Power and Wealth
Chapter 1956 – Dong Xuebingg will settle the Dowry
At Home.
The atmosphere was a bit tense.
“Bride price?”
“What about the bride price?”
“What did their family demand?”
Han Jing and Ci Lifen immediately pressed for details.
Xie Guoliang, Xia Yanzhen, and Xie Ran sat silently on the sofa for a moment. Their expressions made it clear that the Fang family must have made some unreasonable demands. Otherwise, such a happy occasion wouldn’t have left them looking like this, especially since even Xie Ran, who had been the most enthusiastic earlier, now had nothing to say.
In families like the Xie and Fang families—political households—marriages were usually driven by political needs and alliances. Economic considerations were rarely a focus; bride prices and dowries were usually symbolic, enough to maintain decorum without offending. After all, the most significant benefits were political and didn’t require monetary compensation.
However, the relationship between the Xie and Fang families was unusually complex. This wasn’t a traditional political alliance, as the two families had long been rivals. The strongest desire for this union came from the younger generation, not the elders. Many of the elders were reluctant, and as a result, issues arose. The Fang family didn’t want Xiao Ling to marry into the Xie family to suffer as a “bullied daughter-in-law.” While they reluctantly agreed to the marriage, they used the bride price to stir up trouble and pressure Xie Ran.
“Guoliang.”
“What exactly happened?”
Han Jing and Ci Lifen were concerned.
Finally, Xia Yanzhen spoke up. “This morning, our families met at the Qianmen Hotel. At first, the conversation was fine, and the third Fang brother seemed agreeable. However, when we began discussing Xiao Ran and Xiao Ling’s marriage during the meal, Xiao Ling’s mother pulled out a list. A detailed list! It was packed with all sorts of bride price demands. So meticulous, it’s ridiculous. What, have they never seen money before?” Xia Yanzhen was visibly irritated as she recounted the incident.
Han Jing asked, “What exactly were the demands?”
“Take a look yourself. I don’t even want to say it out loud,” Xia Yanzhen replied, pulling the list out of her bag and handing it to Han Jing. “They’ve lost their minds.”
“Mom,” Xie Ran interjected, “they’re marrying off their daughter. It’s normal for them to make some demands. In past conflicts, our family has often had the upper hand. If the Fang family marries Xiao Ling off to us without anything to show for it, they’ll lose face, especially since so many people in the upper circles are watching this marriage. Don’t you think they need a way to save face, too? It can’t always benefit our family.”
Xia Yanzhen replied, “That may be true, but there is a limit!” You should let your aunt read what they’re asking for. It’s outrageous!”
Hearing this, Xie Ran fell silent.
Xie Jing and Xie Hao leaned in, their expressions curious.
Standing behind Han Jing, Xie Hao began reading aloud as he scanned the list. First, the groom’s family must provide a villa of at least 300 square meters as the marital home. It must be a standalone villa within the city’s Fifth Ring. Xiao Ling’s name must appear on the property deed and be held as joint property by both spouses after marriage. Second, before the engagement, the groom’s family must provide a bride price of no less than 10 million RMB in cash to cover essential post-marriage expenses. Third—”
Xie Jing interrupted, incredulous. “Forget the third one! The first demand alone is impossible. A standalone villa of over 300 square meters within the Fifth Ring? Current real estate prices would cost at least tens of millions! And they’re asking for another 10 million in cash as a bride price? Are they joking? Do they think our family runs a bank?”
Xie Hao was stunned entirely by the bride price list.
Han Jing finished reading and asked, “What’s Xiao Ling’s attitude about all this?”
Hearing this, Xia Yanzhen felt a bit comforted. “Xiao Ling is a good kid. She didn’t know about this beforehand. When she found out, she got upset with her parents, snatched the bride price list, and tore it up. But she’s just a child; she can’t make decisions alone. In the end, her mother pulled another list out of her bag. She had printed multiple copies, clearly prepared in advance. No matter what Xiao Ling said, her mother stuck to her words: the marriage is off if even one demand on that list isn’t met. The wedding will only take place once their conditions are met.
Han Jing nodded and turned to Ci Lifen. “Is Senior Xie asleep?”
“He’s been asleep for a while,” Ci Lifen replied.
Han Jing nodded again. “I’ll call Guobang back.”
The issue of the bride price was indeed a significant problem. It was clear that Xie Guoliang’s family couldn’t afford it. Forget about the villa; even the 10 million RMB bride price was beyond their means.
Han Jing reached for her phone to call Xie Guobang.
But Dong Xuebing, who was eating leftovers, stopped her before she could. “Mom, it’s not such a big deal. Dad’s busy, so let’s not bother him.” Dong Xuebing casually pulled out his wallet, took a platinum ICBC card from among a pile of bank cards, and placed it lightly on the table. “There’s about 12 million RMB in this card.”
Xie Ran was startled. “Brother-in-law, what are you doing?”
Xia Yanzhen immediately added, “Xuebing, you do not need to do this.”
