My Medical Skills Give Me Experience Points

Chapter 1494 - 601: The Greedy Old Woman, The Tale of the Fisherman and the Goldfish_2

Even so, the income of an internal medicine doctor still has a ceiling.

Skilled surgeons have no cap as long as they can lead their own teams.

It’s not uncommon for top-tier surgeons in the country to earn over two million annually. But in internal medicine, reaching this number is a rarity.

The biggest advantage of internal medicine lies in prescribing medication.

However, current policies are very strict, and with strict controls on medication expenditures, many hospitals are even considering opening private pharmacies to navigate many problems. Naturally, doctors’ incomes are also affected.

Zhou Can wouldn’t reveal his true income level unless his brain was hit by a door.

Becoming a fat sheep for Su Qianqian’s uncle and aunt to fleece is less appealing than donating to disaster areas or charities.

"Five to six thousand yuan a month is not low; it’s tough for us country folks to earn even two thousand yuan a month. Besides, your salary will definitely rise in the future! Seeing a doctor is expensive, everyone says hospitals make the most money."

Su Qianqian’s aunt’s smile noticeably faded when she heard Zhou Can’s income wasn’t high.

There was a hint of disappointment in her eyes.

It seems she has adjusted her expectations, discarding her ambitious demands.

"Hospitals do make money, but not all of it goes to doctors and nurses; we’re actually no different from regular workers."

Zhou Can continued to emphasize the ’fact’ that his salary wasn’t high.

"Yeah, that’s true. Xiao Zhou, let me say a few words in advance. If I say something wrong, I hope you don’t mind."

The aunt has gathered enough information and is starting to get to the point.

"Please speak!"

Zhou Can was curious to see how much dowry she would ask for.

Before coming, he had already asked around. On this side of Su Qianqian’s family, dowries usually range from fifty thousand to one hundred thousand.

Generally, they would require the groom to buy a house, and some even require him to buy a car.

Of course, the house and car don’t belong to the bride’s family but are for the couple after marriage. It’s a guarantee for their life together post-wedding.

At the very least, they need a place to live.

Nowadays, with more men than women, the marriage market favors females.

Some young girls go back to the countryside for New Year festivals, meeting ten to twenty boys a day.

With plenty of selections, demands naturally go higher.

"We only have Qianqian as a girl, though not biologically ours, we’ve always treated her as our daughter. Her parents are gone, so we have to make decisions for her. We need to discuss our customs for marrying a daughter out."

The aunt paused, seeing Zhou Can listening seriously, then continued.

"First, Qianqian must be willing. I can tell she’s satisfied with you, or she wouldn’t bring you home. Also, we require a grand wedding for our daughter; Qianqian shouldn’t be wronged. A gold necklace, earrings, ring, and bracelet—nothing can be missing."

Higher demands usually include the groom purchasing these five gold pieces for the bride.

Some are more reasonable and considering the groom’s economic condition, might just ask for three gold pieces.

There are also foolish girls who, if they fall for the groom and their love is strong, even accept a naked marriage.

No house or car, no dowry, not even a gold ring.

Just a simple wedding to marry herself off.

Of course, such girls are rare.

Today’s girls are smart, they won’t be that foolish.

Moreover, typically the bride’s parents won’t agree.

"No problem, I promise Qianqian won’t be wronged, and the five golds will be ready."

Zhou Can agreed swiftly.

"Also, we require the groom to buy a house in the city. But since you already own one, we don’t need to discuss that. What’s left is the dowry. My son had a girlfriend last year, and the dowry was twelve point eight-eight thousand. Qianqian is so excellent and beautiful, young men line up for her; the dowry can’t be less, or it’ll lower her value."

The aunt wasn’t making exorbitant demands.

A dowry of twelve point eight-eight thousand was fully acceptable to Zhou Can.

Honestly, if Su Qianqian’s parents were still alive and treated her well, even two hundred thousand, three hundred thousand, Zhou Can would be willing.

