Aries spoke so gently, even she didn't notice it herself. Her face softened without her realizing.
Sky finally came to his senses. The redness on his cheeks, which had just faded, returned again. He lowered his gaze and didn't dare look at Aries.
His fingers nervously tugged at the hem of his clothes. Wife is so strong, so gentle, and her palm is so warm.
In the end, he gave a soft nod and said, "Mm! Then please come back early, wife!"
Aries raised an eyebrow and smiled at the top of Sky's head. "I'm leaving now."
Then she turned around and walked out the door.
By the time Sky heard the door close and looked up again, all he could see was Aries's back.
What did I come out here to do just now?
Sky scolded himself in frustration. He had come out to ask when his wife would be back, so he could prepare dinner for her. But he didn't even get the words out before she left.
Feeling annoyed, Sky couldn't help but place a hand on the cheek that Aries had touched. The lingering warmth in his palm reminded him of how gentle she had just been to him.
He didn't know if it was because of his embarrassment or the heat from her touch, but the spot his father-in-law had hit earlier didn't even seem to hurt anymore.
Then he silently scolded himself again. Shameless!
But then he thought, She's my wife. Thinking about my own wife like that isn't shameless at all!
As he continued thinking about it, Sky remembered that his wife told him to wait for her to return. She definitely would. So, he decided he'd stay home and wait.
In the end, all Sky felt was a blushing face, a pounding heart, and a heart full of sweet feelings.
"Ning family brat! Where'd you sneak off to and slack around again? Hurry up and get back in here to clean up!"
Sky quickly pushed aside his daydreaming and responded, "Coming!"
His father-in-law might be strict, but isn't every household like that?
As long as his wife was good to him, that was enough.
It took more than half an hour on foot to get from the Gu family village to town, but Aries had no plans to tire herself out walking.
There were people in the village who earned money by offering rides. One trip cost two copper coins. When Aries reached the village entrance, Aunt Liu, who drove a cart, happened to still be there.
When Aunt Liu saw Aries walking over, she knew she must be headed into town, so she called out, "Aries, hurry up! There's still one seat left."
Aries glanced at the cart. There really was one spot open near the edge where she wouldn't have to squeeze in with others. So she agreed and hopped on.
The villagers didn't want to talk to Aries, which was fine. Aries had no interest in chatting with them either. On the way, she just listened to their small talk and enjoyed the peace.
Once in town, Aries handed Aunt Liu the two copper coins.
Aunt Liu took them and casually asked, "Aries, are you coming back today?"
She asked everyone the same question—made it easier to know who to wait for.
Aries thought for a moment. She wasn't sure when she'd return, so she replied, "No need to wait for me, Aunt Liu."
As Aries walked away, Aunt Liu sighed. "Sigh, Aries must be going to the gambling den again. She's married now. How hasn't she changed her ways?"
A man nearby laughed with contempt, "Some people never change. Even if the sun rose in the west, she wouldn't change. Besides, didn't Old Man Gu say he only took in a servant, not a real husband? Pfft—look at their family trying to act like those rich madams with money to keep male companions. What a joke! Can they even afford it?"
Other men who had come to town with him joined in the ridicule. "You know how that old fool Gu is. Still dreaming that his daughter Aries will get rich one day. Maybe she will! Hahaha!"
"If Aries can get rich, then my wife can become a top scholar!"
"Your wife can't even read a word, and she'll be a scholar?"
"Exactly. So how could Aries possibly get rich?"
They laughed as they walked away. Aunt Liu just shook her head again.
"Sigh, what a waste. A good girl from the Gu family ruined by that wild father of hers!"
Aries ignored it all. Everything they said was about the old Gu Dabao. That wasn't her anymore. If she cared about their opinions, then what was the point of living over ten thousand years?
Following memory, she made her way to the gambling house Gu Dabao often visited. As soon as she entered, the guards stopped her.
"Aries! Wow, you're up and about already? Seems like you recover fast! Here to pay your debt today?"
Aries glanced at them. "Mm."
"Heh! So quick to get the money together? Impressive! Come on, I'll take you to the boss."
One of the guards raised a hand to pat her shoulder, but Aries dodged. She didn't like being touched by strangers.
The guard, surprised that she missed, raised an eyebrow. "What? You don't want to give me face?"
"You're overthinking it. I just want to win some money before paying up."
That was the fastest way Aries could think of to get silver—easy and effortless.
The guard looked at her curiously, then laughed. "Alright then. Win big and treat me to some drinks!"
Aries gave a small nod and walked straight to the crowded gambling area.
Another guard nearby, confused that she was let in, asked, "She came to pay debt, and you let her gamble again? What if she loses—how will she pay?"
The first guard sneered, "They say people never change. That's Aries for you. If she wants to throw herself into ruin, who can stop her? Doesn't her family still have two acres of land? We'll just take that when she can't pay."
But she was curious—how did Aries get the money after just three days?
Maybe she scraped some together here and there, hoping for a big win.
Thinking that, she said to her partner, "You stay here. I'll go check if Aries really has money. If she's lying, I'll beat her so bad even her dad won't recognize her!"
Aries wandered through the gambling house, checking out the games. She finally stopped at a dice table.
This was the quickest way to make money—fast rounds, quick results.
She pulled out two taels of silver, which she had taken from her father, Mawen, and placed it all on "big."
The dealer looked up from where the silver landed. When she saw who it was, she laughed, "Well, well, it's Miss Aries! Where'd you suddenly get rich?"
Not surprising—Aries was a regular. Everyone in the place knew her. And they also knew that Aries usually bet copper coins. Now she came in and casually tossed out silver. Of course they were shocked.
Aries gave her a look, not wanting to talk nonsense. "Are you rolling or not?"
Heh! Who could say no to easy money?
The dealer shouted, "No more bets!"