The Dowry

When Qibao got home, she saw her grandfather sitting in the main hall, flipping through a worn-out almanac.

"Grandpa, what are you reading?" Qibao asked.

The old man smiled: "I have to find a suitable time to propose marriage to your eldest brother. I think half a month from now will be an auspicious day."

"Oh! And what about the dowry?" Qibao asked.

"We haven't discussed it yet." The old man said: "I'll let your Grandma arrange it in the next few days. It can't be too shabby."

Mrs. Wang came in and said: "Later, I'll go to town with my eldest daughter-in-law to buy some things. We can't forget about the jewelry and other head ornaments!"

Qibao smiled: "Grandma, I plan to make a diamond head ornament myself. Sister Die'er will love it!"

Mrs. Wang looked at her closely: "Qibao, do you mean those glowing diamonds you showed me before?"

Qibao nodded.

"Come here, my dear." Mrs. Wang said, pulling Qibao towards her: "Those diamonds are incredibly precious. You spent the whole night by yourself digging them up. You shouldn't use them just like that. I have some silver, we can buy more of this type later. It won't be too short!"

Qibao smiled: "Grandma, Sister Die'er is your granddaughter-in-law and my future sister-in-law. We are all family, it's worth it! I have a lot of these diamonds, which were originally meant to be made into jewelry."

Mrs. Wang thought for a moment and said: "Well, since it's your sincere intention, I'll go tell your aunt later so that she can remember your kindness!"

Qibao said helplessly: "Grandma, why do you need to say it deliberately? Auntie knows it all! It's all family members who say it. Remember it or not! There are still some clothes left from the previous reward. When the time comes, pick out two pieces and use them as a betrothal gift!"

Mrs. Wang refused to accept it and said: "Qibao, that cloth is a treasure, it was given by the Emperor! Didn't we agree that it's all yours?"

Qibao smiled and whispered in Mrs. Wang's ear: "Grandma, I have a lot of clothes, but you don't see them. They were given to me by my master. They are not comparable to the materials used by us mortals!"

Mrs. Wang was surprised and asked: "Really? Why haven't I seen you wear it before?"

Qibao said: "Those clothes are not ordinary, they are precious clothes, how can they be easily worn!"

Mrs. Wang thought for a moment and said: "That's right! But what kind of material are the clothes that immortals wear? I've never seen it before!"

Qibao said: "I'll show it to grandma when you get a chance. It's invulnerable to swords and guns, water and fire!"

Mrs. Wang opened her mouth in surprise, then waved her hands and said: "There is such a treasure? Forget it, grandma won't look at it. My old eyes can't tarnish the immortal family's precious clothes!"

Qibao said: "Grandma, what are you talking about! It's just that the styles of those clothes are not suitable for grandma, otherwise I will get you a few pieces to wear!" Anyway, the things in her space are endless, and no matter how much she takes, the space can be automatically replenished.

Mrs. Wang said: "Qibao, your grandmother is not worthy of wearing fairy clothes! No, these are given to you by your master, you must cherish them and never give them to others, not even to grandma, me, or your mother, understand?"

Qibao smiled and agreed: "Got it, got it. I'll be the only one wearing these clothes!"

Mrs. Wang said: "That's good!"

The old man watched the two talking closely, his head tilted as he tried to figure out what they were discussing.

"What is this chatter between you and Qibao, wife?" He asked: "Is it something I shouldn't know?"

Mrs. Wang replied: "Go, go, go! You're prying blindly into everything, so you don't care what I say! I'm not going to tell you, and after that, I stuck my back out and went to find Zhang to discuss the matter of the betrothal gift."

"Why's my wife getting so bossy these days?" The old man muttered angrily: "Can't even ask a simple question!"

Qibao laughed as she walked arm in arm with her grandfather: "Grandpa, why are you arguing with grandmother? You know how she's always been, she's just teasing you!"

The old man sighed: "Anyway, I have a higher status in this family than her. I have to ask your grandmother in advance for any decision I make. On paper, I make the decision, but in reality, I still have to listen to your grandmother!"

Qibao smiled and said: "This shows that you are a good husband who respects his wife. You are a good role model for me and my brothers. Look at how prosperous our family is now. Isn't this all thanks to Grandpa and Grandma? Besides, Grandma also cares about you. I saw her making new clothes for you under the oil lamp last night!"

When the old man heard what Qibao said, he grinned, then restrained his happy smile and said: "That stubborn woman. Who knows how her eyes stand being sewn so late at night. I must talk sense into her."

Qibao smiled. It was quite fun to listen to her grandpa and grandma bickering. They really cared about each other, but they always said things on purpose to annoy each other. It was really cute!

Qibao smiled and said: "Grandpa, I'll go out for a walk with you!"

The old man nodded and said: "Okay, go talk with grandpa!"

The grandfather and granddaughter went out arm in arm, looking extremely intimate.

Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Zhang discussed the matter for a while. In the end, they agreed it would be best to go to town for more options. So, they made plans, said goodbye to everyone at home, and hurried off.

In the afternoon, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law returned home, looking depressed.

Qibao asked: "Grandma, what happened? Why did you all come back empty-handed?"

Mrs. Wang said: "I went to the cloth shop and looked around. Although there are a lot of good fabrics, they are not too outstanding for the Wen family. After all, the girl is the daughter of an official and the eldest daughter-in-law. It is quite unfair for her to marry into our peasant family. We can't be careless about the betrothal gift."

Mrs. Zhang said: "Yes! So we plan to go to the city in a couple of days to have a look. There are more styles and choices in the city."

Qibao thought about it and felt that it was right, and was considering whether she should go there!

"Grandma Xu, Aunt, why don't you let me handle this? I'll have someone send the necessary things over from the capital as quickly as possible!" Jing Chen said.

Mrs. Wang asked: "This... there is only half a month, is it in time?"

Jing Chen said: "If they travel day and night, they should be able to arrive early."

Mrs. Zhang asked: "Will this be too hard?"

Jing Chen said: "No, if two people take turns traveling, it won't be too hard."

Mrs. Wang said: "Okay, then I'll trouble Jing Chen. I'll go get the silver right away."

Su Chenyu quickly grabbed Mrs. Wang and said: "Grandma Xu, you don't have to pay the money. I haven't given you the profit from the fruit wine yet!"

Mrs. Wang thought for a moment and said: "Well, if it's not enough, you must tell me. This is our family's happy event, and we can't ask you to pay for it. It's against the rules."

Su Chenyu said: "Grandma Xu, I understand this, but there is no way that there is not enough money. How can the profit from this fruit wine not be enough? It is more than enough!"

Mrs. Zhang said gratefully: "Thank you Jing Chen and Chenyu, otherwise I don't know what to do!"

Su Chenyu said: "Aunt, my cousin and I live and eat at the Xu family, so it's only natural that we could help out a little."

Xu Wenwu nodded towards the two of them. Given how familiar they were with each other, there was no need for him to express his gratitude all the time. He could just keep this favor in mind and there would be a chance to repay it in the future.

The old man said: "Now that the betrothal gift issue has been resolved, who should write the engagement letter? It would be better to find someone who is highly respected and virtuous to write it."