Chapter 41: The Dowry Debate

And as long as her daughter could keep Master Liu’s favor, she would always be able to help the Lin family. Then let’s see who would dare look down on her.

Having only given birth to two daughters and not a single son was a pain in her heart. That was why she feared being looked down upon the most.

When they reached the county seat, the ox cart stopped at the designated spot. Lin Qinghuan was the first to jump off.

Old Madam Lin spat in her direction again. “Pah, I’d like to see how cocky you are after you’ve spent all those ten taels of silver!”

“Mother, you really need to prepare a decent dowry for Yanlan. Otherwise, she’ll be mocked after she marries into Master Liu’s household.”

Big Aunt didn’t manage the household finances, so she could only plead with Old Madam Lin to be generous and prepare a presentable dowry, so it wouldn’t be too shabby for Lin Yanlan to marry into Master Liu’s estate.

“You don’t need to tell me that. I’ve already thought it out: two cotton quilts, one bolt of fabric, three pairs of shoes, and one wooden chest.”

Seeing that these were all ordinary items, Big Aunt grew anxious.

“Mother, Master Liu’s household already has all those things. You should prepare something valuable.”

“What valuable things? Don’t underestimate these items. Putting them together costs two or three taels. Add one tael of private money for her, and I’ll be spending four taels at once. How much of mine and your father’s coffin money will be left then?”

Big Aunt grumbled inwardly. ‘It’s clearly the twenty taels of compensation from Lin Laosan, not their coffin money at all. And now she’s being this stingy.’

“Mother, think about it. If Yanlan wins Master Liu’s favor, won’t she be able to keep helping her own family? Then we’ll all benefit. ‘You can’t trap a wolf without sacrificing a child.’ You don’t need me to teach you that, do you?”

Only such core interests could move Old Madam Lin.

Sure enough, after hearing this, Old Madam Lin fell into thought. Then she gritted her back teeth and asked, “Then what do you think I should prepare for Yanlan?”

“For example, gold and silver jewelry. Making Yanlan look pretty will also curry favor with Master Liu, won’t it?” Big Aunt smiled with ill intent.

She could only try to persuade Old Madam Lin at a time like this. If it were at home, her suggestion would probably have been shot down by the second branch’s wife as soon as she opened her mouth.

Master Liu’s household lacked nothing in fabric and quilts. Gold and silver jewelry were the most important. In the future, whether for adornment or bribes, they’d come in handy.

Even if, heaven forbid, something happened to Yanlan, those pieces of jewelry might still help her.

Old Madam Lin was enticed into a jewelry store. Even the fanciest silver pearl hairpin there cost one tael and two maces of silver, let alone gold ones.

If she bought these things, it would be easy to spend dozens of taels in one go.

Frightened by the prices, Old Madam Lin wanted to back out. These countrywomen rarely had a chance to wear such things, so naturally they didn’t know the exact prices.

“Forget it. I’ll just buy what I said. We’re country folk anyway. Master Liu knows that. Why pretend to be rich when we’re not?” Old Madam Lin grabbed Big Aunt’s hand and headed for the door.

Big Aunt had to use all her strength to pull her back.

“Mother, since we’re already here, even if we don’t buy much, we should buy at least one or two items as a gesture, right? Yanlan cares a lot about her appearance. If she knew you were willing to spend money on these things, she’d probably be even more obedient to you.”

Old Madam Lin was successfully convinced. In the end, she spent one tael and eight maces of silver on a silver pearl hairpin and a silver bangle.

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