Chapter 12

Aunt’s expression changed instantly, and she was about to refuse.

Grandma looked at her and said, “What are you standing there for? Go on, the guests are still waiting!”

Mom sat down steadily, a look of relief on her face.

I am the first proper university student in the Zheng Family.

Among all the relatives present, the younger generation at most had attended a junior college.

In just a few minutes, everyone’s tone changed.

Congratulations and envy filled the air.

At gatherings like this in the past, Uncle’s family-with three sons-was always the center of attention.

Now, all eyes were on our family.

“Jianjun, you really have the courage. Xiaxia got into university, and Qiuqiu is sure to follow.”

“Both your daughters are university students. Life will be so comfortable for you from now on!”

Great-aunt laughed, “From now on, during festivals, you’ll have more good wine than you can drink!”

Where we’re from, it’s customary for sons-in-law to bring wine to their fathers-in-law during holidays.

A cousin-uncle sighed, “You don’t have a son, so you don’t need to earn a dowry. When you receive the bride price, you won’t have to spend it on your son-you can keep it all for yourself. Thinking about it, I almost wish I had more daughters!”

“That’s right, with university-educated daughters, the bride price should be at least 80,000 to 100,000 yuan.”

My smile gradually faded.

Listen to that-how frightening.

To these people, a girl getting into university means she’s worth a higher bride price.

An uncle sighed, “You have no idea, getting married isn’t like it used to be. No one wants the houses built in the village anymore; you have to buy a place in the city!”

“Buying a house in the city isn’t easy. Thirty years of mortgage payments-my bones will be dust before I finish paying it off!”

At this, everyone began to complain.

Times really have changed.

If you work outside and can find a partner on your own, that’s fine.

But if you can’t and have to rely on matchmaking, the expenses are huge, and many girls insist on buying a house in the city and not living with the parents.

For rural people with limited ways to earn money, this is nearly impossible.

Speaking of which, great-aunt asked Aunt, “Didn’t you say Dabao had a girlfriend? He’s twenty-five now, you should hurry up.”

Aunt’s face turned sour. “They broke up.”

“Why did they break up?”

“She was too ugly.”

Aunt frowned, “Sister-in-law, I’ve met that girl-she looked quite decent.”

Grandma tapped her bowl, “It’s your sister-in-law acting like a mother-in-law before the wedding, making the girl wash dishes and cook. She drove her away.”

“Now Dabao hasn’t called home in two months.”

For a moment, everyone was criticizing Aunt.

She tried to defend herself, but was only scolded more harshly.

It wasn’t until a cousin-aunt started talking about her own son’s studies that the topic shifted back to my parents.

Dad had drunk quite a bit, his face glowing red.

The moisture in his eyes-I couldn’t tell if it was the alcohol or excitement.

After the meal, Mom wanted to go to the kitchen to wash the dishes again.

I grabbed her hand, “Mom, you bought and cooked the food-let Aunt wash the dishes.”

My sister and I dragged her away.

Aunt called out behind us, “Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, the dishes…”