Rebirth of a Village Girl

Chapter 821: 208: The Truth!_6

Two thousand yuan?

At this time, an ordinary family would need about ten years to earn two thousand yuan!

Grandma Wu got a fright, "Will, will they give it?"

Wu Jinjin said, "If they don’t give it? Then don’t marry off. Anyway, my brother doesn’t even want to marry Yanyun off yet! Besides, Yanyun is so beautiful, she might meet someone even better later on!"

In actuality, Wu Jinjin was well aware that since that household was willing to offer a house to take a bride, it meant they were not lacking those two thousand yuan.

Two thousand yuan was a huge amount for him, but for well-off families, it can be managed.

Grandma Wu nodded, thinking Wu Jinjin made a lot of sense.

Wu Jinjin continued, "Mom, I’m Yanyun’s aunt, and I held her when she was little, you see. If this deal goes through, shouldn’t you give me some benefit?"

Grandma Wu then said, "Isn’t your family living quite well? Why care about such a little money?"

"What well?" Wu Jinjin said, "My mother-in-law is totally unreasonable, plus since I come from another place, she looks down on me! She always gives me these looks! Also, when I got married back then, you asked for an eighty-yuan bride price from their family, but didn’t prepare even a basic dowry for me. My mother-in-law constantly uses that to mock me, mentioning how much dowry this or that family provided!"

Dowry items often included a washbasin, a comb, a mirror, and a chamber pot.

In an age where flush toilets hadn’t yet become common, chamber pots were a daily necessity.

For ordinary families, even the poorest would prepare these essential dowry items.

Slightly better-off ones would even buy chests, nightstands, and dressing tables as dowry.

But the Wu Family was too poor, and as Wu Jinshu was not well, Grandma Wu, after asking for the hefty bride price of eighty yuan, hadn’t prepared any dowry items for Wu Jinjin.

Knowing she hadn’t handled things properly back then, Grandma Wu sighed and said, "Jinjin, you’ve suffered a lot at the Li Family over these years, but I had no choice, you know our situation ..."

"Let’s not talk about the past," Wu Jinjin said, "Mom, this time you have to support me in front of my in-laws! Don’t worry, I won’t ask for too much!"

Recalling her daughter’s suffering at her in-laws’ house over the years, Grandma Wu nodded firmly, "Okay! Jinjin, how much money do you want?"

Wu Jinjin said, "Actually, I don’t really want money. I just hope you can buy me a bicycle, and also, I want a sewing machine!"

At that time, a bicycle alone cost nearly three hundred yuan, and a sewing machine would cost even more! Grandma Wu was really reluctant, but thinking of Wu Jinjin’s sufferings at her in-laws, she gritted her teeth and agreed!

Just a bicycle and a sewing machine?

Even if both items together cost a thousand yuan, she would still have a thousand left!

Besides, they would still get a house and a Beijing household registration—considering that, they weren’t losing out.

Seeing that Grandma Wu agreed, Wu Jinjin was very happy, "Mom, that settles it then, you really mustn’t regret this!"

"Don’t worry, I won’t regret it," said Grandma Wu.

"That’s great!" Wu Jinjin said, "Let’s get going. We will visit Wu Lan’s place now."

"Why are we going to Wu Lan’s?" asked Grandma Wu.

"Since the matter is settled, it’s time to finalize the wedding date!" Wu Lan replied, "Sooner rather than later. What if someone gets ahead of us? Wu Lan’s brother is such a catch, I’m sure many people have their eyes on him!"

Hearing this, Grandma Wu quickly got out of bed.

"Alright alright, let’s go!"

...

Wu Yanyun knew why her grandmother was so angry.

She probably resented her for eating too much...

With not a lot to go around, one more person eating was just additional burden.

Wu Yanyun sat in the courtyard, looking up at the sky, and let out a deep sigh.

Just then, she saw Grandma Wu and Wu Jinjin hurrying out.

"Grandma, Aunt, where are you going?" Wu Yanyun immediately stood up.

Wu Jinjin looked back impatiently, "It’s adult business, kids should stay out of it!"

Wu Yanyun had nothing more to say.

She arrived at Wu Lan’s house.

Wu Lan welcomed Grandma Wu and Wu Jinjin with her usual warmth.

Wu Jinjin, who was eloquent, clarified the purpose of their visit in just a few words.

On hearing this, Wu Lan said, "Getting a daughter-in-law for my brother isn’t something to be taken lightly, and since you’ve already given it some thought, let’s set a time for the young people to meet. Whether this works out still depends on my brother."

Grandma Wu didn’t say anything, and Wu Jinjin asked, "What about tomorrow, does tomorrow work?"

Such matters were of course better settled sooner rather than later to avoid unnecessary complications.

Wu Lan nodded, "Fine, let’s make it tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock, and we’ll meet at my place. If my brother takes a liking to Yanyun, our two families can sit down and discuss other issues thoroughly."

Although Wu Lan thought Wu Yanyun was very attractive, it all depended on Wu Qiang’s own wishes.

Wu Jinjin hurriedly nodded, "Yes, that works."

After leaving Wu Lan’s house, Wu Jinjin felt uneasy, "Mom, what if they don’t like Yanyun? Didn’t you say this deal was certain? Why do we have to meet first?"

If they didn’t approve of Wu Yanyun, wouldn’t she lose a bicycle? How could Wu Jinjin not worry?

She dreamt of owning a bicycle and a sewing machine!

With those two possessions, would her cruel mother-in-law dare to look down on her? _{𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑝𝘶𝘣.𝑐𝘰𝘮}

Grandma Wu said, "Don’t worry about that. With Yanyun’s looks, you won’t find another like her in ten villages."

Wu Yanyun’s beauty was undeniable as she was not from the Wu family.

Wu Jinjin said, "Hopefully. We’ll meet at ten tomorrow morning. I’ll come over at 8:30. By then, will my brother and sister-in-law have gone to work?"

This matter could not yet be disclosed to Wu Jinshu and Yan Erju!

Grandma Wu replied, "They’ve gone to work. They leave for work every day at seven in the morning."

Wu Jinjin nodded, "That’s good."

Upon returning home, Wu Yanyun was not there.

Wu Dalong and Wu Erlong were taking care of their younger brother.

Grandma Wu asked, "Why are you two looking after Xiaolong? Where’s your older sister?"

"She had something to attend to," Wu Erlong replied.

"She has nothing to attend to! I bet she’s just slacking off! Alright, go play, I’ll watch Xiaolong," Grandma Wu said.

Hearing they were relieved of the duty, Wu Dalong and Wu Erlong ran off faster than rabbits.

Wu Yanyun trudged down the street with heavy steps.

She hadn’t had enough to eat in the evening or at noon, and now she hardly had any energy.

Walking down the streets of Beijing, she went from shop to shop asking if they needed part-time workers.

She wanted to find a job.

A job that could help reduce the burden on her family.

"Excuse me, are you looking for part-time workers? I’m hardworking and can do any sort of job!"

"No, we’re not hiring!"

"Get out of here!"

These were the kinds of rejections Wu Yanyun faced.

But Wu Yanyun didn’t lose heart; she continued asking from one place to the next, desperately hoping to find some part-time work.

...