Ignoring their protests, Dong Xuebing reached into his pocket again, pulled out a set of keys, and placed them on the table. “This is for the villa I own near Sijiqing Bridge. It’s a standalone property, over 300 square meters, within the Fourth Ring. Xiao Ran, take the keys for now. We’ll transfer the ownership in a few days, and the house will be under your name.”
Xie Ran was flustered. “No, no, absolutely not! I can’t take your money. You’ve already bought me a car, and you’re helping with my marriage to Xiao Ling. I—”
Xie Guoliang interrupted, “Xuebing, put it away.”
Dong Xuebing smiled. “Uncle, Auntie, let me handle this. If you look closely, the demands on that bride price list aren’t just things the Fang family wants. They’re meant to prepare Xiao Ran and Xiao Ling for married life. The money is for their use as a couple. So why should it bother me? I was already planning to prepare these things for Xiao Ran’s wedding. Think of it as me giving my wedding gift early.”
Xie Ran kept shaking his head. “This isn’t right.”
Dong Xuebing said, “What’s wrong with it? We’re all family. Why are you being so polite with me? You know I barely stay at that villa. Hui Lan isn’t in Beijing, so the place is mostly practically empty. What’s the point of keeping it? If I wanted to live somewhere else, I’d stay in the courtyard house instead. So, giving you the villa is no big deal. You and Xiao Ling can use it as your marital home. After the wedding, renovate it a bit. Although it’s only two or three years old, Hui Lan and I have lived there, so you should probably remodel it to make it your own.”
Xie Ran protested, “Brother-in-law—”
Xia Yanzhen added, “That villa is now worth at least sixty or seventy million. We absolutely can’t accept it. This isn’t how things are done.”
Indeed, the villa Dong Xuebing had bought wasn’t very expensive back then, but its value had skyrocketed. It was far more valuable now.
Dong Xuebing laughed. “Let’s not dwell on this, Auntie. Do you see the wedding ring on my hand? He raised his hand, revealing a massive pink diamond ring. “I got this from an auction. This pair and Hui Lan’s ring cost several hundred million RMB. And the courtyard house in Houhai? That’s worth several hundred million, too. What’s the point of hoarding so much money? I’m not exaggerating; sometimes I don’t know how to spend it. Giving Xiao Ran a villa for his wedding is nothing. I think I’m being stingy—giving him a second-hand house instead of a brand-new one.”
Xie Ran quickly replied, “Your money is yours, I—”
Dong Xuebing interrupted, “We’re family; what’s mine is yours, what’s yours is mine. If money can solve the problem, it’s not a problem. If the Fang family wants this bride price, we’ll give it to them. I might not have much, but I have some money. Even if the bride price were ten times what they’re asking, we could afford it.”
Xie Hao laughed, giving a thumbs-up. “Brother-in-law, that’s a pretty bold statement!”
Xie Guoliang and Xia Yanzhen still firmly disagreed. Dong Xuebing had previously bought cars for Xie Ran and Xie Jing, but those were modest cars in the tens of thousands or low hundreds of thousands, still within an acceptable range. But now, a villa plus a bank card with over a million RMB was nearly ten million RMB! How could they accept that?
Finally, it was Han Jing who spoke up. She walked over, picked up the keys and bank card from the table, and turned to shove them into Xie Ran’s hand. “Since it’s your brother-in-law giving it to you, just take it. Xuebing’s right, haha. This kid might lack a lot, but he doesn’t lack money.”
“No, Auntie—” Xie Ran tried to refuse.
Han Jing insisted, pushing it into his hand. She then turned to Xie Guoliang and Xia Yanzhen. “Guoliang, Yanzhen, just listen to your big sister. This is how it should be.”
Xia Yanzhen sighed. “We can’t take Xuebing’s money.”
Han Jing smiled. “It’s not for you. It’s for Xie Ran. It’s a significant milestone for Xie Ran to get married, and as a brother-in-law, Xuebing is simply helping him get started with a villa. We don’t need to make a fuss about it. This is how it’s going to be.” Dong Xuebing didn’t hesitate at all when giving away the villa and the bank card with over a million RMB. That showed how much he valued family and friendship over material possessions. Han Jing, as the mother-in-law, felt a sense of pride, seeing her son-in-law provide such a handsome gift.
Xie Guoliang still hesitated for a long time. It wasn’t about being polite; he genuinely felt it wasn’t appropriate to accept. Dong Xuebing had already contributed so much financially to the Xie family; it just wasn’t right.
Finally, Han Jing feigned anger and frowned. Xie Guoliang and Xia Yanzhen sighed, and neither of them said anything else.
Xie Ran bit his lip, holding the villa keys and bank card, not knowing what to say. He looked at Dong Xuebing and said, “Brother-in-law, I—”
Dong Xuebing waved his hand, laughing. “Don’t start. Just the look on your face makes me shake in my boots.”
Xie Jing chuckled.
Xie Ran also started to laugh.
Dong Xuebing finished his meal and said, “Go ahead and let Xiao Ling know. Tell her the bride price is all set, and whenever you want to get engaged, it’s good to go. Don’t let Xiao Ling worry about it anymore. Don’t let things get too heated with the family later.”
Xie Ran nodded. “Okay, I’ll go call her.”
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