Chapter 1 — No Dowry, No You

On the evening we were supposed to register our marriage, my father-in-law-to-be unexpectedly called my father.

"Two hundred and eighty thousand yuan for the dowry is truly excessive. In my opinion, let's reduce it to eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight yuan—it's a lucky number, after all."

My father held the phone, speechless for a long time. My father-in-law chuckled with an air of immense arrogance.

"And another thing, the Audi A4 you promised as part of the bridal endowment—upgrade that to an A8. My younger son is getting married at the end of the year, and our family needs to look presentable by then."

I looked at the blank marriage registration form resting on the table and let out a soft, dry laugh. I reached out and took the phone from my father.

"That's fine," I said calmly. "I also happen to think the A4 is a bit too small for my standards."

They didn't know that before leaving the house that morning, Cao Fan and I had gotten into a heated argument. By the time we arrived at the Civil Affairs Bureau, exhausted and resentful, the staff had already clocked out for the day. This marriage, as it turned out, was not meant to be. After I hung up on my father-in-law, my father’s hand was still trembling.

"What exactly does Cao Fan’s father mean by this?" my father asked. "Before, he said they hadn't had time to buy a marital home, but they would handle it after the wedding. Now, even the previously agreed-upon dowry can be slashed?"

My mother’s eyes reddened instantly. "My sister’s daughter back in our hometown received two hundred thousand yuan for her dowry last year. Is eight thousand eight hundred eighty-eight yuan meant to be an insult, like giving alms to a beggar?" She glanced at me, fearful of hurting my feelings. "I am not a woman who cares about status, and I have no desire for the Cao family's money. I just feel heartbroken for you. I’m afraid you aren't being valued, and I’m afraid you will have to suffer under their thumb."

I gently patted my mother’s back, signaling her to remain calm. Right in front of my parents, I called Cao Fan. On the other end, he had just stepped off a plane from a business trip. Thinking I was still sulking about the failed registration, he began apologizing immediately.

"Wife, today was my fault. I shouldn't have provoked you this morning," he said. "I'll be back in five days, and then we will go register the marriage!"

"Cao Fan," I interrupted, my voice devoid of emotion. "Your father says the dowry must be reduced to eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight yuan, and he expects me to gift your family an Audi A8. What is your take on this?"

He was silent for a few seconds, processing the information. "Wife, are you upset about this? The amount of the dowry is just a formality. The love I have for you won't change because of it."

Before I could retort, he added, "My brother finally found a girlfriend, and he’s getting married at the end of the year. My parents didn't have it easy raising two boys, and preparing for two separate weddings puts a lot of pressure on them."

I spoke coldly. "I can understand you wanting to look out for your parents. I can forgo the dowry entirely, but do not ask for the endowment car."

Cao Fan’s voice grew impatient. "Meng Jie, you are being incredibly narrow-minded. Once we are married, we will be one family. Why are you drawing such clear boundaries between 'yours' and 'mine'? If you buy the car, won't you be the one driving it? My family is just gaining some face from the association. Don't be so calculating."

I nearly laughed aloud. "I understand now. So, what if I decide I don’t want to be 'one family' with you at all?"

Cao Fan’s tone escalated sharply. "Can we stop arguing about money for once? Can't you be less calculated for the sake of our relationship?" He sighed dramatically. "My parents were right. You have many virtues, but you are far too materialistic. If a minor matter like this can make you want to break up, then we really don't need to be together."

He paused, waiting for me to yield, as I had always done in the past. Instead, I said simply, "I agree with that sentiment."

I hung up. My parents looked at each other, their faces etched with worry. I forced the corners of my mouth into a tight, strained smile. "We arrived too late today, and the bureau was closed. Cao Fan was in a hurry for his trip, and we had planned to register when he returned. It seems that will no longer be necessary."

My mother gripped my hand tightly. I looked up and smiled at them. "Dad, Mom, I am not going to marry Cao Fan."

My mother was initially startled, but a single look from my father calmed her. After a few seconds of silence, my father finally spoke. "If it hadn't been for your sake, I would have hung up on old Cao a long time ago."

My mother wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "I just couldn't bear to see you mistreated."

I put my household registration book back in the safe, feeling a lingering sense of terror. Had we successfully registered the marriage that day, I wouldn't even know where to turn for comfort right now. Just then, my phone rang. A strange number appeared on the screen. I answered, and a familiar voice from my past echoed through the speaker.

"Yuan Meng Jie, do not get married!"

The voice was slightly slurred, clearly intoxicated, and I could hear the sounds of rowdy friends teasing him in the background.

"Zhang Mian?" I asked. He was the studious, quiet boy who had been my desk-mate in high school. After a moment, I realized he was at a class reunion and had been dared by his former classmates to make the call.

"Zhang Mian, you’re drunk."

"No, my mind is clearer than ever," he said earnestly. "Everything I just said, I mean. Don't refuse me so quickly. Will you at least think about it?"

I quietly hung up, staring at the screen for a moment before saving his number in my contacts. The next day, Cao Fan’s mother called me, claiming there was an urgent matter, and said she was waiting downstairs at my office. I went down, filled with suspicion, only to find my future parents-in-law, their son Cao Yue, and his girlfriend Sun Qiaoqiao all waiting. Sun Qiaoqiao crossed her arms and asked, "Is Yuan Meng Jie really going to buy us that A8?"

