Chapter 553: Chapter 553: Did She Marry Just to Suffer?

After Xiaomai finished speaking, Tong Tiehu frowned, “The Tong Family should have a betrothal gift.”

“That bolt of cloth will do. After all, I’m not bringing a dowry.” She packed her daily clothes and items into boxes and brought them to the Tong Family.

If she’s not happy in the Tong Family, she’ll just go back to her own home.

“Okay.” Since Xiaomai has spoken, Tong Tiehu had no objections.

Tong Tiehu didn’t have any objections, and neither did Tong Xingda and Tong Sanlang.

And thus, this matter was settled.

The few of them discussed some details until deep into the night, and the three from the Tong Family eventually left.

Qiao Changshun sat in the courtyard, looking up at the stars in the sky, listening to the sporadic noises of the frogs, his heart heavy.

Zhuang Luhe was gone, and now Xiaomai was about to get married too.

Even if she was just moving to another house in the same village, it still made his heart ache.

After Xiaomai finished washing up, seeing Qiao Changshun gazing at the stars, she couldn’t help but say, “Dad, you should wash up and sleep.”

After a pause, she added, “Don’t worry, I will come back every day.”

At this, Qiao Changshun couldn’t help but smile, albeit a bit bitterly. “A married daughter is not supposed to visit her parents’ house every day, the people of the Tong Family may not like that.”

“What do you mean, ‘supposed to’? Can I not come back according to the Daqi Law? Who in this village would dare to give me a hard time or spread rumors about me?” Xiaomai sniffed in contempt. To kidnap her by so-called conventions was simply naive.

As long as she doesn’t violate the Daqi Laws, she is free to do as she wishes.

Hearing this, Qiao Changshun couldn’t help but sigh. “You need to change your temper. Keep in mind Sanlang is in the middle of all this; you wouldn’t want to make things difficult for him.”

“Dad, did you forget what he said today? He said he would protect me. If he can’t, well, hmph.” Xiaomai sniffed again.

She would fulfill her duty as a daughter-in-law, but she wouldn’t tolerate undue grievances.

Seeing her like this, Qiao Changshun heaved another sigh. “In a family, it’s impossible to always clearly divide everything.”

“Those who aren’t blind can see clearly.”

Changshun paused at these words, which seemed to bear some kind of implied meaning…

“Wash up and sleep. Stop overthinking.” Xiaomai added, walking into the house.

Qiao Changshun sat in the courtyard for a while longer, rubbed his face, then stood up and left to wash up.

While the Qiao Family slept, someone at the Tong Family was having a sleepless night.

Upon learning that Xiaomai was only bringing two boxes of dowry, the Zhang Family was infuriated. What had they set their sights on?

They were after Xiaomai’s silver, hoping to live the life they used to lead. But now Xiaomai was only bringing two boxes, it looked as if Xiaomai had come to endure hardship?

Tong Tiehu, seeing this, snorted coldly. “If you’re not happy, go negotiate with Xiaomai yourself!”

“We could simply call off the wedding if you prefer!”

Upon hearing these words, the Zhang Family’s fury subsided a bit.

If she went to talk to Xiaomai by herself, would she not expose her feigned illness?

Xiaomai wouldn’t really be coming to their home to endure hardship, would she…?

She would surely bring several acres of land and some silver, right?

Thinking this, she directly asked Tong Sanlang.

Tong Sanlang responded without any expression, “Can our family afford a betrothal gift?”

The women of the Tong Family all received a higher betrothal gift than their dowry when they got married. Now that the Tong Family can’t afford a corresponding betrothal gift, why should they expect Xiaomai to bring a hefty dowry?