"The money... didn't I give it all to you? Why do you need more?" Dai Yingyue asked, looking puzzled.

"It's Manman."

"Manman?"

A sense of unease settled over Dai Yingyue. "What's wrong with her?"

"Manman is demanding an alighting fee of six points, sixty-six mites, and sixty-six farthings. She says she won't get out of the car until she gets it."

"What?" Dai Yingyue's voice rose sharply. "Didn't we already agree to add Two Cents to the bride price? Why is she demanding more now?"

"She says the bride price is the bride price, and this is the alighting fee. Not a single point can be missing! Mom, you have to think of something fast, we're already downstairs."

Dai Yingyue hesitated. "This... wait a moment! Mom will think of something."

"Okay, then hurry up."

After hanging up, Zheng He turned to Kong Man. "Manman, don't worry. My mom is working on it, and the money will be here soon. It doesn't do us any good to just sit here, so why don't we go upstairs first?"

Kong Man immediately shook her head.

Going upstairs is out of the question. The money hasn't arrived yet.

She spoke at once. "You know I'm not doing this for the money. After today, we'll be family, and my money will be your money. I just want to see your family's attitude toward me."

Zheng He was rendered speechless. Unsure of what to do, he glanced at his friends, only to find they had all turned away. He scratched his head, completely stumped.

「On the other side」

After hanging up, Dai Yingyue thought for a moment and redialed the number.

BEEP... BEEP... BEEP...

The call connected almost instantly, which surprised Dai Yingyue. She had expected to have to call at least a dozen times.

She asked urgently, "Hello, darling?"

"What is it? Do you need money again?" Zheng Jin's voice came from the other end of the line.

Dai Yingyue ignored her tone. "It's about your brother. He's getting married, and they've arrived downstairs, but Manman is demanding an alighting fee of six points, sixty-six mites, and sixty-six farthings. Do you have any..."

Dai Yingyue didn't finish, but her meaning was clear.

Zheng Jin replied calmly, "I have money."

Dai Yingyue's face lit up, but before she could speak, Zheng Jin continued, "However, I won't give you a single point."

"You ungrateful girl!" Dai Yingyue exploded. "That's your own brother! Can you really bear to see him remain a bachelor for the rest of his life?"

"I can bear it," Zheng Jin said indifferently. "It's the same old tune over and over. Can't you come up with something new?"

"You... you!" Dai Yingyue was so angry she was at a loss for words.

Zheng Jin had already hung up.

Dai Yingyue began to curse loudly. "That damned, wasteful woman! She's grown wings! How dare she hang up on me..."

「Meanwhile」

Zheng Jin had already arrived downstairs and was looking at her brother's wedding car from a distance. She didn't approach, instead quietly heading upstairs. She had returned this time to make a clean break.

Down by the wedding car, the groom's party was growing restless and confused.

"What's going on?"

"Yeah, they're already here. Why aren't they going up?"

"I've been starving all day. I was hoping to finish early and get to the feast."

"I just went to see. It looks like the bride is demanding an alighting fee. She won't get out of the car without it."

"Wow, this lady's a real prize."

"I heard her family has a history of doing this. Looks like karma."

「In the apartment」

Zheng Jin opened the door and entered.

Dai Yingyue had just ended a call with a relative and was cursing under her breath. "Damn it! It's just a small loan. Why is everyone avoiding me like the plague..."

CLICK.

Hearing the door, Dai Yingyue instinctively turned her head. Seeing Zheng Jin, her expression instantly changed in a theatrical display of affection. "Oh, my girl, you're back! Are you hungry? Are you tired?"

Zheng Jin saw right through it. "No need to be so hypocritical. You were probably cursing me just a second ago."

Dai Yingyue fell silent, clearly embarrassed.

Zheng Jin ignored her, grabbed her suitcase, and started toward her room, but Dai Yingyue immediately blocked her path.

"What are you doing?"

"Packing my things," Zheng Jin's voice remained cold.

"Why are you packing?" Dai Yingyue watched her warily.

"I'm moving to another city. Move aside."

"I won't." Hearing that Zheng Jin was really packing to leave and abandon them, Dai Yingyue couldn't bear to part with this cash cow. So she stood her ground, blocking the way.

Zheng Jin's expression didn't change. "You just want the alighting fee, right? Fine, I'll give it to you."

"Really?" Dai Yingyue's heart filled with joy. "You truly are my good daughter! Quick, give me the money, they're still waiting downstairs."

Zheng Jin took an envelope out of her bag. "There are seven points in here."

Hearing this, Dai Yingyue instinctively tried to snatch it, but Zheng Jin pulled her hand back, dodging the grab.

"I can give it to you, but you have to agree to one condition."

"Forget one condition, Mom would agree to ten! You just don't want me asking you for money anymore, right? No problem! As long as your brother gets married, we promise we won't ask you for money again!"

Anyway, she's said this who knows how many times. She promised last time, but didn't she obediently give me money this time, too? I'll just go back to asking for more later. Dai Yingyue was already used to this cycle.

Zheng Jin obviously knew what she was thinking. She shook her head. "Not that. Just sign this, and the money is yours."

Saying so, she produced a piece of paper.

Dai Yingyue looked it over, and her face darkened. "What is the meaning of this? You want to sever our relationship?"

"Exactly," Zheng Jin nodded seriously. "Sign it, and I'll give you the money. If you don't, you won't get a single cent from me."

"You!" Dai Yingyue's teeth itched with anger, but in the end, she gave in. "Fine! I'll sign!"

She scribbled her name, pressed her thumbprint on the paper, and, grabbing the money, ran out the door. "Hehe! Son, your alighting fee is here!"

Watching Dai Yingyue's retreating figure, Zheng Jin felt a wave of desolation.

From beginning to end, her mother's eyes only held her son and money. She would even sign away their relationship for it. Truthfully, if Dai Yingyue had shown even a shred of regret just now, I would have given her the money anyway. But now…

Zheng Jin silently put the document away and went back to her room to start packing.

「Downstairs」

Zheng He was seething, kicking at the trees by the roadside.

Just then, Dai Yingyue came running down, clutching the envelope. "Son! The alighting fee is here! The alighting fee is here!"

Hearing this, Zheng He's face lit up. He took the envelope from her hands. When he saw the money inside was real, he was overjoyed.

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