My name is Chang An, your name is Gu Li

Gu Ke seemed to have drunk too much. He and Chang An were originally just talking about things after marriage, but somehow, Mr. Gu kept drinking one glass after another and started talking about other things:

"Yonghe, do you know? When you came to my house to propose marriage that day, I was still reluctant to marry Li'er to you. Because there were too many people out there saying bad things about you."

"But when I saw you that day, I felt that you were not like the rumors, whether in your conversation or behavior. In addition, you two fell in love with each other, so I couldn't say much. Even on the day of your wedding, even after listening to your five songs urging you to get ready, I still felt a little worried."

"Later, I also saw your sincerity and that you were really good to Li'er, so I felt relieved."

Gu Ke raised his glass for who knows how many times and said, "I was wrong to be suspicious before. Good son-in-law, let's have a drink!"

Chang An listened to Gu Ke's long speech and seemed to feel a little... embarrassed? But out of face and etiquette, he still raised his glass and returned a glass.

After one cup, Gu Ke continued, "It's understandable if you blame me for my suspicion of you before, but Li'er is the only daughter in our family, and we are afraid that she will be wronged."

"What parent doesn't love their children? Li'er is well-behaved, sensible, and gentle, but because we spoil her, she tends to have a bad temper."

"Although that situation is unlikely to happen, I still want to say that if Li'er gets angry and causes trouble in the future, send her back to our Gu Mansion and let us discipline her."

"No, no, Li'er has always been well behaved and never causes trouble." Chang An also said quickly.

"Hahaha..." Gu Ke laughed twice, raised his glass and said, "I thought that Li'er was loved by us family members alone in the world, but I didn't expect that you, as her husband, dote on her more than we do. This glass is for you."

"Okay." Chang An also picked up the cup and drank it. Then Gu Ke poured another cup and asked for another drink. Chang An could only smile and agree, but just as he was about to raise his hand, he felt a familiar little hand pressing down on his arm.

"Chang Lang, stop drinking. Father is already drunk." Gu Li frowned and said, "We still have to stay up tonight, so don't drink too much."

As he said that, Gu Li took the wine glass from Chang An's hand and drank it for him. Chang An had no choice but to give up.

At this moment, several more servants came in. The leading servant was holding a large plate, which must have contained dumplings. The remaining servants were holding trays with glutinous rice balls on them.

Zhou Kuangping looked at the dumplings and glutinous rice balls and asked in confusion: "What are these? They look very novel."

"These are the dumplings and glutinous rice balls I told you about. They are all made in Yonghe." Chang Wenmeng said, "Aqing should have eaten them last time."

Zhou Kuangping turned his gaze to Chang Wenqing, who also replied, "I ate it on the winter solstice, and it tasted really good."

Chang Wenmeng then called out, "Okay, everyone, come and have some dumplings."

At the invitation, those who had eaten and those who had not eaten started to pick up their chopsticks, but Wang Wei did not join in. Instead, he just ate the glutinous rice balls in his hand. Seeing this, Gao Shi asked:

"Brother Wang, why don't you eat dumplings?"

"I am a believer in Buddha and do not eat meat," Wang Wei replied.

Gao Shi nodded in understanding, took a look at the glutinous rice balls in front of him, and said, "Then my brother will eat my glutinous rice balls, and I will eat the dumplings for him?"

"Okay." Wang Wei smiled faintly, and Gao Shi put the glutinous rice balls in front of him, and then picked up some dumplings.

After the meal, everyone was full and satisfied. Zhou Kuangping was a little surprised and said, "I don't know why I have such an unexpected appetite today."

Upon hearing this, Gao Shi raised his head in confusion. Some people who were present at the last winter solstice also turned their eyes to him, which made him even more confused.

Chang Wenqing smiled and said, "It must be thanks to Mr. Gao."

Zhou Kuangping also looked at Gao Shi with some doubts. Chang Wenqing continued to say with a smile: "Mr. Gao is a martial artist, so he will naturally eat with heart. If Mr. Gao was not here, we really wouldn't be able to finish this table of food."

"It's Gao Shi... Is there any problem?" Gao Shi looked at Chang An beside him in confusion.

"No problem. Censor Zhou had some stomach discomfort before, and he usually has no appetite when eating." Chang An smiled and patted Gao Shi's shoulder. "Today, with Brother Gao by my side, everyone ate a lot. Even Brother Mo Jie, who usually eats little, ate two more bowls of glutinous rice balls."

Gao Shi looked at Wang Wei beside him blankly again, only to see that Wang Wei had just put down the second bowl of glutinous rice balls and took a sip of tea with some satisfaction.

"Forget it, forget it. Don't worry about it." Seeing him like this, Chang An simply told him not to think about it.

"Wang Mojie, Gao Shi, we have enough guest rooms here. Would you like to stay overnight?" Chang Wenmeng said as he asked the servants to clear the table.

"This..." Wang Wei and Gao Shi looked at each other.

Chang Wenmeng then continued, "On New Year's Eve, it is natural for the family to get together to reunite. And I have also said that today you two are members of our Chang Mansion's family, but I wonder if you two can give me a little face?"

