Qin Huairu shook her head upon hearing this and said, "Zhuzi, don't oversimplify things. Even if, as you say, He Yushui has given you all of her money, let me do the math for you. When He Yushui gets married, you, as her own brother, can't possibly let her go without a dowry, can you? She gave you nearly three thousand yuan; how much do you intend to give her back as a dowry?"
Shazhu fell silent at Qin Huairu's words. After thinking for a long while, he slowly replied, "It has to be at least five hundred yuan. After all, she is my own sister; I can't let her be looked down upon."
With a worried expression, Qin Huairu continued, "Fine, then that leaves us with thirty-five hundred yuan. Our current living expenses are twenty yuan a month, which is two hundred and forty yuan a year. Then there’s Banggen’s tuition and books, which come to about twenty yuan a year. Plus, no one can guarantee that we won't get sick throughout the year, so we must set aside at least twenty yuan for medical expenses. Add in clothing—I'll calculate twenty yuan for one set of clothes per person per year, which is hardly expensive. By this count alone, we need three hundred and forty yuan annually just for fixed costs, and that doesn't include any other possible emergencies. Furthermore, Huaihua is growing up and will need to go to school soon, and the baby in my belly will be born, which will be another significant expense. How long do you think this thirty-five hundred yuan will last? Ten years? And…
Chapter 230