“Well, about Momo… I like this child very much. It’s just that our family’s conditions aren’t good. Buying a house in Shencheng is something we truly can’t afford.”
“However, I’m willing to provide the five golds, but there’s still the matter of the two-hundred-thousand bride price.”
Zhang Lanhua carefully watched Qin Hui’s expression as she slowly said, “Two hundred thousand is too much. Could it be a little less?”
Qin Hui was also a straightforward person and knew clearly what Lin Yuyi’s current income level was.
“One hundred thousand. How about that, Yuyi’s mother?”
“As for the house, I’ve already bought one for Momo. After they get married, they can move in directly.”
Zhang Lanhua said nothing. Anyone with eyes could see she was unhappy.
After a long while, she raised her fingers. “Thirty thousand. This old woman can only come up with thirty thousand.”
Qin Hui became unhappy too. Her daughter wasn’t unwanted leftovers was she being sold off like cheap cabbage?
“Yuyi’s mother? Has our Momo done something to displease you?”
“No, no, nothing like that.”
“Then why is our Momo worth only thirty thousand?”
Qin Hui emphasized the last sentence. Zhang Lanhua was also the stubborn type.
She grabbed the bag beside her and stood up. “Yuyi, let’s go. They look down on us for being poor we shouldn’t try to reach above ourselves.”
As she left, Zhang Lanhua didn’t forget to take the vegetables and sweet-potato starch she had brought.
The atmosphere instantly froze, leaving Su Mo and Lin Yuyi caught awkwardly between both families.
Lin Yuyi held Su Mo’s hand, worry in his emotions. “Momo, I’ll go calm my mom first. Help me tell Auntie that the Lin family will definitely marry you in grand style.”
Su Mo was pulled by Qin Hui. “Momo, aren’t you leaving yet? Haven’t you lost enough face today?”
“Mom!”
Su Mo, who had been wholeheartedly defending Lin Yuyi, grew irritated after being scolded by her mother.
This meal cost money yet wasn’t even eaten, and it only left them full of anger.
That night, after returning home, Qin Hui couldn’t swallow a single grain of rice.
Su Mo was the precious daughter she had raised tenderly in the palm of her hand.
Su Zhengshan coaxed his wife from the side. “Momo, come here. Dad has something to tell you.”
Compared with her quick-tempered mother, her father Su Zhengshan’s gentle attitude was easier for Su Mo to accept.
In a soft, coquettish voice, she clung to his arm. “Dad~”
As a father, Su Zhengshan wanted to see his daughter happy. He stroked Su Mo’s head and spoke earnestly.
“Momo, if you want to be with Yuyi, Dad won’t object.”
“But you saw what happened today his mother’s attitude.”
“Their family may lack things, but they shouldn’t act as if they’re in the right. Tomorrow, invite them to our home, and we’ll talk it over properly.”
Su Mo’s eyes reddened instantly at these words.
Yes you can be poor, but that doesn’t mean you’re justified.
You can lack money, but you can’t lack attitude.
Choking up, Su Mo softly said something very childlike: “Thank you, Dad.”
Qin Hui held her chest, still angry.
“Momo, did you see that attitude of Yuyi’s mother? If you really marry into that family, how much grievance will you suffer?”
“My precious Momo how about Mom introduces you to someone else? Someone a thousand, a hundred times better than Lin Yuyi.”
Su Mo stood up, threw down the pillow in her hands, covered her ears, and ran into her room, shutting the door.
Every time, Qin Hui would nag her about this matter.
She and Lin Yuyi had been in love since university. Even when he was dirt poor, she still wanted to be with him.
She took the initiative to send Lin Yuyi a video call, but it showed that the call was declined.
“Lin Yuyi, wow you actually dare hang up on my video call!”
Holding her phone, Su Mo sent a long string of messages to his WeChat.
Mostly the same as when she was usually angry waiting for him to coax her.
Meanwhile, at the hotel
Seeing the messages and video call from someone labeled “Baby,” jealousy took root and sprouted in Bai Qing’s heart.
She simply deleted the incoming messages as well.
Lin Yuyi came out of the bathroom, wiping the water from his glasses. “Did someone just look for me?”
Bai Qing hurriedly put the phone aside. “Oh, no, no. I was just watching videos.”
“Oh. Give me the phone.”
Lin Yuyi took the phone, saw the chat with Su Mo was clean, and didn’t think much of it.
He took a thousand yuan from his pocket and placed it on the table.
“Xiaoqing, thank you for taking care of my mom these past two days. Take this money. I need to take my mom to the hotel arranged by Su’s father.”
The Su family was courteous in every way. Lin Yuyi being able to stay on at the school right after graduation was also thanks to Su Zhengshan’s recommendation.
Today had already disappointed Su Mo’s parents greatly.
Bai Qing held the thousand yuan tightly in her palm. She truly lacked money and was even more reluctant to let go of Lin Yuyi.
Knowing his personality, Bai Qing naturally wouldn’t force things.
Pretending to be generous, she accepted the money. “Yuyi, what are you saying? Auntie has always treated me warmly since I was little. In my heart, she’s like my second mother.”
“Don’t worry I’ll walk you and Auntie out. Once you’re there, I’ll leave.”
After a moment’s thought, Lin Yuyi said, “Alright.”
By the time they drove Zhang Lanhua to the hotel arranged by Su’s father, it was already past ten at night.
Compared with the seventy-yuan-a-night budget hotel where Bai Qing had stayed with Zhang Lanhua, the luxurious suite arranged by Su Zhengshan looked far more comfortable.
Especially for Bai Qing her eyes lit up the moment she entered.
She had never been willing to stay in such a good room. The first time she came to Shencheng, she had spent several nights in the train station waiting hall.
Even paying for a hotel room for Zhang Lanhua had made her heart ache.
The inferiority deep in her bones made her envy Su Mo even more.
Her desire to obtain Lin Yuyi grew stronger.
Walking ahead while supporting Zhang Lanhua, Lin Yuyi didn’t notice the change in Bai Qing’s expression at all.
“Mom, look your attitude at dinner today was so bad, yet Su Mo’s parents still treated you with courtesy.”
“Tomorrow, let’s go to their home and apologize, alright?”
Sitting on the soft sofa beneath her, Zhang Lanhua who had slept on wooden boards all her life had never sat on something so soft.
“Yes, yes, yes.”
“I was too impatient today. Tomorrow Mom will go apologize.”
“But about the bride price you know your mother has farmed all her life and doesn’t have much money.”
“Mom, just follow my arrangements for this matter.”
Since Zhang Lanhua was willing to apologize, Lin Yuyi would handle the rest himself.
He spoke at length about how Su’s father had helped him remain in Shencheng.
Zhang Lanhua felt guilty inside. When people grow old, they sometimes become muddle-headed in their actions.
“Mom, it’s very late. You should rest early I’ll head off first.”
“Alright, go. Xiaoqing will keep me company.”
Lin Yuyi glanced at Bai Qing, who was still standing by the door, ignored until now.
“Mom, Xiaoqing has already been delayed long enough these days. She has work too.”
“Then later, you send Xiaoqing home. She’s a girl out so late at night, it’s not safe.”