Chapter 127 - 116: Resolution (Additional 51)
Old Liu’s chest deflated suddenly as he looked toward Old Zhou, who sat across from him in silence, and he knew Old Zhou felt the same.
After all, their families had been in-laws for eight years, and he probably understood Old Zhou’s temperament, knowing that Old Zhou would never just return the dowry without any compensation at all.
But giving back an identical dowry was out of the question too; it was too expensive. If they gave that as compensation, it would mean spending the equivalent of three betrothal gifts for Eldest.
Old Zhou was not inflexible. He had never expected the Liu family to be able to compensate with a dowry exactly identical to the one they brought.
In the end, after discussion, the Liu family agreed to return to Zhou Xi all of the dowry she had brought with her. The bedding and clothes had to be newly made, and beyond that, they would also have to give Zhou Xi a silver bracelet and a string of cash, as her compensation.
Of course, the Liu family could not produce these things immediately, so the divorce papers could not be drawn up just yet, Old Zhou said, "These matters must be settled before the new year. Our Zhou family doesn’t have the time to wait for you. We’ll give you three days to prepare everything. The seams on the clothes and bedding must be sturdy. In three days, we’ll invite the Chief to handle the divorce papers."
A letter of divorce wasn’t effective just by being given, and a divorce agreement didn’t have legal effect simply by being signed; it had to be registered at the government office.
However, this was not their concern, because these matters were usually reported directly to the Chief, who would then report to higher authorities.
The government offices were closed for the New Year, but the Chief did not take a break.
A hundred households make up one district, and Qili Village and the Liu family’s village did not share the same Chief. When the time came, they needed to invite both Chiefs to serve as witnesses.
In front of witnesses from both clans, Old Zhou and Old Liu discussed the compensation. The two villages’ chiefs were witnesses. As long as both families wanted to continue living in the village, they couldn’t go back on the agreement.