115: A larger dowry is considered more sincere.

The group walked out of the Residential Complex building. Liu Tianbao had originally been trailing lazily at the back, but when he saw Chen Li actually open the door of the Audi, he stood bolt upright as if he'd been electrocuted.

The phone in his hand slid into his pocket with a 'clatter,' and the intense sounds of battle from his game came to an abrupt halt.

"Wow, an Audi!" He rushed to the car in a few strides, circling it like a child who had just seen a new toy.

He carefully reached out to touch the smooth car paint, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Brother-in-law, your car is just too cool!"

Standing behind them, Mr. Liu and Mrs. Liu exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.

They hadn't expected Chen Li to be driving an Audi; this car must be worth at least several hundred thousand, right?

It seemed that this Chen Li was much wealthier than they had imagined. Asking for only a two-hundred-thousand bride price earlier was likely too little.

This thought filled her with a pang of regret, but her gaze toward Chen Li became even more eager.

"Brother-in-law," Liu Tianbao said, rubbing his hands together with a fawning smile, "Could you let me take it for a spin? Just a quick loop around the Residential Complex will do!"

"No!" Before Chen Li could answer, Liu Nansheng immediately interrupted firmly, "You don't even have a driver's license, what are you trying to drive?"

Liu Nansheng knew this useless younger brother of hers too well; he just wanted to show off the luxury car in front of his friends.

She turned to Chen Li, signaling him with her eyes not to agree under any circumstances.

He was certainly going to listen to Liu Nansheng, and deep down, he didn't like people like that—the type who exuded an air of being spoiled rotten.

Besides, this car belonged to Meng Yu. Lending it to a novice without a driver's license? That was just asking for trouble.

If an accident happened and Meng Yu got involved, the trouble would be huge.

Seeing her son get rejected, a flash of displeasure crossed Mrs. Liu's face, but she quickly put on a smile: "Oh my, Tianbao, you're being too unreasonable. You don't have a license, why would you want to drive?"

That was what she said, but internally, she was secretly keeping score: when it came time to discuss the marriage, she would definitely make Chen Li buy a car for their precious son, otherwise, this marriage wouldn't be happening smoothly.

...

Under Mr. Liu's guidance, Chen Li drove the car to the locally renowned Ruihua Restaurant.

This was a place he had only heard of but had never stepped foot in; rumor had it that a single dish here cost as much as an average person's wages for several days.

Mr. Liu, familiar with the place, went to the front desk to book a private room, and the group followed a waiter through the exquisitely decorated lobby.

Inside the private room, the mahogany round table and leather chairs exuded luxury everywhere.

As soon as they were seated, the waiter handed over a thick menu.

Mrs. Liu grabbed the menu and looked at Chen Li with a beaming smile: "Xiao Li, what would you like to eat?"

While she asked this, her hand was tightly clutching the menu, with no intention of handing it to Chen Li at all.

"I'm easy, you guys go ahead and order," Chen Li said, maintaining a polite smile, though he shook his head inwardly.

Liu Nansheng looked at Chen Li awkwardly, her eyes full of apology.

From the moment Chen Li stepped into her home, her parents' behavior had disappointed her time and time again.

At this moment, she just wished for this meal to end quickly; the suffocating atmosphere was becoming unbearable.

The three members of the Liu family huddled around the menu, pointing and choosing, while the waiter hurriedly recorded their order.

They specifically ordered expensive signature dishes, seafood, and delicacies, as if they wanted to taste every expensive dish in the restaurant.

From beginning to end, no one thought to pass the menu to Chen Li or Liu Nansheng.

This blatant disregard made Liu Nansheng feel mortified; her parents weren't even willing to keep up basic appearances anymore.

The dishes were served quickly, almost filling the entire round table.

Mrs. Liu enthusiastically busied herself: "Come, come, come... eat up, Xiao Li, you guys eat too, these are all the signature dishes here."

As she spoke, she skillfully placed the only steamed Lobster on the table into her son's bowl.

Chen Li was already unfazed by this.

Watching the Liu parents' doting on their son, and then looking at the neglected Liu Nansheng, he couldn't help but wonder if she was actually their biological daughter.

Having eaten and drunk her fill, Mrs. Liu set down her chopsticks, a forced smile spreading across her face: "Xiao Li, about the bride price, we've thought about it. As for how much you can give, that's up to you according to your ability."

Liu Nansheng suddenly raised her head, looking at her mother in disbelief.

"You know, we only have one daughter, and we've raised her through all sorts of hardships for twenty-two years. Now that she's getting married, we do have a requirement for the bride price: at least five hundred thousand."

Mrs. Liu paused, then added: "Of course, after you get married, we will return this money to you. We mainly just want to see your attitude and sincerity."

Mr. Liu sat on the side, secretly admiring his wife's cleverness—asking for five hundred thousand first; whether they returned it or not would be up to them, right?

"Mom, you're going too far!" Liu Nansheng could no longer hold it in.

"Xiao Nan, is that any way to speak? Your mother is doing this for your own good!" Mr. Liu scolded sternly.

"Exactly, Sis," Liu Tianbao said, his mouth stuffed with food, speaking indistinctly, "Brother-in-law is already driving an Audi, five hundred thousand shouldn't be anything for him, right?"

Chen Li remained silent; he could feel that Liu Nansheng was on the verge of an outburst.

His purpose was entirely for Liu Nansheng; as for those three selfish people, he didn't care at all.

Just as Liu Nansheng was about to speak again, the door to the private room was suddenly pushed open.

A man in his thirties with slightly dark skin appeared at the door. He was wearing a tight-fitting polo shirt and had a gold chain hanging around his neck.

"Oh, Xiao Wu is here, come in and sit!" Mrs. Liu immediately greeted him enthusiastically.

It turned out that on the way there, she had quietly contacted Wu Li, with the intention of making the two men bid against each other—whoever offered the higher bride price would get her daughter.

"Let me introduce you, this is Wu Li, a repair shop owner. Xiao Nan, hurry up and call him Brother Li," Mrs. Liu busied herself enthusiastically.

Under Mrs. Liu's introduction, when Wu Li's gaze fell upon Liu Nansheng, he was completely stunned.

He had originally thought that the "pretty daughter" Mrs. Liu spoke of was just standard polite flattery, but seeing her with his own eyes now, he finally understood what it meant to be breathtakingly beautiful.

The girl before him had fair skin and delicate features that looked as if she had stepped out of a painting, especially those eyes—clear yet carrying a hint of aloofness, which only made her temperament seem more outstanding. As she sat there quietly, she made it impossible for people to look away.

"If I could marry this one and bring her home..."

Wu Li swallowed unconsciously, his mind already beginning to imagine the scene of taking such a beauty to attend a gathering with his friends.

His buddies would surely be envious to death—such a young and beautiful wife couldn't be found anywhere else in the entire county.

Just thinking about it made him feel like he had face.

Once this thought arose, it grew wildly like weeds.

He secretly made up his mind: no matter how much money it took, he had to get this woman.

Such a top-tier girl; if he missed out, he would never encounter another one like her.

Mrs. Liu took in Wu Li's infatuated expression, and she was overjoyed.

She deliberately gave a light cough to interrupt Wu Li's reverie: "Xiao Wu, please, have a seat."

She cleared her throat and said with feigned regret: "Xiao Wu, this is Chen Li, currently our Xiao Nan's boyfriend. He's offering a five-hundred-thousand bride price! I'm really sorry; I called you over just to apologize to you in person. After all, as parents, we have to consider our daughter. A higher bride price shows more sincerity, don't you think?"