Chapter 1541: The Heart of Comparison 3
"He said he doesn’t. He wants us to cover the costs of buying the wedding supplies," Peng Aihong replied. "But I know this isn’t entirely true. He’s been working for seven years now. Back then, he took over my father’s position at the machinery factory, and his salary increased from a little over twenty yuan to now over forty. Since Zhou, as a senior, also has a salary every month, taking care of Zhou Fei’s expenses hasn’t been too much of a burden for us. So, we’ve never asked him for money, nor have we heard of him buying any large, expensive items. Recently, it’s just the expenses for his dating that have been a bit higher; he’s been dining out and watching movies frequently. Even if he saved five yuan a month, that would mean saving sixty yuan a year. In seven years, he should have saved several hundred yuan, yet he’s telling us he has no money."
This kind of son is truly a disappointment.
Feng Qingxue shook her head. "Aihong, I’ve calculated it. Three essentials—the bike, sewing machine, and watch—and the thirty-six legs for furniture, all domestically made, would cost at least six to seven hundred yuan. Imported goods are another matter, but if they can’t get a domestic watch, they’re likely to demand an imported one, which costs several times more than a domestic watch. Then there’s the bedding and household goods, which you’ll also need to buy, right? Clothes and shoes, too—another significant expense. And if they go on to demand a long wool coat for Su Meixiang, it would cost no less than a thousand yuan. The marriage wouldn’t come to fruition!"
Peng Aihong said, "With the ration tickets, it comes down to over twelve hundred yuan. My husband Zhou and I meticulously calculated it. And on top of that, the bride’s family is asking for 188 yuan. Essentially, it’s a dowry, but they don’t call it that, afraid people would make fun of them."