Chapter 54: Wealthy and Powerful

Chapter 54: Wealthy and Powerful

It's no wonder that Zhang's mother and the others were shocked. Deng Shirong's family was indeed well-off!

The matchmaker was a master of the vat kiln. The brothers and sisters in the family were all well-educated. Deng Shirong, the father, was one of the owners of the vat kiln. The house they were building was a blue-brick and tile house, something almost unheard of in the countryside, and each of the sons would have their own house.

The most important thing was that there was no mother-in-law.

As everyone knows, the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law has been a major issue plaguing Chinese families for thousands of years. Throughout history, countless great figures have struggled to find a solution to this thorny problem.

Especially in this era, the authority of the mother-in-law was far greater than in later generations. No matter which girl got married, the thing she feared most was encountering an unreasonable or biased mother-in-law. If that happened, her days of suffering would begin, and it was hard to say how many years it would take to get through it.

If Zhang Xiuping became Deng Shirong's eldest daughter-in-law, she would have only a father-in-law and no mother-in-law. She could be the head of the household right after marriage. Coupled with such favorable economic conditions, this was a rare bachelor that couldn't be found even with a lantern.

The conditions were so good that Zhang's mother and the others felt it was almost unreal.

After briefly introducing his family's situation, Deng Shirong noticed that Zhang's mother and the others were so shocked that they were speechless for a long time. He added, "There's one more thing I need to make clear. My eldest son looks more like me. He's ordinary in appearance and doesn't have any outstanding features. So, in terms of looks, he might not be worthy of you, Sister Ping. I hope you don't dislike him."

Before Zhang Xiuping could respond, Zhang's mother quickly said, "No, there's nothing to dislike. Just because she's pretty doesn't mean she can make a living."

Zhang Xiuping could tell from her mother's words that she was satisfied with this marriage. Suppressing her shyness, she asked, "Uncle Deng, what is your eldest son's personality like?"

Deng Shirong smiled, knowing what the mother and daughter were thinking. "I'm not bragging, but my eldest son has a mature and stable personality. He's kind, filial, and down-to-earth. He's a very reliable man."

Zhang Xiuping nodded secretly upon hearing this. If Uncle Deng wasn't lying, then she really had nothing to complain about with this potential partner.

The more Zhang's mother listened, the more satisfied she became. If she hadn't been rational, she might have wanted to decide on her daughter's marriage immediately.

However, the marriages of her third and youngest sons had always been a concern for the couple, so Zhang's mother had to bite the bullet and say, "Dear, your family's conditions are indeed excellent. If my Xiuping can marry into such a family, it would be her blessing.

But there's one thing I need to make clear to you in advance. Our family isn't well-off. With my husband and I's ability to make money, we really can't help our third and youngest sons get married. So, we can only pin our hopes on my sister Ping, hoping that the in-laws she finds can help my two younger brothers.

It's precisely because of this condition that many families with good financial conditions have been scared away. I hope you, my relative, won't be scared."

Zhang Xiuping, sitting next to her, heard her mother mention this. There was a hint of helplessness and embarrassment in her eyes. The cost of marrying her was equivalent to marrying three. It was no wonder that the previous matchmakers had run away in fear.

After all, life wasn't easy for anyone in the countryside these days. The cost of marrying a wife was already ridiculously high. Now, on top of that, it was equivalent to adding two more gifts. Which family could afford this?

Deng Shirong said calmly, "Dear, I've heard about the conditions proposed by your family. We're willing to pay one thousand for A Ping's worth, and another three hundred and eighty, which will be A Ping's dowry when she gets married.

If your family is satisfied with this condition, how about picking a date to come and visit my house after it's completed?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang's mother and the others were shocked once again!

What does it mean to be wealthy and powerful?

This was it!

One thousand three hundred and eighty yuan, thrown out without blinking an eye—this truly shattered the worldview of Zhang's mother and the others.

Originally, the other party offering one thousand yuan for the living expenses was already extremely generous. After all, in this era, three or four hundred yuan was usually enough to marry a wife. Even if it cost eight hundred yuan to marry two sons, there would still be two hundred yuan left. If the dowry given to the daughter was less, some money could be squeezed out to pay off the debt!

But Deng Shirong offered one thousand yuan as a living expense and, to save her family's face, added an extra three hundred and eighty yuan as a dowry for her daughter.

Although this money belonged to their daughter, once she had this dowry, the couple wouldn't need to give her anything more. The remaining two hundred yuan could be used to pay off debts and clear all liabilities.

If Zhang's mother didn't agree to such a generous and powerful relative, she must be crazy.

Obviously, Zhang's mother wasn't stupid. She made the decision directly: "Relative, then it's settled. When your house is finished, send us a message."

Deng Shirong smiled. "The walls are already up. It's expected to be completed in a little over two months. Then I'll come and invite you to see the house in person."

Zhang's mother nodded repeatedly. "Okay, we'll wait."

Deng Shirong added sincerely, "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. My name is Deng Shirong, and I'm from Thatchfield Village, Help and Correct Brigade, Pine Mountain Commune. There are still more than two months left. You're welcome to ask someone to come and inquire about our family's situation to see if what I've told you is accurate."

Zhang's mother didn't have much doubt in her heart. After all, no one would come to her house to brag about something that could easily be disproven. Now, after hearing Deng Shirong's words, she felt even more reassured. She smiled brightly and said, "Dear relative, there's no need to ask anyone. We trust you."

Deng Shirong waved his hand. "This isn't about whether or not to trust me. I'm a man of my word. Before coming to your house, I also asked people about your situation. After all, marriage is related to the happiness of our children for a lifetime. As parents, we should still pay attention to it. So, you must do what you asked people to do. This is your responsibility to your children."

Zhang's mother and the others were in awe after hearing this. They didn't reject Deng Shirong's kindness and agreed to it.

After finishing the business, Deng Shirong stayed to chat for a few more minutes and then got up to say goodbye.

"Relative, it's getting late. I'll head back now!"

"That won't do. It's almost noon. You came all the way here; you must stay for lunch!"

"You're too kind. My family is building a house right now, and all the relatives and young men from the village are there to help. It would be embarrassing for me to be away from home for too long, so I have to hurry back. When we become relatives, we'll have many opportunities to eat together. There's no need to rush."

"Well… alright, I'm just really sorry."

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Okay, no more words. Goodbye!"

"Goodbye!"

(End of this chapter)