USWHC -Chapter 194 Proposal of Marriage (Part 4)

“Of course there is!” Fat Auntie wasn’t frightened by her words at all. She kept that cheerful smile on her face and said, “But you know how it is—his first wife is basically just for show. If your girl marries in, she’ll still be a proper wife too. A pingqi, you understand? That means the two wives stand on equal footing!”

Equal footing? With the daughter of a Duke’s household? Was this Fat Auntie truly ignorant, or was she just trying to fool people?

Fortunately, Old Madam Ji wasn’t so easily deceived. She let out a long sigh and said with a troubled expression, “How could that be? After all, she wouldn’t be the first one to arrive.”

Heh. Even if you were the first one, it probably still wouldn’t work. Zhu Jie muttered inwardly.

But Fat Auntie remained completely unflustered. Still smiling, she continued, “Sister Ji, don’t worry. The Sun family already said that the first wife will stay in the capital, guarding the Sun family’s residence there by herself. As for our Meizi, she’ll follow Young Master Sun to his official post in the future. And Young Master Sun has promised he’ll treat Meizi well and never let her suffer even the slightest grievance.”

“Sigh… A man’s words can’t always be trusted,” Old Madam Ji still said hesitantly.

“If you don’t trust a man’s words, don’t you at least trust your own Meizi’s abilities?” Fat Auntie immediately flattered her. “What man, seeing such a beautiful wife, would be willing to let her suffer? And once Meizi gives birth in the future, the child will be yours, the man will be yours—then won’t the whole Sun family become yours too?”

Yet even after hearing this, Old Madam Ji sighed even more sorrowfully. “I’m just afraid our family is poor and people will look down on us.”

Since when did Old Madam Ji become so self-aware? Zhu Jie was rather surprised—it didn’t seem like her usual style.

Then Fat Auntie’s eyes rolled around, and suddenly she smiled knowingly.

“Madam Sun already thought about that for Meizi,” she said with a grin. “Sister Ji, rest assured. How could the Sun family allow others to look down on their in-laws? Madam Sun said that once Meizi marries in, they’ll also buy you a small courtyard house in the town. Your whole family can move there. If the two families live closer, you can help each other out.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Ji’s eyes widened immediately. They could move to the town too? She nearly burst out laughing.

Even so, she still pretended modestly and said, “We’re not after the Sun family’s little bit of property.”

“Yes, yes. Madam Sun just likes Meizi and is afraid she’ll feel lonely by herself,” Fat Auntie hurried to explain.

But Old Madam Ji sighed again and said, “Of course we’d like to live closer to Meizi, but even if we moved to town, we still wouldn’t have a way to make a living.”

“How could you not have a way to live?” Fat Auntie said mysteriously. “With a family as wealthy as the Suns, how could they treat their daughter-in-law poorly? In the future, just a little that slips through Meizi’s fingers would be enough to feed and clothe all of you.”

“But that would still mean living at someone else’s mercy,” Old Madam Ji said helplessly. “Wouldn’t it be better if her natal family could support her and help her out a little?”

Your family supporting Ji Mei? Supporting her by sending home a couple of sweet potatoes? Isn’t that a joke? Everyone in the room felt that Old Madam Ji’s words had little connection to reality.

Only Fat Auntie suddenly burst into laughter.

“Sister Ji, we’ve known each other for more than a day or two. If you have something to say, just say it plainly. Let me be honest with you too—Young Master Sun has truly taken a liking to your daughter this time. So whatever requests you have, just bring them up!”

Whatever requests you have?

The moment she heard that, Old Madam Ji’s face immediately lit up with a wide smile. She straightened her posture and declared with great momentum:

“Although our Meizi would be marrying in as a co-wife, the more so because she’s a co-wife, the less she should be mistreated! Tell the Sun family to think about it carefully—back then, how much betrothal gift did they give the main wife’s family? Just give us the same amount again! We’re not doing it for money. It’s for Meizi’s dignity in that household in the future, right?”

“What? Sister Ji, you really love to joke!” Fat Auntie said bluntly. “That first wife came from a Duke’s household—how could your family be compared with them? Why don’t you go ask how much dowry the Duke’s household brought with her when she married? You’re really dreaming!”

Exactly! Zhu Jie also laughed. There was simply no comparison between the two.

So Old Madam Ji had been keeping quiet all this time just waiting for the chance to make an outrageous demand! She must know that when the Sun family married the Duke’s daughter, they had to spend a fortune. Now she was planning to make them bleed like that all over again.