Since Chang Wenmeng said so, Wang Wei and Gao Shi could not refuse and had to sit down where they were. Then Chang Wenmeng ordered two servants to prepare a guest room for them.

Gu Ke's family and Zhou Kuangping and his wife all needed to return home, so Chang Wenmeng ordered the servants to prepare gifts to send to them.

The remaining three members of the Chang family, Gao Shi and Wang Wei also entered the main hall. At this time, a charcoal basin was placed in the middle of the main hall, and couches were placed around the charcoal basin.

"Brother Mojie, Brother Gao, did you enjoy the meal today?" Chang An asked as he led Gu Li to sit down.

"Thanks to Brother Yonghe and Brother Gao, the food is very good." Wang Wei smiled and sat down in front of the charcoal basin, tidying up his clothes to make them look neater. Gao Shi sat next to Wang Wei and scratched his head a little embarrassedly.

Zhen'er brought the medicine over on time, but Chang'an called her at this time: "Zhen'er?"

"Sir, I'm here."

"Go find Huaiqin and come here with her." Chang An ordered.

Soon, Zhen'er brought Huaiqin to the main hall. When Chang'an saw them, he asked, "Huaiqin, how long have you been following me?"

"Sir, it's been ten years." Huaiqin didn't know why Chang'an asked this.

"Then you are considered our family, let's celebrate the New Year together." Chang An said, then glanced at Gu Li and asked, "Has Zhen'er also been with you since childhood?"

Gu Li nodded and said, "Zhen'er, come and sit with us."

"You've been serving me for so long. Even if we're not family anymore, we'll soon become family. Let's celebrate the New Year together." Chang An said with a smile.

Huaiqin and Zhen'er had no choice but to sit down. Chang'an turned around and found that Gu Li was counting on his fingers: "One, two, three... ten, eleven."

Chang An asked curiously, "What's wrong, Gu Niang? What are you calculating?"

"Ah..." Gu Li quickly put his hands behind his back and said nervously, "No, no, it doesn't matter."

Chang An raised his eyebrows, leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Forget about the eleventh day, it seems to be my birthday, Chang Lang?"

After he finished speaking, he slyly touched the top of Gu Li's head, which made Gu Li a little nervous, so nervous that he blushed. But he still said very hard: "No... No!"

"Really not?" Chang An narrowed his eyes and looked at him with a scrutinizing gaze.

This made Gu Li even more nervous. She even swallowed nervously, but still insisted: "No... I'm not calculating Chang Lang's birthday..."

Seeing Gu Li's slightly red eyes, Chang An did not continue teasing her. Instead, he reached out and touched her head, saying lovingly, "If Gu Niang doesn't intend to tell me, I won't ask."

He patted the top of her head, comforted her a little, then looked up: Huaiqin and Zhen'er were playing cat's tangle; while Chang Wenmeng was communicating with Wang Wei and Gao Shi, and they glanced at Chang An while talking.

At this moment, Chang An suddenly felt his hand being held. He turned his head to look at Gu Li beside him with some confusion and found that she was looking at him with a soft light in her eyes.

"What's wrong again?" Chang An leaned close to her ear and asked.

"Is this year considered the first year that Chang Lang and I have spent together?" Gu Li also asked in a low voice.

"Forget it, of course." Chang An said as a matter of course.

"Then..." Gu Li blushed again, "Can Chang Lang spend every year with Gu Niang from now on?"

"Of course, why not?" Chang An raised his eyebrows and said.

"I...what I meant is, it's just Chang Lang and I together." Gu Li looked at Chang An with expectant eyes.

"This... I'm afraid it won't work." Chang An thought for a moment and said.

Hearing this, Chang An felt that the little hand holding him loosened slightly, and the pair of eyes that were originally looking at him began to dim, looking very lost.

Yes, Chang Lang is so outstanding, talented, and skilled in martial arts. He is also very likely to pass the imperial examination. Who knows how many ladies will like Chang Lang. Isn't this a bit selfish of me?

At this moment, she heard someone say in her ear: "There should be three people, plus this one." Then she felt her belly being poked.

"What nonsense is Chang Lang talking about?" Gu Li pinched Chang An where no one could see and said, "Not yet."

As they were chatting, a heavy bell suddenly rang outside, indicating that the midnight hour had arrived and the new year had begun. Everyone stood up and, according to the rules, everyone present began to greet each other according to their seniority from youngest to oldest.

The youngest was Huaiqin, who was just over sixteen years old. She was the first to greet Chang Wenmeng, and then to greet Chang An. Then it was Zhener, who greeted Chang Wenmeng first and then Gu Li. Then Gao Shi was the third, followed by Gu Li, then Wang Wei, and finally Chang An.

"Then I am here too, wishing you all good health and happiness in the new year."

Chang Wenmeng was the last one to salute and congratulate everyone, but when Chang An looked at the sky outside, he didn't see any fireworks. It seemed that it was because of the different time, but it was better than being alone in the bustle.

Chang An thought so, took Gu Li's hand and went back to the room.