Chapter 141: First Day Of The First Lunar Month
In the blink of an eye, it was the first day of the first month in the seventh year of Jian’an. Gan Ning went to the barracks early in the morning, just like previous years, celebrating the New Year together with the officers and soldiers.
The manor was also decorated with lanterns and colorful banners. Da Qiao, just like last year, distributed New Year’s rewards to the servants.
Xiao Qiao didn’t go anywhere today. She knew Gan Lang would definitely come back dead drunk, so she had to stay to take care of him.
A portable military stove was set up in the courtyard, with a medicine pot on it, bubbling away as it boiled hangover remedy soup. It not only sobered one up but also protected the stomach.
Xiao Qiao squatted nearby, fanning the fire with a fan. She would occasionally crane her neck to look toward the main gate. She was really looking forward to Gan Lang coming back drunk and flushed, so she could strip him naked just like last year. Last year she hadn’t looked closely, but today she was going to study him thoroughly.
Xiao Qiao’s heart was filled with anticipation.
At noon, Gan Ning indeed came back drunk and flushed.
He had no choice but to get drunk; the officers and soldiers took turns toasting him, and he hadn’t eaten a bite of food before collapsing.
His personal guards helped him through the manor gate. Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao hurried forward to support Gan Ning.
“A Yu, quickly help Husband into the inner hall!”
Da Qiao went to arrange hot water. Xiao Qiao smugly helped Gan Lang into the study and laid him down.
Gan Ning wasn’t completely unconscious today; he still had a bit of awareness.
“Da Qiao, pour me a cup of water. I’m dying of thirst!”
“Coming! Coming!”
Xiao Qiao brought hangover tea, held Gan Ning’s head, and fed him the tea.
After drinking the tea, Gan Ning lay down groggily again. Xiao Qiao grinned and said, “Now it’s time to slaughter the sheep. This miss will first shave the wool off you, this big-tailed sheep, until you’re smooth and clean.”
She knelt beside Gan Ning and started undoing his belt. Suddenly, she froze—a hand had reached into her skirt.
Xiao Qiao instantly blushed bright red and trembled all over. She was all talk, rich in theoretical experience, but this was her first time being touched by a man.
“No! No! Gan Lang, let go quickly.”
At this moment, Da Qiao arrived with two maidservants carrying a large bucket of hot water. Seeing her younger sister trembling badly, she immediately noticed where her husband’s hand was placed. Da Qiao was both annoyed and amused, hurriedly pulling Xiao Qiao aside and signaling her to close the door.
“Husband, I’ll wipe your body with hot water so you can sleep well.”
“Mm!” Gan Ning mumbled groggily in agreement.
Da Qiao gave her younger sister a look, and the two of them together removed Gan Ning’s clothes and covered him with a quilt. Xiao Qiao’s body was still shaking; when removing his lower garments, she was so shy she couldn’t open her eyes.
After wiping his warmed body and covering him with thick bedding, Gan Ning soon fell into a deep sleep.
The sisters cleaned up the buckets and took them out. The maid at the door carried the buckets away. Da Qiao then hugged her younger sister and said softly, “See, I was right! You’re not ready yet. Wait another two years! Once your body matures a bit more, you’ll naturally be able to accept it.”
Xiao Qiao lowered her head, on the verge of tears. “Older Sister, I’m really useless!”
“It’s nothing, very normal. Yun Qing is probably the same as you.”
Just as she said this, a maidservant ran in and said, “Madam, Miss Xu is back!”
Da Qiao was stunned. Why had Xu Wei come back?
She hurriedly went out with Xiao Qiao and indeed saw Xu Wei entering the manor wearing a cloak. Da Qiao went forward to embrace her and asked in surprise, “Yun Qing, what happened?”
Xu Wei sighed. “It’s a long story. Let’s go back to the room and talk.”
In the room, Xu Wei removed her outer garments, sat at the table, held a steaming teacup in her hands, and sipped the hot tea slowly while recounting the events of the past month.
Xiao Qiao’s eyes widened in shock. “So your grandmother is that bad?”
