Tiger Owl

Chapter 179 Reunion After a Short Separation

Gan Ning did not go to the government office, but returned home directly. Da Qiao and her two younger sisters were already waiting for him at the door.

Gan Ning alighted from the carriage, and Da Qiao happily stepped forward to greet him, offering a deep bow.

"Welcome home, my husband!"

Xiao Qiao and Xu Wei followed behind and bowed. Both of them were a little embarrassed, but their bright eyes sparkled with joy.

Gan Ning grasped Da Qiao's hand and smiled at the three of them, saying, "It's windy outside, let's go back to the manor!"

Gan Ning led the way, holding Da Qiao's hand, followed by Xiao Qiao and Xu Wei, both of whom were taller and slimmer than Da Qiao, and followed silently.

Gan Ning turned to the two of them and smiled, "I've also prepared gifts for you."

"What is it?" Xiao Qiao's eyes lit up, and she blurted out the question.

"It's definitely something you'll like."

Gan Ning smiled and then asked Xu Wei, "Aren't you looking forward to it?"

Xu Wei smiled and nodded. In her heart, she liked anything Gan Lang gave her.

Back at the gate of the inner courtyard, Da Qiao smiled at her two younger sisters and said, "Are you going back by yourself, or would you like to come in together and talk for a while longer?"

Just as Xiao Qiao was about to suggest going in together, Xu Wei stopped her and said with a smile, "It's too late. Gan Lang must be tired from your journey. You should get some rest!"

Xu Wei gently tugged at Xiao Qiao's sleeve, "Let's go!"

Helpless, Xiao Qiao could only pout as Xu Wei pulled her away. Da Qiao laughed and said, "Yun Qing is much more sensible than Xiao Qiao. Husband, let's go inside!"

Gan Ning put his arm around her waist and walked into the courtyard.

"Yunqing, why are you in such a hurry to pull me back? It's just getting dark, there's still plenty of time!"

"You! You have no tact. If your older sister really wanted you to go in, would she ask? They're a couple who've been apart for a while and are reunited. Let's not get in their way."

"What?! He's my husband too! He's yours too! Why can't we reunite with our husbands?"

Xu Wei gently patted her hand, "What's meant to be yours will be yours. Life is only a few decades long, what's a little less of this moment?"

"You—okay! Okay! In Gan Lang's words, we won't be that...that third wheel."

"You finally understand!"

Xu Wei took her hand and walked back to the courtyard, where their laughter echoed.

What is a light bulb?

"I don't know either! Maybe it's just a type of lamp!"

In the study, Gan Ning and Da Qiao embraced tightly and kissed for a long time. After some time, Sang Ye, a female guard in the courtyard, noticed that the study remained dark. She became worried and couldn't help but ask, "Madam, is the lamp missing?"

Da Qiao quickly separated from her husband, saying, "It's alright! It's alright! We've found it."

She rolled her eyes at her husband before quickly turning on the light.

Gan Ning told her to take off her outer garment and said with a smile, "You haven't bathed for several days. Prepare a tub of hot water! Let's bathe together."

"But I already took a bath during the day."

Gan Ning smiled slightly, "It's different. How can bathing alone compare to the pleasure of a couple bathing together?"

Da Qiao glanced at him shyly, "I know, I've already prepared hot water, but you should have a cup of hot tea first, then we'll take a bath."

Da Qiao left in a hurry. Gan Ning sat down in his seat and finally breathed a long sigh of relief. It felt so good to be back home.

After Da Qiao and her husband finished bathing, they embraced and returned to their bedroom, where they went straight into the warm bed. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and they spent the night in passionate embrace.

The next morning, Da Qiao arranged for the maids to set out breakfast. Gan Ning heard her instructing that the porridge should be cooked thicker, so he waved his hand and said with a smile, "Azhu, come here!"

Da Qiao sat down next to her husband and smiled, "What does my husband want to see me about?" Gan Ning tapped the table with his knuckles and reminded her, "You are a wife, not a housekeeper. Don't try to handle everything yourself."

Da Qiao held her husband's hand and smiled sweetly, "I don't interfere in everything. I only take care of my husband's affairs. I am my husband's housekeeper."

