Chapter 179: Brief Parting And Reunion
Gan Ning did not go to the government office, but returned home directly. Da Qiao was already waiting for him at the door with her two younger sisters.
Gan Ning got off the carriage, and Da Qiao happily came forward to greet him, curtsying.
“Welcome home, husband!”
Xiao Qiao and Xu Wei also followed behind and curtsied. Both were a bit embarrassed, but their bright, sparkling big eyes shone with joy.
Gan Ning held Da Qiao’s hand and smiled at the three of them. “It’s windy outside. Let’s go back to the residence!”
Gan Ning held Da Qiao’s hand and walked ahead, followed by Xiao Qiao and Xu Wei. Both were taller than Da Qiao, slender and graceful, silently following.
Gan Ning turned back and smiled at the two. “I prepared gifts for you too.”
“What are they?” Xiao Qiao’s eyes lit up as she blurted out.
“They’re definitely things you’ll like.”
Gan Ning smiled and asked Xu Wei, “Aren’t you looking forward to it?”
Xu Wei smiled with pursed lips and nodded. In her heart, she liked anything Gan Lang gave her.
Back at the rear residence courtyard gate, Da Qiao smiled at her two younger sisters. “Should you go back on your own, or come in and chat a bit more?”
Xiao Qiao was about to say to go in together, but Xu Wei pulled her and smiled. “It’s too late. Gan Lang has had a long journey and needs to rest early!”
Xu Wei gently tugged Xiao Qiao. “Let’s go!”
Xiao Qiao had no choice but to pout as she was pulled away by Xu Wei. Da Qiao smiled. “Yun Qing is much more sensible than Xiao Qiao. Husband, let’s go in!”
Gan Ning put his arm around her waist and entered the courtyard gate.
“Yun Qing, why were you in such a hurry to pull me back? It’s just getting dark; it’s still early!”
“You! You really have no eye for this. If Older Sister really wanted us to come in, would she ask? It’s a reunion for the couple after a short separation. We shouldn’t be a bother.”
“What! He is my husband too! And yours! Why can’t we reunite with our husband?”
Xu Wei gently patted her hand. “What is yours will always be yours. Life is just a few decades; it doesn’t matter to miss this moment.”
“You—fine! Fine! In Gan Lang’s words, we won’t go be that… that light bulb.”
“You finally get it!”
Xu Wei held her hand as they walked back to the courtyard. Laughter from the two echoed in the courtyard.
“What is a light bulb?”
“I don’t know either! Probably some kind of lamp!”
In the study, Gan Ning and Da Qiao embraced tightly, kissing for a long time. After an unknown while, the female guard Sang Ye in the courtyard saw the study still dark and grew worried. She couldn’t help asking, “Madam, can’t you find the lamp?”
Da Qiao quickly separated from her husband and said hurriedly, “It’s fine! It’s fine! Found it.”
She gave her husband a glare, then hurriedly lit the lamp.
Gan Ning had her take off her outer garments and smiled. “We haven’t bathed for several days. Prepare a bucket of hot water! Let’s bathe together.”
“But… I already bathed during the day.”
Gan Ning smiled faintly. “It’s different. Bathing alone isn’t as fun as bathing together as husband and wife.”
Da Qiao shyly glanced at him. “I know. The hot water is already prepared. But drink a cup of hot tea first, then we’ll bathe.”
Da Qiao hurried off. Gan Ning sat down in his seat and finally let out a long breath. The feeling of being home was truly wonderful.
After Da Qiao and her husband finished bathing, the two embraced and returned to the bedroom, slipping directly under the warm covers. A short separation was better than a new marriage; they were entwined all night.
The next morning, Da Qiao arranged for the maidservants to set out breakfast. Gan Ning heard her still instructing to cook the porridge thicker, so he waved his hand and smiled. “A Zhu, come here!”
Da Qiao sat beside her husband and smiled. “What does husband want?”
Gan Ning tapped the desk with his knuckles to remind her. “You are the madam, not the female butler. Don’t personally oversee everything.”
Da Qiao held the back of her husband’s hand and smiled charmingly. “I don’t oversee everything. I only manage husband’s matters. I am husband’s housekeeper.”
