Chapter 14: Never Enough

Once the wedding date was set, Madam Qian’s smile deepened. She began by praising the Su family.

“Your household is a fine one. Brother Su is clearly a man who can provide for his family, and Sister Wang knows how to raise children. Your eldest son is dependable, your eldest daughter steady, and your younger daughter lively. Everyone in the neighboring villages knows how well you’ve raised your girls.”

Some of Madam Wang’s anger eased. She was about to reply when Madam Qian changed direction.

“I know you’re not the sort of people who sell their daughter, so as for the betrothal gifts…”

Madam Wang’s smile vanished. Su Dashan frowned deeply and set down his tea bowl with a dull thud. Both understood. Madam Qian was afraid they would keep the gifts.

Matchmaker Sun’s eyes darted about. She lowered her head and drank her tea, pretending she had heard nothing.

“I’ll let Xue take all the betrothal gifts with her,” Su Dashan said.

Madam Qian’s smile broadened. “I knew you cared for your daughter. I hear you’re adding two taels to your eldest girl’s trousseau?”

Madam Wang’s face darkened. Su Dashan raised his eyes, fixing Madam Qian with a grave look. She behaved as though she had not noticed.

“The Huos have money, so they won’t care how much you add. Our family is different. Xiuzhi studies, and we have to stretch every copper coin. There are examinations ahead, and brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones to buy. Everything costs money.”

She never directly asked for a larger trousseau, but every word pointed to it. Even Madam Li, standing at the kitchen door, understood and clenched her handkerchief. Su Xue had not yet married in, and her future mother-in-law was already eyeing her dowry. This looked less like a marriage proposal than an attempt to drain the family’s savings.

Madam Wang’s chest heaved. She gripped her tea bowl, struggling to control her anger. Their greed was shameless.

Xu Xiuzhi noticed the Su parents’ expressions. Setting down his bowl, he coughed lightly before speaking in a gentle voice. “Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, my mother has grown used to hardship. She tends to say too much to everyone. She means nothing by it; please don’t take offense.”

The words were polished and pleasant. But in the west room, watching the main room through her spiritual entity, Su Wan found them laughable. Madam Qian’s intentions were practically written on her face, yet Xiuzhi was skillfully smoothing them over. Mother and son worked beautifully together, one playing the harsh part and the other the kind one.

Su Dashan drew a breath and suppressed his anger. “Both girls are our daughters. My wife and I won’t favor one over the other. If we give the eldest two taels, we’ll give the younger two as well.”

Though the expense pained Madam Wang, she knew it was the best answer for now. They could not rank their daughters in front of outsiders.

Madam Qian’s face fell. “Only two taels?” Her voice rose. “Brother Su, Sister Wang, you’re being too modest. The Huos don’t need money, so of course you can give less there. But our family is different.”

Matchmaker Sun raised her brows slightly. In the village, two taels in a trousseau was already generous. Su Dashan’s face darkened. He pressed a hand against the table and held back his anger.

Madam Wang’s hands shook. “Are you saying it’s too little?”

“I didn’t say that.” Madam Qian waved her hands, arranging a false smile. “How much you give is naturally your decision.” Then she added, “But my son has examinations to take, and everything costs money. You wouldn’t want your daughter to go hungry after she marries, would you?”

The words sounded polite, but her calculation was plain. Madam Wang could endure no more and was about to retort when Xu Xiuzhi coughed. He set down his tea and looked at his mother, still speaking gently. “Mother, they’ll make their own arrangements. Don’t say such things.”

Madam Qian’s smile stiffened. “I’m only thinking ahead for the two of you,” she muttered.

In the west room, Su Wan coldly placed a little lotus vitality into Madam Qian’s tea as well. Only when she watched the woman drink it did she feel somewhat better.

Xu Xiuzhi glanced at the angry Su parents and, under cover of lowering his head to drink, signaled Matchmaker Sun. She understood at once, stood up, and tried to smooth things over with a smile.

“Brother Su truly loves his daughters. Both girls are fortunate to have parents like you.”

