Chapter 132: The Day of the Betrothal Gifts (Part Two)

Tao Ming pouted slightly and said, "I had no idea that giving a bride price involved so many formalities."

Su Nanxing shook his head gently. "A betrothal gift and a bride price are not the same thing. A betrothal gift is for taking a wife, while a bride price is for taking a concubine. You mustn't mix them up."

"Oh? I thought they were the same." Tao Ming glanced around furtively, and seeing that no one was paying attention to her, she let out a sigh of relief.

Su Nanxing patiently explained, "The bride price is primarily monetary and stays with the bride’s family; it’s essentially like buying the woman. A betrothal gift, however, goes with you."

Seeing Tao Ming and Su Nanxing whispering and showing no sign of stopping, Qin Youchuan cleared his throat as a reminder.

Su Nanxing immediately straightened up, bowed to Qin Youchuan, and asked, "Master Qin, where should the betrothal gifts be placed?"

Tao Ming could see the crowd behind her growing restless. Qin Youchuan replied, "What’s the rush? You’ll see them all soon enough."

The crowd quickly formed a line, waiting for Qin Youchuan’s command.

Su Nanxing asked in a low voice, "Grandfather, shall I have the uncles and cousins move them?"

"They just want to see the sincerity of the Su family."

Su Nanxing turned toward the gate and said, "Prepare to unload the carts."

With a wave of Qin Youchuan’s hand, the men of the Qin family walked to the gate. Without needing any direction, they paired up, unloaded the chests from the carts, and carried them into the Qin residence with great excitement.

Tao Sisi shouted to them excitedly, "Hurry, bring them to our courtyard!"

Tao Ming took Su Nanxing’s hand. "Let’s go inside. What are we standing here for?"

Su Nanxing didn't move. "I can't go in yet. You go ahead and rest."

Tao Ming glanced at Ruanruan, seeing her follow the excited Tao Sisi toward the inner courtyard, and said to Su Nanxing, "Then I won't go in either; I’ll stay here with you."

As Tao Ming lifted her leg to step over the threshold to stand with Su Nanxing, he quickly stopped her. "You can't come out, either."

Tao Ming rolled her eyes. "What kind of ridiculous rule is that?"

Su Nanxing gently stroked Tao Ming’s hand. "Wife, I miss you so much."

With people coming and going at the Qin gate, Tao Ming’s face turned crimson. She glared at him and said, "You only left this morning!"

Su Nanxing tickled her palm. "I miss you every single moment."

"We’ve been together for so long, and you’re still so cheesy." Feeling the sensation in her palm, Tao Ming felt a tingle in her heart, leaving her feeling soft and flustered.

Seeing Tao Ming blushing and looking charming, Su Nanxing felt his composure slipping. "I really want to marry you and bring you home soon. The Star-Plucking Pavilion is far too lonely."

Watching the carriages being emptied and departing one after another, as if there were no end to them, Tao Ming asked in confusion, "Just how much stuff is there?"

"Nearly three hundred carriages. What do you think?"

Tao Ming felt tired of standing and leaned slightly against Su Nanxing. "Why not just put them in a storage bag? This is so troublesome and a waste of resources."

Su Nanxing shifted his weight to make Tao Ming more comfortable. "It’s an ancient custom. I left the Su estate and circled the entire Imperial City before arriving here."

"It’s all just for show; you treating me well is what matters most." Seeing Su Fang and Su Pei waving at her, Tao Ming waved back and asked, "Why are they standing so far away?"

Su Nanxing laughed. "I’m the one marrying you, so of course they have to stand back."

"The customs on this side of the Weishui River are so strange," Tao Ming remarked, thinking of how weddings were handled back on Earth.

Tao Ming and Su Nanxing stood on either side of the threshold, watching the Qin family members go back and forth for nearly half an hour until all the chests were moved into the Pan Si Dong courtyard.

