Siheyuan: The romantic and suave Xu Damao

"Do you really not know or are you pretending?" Lou Xiao'e became even angrier when she heard this. "Nowadays, who says that a betrothal gift is required for engagement? Isn't that an insult? I'll beat you to death!" After saying that, Lou Xiao'e started howling in the back, her eyebrows raised in anger, and she reached out and pinched Xu Damao hard again.

"Ouch, be gentle, it hurts so much!" Xu Damao screamed and begged for mercy, "How did I insult you, or did I say something wrong? Don't hit Xiao'e, I really didn't know! I'm riding a bike, don't bump into anything in the dark."

Lou Xiao'e felt a little better after hearing this, but she still insisted, "Humph, don't you know? I think you did it on purpose! Do you think I'm easy to bully, so you treat me like this? Let me tell you, I'm very powerful!"

Lou Xiao'e deliberately made a grimacing expression to show that she was not someone to be trifled with.

Xu Damao quickly lowered his head and begged for mercy, and slowed down the car, "Okay, okay, I know, I was wrong, okay? I will never mention the betrothal gift again, okay?"

Lou Xiao'e was still unyielding. She thought Xu Damao was pretending to be confused and was deliberately trying to piss her off, so she angrily said, "Xu Damao, do you really not understand or are you pretending not to understand? Don't try to fool me with the tricks you use to sell things at the ghost market! I'm very smart!"

"From ancient times to the present, how can you give a betrothal gift to marry a wife? Only when you take a concubine do you give a betrothal gift! To marry a wife you need to give a betrothal gift. Although there is only one letter difference between these two words, the meaning is as different as heaven and earth. Do you understand? Do you understand? Do you understand?"

Lou Xiao'e spoke angrily in the back seat, reaching out and hitting Xu Damao's back with her little fist.

Xu Damao was hurt by the beating and quickly begged for mercy: "Ouch, stop hitting me, I was wrong, isn't that enough?"

Lou Xiao'e stopped what she was doing, pouted her lips, and said with a look of grievance: "You only know how to bully me. Am I wrong?"

Xu Damao quickly comforted her: "Yes, you are absolutely right. I was wrong. I was confused and said the betrothal gift was a betrothal gift. I deserve to die."

Lou Xiao'e looked at his sincere face and burst out laughing: "Okay, seeing that you have a good attitude, I will forgive you this time. Don't do it again next time."

Xu Damao nodded with relief, and then asked cautiously: "But why do you think the bride price is an insult to women?"

"Don't pretend, you must know! You know so much about these antiques, don't you know this little bit of common sense? Humph!"

"Ah, now I remember. Xiao'e, you really know a lot."

Lou Xiao'e smiled and teased, "Hmm, you should ask me for advice more often in the future."

Xu Damao nodded repeatedly and said yes...

The so-called betrothal gift is the property sent by the man’s family to the woman’s parents. The word “betrothal” has the meaning of hiring, which shows respect and recognition for the woman’s family. It also means confirming the woman’s identity as the future housewife.

The girl's parents usually prepare a generous dowry for their daughter to express their blessing and love for her. The value of this dowry is usually equivalent to the man's betrothal gift, but not absolutely. In fact, when marrying a daughter, the girl's parents do not make money, and may even need to pay some money to prepare the dowry. This situation was particularly common in ancient times, so many poor families in the past called their daughters "money-losing goods."

However, the status of the wife in the family should not be underestimated. They can freely return to their parents' home to visit relatives, and the two families will maintain close contact and visit each other, forming a special relationship of relatives.

In addition, the wife's family and the husband's family often have close interests, forming a community of interests. For example, if the man commits a crime after becoming an official and is sentenced to death, such as killing three clans, then his wife and her family will be implicated and punished together, and will accompany him to the guillotine.

The bride price is some property given to the girl's parents when taking a concubine. This money buys out the girl's personal rights. From then on, the girl becomes the man's domestic slave and has no connection with her parents anymore.

In the feudal era, if the man's family committed a crime in the future, the woman's family would not be implicated, because from the moment she accepted the gift, she was no longer the daughter of this family, but a concubine.

The betrothal money is a one-time purchase. The concubine can be played with by oneself, given to friends, or resold. More often, she is used as a reproductive tool.

This kind of woman who was bought with a bride price was called a concubine in the feudal era, and was called a concubine in the Republic of China. Some landlords also spent money to buy a child bride for their sons, and this money was also called a bride price!

Children born to a concubine call the wife "mother", call the wife's brothers "uncle", and can only call their own mother "aunt". When the family is having a meal, the son born out of wedlock can sit at the table, but the aunt, who is a concubine, can only stand aside and serve.

Of course, with the development of the times and the evolution of social concepts, the status of concubines has not remained unchanged. In certain periods or regions, they may be allowed to dine with the wife and even participate in some social activities.

However, no matter how the situation changes, the legal status of concubines has never changed - they are still regarded as slaves in the family. This means that although there may be some lenient treatment on the surface, in fact they are still under the absolute control and domination of their masters. Therefore, the group of concubines is really a very complex and contradictory existence.

No wonder Lou Xiao'e said that there is only one letter difference between the two words "bride price" and "betrothal gift", but there is a world of difference between them!

"Xiao E, if we get engaged, how much do you think our family should give as a betrothal gift?"

Xu Damao asked Lou Xiao'e who had calmed down in the back seat.

"Then tell me, I don't understand either."

Lou Xiao'e blushed and spoke shyly.

"Hehe, if you ask me, the higher the betrothal gift our family gives when we get engaged, the better. If our family gives more, and your family is so rich, you will definitely prepare more dowry, hehehe!" Xu Damao had a smug smile on his face and made his own calculations in his mind.

"Hmph! You're dreaming. I'm telling you, don't give such a large betrothal gift. Our family can't possibly afford such a large dowry." Lou Xiao'e pouted, looking unhappy.

"Why? Isn't your family very rich?" Xu Damao asked puzzledly.

"What's the use of having money? You know that my father has a bad background and I can't find a job. I don't know how many eyes are watching him. He has to be cautious every day. We can't have a big wedding when we get engaged." Lou Xiao'e sighed helplessly, her tone full of disappointment.