Old Xiang's brows relaxed, and he casually said, "In that case, you can give me 50,000."
Without thinking, I said, "It can be done."
Old Xiang was taken aback for a moment, then immediately said, "I meant 50,000."
I said again, "Okay."
Old Xiang sighed, tapped the table with his chopsticks, and said, "I remember you can hold your liquor well—I meant 50,000!"
I chuckled and said, "Stop bringing up my 26 points on the math test. I got 5,000 and 50,000 in prize money."
It took Lao Xiang and I a while to realize that I wasn't drunk. He was a little flustered and picked up a peanut shell with his chopsticks and chewed it.
I suddenly became curious about what my future father-in-law was thinking at that moment, so I pretended to take out my phone to check the time and pressed "7474748" in front of him. What I saw on the screen was: This kid gave such a heavy gift, but he didn't lower the dowry money. What kind of trick is he up to? Is he planning to squeeze it back little by little later?
I burst out laughing. No wonder Old Xiang hadn't given us a friendly look since he walked in; he was afraid it wouldn't be good to say anything harsh at this moment.
I said to him, "Uncle, this 50,000 yuan..." He immediately looked wary.
"Why don't you take my aunt on a trip? If you can't go too far, go to Singapore, Malaysia, or Thailand. You can come back when you run out of money."
Old Xiang was now quite uncomfortable. He awkwardly picked up the cigarette case, and I quickly lit it for him. Only then did he realize that I hadn't given him any, so he hurriedly shook out a cigarette and gave it to me.
We were smoking. Old Xiang felt awkward for a while before finally saying, "Xiao Qiang, you're not really losing out by giving so much dowry to marry Baozi. You know, our Xiang family is a prestigious lineage."
I replied perfunctorily, "That's right, that's right."
Old Xiang also felt that talking was too weak, so he took a photo out from under the mat on the kang (a heated brick bed), but didn't show it to me first. He asked me, "Do you know whose descendants our branch is?"
I chuckled and asked, "Who is it?"
Old Xiang said, "Xiang Yu!"
"Thump!" I smashed my head so hard it dented the kang table, sending cups, plates, and bowls scattering everywhere. The people outside thought we were fighting. Baozi's mother was the first to rush in, shouting, "Let's talk this out!" She was followed by a crowd of people. Baozi nervously peered inside; Xiang Yu was right beside her.
Old Xiang gestured for them to step back and said calmly, "I know you don't believe me, but I have photographic evidence."
Did Xiang Yu take a picture with him?
Old Xiang handed me the photo, and I immediately recognized it as a carbon copy of Fatty Ying's work. The wrinkled black and white photo was bleak and desolate, showing a thin old man holding the hand of a refined man and chuckling awkwardly. It was indeed quite old.
I asked in a hoarse voice, "Is this Xiang Yu?"
Old Xiang pointed to the thin old man in the photo and said, "This is my grandfather, Baozi's great-grandfather. This photo is from the Republic of China era. At that time, my grandfather donated a thumb ring passed down from his ancestors to the county. The man next to him is the county magistrate. After expert authentication, it was confirmed that it was indeed from the late Qin Dynasty. Later, the county even issued a certificate and award. Do you want to see it..."
I felt dizzy. Old Xiang was actually a descendant of Xiang Yu, who was dozens of generations removed. So, did that mean I was his descendant-son-in-law for dozens of generations?
What should I call him from now on? Yu-ge Ancestor? Yu-zu-ge?
Heavens above, earth below, which angel is playing this game with me?
This sudden event caused me to spend the rest of the time in a daze. It seems that I even set a wedding date with Lao Xiang—or maybe I didn't, my mind was just too chaotic.
However, the ending was quite happy for everyone. The elderly couple saw us all the way to the car, and Old Xiang even patted Xiang Yu on the shoulder and said, "Young man, drive carefully..."
I remained silent the whole way in the car. Baozi, fiddling with the bouquet of carnations, asked me, "Hey, what did you say to my dad?"
It took me a while to come to my senses after she asked me so many questions, and I asked her in return, "Why didn't you give the flowers to your mother?"
Baozi scoffed dismissively, "Do you think my mom is the kind of person who likes flowers? Giving her this is no better than giving her a bunch of chives."
I nodded, then fell silent again. When we were almost home, I said to Baozi, "When we get off the bus, give the flowers to Da Ge'er, just like paying respects to our ancestors."
Chapter 87 A Wise Man's Thousand Thoughts
When we got home, Baozi deliberately lagged behind. As I locked my bike and was about to go upstairs, Baozi stopped me and whispered, "What exactly did you say to my dad?"
My mind was in turmoil, and I blurted out, "Anyway, your father gave you to me, so you'll be the Xiao Xiang family from now on."
How much should the betrothal gift be?
50,000.
"Huh?" Baozi exclaimed in surprise, and immediately asked, "How much really?"
I said, "It really is 50,000. I told your dad I'd give him 20,000 first, and the rest the day before the wedding, but he wouldn't agree. Then I said I'd give him 30,000 first, and the remaining 20,000 when we got married, and he was happy to accept that. No wonder you studied accounting, you're so good with numbers."
Baozi slapped me and then ran upstairs, saying, "I'll call my dad myself."
She went upstairs and into the bedroom to watch TV, dragging Li Shishi along with her. Women are truly creatures who can't stand loneliness; this manifests in their need to drag someone along with them in everything they do—watching TV, shopping, taking a bath, eating snacks—it's all the same. That's why hermits have always been men. Tao Yuanming, when alone, could "pick chrysanthemums by the eastern fence and leisurely gaze at the southern mountains," while Li Qingzhao, in her solitude, could only lament, "cold, desolate, dreary, miserable, wretched." Men often have thoughts of killing their rivals before committing suicide for love, driven by hatred and shame. Women, on the other hand, usually dress beautifully, smile radiantly, invite their lovers for one last candlelight dinner (of course, the man is unaware), then enjoy one last passionate night in bed, and finally drink poisoned milk together. Women do this for one reason: to avoid loneliness in the afterlife. See? Men have to overcome moral constraints to kill women, while women killing men is considered a noble act of chivalry. Thus, it's clear that men are the truly vulnerable group.
I went upstairs and hung up my coat. I saw that, apart from Li Shishi, Qin Shi Huang and Liu Bang were all sitting in their places, eagerly waiting for me. Xiang Yu rubbed his hands together and said, "Xiao Qiang, what should I do tomorrow?"
I looked at him awkwardly and said, "Yu... Brother... are you really ready this time?"
Xiang Yu nodded firmly.
"...Alright, we don't need to change our plan too much. Zhang Bing treated Shishi to dinner today, so she'll reciprocate tomorrow. You just need to keep showing up..."
Xiang Yu thought for a moment, then suddenly asked nervously, "What should I say as my first words?"
I immediately waved my hand and said, "No need, let's think of another solution."
Liu Bang laughed and said, "Actually, Xiao Ji has already come up with a plan. Inspired by today's events, he has decided to start with Zhang Bing's grandfather."
"Oh?" I looked at Xiang Yu curiously, seeing his confident demeanor once again. The power of love is truly great; it even forced the brute force of Xiang Yu to learn the strategy of "drawing the firewood from under the cauldron."
“I asked Shishi,” Xiang Yu said. “Every Saturday, Ayu goes home to visit his grandfather, and tomorrow is Saturday…” Xiang Yu found the newspaper with the map drawn on it and pointed back and forth between the school and the old district committee dormitory with his big hand, frowning as he said, “Now there is only one difficulty left, which is how to get Shishi to get close to Ayu again.”