Sun Liu'er watched her mother spit and sputter as she calculated for the crowd just how much money had been spent on the dowry. She listed every item, one by one, afraid the villagers were too undiscerning to appreciate its true value. Suddenly, she remembered something Qingmu's mother had said during their argument that day: "When you're sold, we'll weigh you and see how much you cost per pound." 'Just how much am I worth per pound?' she wondered.
The married women who heard this were green with envy. Who else could afford to spend one hundred taels of Silver on a dowry? They made no attempt to hide their admiration and respect, sincerely congratulating Liu'er's mother. The flattery made her feel like she was floating on air.
