Zhan Zeyi looked at the dowry chests that Tang Qiyue had opened, his expression unreadable.
He knew the Tang family was wealthy, but he had never expected them to tamper with Tang Qiyue's dowry chest—especially in such a blatant and straightforward way.
"Is your father seriously ill?" he asked.
No wonder Zhan Zeyi had been critical of Tang Qiyue's father. A normal person wouldn't tamper with a dowry chest, especially without informing the owner.
Tang Qiyue nodded. "He is mentally unstable. I've always wondered why he and my stepmother, who both dislike me, would give me so much dowry. The key is that I examined the items last night—they're all just for show, not practical at all."
Tang's mother owned a clothing shop, so Tang Qiyue had been exposed to fabrics and materials from an early age. While she might not be an expert on every type of fabric, she certainly understood quality—and she hadn't expected her dowry chest to be filled with such low-end fabrics.
Of course, it wasn't all fabric; there were also some ordinary pots and pans—items suitable for a common family's daughter. But this meager dowry was stored in a chest made of the hardest and heaviest sandalwood, according to her father.
Sandalwood!
Using a sandalwood chest to store junk? Was her father out of his mind?
It certainly fit her father's character of prioritizing appearances over substance—but Tang Qiyue wasn't naive. Something about her father insisting she marry a poor soldier didn't sit right with her.
Zhan Zeyi had a military rank, and even if a former superior had acted as matchmaker, that person was just a connection, not his biological father. Some things became obvious with a little thought.
Tang Qiyue hadn't initially considered this, but such a large sandalwood chest was very heavy.
She tapped on the chests, but the sound felt off. However, because Zhan Zeyi had suddenly returned, she didn't have time to investigate further. On a whim, she had decided to open the dowry chests.
"You really didn't know these dowry chests were filled with gold?" Zhan Zeyi's expression was serious. Even ignoring his abdominal injury, he squatted down to examine the chests closely.
Tang Qiyue hadn't opened all the chests, but Zhan Zeyi could tell that nearly every one of them was filled.
Tang Qiyue smiled bitterly. "If I'd known, do you think I would have told you?"
She had suspected her father might have hidden gold or silver in the chests, but she hadn't expected such a massive quantity.
There were twelve dowry chests in total, almost blocking an entire wall of the room. Unless someone forcibly removed them, no one would have guessed they were filled with treasure.
How much gold was that? The Tang family must have depleted a large portion of their reserves to prepare these chests.
"My father didn't mention any of this on the dowry list, nor did he verbally remind me," Tang Qiyue muttered.
At first, she couldn't tell if her father was being generous or shrewd. Zhan Zeyi said, "Your father is clever. He doesn't tell you anything. If he ever needs something, he just asks to borrow a dowry chest. Can you refuse?"
A dowry chest is meant for a married-out daughter, after all. Most daughters wouldn't treasure it much, but Tang Qiyue wouldn't throw it away, especially since it was made of sandalwood. And because it was part of her dowry, her husband's family wouldn't covet it—they would likely just keep it at home.
Her father was gambling, yes—but he clearly understood human nature.
Tang Qiyue's lips curled into a sarcastic smile. She had thought of using the trading system to exchange everything secretly, but now that Zhan Zeyi had seen it, she couldn't hide it.
"Since my father is just gambling, I'll donate all my dowry. He can just suffer in silence."
Tang Qiyue was decisive. Once she decided, she didn't hesitate.
Zhan Zeyi was stunned. He hadn't expected her to be so firm..
"Are you sure? This isn't a small amount. It's enough for your family to live comfortably for a long time!"
Even someone as strong-willed as Zhan Zeyi was shaken by the sight of all that gold.
Tang Qiyue nodded. "I will only donate it to your troops. You can use this gold for food or equipment, but it's only for you."
She was petite, yet Zhan Zeyi didn't underestimate her. She knew how to bind him, and he was confident she wouldn't misuse the gold..
"If you insist, I'll arrange it. Just don't regret it after I move the chests."
Zhan Zeyi wasn't worried about resting. With the chests at home, visitors coming daily, it would be too risky to delay. He had to handle them immediately.
He approached Tang Qiyue, bending slightly to meet her gaze. His tone sounded like a question, but it was also a careful scrutiny.
Tang Qiyue clenched her fists. "I won't regret it. But can you give me some money
instead? I gave all the money I extorted from my father to Xiaoyuan. I don't have anything on hand, and if I go with the army, I'll need to buy supplies."
Zhan Zeyi hadn't expected this. He stared at her for a long moment, then pulled a wad of cash from his jacket pocket.
"This is my advance salary. I originally planned to give it to my mother, but now that the family is separated, she won't accept it. Use it as you see fit."
Even though she wasn't the wife he had wanted, Mother Zhan had accepted her, and he couldn't turn back. With the chest of gold scattered on the floor, breaking off the engagement was impossible.
A man's responsibility was to provide, no matter who the wife was.
Zhan Zeyi was decisive. Seeing Tang Qiyue hesitate, he simply placed the money in her hand.
"I'm calling my old leader. Two comrades came with me for this family visit. I'll deal with these chests tonight."
He instructed Tang Qiyue to hide the opened chests before leaving.
Sitting on the bed, Tang Qiyue stared at the money in her hand. After a long pause, she counted it: over 180 yuan.
At the time, an ordinary worker earned about 30 yuan a month. 180 yuan wasn't a huge sum, but it represented half a year's income for many families. Clearly, Zhan Zeyi had advanced three months' salary.
Tang Qiyue stuffed the money into her pocket, let out a heavy sigh, and looked at the chests with a bitter laugh.
Using so much gold to ensure a stable life for her younger brother and mother—her scumbag father should pay for this.
After some self-consolation, Tang Qiyue remembered what she could take with her to the army. She had to properly organize her dowry boxes.
Just as she rolled up her sleeves to get started, a notification popped up from the
system: there were items available for trade.