Qi Taiguo didn’t fail to follow her back, but Cheng Su wouldn’t let him enter her maiden home, telling him she’d get cross if he did, and now he was still standing outside in the courtyard.

The north wind howled, and snow had begun to fall at some point. Qi Taiguo, having rushed out, had only grabbed a coat on his way out. Even with his regular exercise, he felt the chill invading. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Footsteps approached, and her younger brother poked his head out, waving, "Brother-in-law, come in. My sister really has a temper. Without her saying anything, none of us would have known you were here. Come in quickly!"

Qi Taiguo hurried inside.

As soon as he entered the main room, it was warm and inviting. Dinner had already been set out, but the looks on his mother-in-law and father-in-law’s faces weren’t too pleasant.

"Sit down and eat. After dinner, you should head back. I’ll stay at my mother’s place for the next few days," Cheng Su called out to him.

Qi Taiguo sat down, steeling himself.

Father Cheng opened a bottle of liquor and poured him a drink. Qi Taiguo quickly stood up to take it, his face a picture of panic, "Father-in-law, please let me do it. How could I trouble you to pour me a drink?"

"Sit down," Father Cheng avoided his hand.

Qi Taiguo had no choice but to sit down again.

After a pour, Father Cheng clinked glasses with him, one cup, then another, three cups in a row, until Father Cheng finally slammed the small liquor cup down onto the table.

"Taiguo, there’s a saying that a son-in-law is half a son. Today, I, as your father-in-law, will presume to be bold and share what’s on my mind with you. Even if it’s uncomfortable to hear, you’ve got to listen to the whole thing," Father Cheng said, looking at Qi Taiguo.

"Father-in-law, please speak. I’m all ears!" Qi Taiguo replied earnestly.

"I know our Cheng family, descendants of a fallen capitalist, are somewhat unsuited for your Qi family. Especially considering you’re so young and already an officer with a bright future ahead of you. To tell you the truth, if we hadn’t been betrothed to your family long ago, we wouldn’t have had the nerve, even with the thickest of skins, to be related by marriage to someone like you," Father Cheng admitted.

"Father-in-law, you’re not being fair. I am the one unworthy of Susu," Qi Taiguo said, full of trepidation.

Father Cheng gestured dismissively, "No need for pleasantries with me. I know my daughter’s temper better than anyone; her mother and I spoiled her, so we can’t blame anyone else. It is admittedly a bit shameless to have wed her to you on account of money, but I truly took a liking to you. You’ve always been determined and are a man of the righteous faction. As a father, all I wish for is for my daughter to marry a good man, and I had my eye on you long ago."

Qi Taiguo was taken aback, as he hadn’t expected this. True, the Cheng family had lent him money for his leg surgery before he’d joined the military.

"The person who took a liking to you wanted you to be good to my daughter. When you married Susu, that was my wish: I wasn’t asking for much, not even for a significant dowry from your Qi family, just that you be good to her and protect her. A daughter married off is like water poured away—she married you, so you’re her only support. If you can’t protect her, then she’s left alone and helpless in your Qi family, unable to take a single step without difficulty," Father Cheng explained, staring intently at him. "Take the situation at your home today, for instance; if you’d been protecting her, she wouldn’t have had to run to her parents’ house late at night. I know my daughter, and she’s been pushed into this by your Qi family."

"Taiguo, give me a straight answer today. Can you protect her, or can you not? If you can’t, then her mother and I will take her back to the Cheng family and no longer entrust her to your Qi family!"

His words were like a bomb dropping, leaving Cheng Su and Mother Cheng stunned. Tears welled up in Cheng Su’s eyes, and she was suddenly reminded that these were her family members, always ready to guard her back.