Dad Gong and Madam Gong were indeed worrying about the dowry for Gong Xiaohua. Although Gong Xiaohua told her mother that they could just handle it according to the normal procedure in the family and a dowry was not necessary.
The brother-in-law also warned them that everyone knew the fifth young master of the Qin family was marrying into a lower-ranking family clan, so bringing out a dowry that did not match the family’s status would only invite ridicule from others. They only needed to prepare what was within their own means.
But she was their only daughter. How could they settle the matter so simply? They would definitely give as much as they could without holding back.
Qin Chuyuan privately gave them 10,000 taels worth of silver bills, shocking them to the point where they almost lost their minds.
However, they did not accept the money. They were marrying off their daughter, not selling their daughter. Otherwise, their daughter would be suppressed by her future husband even before getting married.
Meanwhile, the Third Madam Qin, hoping that her son would not lose face when he marries due to the bride’s side providing a dowry that was too shabby, took the initiative to open her private treasury and selected some relatively valuable items to send to the Gong family.
She originally thought the Gong family would gladly accept it, but the items were returned intact to sender.
The news of Qin Chuyuan’s marriage was already the talk of aristocratic circles. Now whenever she went out, she kept getting mocked and jeered at by those people. Every time she went out and then came back fuming.
Now, for the sake of both families’ face, she was actually rejected by the Gong family. She was so angry that she called Qin Chuyuan over to complain.
"Because of your marriage with the Gong family, now when I go out, people make fun of me. For both families’ face, I personally took out items from my private treasury to supplement their dowry, yet they still did not accept it. Are they trying to stomp my old face into the ground?"
Qin Chuyuan turned a deaf ear and sat there as steady as Mt. Tai, allowing his mother to complain.
"They are simply unreasonable, stubborn and ungrateful. Call off the wedding, call it off quickly."
The word “call off” made Qin Chuyuan open his mouth.
"Mother, calling off the wedding is out of the question. You can mess with anything else."
"You too. There are so many young ladies and girls from prestigious families, yet you just have to insist on her. Now look, the wedding is just around the corner, yet she ran off to work in a faraway place.
You’re still waiting here eagerly to marry her, but she did not have you in her heart at all. Look at you, staring at someone else's portrait in the study every day like a lovelorn stone. If I didn't see you every day, I would doubt you were my son."
"What now? Gone mute again? Or did I hit a sore spot?"
“Mother...” Qin Chuyuan looked at his mother quietly and called out.
Seeing her son's aggrieved look, Madam Qin suddenly deflated. She resignedly said, "Forget it, forget it. I won't argue with their family. I’ll arrange to meet with your sister-in-law tomorrow and bring some ordinary but not shabby items to secretly send to their family. That way, they would have no reason to refuse, right?"
"Thanks, Mother."
"Alright, alright. Take advantage while I haven't lost my temper yet and leave quickly."
Madam Qin didn’t even glance at him. With one hand pinching her aching forehead and the other waving at Qin Chuyuan, signaling him to disappear from her sight.
She used to think he was smart, cold-hearted, rational and steady. She did not expect him to be a lovesick fool now.
The next day, Third Madam Qin, eldest daughter-in-law, and a little dumpling, Qin Ziyu, sat in a carriage outside the Qin mansion gate, ready to head out.
Just as they walked out of the Qin mansion gate, they saw the aunt from the Gong family waiting outside with a bamboo basket in her hand.
Seeing them come out, she immediately twisted her plump figure and came up to them.
"Mother-in-law, you're going out? Good thing I came at the right time, otherwise I would've just missed you!" Madam Gong laughed. She also saw the young woman standing next to Madam Qin, as well as the snow-white bundle the woman was holding.
"Oh my, this must be mother-in-law’s eldest daughter-in-law and eldest grandson. What a cutie."
"Auntie, hello."
"Granny, hello."
"Good, good. Auntie didn't expect to run into you all. I didn't prepare any gifts for our first meeting. Next time I come over, I’ll definitely make up for it."
“Auntie, no need to stand on ceremony. We'll be one family from now on.”
“What exactly are you here for?” Madam Qin asked impatiently.
Was it not enough that she was mocked by others? She actually ran to the Qin's front gate to look for her.
Madam Gong continued to smile as if she didn't see Madam Qin's expression. "I didn't really have anything to do today. I just came to thank mother-in-law."
"Thank me for what?"
"Wasn’t it that last time mother-in-law sent many precious items to our Xiaohua as part of her dowry? Although our family rejected it, we are still grateful for your kind intentions. So today I brought over some homemade food for you all to try."
"We've eaten all kinds of delicacies. Take them back." Madam Qin said disdainfully.
Madam Gong ignored Madam Qin's expression and went straight on, "Oh you really haven't eaten this before."
Zhao Rou couldn't help but laugh out loud next to her. She was glared at by her mother-in-law and immediately covered her mouth.
"Let me tell you, this is a new dish that our Xiaohua came up with herself - wind dried beef and sausages. I guarantee you've never had it before." After speaking, she placed the basket in Madam Qin's arms.
Caught off guard by the weight, Madam Qin almost tumbled over, her face flushed red, wishing she could just faint on the spot.
Seeing her mother-in-law's bad complexion, Zhao Rou quickly signaled the gatekeeper to come over and take the things away.
Then she turned to the Gong family auntie, "Auntie, thanks for the food. We'll let the kitchen try making it later."
"Don't stand on ceremony. The wind dried beef can be eaten as a snack without any processing. As for the sausages, tell the chef in your house to steam it first before slicing it to eat."
"Okay, auntie."
"It's getting late. Auntie won't hold you up from going out anymore. Try them first, if you want more after eating them, just send someone to let me know. I'll deliver more to you."
"Alright, thank you auntie. Have a safe trip."
"Granny, have a safe trip." Little Qin Ziyu babbled softly.
Madam Gong happily pinched Qin Ziyu's little cheeks. "Good, good. What a sweet child."
"Mother-in-law, I'll get going first." Without waiting for Madam Qin's response, she turned and left.
Madam Qin was furious. "Humph. Vulgar bunch. Throw away the stuff she brought later. I don't eat such coarse food."
Zhao Rou kept silent. On the contrary, she felt the Gong family was especially kind, cheerful and down-to-earth.
Not like them. Even with such distinguished family backgrounds, they were still treated like chess pieces by the clan to be married out.
Might as well be like the Gong family. Although not well off, the parents dote on the children and the siblings get along harmoniously.
She heard that the future sister-in-law was working in the Ministry of Justice and was very capable, having been promoted several ranks in a short time.
She also had a straightforward personality. Her mother-in-law couldn't get any benefits from her.
She was really looking forward to what life would be like after the sister-in-law marries into the Qin family.
