CHAPTER 276: CHAPTER 267: THE RICHER THEY ARE, THE STINGIER THEY GET

Yu Changhe recently has been drinking some wine with Sun Fifth Uncle and Sun Daji in the evenings, their relationship is getting better, and he thought, "Why don’t we lend some money to your Fifth Uncle so they can build the house first?"

Yu Xiaolian thought for a moment, "That works too."

At least it’s not the real rainy season yet, once summer truly arrives with frequent rains, the house construction would have to stop and start intermittently.

"Dad, why don’t you ask my Fifth Uncle about his thoughts, if he agrees, they can go ahead and build the house during this time. But... are there any good plots of land left in our village?"

Yu Changhe contemplated and said, "There are vacant lands, but the locations are somewhat remote, I’ll discuss with your Fifth Uncle, then go ask at Qi Lizheng’s house."

Yu Xiaolian nodded, "By the way, Dad, regarding the land you bought later, what are you planning to plant?"

Yu Changhe said, "Planning to plant corn."

Yu Xiaolian took out a small bag of sticky corn seeds, telling Yu Changhe to plant some sticky corn for her. Fresh sticky corn is delicious, and it is Yu Xiaolian’s favorite.

"Dad, tomorrow send some people to work in the fields, keep some at home, and if anyone doesn’t listen, you should scold them, don’t always worry about saving face."

Yu Changhe agreed and then asked, "How are the grandsons in your Fifth Uncle’s family doing in their studies? Who’s smart?"

"Manzhi is the smartest, the others are about the same."

"Then let Manzhi continue to study, for the others, after they know two years’ worth of characters, it’s enough for them to work."

After all, tuition isn’t cheap, if they’re not suited for studying, it’s a waste of money.

Yu Xiaolian agreed, "Let’s see how it goes in a few years, some kids may develop later."

Yu Xiaolian took a tour of the backyard to inspect the work, then had Sun Mancang drive her back to Taotao Residence.

Now Zhao Erya is capable of handling things on her own, managing everything at Taotao Residence competently.

San Erya is at Xiangyang Lane, next to Sun’s side, helping take care of her children.

Another two months passed, and the four rooms of Sun Fifth Uncle’s house were completed. Just a few days after moving into the new house, it was Sun Manyu’s wedding day.

The day before the wedding, the Li Family sent four chests of betrothal gifts. The first chest contained fifty taels of silver, the second had four bolts of fine silk, the third was filled with jewelry for Sun Manyu including a gold hairpin, two pairs of silver bracelets, and a pair of silver earrings, while the fourth contained assorted candies and wedding cakes.

Apart from the four chests, the Li Family also prepared fine wine and tea, two fish, and two chickens.

Sun Fourth Uncle and Sun Dalin looked over everything and expressed their satisfaction.

However, Mrs. Li was a bit displeased; the betrothal gifts for a wedding should come in pairs for good luck, why was there only a single gold hairpin?

So stingy!

After the gift bearers left, according to custom, the Sun Family should distribute the wedding cakes, candies, and other items brought by the groom’s side to relatives and neighbors to pass on the wedding news.

The recipients of the candies and wedding cakes would then appropriately gift Sun Manyu with additional dowry items.

Inside the house, the members of the Sun Family began to give Sun Manyu dowry gifts, several sisters-in-law seemed to have pre-arranged it, all giving 200 coins.

Girls around the same age as Sun Manyu gave things they had embroidered themselves, some offered handmade embroidered shoes, while others provided exquisite embroidered handkerchiefs. Those who weren’t skilled in needlework tore off two feet of floral cloth for Sun Manyu.

Even though they also earned money at the workshop, their earnings were pooled, and providing these items was already doing their utmost.

Yu Xiaolian gave Sun Manyu a silver hairpin, while Sun donated a pair of golden earrings to her.

Sun Manyu accepted with a smile.

After the feast ended and everyone left, Sun Manyu complained to Mrs. Li, "I thought Aunt Chunfang would give me something nice, but just a pair of golden earrings, old ones she wore before, seriously the richer the stingier."

Sun Manyu pushed the golden earrings forward, Mrs. Li picked them up and examined them under the lamp’s light, exclaimed, "Oh my, yes indeed, I’ve seen her wear these before. Her two little ones are grown, often pulling at her ears, she can’t wear them anymore, that’s why she took them off.

In theory, when you get married, your aunt should at least give you new ones, but no... sending old ones, what was she thinking!"

Sun Manyu then pointed to the silver hairpin from Yu Xiaolian, grumbling dissatisfied, "That Yu Xiaolian is even stingier, giving something silver, not as generous as her mother, that earring although old is at least golden."

"Exactly, really stingy." Sun Dalin’s wife echoed, "These past two months, you’ve been sucking up to her quite a bit, but she..."

Sun Dalin, unable to bear it, interrupted Mrs. Li loudly, "Enough of the complaining, isn’t that silver hairpin pretty? You two are becoming more and more dissatisfied, really want the Yu Family to give everything they earn to you, how big is your face?"

Mrs. Li exchanged a glance with Sun Manyu, signaling her to stay silent, meaning: don’t speak anymore, your father is upset.

Sun Manyu pouted, wrapped up all the gifts she received.

Mrs. Li, after careful thought, finally spoke, "Manyu, your father and I have discussed, you can’t take all of your betrothal gifts back..."

"Oh, I know." Sun Manyu wasn’t surprised, "I suppose I can only take half back?"

Mrs. Li’s expression became unnatural, "Your father and I thought, only give you ten taels for yourself, do you think that’s okay?"

Sun Manyu suspected she heard wrong, "What? Ten taels?"

It was bad enough that they wouldn’t add to her dowry, now they wanted to deduct from her betrothal gifts?

Leaving some behind she could tolerate, but her father and mother wanted to take the bulk?

If she only took ten taels of silver into the Li Family, how could she hold her head high there in the future?

Seeing Sun Manyu’s dissatisfaction, Mrs. Li quickly added, "You can take the silk and jewelry back..."

"Even then, no way!" Sun Manyu shouted.

Recently, Qi Dalian married Sun Fengshou without any dowry, but she has been gossiped about by the villagers, and Sun Manyu wouldn’t be as humiliated as Qi Dalian.

"I’ll take half of the betrothal gifts, you can only keep twenty-five taels."

Sun Manyu protested, "Mom, be satisfied, when my Uncle’s daughter Manhong got married, she only had six taels as a betrothal gift, mine is fifty taels, giving you twenty-five taels is already plenty."

Mrs. Li looked at Sun Dalin.

Sun Dalin grumbled, "Your Fourth Brother hasn’t married, your Third Brother doesn’t have his own house, and I discussed with your mother, planning to send your Second Brother’s son Huaiwen to the village school to study literacy, we have to keep more of your betrothal gifts, the family needs funds.

Furthermore, with the Li Family being well-off, having ten taels for yourself is sufficient."

Sun Manyu was infuriated, "My Third Brother lacking a house and my Fourth Brother not married, how does that concern me? I don’t care, if you don’t give me half, tomorrow I won’t follow Li Wenyuan obediently."