Chapter 003: Dowry
Mrs. Im was smiling, but Hongdu, standing beside her, was so startled by her words that his eyes widened as he stared at her. He almost couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
Seolrim, on the other side, also showed a flicker of uncertainty in her gaze, but she bit her lip slightly and remained silent.
Makri smiled faintly.
“Madam, you are quite the joker. A woman cannot be promised to two households, yet I am already betrothed to Master Yang. How could a matchmaker possibly interfere?”
“That will happen soon enough, so don’t worry,” Mrs. Im replied, lifting the corners of her mouth in a suggestive smile.
“Very well, I shall not trouble you further. I have matters at home, so I must take my leave. I’ll come again to see you properly another time. No need to see me out—go inside.”
After Mrs. Im departed, Hongdu took a moment to collect himself and whispered in disbelief,
“Miss… wh-what did that just mean?”
“Unni!” Seolrim frowned, adding her own concern.
“I overheard earlier… it seems the Yang family wants to call off the engagement.”
“What?!”
Hongdu’s eyes widened in shock.
“I’ll head inside to see Mother,” Makri said calmly. She glanced briefly at Seolrim, letting her eyelashes fall over her eyes, and then silently moved toward the small courtyard of the Joo residence. Hongdu hurriedly followed.
Seolrim stood alone at the doorway, her brows furrowed with a strange unease. For some reason, Pyo’s daughter seemed slightly different than before.
Something’s off. There’s no way she wouldn’t react at all to that news… Could it be that she hit her head while running a fever?
The Joo household was always filled with the scent of medicine.
Today marked the first time Makri had returned here after traveling through time. The familiar yet distant scent brushed against her nose, and she suddenly broke down in tears. To everyone else, it had been only three days since she last came to see Madam Joo—but to Makri, it had been a full seven years.
Madam Joo had passed away in the third year after Makri’s marriage. She had never imagined she would one day return, embrace her mother, and breathe in this scent again. Overwhelmed, tears streamed uncontrollably.
In the past three days, Madam Joo had also come to check on her and nurse her, but in her drowsy state, Makri couldn’t tell whether she was alive or already in the afterlife. Seeing familiar faces felt like dreaming or hallucinating.
But no. Mother… Mother is alive.
“Miss, please don’t be so distressed. What Pyo-nangja said isn’t even confirmed yet,” Hongdu approached cautiously, his voice low as he tried to comfort her.
Makri steadied herself, calming her racing heart, and spoke softly,
“It’s alright. Wait outside.”
Before Hongdu could respond, Hongok, the maid who had been tending to Madam Joo, came out upon hearing her voice.
“Daegonang, your body hasn’t fully recovered yet. How could you…”
“I’m fine now,” Makri said, taking a deep breath and passing by Hongok to enter the main room.
“Miss…” Hongok noticed Makri’s pale expression and glanced at Hongdu. He stepped closer, lowering his voice.
“I just saw Miss meeting Madam Im outside! I heard the Yang family wants to call off the engagement. Is that true?”
Startled, Hongok quickly looked inside and then ushered Hongdu outside.
When Makri entered, Madam Joo was just rising from her seat. Makri paused briefly, then hurried over to support her mother.
“Mother, do you need anything? I’ll fetch it for you.”
“How did you come here? I was just about to come see you when I heard you had woken up this morning—yet Madam Im came instead,” Madam Joo said, taking her daughter’s hand and seating her beside her. She examined Makri’s face and sighed, gently touching her forehead.
“Truly, the Buddha must have helped. I’m so relieved you’re fully recovered. I was so worried…”
Makri stared at her mother’s face, longing for it.
The face she missed.
The hands she missed.
The warmth she missed.
Memories of childhood naivety, ignorance, sorrow after her mother’s death, and resentment before dying all surged at once. Unable to hold back any longer, Makri wept.
“What’s wrong? Where does it hurt!?” Madam Joo exclaimed, quickly raising her hands to wipe the tears, then speaking softly with a knowing expression,
“Did you meet Madam Im on your way here?”
“Yes, I’ve already heard.”
Makri wiped away her tears and nodded.
Madam Joo gently held her hand.
