Chapter 55

Dowry (持參金)

I had clearly told Galian that I would return in no more than three months, but the time spent at the Tang family and the journey to the Zhuge family had already surpassed three months.

Galian must surely be waiting for me with a pitiful expression, trying to live up to her name.

The heads of the Poxing, Zhouxing, and Shibanxing, as well as Brother Xianling, would likely take care of the shop, and the money I left her should still be enough, but if she thought I had been robbed by bandits during my travels, it was uncertain how long they would continue to manage the shop for me.

Although I had received a lifelong pledge of loyalty from Galian, which in a game like Romance of the Three Kingdoms would require maxing out loyalty, money could both lower and raise a person's loyalty.

Since this wasn't a game, it was necessary to manage things before loyalty declined.

While lost in thought, I heard the voices of Tang Yingying and her wife, Zhuge Qing, talking again.

"Once more?"

"Umm, shall we?"

"This time, it's my turn!"

Even as I was lost in thought, I realized what was about to happen and turned my head sharply to glare at Tang Yingying, who, startled, accidentally inhaled the tea into her windpipe instead of her esophagus and began coughing.

"Choke! Choke choke!"

"Sister! Are you okay, Sister?"

After clicking her tongue in sympathy at Tang Yingying's state,

I hurriedly told the coughing Tang Yingying and her wife that I had someone urgent to meet and rushed to see the chief steward.

It was best to check things when they came to mind.

Also, if I played with Zhuge Qing and her fireball-like drinks, I might get drunk and lose my mind at any moment.

The reason for seeing the chief steward was not for any other reason.

Although I could have asked Tang Yingying or my brother-in-law for help with the inn in Sichuan, since I was also a member of the Zhuge family, it was better to consult with the chief steward about financial matters. I could have gone directly to my father-in-law, but he would have called the chief steward anyway, so I went straight to him.

Following the servants' directions to where the chief steward was, I found Wu Nei, the chief steward, dealing with numerous documents at a desk in a small room, looking tired as he greeted me.

Given that a grand banquet had just taken place, the paperwork must have been overwhelming.

"Sir, what brings you to this humble place? Do you need any food ingredients?"

"No, no, I have something to discuss with you."

"With me?"

"Yes."

After being seated, we drank tea and began our conversation.

"I have a small inn in Sichuan, in Xinwu County."

"Ah, so you have a dowry. I hadn't heard that you had property, but it seems the head of the family forgot to mention it."

Given his wealth, it was understandable that he might overlook a small inn like mine.

Or perhaps he thought the inn wasn't entirely mine but was leased.

"Well, I don't know what to do with it."

With a troubled expression, I asked, and the chief steward replied.

"Of course, since it's property you brought with you, we should manage it for you."

"Manage it?"

"Yes."

"Could you explain in more detail?"

When I asked the chief steward, who seemed to take it for granted, to explain, he began, and the system he described was quite good.

In the Song Dynasty marriage system, the reason men paid the bride price was that it was equivalent to the dowry the woman brought with her.

Interestingly, while the ownership of the property a wife brought could not be changed, she could still use it.

If a woman brought 100 acres of land to her husband's family, they could farm it, but they couldn't touch the land itself.

In other words, since I was in the position of a son-in-law, the inn I brought would be managed by the Zhuge family, but the ownership would never change.

"Can I entrust the management of my inn to you?"

"It's not a request; it's our duty. Is there anything else you need to ask?"

Indeed, the chief steward was competent.

How did he know I had more to say?

"There's a female servant working at the inn. I'd like to maintain her living arrangements and current salary."

I had called Galian a "waitress" to fulfill a martial arts dream, but "waitress" usually referred to a male waiter.

Since the term "servant" was commonly used for people working in restaurants and inns, I explained it to the chief steward and asked him to continue her employment, as well as to ensure her dormitory and salary.

This was a situation where Liu Qingyun, a man of honor, had to be recognized.

