My Taoist nun girlfriend is from the Republic of China era, 1942.

Chapter 33 The Price of Marriage (Two chapters combined, not split into separate chapters)

After leaving the pet market, Lu Yuan stopped by the highest-rated veterinary hospital in the vicinity.

The doctor who treated the idiot was a man in his forties with thinning hair, wearing black-rimmed glasses, and moving slowly and methodically.

He took the listless puppy from Chen Xiaomiao's arms, checked its eyelids, squeezed its paws, and then pressed on its chest with a stethoscope.

"Don't worry, your dog is fine."

"Then why is it so wilted?"

"It's normal for a baby to be lethargic due to malnutrition and not adapting to the environment after weaning. Go back and feed them something good and observe them for two days."

The veterinarian handed the puppy back to Chen Xiaomiao, chuckling as he reminded her, "It's a husky mixed with a wolfhound. Once it recovers, you'll probably miss how quiet it is now."

The next step is to get vaccinated.

The moment the needle pierced its skin, the idiot finally reacted, letting out a symbolic "woof," twisting its body, and not even fully opening its eyes. After the injection, it shrank back into Chen Xiaomiao's arms to continue its "hibernation."

"All right."

The veterinarian deftly disposed of the syringe, tore off the vaccination record, and handed it to Lu Yuan: "Come back around this time next month for the second shot. Also, dog food, dog bed, leash, food bowl... all need to be prepared."

The pet supermarket next door has them, or you can buy them online.

Even though I know I'll be ripped off, sometimes there's no other way; online shopping takes several days anyway...

The two turned and went to the pet supermarket. The shelves were full of a dazzling array of products, and the colorful packaging bags made Chen Xiaomiao's eyes dazzled.

Lu Yuan pushed the shopping cart, tossing things into it according to the list on his phone, while Chen Xiaomiao followed closely behind, her eyes wide open.

"Lu Yuan, what...what did this dog eat?!"

She pointed to a bag of imported dog food, and the price on the label made her gasp: "That much money? That's enough to buy so much flour and pork!"

"There's nothing we can do about keeping pets in the city."

Lu Yuan teased her on purpose: "Regret it? It's not too late to go back now."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaomiao instinctively hugged the puppy in her arms tighter: "I...I'll eat less from now on, to save for it!"

When it came time to pay, the cashier's bill made Chen Xiaomiao feel another pang of pain.

"Good heavens! How many idiots are there?!"

Back home, Lu Yuan tidied up his bags and made a makeshift shelter for the idiot in a corner of the balcony.

The little guy was still listless. After arriving at his new home, he lifted his eyelids, made a couple of gurgling sounds, and then found a comfortable spot to lie down and stay still.

After lunch, Lu Yuan, as usual, sat in front of the computer working on his graduation thesis, while Chen Xiaomiao sat cross-legged next to the doghouse, teasing the idiot with her newly bought chew toy.

The little guy seemed to have regained some strength, and reached out his little paws to reach the stick that smelled of milk, which made Chen Xiaomiao smile.

"Boom boom boom——"

The sudden knocking broke the afternoon's tranquility.

Chen Xiaomiao put down her teething toy and went to the door, looking out through the peephole.

A man and a woman were standing outside the door.

The woman was around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with exquisite makeup and a well-tailored red dress that accentuated her slender figure.

The man next to him was in his early thirties, with a slightly receding hairline. He looked cheerful, but his eyes betrayed his weariness.

Chen Xiaomiao hesitated before opening the door, peeking out her small head and asking warily, "Who are you looking for?"

The man asked politely, "Hello, are you a resident on the tenth floor?"

Chen Xiaomiao was stunned for a moment before she realized that "owner" probably meant "homeowner," so she turned around and shouted towards the study: "Lu Yuan, someone is looking for you!"

Lu Yuan rushed out of his study upon hearing the voice: "Hello, is there something you need?"

"Hey young man, how are you?"

The man shook hands warmly: "Excuse me, I'm a new neighbor who just moved to the 11th floor. My surname is Zheng, and my name is Zheng Zhifeng. This is my fiancée, Gao Rong."

We're having our wedding tomorrow and were thinking of letting our neighbors know in advance. We're worried that it will be crowded and noisy, disturbing everyone's rest. We're really sorry for the inconvenience!

Zheng Zhifeng speaks very quickly, revealing the shrewdness of a businessman.

"Congratulations!" Lu Yuan said with a smile.

"thanks, thanks!"

Zheng Zhifeng took out a red envelope with the character "囍" (double happiness) and a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes from the inside pocket of his suit and stuffed them into Lu Yuan's hand.

"It's just a small token of my appreciation! I also have a favor to ask. There might be a lot of cars with guests tomorrow, and parking is tight downstairs. I wonder if I could borrow your parking space for a day?"

