He said nice things, but he had no intention of doing anything for me.
My father's face immediately turned red with anger before he barked, “What do you mean by that? Go ask anyone with common sense, where do marriage gifts come from?
“The gifts and dowry are a woman's premarital property. And now, right after the engagement, you're already asking for money?
“Do you truly want to marry my daughter, or are you just here to drain our blood and strip our family clean?”
My mother also looked upset by this conversation.
Seeing the relatives around her talking, Rod’s mother could no longer sit still and argued, “Mr. Dudley, you don't have to say such harsh words, right?
“Every place has its own customs. In my hometown, money is managed by men. My income over the years has been with my husband and nothing has happened.
“Besides, the dowry and betrothal gifts are childbirth subsidies for the woman. Don't bully us rural people because we don't know the law. Can your daughter give birth? What subsidy do you need?
“Your daughter was born disabled. My family is already indebted to our ancestors by marrying her. You should give the money to my son as a guarantee.”
Rod’s father also echoed hurriedly, “Yes, your daughter can't have children. If she cheats on her husband and gets divorced in 20 years, my son will be past his best childbearing age. Who will you let him find in the future?
“In my opinion, this money must be used as compensation for my son. Even if your daughter runs away, my son won't have to live out his life alone.”
My father was so angry that he covered his chest and my mother stood up immediately to sneer, “It's not the first day your son has known about my daughter's affairs. He had previously said that the money would be in my daughter's hands. Now that they are getting engaged, you are turning your back on us, right?
“It's not like my daughter can't get married. Do you think my family has to rely on your son? Your son is a loser who doesn't even have a stable job. It's a blessing for your family that my daughter likes him.
“All the gifts and dowry must be given to my daughter. There is no room for negotiation. If you don't agree, don't get married. I will take my daughter back now!”
His mother kept calling me disabled, which was just rubbing salt into my wounds.
I could not help but question Rod, “Didn't you say you wouldn't mention this? It's fine if your parents knew, but what do you mean by saying it in public now?
“Your work was arranged by my family, so what is this now? I just want to ask you one question, did you discuss today's matter with your parents?”
Rod's face darkened and his tone became a little impatient, “We’ll be family from now on, so there’s no need to keep secrets between us.
“Besides, once we’ve been married for a few years without children, it’ll be impossible to hide it anyway. It’s better they know now than wonder later.
“My parents are doing this for our own good, aren't they? You are the only daughter in your family. When your parents are gone, won't all the money be yours?
“This dowry is a drop in the bucket for your family, but it's something my family could never earn in a lifetime.
“I’ve already taken a lot of blame for your infertility and I'm just asking your family to give me some money. You can't be so stingy, right? Who can I go to for justice if my family's descendants are cut off?”
When I looked straight at the man in front of me, I almost did not know him.
When we first met, he took the initiative to pursue me. So, I immediately confessed my secret of being infertile.
He said he did not care and only wanted to live in a world of two people from that moment on.
He also said he would keep the secret for me.
At worst, he could take the initiative to get sterilized after marriage and tell others that he was infertile.
But when facing reality, everything had changed.
The wounds that I exposed when we were in love became the sharp knife that he used to stab me.
“Rod, are you still a man? What qualifications do you have to say these things to me?”
