When Old Master heard this, he did not say anything either. He probably could guess what was on her mind and very understandingly took the matter onto himself to explain.
Knowing summer instantly felt relieved.
If she had to explain it herself, there would inevitably be another round of explanations.
She could be frank with grandpa and grandma, but she could not open up to them no matter what.
Some opportunities, once missed, are gone forever, and no matter how much you do later, you can never make up for them.
When she first returned to this family, Knowing Summer was also full of longing for them, and was confident that they would choose her.
But reality gave her a harsh slap in the face.
A 10-month pregnancy ultimately could not compare to 18 years of nurturing, and she also saw through it and did not force it.
They did not love her, and she did not love them either. After all, she was no longer the pitiful child craving parental affection.
After the meal, without letting Old Madam do it, Knowing Summer went to clean up the bowls and chopsticks.
Zhou Nan had already cleaned up the kitchen before leaving, and there were only a few bowls that needed to be rinsed, so it was quick.
Old Master locked the door and returned to the living room. Knowing Summer saw a wooden box placed on the table in front of them.
Old Madam beckoned to her, and Knowing Summer went over and sat down beside her.
Old Madam opened the wooden box, revealing the jewels inside.
Knowing Summer looked at Old Madam in shock, and heard her say, "This is the dowry prepared by grandpa and grandma for you. Although the quantity is not much, they are all good things. Take a look and see if you like them?"
The An family's public statement was that they had donated all their family property, and they had even sold their old house back then in order to donate an airplane to the country.
This was also Old Master's intention at the time, to dispose of all the things that were known to outsiders, difficult to hide, too conspicuous or too large to collect and store, and not to worry about them. Being able to keep the family safe was the best thing, and they had also made a contribution to the country.
In fact, the An family had been prosperous in Jin City for hundreds of years, and had gone through several generations of family patriarchs. How could they not leave something for themselves?
It was just that these things could not see the light of day at the moment, so they could only be hidden, waiting for the day when the times became more open, and then take them out to leave for future generations.
What Old Madam gave Knowing Summer today did not touch the An family's possessions at all, but was picked out from her own dowry, and it was only a tiny part of it. There was more that she was not reluctant to give, but did not dare take out. If taken out, it would only lead to disaster.
When Old Madam was young, her natal family was also very prominent. But later her natal family fled the country, leaving her those things they did not take with them. So Old Madam was by no means poorer than Old Master.
Apart from Old Master and Old Madam, only An Jingzhi and eldest grandson An Zhiqing knew about these family assets, even Zhou Nan did not know.
The old couple were also very vigilant, even if An Meiyun was reborn, she would not know about the things the An family had hidden.
In that life, when the family property was divided, it was also when Old Master was terminally ill. The children of the An family were not fools either. The family property they divided up was also hidden very well by themselves. After all, the family's public statement was that they had donated all their property to gain their present honor. Even if the times became more open later and it was exposed, they would be slapping themselves in the face.
So in Gao Meiyun's eyes, the children of the An family were all well off, but she did not know that they had capital to begin with, plus the protection of their elders.
As for her, originally out of emotional considerations, even if she did not like her, they would not let her fall to that extent. It was a pity that she was so nasty, and unlike this life where she knew to pretend to be pitiful, in that life she was blatantly evil, so it was no wonder the family's patience with her was quickly worn thin!
Knowing Summer looked at the things in the box. At the very bottom was a row of six large yellow croakers, two handkerchiefs wrapped around two gold bangles and two red agate bangles respectively, two pearl necklaces, one large and one small, four pairs of earrings, and several pendants.
Old Master said at the side, "Some of these things are not worth much now, but keep them well. They will be worth something in the future. There is also a saying to remember, wealth should not be flaunted, as long as you know it in your heart, don't let it out. On your wedding day there will be many people around, so these can’t be brought along with the dowry to the Pei family. They should be kept at home first until after you finish the wedding ceremony before taking them."
After all, the bride's dowry should not be brought out and seen.
Old Master also gave Knowing Summer five hundred dollars, saying, "Grandpa can't let others look down on my granddaughter just because we don't have time to prepare large dowry items. This is the dowry your grandma gave you, and this is what grandpa gives you. The Pei family will also give a bride price, but there are two daughters-in-law above you, so the amount can't be too much. Let's not nitpick about this. Our family doesn't lack money either, it doesn't matter. As long as you two can have a good life in the future, that's fine. But Old Pei also said that Pei Jing has been keeping his salary to himself over the years, and after the wedding he will hand it over to you to manage. At that time, whatever you want to buy, you make the decisions yourself, and he will handle the receipts."
Old Master and Old Pei had already discussed this, and Knowing Summer naturally had no opinion.
Old Madam secretly rolled her eyes, still feeling somewhat wronged for her granddaughter, and whispered in Knowing Summer's ear, "Knowing Summer, no matter what those two old men discussed, your grandma's dowry is hidden away, and I will leave it all to you in the future. Your dad and brothers will have no share!"
In their old generation, the bride price and dowry were the bride’s private property. When the dowry was brought over before the wedding, it was registered and catalogued, divided into several copies and kept separately. Plus her natal family left her quite a bit when they fled. Old Madam was a bona fide rich lady.
When donating the family property back then, Old Master never intended to take his daughters-in-law's dowries. So Old Madam's things were all kept.
It could be said that in this family, Old Madam was the wealthiest.
Hearing Old Madam's words, Old Master just glanced at her without speaking. After all, he had no say over his wife's dowry.
Carrying the jewelry box, Knowing Summer went back and after careful consideration, still put it into her space.
There would inevitably be people coming to her room on her wedding day, and it would not be good if it was exposed. The space was the safest place.
Today's meal time was very early. After the meal, it was still not dark outside.
Old Master took Old Madam to An Jingzhi's place, probably to tell them about her wedding.
Knowing Summer went to bed very early, almost falling asleep as soon as she hit the bed, and did not know when they came back.
The next morning, An Jingzhi came over with Zhou Nan.
Knowing Summer was quite afraid they had come to question her, but fortunately they didn't say anything. An Jingzhi also took out five hundred dollars for her, saying it was for her dowry.
Zhou Nan seemed to want to express something. She said to Knowing Summer, "Knowing Summer, when Meiyun got married, mom only gave her two hundred. There's not enough time for you, and we can't prepare large items either. If you need anything later, dad and mom can add to your dowry."
"Thank you dad and mom, I'm fine for now." Knowing Summer politely thanked them.
After leaving Knowing Summer's room, An Jingzhi complained to Zhou Nan, "Didn't we agree not to mention Meiyun again? Why did you bring her up in front of Knowing Summer again?"
"The child always feels we don't dote on her. I have to say it to let her know!" Zhou Nan wiped the corner of her eye and said, "It's my own daughter I gave birth to after ten months. How could I not dote on her? But as soon as this child came back, she was already so grown up. Seeing her so opinionated, I also don't know how to show concern for her."