"Just so you know," she added, "at my wedding, the lead car cannot be any lower-end than an A8."

My mother-in-law nodded repeatedly. "My good daughter-in-law, don't worry, we won't let you suffer any grievances." She smiled radiantly. "Since Meng Jie and Cao Fan have already registered the marriage, the endowment she promised for our family will definitely be given. If she refuses, Cao Fan won't hold the wedding with her."

I offered a thin smile. When we were discussing my wedding to Cao Fan, they had claimed they had no money and insisted everything be kept simple. They had even planned to borrow my father’s office car for the wedding procession. But for their own son, they expected me to buy an Audi A8 to maintain their status. I truly had been a fool.

"Auntie, what is it you need?" I asked.

My mother-in-law grabbed my arm immediately. "Didn't you agree to buy the car yesterday? Everyone is free today, let's go take a look."

I frowned. "I am still at work."

Sun Qiaoqiao scoffed. "What kind of work is more important than a marriage? It seems the sister-in-law doesn't respect her brother-in-law at all."

I looked at her coldly. "This company has rules. My work is not as flexible as you seem to think."

Cao Yue stood by, his face turning sour. "Are you implying that because we don't have jobs, we aren't worthy of going car shopping with you?"

His words were a blatant manipulation of mine, but my parents-in-law were already nodding in agreement. My father-in-law frowned and said sternly, "Meng Jie, we are all one family now, don't be so snobbish. You are just a small employee; what is there to be proud of? If you really had talent, you wouldn't have been so greedy about the dowry in the first place."

I opened my mouth to explain, but my mother-in-law cut me off. "Enough, enough, stop arguing. Cao Fan is away on business and is very busy. If the family members aren't getting along, he’ll have to be distracted to comfort you. You two are already married; you must learn to be more considerate of him."

Sun Qiaoqiao put on a display of magnanimity. "Forget it. You've already registered with him, so we are sisters-in-law now. I won't hold this against you. We’re being kind enough to go with you to pick out the car, so stop putting on airs. Just ask for leave and let's go."

Sisters-in-law? I thought to myself, we will never be sisters-in-law in this lifetime.

My mother-in-law narrowed her eyes. "Qiaoqiao is such a good child—she understands the big picture."

Just as she finished, a seven-seater service vehicle pulled up. My mother-in-law grabbed my arm firmly. "Let’s go. Don't keep the whole family waiting."

Forced into the car, I had no choice but to call my office and request leave. Upon hearing me ask for the time off, my mother-in-law’s smile returned. "Meng Jie, once you register with Cao Fan, you are a daughter-in-law of the Cao family. There's no need to play hard to get, acting like everyone is begging you for something. You are part of this family now, and you must put the Cao family's interests first. My younger son’s wedding requires two to three hundred thousand for the dowry alone, and the down payment for their house will cost another five hundred thousand."

She glanced at me sideways. "As the sister-in-law, you should help out, shouldn't you?"

I was momentarily stunned, then I couldn't help but laugh. When we discussed my wedding, Cao Fan had patted his chest and vowed that I didn't need to worry about a house, that he would handle it. Yet, every time I asked to look at properties, he would claim one was too small or another’s location was inconvenient. By the day of the intended registration, no house had been chosen. Now, my mother-in-law, convinced I was trapped, hadn't even mentioned our marital home, shifting her focus entirely to subsidizing her other son.

"Auntie," I smiled, "if all our money goes to subsidizing your younger son, what are Cao Fan and I supposed to do? Sleep on the street?"

My mother-in-law’s expression darkened. "What are you talking about? Renting an apartment for a few years is perfectly fine."

I smiled and remained silent. When we arrived at the dealership, Sun Qiaoqiao rushed toward her favorite car. The salespeople, assuming she was the buyer, swarmed around her with enthusiasm. She climbed directly into the passenger seat of an A8, checked her lipstick in the mirror, and acted as if the vehicle already belonged to her household. She leaned out and asked the salesperson, "Do you have any other colors? I'm tired of black and white."

The salesperson led her to the color chart. My parents-in-law followed, adding their own opinions. "Bright red is luxurious!"

I stayed back, walking to the display car, snapping a photo, and sending it via messaging app. Zhang Mian replied instantly. "Shopping for a car? That icy white is beautiful—it suits you perfectly!"

Sun Qiaoqiao pointed to the bright red on the chart. "We want this red one. When can we pick it up?"

The salesperson looked troubled. "That color isn't in stock; it would have to be brought in from another city. And for custom options, there is an additional charge of eighty thousand yuan."

My father-in-law waved his hand dismissively. "I thought it would be something expensive. If it costs more, then just pay it."

My mother-in-law looked at me. "Meng Jie, go ahead and sign the contract."

At this point, the salesperson finally noticed me standing in the corner. Her expression flickered only for a second before she broke into a radiant smile. She kindly pulled out a chair for me and asked how she could assist. I took the seat and leaned back against the cushion.

"I want the icy white," I said.

Sun Qiaoqiao’s face instantly twisted in displeasure.