Chapter 5: Between Spouses

Suddenly, a thick cotton coat was draped over his shoulders. Gao Qiu turned his head and saw Ying Niang standing behind him, her face full of sleepiness, drowsily asking: "My lord, why are you not resting yet?"

Gao Qiu felt a warmth in his heart and could not help but hold his wife's slightly cold hand. "Ying Niang, don't call me 'official' anymore; it sounds rather unfamiliar!"

On this night, Gao Qiu, holding Ying Niang, had a wonderful dream. He dreamed that he had become the genuine Gao Taiwei, with countless soldiers below cheering and shouting.

"What business does he have?" The old man, Song Tai, the father of Ying Niang, was filled with anger upon seeing his daughter still speaking up for her husband. "In three years of marriage, he hasn't brought back a single large sum of money. Isn't it all dependent on your embroidery and mending to maintain this household? Hmph, if it weren't for the fact that I saw he had read a little, better than those rough men in the market, I would never have agreed to this marriage! If it really doesn't work out, I might as well go and ask him for a divorce. You can remarry and be free of this!" Hmph, if it weren't for the fact that I saw he had read a little, better than those rough men in the market, I would never have agreed to this marriage! If it really doesn't work out, I might as well go and ask him for a divorce. You can remarry and be free of this!"

He can likely rely only on Zhao Ji, who may become a future tyrant, Emperor Huizong of Song. In my impression, Gao Qiu enjoyed continuous favor during Huizong's reign. Moreover, Zhao Ji is still young, making it relatively easy to exert influence. Proximity to power often leads to advantage; once Zhao Ji ascends the throne, it would be easier for him to rise to prominence. Perhaps he could even leverage this to influence the fate of the Song Dynasty. Having reached this era, he might even leave behind children. How could he then allow his descendants to be trampled by the Jurchen and Yuan forces?

How could this old fellow bring up such topics at the wrong time! If it weren't for the fact that he was in front of his own cheap father-in-law, Gao Qiu would have kicked him to death. "If the father-in-law does not trust his son-in-law so much, he could very well go to the Su residence to inquire and verify with the scholar!" After saying this, he was too lazy to pay any more attention to Song Tai, supporting his wife as he walked into the room, still complaining that Ying Niang should not be out in the wind so late, a gesture reminiscent of a modern model husband

Miss Ying finally let out a soft laugh, and that rare smile made her appear even more radiant and gentle. "Hmm, I understand. Gao Lang, the wind is picking up, hurry back to your room and get some sleep!"

Ying Niang was initially angry because her husband had not returned for a long time, but when she saw the various exquisite pastries in the food box, her expression changed somewhat. She did not respond to Gao Qiu's words, but pointed at those items and questioned, "You, you only took ten wen when you went out, where did you buy these things? Have you been stealing again?"

Father! What nonsense are you talking about!" Ying Niang finally could not hold back her tears, but she quickly wiped her eyes and resolutely shook her head, "The official will definitely return!"

Who says my English mother is foolish? Gao Qiu heard what was said in the book, and naturally, he could no longer engage in the clandestine activities of standing in the corner. He stepped out openly and slightly bowed before Song Tai, saying, "I have met the esteemed father-in-law!"

The name "Scholar Su" is evidently quite imposing. In an instant, Song Tai and Ying Niang both widened their mouths, their faces filled with disbelief. Before their daughter could ask, Song Tai hurriedly interjected, "You... you truly mean what you say? The Scholar Su you mentioned, is he the same as that Dongpo Recluse?"

On this night, there was no need for Gao Qiao to deceive; after a day of hard work, Ying Niang quickly fell asleep, which spared him the trouble of finding an excuse. Although he was not a paragon of virtue, he could not bring himself to take advantage of Ying Niang, who bore a striking resemblance to Xiao Jing, without any foundation of genuine feelings. For him, the phrase 'there is plenty of time ahead' was of utmost importance.

Hmph! Upon hearing Gao Qiu's words, Song Tai realized that his previous remarks had been overheard by his son-in-law, which naturally left him feeling somewhat embarrassed. He could only maintain a stern expression and ignore everyone.

"Father, you cannot say that about the gentleman!" Ying Niang bit her lip, a flicker of sorrow flashing in her eyes, and ultimately retorted, "The gentleman has never cared for me before, but now there has been a significant change, and... and..." After hesitating for a long while, she still found it difficult to mention the gentle actions of Gao Qiao that day. "The gentleman went out today without any money; it must be because he was delayed by important matters related to the library..."

