Tiger Owl

Chapter 324 Firm Attitude
In the afternoon, Gan Ning returned to his residence. He went to his study and immediately sent someone to inform his wife.

Before long, Da Qiao brought a cup of ginseng tea to the study.

"My husband is looking for me?"

Gan Ning gestured for her to sit down and slowly said, "Today, Cao Cao sent Chen Qun to Chaisang to confer a title upon me. He also mentioned a marriage alliance. They want to initiate the marriage alliance, but we disagree. I refused to marry him through proper channels. This is presumptuous and disrespectful to my wife."

Da Qiao pondered for a moment and said, "But this is, after all, a daughter's marriage, and the husband should also consider the feelings of A Jie's parents."

"So I agreed to give a dowry, so they could put their parents' love into the dowry, rather than in the ceremony."

"In that case, what concerns do you still have, my husband?"

Da Qiao knew her husband well. Since her husband had asked her to come, it must be to discuss something.

Gan Ning hesitated for a moment before saying, "Chen Qun suggested that A Jie go to Jiangdong to get married, and we will send a boat to bring her to Chaisang."

Chen Qun's request was not unreasonable. Previously, Gan Ning had sent boats to pick up his wives and take them on a tour of the city. Cao Jie simply extended the journey, picking them up from Dantu County to Chaisang.

However, Gan Ning did not want to make the decision himself, so he left the decision-making power to his wife, Da Qiao.

Da Qiao pondered for a moment and said, "Actually, I don't care. A Jie can get married in a grand manner in Dantu, but once she enters Chaisang City, she can only have three boats, just like the other sisters. That way, it will be balanced."

Gan Ning nodded. "This compromise is acceptable!"

Da Qiao smiled again and said, "A-Jie is very opinionated, and her husband should respect her ideas."

Gan Ning immediately sent someone to fetch Cao Jie. Before long, Cao Jie hurriedly entered the study and bowed to Gan Ning and Da Qiao.

Gan Ning said gently, "Today, Chen Qun and I discussed your wedding. Chen Qun hopes you will marry from Jiangdong, and then we will send a boat to bring you back to Chaisang. Your elder sister and I both think it's acceptable. What about you?"

"I do not accept!"

Cao Jie's voice was clear and resolute, "I will hold the wedding ceremony in Chaisang City, just like my three other sisters. I don't want any special treatment."

Da Qiao said softly, "A Jie, we've known each other for so long, we know your character, and we're willing to accept you. We all want to see you get married in style and we're genuinely happy for you. You don't need to compromise yourself for our sake."

Cao Jie resolutely shook his head. "Big sister, thank you for your concern, but this is a matter of principle. I will never compromise on matters of principle."

Cao Jie possessed exceptional emotional intelligence. She understood perfectly well that marriage was a family tradition. Her three older sisters could have married from elsewhere, but none of them made special requests; they all, like her eldest sister, married by boat from another residence. If she chose to marry from Jiangdong, it might seem glamorous, but it would be a betrayal—a betrayal of the family rules. It would plant a seed of discord in her future life, preventing her from truly integrating into the family. She would forever remain an outsider, forever a participant in a marriage alliance. She would gain face, but lose substance.

Cao Jie then turned to Gan Ning and said, "I implore the general to make arrangements so that I may see Chen Qun!"

Gan Ning looked at her for a moment and nodded slightly.

The following morning, Gan Ning brought Cao Jie to the VIP hotel. Chen Qun, upon learning of the arrival of the Fourth Miss, personally came out to greet her.

Cao Jie and Chen Qun exchanged a few polite words before entering the main hall. Gan Ning sat on the other side; he was there to accompany Cao Jie, not to be the main character.

“Military Advisor Chen, I heard that you came to Chaisang to negotiate my marriage, but I hope you can listen to my opinion.”

Chen Qun bowed slightly, "Please speak, Miss Fourth, I am all ears!"

“Our family has rules and etiquette for marriage. I do not want to break the rules or overstep the etiquette. Chen Qun, please tell my father that I will not marry from Jiangdong. I will marry from the other house in Chaisang City, completely following the Gan family’s ceremony.”

Cao Jie's attitude was firm, leaving no room for negotiation. Chen Qun pondered for a moment and said, "But this is a marriage alliance, so it's different. We must follow the rules of marriage alliances."

Cao Jie sneered, "You just reached a marriage agreement and sent me to Chaisang, and only talked about the marriage leave a few months later. Is this the rule for marriage alliances?"

"This"

Cao Jie's words were sharp, leaving Chen Qun speechless for a moment.

Cao Jie didn't want to say anything more, so she stood up and said, "Do whatever you want, but I won't go to Jiangdong. I will marry according to the Gan family's rules."

Cao Jie then said to Gan Ning, "Gan Lang, let's go!"

Gan Ning smiled apologetically at Chen Qun and then left.

Inside the carriage, Cao Jie mustered his courage and leaned against Gan Ning, "Gan Lang, haven't I caused you any trouble?"

Gan Ning reached out and gently put his arm around her shoulder, shaking his head with a smile, "There's no trouble at all, you're very smart!"

Cao Jie's heart pounded, and her face flushed red with embarrassment. She slowly lowered her head. This was the first time a man had put his arm around her shoulder, and it was her fiancé. She felt nervous, shy, and yet also had an indescribable joy. She just wanted him to keep holding her like this forever.

.........

In the afternoon, Gan Ning summoned Chen Qun again. The meeting in the morning was a private one and not a formal negotiation.

Chen Qun sighed and said, "With the Fourth Miss's attitude so firm, I can't go back and explain to the Prime Minister!"

Chapter 327 Firm Opposition Gan Ning smiled slightly and said, "Let me give you an idea!"

"Lord Chu, please speak!"

“You should respect Miss Cao’s choice regarding the wedding ceremony, but you can make up for it in other ways, such as by sending a dowry. Sending a dowry is a matter of the parents’ wishes. We don’t have any rules in our family. When my second wife got married, her father, Xu Qiu, although he disagreed, still sent a ship with a thousand bolts of silk as her dowry. In addition, we will have a simple wedding. Cao Jie’s mother or sisters can attend. Her mother can even make her bed and see her off. As her son-in-law, I will treat her well. These things do not violate the rules and can be implemented.”

Chen Qun nodded slightly, "Alright! I'll go back and report to the Prime Minister. I wonder when the wedding will be held?"

Gan Ning thought for a moment, "Let's set it for the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, it's an auspicious day."

Cao Jie is still young. Gan Ning can marry her in name only, but they will have to wait another two years before they actually consummate their marriage.

The two set a wedding date, and Gan Ning took out a box and gave it to him, saying, "This is a gift I'm giving to Prime Minister Cao. Please pass it on for me."

"Definitely! Definitely!"

Gan Ning then took out a woodblock-printed copy of the Analects and handed it to him, saying, "This is for you, Master."

"what is this?"

Chen Qun was very surprised. He flipped through it, and his hands began to tremble violently. "This...this is a rubbing?"

But he knew it wasn't; this was far superior to rubbings, something he had never seen before.

"This is our invention, another kind of book."

(End of this chapter)