Tian glared at Zhou and said, "That's not even the child of Old Zhou's family, can our family agree to it? Besides, you've been unhappy for ten years, but now isn't that also resolved? Your second sister is still young, waiting another two years isn't impossible."

  "Didn't my father say the same thing to me last year? I'm not in a hurry, but seeing that Mother is anxious and wants to advise me, I've taken this medicine for a whole year and it's really effective. The silver wasn't wasted after all. Why don't we let Second Sister go see that doctor too, maybe it'll be useful?" Zhou Shi heard this and felt displeased, intentionally bringing up old matters.

  Jian Tian's family was silent, and Zhou thought for a moment before speaking: "Father, mother, since everyone is here, I have a few questions to ask. Now that I also have children, Mother mentioned earlier that it takes more silver to marry a daughter-in-law these days. Our family has always been struggling financially, and most of the silver from Zi Ping's father was given to Mother. Just this year, because I injured my leg and was bedridden for several months, my second brother helped us out by lending us some silver. I want to ask, now that my younger sister is married and doesn't need that medical expense anymore, and my youngest sister will be getting married in a few months, so the family's expenses won't be as high in the future, right? How will we allocate our silver? Zi Ping isn't young either, and I haven't even saved up for her dowry yet."

  After Mr. Zhou finished speaking, Mr. Tian didn't know how to respond and looked at the old man. The old man remained silent for a moment before saying: "From now on, you'll give two taels of silver per year, and the rice will still be two shi as usual. Since you're the eldest son, it can't be said that not a single cent is given out, and it wouldn't sound good if it were to be said. What do you think?"

  Zeng Ruiqing was about to speak when Zhou pulled him and said, "How much is the second brother's family worth?"

  "Let's just stick to the old way, twelve yuan a year." Zeng Ruixiang quickly expressed his opinion, fearing that his father would be put in a difficult position.

  "Second brother gave twelve taels last year and eighteen taels this year, has the silver for little sister's marriage been prepared early? In that case, Father and Mother, next year you two will have twelve taels of silver to spend. Rice, flour, vegetables, and meat don't need to be bought, if pigs can't be raised then chickens can be kept, it's more than enough compared to us, quite rich. How about this: when little sister gets married we give two taels of silver as dowry, afterwards every year we give two stones of rice. Next year Zi Ping will also be thirteen. It's just a matter of these few years. As parents, no matter what, we must think of ways to save some money for the children to keep as their own, so when they get married and go to their husband's family they'll have something to fall back on and won't suffer too much. Mother, don't you think this is right? You've also married off several daughters."

  Tian's face turned a bit red. If he said yes, then he couldn't ask Zhou for silver in the future. If he said no, she wanted silver just to give their daughters a more dignified marriage. Besides, what Zhou said was also true, Zi Ping was indeed not young anymore.

  The old man turned his head and asked his eldest son: "Ruiqing, what do you think?"

  "Dad, what Zi Ping's mother said is also true. Now that she's finally pregnant, she can't do household chores or farm work after the New Year. We should move to the city instead. I'm not at ease leaving her alone at home either. In the city, we'd have to rent a house and wouldn't be able to grow vegetables or raise pigs. Even if she could do some work, I don't dare let her now. Our son doesn't have any other income besides this 10 taels of silver per year. Fortunately, there's still some produce from the land that can supplement our expenses. Her brothers also send us rice, flour, and vegetables every now and then, so we just barely get by. Not to mention smaller things, Zi Ping will indeed be getting married in a few years, and we won't have anything to give her as dowry when the time comes. Since Second Brother's family is doing better financially, let him take on more responsibilities. 12 taels of silver per year should be enough for your and Mom's expenses. If there's ever an emergency or illness in the future, you can just split the costs with us."

  The old man listened and bowed his head in thought, while Tian Shi saw that he didn't speak up and also remained silent.

  Zeng Ruiqing said a lot, and indeed it was the case that one family needed to use silver in too many places. But not spending a single penny, as the eldest son, is really hard to justify, and if outsiders find out, who knows how they'll spread the word? So he put out two shi of rice every year, which sounds good when told to others, and the grain was his contribution.

  Zi Qing thought that their family's annual expenses were enough with three or four taels, because the Zhou family had always been frugal and they had a steady supply of rice, flour, vegetables and other necessities. Zi Qing didn't know if her own family hadn't relied on her own planning and instead followed the original routine of farming, whether they would still have to give Ah Po's family twelve taels of silver every year, their daily life would be similar to that of her elder sister's family, and even warmth and food would be hard to come by.

  "Father, mother, elder brother also said is the truth, besides, are their own parents, who raise is not the same, elder brother a year did not return two stones of rice? In the past, elder brother's silver was not all handed over? Now that there are many things at home, let elder brother wait for a few years and when conditions are better, we'll talk about it." Zeng Rui Xiang took over the conversation, fearing that everyone would be in trouble.

  "What if one day you don't want to, saying we're biased or your wife doesn't want to give this silver anymore? Who will the two of us rely on then? Now isn't it just a matter of supporting your mother-in-law every day, treating her to good food and drink, who has us in their eyes?" Tian Shi said indignantly.

  Shen listened and raised her eyes to look at Zhou, so angry that she didn't know what to say. After all these years of compromise, now that she could finally reunite with her own mother, how could this also be used against her?

  Zi Qing glanced at Shen Shi's expression, just wanting to speak up for her own mother, when Zeng Ruiqing spoke up: "Second brother is willing to support whoever he wants, and it doesn't fall short of the share that belongs to father and mother. Since it doesn't fall short of father and mother's share, then second brother can support whoever he wants, it's none of anyone else's business. If your daughter has the ability, let her son-in-law support her too, don't just think about taking advantage of her natal family. For so many years, sister-in-law's natal family has never caused trouble for our family, and during holidays they would just come visit, which family hasn't been generous? Now that we finally have the means, and mother is at such an old age, it's only natural that the two mothers want to spend their days together." Zeng Ruiqing's words moved Rui Xiang and Shen Shi deeply, this was something they absolutely dared not say out loud.

  The New Year's Eve dinner, which was originally going well, became awkward due to the issue of support fees. Neither Tian Shi nor Zhou Shi would give in, but Zeng Rui Xiang pulled Shen Shi together and guaranteed that every year they would promptly send silver to Tian Shi. Moreover, Shen Shi even offered to add six taels of silver as a dowry for the younger sister, which finally satisfied Tian Shi.

  In the end, of course, everyone was satisfied, and Qiuyu and Ziping took a bath in the clean room before leaving.

  Nothing special happened in the first and second years of junior high school, but on the third day, Qiuyue came early and said that Zhou Tianqing had asked someone to come over and deliver a message. No matter what, the children had to go to Qiaocun Village once. The village customs were hospitable, saying that whoever's home had fewer guests would be laughed at by the whole village, especially if there were no guests from their mother's family. Qiuyue asked: "Second Aunt, do you think we should go today or tomorrow?"

  "Then it's tomorrow, today my mother's family has guests, and tomorrow I'll prepare to invite my elder sister's family, so let's wait until we return from Qiaocun before inviting."

  "Second aunt, I think it's the same if we go today. Second aunt's family has come, and second aunt must have prepared almost everything. Whether or not Zifou and the others are there doesn't matter much. In my opinion, with all the kids at home, it's even more chaotic. Besides, didn't they go to their uncle's house for New Year's yesterday?"

  Shen's family could only agree.