The courtyard of Gao Qiu's family was left behind when Gao Taigong divided the estate among his three sons, allocating a complete residence into three sections. Although it cannot be described as particularly spacious, the grass hall is fully equipped with stone tables and stone benches, and both the interior and exterior are tidily arranged, devoid of any chilliness. At this moment, under the moonlight, Ying Niang is sitting opposite an elderly man, her face laden with worry.

"Well, Xiao Gao, Lao Gao, Gao Lang, Gao Laoda... anything is fine, just don't call me 'official,' it sends chills down my spine!" Gao Qiu said earnestly.

Yingniang blurted out, involuntarily taking the plate of cakes with both hands, her eyes already brimming with tears. However, she quickly turned away and wiped her eyes vigorously a few times before finally picking up a cake and chewing it slowly. Upon seeing her desperately trying to hide her ravenous appearance, Gao Qiu immediately realized that she had not had dinner yet, and a twinge of pity surged in his heart. Naturally, he pulled his wife into his embrace. In the past, he had wished to hold Xiao Jing like this but had never been able to; this time, he finally seized the opportunity. Yingniang struggled weakly a couple of times but ultimately succumbed to her husband's embrace.

Suddenly, amidst the gentle and enchanting atmosphere, a cough from Song Tai broke the silence, followed by a rather unromantic remark: "Son-in-law, did you really go to the Bachelor’s Residence today, and not out fooling around?"

"Then what should I call you?" Ying Niang raised her head in confusion

"Mhetushu.com, my dear, it's not that I speak ill of my son-in-law behind his back. Just look at the time now; where could he possibly be indulging in pleasures again! Alas, you still tell me he has the intention to change, but it seems to be nothing more than empty words. How could I have been so foolish to let you marry such a scoundrel!"

Gao Qiu had no intention of wasting time with this cheap father-in-law. He placed the food box on the table, lifted the lid, and said to Ying Niang: "Ying Niang, guess who I met today"

It seems that the reputation of my predecessor is truly terrible, to the extent that even bringing home some delicious food for my wife raises such suspicions. What a world this is! As Gao Qiu lamented his misfortune, he had no choice but to put on a smiling face and explain: "Ying Niang, you misunderstand. Today, I happened to encounter Scholar Su at a calligraphy and painting stall, and he invited me to drink at the Encountering Immortals Tavern. After that, he took me to the Su residence for a literary gathering, which is why I was delayed for so long. These pastries are meticulously made by the chef of the Su residence, and the scholar asked me to bring some back. How about it? Do you want to try them and see if they suit your taste?"

"Esteemed father-in-law, although I am usually unruly, I would not dare to speak carelessly about such important matters." Gao Qiu personally fetched a bowl and dish from the room, and handed a piece of cloud cake to his wife, "Otherwise, where would I find the spare money to buy these things? It is merely a case of borrowing flowers to present to the Buddha. Ying Niang, I have said that I will no longer associate with those dubious friends, and I will certainly not deceive you."

I trust you

Hidden in the shadows, Gao Qiu watched as the old man slammed his palm on the stone table in anger, causing several chips of stone to fly up. He couldn't help but feel alarmed; could it be that this esteemed father-in-law was a martial arts master, or was the stone table merely a shoddy construction? He intended to reveal himself and clarify the situation, but he also wanted to observe Ying Niang's reaction, so in the end, he remained silent.

You silly girl! Song Tai was both anxious and angry, but just as his words fell, a man's voice came from the doorway

Upon witnessing this scene, Song Tai stood there in a daze for a long time, unable to regain his senses. Initially, when Ying Niang spoke to him, he could not believe that Gao Qiao, this wayward son, would change for the better. However, the things he heard and saw left him no choice but to believe. With a belly full of doubts, he could only attribute everything to divine intervention and returned home in high spirits.

Dressed in his outer garment, he stepped outside the door, feeling a tumult of emotions within. Although today he had the fortune of encountering Su Shi, relying on this to advance his career was utterly impossible. Even if he were willing to put in the effort to memorize texts, mere memorization did not equate to understanding. Moreover, knowledge could not be acquired overnight; thus, while forming friendships at the Su residence was feasible, attempting to pass the imperial examinations and thereby gain entry to the court was unrealistic. After all, whether in poetry, prose, or the principles of governance, he was far too distant from those scholars who had toiled for decades in their studies, a gap that could not be bridged in a short time.