowry today as well! You can prepare everything at once! Saves us from coming back and forth!" Grandma Niu saw that everything else was settled and hurriedly brought up the dowry.

"Ah... okay, okay! Speak your mind!" Grandpa Wang was momentarily taken aback and stammered out a response.

He originally thought that after asking his son, the whole family would then formally visit to discuss the marriage. He didn’t expect the matter to be brought up so soon, and he couldn’t avoid responding.

"Grandpa Wang, my daughter is one of the best around these parts, she’s quick at work and educated, able to handle household chores from a young age, both inside and out. She hasn’t contributed much to the family yet, and now she’s getting married. Honestly, I feel a bit reluctant!" Grandpa Niu began to boast, praising the girl’s looks and efficiency in work.

The ultimate goal was simple, to make it easier for Grandpa Wang to accept when the dowry was finally mentioned.

"Yes, yes, yes! We all know Yingying is an outstanding girl, and our family is truly blessed to have such a girl!" Grandpa Wang responded.

It was true; he really liked the young girl. Latest content published on NoveI~Fire.net

"Brother Wang! Our daughter and Yongsheng fancy each other, we have no choice. Otherwise, her aunt had introduced a city boy to her! He liked our girl and promised a dowry of 200 yuan, but Yingying was adamantly against it! Can you believe this mess?" Grandma Niu chimed in, noting her husband’s glance and clearly explaining the situation.

"Ah... well! Fate, fate!" Grandpa Wang started to catch on. With these two discussing back and forth, without directly mentioning the dowry amount, he sensed what was coming.

"Isn’t it just fate! We really can’t do anything about it, us rural folks, where could we come up with such a large amount of money! So, we won’t make things difficult for Brother Wang, just a token dowry of 88 yuan will suffice! It’s a lucky number!" Grandma Niu finally laid out her terms.

Grandpa Wang was dumbfounded!

Even Li Xiuying, who stepped in from outside, was dumbfounded.

It could get you two or three brides nowadays, but what were they saying?

Just as a token, 88 yuan is enough!

So, the implication was, if they weren’t making it difficult, it was 88 yuan!

And if they were to make it difficult? How much would they ask for then? The city introduction offered 200 yuan, so maybe they were also considering 200 yuan?

"This... brother, sister, you two have already discussed and agreed on this? Is there no negotiating the 88 yuan dowry?" Grandpa Wang, still in shock, finally asked.

He hadn’t spent even 88 yuan combined for his elder two sons’ marriages! And now for the third, such a large amount was demanded!

He did have savings, but even putting it all together wouldn’t reach half of 88 yuan, what to do now?

"Yes! Eighty-eight yuan is very little; Yongsheng works in the city, surely he can come up with it? The other day Yongsheng told me himself, after the probation period, he could earn 35 yuan a month! It’s just two or three months’ salary!" Grandpa Niu, noticing Grandpa Wang’s reaction, said cheerfully.

"True, but Yongsheng has only been working for a few days, we can’t pull this money together in such a short time! Could you perhaps ask a bit less, so the two kids can have some left for their wedding expenses?" Li Xiuying stood by, anxiously asking.

"Yes, brother, sister, look, we’re all just rural folks... how can we gather so much money?" Grandpa Wang echoed.

"Honestly, it’s the kids’ mutual affection that’s brought this about, otherwise, our Yingying would have been married into the city long ago! Never mind 88 yuan, 200 yuan and even a bicycle would be included! Eighty-eight yuan really isn’t much!" Grandpa Niu gave a look, and Grandma Niu immediately understood.

The two had already agreed at home that 80 yuan was their minimum, but after saying 88, they didn’t want to lower it.

"Old man, the food’s almost ready, let’s eat first; we can discuss the dowry when Yongsheng comes back!" Li Xiuying concluded, looking at Grandpa Niu and his wife, "Is that alright?"

"Alright!" Grandpa Niu agreed with one word.

After all, their son was determined to marry Yingying, and they were convinced they’d get the dowry!

"Good! Please stay a while longer; I’ll go check if the food’s ready!" Li Xiuying gave Grandpa Wang a look, clearly signaling him to drop the dowry discussion.

After all, they didn’t even know their son’s intentions, or even if he was actually involved with the girl, starting dowry talks seemed premature.

Li Xiuying worked quickly, and soon white rice was on the table, along with a stir-fried potato dish and braised dried green beans, all with bits of meat.

Grandpa Niu and his wife were practically drooling.

How many years had it been since they last tasted white rice? The little they bought by tightening their belts went straight into their grandchildren’s mouths, the adults couldn’t bear to have a taste.

The Wang Family could actually afford rice! Life seemed good for them!

Unlike the village rumors saying they were struggling so much?

Nonetheless, if they could eat rice like that, how could they not afford 88 yuan? Who’d believe it?

Even Li Xiuying was a bit confused, momentarily distracted by her joy of her son having a girlfriend. She brought out all the good stuff at home, yet by the time it all clicked, it was too late to do anything else. She had no choice but to tough it out.

Grandpa Niu and his wife chowed down heartily, even forgetting about maintaining appearances, their tongues practically swallowed from delight.

By the time they saw the guests off, it was nearly noon, so there was no way they could head back to work, and many work points would definitely be deducted.

"Old man, let’s skip work this afternoon, you go ask the team leader for leave! We’ll hurry over to our daughter’s house, ask Xiao Xue when the milk factory gets a break to get Yongsheng back and get the details!" Li Xiuying cleared the table after seeing the guests off, not forgetting to remind the old man.

"Alright! That was my thought too! Let’s hurry over there! You get packed, I’ll ask for leave right now! I’ll go!" The old man quickly made his way out the door.

The old couple asked for leave, locked up, and hurried to their daughter’s house. Meanwhile, Bai Ruxue and her siblings were in the fields wrestling with the corn stalks.

Though exhausted and panting, none of them complained or took a break, just kept working.