Chapter 23: I Don’t Have Any Money for You, and the Huo Family Doesn’t Owe You Anything

“Dowry?”

Shen Anan was stunned for a moment.

What dowry?

The next moment, she finally understood.

So her mother had come to inquire so much and talked for so long, all for the Huo family’s dowry money?!

“There’s no dowry.”

She was telling the truth.

She hadn’t even considered such a thing.

She married Huo Rufeng so she wouldn’t have to go to the countryside; it wasn’t a match made after the two families met and found each other suitable, where there would be a dowry and bride price.

To put it bluntly, she hadn’t brought any benefits to the Huo family after marrying in; in the eyes of many, she was even a burden to the Huo family. What right did she have to ask for a dowry?

Moreover, how dare her mother say she would hand over the dowry?

“No dowry? How is that possible? The Huo family is so rich, they wouldn’t even give a dowry?”

Liu Cailan’s eyes widened.

When she got married, the Shen family at least gave some grain as a dowry. The Huo family didn’t give a single cent?!

“Why do you think they should give me a dowry? Did our family give a dowry?”

Shen Anan was speechless.

Liu Cailan grabbed her hand, using force.

“What’s this talk about dowries? Our family is so poor, the Huo family should understand, right? No dowry, so what?

Anan, your mother is an experienced person, I know more than you! If they don’t give you a dowry, it means they don’t look down on you. Later, your in-laws will probably use countless tricks on you!

What’s most important for a woman in her husband’s family? It’s her status! The amount of dowry shows how important your status is in your husband’s family!”

As she spoke, Liu Cailan’s grip on Shen Anan’s arm grew stronger.

It was as if she was trying to break it.

“Anyway, I don’t have a dowry, and even if I did, I wouldn’t give it to you! Do you really think my memory is bad? You said those things about me at the supply and marketing cooperative not long ago!

Do you think I’m your daughter? Good things are for Shen Xiuxiu, and bad things are all for me, Shen Anan!

Shen Yaozu needs money to transfer to a technical secondary school, why did you come to me? Go find your own daughter! I have no money! And I don’t have a dowry for you to take!”

Shen Anan finished speaking and pried her mother’s hand away.

She had originally wanted to talk to them about the wedding banquet, but now it seemed unnecessary.

If she really went, her mother might make a fuss about the dowry again!

“Shen Anan, how can you talk like that? I’m your mother! I raised you for eighteen years, you owe our Shen family countless debts!

Your brother just needs to transfer to a technical secondary school, one hundred and thirty yuan, can’t you ask your in-laws to help with that?

That’s your brother! After so many years of sibling affection, you’re not willing to help?! ”

Liu Cailan shouted.

Some passersby looked over.

Shen Anan didn’t want to argue with her mother about these trivial matters here, and turned to leave.

But Liu Cailan suddenly pulled her back hard.

Shen Anan, who wasn’t paying attention, leaned back and almost fell to the ground.

After barely regaining her balance, she turned to face her mother’s resentful eyes.

“What exactly do you want to do? I don’t have any money for you, and the Huo family doesn’t owe you anything!”

Her eyes were red.

It was a mixture of grievance and pain.

“The Huo family married you, you were raised by me, you all owe me! No dowry? This makes no sense anywhere!”

Liu Cailan shouted even louder.

“Shen Anan, you don’t even help your brother, and you ask me what I want to do?

Your father and I worked ourselves to death, can’t you see that? Xiuxiu hasn’t received her salary yet, otherwise I wouldn’t have come to find you!

Go ask the Huo family for a dowry, or I’ll go ask for it. This money is for your brother to transfer to the technical secondary school. Once he graduates, he will definitely remember your kindness. Why don’t you understand?

If you’re bullied in your husband’s family, won’t your brother be there to support you?!”

Liu Cailan seemed to be speaking earnestly, but her eyes were filled with hatred, as if she wanted to devour Shen Anan alive.

Shen Anan was still helping her brother, and she was so young, unwilling to help with such a small matter?

As a sister, isn’t it her whole life goal to rely on her brother’s success to support her?

Otherwise, rely on her husband?

Her husband is also her in-laws’ son, will he help her? If something happens, he will only help his own parents! She’s just an outsider who married in!

Shen Anan remained silent.

She had already understood that her mother was someone she couldn’t reason with.

No matter how much she said, she couldn’t change the other party’s mind.

“Why aren’t you speaking? Speak! Mother, where am I wrong? You’ll understand Mother’s good intentions later!

Anan, you must ask the Huo family for the dowry money! Your brother’s future job assignment depends entirely on you!

Your brother does well, and you, as his sister, will do well, understand?”

Liu Cailan gasped for breath.

Seeing that Shen Anan didn’t speak, she assumed she had listened.

Immediately, her attitude softened.

“Mother guarantees you, that dowry money, besides your brother transferring to the technical secondary school, the rest Mother will save for you. If you need it later, just tell Mother, okay?”

It seemed like a discussion.

But she didn’t give Shen Anan any chance to refuse.

Refusal meant that Shen Anan owed the Shen family, and the money had to be given whether she wanted to or not!

Shen Anan didn’t want to talk to her mother anymore.

The gazes of passersby felt like scrutiny, making her want to escape.

While her mother was still talking to herself, Shen Anan turned and ran.

She was much more familiar with this place than Liu Cailan. In a few short alleys, Liu Cailan lost her.

She stood at the alley mouth and cursed.

Shen Anan took a breath and went back to the Huo family.

As soon as she opened the door, she saw Huo Rufeng in the yard.

His eyes showed a hint of worry.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Shen Anan didn’t want to say, in fact, she didn’t know how to say it.

Her mother had come specifically to ask for a dowry. If Huo Rufeng and Uncle Huo found out, how could she stay here with a clear conscience?

Huo Rufeng didn’t say anything.

After dinner, Huo Aihua and Yang Qiuju unexpectedly said that Shen Anan didn’t need to specifically invite her adoptive parents.

The reason was quite sufficient—

They planned to have a smaller wedding, without inviting many relatives and friends. Fewer people meant less to worry about.

But Shen Anan felt something was strange.

Especially when she was reading with Huo Rufeng, she felt that he kept suddenly smiling.

It wasn’t a blatant laugh, just a quiet smile.

Combining what Uncle Huo and Aunt Yang said at dinner, a thought occurred to Shen Anan.

Putting down her medical book, she walked up to Huo Rufeng.

“Did Uncle Huo and Aunt Yang change their minds tonight because of you?”

Huo Rufeng looked puzzled and innocent.

“No.”

As if he really knew nothing about it.

“Then why did Uncle Huo and Aunt Yang suddenly come to your room for a while tonight?”

Shen Anan stared at him.

This man was much better at lying than she was!

Huo Rufeng’s eyes became unnatural.

He remembered she was in the kitchen at the time, how did she find out he had called his parents into the room to talk?

“Confess and be lenient, resist and be strict!”

Shen Anan moved closer.

Their eyes met.

Huo Rufeng only now discovered that this silly girl was actually quite pretty…

“I…”

Before he could speak.

“Bang!”

Shen Anan lost her footing and fell directly into his arms.

“Are you alright?!”

The next moment, she immediately tried to struggle up.

Huo Rufeng was a patient!

She didn’t know if she had hurt his leg!

She was terrified.

But a pair of hands gently pressed on her back.

“I’m fine, but can you take your hand away?”

Huo Rufeng’s voice was slightly helpless.

Only then did Shen Anan realize that in her panic, her right hand had accidentally landed in the most inappropriate place!