“A Yu!”
Da Qiao glared at her younger sister. “Don’t talk nonsense!”
Xu Wei lowered her gaze and said softly, “She’s actually not bad. She’s just very dictatorial, only considering family interests, never my feelings, and never asking if I’m willing. Patriarchs of great families are all like that.”
Da Qiao nodded and asked, “Why is she so set on marrying you to a Sun family disciple? Last time it was Sun Yi, this time Sun Kuang?”
“I heard that the Xu Family and Sun Family have a generational marriage alliance agreement. So Grandmother married from the Sun Family to the Xu Family, and the Marquis of Wu married my cousin Xu Fen, so she is determined to marry me into the Sun Family to uphold this agreement.”
Xiao Qiao said discontentedly, “They’re treating their children and grandchildren like transaction chips. Since they’ve expelled Xu Sister from the family, I think it’s a good thing—at least she doesn’t have to see their faces anymore.”
“What is your father’s attitude?” Da Qiao asked again.
“I don’t know!”
Xu Wei lowered her head. She didn’t dare mention that her father had tried to stop her from leaving. She hadn’t decided whether to tell Gan Ning about it.
“Sigh! Fathers generally always protect their daughters. Yun Qing, don’t worry. If you don’t want to leave, I’ll talk to Husband.”
“Thank you, Older Sister!”
Da Qiao suddenly thought of the charcoal basin in her husband’s study. A bit worried, she hurriedly said, “I’ll go check the study. You two keep chatting; I’ll be right back.”
There was a charcoal fire burning in the study. She had forgotten to check if a window was open. Da Qiao left in a panic.
“What’s wrong?” Xu Wei asked with a smile.
Xiao Qiao pursed her lips and said, “Gan Lang got drunk at the barracks and is sleeping in the study! She’s worried.”
“Sigh! Sister Qiao is truly a virtuous wife!”
“What’s that?”
Xiao Qiao lowered her voice and laughed, “Earlier, Gan Lang mistook me for Older Sister and actually groped me!”
“Oh! Sounds fun. Tell me about it.”
Da Qiao rushed back to the study like a gust of wind, pushed open the door, and felt a wave of heat hit her. Fortunately, there was no suffocating charcoal smell. She looked around carefully and saw that one window was open.
Da Qiao finally breathed a sigh of relief, then hurried to the sleeping couch. Seeing her husband’s even breathing and sweet sleep, her heart filled with sweetness. She leaned down and gently kissed her beloved’s face, then tucked in his bedding.
She didn’t want to leave. She instructed the housekeeper to prepare a room for Xu Wei and boil hot water for her bath.
After arranging for Xu Wei, Da Qiao sat beside her husband, picked up needle and thread, and began sewing a pair of socks. These were New Year socks she was making for her husband, almost finished.
Gan Ning woke at dusk with a splitting headache. Da Qiao hurriedly brought him ginger tea and brain-refreshing soup. After drinking the brain-refreshing soup, the pain gradually faded.
After two more sips of ginger tea, Gan Ning asked Da Qiao, “I think I heard you say earlier that Xu Wei came back?”
“Yes, she didn’t go to Kuaiji Commandery. She only went to Dantu County and stayed there for two days before coming back.”
Gan Ning’s face darkened. Xu Peng actually dared to deceive him. He asked again, “Did she say why she didn’t go to Kuaiji Commandery?”
Da Qiao nodded. “Yun Qing said her father was transferred to the Imperial Court as Censor-in-Chief and is no longer the Prefect of Kuaiji Commandery. Her father is in Dantu County and will soon go to assume his post.”
So that’s how it was. Gan Ning’s expression softened slightly. “When you were chatting with her, did she seem very upset?”
“No! I felt she was very happy and comfortable, just like coming home.”
Gan Ning breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that Xu Wei would be bullied upon returning to Jiangdong.
“Husband, shall I call her over so you can talk to her?”
Gan Ning thought for a moment and said, “Go check. If it’s inconvenient for her, forget it. If it’s convenient, have her come over.”
