5 Shangguan Yongs Distress (2/2)
An Jin had been sitting in her mother's room for a long time that day, so she didn't have much time left to make up for her family love. An Jin just wanted to do her best, and didn't want to leave any regrets in this life.
At the same time, in General Shangguan's residence, Shangguan Yong didn't have An Xianxiu's kind of wholehearted expectation for the wedding. General Shangguan sat in the main hall with a frown on his face. He hadn't thought that Grand Preceptor An would actually marry his daughter off to him. The marriage was set for a month later. Right now, the matchmaker was waiting right in front of him, but Shangguan Yong was too embarrassed to tell the matchmaker that he couldn't take out much of the betrothal gift.
Madame Wang patiently waited for Shangguan Yong for half a day, even drank three cups of tea, but still couldn't get Shangguan Yong's reply. Thus, Madame Wang habitually smiled and said, ”General, it's better if you give me a reply.”
Only then did Shangguan Yong say: ”Can you cut the betrothal gift a bit less? A thousand taels of silver, even if I sell this house, I won't be able to exchange it for a thousand taels of silver.”
Madame Wang's fake smile froze. Shangguan Yong was an honest man, if he didn't have money, then it meant he didn't have money. But Madame Wang said to Shangguan Yong, ”My general, the one you're marrying is a young lady from the Grand Preceptor's estate!”
Shangguan Yong nodded and said: ”I know.” Then he just stared blankly at Madame Wang.
Madame Wang waited for Shangguan Yong for a long time, but seeing that the bridegroom did not speak again, she could only say: ”General, please give me a word of permission, how much do you plan to pay for this betrothal gift?”
Shangguan Yong gritted his teeth and said: ”Three hundred taels.”
”Three, three hundred taels?” Madame Wang almost bit her tongue. Three hundred taels was a large sum of money in a commoner's house, but the other side was the young miss of the Grand Preceptor's estate. Even though she'd been born out of a concubine, she was still the Grand Preceptor's daughter. How could there be such a good thing in this world?
Shangguan Yong's forehead was covered in cold sweat. He was a fifth grade Wandering General, his salary was already limited, he still had a pair of siblings to support, three hundred silver was all he had left, he couldn't marry and starve them to death right?
”Three hundred liang.”
”I, I only have this many left.”
”There can't be more? ”The one you're going to marry is the Grand Preceptor's daughter, ah.”
Shangguan Yong paused, but still shook his head, ”Mother Wang, if I had more, I would have sold the house.”
Madame Wang looked at the hall she was in. Even the tables and chairs were old, not half old yet. It was the kind of old furniture that had lost all their paint. Madame Wang had also heard of General Shangguan. Amongst the generals of the Zhaosheng Dynasty, the poorest was this General Shangguan. He seemed to be treating his stepmother's illness, so the family's wealth was gone.
”How about …” Shangguan Yong clenched his teeth again, ”I'll add another fifty silver taels, and then there won't be more.”
Madame Wang's eyes twitched. She really wanted to follow up with Shangguan Yong and tell him the truth. If he added another fifty taels, it would only be three hundred and fifty taels.