Chapter 374: Going to the Lu Family for the Dowry

Chapter 374: Going to the Lu Family for the Dowry

Mr. Zheng thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll have Concubine He come to help you."

Zheng Jinyu gently shook her head, refusing, "No need. For a legitimate daughter's marriage, having a concubine handle the arrangements would be a laughingstock."

Mr. Zheng suddenly understood and nodded, "Then I'll take care of it. Starting from tomorrow, I won't go to work and will handle your wedding affairs."

Zheng Jinyu smiled and said, "No need. I've already taken care of everything; we just need to wait for the wedding procession."

Mr. Zheng was left speechless, wanting to intervene but finding no place to do so.

"What about the dowry? Did your mother prepare anything for you?"

Zheng Jinyu replied, "I've earned some silver over the past few years and have already prepared it."

Hearing this, Mr. Zheng was instantly taken aback, staggering as he lost his balance.

She had earned her own silver and prepared it herself.

So her dowry was all from what she had earned in the past two years?

Yet that adopted daughter, that ungrateful wretch.

They had been saving for her dowry since she was very young, for ten whole years.

When it came to his own biological daughter, there was nothing, and she had to earn her own dowry.

"Jinyu, I..."

"It's fine!" Zheng Jinyu smiled at him, "Mother gave me a few shops to manage and introduced me to some business opportunities. I've earned quite a bit with those."

"The silver you earned is yours. How can that count? Don't worry, I'll make it up to you."

Zheng Jinyu smiled without saying anything.

In her mind, the household finances were controlled by Lady Zheng. His monthly salary barely covered half of the Zheng family's expenses. What could he give her?

But when he realizes he has no silver, he'll think of Fang Jinxiu's dowry, right?

He should go and get it back.

At this point, Mr. Zheng hadn't realized this yet. Having never managed money or worried about daily expenses, how could he think of these things?

He hurriedly returned home and called Concubine He, "Do you know what Fang Jinxiu had for her dowry?"

Concubine He said, "Lady Zheng handled everything, I don't know. But doesn't Sir have the dowry list? A comparison would tell us."

Mr. Zheng frowned, "The dowry list is with Cui Qingqing."

"In that case..." Concubine He knew Sir didn't want to talk to Lady Zheng and probably wouldn't ask her.

"No problem. Tomorrow, I'll go to the government office and ask Lord Yu to make a copy for me."

This wasn't a bad idea.

"Show me what we have at home that can be given to Jinyu as her dowry. She is our Zheng family's eldest daughter; she can't be inferior to an adopted daughter."

"Eh?" Hearing this, Concubine He said, "Sir, you're making it difficult for me. When Miss Jinxiu got married, her dowry was prepared by Lady Zheng starting ten years ago. The matriarch also contributed, and the sons added to it. Compared to the dowries of other ladies in the capital, it was exceptionally generous. Now, the household finances are still under Lady Zheng's control, and your monthly salary barely covers our expenses. Where would we find silver for Miss Jinyu's dowry?"

Mr. Zheng was stunned for a while.

"What did you say? You mean there's no silver?"

"Yes, no silver."

"All my salary is handed over to you."

Concubine He felt bitter inside. What could his last month's salary of twenty taels do?

He had been at home recently, and next month's salary was uncertain. She didn't know how they would survive.

"You only gave me twenty taels, which barely covers food and drink. Miss Jinxiu's dowry, when added up, is worth tens of thousands of taels. How can I make up for that?"

He had never managed these things and didn't know the prices of basic goods.

Only now did he realize and was shocked.

Furious, he slapped himself hard.

Worth tens of thousands?

If only considering his salary, how many years would it take to accumulate that much? Even selling himself wouldn't cover the ungrateful wretch's dowry.

Ironically, he had remembered their last bit of affection, thinking that if they behaved properly, he wouldn't bother reclaiming the dowry.

But this wasn't a little bit; it was taking his life.

Mr. Zheng couldn't sit still and wanted to go to the Lu family immediately to reclaim the ungrateful wretch's dowry.

But it was curfew outside, and going out now would get him caught.

He couldn't go, and instead raged helplessly in his room.

That night, he hardly slept. Early the next morning, he went to the neighboring Zheng residence to ask Lady Zheng for Fang Jinxiu's dowry list.

To verify the dowry, one needs to compare the lists from three parties.

The Zheng family kept one copy, Fang Jinxiu took one to the Lu family, and another was stored in the government office.

He arrived early, just as Lady Zheng had gotten out of bed, still in her nightgown and not yet having washed up.

Her expression was far from pleasant as she coldly said, "Why are you here? Are you scared because you saw my brothers? Hmph, let me tell you, it's too late even if you apologize now. I've already told my brothers about how you bullied me, so just wait for your scolding."

Mr. Zheng looked at her as if she were insane and coldly said, "Bring out Fang Jinxiu’s dowry list."

Lady Zheng’s face changed, "What? You didn’t come here early in the morning to apologize to me but to ask for Jinxiu’s dowry list?"

Mr. Zheng coldly replied, "I don’t have time for your nonsense; give me the dowry list."

Hearing his tone, Lady Zheng became furious, "No."

"No? Who’s in charge of this family, you or me?"

Lady Zheng sneered, "Didn’t you already divide this household in two? Shouldn’t we each manage our own affairs from now on? What? Now that you’re in charge next door, you want to control my household too?"

"You…" Mr. Zheng was so angry he rushed forward and grabbed her wrist, threatening, "Will you hand it over? Don’t force me to take it by force."

It hurt Lady Zheng’s wrist terribly, "Zheng Ji, what are you doing? You wouldn’t dare hit me, would you? Go ahead, make a move, I’d like to see if you dare."

When Aunt Luo came out and saw them struggling, she was shocked and hurriedly tried to mediate.

"Sir, madam, please talk things out calmly; there must be no violence. The Fifth Master and Sixth Master are here; it won’t look good if they see this."

Right, her Fifth Brother and Sixth Brother were here; why should she be afraid?

Lady Zheng shouted loudly while pushing him away.

Despite being a man, Mr. Zheng was merely a scholar and wasn’t much stronger than Lady Zheng.

In the struggle, she pushed him to the ground.

At that moment, the Fifth Master and Sixth Master of the Cui family also arrived.

They saw Lady Zheng pushing Mr. Zheng to the ground in a fit of madness.

"Eighth Sister, what are you doing?"

The two hastened their steps to approach.

Mr. Zheng was flushed with anger and clumsily got up from the ground, shouting, "You harpy, don’t go too far. Does the Cui family’s upbringing teach you to hit your husband?"

Lady Zheng’s eyes flickered as she said, "I didn’t do it on purpose. If you hadn’t grabbed me, would I have pushed you?"