Gan Ning hugged her and laughed. “You really are a housekeeper. But I like a beautiful housekeeper like you.”
“Oh! Oh! Oh! Wasn’t last night’s affection enough? Being all lovey-dovey first thing in the morning.”
Gan Ning and Da Qiao turned around to see Xiao Qiao and Xu Wei standing behind them.
“Sit down! When I marry you later, I guarantee I won’t make others feel lovey-dovey in the morning.”
Xiao Qiao pouted indignantly and sat across from them. “No way! In the future, you must treat me even better and be even more affectionate!”
Gan Ning saw how cute she looked angry and said to Xu Wei, “Sit next to me and tease her more.”
Xu Wei smiled with pursed lips and sat beside Xiao Qiao. “I won’t accept an invitation without sincerity. Qiao Sister, right?”
Da Qiao smiled and said, “Let’s eat breakfast! Sisters, we can talk quietly later.”
Xiao Qiao sat in silence. Da Qiao gently nudged her husband with her foot, poured a little vinegar into his plate, and gave her husband a meaningful look.
What being jealous meant was something her husband had taught her.
Gan Ning understood and smiled at Xiao Qiao. “I’m resting today, A Yu. Later, I’ll accompany you all to go shopping.”
Xiao Qiao finally cheered up. “I need to buy some rouge. Let’s go to the rouge shop. By the way, where are the gifts from Gan Lang? Yun Qing and I waited all night.”
Gan Ning chuckled. “After breakfast, we’ll look at the gifts, then go shopping.”
Gan Ning’s shopping was not walking on the street, but riding slowly in a carriage on the street, admiring the street scenes on both sides through the carriage window.
Compared to the wide and solemn streets of Nanchang County, Chaisang’s streets were slightly narrower but full of commercial atmosphere. Various shops lined the streets, with a dazzling array of goods from north and south. Large quantities of goods piled up at shop entrances. Especially with New Year just a month and a half away, crowds surged and business was exceptionally good.
“Open the window and it’s cold; close it and you can’t see anything!” Xiao Qiao complained softly.
The four sat in a spacious carriage, specially prepared by Gan Ning for Da Qiao and his two unmarried beautiful wives. The carriage was custom-made, with walls of two layers of one-inch-thick qinggang wood sandwiching a thin iron plate in between, extremely sturdy and able to withstand shots from the Great Yellow Crossbow.
The carriage interior was not extravagantly luxurious but very warm and comfortable. It was laid with thick, soft blankets below, walls lined with pure solid wood emitting pine fragrance, fumigated with no insects. There was a small desk in front of the window and thick cushions behind. At the back was a discreetly designed bathroom, well-sealed with no odor even in summer.
In spring or summer, one could open the windows and draw thin gauze curtains to enjoy the street view. But now it was mid-November, early winter; opening the windows let in cold wind.
Gan Ning thought for a moment and smiled. “If A Yu hadn’t said it, I wouldn’t have realized the issue. No problem, it can be solved.”
“Using crystal?” Xu Wei asked with a smile.
Coming from a prestigious family, she was well-informed and knew that the imperial palace used high-quality transparent crystal instead of glass for windows.
Gan Ning nodded. “I have some ready-made!”
At this time, the carriage slowly stopped. The rouge shop had arrived.
They went to the VIP room on the second floor. The female shopkeeper was a beautiful woman around thirty, personally receiving the three distinguished guests. Gan Ning held a teacup and stood by the window, silently watching the street outside.
Da Qiao glanced at her husband standing by the window and slowly walked over.
“I’ve neglected husband!” Da Qiao said apologetically.
“No! You go pick things. I’ll look at the street view here.”
Da Qiao smiled. “I’m here to keep them company too. I actually don’t need anything.”
Gan Ning gently put his arm around her shoulders and smiled. “Then we’ll keep them company together!”
“Good!” Da Qiao happily leaned against her husband, pointing at the street view and chatting softly.
Xu Wei quietly glanced at them, then changed her position, just blocking Xiao Qiao’s view of the window.
