Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 617 - 0574: Supplementing the Dowry (2)

Second Master Chai, while speaking, glanced at Chai Eying and Li Xingmao.

To save someone, it all depended on Chai Eying and Li Xingmao.

Whether Miss Chai was locked up in jail or not, it didn’t matter much to Eldest Young Master Chai and Chai Eying.

She was divorced by the Luo Family and had been detained by the county government; in the future, she was unlikely to cause any significant trouble.

Chai Eying said, "Rest assured, Second Uncle, after today, my husband will go to the county town on his own."

Li Xingmao said, "I will definitely go to the county town the morning after tomorrow."

"Alright, everyone can hear this, you must keep your word." Second Master Chai glanced at those drinking and said loudly.

Li Xingmao said, "Second Master Chai, you can rest assured, the Li Family has always kept its word."

Those drinking also said, "Second Master Chai, you can rest assured about the character of the Li Family’s eldest son, but as for you, you should worry about your second daughter’s future."

Second Master Chai looked ashamed, covered his face and walked away.

This second daughter sure was causing a lot of worry.

Divorced by her husband’s family, and being brought back home,—the whole family might become a laughingstock if they kept her there. Better find a place for her to settle, marry her off to somewhere far away eventually.

Second Master Chai returned home and relayed the results to Old Mrs. Chai and his daughter’s maternal family.

The daughter’s maternal family urged Second Master Chai to stay on top of Li Family’s efforts to save someone, and then they left after giving instructions.

Old Mrs. Chai, in anger, pounded her legs, "Hmph, once that land is in Eying’s husband and wife’s hands, who knows how it will be squandered away. That Xiang will definitely send all the land to her natal family."

Second Master Chai, lamenting the loss of half the family property, felt extremely frustrated, and what Old Mrs. Chai said made it feel as though a large chunk of flesh had been cut out of his heart, leaving him too upset to even eat dinner.

.

The Li Family’s full moon banquet concluded in lively fashion.

Eldest Young Master Chai and his wife didn’t return to the county town right away.

They, together with Chai Eying, started discussing the lands left by Old Master Chai.

Eldest Young Master Chai took out three land deeds from Taohua River Village and handed them to Chai Eying.

"These are for you."

Chai Eying, looking at the deeds, asked, puzzled, "Big Brother, why give them to me?"

The three land deeds amounted to sixty-eight acres.

Sister-in-law Chai laughed, "This is your dowry."

Chai Eying laughed, "I’ve already been married for a year, and a child has been born, how can I still take dowry? Besides, when I got married, you all gave me the money left by our parents as my dowry, I shouldn’t take any more land."

Sister-in-law Chai said, "Money is money, land is land, you only brought a thousand taels of silver with you when you married into the Li Family. How will that last over time? Take this land, it’s your security. Money can be spent, but land is eternal wealth."

"..."

"When Yuyu grows up, he will have something to secure a bride, or if you have a daughter in the future, this can be her dowry as well. A woman, when she has money and land, can speak with confidence in her husband’s family."

Chai Eying frowned, "But, you’re giving me too much, you should keep it for Tian Lang."

In large local families, it’s common to give fields as a dowry when marrying daughters.

But not this much; usually it’s five or six acres, and at most, ten or eight acres from the wealthiest.

But her brother and sister-in-law gave her sixty-eight acres!

Sister-in-law Chai pressed Chai Eying’s hand, "If our parents-in-law were alive, I wouldn’t have to worry so much; they would surely care for you. But since they passed early, and since your brother and I are busy most of the time and can’t look out for you, we discussed it and decided to give you more land."

Deeply moved, Chai Eying held Sister-in-law Chai’s hand and said, "Thank you, Sister-in-law."

Sister-in-law Chai glanced back at Eldest Young Master Chai and said with a smile, "Why thank me? This land is the property of you siblings; it was left by the parents-in-law for you. Your brother decided to give it, and I just agreed, I’m just playing along."

Sister-in-law Chai said the land didn’t concern her, but Chai Eying didn’t believe that. Since her sister-in-law married in, she became the mistress of the house, and all of the family property now belonged to her. Not to mention there’s also their nephew.

If Sister-in-law hadn’t agreed first, how could she have managed to obtain the land so smoothly?

Chai Eying felt grateful; though without parents, she had a brother and sister-in-law who loved her.

That night, Chai Eying told Li Xingmao about the land deeds.

Li Xingmao was also surprised, "Sister-in-law is quite generous."

Chai Eying said, "Sister-in-law said this is for Yuyu’s bride price."

Li Xingmao’s mouth twitched, "Yuyu is just a month old."

Chai Eying laughed, "This way he has his bride price, and we can have confidence, start looking for a wife for him from now."

Li Jing was pushing baby Li Yu’s cradle.

He leaned over and asked, "Dad, Mom, what about my bride price?"

Guoguo, who was watching the baby sleep, immediately frowned and said, "Brother, do you know what a bride price is?"

Li Jing shook his head, thought for a moment, and said, "Is it food?"

Guoguo, "..."

Li Xingmao and Chai Eying laughed together.

"Yes, of course, Dad will prepare it for you." Li Xingmao smiled and patted his son’s head.

