Chapter 9 : Entering the City

Jiang Ting really wanted to hit back, but she clenched her fists and suppressed the impulse.

She couldn’t take the risk.

If Fu Xiangyang really ended up with Jiang Yu, what would be the point of her rebirth?

She covered her face and lowered her head.

Jiang Yu ignored her and turned to go inside.

That evening, before Wang Meili could bring up the topic of Jiang Yu getting married, Jiang Yu took the initiative.

“Mom, I heard Jiang Hao’s girlfriend wants a three hundred yuan bride price?”

Wang Meili’s expression froze, unsure how to respond.

Then, Jiang Yu continued, “Our family conditions are like this. Didn’t Du Juan know this from the beginning? She wanted to empty our house before she even got married. Now that she’s married, I don’t know how she’s going to control you.”

Wang Meili’s face darkened as she seemed to remember something.

The mother-in-law daughter-in-law relationship was always fraught with difficulties. Just because she cherished Jiang Hao didn’t mean she would easily accept his girlfriend.

When she married Jiang Yonghua, she had endured significant pressure from Old Madam Ye.

After finally becoming the mistress of the house, she wouldn’t let herself be bullied by her daughter-in-law.

She shot a displeased glare at Jiang Hao. “Your sister is right. Why should we give them whatever they ask for?”

Jiang Hao tried to placate her, “Mom, she doesn’t want everything, she’ll definitely bring some back. Plus, she might already be carrying my child. If we don’t hurry to marry her in, your grandson might be lost!”

Wang Meili smacked his head in frustration. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

If Du Juan could act like this before even getting married, she wasn’t exactly a prize either.

Old Madam Ye shot her a stern look. “Alright, let’s focus on getting the marriage done first. Jiang Yu, we’ve talked with Du Juan’s family, and there’s a way to avoid the bride price.”

Jiang Yu’s expression turned cold. “What’s the plan?”

Jiang Ting smirked, unable to hide her schadenfreude.

Deep down, she couldn’t help but worry that Jiang Yu might act out of desperation and really try to steal Fu Xiangyang away.

It seemed she needed a plan to secure Fu Xiangyang’s heart.

Old Madam Ye was firm, not allowing for refusal “You will swap marriages with Du Juan, and you’ll marry into their family, so the Du family won’t ask for a bride price.”

Jiang Yu remained calm. “Marry who?”

Both Old Madam Ye and Wang Meili fell silent.

In the end, it was Jiang Hao who puffed up his chest and declared, “Sister, it’s Du Juan’s second uncle. Don’t worry, he may be older, but older men can be caring. He won’t mistreat you.”

His self-righteousness made Jiang Yu feel a strong urge to smack him.

She replied nonchalantly, “What if I don’t want to marry?”

Jiang Hao was momentarily speechless. “How can you not marry? If you don’t, where will we get the three hundred yuan for the bride price? If I can’t find a wife, how can I give our parents a grandson? You’d be unfilial!”

Jiang Ting chimed in coolly, “You’re the only eligible woman in the family. If you don’t marry, who will?”

Old Madam Ye maintained a serious expression “We’ve raised you this long, it’s time for you to repay the family.”

Jiang Yu lowered her eyelids, looking at her hands gripping the chopsticks.

It would be a lie to say her heart wasn’t cold; these were her family members.

But no matter how cold her heart felt, life had to go on.

“Being unfilial is still better than selling out your sister, right? Jiang Hao, even animals are more humane than you. How dare you talk to me about filial piety? If you want to swap marriages, no way. This is a new society, and selling daughters is illegal.”

Wang Meili’s expression changed drastically. “You girl, why do you speak so harshly? How can this be considered selling a daughter? If we had money, would we force you to marry? Regardless, you have to marry, what difference does it make who you marry?”

Jiang Yu stopped short of pushing too far, now wasn’t the time to create a scene. “Mom, it’s just three hundred yuan, and you all didn’t even consult me before deciding to marry me off to an old widower.”

Everyone froze, looking at her in astonishment.

Jiang Ting scoffed, “Are you actually going to come up with three hundred yuan? Keep dreaming.”

Jiang Yu smiled slightly. “Of course I can’t, but my aunt can! She dotes on me, you all know that. There’s no need to marry me off for a swap.”

Wang Meili suddenly clapped her hands. “How could I forget? I can’t believe I didn’t think of that!”

If possible, she didn’t want Jiang Yu to swap marriages.

Jiang Yu was attractive, and if she had the chance to marry into the city, then Jiang Hao would have two brothers-in-law from the city.

That would increase his chances of getting a job!

Wang Meili’s arrangement for Jiang Yu wasn’t out of love, but rather a strategy to maximize benefits.

Jiang Yu understood her mindset and cleverly brought up Aunt Yao to support her argument.

“Mom, can you help me get a recommendation letter from the village secretary? I want to stay at Aunt Yao’s for two months.”

Wang Meili hesitated. “Do you really need that long?”

Jiang Hao mumbled, “Two months? By the time you get the money back, it’ll be too late.”

Jiang Yu shot him a glance. “You’re only nineteen. Du Juan isn’t rushing, so why are you? Three hundred yuan for a bride price? You wouldn’t even need that much to marry a girl from the city. You’re hopeless!”

Wang Meili surprisingly agreed with her. “Your sister has a point. Why are you so eager? No wonder they dare to ask for such a high bride price! But Jiang Yu, two months is too long.”

Jiang Yu clicked her tongue. “Mom! Two months isn’t long at all. That’s three hundred yuan! You and Dad have never made that much money in your entire lives. I need to charm Aunt Yao and make her happy so she’ll willingly give the money!”

Jiang Yonghua finished the last sip of his drink and made a decisive call “Do it! Go get a recommendation letter tomorrow and let Jiang Yu go to the city. Your brother’s marriage depends on you!”

He didn’t want to swap marriages, not for Jiang Hao’s sake, but for his own pride.

If Jiang Ting married a city dweller, and Jiang Yu went off to swap marriages, it would be embarrassing.

Once the elders of the family decided, Jiang Hao had no choice but to keep quiet.

The next day, Wang Meili personally went to get the recommendation letter.

She couldn’t resist making a little show of it “My daughter Jiang Yu is going to stay with her aunt for a while. You all know her aunt is elderly and has no children of her own, she just loves having Jiang Yu keep her company! Who knows, maybe she’ll even introduce Jiang Yu to someone from the city in the future.”

After the letter was obtained, Wang Meili felt satisfied and returned home to remind Jiang Yu.

“Make sure to take good care of your aunt, keep her happy. Three hundred isn’t that much, if you can get a little more, that would be even better.”

Jiang Yu raised her eyes, her clear gaze reflecting Wang Meili’s greedy expression.

“Mom, I understand. Jiang Hao is my own brother, how could I not think of him? Don’t worry.”

These words made Wang Meili feel even warmer and more affectionate towards her.

Reluctantly, Wang Meili thought for a moment and finally handed Jiang Yu five yuan.

“Make sure to save it!”

Jiang Yu accepted the money without any hesitation, saying, “Thank you, Mom!”

This made Jiang Ting furious.

Seeing that she was about to marry Fu Xiangyang, she originally wanted to ask Wang Meili for ten dollars as a deposit.

As a result, Wang Meili refused without saying a word, and said that the dowry was only a quilt.

She also said that the pink floral shirt she bought for her last time was just a treasure for her.