Chapter 2: Dowry

"Xiao Ge, you've suffered so much." Yu Shulan used a handkerchief to wipe Lin Ge's tears, then turned her head and unleashed a torrent of scolding upon Li Luo: "Your whole family is a bunch of troublemakers! You've caused our Li family such terrible harm! It's a good thing Xiao Ge found us, otherwise, who knows how much more grievance she would have endured!"

Yu Shulan spoke of "Xiao Ge" on one side and "our Li family" on the other, completely excluding Li Luo, as if the eighteen years of familial affection were nothing but a joke.

"As for the marriage, it was originally intended for the son of the Qi family and the daughter of the Li family. It has nothing to do with you, Li Luo. You should just go back to your Lin family and complete the marriage your father arranged for you!"

Yu Shulan's entire heart was focused on Lin Ge; how could she possibly care about Li Luo's well-being?

The cold smirk on the corner of Li Luo's mouth only grew, her expression full of disdain. She stretched and let out a large yawn. "Mrs. Yu, you're being so roundabout. Isn't everything you're saying just a way to get me to marry that old man in your daughter's place?"

"Fine, I'll marry him."

Yu Shulan, who had intended to argue further, was caught off guard by Li Luo's prompt agreement. As if she had misheard, she asked, "Are you truly willing to marry in Xiao Ge's place?"

Li Luo nodded. "You heard me right. I can marry him."

Lin Ge felt a surge of joy in her heart; Li Luo was indeed a fool.

"However—" Li Luo glanced at Lin Ge, who was struggling to hide her smile, and paused her tone. "The Li family is, after all, a prestigious household. If a scandal broke out about a foster daughter being forced to marry an old man, I'm afraid the Li family's reputation would suffer."

Yu Shulan was no fool; she understood that Li Luo's words were a demand for compensation.

Infuriated, Yu Shulan began pounding her chest. "You... you unfilial girl... you really are an outsider! My eighteen years of raising you—I must have been blind!"

Lin Ge rushed forward to pat Yu Shulan's back, teeth clenched, "Li Luo, you really don't know what's good for you! If you make my mother sick, I'll see how you plan to pay us back!"

"You think forcing me into marriage is for my own good? By that logic, the fact that I haven't been angered to death is just because I'm thick-skinned. This is a hospital; if you want medical treatment, find a doctor. I can't cure everything."

As she spoke, Li Luo made a move to head out and call a doctor.

"Enough!" Yu Shulan caught her breath, her hands trembling with rage, yet she feared Li Luo would make this matter public and cause the Li family to lose face.

"Since you are feeling better, we are going home. We will have a proper talk then about exactly what you want."

With that, Yu Shulan took Lin Ge's hand and began walking out.

"Mom..." Lin Ge was unhappy, but seeing Yu Shulan's darkened expression, she knew that continuing would make her seem immature, so she could only obediently follow behind her.

Halfway there, she turned her head and glared venomously at Li Luo: *Li Luo, you'd better marry him for me obediently, otherwise...*

***

The Li Residence.

"Speak. What conditions do you want before you'll agree to marry?" Yu Shulan sat on the sofa, her legs crossed elegantly.

Leaning against her chair, Li Luo toyed with her fingers and spoke nonchalantly, "Since the Li family is a prominent household, there should be some dowry when marrying off a daughter."

Lin Ge couldn't hold back any longer and shrieked, "It's your Lin family marrying off a daughter! Not our Li family!"

"Oh? According to the current household register, the daughter of the Li family is still me, Li Luo, not Miss Lin Ge. If I'm not mistaken, you are the ones asking for my help, aren't you?"

Li Luo spread her hands; they were fair and slender, perfect for a manicure.

Unfortunately, manicures didn't exist in this era. She'd have to buy some nail polish later to play with.

Lin Ge was choked into silence, biting her lip and looking at Yu Shulan with a victimized expression.

Ultimately, regardless of who it was, the one forcing a marriage was in the wrong. Even if she wasn't biological, everything Li Luo said was true, and they had no way to refute it.

"Take these two hundred yuan. Consider it our dowry to you."

Reluctantly, Yu Shulan pulled a purse from her pocket, took out two hundred yuan, and held it out to Li Luo.

Lin Ge's eyes went wide, her heart bleeding: *That's two hundred yuan! It's not two cents, or even two mao! How is Li Luo worth two hundred yuan!*

*How could her mother be so willing to part with it!*

Li Luo waved her hand and made an "eight" gesture with her fingers. "The number eight is quite auspicious. If you give me eight, I'll give you eight. What do you think, Ms. Yu?"

"Mom, maybe I should be the one to marry. I don't want to make you and Dad difficult," Lin Ge's tears began to fall again.

Eight hundred!

It might as well be robbery!

Their family couldn't even earn eight hundred yuan in an entire year!

Yu Shulan was about to explode with anger, but seeing Lin Ge's tears, she immediately went into the room, brought out six hundred, and stuffed it into Li Luo's hand. "Why don't you take your things and get out? The dowry is given, now hurry up and pack your room for Xiao Ge!"

She then turned around to comfort Lin Ge. "What nonsense are you talking? You are the young lady of the Li family; naturally, you are meant for a prestigious household. How could you marry a peasant? You are still young, and he is so old..."

Li Luo couldn't help but roll her eyes. She turned and entered her room to start packing.

Inside the room, the dressing table was covered in various bottles and jars—all skincare and beauty products.

*Beauty is a woman's essential course. Take.*

The jewelry box was piled with necklaces and earrings, including some gold ones.

*Pretty and valuable. Take.*

She pulled open the bedside drawer, which contained an aluminum lunch box filled with scattered coins and dozens of small bills.

*If you have money and don't take it, you're a fool. Take.*

She opened the wardrobe to find colorful dresses, shirts, matching scarves, and even Hong Kong-style denim jeans.

*Good taste. Take.*

Li Luo looked in the mirror and curled her lip in disdain.

She was going to meet her "fiancé" today; how could she not dress up?

She carefully selected a pure white shirt, a denim skirt, lace stockings, and suede shoes. She put on the original owner's most cherished quartz watch, casually tied her hair up with a hairpin, and continued her looting.

A moment later, the originally empty suitcase was bulging. Aside from the items she couldn't carry, everything in the room had been taken—she didn't even leave the bedsheets and duvet covers.

Glancing at the sewing machine, she sighed with regret. She truly couldn't take it, otherwise, she wouldn't have wanted to leave it behind!

After all, she had built her career on embroidery in her previous life; having a sewing machine would definitely be helpful for her future.

Just as she was thinking, Lin Ge pushed the door open. "Does packing things really take this long?"

Li Luo was startled. "What's the rush? Even if you're in a hurry, you'll have to wait until I'm finished."

As she spoke, she slowly zipped up the suitcase and began dragging it toward the door.

Seeing the empty room, Lin Ge reached out to block her, making a move to snatch the suitcase. "Are you a robber? You've taken so much."

Li Luo dodged her, stepping forward until she backed Lin Ge into the corner. "You are the precious daughter of the Li family. Don't you find the things I've used beneath you? Aren't you worried about viruses? Your dear mother will buy you new ones. I'm helping you get rid of trash; why are you angry instead of thanking me?"