"No problem, we’ll go with twelve point eight-eight thousand. You’ve had a hard time raising Qianqian, giving some dowry is the least we could do."

Zhou Can promptly agreed again.

The aunt smiled once more, yet her small eyes were scanning Zhou Can again.

She might be thinking, this young man doesn’t hesitate at all, doesn’t bargain.

City folks really are wealthy.

"No, no, you misunderstood me. My son’s girlfriend might not compare to Qianqian, not as pretty nor as educated; studying in university costs a lot. Sixteen point eight-eight thousand, how’s that?"

The aunt perhaps found Zhou Can’s agreement too swift, believing he must be rich.

So she directly raised it by four thousand.

To her, a country woman, four thousand is already a fortune.

"No problem, since Qianqian will have a grand wedding, adding more is the right thing to do. As you said, sixteen point eight-eight thousand."

Zhou Can was still very agreeable.

The aunt was momentarily stunned, but seeing Zhou Can agree, she was quite pleased.

"Haha, this young man seems truly fond of our Qianqian. Then it’s settled. If you want to propose to Qianqian tomorrow, prepare the money and follow custom here."

The aunt might never have even seen sixteen thousand eight hundred before.

"Alright."

Zhou Can preferred efficiency.

After all, it’s just money, sixteen to seventeen thousand is a drop in the bucket for him.

As for the five golds the aunt mentioned, Zhou Can believed that given Su Qianqian’s economic prowess, she wouldn’t care for them. Zhou Can had bought her numerous luxury items over the years.

Diamond and jade necklaces alone cost over seventy thousand.

A Cartier bracelet also reached thirty thousand.

The watches were even more expensive.

Regarding rings, young people prefer diamond rings.

At that time, Zhou Can would certainly prepare a ’pigeon egg’ for her. Of course, it would depend on her preference, mainly as long as she liked it.

...

After about twenty minutes, her uncle returned with some meat and a fish.

He entered the house saying to his wife, "I called our son, he’s taken a leave and will be back today. Perfect for us to have a reunion dinner together. Oh, tomorrow, cook extra; our son is bringing back his girlfriend."

Su Qianqian was already twenty-eight, so her uncle’s son couldn’t be too young.

She mentioned him once, saying he was about two years younger.

This year, he might be around twenty-six.

Typically, young men start dating in their twenties. Some misguided teens even start at thirteen or fourteen. Some go further, taking girls to hotels or having them sleep over at home.

Kids these days mature early.

"Can, you sit and chat with my uncle for a while; I’ll go help aunt in the kitchen."

Su Qianqian volunteered to help in the kitchen.

Wei Fang was seated alone outside.

The uncle and aunt knew she was a hired temporary driver, so they weren’t particularly friendly.

"Uncle, I just mentioned to Auntie about marrying Qianqian. Auntie brought up buying the five golds, having a house in the city, and then a dowry of sixteen point eight-eight thousand."

Zhou Can proactively brought up the subject.

After arriving here, honestly, he felt rather disappointed.

He didn’t sense any family warmth from Su Qianqian’s uncle and aunt, and Su Qianqian here felt like an outsider.

He only wanted to settle things quickly and hurry back to the city.

"What’s your opinion?"

The uncle puffed on the cigarette Zhou Can gave him, squinted his eyes, and asked his opinion.

Hearing the dowry of sixteen point eight-eight thousand, he was evidently surprised.

Since this amount greatly exceeded local dowries.

"I have no objections, willing to handle according to your and Auntie’s requirements. If it’s possible, I’d suggest this: let’s finalize the engagement now. Please have the driver as a witness so I can give you the dowry, as my work is extremely busy and I might have to rush back to the city at any time."

Zhou Can was fortunate to have prepared before coming.

He had sufficient cash on hand.

He withdrew thirty thousand from the bank and left it in the car.