Switched Marriage: The Coddled Little Wife Chapter 4 Dowry

Considering how much Mother Lin spoils my elder sister, if there was any trouble with the wedding plans, my sister certainly wouldn't be the one to blame.

If the fault didn't lie with her, it had to be placed on me.

In a move typical of her character, she didn't just use my identity to swap the engagements; she also extorted a massive dowry from the Qin Family. She didn't give a second thought to whether I would survive or perish after the wedding.

The Qin Family deserves credit for agreeing to it. Regardless of what Qin Yang is like, the people of the Qin Family are truly kind. In this day and age, life is brutal for a woman who has been jilted in marriage.

Lin Chuxia made a silent vow to remember this act of grace from the Qin Family.

Hiding the flicker of emotion in her eyes, Lin Chuxia spoke with a cold detachment, "I wasn't going to mention this, but wasn't my sister the one constantly praising the Qin Family? I'm simply worried she had a momentary lapse in judgment when she convinced Mother to switch the engagements. It isn't too late to back out. Once the marriage is official, there is no turning back."

"I will never regret it," Lin Jiayi snapped back instantly.

"Then why are you so preoccupied with the Qin Family's dowry? Or do you perhaps think the Li Family is too destitute to provide one? If you want my opinion, Mother should have squeezed more out of them. Only what you hold in your hand is truly yours. Mother was sharp enough when arranging my marriage with the Li Family; how did she become so confused regarding yours? Eighty yuan—even the village idiot Li Cuihua received a larger dowry than that, didn't she?"

Lin Jiayi’s face turned crimson with fury. 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 three hundred yuan for a dowry, wouldn't they just be offloading their debts onto the bride's side?

"That’s enough, both of you be quiet," Mother Lin snapped, throwing a harsh look at Lin Chuxia. "You do nothing useful all day and only focus on these petty grievances. Do you think I raised you for free? And don't act so arrogant; your sister handed you a wonderful marriage. You ought to be thankful. Without further delay, your dowry will naturally be prioritized for your sister. The Qin Family is wealthy; they won't miss the things you lack."

Mother Lin was stunned that her daughter, who was usually so submissive, had suddenly become so rebellious.

Lin Chuxia gave a small nod. "I understand, Mother. I won't fight with my sister over the dowry. After all, I'm just taking her discarded 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 during the first half of the sentence, thinking her younger daughter had returned to her obedient self. The second half, however, nearly made her choke.

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

"Mother, think about it. Other people might be in the dark, but do the three families involved not know? We can act like nothing happened, but will the Li and Qin families do the same?"

"They can't let the truth out either!" Mother Lin shouted, her true anxieties leaking out in her frustration.

"So, what should I tell them, Mother? If the Qin Family asks, I can't just play the fool. Should I tell them I’ve been pampered since birth and became so entitled that I demanded Qin Yang, and my sister was kind enough to step aside? Or should I claim I’m superior to her in every way, a top-tier laborer, and the Qin Family hit the jackpot by getting me instead?"

Lin Chuxia asked these questions with an air of sincere negotiation, leaving Mother Lin flushed and unable to find words.

It was undeniable—her younger daughter saw right through her. Those were exactly the lies she had fed to both the Li and Qin families.

However, those fabrications were meant to stay behind closed doors, never to be repeated to the parties involved.

"Mother should consider this carefully. If I show up without a dowry, do I look like a girl who was pampered at home? If we go with the second story, you must ensure the Qin Family keeps quiet. If the Li Family hears of it, what will they think of my sister? We won't talk about it here, but we don't own the mouths of the Qin and Li families."

Feeling both humiliated and irritated, Mother Lin’s face clouded over. "Just shut your mouth; there's no need for a child to lecture adults on their business."

Lin Jiayi huffed in anger as well, stuffing the items from the net bag into the cupboard. Still feeling uneasy, she pointed a finger at Lin Chuxia. "These belong to me. Mother bought them for me. Don't you dare try to take them."

Chuxia didn't even look up. "Don't worry, I don't lust after things just because I see them." Whatever she desired, she would earn through her own efforts.

Jiayi’s expression soured further, remembering how she had immediately wanted the fabric she saw upon entering.

That wretched girl always acted so indifferent. She wanted to see if that arrogance would remain after she moved into the Qin household.

Chuxia’s predictions were accurate. Mother Lin went out again that afternoon and returned at dusk, carrying several items which she set down in front of her.

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

Chuxia inspected the goods; they were basic necessities like basins, thermoses, and towels. While they didn't rival Jiayi’s, they were respectable enough to prevent total embarrassment.

Even though she didn't expect much from the Qin Family, Chuxia wanted to make a decent first impression rather than starting her new life on "hard mode."

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

Late that night, while the house was silent and everyone was asleep, Chuxia seized the chance to enter her space.

She headed straight for the ancient well to drink the Spiritual Spring water before taking a bath infused with the same miraculous liquid.

Since discovering the physical benefits of the Spiritual Spring, she had used it daily and felt her strength returning.

In her previous life, though a car accident killed her, her body had already been failing. She had suffered from chronic waist and knee pain, early menopause at forty, hair loss, and a constant reliance on medication.

Now that she was back, Chuxia prioritized her health. After a period of conditioning with the water, her once brittle, yellow hair was now glossy, her malnourished skin had become soft and clear, and she felt significantly more energetic.

After her bath, she cooked a steak for herself.

She had initially been hesitant to use the villa’s resources, but she soon discovered that everything within the villa regenerated every 24 hours.

Full and satisfied, she exited the space.

... Before the wedding day arrived, the Qin and Li families came to deliver the betrothal gifts.

The group included the matchmaker, as well as Qin Yang’s brother, Qin Han, and his wife, Zhang Guilan.

Qin Han was a well-built man, roughly 1.75 meters tall, with tanned skin and sharp, handsome features.

If the brother looked like this, it was likely that Qin Yang himself was not bad-looking.

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

In her previous career, she had paid her more attractive employees a higher premium; none of her assistants or drivers were unattractive.

Appearance mattered. If Qin Yang was handsome, she could tolerate a cold personality or a bad temper, especially since he wouldn't be home often. As long as he was pleasant to look at, she could make the marriage work.