Chapter 191 - 147: Getting Married_2
The words might have been deliberately let slip to Qian Manhe, who sold pastries in town, so that he could pass the message along. Qian Manhe was furious, for such talk of not receiving a dowry clearly alluded to what his mother, Lady Tang, had done in the past. He fulfilled their wishes and conveyed the message to the couple of Qian Dagui.
The couple was so agitated they could not sleep. To save face and ensure their daughter’s future happiness, the main house not only brought out the bride price from the Yang family untouched but also added four more taels to the already prepared ten taels of dowry silver, buying two mu of paddy fields as part of her dowry. In addition to what they themselves had prepared and what was given by others—furniture, bedding, clothing, fabric, and jewelry—the dowry amounted to nearly thirty taels of silver, which surpassed even many families in town.
Lady Wang discreetly advised Qian Mandie to keep a firm hold on her dowry, especially the private silver and fabric jewelry she had in her possession, and to never be coaxed out of it by her husband’s family. She also said that if she could capture her husband’s heart and hold out until they separated into different households in the future, her life would become much easier.
Lady Wu secretly told Qian Sangui that if she were Lady Wang, she would rather lose face and even risk her daughter having difficulty finding a match in the future than to proceed with such a matrimonial alliance. How could she marry off the daughter she cherishes deeply to such a disreputable family? Even if they were as wealthy as a mountain of gold, she would not allow the marriage.
However, Lady Wang was too prideful and wouldn’t listen to what Old woman Qian said, let alone heed the words of others. Even when it was distressing to have such in-laws, she would still pick out the positives to say in front of others. If it weren’t for Old woman Qian and Qian Dagui who spoke some harsh truths, much would have gone unknown to them.
Qian Sangui loved his daughter even more and nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. The couple then reminisced about Wan Dazhong, feeling that no matter what, he was a better man, and his family was much superior. They owned farmland and a tiled house, and the household was simple with just one father, whose personality was as straightforward as Wan Dazhong’s, making him seem like an easy man to serve.
There was just one concern—the profession of a hunter made them apprehensive. Although his skills were commendable, dangers always lurk when one travels often in the night, which was exactly the misfortune Qian Sangui had suffered. Therefore, the couple decided to find an opportunity to subtly inquire about Wan Dazhong’s plans for the future.