Switched Marriage: The Coddled Little Wife Chapter 4 Dowry

Given how much Mother Lin favored my elder sister, if there were any complications with the wedding plans, the blame would never fall on her.

If my sister wasn't the problem, then I was the only one left to blame.

Mother was truly something else; she didn't just use my name to swap the marriage arrangements, but she also squeezed a massive dowry out of the Qin Family, showing zero concern for whether I would survive or perish after being wed.

It is actually quite admirable that the Qin Family agreed. Regardless of Qin Yang’s character, the people of the Qin Family are clearly kind-hearted. In this day and age, life is incredibly harsh for a woman whose marriage engagement has been broken.

Lin Chuxia made a mental note to repay this benevolence from the Qin Family.

Hiding the flicker of emotion in her gaze, Lin Chuxia spoke with a cold detachment, "I wasn't going to mention this, but wasn't Sister constantly singing the Qin Family's praises? I'm worried that she might have been momentarily confused when she convinced Mother to switch the engagements. It isn't too late to change your mind. Once you're married, there's no turning back."

"I won't regret a thing," Lin Jiayi snapped back instantly.

"Then why is Sister so fixated on the Qin Family's dowry? Or do you believe the Li Family is too destitute to provide one? Personally, I think Mother should have squeezed more out of them. Only what you hold in your hand is truly yours. Mother understood this perfectly when she was negotiating my marriage with the Li Family; how did she become so muddled regarding Sister? Eighty yuan—even the village idiot Li Cuihua had a larger dowry than that, didn't she?"

Lin Jiayi’s face turned crimson with rage. Li Cuihua was the local fool, and this brat actually had the nerve to compare her to such a person?

Furthermore, just as Mother had pointed out, the Li Family was so impoverished that if they actually produced a three-hundred-yuan dowry, wouldn't they just be passing their debts onto the bride's family?

"That’s enough, both of you be quiet," Mother Lin barked, throwing a sharp glare at Lin Chuxia. "You do nothing right all day, yet you’re obsessed with these petty details. Do you think I raised you for free? And don't act so superior; your sister secured a wonderful marriage for you. You ought to be thankful. From now on, your dowry will naturally be focused on your sister. The Qin Family is wealthy; they won't miss the few things you'll lack."

Mother Lin had never anticipated that her typically submissive younger daughter would one day turn so rebellious.

Lin Chuxia gave a small nod. "I understand, Mother. I won't fight with Sister over the dowry. After all, this marriage was just her leftover choice. Even if I arrive at the Qin Family with nothing and tell them the truth, I'm sure they will be understanding."

Mother Lin relaxed slightly after the first sentence, thinking her younger daughter was still obedient at heart. The second half of the sentence, however, nearly made her choke.

"What on earth are you saying? Didn't I order you never to mention the marriage swap again? Are your ears filled with donkey hair?"

"Mother, listen to yourself. Others might not know, but do the three families involved not know? We can act like nothing happened, but can the Li and Qin families do the same?"

"They aren't allowed to know the truth either!" Mother Lin shouted, her true intentions slipping out in her frustration.

"Then what would Mother suggest I say? I can't exactly play the fool if the Qin Family starts asking questions. Should I tell them I’ve been pampered since birth and became so spoiled that I insisted on marrying Qin Yang, and that my sister was kind enough to step aside? Or should I claim I'm superior to my sister in every way, a top-tier worker, and that the Qin Family hit the jackpot by getting me instead?"

Lin Chuxia asked these questions with a face of mock sincerity, leaving Mother Lin flushed and unable to find words.

It had to be admitted that her younger daughter saw right through her—those were exactly the lies she had told the Li and Qin families.

But such lies were meant to stay with the speaker; they were never supposed to be repeated to the other parties.

"Mother should think it over carefully. If I go there without a dowry, do I look like a girl who was pampered at home? If we go with the second story, you'll have to ensure the Qin Family doesn't talk. If the Li Family hears of it, what will they think of Sister? We can stay silent at home as you wish, but we don't own the mouths of the Qin and Li families."

Mother Lin felt a mix of shame and irritation, her expression darkening. "Just shut your mouth; there is no need for you to interfere in the business of adults."

Lin Jiayi also huffed in anger as she stuffed the items from her net bag into the cupboard. Still feeling uneasy, she pointed a finger at Lin Chuxia. "These are all mine, bought for me by Mother. Don't you dare think about taking them."

Chuxia didn't even look up. "Don't worry, I'm not the type to crave whatever I see." Whatever she wanted, she would earn for herself.

Jiayi’s face grew even darker, recalling how she had coveted the fabric she saw the moment she walked in earlier.

This wretched girl, always acting so indifferent. We'll see if she can maintain that arrogance once she's stuck in the Qin Family.

Chuxia’s predictions were accurate; Mother Lin went out again that afternoon and returned at twilight, carrying items directly to her.

"I hand-picked the best items from the supply and marketing co-op. Don't you dare claim I'm biased again. You should be grateful for such a fine marriage and stop your whining. Just go outside and ask—everyone is jealous that you're marrying into the Qin Family."

Chuxia inspected the goods; they were basic daily necessities like washbasins, thermoses, and towels. While they didn't rival Jiayi's haul, they were respectable enough to maintain appearances.

Even though she didn't expect much from the Qin Family, Chuxia wanted to avoid starting her new life on "hard mode" if she could manage a good first impression.

Given the circumstances of the marriage swap and the large dowry involved, any wife would feel humiliated arriving at her new home empty-handed.

In the quiet of the night, while the rest of the house was fast asleep, Chuxia took the opportunity to enter her space.

She headed first to the ancient well to drink some Spiritual Spring water, then prepared a bath, mixing in more Spiritual Spring water as she soaked.

Since discovering the physical benefits of the Spiritual Spring water, she had been using it regularly and noticed her body becoming significantly more robust.

In her previous life, though a car accident killed her, her body had been failing her long before that. She had suffered from constant back and knee pain, hit menopause in her early forties, lost hair in clumps, and lived on a diet of medication.

Now that she was back, Chuxia valued her health above all else. After a period of conditioning with the Spiritual Spring water, her once brittle, yellow hair was now lustrous, her malnourished skin had become smooth and delicate, and she felt much more energetic.

After her bath, Chuxia cooked a steak for herself.

She had initially been hesitant to use the supplies in the villa, but she soon discovered that the items there would regenerate, replenishing themselves within twenty-four hours.

Full and satisfied, she finally exited the space.

...

Before the wedding day arrived, the Qin and Li families came by one last time to deliver the engagement gifts.

Accompanying the matchmaker were Qin Yang’s brother, Qin Han, and his wife, Zhang Guilan.

Qin Han was reasonably tall, about 1.75 meters, with tanned skin, deep-set eyes, and handsome features.

If the brother looked this good, Qin Yang likely wasn't ugly either.

Like most people, Chuxia appreciated good looks; especially after Li Guangyuan’s affairs in her past life, she refused to settle for less.

Back when she ran her own business, the more attractive employees received ten to twenty percent higher salaries; not a single assistant or driver around her had been unattractive.

Beauty is a virtue. If Qin Yang was handsome, she could probably tolerate a cold personality or a bad temper, especially since he wouldn't be home very often.