Old Liu's chest deflated suddenly as he looked toward Old Zhou, who sat across from him in silence, and he knew Old Zhou felt the same.
After all, their families had been in-laws for eight years, and he probably understood Old Zhou's temperament, knowing that Old Zhou would never just return the dowry without any compensation at all.
But giving back an identical dowry was out of the question too; it was too expensive. If they gave that as compensation, it would mean spending the equivalent of three betrothal gifts for Eldest.
Old Zhou was not inflexible. He had never expected the Liu family to be able to compensate with a dowry exactly identical to the one they brought.
In the end, after discussion, the Liu family agreed to return to Zhou Xi all of the dowry she had brought with her. The bedding and clothes had to be newly made, and beyond that, they would also have to give Zhou Xi a silver bracelet and a string of cash, as her compensation.