Gan Ning hugged her and laughed, "You really are a housekeeper, but I like beautiful housekeepers like this."

"Oh! Oh! Oh! Weren't you affectionate enough last night? You're still being so mushy this early in the morning."

As Gan Ning and Da Qiao turned around, Xiao Qiao and Xu Wei were standing behind them.

"Sit down! After I marry you, I promise I won't make anyone else feel cheesy in the morning."

Xiao Qiao pouted and sat down opposite her angrily, "That won't do. You have to treat me even better from now on, and be even more loving!"

Gan Ning found her angry expression adorable, so he said to Xu Wei, "Sit next to me and make her angry again."

Xu Wei smiled and sat down next to Xiao Qiao. "I won't accept an invitation that isn't sincere, Sister Qiao, don't you think?"

Da Qiao smiled and said, "Let's have breakfast! If there's anything we need to say, the three of us sisters can talk about it quietly later."

Xiao Qiao remained silent. Da Qiao gently nudged her husband with her foot, poured a little vinegar onto his plate, and gave him a meaningful look.

Her husband told her what jealousy meant.

Gan Ning understood and smiled at Xiao Qiao, "I'm taking a day off today. Ayu, I'll go shopping with you guys later."

Xiao Qiao then cheered up, "I was just about to buy rouge, let's go to the rouge shop. Oh, by the way, what about the gift Gan Lang gave us? Yun Qing and I have been looking forward to it all night."

Gan Ning chuckled, "After breakfast, let's look at the gifts first, then go shopping."

Gan Ning's stroll was not on foot, but rather by riding in a horse-drawn carriage and slowly moving along the streets, enjoying the street views through the carriage windows.

Compared to the wide and solemn streets of Nanchang County, the streets of Chaisang are slightly narrower, but full of commercial atmosphere. All kinds of shops are lined up, with a wide variety of goods from both the north and south. Large quantities of goods are piled up in front of the shops. Especially with the New Year just a month and a half away, the crowds are huge and business is exceptionally good.

"It's so cold when we open the window, but we can't see anything if we don't!" Xiao Qiao complained in a low voice.

The four sat in a spacious carriage, which Gan Ning had specially prepared for Da Qiao and his two betrothed wives. The carriage was specially made, with two layers of one-inch-thick green steel wood on the sides and a thin piece of iron sandwiched in between, making it exceptionally sturdy and capable of blocking crossbow fire.

The carriage wasn't luxurious, but it was very warm and comfortable. Thick, soft carpets covered the floor, and the walls were made of solid wood that smelled of pine and had been fumigated, so there were no insects. There was a small table in front of the window with thick cushions behind it, and a well-sealed, discreet bathroom at the back of the carriage that wouldn't smell in the summer.

In spring and summer, you can open the window and draw the thin curtains to enjoy the street view, but now it's mid-November, early winter, and the cold wind blows in as soon as the window is open.

Gan Ning thought for a moment and smiled, "If Ayu hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have realized this problem. No problem, it can be solved."

"Is it made of crystal?" Xu Wei asked with a smile.

Born into a prestigious family, she was well-informed and knew that high-quality transparent crystal was used instead of glass for windows in the imperial palace.

Gan Ning nodded, "I have one ready-made!"

At this moment, the carriage slowly came to a stop; we had arrived at the rouge shop.

They went up to the VIP room on the second floor. The female manager, a beautiful woman in her thirties, personally greeted the three distinguished guests. Gan Ning stood by the window with a teacup in his hand, silently watching the street outside.

Da Qiao glanced at her husband standing by the window, then got up and slowly walked over.

"I've neglected my husband!" Da Qiao said apologetically.

"No! You guys go ahead and choose, I'll just stay here and look at the street scene."

Da Qiao laughed and said, "I'm just here to keep them company. I don't really need anything."

Gan Ning gently put his arm around her shoulder and said with a smile, "Then we'll keep them company!"

"Okay!" Da Qiao nestled happily beside her husband, pointing at the street scene and talking quietly.

Xu Wei glanced at them discreetly, then moved to a different spot, blocking Xiao Qiao's view of the window.

(End of this chapter)