Even as she flattered them, she looked uneasy. The Xus’ greed was too much for her too. But she was the matchmaker, and the wedding date was set; she could only press on and mend the conversation.

Madam Qian drank her tea slowly and let her do the work. Her purpose had been achieved. She knew Su Xue would take all the betrothal gifts and another two taels with her. That told her what she needed to know.

Xu Xiuzhi said no more, his expression gentle and courteous throughout. But Su Wan knew he was probably delighted. Xue would bring three taels in all, enough to cover over half a year’s expenses for the three people in his household.

Madam Qian made a few more inconsequential remarks. Madam Wang remained expressionless, nodding occasionally to be polite. When the sun climbed above the trees, Madam Qian finally rose. “It’s getting late, so we’ll go. Rest assured, once your daughter joins us, I won’t treat her poorly.”

The words sounded pleasant, but everyone could hear how little sincerity they held. Madam Wang restrained herself until all she managed was, “Take care. I won’t see you out.”

Once the visitors left, the courtyard fell quiet. Madam Wang sat down again, her face long, and said nothing for a while. Su Dashan drank one bowl of tea after another, trying to suppress his anger. Madam Li carried the tray into the kitchen without daring to say much, moving carefully. Su Qing stood at the doorway, frowning, unsure whether to curse or keep silent. No one looked pleased.

From the west room, Su Wan watched Su Xue go out, full of happiness, and shook her head. Her sister was walking straight into trouble. Su Xue was so immersed in her own joy that she failed to notice her parents’ expressions.

As soon as she entered the room, she asked, “Mother, what did you talk about for so long?”

Madam Wang’s anger surged back. Su Dashan sat nearby, his face grim. Madam Wang stared at Xue, her hands shaking. “You still have the nerve to ask? If it weren’t for you, would your father and I have had to endure this? Of all the men you could choose, why Xu Xiuzhi? What’s so good about him?”

Su Xue was immediately displeased. “What’s wrong with Xiuzhi? Must I marry that soldier Huo Shi’an for it to be a good match? This is my happy day. Must you spoil it, Mother?” She lifted her chin defiantly.

Madam Wang laughed in anger. “Your happy day? Do you know how your future mother-in-law upset us?” Her voice rose. “Your father and I are giving you two taels for your trousseau, and she thinks it’s too little. She kept hinting that we should give more. You haven’t married in yet, and they’re already calculating how to take your dowry. Do you think you’ll have a good life there?”

Su Xue gripped her handkerchief. “Don’t worry. I’ll have a wonderful life, better than Sister’s. The Xus aren’t like the Huos; this is their hardest time. If you want me to live well, give me a little more. Two taels really is too little.”

Hearing this through her spiritual entity, Su Wan shook her head. Su Xue was insatiable. If the Sus saved six taels in a year, it was because Su Dashan and Su Qing worked themselves hard in the fields and Madam Wang managed the household carefully. Giving each daughter two taels would already strain them badly. Any more, and they would struggle to meet their own expenses.

Su Xue’s words would upset not only Madam Li but Su Qing as well. Sure enough, he spoke with a grave face. “We do love you, Xue, but you have to be reasonable. The family doesn’t have that much silver to give you.”

Madam Li frowned. After struggling to hold back, she said, “Do you think we’re a rich family? How much money do you imagine we have?” Her voice was quiet, but practical. “If we give you more, what will Mother and the rest of us eat and drink?”

Su Xue’s face fell. “I’m talking to my mother. What business is it of yours?”

Madam Li’s eyes reddened at once. Since marrying into the family, she had treated Su Xue like her own sister and never spoken harshly to her. She had not expected Xue to have so little regard for her.

Su Qing looked up sharply and fixed his sister with a frown. “Apologize to your sister-in-law.”

Su Xue turned at once to Madam Wang, tears gathering. “Mother, look at them!”

In the past, Madam Wang would have softened at once. Not today. She could not shake the anger stirred by Madam Qian, the book, and Matchmaker Sun’s words. Now Su Xue dared make another scene.

