Chapter 9: The Stepmother Goes Crazy Over the Dowry

However, there was one thing that Chen Fengmei was still quite concerned about: “Old Lin, how much dowry did the Xie family give?”

“One thousand.”

“One thousand?” Chen Fengmei thought she had misheard.

“You didn’t hear wrong, it was indeed one thousand,” said Lin Shan. He wasn’t surprised at all that Chen Fengmei would be so shocked.

When he first heard that the Xie family was going to give a thousand yuan in dowry, he was also surprised.

One thousand yuan was neither a lot nor a little.

The current worker’s salary was only forty or fifty yuan, and it would take years to save up just from wages, let alone the daily expenses of a family. How long would it take to save that much?

If the Xie family were a worker’s family, it would be fine. The whole family could grit their teeth and come up with the money.

But the Xie family were farmers who toiled the land. How long would it take them to save a thousand yuan?

Lu Dingyuan’s family also farmed, but he at least had a formal job, which was much better than the Xie family. But the Lu family only gave five hundred yuan in dowry to Lin Huihui.

Xie Qingxiao didn’t have a job, yet the Xie family could still give a thousand yuan to marry Lin Xiangyi. It showed their sincere intentions.

This was also one of the reasons why Lin Shan agreed so quickly to let Lin Xiangyi get married.

Chen Fengmei: “…” Her face visibly turned sour.

“What’s wrong?” Lin Shan’s probing gaze fell on Chen Fengmei’s face, his words ambiguous: “Xiangyi stumbled into this, and it’s a good thing she married a reliable family, isn’t it?”

“…Good, of course it’s good,” Chen Fengmei quickly adjusted her expression. “I’m just too surprised. I didn’t expect that they’re already like that, and they’d still give so much money…”

In her mind, Lin Xiangyi and Xie Qingxiao had already had relations, so marrying Xie Qingxiao was a done deal. Why would the Xie family need to give so much money to marry Lin Xiangyi?

But it was good, after all, the money was given to Lin Shan, so in a way, it was also given to her…

“I don’t plan on keeping the dowry money,” Lin Shan suddenly said.

Chen Fengmei was dreaming of getting all that money, but Lin Shan didn’t want it?

She really panicked: “Why not keep it? Isn’t the dowry for the girl’s parents? If you don’t keep the money, they might think Xiangyi isn’t worth much and won’t treat her well in the future.”

Lin Shan: “That wasn’t what I meant. I mean, I’ll give Xiangyi all the dowry the Xie family gave.”

He was afraid that his daughter would suffer after marrying so suddenly, so he wanted to leave some money for her.

Chen Fengmei: “…” Lin Xiangyi, Lin Xiangyi, always Lin Xiangyi. He really knew how to care for his own daughter!

“Don’t worry,” Lin Shan saw that Chen Fengmei’s face wasn’t looking good. Thinking she was thinking of Lin Huihui, he said, “I’ll keep Xiangyi’s dowry money for her. I won’t take Huihui’s dowry either, I’ll let her keep it.”

However, Chen Fengmei wasn’t much happier.

How much was Huihui’s dowry? How much was Xiangyi’s dowry?

Chen Fengmei had been quite satisfied with Lu Dingyuan as her son-in-law. Now, she suddenly felt that he wasn’t so good after all.

“By the way, I have something else to discuss with you,” Lin Shan hesitated for a moment before speaking.

Lin Shan was always straightforward, saying whatever was on his mind, especially in front of his family. When had he ever been so hesitant?

Chen Fengmei saw Lin Shan like this, and she had a bad feeling. Sure enough…

“I want to discuss Xiangyi and Huihui’s dowry with you.”

Chen Fengmei’s heart skipped a beat.

Lin Shan didn’t have any sons, so the money he had saved would eventually go to Lin Xiangyi and Lin Huihui.

Of course, she favored Lin Huihui. When discussing Lu Dingyuan and Huihui’s marriage, she had blown a lot of wind into Lin Shan’s ear, asking him to give Huihui more dowry.

Lin Shan was persuaded by her and generously promised to give Huihui the most popular “three turns and one ring” as dowry.

“Three turns and one ring” wasn’t something that could be bought with money, it also required tickets, and usually, it was the man’s side who prepared it.

Now, they were being prepared by the woman’s side.

The Lu family was overjoyed when they heard this, and they looked at Huihui with even more respect. Even if they wanted to bully Huihui in the future, they would have to think twice.

What did Lin Shan mean by mentioning the dowry now? Huihui’s dowry had already been decided. Did he mean to go back on his word?

He must have!

Over the years, Lin Shan’s salary had to support four people, and he also had to pay for Lin Xiangyi and Lin Huihui’s education, so they hadn’t saved much money.

Last year, buying a job for Lin Huihui cost more than a thousand yuan, and now their family savings were only about a thousand yuan left. After buying the dowry and “three turns and one ring” for Lin Huihui, there was basically nothing left.

Now Lin Xiangyi was getting married, and Lin Shan certainly wouldn’t not prepare a dowry for her.

Wouldn’t he have to take some of the dowry originally meant for Huihui and give it to Lin Xiangyi?

Chen Fengmei was reluctant. After all, Huihui’s dowry had already been agreed upon with the Lu family. If they went back on their word, what would the Lu family think of Huihui?

But it was reasonable. Huihui had so much dowry, if Lin Xiangyi didn’t have any dowry, it would be a scandal for not only Lin Shan, but also her, the stepmother.

“Yes, this does need to be redistributed. So, how about the sewing machine and the radio for Xiangyi…” and the bicycle and watch for Huihui?

Chen Fengmei took the initiative to speak. She thought that by taking the initiative, she could show her generosity and understanding, and she could also give the more expensive and practical items to Lin Huihui.

But before she could finish speaking, Lin Shan hesitated and said, “Actually, what I meant was, Huihui’s dowry, she can keep the dowry money, but I won’t give her any dowry.”

Chen Fengmei’s hand trembled. She asked in disbelief, “Old Lin, what do you mean? You mean you’re not giving Huihui any of the dowry you originally planned, and you’re giving it all to Xiangyi?”

“Yes,” Lin Shan nodded. “It’s true that I broke my promise about Huihui’s dowry. I thought Xiangyi wouldn’t get married for a few more years, so I didn’t prepare a dowry for her. But I didn’t expect this accident.”

“She’s getting married to the Xie family now, this is an accident. She needs dowry more than Huihui to hold her ground. Besides, now the Xie family has given so much dowry. Although I plan to give this dowry to Xiangyi, I plan to let her keep it secretly. So, on the surface, she can’t be without a dowry.”

He often scolded Lin Xiangyi, complaining that she was useless, but he knew in his heart who his real daughter was.

At this crucial moment, he naturally had to prioritize Lin Xiangyi.

“What about Huihui?” Chen Fengmei exclaimed. He was worried about Lin Xiangyi, but wasn’t he worried about Huihui?

Even if Huihui wasn’t his biological daughter, she was still his daughter in name!

“Huihui’s side, I won’t take her dowry. She can use her dowry money to hold her ground,” Lin Shan pondered. “Besides, Huihui has a formal job in the county. Even if she has less dowry, the Lu family wouldn’t dare to underestimate her.”

Chen Fengmei looked at Lin Shan in disbelief. In her excitement, she actually pushed Lin Shan and roared, “Lin Shan, Huihui is your daughter too! How can you treat her so unfairly?”