Lu Yuan accepted the cigarettes and red envelope: "It's nothing, it's what we should do! We're neighbors, we should help each other out. I wish you both a happy marriage and a long and happy life together!"

Beside them, Chen Xiaomiao, holding Erbaiwu, chimed in with a refined blessing: "I also wish you two a harmonious marriage, a long and happy life together, many children, and a long and blessed life!"

Her fluent Yuzhou accent startled the two men at the door, and Zheng Zhifeng immediately laughed louder: "Oh, thank you, thank you, little sister, you really know how to talk!"

Gao Rong's gaze was drawn to the fluffy little dog in Chen Xiaomiao's arms: "What an adorable puppy! Can I hold it?"

Chen Xiaomiao glanced at Lu Yuan, and seeing that he didn't object, she handed over the two hundred and fifty.

Gao Rong took it, clicking her tongue in delight: "Honey, look how cute it is! How about we get one after we get married?"

This one looks like a mixed breed. My best friend has a purebred Alaskan Malamute, it's so beautiful and adorable!

Zheng Zhifeng's smile stiffened slightly as he helplessly coaxed, "Rongrong, you're pregnant now. Keeping pets isn't very hygienic, and it's not good for the baby either."

Let's raise our baby after he/she is born and a little older, okay?

"When the time comes, you can raise whatever you want."

Gao Rong immediately frowned, and in a fit of pique, shoved the idiot back into Chen Xiaomiao's arms, then turned and walked into the elevator without a word.

"Hey, Rongrong..."

Zheng Zhifeng looked embarrassed and gave Lu Yuan a forced smile: "I'm sorry, young man, she's pregnant and a bit temperamental. Please excuse her."

After closing the door, Chen Xiaomiao hugged Erbaiwu, her little face full of confusion: "Lu Yuan, that girl's face looks really strange."

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow: "Strange?"

"Ok!"

Chen Xiaomiao nodded vigorously: "This is the first time I've ever seen such a face. The bridge of the nose is too bright, but the glabella is like it's covered by a veil. The cheekbones are also strange... I can't tell the difference at all. It's like looking at flowers through a fog. It's eerie!"

Lu Yuan scoffed, "She's had plastic surgery on her face. You'd be a fool to notice."

"Use a knife?"

"that is……"

Lu Yuan reached out and gestured on Chen Xiaomiao's face.

“There are doctors now who specialize in operating on people’s faces…” He tapped Chen Xiaomiao’s high and delicate nose: “We’ll put something here.”

He tapped her cheekbone again: "Fill this up with something."

Finally, her fingers slid down to her small chin: "It's been sharpened a bit here... Basically, it's about cutting open, adjusting, and sewing up the parts of your face that you're not happy with to make them look better. A lot of people do this now."

Chen Xiaomiao was stunned, her hair stood on end, and she tightened her grip on the idiot.

"Good heavens! Isn't this some kind of evil magic? Why would someone want to cut their face? Doesn't it hurt?"

"It will definitely hurt, and there are risks involved."

Lu Yuan said in a calm tone: "Not every woman is like you, naturally beautiful. Some of them think that as long as they get plastic surgery to become prettier, they can find a good man to marry."

Those who can afford to buy a wedding house in this neighborhood are not poor, and Gao Rong can be considered to have "successfully started" her business.

Chen Xiaomiao felt goosebumps all over her body, as if the chilling aura of "being operated on" had already touched her, and she shook her head repeatedly.

"Even if I'm ugly, I won't get a slit in my face! Besides, it's not good for a woman to be too beautiful, she'll easily attract unwanted attention..."

Lu Yuan just smiled and didn't reply.

Chen Xiaomiao's idea was somewhat of a case of speaking from a position of privilege.

She didn't grow up in modern society and never experienced the convenience and anxiety that comes with appearance, so she naturally can't understand some people's almost obsessive pursuit of their looks.

Lu Yuan took the 250 from Chen Xiaomiao's arms, gently scratched its chin, and instructed, "Alright, go to the underground garage and move that little electric scooter to make room for someone else."

"middle!"

Chen Xiaomiao responded and took the keys downstairs.

Chen Xiaomiao arrived at the underground parking garage, found her electric scooter familiarly, and pushed it to a corner to park it.

I had just dusted off my hands when I heard arguing coming from behind the corner pillar. It was the newlyweds from upstairs.

"Eighty-eight thousand?! The fee for changing one's address is eighty-eight thousand?!"

Zheng Zhifeng said impatiently, "Rongrong, why are you only bringing this up now? We're getting it done tomorrow! Didn't we agree before that 8888 would be auspicious?"

Gao Rong's voice was shrill and urgent, sounding particularly jarring in the empty garage: "My mom said that my cousin got married last year, and the bride price was 88,000 yuan. The groom gave it to her without saying a word!"

