"Your mother has no money, yet she still plays the big spender, wanting to give away such a substantial dowry contribution like everyone else. When I married into this family, I didn't have a single penny to my name, and yet I managed just fine. Now your sister is marrying off, and you expect me to fork out this much money? Has your mother lost her mind? Either way, I have no money." Song Yuemei acted as if she hadn't heard Qingshan speak.

"Whether you give it or not, if you don't, I'll just go search myself. Whatever I find, I'll take it straight to my mother." Qingshan spoke with a sudden, harsh edge.

"Did you give Dongyu the money? I told her last time that we would each contribute half, and I would make the clothes." Song Yuemei became slightly fearful when she heard Qingshan threaten to search, so she immediately pulled Dongyu into the conversation.

Dongyu happened to walk out of the room just then: "Who said that to you? Where would I get any money? Qingshan said all of that is under your management. I said I would make the clothes; you didn't want me to, but I never agreed to give money."

Qingshan watched the two of them push responsibility back and forth, and his head started to spin again. He walked straight out the door, bumping into He Shi right at the threshold. He Shi's face was extremely displeased. Seeing Qingshan, she didn't say much, marching directly into the courtyard and announcing, "Yuemei, Dongyu, come to my courtyard for a moment. Grandmother says she needs to see you about something."

Song Yuemei jumped when she saw He Shi suddenly appear. She feared her mother-in-law had overheard everything she'd just said—this was bad news. But Song Yuemei was quick on her feet; she pretended nothing had happened, plastered a smile on her face, and said, "Alright, Mother, I’ll be right there."

Dongyu nodded as well. Dongyu wasn't worried; there was no way she would be expected to provide this money. At worst, she could privately embroider something for Yu'er as a wedding gift. Her mother-in-law wouldn't force her. She knew the old woman must have heard everything Song Yuemei said about her, and now there would be a good show to watch. Dongyu definitely intended to follow along to see the spectacle.

Seeing that they agreed, He Shi walked toward the main house with a grim expression. When she reached her own room, Zhao Shi noticed her bad mood and asked what was wrong. He Shi vented, "This Song Yuemei is supposed to contribute some money for Yu'er's trousseau, but she deliberately stalls and refuses, all while gossiping at home! Mother, you need to speak to her properly today; you absolutely must make her produce that money."

Zhao Shi glanced at He Shi and retorted, "Aren't you usually so capable? You can't even manage this matter? This is your own daughter-in-law; you manage her. I only manage my daughter-in-law."

Zhao Shi’s words nearly made Lin He laugh. What the old woman said was certainly practical: manage your own level; don't cross boundaries. This He Shi couldn't handle her own daughter-in-law and now wanted someone else to make herself look bad. How absurd.

Hearing Zhao Shi, He Shi grew even angrier. Her mother-in-law was clearly stating she lacked the ability to control even her own daughter-in-law and was accusing her of showing off. She resolved that if she couldn't get that money out of Song Yuemei today, she would spell her own name backward.

Not long after He Shi arrived, Dongyu and Song Yuemei came in. Song Yuemei surveyed the group and said cheerfully, "Grandmother, you're all here. This courtyard is certainly lively."

Dongyu also greeted everyone before retreating to the back. He Shi seized the moment Song Yuemei arrived and spoke up: "Yuemei, it's been so long; have you prepared the money? Today, while everyone is bringing gifts for Yu'er's dowry, bring the silver over so I can include it when we prepare things for her."

Song Yuemei seemed to miss the main point of He Shi's question, instead sighing as she looked at the dowry displayed on the table: "This is the dowry Grandmother and Second Aunt brought together? So many pieces of jewelry! This must be worth a fortune. Our Yu'er's wedding will likely be more glorious than even the daughter of a landlord, wouldn't you agree, Mother?"

"Yes, our Yu'er..." He Shi started to follow Song Yuemei's line, but remembering her objective, she cut back in, "Enough with the pleasantries. I asked if you brought the silver."

Song Yuemei realized He Shi was determined to have the money this time and said, "Mother, Yu'er already has this much for her dowry—jewelry and silver. You haven't even touched the betrothal gifts, which should also go toward her dowry. Does Yu'er really need this much? If we sold these jewels, it might fetch dozens of taels of silver. Is Yu'er marrying into a rich family or something?"

"These jewels were given by your grandmother and your paternal aunts and uncles. No matter what they are worth, it's not your concern. By rights, since Yu'er is Qingshan's full sister, your contribution should be even more valuable than what Second Aunt gave. I'm not asking for anything else today—I just want you to give five taels of silver. You've stalled for so long; just tell me now, will you give it or not?" He Shi was firm.

"Mother, what is wrong with you? How can I compare myself to Second Aunt? Their household is certainly many times better off than a landlord's family. If I compare myself to them, I probably can't even compare to a toe on their little finger. Even the maids in their house probably live better than I do." Song Yuemei complained sullenly.

Lin He was quite stunned. Why was her own family being dragged into this? This was a matter between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law; why did it involve them? On this matter alone, Lin He felt Song Yuemei was going too far. Yu'er was Qingshan's only sister. It was customary for the eldest brother's household to provide silver for the sister's dowry when she married out. Moreover, the capital of the elder uncle's family had been mostly depleted by Qingshan over the years. Indeed, the embroidery Yu'er had done herself over the years was likely worth more than five taels. To be so unwilling to contribute a bit for the dowry now was truly excessive.

Lin He guessed everyone else felt the same way, but since this was the elder uncle's family business, they naturally wouldn't interfere. However, Zhao Shi couldn't stand it any longer and spoke up, "Yuemei, why are you speaking like that? Second Aunt’s family never offended you. Second Aunt gave a very generous dowry for Yu'er's wedding; it was all out of kindness. No one is asking you to compare yourself to Second Aunt's family now. They are just asking you to prepare a dowry gift for Yu'er, which is only proper, isn't it?"

"Grandmother, it’s not that I'm unwilling to give the money; it's that our household genuinely doesn't have that much. Furthermore, you know we aren't the only ones in our home; why must I be the only one to provide this silver? Besides, I feel that since the family doesn't have much, why try to play the big spender? When I first married in, neither my mother’s family nor my in-laws gave me anything, and yet I managed perfectly well, didn't I?" Song Yuemei said calmly.

"Can you compare yourself to our Yu'er? Don't you know how you managed? Furthermore, whether your mother's family gave you a dowry is their business; we still provided the full betrothal gifts from our side," He Shi countered.

Song Yuemei gave a cold laugh: "I cannot compare to Yu'er. As Mother says, Yu'er will be an official's wife in the future. As for me? My husband is useless, and my in-laws ignore us. What can I do but continue living these hard days?"