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Chapter 233: Chapter 233 Making a Decision
"Big brother, Chen Jinlan is asking for too much, it’s unreasonable. I’ve told Lijuan, I’m okay with the one hundred yuan dowry, sewing machine, and watches that she demanded, but I cannot afford the rest. If she’s willing to marry me then let it be. If she’s not, I won’t blame her."
Based on Chen Jinlan’s dowry requirements, it would be hard for Zhang Lijuan to get married in any nearby villages. If a groom can afford three key things, it is generally considered a lavish wedding. But Chen Jinlan even wants a black and white TV, which costs hundreds of yuan. The average household cannot afford that. Besides, having a TV at home is not practical, no one has time to sit at home and watch TV every day.
If Zhang Lijuan is willing to marry him, he will not treat her poorly in the future. He has a bicycle at home that was left by his older brother and it’s still in decent shape, so there’s no need to buy a new one.
As for the watch, the sewing machine, and the dowry, he will do all he can to meet these demands. After all, he has a few dozen yuan in savings, and his mother has over two hundred. Adding these up to around three hundred yuan, and borrowing another two hundred or so from his older brother should be enough to cover the wedding expenses.
Of course, he will repay the money borrowed from his older brother with his salary. The whole debt could be repaid within a year, and all money he makes afterward would be saved for Zhang Lijuan. However, if Lijuan’s family refuses to compromise on the television, he can only give up on this relationship.
He admits that he likes Zhang Lijuan, but he is not fixated on marrying her. If she doesn’t relent, they will have to part ways, and he won’t consider getting married for another couple of years, just saving up for that time.
"As long as you have made up your mind." Si Chen responded with a softened expression, saying indifferently: "During your wedding, Yaoyao and I will support you. But I do agree with you here. Let’s temporarily put off the idea of buying a television or a bicycle, everything else will be your decision."
Hearing that his older brother stood with him, Si Boyi felt much relieved and committed confidently: "Big Brother, you can rest assured, I’m not a pushover. If Lijuan sincerely wants to be with me, she will lower her demands. I will treat her well in the future. However, if she’s obdurate and refuses to budge, then I won’t hold her back from finding someone else."
Si Boyi may be simple-minded and stubborn, but he is not without his own opinions. He sees things quite clearly. Although he doesn’t have a new house for his wedding, very few people in nearby villages do.
A standard wedding dowry ranges from twenty to sixty yuan, and if they can afford even one of the three key things that would already be good. Yet Chen Jinlan had demanded all three plus the black and white television, and also a hundred yuan dowry with no reciprocal gifts given.
He doesn’t mind the no reciprocal gifts, but the television and bicycle would be a complete waste of money.
Chen Jinlan is clearly aware they don’t have that much money, yet she insists on all these things. It’s obviously a calculated move aimed at his elder brother and sister-in-law. Such a ploy is far too blatant for Si Boyi to accept.
Moreover, given Chen Jinlan’s notorious temperament, if Zhang Lijuan does not have her own opinion, their marital life will surely be in turmoil in the future. It would be better to break it off now.
"You’re not young anymore, make up your own mind about these things. It’s your life after all. Discuss it with Lijuan. If you two can reach an agreement, set the date, and Yaoyao and I will help you prepare the wedding." Their father is absent, and as the eldest brother, Si Chen will have to return and help manage the wedding for his little brother.
As long as Chen Jinlan isn’t unreasonable, he doesn’t take issue with this marriage.
Si Boyi gripped the phone and said, "Big Brother, don’t worry about us. Though I am stubborn, I’m not somebody who doesn’t know his own limitations. If Chen Jinlan tries to take advantage of me, she can dream on."
His father passed away early, and his only relative with blood ties is his elder brother. Until he marries Zhang Lijuan, he and she are not considered family, so of course he won’t create disagreement with his older brother for an outsider.
In Si Boyi’s heart, Si Chen is like a father figure, and he firmly believes his brother would never harm him.
"If you have a plan then it’s good, I am hanging up now. You should go home and rest early."
Si Chen hung up the phone and walked out of the phone booth, holding Tong Yao’s hand. The night wind gusted, and Tong Yao shivered. Si Chen took off his coat and draped it over her.
"Although Boyi is honest, he’s not someone without a plan. We just have to wait for the news."
Tong Yao had also heard Si Boyi’s conversation just now, and inwardly thought that she had not been wrong about him. Since he was so sensitive and understanding, it wouldn’t harm to help him a bit more.
"If Zhang Lijuan really steps back and agrees to marry Boyi, we can’t mistreat them during the wedding. We’ll give them a gift of two hundred yuan at that time."
Tong Yao calculated the wedding expenses. If Zhang Lijuan agrees with Si Boyi’s requests, her two-hundred-yuan gift would leave the newlyweds with some spare cash, combined with Si Boyi’s salary. This would help them to live a decent life, better than what ninety percent of the villagers could afford.
In a year or two, when they build their house, she will contribute significantly.
Whether Zhang Lijuan will have the good fortune to conduct such a marriage was all down to her decision.
At this moment, Zhang Lijuan was pacing anxiously at home. After dating Si Boyi for several months, she found her feelings for him growing deeper. Initially, she was just testing the waters with him, but now she truly liked Si Boyi. He usually listens to her, spoils her, and treats her well.
Who would’ve thought that he would be so stubborn about the dowry! He was not willing to accept her family’s demands.
The fact is, a dowry of one hundred yuan, along with a watch and a sewing machine, was already the highest in the village. However, her mother was uncompromising, insisting on a black and white TV and a bicycle. Not one item less would do. 𝓃𝓸𝓋𝓅𝓾𝒷.𝒸ℴ𝓂
Nowadays, Si Boyi ignores her. When she calls him, he says that if she is not willing to compromise on the dowry, there’s no need for them to continue their relationship. Knowing that there’s another pretty girl in Si Boyi’s store, Zhang Lijuan got worried and ran to Chen Jinlan’s room, weeping and wailing.
"Mom, it was you who told me that marrying Boyi would make my life better. Why are you stirring things up by demanding such a high dowry now? You are purposely trying to break Boyi and me apart. Boyi has already said that he can give at max a hundred yuan and a sewing machine and watch. If our family still insists on a TV and a bicycle, he will stop seeing me. Everybody in the village already knows about us. If he really dumps me, where will I get the face to continue living here?"
"Why did I give birth to such a worthless daughter?" Chen Jinlan poked her daughter’s forehead angrily and scolded: "Can’t you hold your horses? Lin Fengying came today to discuss your marriage, they are just playing good cop, bad cop with us. If we waver now, we will fall right into their trap. You leave this to us. We just need to hold steady, they will have to compromise. Si Chen and Tong Yao own a milk tea shop in the city and earn quite a lot each month. If we don’t ask for it now, how do you expect to ask them for money in the future?"
