Chapter 20

Chapter 20

The Dong Family didn't have any, but she did. Having made up her mind, Li Mingwei invited Yun Sister to embroider flowers with her early next morning.

She didn't beat around the bush, pulled Yun Sister into the room, made sure no one was outside, and asked directly: "I just heard from Sister Chunhua yesterday that you are getting married so far away. I wanted to ask if you really want to get married. If not, I can help you think of a way to return the betrothal gifts."

Yun Sister was stunned for a moment, somewhat moved. She held Li Mingwei's hand in return: "I appreciate your kindness, but you don't have it easy yourself. Don't worry about me."

Yun Sister knew Li Mingwei had skills to make some money, but she still lived in the utility room at the Dong Family. That small utility room was even worse than her room with her sister. How could she bear to ask her for more help?

Not knowing how to explain, Li Mingwei could only say: "Don't worry about me. I have money."

But Yun Sister still shook her head.

In order to prove her capability, Li Mingwei had no choice but to take out the gold hairpin for Yun Sister to see: "Look, I really have money. Feel free to ask if you need help."

"This, this is gold?" Yun Sister covered her mouth in surprise, even holding the gold hairpin with some tremor. In her life, the most valuable jewelry she had seen was the silver hairpin her mother brought for her dowry. But that couldn't compare with what was in front of her eyes now.

"It's gold, real gold!"

Touching the pearls inlaid on it, Yun Sister opened her mouth but couldn't make a sound.

It took her quite a while to regain some sanity. She asked: "Where did you get this from?"

"It was part of my dowry."

Yun Sister shook her head again and again: "Then I really can't take it!"

"I didn't say I would give it to you!" It was the dowry her grandfather-in-law gave her. How could she easily give it away!

Li Mingwei said, "I just wanted to tell you that I do have some money. If you don't want to get married, no matter how much betrothal gift your family has received, we can somehow gather money to return it."

Yun Sister fell silent for a while, seemingly lost in thoughts. Then she sat down heavily on the bed and said in a resigned manner, "I should just get married."

Li Mingwei bit her lips tightly until the tender skin bled a little. Her mind was a complete mess now, unable to think clearly about the truth behind Yun Sister's words at all.

She only remembered Yun Sister's promise to come back. She must create the conditions for Yun Sister to come back.

Mr. Jin had just paid her the teaching fee for next month. She counted the money in her hand and shook her head.

Mr. Jin laughed: "What's wrong? Did this old fellow with blurred eyesight count it wrong for you?"

"No." Li Mingwei shook her head again. She put the money back into her pocket, lowered her eyes and asked, "Mr. Jin, do you know where Qingshan Village is?"

"Qingshan Village?" Mr. Jin tried to recall. There indeed was such a place. "Is it the Qingshan Village south to the county seat?"

"Yes, I also heard it takes two days to walk there from here, with an overnight stay in the county seat in between."

"Hmm, then it must be that Qingshan Village." Although Mr. Jin had never been there himself, he had heard of it. It's quite far. He looked up at Li Mingwei: "Why did you suddenly ask about this place?"

Li Mingwei pouted a little: "Sister Yun is getting married there after the New Year."

"I see." Seeing Li Mingwei look somewhat unhappy, Mr. Jin comforted with a smile: "Don't worry. Although Qingshan Village is just a village, it has quite a large population. Some families there may even be wealthier than those here in our small town."

"Yes, the betrothal gift is twenty taels of silver, quite rich indeed."

Although it couldn't compare to the lavish dowry she received at her wedding, it was already very high by local standards. When Dong Shan married Wang Chunhua, the betrothal gift was only ten taels. In their village, even five or eight taels would suffice for other girls' weddings.

"Not bad then. Why the dissatisfied face?"

Li Mingwei gritted her teeth: "I think Sister Yun deserves better!"

Mr. Jin laughed out loud. When he walked past her, he knocked her little head and said: "My child, don't be too greedy. You think Yun Sister deserves better, but the groom's family probably also feels their son deserves better. Given the Meng family's status, twenty taels of silver betrothal gift is already very good."

Li Mingwei naturally understood that. But it was because she felt Yun Sister was ill-treated, not that she looked down upon the groom's family.

This family had never truly cared for her or asked what she really wanted. Yet she still had to contribute so much to this family.