Jiang Zihao realized that he now had to stand united with his wife; otherwise, he and his mother would truly have no way out.
So he also began shouting, "My father said if my wife doesn’t hand over all her dowry to him, he’ll beat us to death!"
It was the peak hour after work, and all the workers living nearby came out with their families to watch the commotion.
Yang Yiyang didn’t have many tears to shed, so she covered her face with her hands, while Jiang Mother wept silently, suppressing her sobs.
She whispered to Jiang Mother, "Mom, go quickly and call the Street Office people. Tell them someone’s about to be beaten to death."
Then she gave Jiang Mother a push, sending her out through the crowd that hadn’t yet fully closed in.
Many people immediately started asking questions:
"What’s going on with the Old Jiang Family? They just got a new daughter-in-law a few days ago, and now they’re already fighting?"
"Yeah, I heard they spent a thousand yuan to marry her off. Good heavens, it’s practically like buying her."
"I heard it was 800?"
"Whatever the amount, it’s an astronomical sum. They can’t just start hitting her because they’re feeling resentful."
"And for a father-in-law to bring his eldest son to beat up the new bride—that’s not right either! Do they even care about their reputation?"
Seeing that so many people had been drawn out by their shouts, Yang Yiyang pretended to cry and said, "My parents received the betrothal gifts from my in-laws, but since our wedding was arranged in such a hurry, they only gave me 200 yuan as a dowry, telling us to buy some clothes ourselves as a wedding gift."
She covered her face with her hands. "Wah, wah!"
Her cries were pitiful indeed.
"As soon as I entered their home, without even exchanging two words, I was nearly beaten to death by my father-in-law. I was unconscious for days, sent to the hospital, and almost didn’t make it. I’ve already died once and repaid the Jiang Family with my life. I only came back today because I’m feeling a little better."
Wah, wah!
Yang Yiyang also stole glances at the people around her while keeping an eye out for any members of the Jiang Family who might rush out to attack them.
She was ready to run at any moment.
Wah, wah!
"As soon as I returned today, the second thing my father-in-law said was to demand I hand over all my dowry money."
Upon hearing this, the neighbors were astounded. What a bizarre turn of events! Strange things happen every year, but this year seems especially full of them!
"Good heavens, I never imagined the Jiang Family was like this. We should stay away from them from now on."
"Exactly, what kind of father-in-law tries to take his daughter-in-law’s dowry?"
"Who wouldn’t say the same? Shameless!"
Yang Yiyang was determined to make a scene: "Is there anyone here who works in the same unit as my father-in-law? Could you help me ask their leaders if they’ve been withholding his salary?"
"That’s why he wants me, a new bride, to support the entire Jiang Family with my dowry."
The three Jiang men who had rushed out afterward looked as if they had eaten something foul, their faces dark with anger.
Jiang Dad’s temples bulged with veins, looking as though they might burst at any moment.
"You shameless woman, what nonsense are you spouting?"
He wanted to rush over and hit someone, but the crowd was packed tightly, three layers deep inside and out.
It wouldn’t be easy for him to get through.
A few colleagues, afraid he might lose control and cause a death, quickly held him back.
"Old Jiang, you’ve already married her into the family. Just calm down. Aren’t you applying for a promotion?"
They meant he shouldn’t risk losing something big over something small. If this commotion continued, it would definitely affect his chances of promotion.
Jiang Father grew even angrier. "That shameless woman is lying!"
As for whether others believed him or not—that was their business.
However, the three men of the Jiang Family knew that if they let that wretched woman Yang Yiyang continue to tarnish their family's reputation outside, it would affect them at the factory in the future.
Second Brother Jiang then loudly explained, "Don't talk nonsense! That was the stepmother who stole a thousand yuan from Father Jiang and gave it to the Yang family as a betrothal gift."
"Which family would demand a thousand yuan as a betrothal gift? That's practically selling their daughter! When we went to reason with the Yang family, they only returned two hundred yuan to the Jiang Family."
Yang Yiyang couldn't let them twist everyone's perception.
Crying, she said, "That's wrong, it's not like that. The betrothal gift is the betrothal gift. Once it was given to the Yang family, it belonged to them. The Yang family said in front of the Street Office and the Women's Federation that it was my personal dowry money."
She cried louder and louder, "That was my dowry!"
She then kicked Jiang Zihao and whispered,
"Dowry money."
This bastard probably just wanted to watch the commotion too.
Jiang Zihao thought for a moment before reacting, "That's right, my wife fainted at the time and almost didn't make it."
"Aside from the few dozen yuan spent on hospital admission fees, the rest of that dowry money is still being held by the Women's Federation. It's my wife's dowry money, not money for the Jiang Family. Feel free to ask anyone."
After hearing this, everyone thought: So the Jiang Family had this kind of drama! What a spectacle.
A few people who didn't get along with Jiang Heda at the factory were delighted to see the Old Jiang Family in trouble.
"Old Jiang, if you ask me, you've already beaten and scolded her. Trying to take the new bride's dowry on top of that doesn't sound good, does it?"
Another chimed in, "Yeah, now she's part of your Jiang Family, and the money will eventually end up with your Jiang Family too. Why make such a scene?"
Many others echoed, "Right, isn't she already your son's?"
Jiang Dad was so angry listening to the discussion that he almost spat blood.
Yang Yiyang added another line: "You just want to steal my dowry. It's all just excuses."
Suddenly, someone shouted, "The Street Office Director is here!"
Soon, the crowd made way.
The director asked, "What exactly is going on? Someone tell me."
Then Jiang Father and Yang Yiyang each gave their own versions of what happened.
Jiang Dad finally said, "It's this wretched woman who stole my money—a full thousand yuan! I saved it for over ten years, and now it's all gone."
Yang Yiyang asked Jiang Mother, "Mom, did you steal his money?"
Everyone looked at Jiang Mother. She clenched her hands tightly together, as if that could give her more strength.
Jiang Mother had been influenced by Yang Yiyang's persuasion for several days and, without thinking, said,
"No, I didn't steal any money. That's marital joint property."
Upon hearing this, everyone thought: So there's such a concept.
It had been difficult for Yang Yiyang to get her mother-in-law to say this line.
So she said, "Dad, you're in the wrong here. Isn't Mother your wife? Ask the male comrades standing here—who doesn't hand over their salary to their wife for safekeeping?"
She glanced at the men present, and they all started talking at once: "Yes, I hand mine over to my wife."
"Me too."
"If I hand over even one yuan less, I'm not allowed on the bed."
…
Seeing everyone's reaction, Jiang Mother finally realized that this was how marriage should be.
Yang Yiyang continued, "So it's marital joint property. Either spouse can use it. My mother-in-law's only mistake was not discussing it with you before spending the money. That has nothing to do with theft."
After speaking, she pinched a piece of flesh on Jiang Zihao's lower back and gave it a 360-degree twist.
The pain contorted Jiang Zihao's face.
She whispered a reminder, "Getting married."
Only then did he remember what his wife had said—that his two older brothers had also used their father's money to get married.
So he pretended not to see his father's angry expression and said,
"Dad, didn't you pay for my eldest brother and second brother to get married? Since I'm also your son, isn't it only right that you contribute some money for my wedding too?"