CHAPTER 277: CHAPTER 268: BE CONTENT

Sun Manyu shouted loudly, attracting the attention of Fourth Master Sun and Fourth Mistress Sun, who also came over to their room.

Fourth Master Sun scolded, "On such a joyous day, why are you making such a fuss?

I’ve been standing at the door listening for quite some time, and I understand what’s going on. Let’s handle this matter according to the rules of respectable families, and let her take half back home.

Big Brother, our Sun family can’t conduct matters in such a way that invites gossip behind our backs about us pocketing a child’s bride price, how could you even think of such a thing."

Sun Dalin didn’t want this situation either; he intended to use the money to find a wife for Sun Manyang. He didn’t expect his daughter to be so inconsiderate of the family’s needs. Feeling indignant, he looked at Sun Manyu, "Taking half back is fine, but if you suffer any grievance at the Li Family, don’t come and complain to me or your four brothers."

Sun Manyu felt deeply wronged after hearing Sun Dalin’s words; it couldn’t be more obvious that if she didn’t leave forty taels behind for the family, she would have no family support in the future.

Originally, she took pride in having a bride price many times that of other girls, but now she no longer felt that way.

Sun Manyu cried in grievance, "Father, I’m your only daughter, how could you not think about me at all?"

Originally, marrying into the Li Family was considered marrying up, and if she only took ten taels back, she would never be able to hold her head high in the Li Family.

Moreover, Li Wenyuan is the youngest in his family, and not only does he have older brothers and sisters-in-law, but he also has elder sisters-in-law. She could already imagine that life in the Li Family wouldn’t be easy unless, three years later, she could help her husband Li Wenyuan pass the Scholar examination. If she couldn’t get any useful information from Yu Xiaolian for Li Wenyuan, she was sure the Li Family would not treat her well.

Sun Dalin yelled, "Why are you crying? Your second uncle’s family, Manhong and Manxue, only took three taels of silver when they got married, and they’re still doing well. I’m letting you take ten taels, and you still think it’s not enough.

All those rules and customs are for respectable families who care about appearances. Our family is just a farming family; we can’t follow those rules.

And the Qi Family, they are a family of scholars, and they didn’t even give their daughter a dowry. I’m letting you take ten taels; that’s already pretty good, be content with it!"

The louder Sun Dalin yelled, the less Sun Manyu dared to talk back, only gazing tearfully at her grandfather, hoping Fourth Master Sun would stand up for her.

Fourth Master Sun wore a stern expression, glaring at Sun Dalin, "Our family is getting better off; we aren’t short of those dozens of taels of silver. If she doesn’t want you to keep more of her money, then let it be.

In a few days, when we build the house, bring out the houses for the few boys who need to get married. After the house is finished, have your wife find a matchmaker, and immediately start arranging for Manyang to marry."

Sun Dalin was persuaded by his father and agreed to let Sun Manyu take half of the bride price back but felt displeased, thinking Sun Manyu was not filial to him.

Although he kept twenty-five taels of silver, during this period, preparing other dowries for Sun Manyu and holding banquets, the family had already spent more than three taels. If he had known Sun Manyu would be so unfilial, he wouldn’t have made such a nice camphor box, bought such good silk for the quilt cover, or nice cotton for her.

Unlike Sun Dalin’s dissatisfaction, his wife actually sided with her daughter, after all, having given birth to four sons before having a daughter, and since Sun Manyu was pretty from a young age, she always believed Sun Manyu would have great fortune in the future.

Since Sun Manyu was getting married the next day, Sun Manbo’s family moved to Fourth Master Sun’s house, leaving the house to Sun Manyu and her mother so that Sun Dalin’s wife could advise Sun Manyu on matters to be mindful of after marriage.

After Sun Dalin went out, Mrs. Li took Sun Manyu’s hand, "Daughter, don’t be angry with your father, his vision is limited, he only sees this bit of money at present.

My daughter will achieve great things in the future. Now you are the wife of a Scholar, and who knows, one day you might become the wife of an Advanced Scholar. If Wenyuan becomes an official after passing the final examination, you will be an official’s wife.

Your brothers are all farmers with no education; they will achieve nothing great in this lifetime. Your mother is counting on you to help them in the future!"

Sun Manyu was swept away by Mrs. Li’s words, instantly forgetting the earlier unpleasantness, cheerfully saying, "Mother, if you really want me to become an official’s wife, once I’m married, you should befriend Yu Xiaolian. When we need her help, she won’t refuse us."

Mrs. Li patted Sun Manyu’s hand, "I know, didn’t I go and weed in the chili fields under the scorching sun for Yu Changhe’s sake, just for you!"

Sun Manyu, grinning with pride, added, "Mother, once Li Wenyuan becomes an official, Yu Xiaolian will have to be subservient to me. She might even salute me!"

Mrs. Li nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly with Sun Manyu’s words, "That’s right; she just has a bit of money. When you become an official’s wife, she’ll definitely have to salute when she sees you."

"Mother, by then I’ll make her kneel when talking to me." Just imagining Yu Xiaolian kneeling at her feet made Sun Manyu ecstatic.

Mrs. Li turned around and took out a silver bracelet from a bundle. The pattern on its surface had worn away, making it clear it was an old piece.

Sure enough, Mrs. Li said, "This is the bracelet your grandmother gave me when I got married. At that time, your grandmother didn’t give me a box or make me a quilt, just this silver bracelet, said to be passed down from my great-grandmother’s generation.

Though this silver bracelet is a bit old, it’s still quite heavy. Take it and keep it."

Sun Manyu was somewhat disdainful of this worn-out bracelet; it couldn’t be worn out but might be pawned for money. But as her mother said, it was ancestral, so she probably wouldn’t be allowed to sell it.

"I don’t want it!" Sun Manyu pushed the silver bracelet back.

Mrs. Li was anxious, "Child, this is at least silver, are you finding fault with having too much money?

Don’t underestimate this bracelet; none of your sisters-in-law received it, I saved it just for you."

Seeing that her mother insisted, Sun Manyu reluctantly accepted it, planning to just toss it into the box later. Considering it couldn’t be worn out, it would just stay at the bottom for emergencies.

The next morning, Sun Manyu got up early to freshen up, and after putting on her red wedding dress, the happy woman gave her an exquisite makeup.

When Li Wenyuan came with the wedding party, driving the carriage to pick up Sun Manyu, the first thing he noticed was Yu Xiaolian, who had come to send her off.

Li Wenyuan jumped down from the carriage, passed over his in-laws, and went straight to Yu Xiaolian.

He respectfully saluted Yu Xiaolian, greeted her, and then went to receive his bride.