https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-8-The-Matchmaker-s-Reward-System-Truly-Amazing-/12849105/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-10-From-Frugality-to-Luxury-is-Easy-From-Luxury-to-Frugality-is-Hard/12849109/
Chapter 9: Marrying a Wife Is No Easy Task!
Chapter 9: Marrying a Wife Is No Easy Task!
Returning to the village, Deng Shirong made a silent decision to buy a bicycle after he successfully arranged the marriage between Deng Changfu and Guan Yongying and received the wedding gift. Borrowing a bike every time wasn't a sustainable solution.
After returning the bike, Deng Shirong headed to Deng Yunqiang’s house.
"Uncle Jiu!"
"Grandpa Jiu!"
Seeing Deng Shirong arrive, Deng Yunqiang and his wife, along with their three children, all greeted him warmly. Their eldest son, Deng Changfu, eagerly brought out tobacco, matches, and a water pipe.
Deng Shirong took the pipe and got straight to the point. "I’ve confirmed the details. The bride’s family is asking for 288 yuan as a dowry, 300 pounds of rice, and a sewing machine. Additionally, Changfu, you’ll need to take the girl to get six new outfits. These are all the conditions they’ve set."
Deng Yunqiang and his wife both sighed with relief but also furrowed their brows. They were relieved that the bride’s family hadn’t demanded an exorbitant price, and the conditions were within a reasonable range. However, they were worried because they simply couldn’t come up with the money.
After all, despite being hardworking and having enough labor at home, they lived in a rural area where earning money was extremely difficult. They had saved up only about 300 yuan over the years.
Coming up with 500 to 600 yuan at once was simply beyond their means. However, they weren’t overly concerned. If necessary, they could borrow from relatives. After their eldest son married, it would be the turn of their two daughters, and they would receive substantial dowries then. Borrowing from relatives shouldn’t be a problem.
After a moment’s consideration, Deng Yunqiang made a decisive decision. "The conditions set by the bride’s family are reasonable. We have no objections."
Seeing that his cousin hadn’t haggled and had readily agreed to the conditions, Deng Shirong nodded in satisfaction. "That makes things easier. However, Yunqiang, I suggest you offer the bride’s family a bit more as a dowry to ensure the marriage happens as quickly as possible."
This statement left the five members of the Deng Yunqiang household stunned.
Changfu’s mother couldn’t help but ask, "Uncle Jiu, we’ve already shown great sincerity by agreeing to their conditions. Why should we offer them more money? Is there something we’re missing?"
Deng Shirong countered, "You’ve probably heard about the village’s plan to divide the fields after the harvest, right?"
Deng Yunqiang replied, "The whole village has heard about it, of course."
Deng Shirong took a puff from the pipe, set it aside, and explained, "The fields will be divided based on the number of people. If the bride marries into your family at this critical time, it means her family will receive one less share of the land, while your family will get an extra share.
Moreover, if the young couple acts quickly, it’s possible that your grandchild could be born before the land division is complete. That would mean your family gets yet another share of the land.
The importance of land goes without saying. Given the significant advantage your family will gain, don’t you think it’s fair to offer the bride’s family a bit more?"
His words were based on solid reasoning. If his memory served him right, their village, Bangjie, had started dividing the fields this year, but only the more fertile lands were distributed. The less fertile lands and the mountains would be divided next year.
In his previous life, Deng Changfu and Guan Yongying had arranged their marriage around the time the village started dividing the land. Guan Yongying had already received her share of the land from her family before she married, and by the time their child was born, the land division was already complete.
So, in his previous life, Deng Changfu always spoke of this with regret, saying that if he had married Guan Yongying just a month earlier, their child might have been able to get a share of the land.
Hearing Deng Shirong’s explanation, Deng Yunqiang’s family all had a sudden realization.
Deng Yunqiang nodded repeatedly, saying, "Uncle Ji, you’re absolutely right. The dowry price and other demands proposed by the future in-laws are all within a reasonable range. If we don’t voluntarily increase the dowry, they probably wouldn’t agree to let their daughter marry so early. They’d wait until their village has finished distributing the land."
Deng Shirong smiled and said, "Exactly. If your family doesn’t want to increase the dowry, we can follow the normal wedding process, and they can release the bride whenever they see fit.
However, if you want to secure an additional share, or even two shares, of land, you’ll need to offer a higher dowry. Then I can try to expedite the process and get the bride as soon as possible.
The final decision is up to you all."
Land has always been crucial for the common people, whether in the past or the present. Without even consulting his wife and children, Deng Yunqiang made up his mind, "Uncle Ji, there’s no need to discuss it. I agree to increase the dowry. I just want to know how much would be appropriate?"
His wife and children also looked at Deng Shirong for an answer.
Deng Shirong thought for a moment and said, "We all know how important land is to us farmers. I suggest increasing the dowry to 688 yuan. It’s just an additional 400 yuan, but it could mean a lot more land and mountain plots. This deal is absolutely worth it, and we might not even know if the other side is willing yet!"
Hearing this, Deng Yunqiang and his wife felt a huge pressure.
Their family only had a little over 300 yuan in savings. They already had a 300 yuan shortfall for their son’s wedding, and now with an additional 400 yuan increase in the dowry, they would be short by 700 yuan. The pressure was immense!
However, Uncle Ji’s words made a lot of sense. Although 400 yuan was a significant amount, it was nothing compared to the potential gain of additional land and mountain plots.
Deng Changfu also felt the pressure. He was one of the main laborers in the family, but he had no money of his own. Marrying a wife would rely entirely on his parents’ financial support.
He was well aware of their financial situation and knew that his parents couldn’t come up with that much money. If there was no other way, they would have to follow the normal wedding process!
His two younger sisters, hearing the terrifying dowry price, couldn’t help but feel a flutter of excitement. They began to fantasize about how much dowry they might receive when it was their turn to marry.
All of this happened in a matter of moments.
Deng Yunqiang said, "Uncle Ji, I agree with the dowry price you suggested, but you know our situation. We definitely can’t come up with that much money right now. So, I can’t give you an answer just yet."
With that, Deng Yunqiang looked outside, seeing that it was still early in the day, and stood up, "Uncle Ji, let me go and borrow money from our relatives right now. If I can gather enough, I’ll ask you to help expedite the process and bring my future daughter-in-law home as soon as possible.
If I can’t manage to get the money, we’ll have to follow the normal wedding process. That’s just the way it is."
Deng Shirong also stood up and said, "Alright, I’ll head back then. Let me know tonight if you can gather the money."
"Okay, I understand!"
(End of Chapter)
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