They had two sons; the younger one was loved by his uncle and aunt, receiving sixty-eight acres as bride price, while the elder son’s situation was a bit less favorable. He would supplement it.

Chai Eying didn’t want Li Jing to feel sad, so she walked over, held Li Jing’s hand, and said, "Rest assured, Jingjing, everything will be the same for you and your brother. There’ll be for him, so there’ll be for you too. He has sixty-eight acres as bride price, and you’ll have that too. Mom and Dad will earn it for you."

Li Jing didn’t understand what a dowry book was. After hearing Chai Eying and Li Xingmao say he had one too, he felt relieved.

"Thank you, Dad and Mom." Li Jing grinned and said.

Li Xingmao and Chai Eying laughed together.

Guoguo looked at Jingjing, then at the baby, and laughed along with them.

.

Second Master Chai was worried that Li Xingmao might not be proactive, so early on the third day after Chai Eying’s child’s full-month celebration, he came to the Li Family.

Uncle Gui opened the door and, seeing him, coldly called out "Second Master Chai" without letting him in.

Second Master Chai, seeing a former main house servant treating him so coldly, turned livid with anger.

He said with a grim face, "I’m here to find E Ying. According to the agreement, the couple must go to the county town today."

"Second Master, please wait here. I will go inside to deliver the message." Uncle Gui only allowed Second Master Chai to sit and wait in a small pavilion on one side of the guest house, not inviting him into the main hall.

Second Master Chai sat down angrily.

In the South Courtyard House, Li Xingmao and Chai Eying had just gotten up. They were dressing the baby and heard Uncle Gui mention Second Master Chai had arrived. Chai Eying sneered, "He came quite early."

Li Xingmao said, "Let him wait. Once I’m done with my tasks, I’ll naturally head to the county town."

Uncle Gui agreed and went to pass the message to Second Master Chai.

Second Master Chai could only sit and wait.

As the sun gradually rose, the Li Family members exited the house to attend to their various tasks, ignoring Second Master Chai.

Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu arrived at the Li Family, saw Second Master Chai sitting in the little bamboo pavilion, and also ignored him.

If someone was disliked by Chai Eying, they saw no need to greet warmly.

Mu Yuanxiu went to the North Courtyard to speak with Prince Luling, while Li Yuzhu came to the South Courtyard to see Chai Eying’s child.

Li Xingmao needed to go to the county town for errands, and both Guoguo and Li Jing insisted on tagging along.

Chai Eying coaxed them, saying they could go next time.

Li Xingmao, with a stern face, explained reason to the two children.

"But I miss Brother Tianlang." Li Jing sighed.

Li Xingmao said, "You need to go to school, Li Jing."

Li Jing furrowed his little brows.

Li Yuzhu laughed, "Jingjing is still young. Even the youngest kids at school are five; he’s only four. Missing a day isn’t a big deal."

Li Jing, parroting, said, "Yes, missing a day isn’t a big deal."

Li Yuzhu laughed, "Big Brother, let me go to the county town with you. I’ll take care of Jingjing."

"I want to go too." Guoguo tugged on Li Yuzhu’s sleeve.

With Li Yuzhu watching the children, Li Xingmao felt assured. He instructed the two children, "Once in the county town, Dad will be busy with errands and doesn’t have time to play with you. Stay with Little Aunt and don’t run around."

"Got it, Dad." The two children nodded seriously.

Chai Eying also repeatedly instructed the two children, reminding them that if they ran around, they might be tricked and locked up again like last time.

Li Jing didn’t dare run around, repeatedly nodding with a stern little face, "Jingjing won’t run around."

Guoguo said, "I’ll watch over Brother."

Although Guoguo was younger, she spoke like an older sister, making everyone laugh.

After breakfast, Chai Eying packed some snacks and water for the two kids and handed it to Li Yuzhu in a basket.

Li Xingmao hitched up Chai Eying’s mule cart at the front door and loaded the children onto it.

Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu waved goodbye and sat in the cart to watch over the two children.

Second Master Chai, seeing them board the carriage, hurriedly directed his driver to turn his cart around.

Li Lixing, after delivering a gift, also followed Li Xingmao and them back to the city.

Second Master Chai, knowing he was the County Magistrate’s son, approached with a forced smile to greet him.

Li Lixing ignored him, pretending not to see him, and walked straight past.

Li Lixing lifted the curtain of Li Yuzhu’s carriage and climbed inside.

Second Master Chai felt rebuffed.

Jingjing and Guoguo were very happy to see Li Lixing join them in the carriage.

Four-year-old Li Jing and one-year-old Guoguo were at the age of boundless curiosity.

The two children immediately launched a barrage of incessant questions towards Li Lixing, asking about everything under the sun.

Why is the sky blue? How many colors of flowers are there? How many books are there in Zhao Country? How many people? How many mountains?

Li Lixing was driven to despair by their questions.

Li Yuzhu laughed, "Li Lixing, see if your studying pays off, can’t answer, can you?"

Li Lixing pulled a wry face; he had been diligently studying recently.

In the afternoon, Li Xingmao and his group arrived at the county town.