I added one more thing.

"Since I won't be there, we'll probably need to hire a cook. Also, please take good care of her so she isn't mistreated. She's my person..."

"Your person... Yes, I understand."

Hearing the chief steward's confirmation, I checked if there were any potential issues, but since the inn was in Sichuan and under the influence of the Tang family, there were no problems.

Even if I brought property from another organization and operated it under the Zhuge family's name, it could raise suspicions of expanding influence, leading to forced sale. Fortunately, the chief steward assured me that my inn was within the influence of my brother-in-law, and since my father-in-law and brother-in-law were sworn brothers, such issues wouldn't arise.

I could have just told them to sell the inn, but the great ancestors of my previous life left many wise sayings for foolish descendants like me.

One of them was, "If you have a grain of barley, you won't live in your wife's family."

With an inn, I could endure the bitter life of living in my wife's family, dreaming of independence like a revolutionary, and endure the life of a son-in-law, dreaming of setting up my own household.

Thus, I entrusted my inn, which was my heart's home and a symbol of my dream of independence, to the chief steward.

After a satisfying conversation, as I was about to leave, I felt like I had forgotten something.

After taking a few steps, a thought came to me.

'Wait. Does Zhuge Qing also have a dowry?'

Since I hadn't heard about it during the wedding, I turned back and cautiously asked the chief steward.

"Um, I'm not asking out of any other intention, but does your wife have a dowry?"

I was more curious about what she had brought as a dowry than greedy for her wealth.

'Real deal.'

When I finished my question, the chief steward looked surprised and asked back.

"Didn't you receive the list of dowry items along with the wedding clothes?"

'What, there was such a thing?'

With a look of surprise, I stared at the chief steward, who then explained.

"Didn't you receive a letter along with the wedding clothes and the gift of friendship?"

"The letter that came with the wedding clothes and the gift of friendship?"

Thinking about it, there was such a thing.

I remembered it because a letter had fallen out when I tried on the clothes in my quarters later.

'But wasn't that just to explain where the wedding clothes were sent from?'

It only had one sentence, so I recalled the sentence.

"Zhuge family (諸葛家)?"

The chief steward then smiled broadly, spread his hands wide, and answered me.

"Miss is an only daughter, so she is the Zhuge family. Therefore, everything is her dowry."

'Oh my God!'

At that moment, a wave of nausea and dizziness hit me.

If it was a dowry list from my father-in-law, it would be detailed.

What kind of refreshing boldness was this?

'Should I just settle down?'

My heart kept suggesting a comfortable life of servitude.

***

Two days later, I set out from the Zhuge family with members of the Tang family.

Our destination was Xiangyang, a city near Longzhong Mountain, where the Zhuge family resided.

We would part ways in Xiangyang, with the Tang family heading west back to Sichuan and us heading east to Ezhou (Wuhan).

After a night of camping and another day of walking, we arrived in Xiangyang on the second day. We stayed at an inn for a day, and as morning came, the tearful farewell began.

"Hey, Sister. When will we see each other again after this parting?"

"Qingya..."

Anyone watching would think we were parting for life.

I gave the two of them time to say goodbye and first bid farewell to my brother-in-law and aunt.

"Brother-in-law, Aunt, I'll see you at the 'Sworn Siblings Ceremony.' Please send a message when the date is set. I'm really looking forward to the 'Sworn Siblings Ceremony' and meeting Tang Meimei."

It seemed I had developed a compulsion to use the full name whenever the word "ceremony" came up.

Although the 'Sworn Siblings Ceremony' wouldn't suddenly turn into a wedding again, I wanted to avoid any misunderstandings on my part.

My brother-in-law smiled kindly and said,

"Yes, Qingyun, take good care of your wife and respect your elders. And visit us often; Sichuan is like your home."

"Yes, I understand. Brother-in-law. Please give my regards to Grandfather."

After finishing my farewells to my brother-in-law and aunt,