An Invitation from Her Birth Father

She didn't want him to be successful; she wanted him to live a long and healthy life.

The regret and longing that washed over her in the dream made even her First Concubine lose control of her emotions.

Qin Lie was completely taken aback by his First Concubine's sudden promise of marriage.

She's agreed to marry me?

But what on earth is this "resigning from office" nonsense?

He's worked so hard for so many years, finally able to provide a good life for his elderly mother and future wife and children. He's still young, with a bright future ahead of him, so why would he resign from his official post?

"If I resign from my official post, how will I support you?" Qin Lie asked deliberately.

"I can support you!" the First Concubine said. "I have savings, and I can do embroidery. I can earn several dozen taels of silver a month, which is more than your salary."

Qin Lie smiled.

He never knew he actually had the means to live off a woman.

If someone had said he was a kept man, he would have definitely fought with them.

But now, he actually feels very happy.

In this world, how many men can a woman willingly support?

"Really, I'll marry you if you resign from your official post." The First Concubine's eyes were full of earnestness, and... pleading.

Qin Lie knew he had frightened her.

He reached out and opened the wound. "Look, I was just trying to scare you. It's just a small cut. Don't be afraid. What danger could I possibly be in? We're not going to the battlefield. Don't scare yourself unnecessarily. You promised to marry me today, so I'll have my mother find a matchmaker to propose."

"No, I won't marry you unless you agree to resign from your official post!"

Qin Lie's lips twitched; a headache was starting to creep in.

Goodness, how about we change the terms?

For your sake, for my sake, and for our future children, resigning from my official post is out of the question.

Chapter 184 My Father's Invitation

"And then?" Gu Wanning blinked, resting her chin on her hand, and looked at her First Concubine interest, waiting for her to continue.

"Then I couldn't persuade him, and he couldn't persuade me either. He sighed and left, saying I'd understand later. But I didn't understand. I didn't understand anything more important than living. When a person dies, nothing remains..."

The so-called posthumous fame and eternal renown are all lies.

She didn't have such a grand vision; she only hoped that Qin Lie would be alright and not die young like in her dream, his body wrapped in a horse's hide.

He was everyone's hero, but he was also a pain she could never let go of for the rest of her life.

"I'm selfish; I just want him to live a good life."

Gu Wanning looked at her First Concubine, who was sobbing uncontrollably, sighed, and patted her shoulder. "I understand."

But she disagreed.

Humans need self-actualization.

Both men and women have their own dreams that they want to achieve.

A union between two people should not be based on sacrificing the other's career or crippling their abilities, even if it is done with good intentions.

Gu Wanning could understand that two people need to work out together, and that one of them had to compromise and sacrifice for the other's career.

But compromises that weren't originally necessary are truly unnecessary.

"You think it's for Qin Lie's own good, but don't you understand what kind of man he is? He resigned his official post to stay with you, while those who were once inferior to him rose to prominence, and he has to bow and scrape before people. What must he be feeling? Isn't it torment and exhaustion for him?"

The First Concubine fell silent.

"If you're worried about the dangers of him going to the battlefield, you can gently persuade him or remind him of the potential risks. But to throw the baby out with the bathwater and force him to resign is truly wishful thinking on your part."

The First Concubine, tears streaming down her face, cried, "Girl, all I want is for him to be alright."

"Yes, I know."

But love is not about coercion.

"I believe in you two, but I don't want you to marry him with the intention of sacrificing yourself for him. There are better ways for you to start a life together. Jinxiu, don't overthink it, don't try to take on everything for him, let him go, and let yourself go too. There's plenty of time, you can take it slow."

After being comforted by Gu Wanning, the First Concubine finally felt somewhat relieved.

After seeing her off, Gu Wanning looked at the land deed she had finally obtained, feeling quite satisfied.

This is the confidence she earned for herself!

For women, what brings more security than money?

She has already begun waiting for spring to begin planting.

She planted large plots of Corn, small plots of peanuts... tomatoes and pumpkins were to be planted at home, and she personally oversaw the planting.

Thirty-odd acres of land—not too big, not too small—we need to find a reliable person to help keep an eye on it...

Gu Wanning kept calculating until evening.

"Girl, what would you like to eat tonight?"

"Luosifen (river snail rice noodles)," Gu Wanning said, standing up and stretching. "Didn't I say that this morning?"

Knowing she liked these snails, the sycophantic Second Concubine specially had her brother send someone to collect them.

Er Ya muttered, "The whole family will be smelled again."

Gu Wanning laughed loudly and said, "I refuse to believe I can't invent delicious snail rice noodles."

Xu Qiaoqiao stayed in the Capital and ran a stall.

Gu Wanning was still not giving up and wanted to open a snail rice noodle shop with Xu Qiaoqiao using the small shop she had bought.

Xu Qiaoqiao's noodles are really delicious.

Gu Wanning busied herself in the kitchen, and Zhi Nu, without any disgust, helped her tend the fire.

While busy, Gu Wanning asked him if he was adapting well to the Imperial College.

But Zhi Nu kept repeating only one word – "Good".

The teacher is good, the classmates are good, the studies are good, the food is good—in short, there's nothing bad about it.

"If you feel wronged, you must tell an adult. Don't bear it all by yourself, understand?"

"I know, Auntie."

"Be good, listen to me, and wait for your auntie to make you delicious snail rice noodles."

The Zhi Nu's expression immediately became indescribable.

Gu Wanning had just finished making her snail rice noodles when her sister-in-law He Shi, came to call her home for dinner.

"Father sent me here; it seems he has something to say to you," He Shi reminded Gu Wanning. "Your eldest brother hasn't returned yet, so I can't ask what it is, but I suspect it's related to the Marquis causing trouble at the Xie Residence. I overheard Gu Xiaoxiao telling Father about it..."