Chapter 701 - 243: The Bride Price Talks Broke Down

"She was given a hard time," Jie Jingshan replied.

"Who does your dad side with?" her grandfather asked.

"He sides with my mom," Jie Jingshan replied.

"I’ve heard that your dad is a very dutiful son. His previous wife didn’t have it easy with your Granny, and your dad always sided with your Granny," her grandfather said.

Jie Jingshan gave her grandfather a strange look. ’Just "heard," has he? I get the feeling he’s had someone investigate.’ "My dad probably came to his senses. He doesn’t want to repeat his past mistakes."

"How so?" her grandfather asked.

Jie Jingshan thought for a moment. "In the past, my dad always sided with my Granny, and in the end, Zhang Hongying died. He finally managed to marry a wealthy wife. If he didn’t learn his lesson and just kept insisting on his own way, he’d be on his third marriage by now. The Jie Family must have done something incredible to deserve a wife like my mom."

Her grandfather liked hearing that. He said to Jie Jingshan, "Zhang Hongying died to save your mother."

"My third brother said that my Granny bears an undeniable responsibility for her death," Jie Jingshan said. She had never met Zhang Hongying, so even though the woman had died saving her own mother, Jie Jingshan’s expression remained neutral when speaking of her.

’Alright, if even her third brother says so, I won’t press the issue,’ he thought for a moment, then asked, "What if your mom is in the wrong? Would your dad still side with her?"

"In front of my Granny, even if she’s in the wrong, she’s in the right," Jie Jingshan said.

The corner of her grandfather’s mouth twitched. ’What kind of twisted logic is that? Oh well, forget it. As long as my son-in-law protects my daughter, it doesn’t matter if she’s right or wrong.’ "Jing Shan, do you kids like your Granny?"

"We don’t," Jie Jingshan replied without a second’s hesitation.

"Why not? Has she ever bullied you?" her grandfather asked.

’Bully me? Granny wouldn’t dare. Granny despised me for my crippled legs and said some very nasty things. Fifth Brother overheard her, flew into a rage on the spot, and almost killed Granny.’

"She doesn’t like me, and I don’t like her," Jie Jingshan said matter-of-factly.

"Jing Shan, your grandma and I love you, and that’s enough." His heart ached for her as he looked at Jie Jingshan, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "People who favor sons over daughters never come to a good end."

Jie Jingshan gazed at her grandfather, hesitating for a few seconds before saying, "She doesn’t like my older sister, second brother, third brother, fourth brother, or Fifth Brother either."

The hand ruffling her hair paused. A glint appeared in her grandfather’s cloudy eyes. "Then it’s your father she dislikes."

’She dislikes her eldest son, and by extension, she dislikes all his children. She disliked the ones he had with Zhang Hongying, and she dislikes the ones he has with Yan Qiu.’

Her grandfather and grandmother were clear about who they liked and disliked. They didn’t like their son-in-law, but they doted on their grandsons and granddaughters.

"Probably," Jie Jingshan said uncertainly.

Downstairs, after everyone had finished their meal, Xu Jiali, afraid her great-aunt would have second thoughts, urged them to strike while the iron was hot and discuss the wedding arrangements.

They didn’t discuss it in the living room. Madam Qiao led them to a room on the first floor. Mr. Gao, worried that Grandma Gao would say the wrong thing and anger Madam Qiao, firmly forbade Grandma Gao from participating, leaving her to chant sutras in the living room.

The room was a tea room. Madam Qiao sat in the seat of honor. On one side sat Jie Jingchen, Qin Mei, and Xu Jiali; on the other sat Mr. Gao, Mrs. Gao, and Gao Qiang.

The butler brought in servants to serve tea to everyone, then they withdrew from the room and closed the door.

"How much is the Gao family prepared to offer for the bride price?" Madam Qiao asked bluntly.

Hearing the two words "bride price," the Gao Family were clearly taken aback. They obviously hadn’t expected Madam Qiao to bring up the bride price directly. Firstly, the Qiao Family was wealthy and had no need to marry off a daughter for a bride price. Secondly, Madam Qiao was only Xu Jiali’s great-aunt, so it was a bit out of place for her to be discussing it.

Qin Mei glanced at Madam Qiao with admiration. ’Jumping straight to the bride price, that’s really direct. Countless negotiations have fallen apart over the bride price.’

A mocking smile touched Jie Jingchen’s lips. In a cold voice, he asked, "You weren’t planning on getting a bride for nothing, were you?"

"Young Master Qiao, you must be joking. Of course not. We were just thinking about what an appropriate amount for the bride price would be," Mr. Gao said with a smile.

"Then how much are you prepared to give?" Jie Jingchen’s amber eyes narrowed, his bewitching face masked with a layer of coldness.

Mr. Gao fell into deep thought. The Qiao Family was large and prosperous. Too small a bride price would be inappropriate, but they couldn’t afford to offer too much.

"Madam Qiao, what amount for the bride price would you find satisfactory?" Mrs. Gao asked her with a smile.

Before Madam Qiao could speak, Jie Jingchen cut in. "The more, the better, of course."

Mrs. Gao faltered for a moment, but her face remained wreathed in smiles. "Young Master Qiao, please name a figure."

Jie Jingchen raised his hand and held up his index finger.

"Ten thousand?" Mrs. Gao guessed. She had wanted to guess one thousand, but felt that was unrealistic.

Jie Jingchen shook his head.