lessons, when opposite party say "cincai" quickly made up a figure and start wrote the cheque 

5k is too little bro. maybe you can negotiate to at least 6888 or 8888.

Since her family got the demand of the price, the only way to do is nego, let them know your difficulty. If u can't afford it then you should delay the process.

Her family maybe will worried for her future or scare criticize by other relative or etc. Imagine, one day ppl asked, ur daughter how much dowries? then u say 5k, then the person say " so cheap, the one who who who got 10k, ur daughter is half price oh." then how is ur feeling?

Wedding is not 2 person problem only, it involved 2 family, so her family also need spend a lot like buffet dinner, gold necklace for your wife and etc. The 10k maybe just enough to cover all those only.

Wedding is a happy ceremony, don't because of the 5k then make the things become bad. Remember! money can earn back but relationship is hard to fix.

Since the gal willing to help for the extra, then you are lucky have a understanding wife. U must understand she is the one more suffer, she is the one who in the middle, left is family ;right is husband.

Just my personal opinion.

I heard right...the older the women when she give birth, the smarter the baby will be.

Then again, there is also perceived pressure (eg my sis married 3 years earlier and no child yet)

and i think we know the first grandchild is usually the most loved right? eg the CNY angpow  is always bigger, etc.

She said something about 'if you want to marry me, this is necessary'.

Actually the contract is a recycled one, written by her grandad for her elder sister who got married 2years earlier.

Im jus thankful there is no inflation in prices