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Chapter 448: Chapter 451 The Wicked Takes the Lead in Accusing_1
The marriage arrangement had been settled, so Sun Erhu moved the house renovation to the top of his agenda.
He might not match Tan Zhenghong in capabilities, nor could he compete with his sister-in-law, but he would do everything within his power to provide the best life for his future wife. 𝔫𝖔𝔳𝔭𝔲𝔟.𝖈𝔬𝔪
Qiao Duo’er simply gave Erhu and Chao Lian the day off, since Madam Liang was watching like a hawk, and she and Tan Zhenghong both needed to stay at Tan’s Shop, which was too small to need that many people.
Sun Erhu happily agreed, for he had only one thought on his mind: to fix the house as soon as possible and marry his bride.
Otherwise, if too much time passed, the elderly couple from the Lin Family might heal and forget the pain.
That day, Qiao Duo’er and the others arrived in town at the usual time.
But there was already a large crowd gathered in front of the braised meat shop.
With a furrowed brow, a member of the Hu’s Clan asked, "Has something happened?"
There had been people queuing at the door these past few days, but it had never been this rowdy.
And they hadn’t opened yet, so what could have happened?
Qiao Duo’er left a member of the Hu’s Clan to watch the ox cart, while she and Tan Zhenghong walked towards the crowd.
Qiao Laixi, being tall and standing on the steps, quickly spotted Duo’er and her company approaching.
He hurriedly sent a signal to the member of the Liu’s family, indicating that the warm-up act was over and the real drama was about to start.
Immediately, the member of the Liu’s family exclaimed, "Look everyone, here comes my unfilial daughter. Tell me, is it excessive to ask for just one tael as a bridal price?"
The onlookers turned around to look at the approaching pair.
They saw Qiao Duo with peachy, blush-tinted cheeks, exquisite features, a well-proportioned body, and an air of aloof elegance—such a daughter from a landowner’s family was a rarity in a century.
For such a young lady, even a dowry of eight or ten taels wouldn’t be considered greedy.
And the man beside her, with his sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, tall and well-built, was also a rare sight among the farming folk.
Just as the woman had said, indeed, they had chosen a fine husband for their daughter.
Most importantly, both of them were wearing clothes of fine fabric, nearly new, and they owned a braised meat shop—a clear sign that they weren’t from a family lacking money.
Yet such people wouldn’t even give the three ceremonial gifts to the bride’s family—wasn’t that too much?
Thus, many people’s sympathies shifted toward the member of the Liu’s family.
No wonder the bride’s family had come all the way here, appealing to passersby for justice.
What parents would resort to such extreme measures if they weren’t driven to desperation?
"If it were me, even for twenty taels of silver I would marry her and I certainly wouldn’t let her work!"
Such a beautiful girl need only perform her duties in bed to satisfy.
"If I had such a charming daughter, I wouldn’t let her marry for less than twenty to thirty taels of silver. Maybe she could even marry into wealth and bring good fortune for life!"
"If you demand that much for a dowry, wouldn’t the family just get a knife and chop you up?"
"Whichever son is lucky enough to marry her has fortune smiling on him; she has eyes only for her husband’s family. If my daughter-in-law were half as good, I’d wake up laughing in my sleep!"
The crowd was buzzing with discussions, most of which were accusations or mockery directed at Qiao Duo’er and Tan Zhenghong.
Just as Tan Zhenghong was about to argue with the people, Qiao Duo’er whispered, "You’re not allowed to speak, watch me."
Since the Qiao’s Family Member had come, they should be presented with a grand gift; after all, how could they be let off without it for coming such a long distance?
Seeing Qiao Duo’s mischievous grin, Tan Zhenghong obediently closed his mouth.
His mission was to protect his future wife, allowing her to play to her heart’s content safely.
Qiao Duo looked at Qiao’s Family Members coldly, "What are you doing here?"
