NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 10 - Marrying Gao You Was the Right Choice
Chapter 10 Marrying Gao You Was the Right Choice
“Late?”
Gao You looked at Uncle Fu in surprise. As his steward, Uncle Fu should have traveled with him to Qiantang.
Why had he only arrived the day after the wedding?
Uncle Fu quickly explained, “Young Master, your marriage was arranged by the main family.”
“They said they didn’t need us and told us to follow by cargo ship.”
They had dumped his family servants onto a cargo ship? That was blatant disrespect.
Whatever little goodwill he had left for the main branch of the Gao family instantly vanished.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Gao You patted his loyal steward on the shoulder. Uncle Fu had been nothing but devoted to him. Years ago, when he was gravely ill with a fever, Uncle Fu and his wife had prioritized his care over their own daughter.
Because of that, their little girl had been kidnapped and never found again. Despite owning 200 mu (about 33 acres) of farmland, they lived frugally just to maintain the household. They had never mistreated him.
A few years ago, when Gao You began to gain recognition as an artist, Uncle Fu had secretly sold a few of his paintings with permission, carefully saving all the earnings for him.
To his past self, Uncle Fu was more of a father than his own deceased one had ever been.
“It wasn’t hard!”
Uncle Fu quickly shook his head.
“Young Master is finally married!”
“Now I can finally put my mind at ease!”
Gao You turned to Zhao Pan’er.
“Wife, trust Uncle Fu.”
“He is family.”
Family?
Hearing this, Uncle Fu’s eyes instantly welled up with tears.
“I don’t deserve such kindness!”
Zhao Pan’er quickly stepped forward.
“Uncle Fu, Aunt Fu!”
“Please, come inside!”
“I’ll boil some tea for you!”
Uncle Fu waved his hands in protest.
“Young Madam, how could we let you do such menial work?”
“Wife!”
At his call, Aunt Fu hurried into the kitchen to heat water. Zhao Pan’er shook her head.
“I’m not some noble lady.”
“I run a tea shop for a living.”
“If there’s work to be done, you can leave it to me.”
Uncle Fu was displeased.
“That won’t do!”
“No matter what the Young Madam did before, she is now a lady of the Gao family!”
“We may not be a prestigious family, but we are an official’s household!”
“How can you be working for a living?”
Hearing this, Zhao Pan’er stiffened. Now that she was married into the Gao family, she was indeed its official lady.
Running a tea shop might tarnish the family’s reputation. If Uncle Fu forbade her from working, she would have no choice but to accept it.
But if she stopped selling tea, she would lose her source of income.
Would she have to rely on Gao You for everything? Even though he seemed kind, she still wanted to be independent.
Before she could voice her concerns, Gao You interrupted, “My wife is free to do as she pleases.”
Uncle Fu hesitated.
“Young Master, are you telling me not to interfere with the Young Madam’s affairs?”
“But running a tea shop—”
“She likes it.”
His words were firm and absolute.
Uncle Fu sighed.
“Understood.”
He didn’t push the matter any further. Relieved, Zhao Pan’er felt as if a weight had been lifted.
At that moment, she realized—Marrying Gao You might have been the best decision of her life. He didn’t care about the rigid rules of society. With him, she could live freely without restrictions. Men like him—who valued her freedom—were truly rare.
_____
“Young Madam, what would you like to eat?”
Aunt Fu emerged from the kitchen, smiling warmly.
Zhao Pan’er grinned.
“Uncle Fu, Aunt Fu, since you’ve just arrived, let’s go to Zui Xian Lou!”
“I’ll treat you to Qiantang’s best dishes!”
Uncle Fu quickly shook his head.
“Taking us to a restaurant? That wouldn’t be proper!”
“Let’s go.”
Gao You, unwilling to argue, simply issued the command and walked towards the door.
Seeing no way out, Uncle Fu and Aunt Fu could only nod obediently.
Watching him, Zhao Pan’er suddenly realized—Gao You’s way of life was the most efficient.
No unnecessary pleasantries.
If you wanted to do something, you just did it.
_____
“Sister Pan’er!”
Xiao Lingdang came rushing into the courtyard. Uncle Fu and Aunt Fu glanced at her ragged appearance, surprised.
Zhao Pan’er wrinkled her nose in disdain.
“What happened to you?”
Xiao Lingdang smirked proudly.
“I disguised myself as a poor scholar.”
“Went a few days without bathing. No one bothered me on the road!”
“Even when I asked for directions, people avoided me like the plague!”
Zhao Pan’er sighed.
“Why didn’t you travel with a merchant caravan? It would have been safer and more convenient.”
Xiao Lingdang waved her hand dismissively.
“Traveling with a caravan means no freedom.”
“I ate all kinds of delicious food and saw so many new things!”
Just then, Sun Sanniang walked in.
Seeing Xiao Lingdang, she beamed.
“You’re finally back!”
“How did things go in Dengzhou?”
Xiao Lingdang pulled a small pouch of silver from her robes.
“Right here!”
“Three years’ worth of land rent—every last coin!”
“When have I ever failed a task?”
Pleased with herself, she looked expectantly at Zhao Pan’er.
Zhao Pan’er feigned disgust and pointed towards the kitchen.
“Go boil some water and wash up.”
“Do you want to suffocate us all with that smell?”
Xiao Lingdang glanced at Gao You, then rushed off to clean herself.
“Sanniang, let me introduce you!”
Zhao Pan’er quickly introduced Uncle Fu and Aunt Fu to Sun Sanniang.
Sun Sanniang thought for a moment and suggested, “Since we’re celebrating their arrival—”
“Why go to Zui Xian Lou?”
“Let’s head to the tea house instead.”
“I’ll cook!”
“We can invite Yinzhang and the others and make it a lively gathering!”