Zhang Su leaned forward, his expression serious. "Let’s first discuss the betrothal gifts, shall we?"

"Sure, why not," Sun Lixia replied casually.

Zhang Su folded his arms and stated firmly, "Ten million yuan."

"Zhang Su, what the hell, so much?" Mu Lingling exclaimed, her disbelief evident.

"Uncle Su, that’s a bit too much, right?" Zhang Mei interjected, seeking clarification.

"Can’t your fiancé afford it?" Lui Ying questioned, her tone skeptical.

"Ten million, you say?" Li Yanyan chuckled, exchanging a glance with Sun Lixia. Their laughter filled the room, perplexing the Zhang family.

"What’s so funny?" Zhang Su demanded, his irritation growing.

"Well, ten million in betrothal gifts? We need to discuss how much you’re willing to give as dowry," Li Yanyan explained, her tone playful.

"That’s Mu Lingling’s concern," Lui Ying remarked dismissively.

"Great then," Sun Lixia said, pulling out her checkbook. Excitement rippled through the Zhang family at the prospect of such a generous sum. They eagerly awaited Sun Lixia’s next move.

"Do you have a pen?" Sun Lixia asked, her gaze resting on Lui Ying.

Lui Ying turned to Zhang Meixui and instructed, "Don’t just sit there, get her a pen quickly."

Zhang Mei spoke up, addressing Sun Lixia, "Aunt Lixia, you really don’t have to."

Zhang Su interjected sharply, "Since when do kids start talking in these matters?"

Mu Lingling defended her daughter, asserting, "Zhang Mei is my daughter, I get to decide."

"With my brother gone, you two are my responsibility," Zhang Su reminded them firmly.

"Since when, Uncle Su?" Zhang Mei countered, her tone incredulous.

"Calm down, everyone," Sun Lixia interjected, attempting to diffuse the tension.

Zhang Meixiu arrived with a pen, handing it respectfully to Sun Lixia. "Thank you," she said, accepting it and opening her checkbook. After finishing, she extended her hand to give the check to Zhang Su.

Li Yanyan remarked, "I had imagined that maybe you would ask for more. Zhang Mei is worth more, after all."

Li Chen chimed in, "Indeed she is."

Lui Ying became anxious, thinking they had missed an opportunity. But Li Chen continued, "I also have a gift of my own." Zhu Fengrui handed him a file, and Li Chen revealed, "A villa in Radiant Sun Estate."

Zhang Su eagerly stretched his hand to take both the check and the villa title deed. Just as he reached, Sun Lixia chuckled softly, retracting her hand and handing the check to Mu Lingling. "Thank you for raising such a wonderful daughter, Mu Lingling. We promise she will be treated like a princess in the Li household."

The Zhang family’s expressions shifted from anticipation to anger and frustration. Zhang Su’s outstretched hand hovered in the air, momentarily frozen in disbelief. Lui Ying’s eyes narrowed, her lips pursed tightly, while Zhang Liying and Zhang Weijun exchanged incredulous glances.

"What is the meaning of this?" Zhang Su’s voice carried a mixture of shock and indignation.

Li Yanyan met his gaze evenly. "The meaning is simple. We value family, Mr. Zhang. And we believe in treating each other with respect and dignity."

Sun Lixia’s tone remained firm but composed. "Your niece is marrying into our family, not selling herself to the highest bidder."

Zhang Su’s face flushed with anger, his hands clenched into fists. "How dare you speak to me like this in my own house!"

Li Chen stood tall, his demeanor calm but resolute. "We came here in good faith, Mr. Zhang. But if you cannot accept our sincerity, then perhaps we should reconsider this union."

Zhu Fengrui’s presence added weight to Li Chen’s words, his gaze unwavering as he stood beside his cousin.

The tension in the room was palpable, each party waiting for the other to make a move. Sun Lixia’s unwavering gaze conveyed a silent challenge, daring Zhang Su to challenge their resolve.

Li Chen handed Mu Lingling the title deed and said, "I have been meaning to give you this for days now, but I was waiting to see you get a bit better. I can’t have you living alone while sick, since I am now taking your daughter."

Mu Lingling smiled gratefully and attempted to decline, "You have already done enough for us, Li Chen. I can’t accept this."

Li Chen shook his head firmly, "Does that mean you are not allowing me to marry her?"

Mu Lingling’s eyes widened in realization, "No, no, that is not what I meant."