“Don’t worry. That was just a passing remark. I didn’t consent, so there’s nothing to fear. Such matters cannot be overturned so easily.”
Makri’s heart ached as she noticed her mother’s deeply set eyes and slightly reddened eyelids. She grasped her mother’s frail hand and said,
“Mother, you needn’t hide anything. The Yang family has long looked down on ours, claiming we are unsuitable. Now that they’ve brought it up openly, it can’t have been a joke. Did they propose that our family’s mulberry fields be used as dowry, so the marriage can proceed?”
Madam Joo’s eyes widened in surprise.
“The Yangs said that to you?!”
As expected! Makri gritted her teeth.
It had happened before. But going back through time, it was clear that the ones coveting the mulberry fields weren’t the Yang family—they were her paternal relatives, or even Hansado himself. At first, the Yangs demanded dowry aggressively, then plotted secretly to damage her reputation. Eventually, the engagement fell apart. When her father faced troubles, relatives interfered, and Hansado helped Makri, navigating countless twists, finally securing the mulberry fields for himself. Yet that was only the first step for him to gain favor with Samnotaya.
After a pause, Madam Joo spoke slowly,
“When your grandfather left these assets, he had no choice but to sign the family regulations that Samnotaya established. If our family bears no heirs, these assets will ultimately revert to the family estate.
Makri, your father is old, and I am frail. Seol Inang had a miscarriage two years ago and has since disappeared. Some in the clan have already begun eyeing our property. A few days ago, I discussed with your father that we should prepare early. The reason those people haven’t dared speak openly is twofold: your father is still alive, and we have promised the engagement to the Yangs. That’s why your father and I plan to allocate sixty percent of the mulberry fields as your dowry.
If Seol Inang eventually bears a son, the remaining fields and shops outside will go to your younger brother. Otherwise, the shops will go to Makseol, and the remaining forty percent of the fields can go to whoever in the clan desires. No need to fuss over it. If they gain even a little, they won’t give up. The Yang family’s demand is somewhat unreasonable, but it aligns with our intentions. After all, these are things meant for you, so there’s no need to quibble.”
Makri had never known these details in the past, but now she understood everything clearly.
She gazed at her mother quietly and said softly,
“Mother, don’t rush this. It might seem like we’re desperate. If the Yang family can propose something today, who knows what they’ll demand tomorrow?”
Madam Joo’s eyes widened at her daughter’s composure, but seeing Makri’s reddened eyes, her heart tightened. She understood how the Yangs relied on power to belittle others, making life difficult. Even with a sufficient dowry in the future, the Yangs would never be satisfied.
Yet, she patted Makri’s hand with understanding.
“Rest assured. I haven’t replied yet. I must speak to your father, and Madam Yang herself must show goodwill. Even if they drag things out, they can’t postpone beyond this year. Yangmyung has already completed the customary rites last year and isn’t in mourning. Any delay would only raise suspicion, so they will worry too.”
The Yang family indeed couldn’t drag time indefinitely. With someone eager involved, they had already begun moving.
Makri lowered her gaze briefly, then smiled quietly.
“Then let’s watch patiently. Who knows what schemes the Yang family might hatch next.”
As Madam Joo paused, Makri continued swiftly,
“By the way, it’s so late—why hasn’t Seol-ah come to see you yet? Perhaps she hasn’t woken up.”
Madam Joo watched her daughter for a moment, quietly sighing inwardly.
Her daughter clearly didn’t want her to worry. Believing she was intentionally changing the subject, Madam Joo let out a silent sigh.
“Last night, I came to see you and felt a chill. By now, Seol-ah is probably giving you medicine. I also planned to come after seeing you.”
“Then I’ll go with Mother to see Grandmother as well.”
As Makri rose, Madam Joo watched her with concern. Her daughter’s gaze was clear and resolute, yet a subtle unease lingered.
Examining her smiling daughter, Madam Joo thought for a moment, then nodded and called Hongdu inside.
On the way to the elderly lady’s quarters, Makri remained mostly silent, her face slightly bowed.
Madam Joo also refrained from speaking, and only silence passed between them. When they neared the quarters, Makri suddenly asked Hongdu,
“What’s today’s date in June?”
