SAG -Chapter 109 Marriage Takes a Layer of Skin

On February 6th, Zhang Sicheng, Liu Lu, and Zhang Siyan arranged their own affairs.

Zhang Sicheng and Liu Lu had prepared in advance, so they finished very quickly. They had already been ready for this.

As for Biaoxue Company, the game’s release date had been set for New Year’s Eve. Wu Ying took the lead and chose to stay behind to work overtime.

This was also one of the reasons Zhang Sicheng chose to go so early. He did not want to come back only at the last moment to preside over everything.

Although this time period was not the best time for a game to launch, for a small company like Biaoxue, the difference was actually not that big. It could be considered choosing an auspicious time.

Things on Zhang Siyan’s side were also very simple. With her relationship with Qian Li, there was no need to say much about these matters.

“You should rest properly. During this period, I’ve seen Uncle Zhang running back and forth often. Every time, he looks terribly worried about you. You should also be considerate of Uncle Zhang and not make him worry too much,” Qian Li said.

During this period, Zhang Ran had indeed often gone over to see them. Zhang Siyan and the others now had their own company and office location. Basically, they only needed to go to Kangshilan once a week.

Although their company was not very large yet, they already had seven or eight employees, and their monthly cash flow and turnover were not low.

Of course, Zhang Siyan could also feel Zhang Ran’s concern and affection. She smiled and said, “I know. All right, stop talking about me. What about you?

“You shouldn’t exhaust yourself either. Our business has only just started. It won’t do if you wear yourself out. You should also find some time to accompany your parents.”

Qian Li waved her hand and said, “Forget it. Seeing them now only leads to arguments. It’s boring. I’ll wait until they cool down.”

“What happened? Did you have another conflict with them?” Zhang Siyan quickly asked.

Qian Li complained, “What else could it be? They keep urging me to go on blind dates every day. I don’t know what got into them, but ever since last month, whenever they see me, they only ever talk about one thing: finding a boyfriend, getting married, and having children. They’re annoying me to death.”

When Zhang Siyan heard it was this, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief. “You’re not that young anymore either. You should consider this matter. Don’t become afraid of marriage because of what happened to me. I was just unlucky.”

Zhang Siyan’s tone was relaxed, and her expression was also very natural. Seeing this, a smile from the bottom of Qian Li’s heart appeared on her face.

Being able to speak about these things so calmly meant Qian Li knew her best friend had truly moved on.

“It has nothing to do with you. I just don’t want to get married right now. What’s so good about marriage? Spending every day dealing with firewood, rice, oil, and salt, arguing every day over little things—just thinking about it is annoying enough to death.”

“Are you planning not to get married at all?”

“I really do have that idea.”

“Then what will you do when you’re old?”

“Isn’t there still Susu? When the time comes, I’ll give all my assets to Susu and let her take care of me in old age.”

“Hehe, even I don’t expect her to take care of me when I’m old. What are you expecting?”

“Go away. Susu isn’t like that.”

…

While Zhang Ran’s family was preparing, in Gan Province, Liu Kai’s family was eating lunch. However, the atmosphere at the dining table was not very good.

“Xiaokai, how did your talks with Panpan’s family go? What did her parents say?” Ever since Liu Kai returned home, Xiao Chunhua had been asking nonstop. Although Liu Mao did not speak, his eyes also revealed a questioning look.

Liu Kai sighed and said, “Mom, why don’t we just forget it? I’m not in a hurry to get married right now.”

“Not in a hurry? How old are you already? Huh?” As soon as these words came out, Xiao Chunhua immediately became anxious, her voice rising several pitches.

“You’re already twenty-seven after this New Year. If you still can’t find someone now, you’ll be a bachelor for the rest of your life.”

“Haven’t you watched the news? Your generation will have thirty million bachelors. If you don’t find someone now, it’ll only be even harder in the future.”

Liu Kai’s father, Liu Mao, interrupted his wife’s nagging and said, “Is it because her family is asking for too much betrothal money?”

Liu Kai did not speak, but he silently nodded.

Liu Mao took a deep breath and said, “How much are they asking for? Our family still has some savings right now. It should be enough.”

“Two hundred and eighty thousand,” Liu Kai said in a low voice.

“How much? Are they selling their daughter?” As soon as Xiao Chunhua heard that number, she immediately exploded.

A bitter smile appeared on Liu Kai’s face. In truth, his girlfriend’s mother had not only set this one condition. The betrothal gift was only part of it. There was also the wedding house, which had to be bought in the city, and both names had to be written on it.

Although the other side had not demanded that the house be fully paid off, they had said the down payment could not be less than fifty percent.

And that was not all. There was also a car.

In any case, after adding all the various expenses together, it would not be possible without one million.

How was this marriage? This was completely stripping a thick layer of skin from their family.

This was also why Liu Kai had not spoken much after coming back.

It was simply too much. He knew his family’s situation. Forget one million—even five hundred thousand would be impossible for them to take out.

When Liu Mao heard this number, he was also slightly frightened. Although he had already mentally prepared himself somewhat, he had not expected it to be this much.

However, thinking of his son’s age, he hardened his heart and said, “Two hundred and eighty thousand it is. We can take that out. Tomorrow, go find Panpan and tell her that we agree.”

Although Xiao Chunhua also felt uncomfortable in her heart, when she thought of her son, she did not continue getting tangled up over this issue. Instead, she said, “Sigh, let’s just do it. Besides, Panpan is a pretty good girl. She’s good-looking, from the city, a university graduate, works at a bank, and has a good personality. This betrothal money is more or less acceptable.”

She was actually trying to convince herself. Otherwise, she truly would have been somewhat reluctant.

But there was no other way. Who told her son to still be unmarried at such an age? People around his age already had children old enough to run errands for soy sauce. The old couple was anxious too.

When Liu Kai heard his parents say this, although he felt somewhat touched, he still pretended to speak casually. “Forget it. There’s really no need. Besides, it’s not like I can’t find a girlfriend.”

Although he said this, he also could not bear to part with his girlfriend. Thinking of his girlfriend’s silly appearance, Liu Kai felt a sharp ache in his heart when he said these words.

His girlfriend still did not know about these conditions. They had all been discussed between him and her mother at the time, and he had not dared to tell his girlfriend.

But asking him to strip a layer of skin from his parents for this—no, it would not just be a layer of skin; even their flesh and blood would be torn off—he could not bear that even more.

“Then go find one! Find a fool like your sister. That way, you won’t have to spend a single cent,” Xiao Chunhua vented her anger on her son.

Liu Kai did not speak, but Liu Mao heard the meaning in his son’s words and said, “Does her family have other conditions?”

Since things had already reached this point, Liu Kai no longer hid it and directly said, “A house. Fifty percent down payment. At least five hundred thousand. And a car, with the starting price at over a hundred thousand.”

Once these conditions came out, the old couple was truly dumbfounded. They had originally already prepared themselves to bleed heavily, but they had not expected to bleed this much.

The atmosphere immediately fell silent.

Only after a long while did Liu Mao say, “Talk with her family and see if the down payment can first be thirty percent. As for the car, ask if buying a cheaper car for transportation would work.”

It was truly because Liu Kai was already getting old. Now that he had finally found a decent partner, and one who was from the city, had a good job, and a high education, the old couple truly did not want to wait any longer.

“How about this? When your sister comes back this year, ask them to contribute some money too. At the very least, they should give two hundred thousand,” Xiao Chunhua said through gritted teeth.