Li Chen’s expression softened, "This is the betrothal gift my family is offering. Actually, she is worth more than we are giving."

Zhang Mei interjected, "Li Chen..."

Li Chen waved off her concern, "It’s okay."

Lui Ying’s voice sliced through the tension, "You came here to insult us, didn’t you? Flaunting your wealth in our faces."

Li Yanyan interjected sharply, "Flaunting? This is not flaunting, dear. This is just... what can I call it? Some change that won’t even be equal to the allowance Zhang Mei’s kids will get monthly."

Sun Lixia chimed in with a steely resolve, "Mr. Zhang, you just told us that the dowry will be Mu Lingling’s problem. As far as I know, the parents of the girl are responsible for the dowry. You said Zhang Mei was like your daughter, but when it comes to the dowry issue, you change your story. You are contradicting yourself so much it’s giving me a headache."

The atmosphere grew tense as Sun Lixia’s words hung in the air, punctuated by the palpable silence that followed. Zhang Su’s face reddened with anger, his jaw clenched as he struggled to find a retort.

Zhang Liying’s voice dripped with disdain. "You dare to lecture us on tradition? You, who have no respect for it?"

Sun Lixia’s expression remained unyielding. "We respect tradition, but not when it is used as a tool for greed and manipulation."

Mu Lingling placed a calming hand on Zhang Mei’s shoulder, her eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and concern. "Please, let’s not escalate this further. We are here to celebrate Zhang Mei’s happiness, not to argue over material possessions."

Li Yanyan’s tone softened, her gaze flickering with empathy. "We apologize if our actions have caused offense, but our intentions are genuine. We only want what is best for Zhang Mei and for both families to find joy in this union."

Zhang Su’s expression wavered, his pride conflicting with a hint of uncertainty. Lui Ying’s eyes narrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line as she surveyed the scene before her.

In that moment, the air crackled with tension, each side poised on the edge of confrontation, yet hesitant to take the next step. The future of Zhang Mei and Li Chen’s union hung in the balance, awaiting resolution amidst the clash of tradition and modernity.

Zhu Fengrui, who had remained quiet until now, spoke up firmly, "We know what you did to Zhang Mei and her mother. We weren’t mentioning it out of respect, but it seems like we need to discuss when you plan to return what rightfully belongs to them. Maybe Aunt Mu Lingling can use it as dowry; it does belong to them after all."

Lui Ying snapped back, "What the hell are you talking about?"

Zhu Fengrui’s tone remained firm, "Stop being shrewd and tone it down a bit. We are talking like adults here."

Zhang Weijun interjected angrily, "How dare you speak to my mother like that?"

Zhu Fengrui countered, "I can speak to her however I like."

Li Yanyan intervened, her voice laced with disappointment, "We actually came here thinking you would be reasonable, and we were trying to involve you in Zhang Mei’s wedding. But it seems like we really made a mistake."

Zhang Liying retorted, "You never meant to involve us in the first place. Why would you give her that check?"

Sun Lixia’s voice cut through the tension like a knife, "Mu Lingling is Zhang Mei’s mother. She is the one who deserves the betrothal gifts, not you greedy bunch. Honestly, we would have given her any amount she wanted if she had asked."

Zhang Meixui spoke up, attempting to diffuse the tension, "Mom, Dad, let’s not fight and enjoy this joyous occasion, please. We are family."

Zhang Su’s response was cutting, "Who gave you the right to speak?"

Zhang Meixui lowered her head, wishing they didn’t have to fight like this. Li Yanyan intervened, "At least there is someone reasonable in this household. You should try listening to her more often. Perhaps you can be better people."

Zhang Liying scoffed, "She is weak."

Sun Lixia rolled her eyes, retorting, "Because she isn’t like the rest of you."

Zhang Su, frustrated, declared, "Since you don’t want to do things the right way, forget about us coming to that stupid wedding."

Mu Lingling responded calmly, "We never wanted you involved anyways."

Zhang Mei, sensing it was time to leave, turned to Sun Lixia, "Aunt Lixia, let’s go, please."

Sun Lixia and Li Yanyan stood up, acknowledging defeat. "Well, we tried," they both said.

Li Chen, with a gesture of finality, reached for his pocket and withdrew the invitation. "Here’s the invitation. If you happen to change your minds, that’s okay. The wedding will go on without you." With that, they all walked out, leaving the Zhang family behind.