You earn so much in a year, and you're haggling over such a small amount? Do you simply not want to spend money on me?

"This isn't a matter of whether I want to or not!"

Zheng Zhifeng couldn't help but raise his voice, forcibly suppressing his anger.

“When we get married, the bride price alone will be 600,000 yuan, you want a large penthouse with a river view for the wedding, and you want the best MC, the best car fleet, the best hotel for the wedding... Isn’t everything based on your highest standards for a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ wedding?”
Now you want to buy a pet. You know your best friend's Alaskan Malamute costs over 80,000 yuan. Do you really have to get one?

"I've almost run out of my own savings and my parents' savings. Can you please have some understanding? My company is just starting out; money doesn't grow on trees!"

"What do you mean?!"

Gao Rong's voice suddenly became sharp: "My best friend's husband is willing to spend money on her, that's because he's capable. If you're so capable, why don't you let me live that kind of life too!"
I married you and bore your children, what's wrong with wanting some dignity? All my sisters got married in style and grandeur.
"You're haggling over even a small change of address fee for me! Zheng Zhifeng, do you not love me at all? Do you think I and the child aren't worth that much?"

"you……"

Zheng Zhifeng seemed to choke, his momentum vanished, leaving him only a dejected look as he was cornered against the wall.

"Rongrong, can you be reasonable? It's not that I'm reluctant, it's just that... I'm really short on money, and there's the company..."

"I do not care!"

Gao Rong interrupted him, her voice trembling with tears, yet each word clear: "Anyway, if I don't receive the 88,000 yuan red envelope from my mother's side tomorrow, I won't go through with the wedding!"
As for the pet, you can decide what to do with it! At worst... at worst, I'll just abandon the child!

The last sentence carries a desperate, all-or-nothing intensity.

A deathly silence fell behind the pillar.

Chen Xiaomiao covered her mouth, barely daring to breathe; the string of numbers made her heart pound.

Six hundred thousand? Eighty-eight thousand? And a dog for eighty thousand?
Good heavens, nowadays, does getting married mean emptying your savings and having to shoulder debts for generations?

"well……"

Zheng Zhifeng's voice finally rang out again, hoarse and hoarse, as if he had completely resigned himself to his fate.

"I'll think of something... Rongrong, don't be angry, it's not good for the child... I'll go get the money right now..."

Footsteps sounded, heavy and dragging, fading into the distance.

Chen Xiaomiao lingered behind the pillar for a while longer, until she was sure everyone had left, before rushing back to the elevator lobby, her heart still pounding wildly.

Back upstairs, Lu Yuan was sitting cross-legged next to the doghouse on the balcony, teasing the idiot who was finally showing some energy.

Chen Xiaomiao sat down next to Lu Yuan, tossed the keys aside, and her face was still a little pale.

"Lu Yuan, I was downstairs just now, and I heard those two newlyweds arguing..."

She recounted the events haltingly, and finally concluded with lingering fear, "Tell me, how could that girl be so heartless!"

Lu Yuan just smiled after hearing this, continuing to tease the idiot, and asked in return, "You think it's that woman's fault?"

"That's for sure!"

Chen Xiaomiao said matter-of-factly, "She's too vain. She even uses her own unborn child to scare people. She has no sense of responsibility as a mother at all!"

"I think the guy deserved it."

"What?"

"First of all, he took that woman too seriously. He was easily fooled by a few sweet words and agreed to anything without considering his own limitations."

Secondly, he couldn't control his spending and got her pregnant before marriage. If it weren't for this 'child,' he wouldn't be so completely at his mercy today, forced to grit his teeth and pay that 88,000 yuan.

Most importantly, if he hadn't gotten married, he wouldn't have had so much trouble.

Chen Xiaomiao seemed to understand but not quite, and her brows furrowed slightly.

As a traditional, feudal woman, she completely disagreed with Lu Yuan's view that "there will be no trouble if you don't get married."

It is a man's natural duty to get married, establish a career, and carry on the family line. How can he not get married just because he is afraid of the trouble?
Looking at the brand-new doghouse and food bowl on the balcony, and the 250 yuan she spent on the dog, and then thinking about the astronomical figure she had just heard, Chen Xiaomiao suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

More than half a month has passed, and he has also spent a lot of Lu Yuan's money. Compared with Gao Rong, he is simply like the pot calling the kettle black.

She remained silent for a long time, then suddenly leaned close to Lu Yuan and said hesitantly, "Lu Yuan, could you talk to that Boss Dong and say that my calligraphy is almost done? Could you give me more work?"

Lu Yuan was taken aback: "What's wrong? Are you short of money lately?"

"no……"

Chen Xiaomiao's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a strong sense of seriousness.

"I want to save up more money so I can help you get married!"

(End of this chapter)