Is Your Family So Poor You Can't Even Afford Betrothal Gifts?

Countess of Yongning's eyes were full of contempt:

"The Zhou Family? A family from some backwater village? How many betrothal gifts could they possibly bring?"

I think even one or two pieces would be a stretch; what they'll probably bring over are just scrap metal and coarse grains. How dare they call that a betrothal gift?"

The ladies nearby immediately burst into laughter:

"Countess of Yongning, please don't look down on people like that!"

Maybe they'll just cobble together eight stations, albeit barely!

"I just don't know what's inside those eight machines."

Is it tattered clothing, or rotten wood?

Don't tell me it's just some worthless junk you're trying to fool people with!

"A peasant with nothing but dirt on his back dares to come to propose marriage? It's laughable!"

I think the Su Family is truly going to lose all face in the capital this time!

As Liu Su'e led Zhou Wanwan into the hall, they heard these foul words.

She couldn't help but tug at Zhou Wanwan's sleeve and said, "Wanwan, what do we do? These people look down on our family. Maybe... maybe we should leave?"

Zhou Wanwan chuckled and said, "Mom, don't worry! Just ignore what they're saying."

Then they saw Madam Su rush out with a group of people, grabbing Liu Su'e's hand and saying, "Oh! This must be Madam Zhou! Please come in, please come in."

Madam Su is extremely anxious now. She doesn't care how many loads of dowry she receives; even if there isn't a single piece of dowry today, she still has to marry off her daughter.

Everyone else was looking at them when Countess of Yongning suddenly spoke up:

"Weren't you supposed to come to propose marriage? Why haven't you even given any betrothal gifts?"

I thought there would be a dowry; this is even less than what we have at home!

Our family has prepared at least several loads of betrothal gifts.

People from small towns might not even know what a betrothal gift is.

"Your family isn't so poor that you can't even afford a betrothal gift, is it?"

Oh my! The Su Family is really something, actually letting their daughter marry into such a family.

Is it because this girl can't get married that she just randomly found a man to marry?

Liu Su'e and Madam Su both looked displeased. Liu Su'e retorted loudly, "So what if we're from a humble family? But we wouldn't speak ill of someone behind their back."

The other ladies ignored her, Countess of Yongning scoffed coldly:

"Who do you think you are? How dare you come here and lecture us? You're both poor and stingy."

Only a blind person would marry their daughter into your family.

Instead of ragged country bumpkins, a row of strong men dressed in matching blue outfits entered.

They carried the large betrothal gift platform, painted entirely in vermilion and gold, steadily in pairs.

The tables were adorned with gold trim and tassels, creating a dazzling spectacle as one table after another filed in.

The line stretched from the entrance all the way to the center of the courtyard, too many to count.

The ladies who had been mocking her just moments before froze instantly, their mouths agape, so wide they could fit eggs in them. They stood there, speechless, forgetting even to catch their breath.

A matchmaker dressed in red and green sang briskly in, holding a red silk ribbon in her hand, her eyes narrowed into slits with a smile:

"Oh dear, Madam Su! I've finally arrived!"

Zhou Family specifically instructed that he come to formally propose marriage to Miss Su with the utmost courtesy, and all the betrothal gifts are here!

The ladies were completely dumbfounded; they couldn't believe their eyes.

Madam Su felt a surge of pride and relief, the pent-up frustration in her chest vanished completely.

Oh! You're too kind!

Such a generous gift! Please come in, please come in, please sit down and have some tea!

Countess of Yongning sneered:

"These betrothal gifts were all given by your Su Family, weren't they?"

Otherwise, how could such a humble family have scraped together so much betrothal money?

Eighty-eight loads? I suspect all these betrothal gifts are empty."

Shangguan Wan'er sneered, "Of course it's empty! It's just for show."

Lu Xuening also sighed:

"I originally wanted to let my husband and Miss Su be together, but I never expected Miss Su to be so heartless."

"It's just that she's unlucky to have married into our Estate of the Count of Yongning."

Lu Lan, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but advise:

"Cousin, you're too easy to talk to."

It was clearly Song Zhixia who seduced Shen Zhiyu; that Miss Song Family is utterly shameless.

Lu Xuening sighed and said, "Don't say anymore, Lu Lan. People are fickle; there's nothing we can do about it."

Lu Xuening wore a freshly picked pink Taohua in her hair, the petals still slightly damp, making her look delicate and charming.

The Taohua had just been picked, and her anger hadn't subsided when she shouted:

"Pah! What do you mean people's hearts are fickle? Aren't you Su Zhixia, fickle too?"

You were clearly thinking about your cousin before, so why are you suddenly so eager to marry into the Estate of the Count of Yongning?

They're only after the power and wealth of the Estate of the Count of Yongning!

I think you're the most vain and opportunistic one!

Zhou Wanwan chuckled and said:

"If you're talking about how fickle people are, nothing beats how fast you can change things!"

I heard that Lu Xuening and your cousin are deeply in love, so why are you getting married into the Estate of the Count of Yongning now?

Lu Xuening's heart skipped a beat, and a hint of fear crossed her face. "You... what nonsense are you spouting?"

Zhou Wanwan smiled faintly and said:

"Hey? What are you afraid of? That Taohua in your hair was a gift from your lover!"

And that hairpin in your hair, was that a gift from him too?

Since you two are so loving, why do you want to marry into the Estate of the Count of Yongning? Is it because you're greedy for wealth and status?

Lu Xuening's legs went weak with fear. Madam Lu, standing beside her, shouted, "Outrageous! Utter nonsense! This concerns my daughter's reputation..."

Madam Su shouted loudly:

"Is your family's reputation important, but ours isn't?"

Since you know this concerns a young woman's reputation, why are you throwing mud at us?

Madam Lu sneered, "Is that dirty water? It's clearly based on solid evidence."

Zhou Wanwan suddenly said:

"Actually, I have a valid point. The gold hairpin in your daughter's hair has her cousin's name on it!"

Why don't we take it down and take a look?

Madam Lu shouted, "Where did this crazy girl come from? Talking nonsense! Get out of here!"

Madam Su sneered:

"Are you blind? This is my house, who are you telling to get out?"

Besides, if her cousin's name isn't on her name, why are you afraid?

The ladies around them whispered amongst themselves, and Countess of Yongning's expression darkened further. She frowned and said:

"Lu Xuening, what are you afraid of? They're slandering you like this because they think we're easy to bully, aren't they?"

Take the hairpin off your head. As long as it proves your cousin's name isn't on it, I'll ruin their reputation.

"They dare to slander my wife, I won't let them get away with it!"

Countess of Yongning was truly enraged, but Lu Xuening was so frightened that her face turned pale. She quickly waved her hands and said, "This hairpin was indeed a gift from my cousin when I came of age, but it was just a token of kinship..."