Chapter 9: Getting Married is Not an Easy Thing!

Chapter 9: Getting Married is Not an Easy Thing!

After returning to the village and returning the bicycle, Deng Shirong secretly decided that once he had successfully matched Deng Changfu and Guan Yongying and received the matchmaker's gift, he would buy a bicycle. Otherwise, it would be a hassle to keep borrowing one.

After returning the bicycle, Deng Shirong went to Deng Yunqiang's house.

"Uncle Jiu!"

"Uncle Jiu!"

Seeing Deng Shirong arrive, Deng Yunqiang, his wife, and their three children all greeted him. The eldest son, Deng Changfu, was especially attentive and brought tobacco, matches, and a hookah.

Deng Shirong took the pipe and got straight to the point: "I've already asked clearly. The girl wants 288 yuan for her bride price, 300 kilograms of grain, and a sewing machine. In addition, Changfu, you'll need to take the girl to make six new sets of clothes. These are all the conditions she's proposed."

Deng Yunqiang and his wife were relieved when they heard this, but they couldn't help but frown. They were relieved because the woman hadn't asked for an exorbitant amount. The price and other conditions she proposed were all within the normal range.

The reason they frowned was that the couple really couldn't come up with the money.

After all, although both he and his wife were hardworking and there was enough labor in the family, there were no opportunities to make money in the countryside. After so many years of frugality, the family had only saved a little over 300 yuan.

Now, it was truly impossible for them to come up with five or six hundred yuan all at once.

However, Deng Yunqiang and his wife weren't too worried. At worst, they could borrow from relatives. After their eldest son got married, it would be the turn of their two daughters to marry. Naturally, they would receive two large sums of money, so borrowing from relatives temporarily shouldn't be a problem.

So, after only a moment's hesitation, Deng Yunqiang decisively said, "The conditions proposed by the woman are all reasonable. We have no objections."

Seeing that his cousin Deng Yunqiang didn't haggle and directly agreed to the woman's conditions, Deng Shirong nodded with satisfaction and said, "It's good that you have no objections. But Yunqiang, I suggest your family offer more money and try to marry her as quickly as possible."

At these words, Deng Yunqiang's family of five all looked surprised.

Changfu's mother couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Jiu, our family has already shown sincerity by agreeing to the woman's conditions. Why should we take the initiative to increase the bride price? Is there a reason for this?"

Deng Shirong didn't answer directly but instead asked, "I think you've all heard the news that our brigade is going to divide the land and work independently after the harvest, right?"

Deng Yunqiang nodded, "This news has spread throughout the village. Of course, we've heard about it."

Deng Shirong took a puff of his pipe, set it aside, and then explained, "Dividing the land and working independently is based on the number of people in the household. If a woman marries into your family at this time, it means her family will get one less piece of land, while your family will get one more.

Moreover, if these two young people are quick enough, your grandchildren might be born before all the land in the brigade is divided, and your family could get an extra piece of land then.

I don't need to explain how important this piece of land is. Your family stands to gain such a big advantage. Don't you think you should take the initiative to increase the bride price?"

What he said was based on facts. If he remembered correctly, their Bangjie Brigade had started dividing the land and working independently this year, but this year they only divided the more fertile fields. The less fertile fields and mountains wouldn't be divided until next year.

In his previous life, Deng Changfu and Guan Yongying had met when the brigade started dividing the land. Guan Yongying had married after receiving land from her parents' home. By the time their child was born, the brigade's fields and mountains had already been divided.

Therefore, whenever Deng Changfu mentioned this matter in his previous life, his tone was full of regret. He admitted that if he had married Guan Yongying a month earlier, their children might have been able to get some land.

After hearing Deng Shirong's explanation, Deng Yunqiang and his family suddenly understood.

Deng Yunqiang nodded repeatedly and said, "Uncle Jiu is right. The price and other requirements proposed by the future in-laws are all within the normal range. If we don't take the initiative to increase the bride price, I'm afraid the in-laws won't be willing to let their daughter marry so early. They'll definitely wait until their village has divided the land before allowing the marriage."

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "That's the truth. If your family doesn't want to pay extra, then we can just follow the normal marriage process, and the woman's family can release her whenever they want.

But if your family wants to get one more piece of land—or even two—then you must offer more money. Then I'll go and help you with the matchmaking and try to arrange the marriage as quickly as possible.

The specific choice is up to your family to discuss."

Whether in ancient or modern times, land is of vital importance to ordinary people. Deng Yunqiang didn't even need to discuss it with his wife and children. He made the decision on the spot and said, "Uncle Jiu, there's no need to discuss it. I agree to increase the bride price. How much do you think is appropriate?"

At this, his wife and children also looked at Deng Shirong.

Deng Shirong thought for a moment and said, "We all know how important land is to us rural folk. I suggest raising the bride price to 688 yuan. It's only an extra 400 yuan, but you'll gain countless acres of fields and mountains. This deal is definitely worthwhile. Of course, we don't even know if the woman's family will agree!"

Hearing this, Deng Yunqiang and his wife felt a heavy pressure in their hearts.

Their family's savings were only a little over 300 yuan. Originally, there was already a gap of 300 yuan for their son's marriage. Now, with an additional 400 yuan, the gap had widened to 700 yuan. The pressure was immense!

However, what Uncle Jiu said made a lot of sense. Although 400 yuan was a lot of money, it was nothing compared to the value of countless acres of fields and mountains.

Deng Changfu also felt the pressure. Although he was one of the main laborers in the family, he didn't have much money of his own, and his marriage depended entirely on his parents' savings.

He was well aware of his family's situation and knew that his parents couldn't come up with so much money. If there was really no other way, they would have to follow the normal marriage process!

As for his two younger sisters, after hearing the staggering amount, their hearts raced, and they began to imagine how much their future husbands would be willing to offer when they got married.

Though it's a long story, it all happened in a matter of moments.

Deng Yunqiang said, "Uncle Jiu, I agree with the amount you mentioned, but you know our family's situation. We definitely can't afford that much money right now, so I can't give you an answer immediately."

At this point, Deng Yunqiang looked outside and saw that the sun was still high. He stood up and said, "How about this, Uncle Jiu? I'll go borrow money from relatives now. If I can raise enough, I'll trouble you to help me bring my daughter-in-law home as soon as possible.

If I really can't raise the money, we'll have to follow the normal marriage process. There's nothing else we can do."

Deng Shirong also stood up and said, "Okay, I'll go back now. Let me know if you can raise enough money by evening."

"Okay, I'll let you know!"

(End of Chapter)