I played dumb. "But it's true. You do often go for acupuncture. It's alternative medicine, isn't it? I don't know anything about it, but you do."
Queenie went red, and she pouted. "Acupuncture is just physiotherapy at the end of the day. It helps with muscle stiffness, but modern medicine is better for things like coughing."
I nodded in fake understanding. However, I knew she was just mad because I brought up her scandal. She had never dared take her parents to the 'doctor.' That kind of acupuncture would be far too much for them.

Food was served, and everyone tossed the earlier conversation aside. My father-in-law scarfed down the food like he had been starving for a month. I didn't feel like eating, though the food was certainly delicious, so I smoked instead.
Once they were done, they wiped the grease off their lips and cut to the chase. "George, my son got himself a girlfriend, and he's going to get married. The girl wants a matrimonial house and thirty grand in the bridewealth."
He argued, "She's a city girl. It's fair she wants a city house, and she doesn't need it to be under her name. Thirty grand is a bit much for the bridewealth, but she promised a bigger dowry, so I think it's a fair deal."
"I see." I nodded and huffed a ring of smoke.
"So, the money…"
I paused, looking at them innocently. "What money?"

My mother-in-law was almost simpering. "The money for the house and bridewealth. Don't worry. We just need you to fork over the money for the down payment. Queenie will handle the rest. The thirty grand is a loan, but once the girl comes back with her dowry, we'll pay you back."
She added, "And she thinks Jack's car is a bit too old, so she wants an expensive one for the marriage. You have friends who sell cars, don't you? Can you wangle one for us, free of charge? He'll be invited to the wedding. The couple will bless him."
I sneered. They wanted my money for the down payment, my wife's money for the mortgage, a loan for the bridewealth, and a free car from my friend just for an invitation to the wedding. This family was full of scammers. Professional scammers.
My wife pinched me. She wanted me to say yes, but I refused, "No."

My in-laws froze. Before they could say anything, my wife flew into a rage. "George, you bastard! You promised you'd give me anything when you proposed to me! You promised you'd treat my family like your own! All they want is money for a down payment, and you're objecting to it?"
Since Queenie was already leading the charge, her parents dropped the act. They jabbed their fingers at me. "Yeah. You're lucky you got to marry Queenie! She's a PhD holder and beautiful to boot. Do you know how many people wanted to marry her?"
They mocked, "I can't believe we let a loser like you take her. She could've married a CEO or a business owner. She could've had a ton of servants tending to her every need! You're an ungrateful bastard! You don't even appreciate our daughter! You won't even help her brother get a house!"
My mother-in-law was about to plop down onto the ground and cry bloody murder. That was what she did best, the old scammer.
I took a deep drag and squashed the cigarette butt in the ashtray. Through the smokescreen, I looked at Queenie and her family. "I didn't say I wouldn't fork over the money."