Seeing Su Fang signal to him, Su Nanxing squeezed Tao Ming’s hand. "Wife, I have to go. I’ll come find you again later."

"Why all this back-and-forth? Are you hungry?"

"Didn't we already have a 'meal' this morning? You want more?" Su Nanxing whispered with a smirk.

Tao Ming pulled her hand away. "I can't be bothered with you!"

Seeing Su Fang signal again, Su Nanxing said to Tao Ming, "Wife, go inside and count the gifts. I still have to circle the Imperial City once more."

"Go on, then. I’ll be waiting for you."

Su Nanxing turned and left the Qin residence.

Watching him mount his dragon-horse and ride away, Tao Ming felt an inexplicable sense of loss. She laughed at herself and returned to the Pan Si Dong.

The courtyard was bustling with noise. Seeing Tao Ming enter, Qin Youchuan called her over. "Mingming, hurry and take out the gift list to check them."

Tao Ming pulled out the list and handed it to Qin Youchuan, staring blankly at the chests in the courtyard.

They hadn't noticed it while moving them, but now that the chests were stacked five high and arranged in dozens of neat rows along the courtyard walls, they took up most of the space and looked truly spectacular.

Ruanruan stood by the foremost chest, trying to peek through the gaps to see what was inside. Unfortunately, the chests were sealed with protective spells, so she could see nothing. She pulled Nuonuo up onto the chest, hoping to pry it open.

The list was passed around among the Qin family members, each of them bowing their heads to examine the items.

Tao Sisi beamed. "Mingming, the Su family really holds you in high regard."

What could Tao Ming say? She answered vaguely, "I suppose Nanxing must have made a scene at his mother's place."

The Seventh Prince finished reading the list, walked over to Tao Ming, and smiled. "Mingming, I accept this brother-in-law for now."

Hearing this, for some reason, a nameless anger flared up in Tao Ming. "And what if you don't accept him?"

The Seventh Prince thought of the past and sighed, thinking how true it was that a grown daughter cannot be kept at home. He feigned grievance and replied, "Mingming, I am your brother, after all! Don't I have some say in this?"

Tao Ming rolled her eyes. "My mother only gave birth to me!"

Qin Siyu also finished reading the list and walked over to Tao Ming with a troubled expression. "Mingming, the dowry I’ve prepared for you isn't enough!"

Tao Ming comforted him. "Don't worry, Father, I have a way." She still had a mountain of daily necessities from Earth inside her 'Dou Zhuan Xing Yi' storage space.

Qin Youchuan finished checking the gifts against the list and gathered the Qin family in a circle. "You’ve all seen it. The Su family has dug a deep hole for us this time; even if Siyu put up his entire net worth, it wouldn't be enough for the dowry."

The family immediately began offering suggestions all at once, creating a buzzing sound that made it impossible for Tao Ming to hear anything.

Qin Youchuan roared, "One at a time!"

Qin Yunyan, the third master of the Qin family, spoke up. "Father, the Su family is provoking us. We can't let the thirteenth brother handle this alone. Besides, I don't have a daughter, so all the fine fabrics I have can serve as part of Mingming's dowry."

Qin Sihao added, "My daughter Qin Yue is the only one who hasn't married yet. I’ll just keep the same amount of dowry as her older sisters had, and the rest can go to Mingming to save face."

The others offered similar contributions. Qin Youchuan was deeply moved. He looked around and said, "How much money can you all have? Keep it for yourselves."

Hearing her uncles and brothers, Tao Ming felt deeply touched. Her eyes grew moist, and she wiped away a tear, saying chokingly, "Thank you all for your kindness, but I have a way to solve this. I can't take your things."

The Seventh Prince patted Tao Ming on the shoulder. "You can consider their contributions as an investment!"

Qin Youchuan’s eyes lit up. "Kongqing’s suggestion is good. Let’s do that. Everyone go back, tally up your contributions, and give the list to Mingming."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Su Nanxing vaulted over the courtyard wall.