“Shut your mouth!” Madam Wang sprang up and slapped her. Everyone in the room froze. Su Xue’s face turned to one side. For a long moment she did not react. She held her cheek, eyes wide, forgetting even to cry.

“Mother, you hit me again?” Her voice shook with disbelief.

Madam Wang’s hand still trembled, and her eyes were red, but she did not stop. “Yes, I hit you!” She struck and scolded her. “If I don’t, you’ll never learn to think about the consequences! For a man, you’ve ground our family’s reputation into the dirt, and you still dare ask for more dowry? Do you think silver blows in on the wind?”

Su Xue’s lips quivered. At last she recovered and dodged the blows, shouting, “I only want a better life. What’s wrong with that?”

Su Dashan’s face was black with anger. “Because you want a better life, the family must empty its savings to support you? Do you want us to starve?”

Su Xue recoiled, frightened. Madam Wang pointed at her. “You want a good life? Look at what you’ve done, and look at what the Xus have done. First they insulted you with a hundred coins, then sent that book to lecture you. Haven’t you woken up yet? You haven’t even married into their family yet and they’re already controlling you. What kind of life do you think you’ll have?”

Su Xue cried harder. “How can you curse me, Mother? What good does it do you if my life is miserable?”

Madam Wang’s chest ached with anger. Clutching her handkerchief, Su Xue sobbed, “He’s a scholar. He’ll succeed one day. We’ll pay you back twice as much.”

Su Wan came in and heard her. “Relying on someone who hasn’t passed his examinations to repay you? You could wait forever. Better to deal with what’s in front of us.”

At her voice, anger flared in Su Xue’s eyes. “Stop making smug remarks. You’re marrying into the Huo family with all that silver. It’s easy for you to talk. If you really cared about me, you’d persuade Mother to give me more!”

Su Wan’s expression remained calm. “Care about you? Do you deserve it?”

Su Xue choked, her face red. Su Wan continued, “You’re my sister, but you can’t take food from the family’s bowls. Today you’re eyeing the betrothal gifts. Tomorrow will you go after Mother’s private savings? After that, will you expect our brother and sister-in-law to support you too?”

Madam Li’s expression softened; some of the hurt in her chest eased. Of her two sisters-in-law, at least one was good to her. Su Qing pressed his lips together but felt much better too.

Su Xue was more stung than ever. Tears streamed down her face. “You can’t stand seeing me happy.”

“I can’t stand seeing you make a spectacle of yourself. If you’re capable, earn your own money. Don’t throw tantrums at home, disgrace us outside, and let the Xus control you. The way you’re acting now, never mind living better than I do—you may not even manage to marry in.”

Su Xue choked on the words, her face alternately red and white. Her refusal to repent made Madam Wang’s head ache worse.

“I’m telling you now: two taels means two taels. Not one coin more!”

“Mother!” Su Xue looked up sharply.

Madam Wang’s eyes were cold. “Keep this up, and you won’t get the two taels either.”

Su Xue’s lips went pale as she sobbed for breath. Su Dashan rose, his voice frighteningly low. “From today on, stop making trouble. Otherwise, even if I have to beat you to death, I won’t let you marry into the Xu family.”

Su Xue shuddered and went rigid. Meeting his cold gaze, she knew he was not bluffing. Frightened, she retreated to her room and burst into loud sobs.

Madam Wang’s heart ached at the sound, but her frustration was stronger. Of her three children, Xue had always been the most pampered. She had thought a little willfulness was harmless and that the rest of the family could indulge her. Only now did she see how thoroughly spoiled and foolish the girl had become. The Xus had laid their schemes out in the open, yet she still defended them wholeheartedly.

“What sin did I commit in my last life to bear such an ungrateful daughter?” Madam Wang cursed through clenched teeth.

In the west room, Su Xue heard her mother’s angry words and clutched her handkerchief, her face full of resentment. Seeing Madam Wang weep until she could hardly breathe, Su Wan helped her sit down.