From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 620: Chapter 622: The Letter

Xu Nuo was once again the target of misplaced anger. But she had received many such looks these past few days and was already used to it.

Gu Lehuan reached out from under the table and squeezed Xu Nuo’s hand. "Mother, how about I go talk to Grandma and the others later? We can go back to Shangjing a little later."

Joy flashed across Wang Caiyue’s face, but it instantly turned pale again. "What’s there to talk about? If you want to leave early, then leave early! Don’t think for a second I care.

Besides, you’re all grown up now. You’ve got a wife and forgotten your mother."

Hearing this, Gu Yuanmu’s face darkened. "When my mother said those exact words, what did you say back to her?"

He didn’t want to repeat her sharp, harsh reply in front of his son and daughter-in-law.

In retrospect, he felt he had truly failed as a son.

The older he got, and with his son now married and with his own small family, the more it all resonated with him.

"..." Wang Caiyue had clearly remembered it too. Feeling her son’s scrutinizing gaze, she slammed her hand on the table. "I’m not eating! There’s no place for me in this family anymore anyway. Do whatever you want!"

Gu Yuanmu didn’t move as he watched her run back to her room. Instead, he beckoned to the young couple. "She won’t starve. Let’s eat."

How could Gu Lehuan and Xu Nuo possibly eat after that? They took a few token bites and made an excuse to leave.

Gu Yuanmu, his face dark, went to their room. "Mrs. Wang, you’ve gone too far these past few days.

Do you really want to push our son away?"

"Am I the one trying to push him away? His heart isn’t here anymore.

Do you really think my old eyes are so dim that I couldn’t see the joy on his face and in his eyes the moment he heard he was going back to Shangjing?

What have I done to deserve this? I raised him all this time, and now he belongs to someone else." Wang Caiyue wiped her tears. She felt she was the one who had been deeply wronged lately, but this wooden man Gu Yuanmu hadn’t even noticed and was taking their son’s side instead.

Gu Yuanmu replied, "Didn’t you once tell my mother that when a tree grows large, its branches will part? Our son is just walking the same path we did. What’s the difference?

Besides, even though he’ll be far away, our son has never neglected his filial duties to us. Aren’t you always delighted whenever we receive gifts from him sent from Shangjing?"

Wang Caiyue: "..."

"Alright, this is just one son leaving, and you’re already acting like it’s the end of the world.

Think about what my mother had to face back then—several formidable daughters-in-law like you. Now think about Xu Nuo. In comparison, you’re much more fortunate than my mother ever was."

Gu Yuanmu thought he was speaking great truths, but he never imagined that every word would be like a knife twisting in Wang Caiyue’s heart.

Seeing the ugly expression on her face, Gu Yuanmu shook his head and walked out. "You really need to learn from Mother about being more magnanimous. No matter how upset she was back then, she never said a word."

Wang Caiyue: "..."

The Gu family brothers were all in the courtyard, looking at Hu Dong with excited faces.

Hu Dong hadn’t dared to delay for a moment. The second he entered the village, he was surrounded by the brothers and escorted to the Old Madam’s residence.

"This is the master’s letter. I brought it over without delay the moment I received it."

Li Cuicui took the letter, turning it over and over. Unfortunately, while the characters on it might recognize her, she didn’t recognize them.

"Fourth, you’re the most literate of all the brothers. You read it." Without hesitating, she thrust it at Gu Yuanshui.

The letter was just as they had guessed: it was about his return to Shangjing to report for duty.

It also mentioned that if he had time, he would return to his hometown to visit his parents and elders.

Fortunately, the place they now lived wasn’t far from Shangjing, so the possibility of him returning home was quite high.

"Good," Li Cuicui smiled. "It will be nice for him to come back for a visit. The whole family hasn’t been together in a long time."

Gu Yuanjin asked, "Mother, should I still go to Shangjing?"

Li Cuicui was also hesitant. She turned to Hu Dong. "It doesn’t mention a date of return. The journey takes time. Roughly how long until they arrive?"

Hu Dong calculated for a moment. "This letter didn’t come via the official post house; it was brought by a merchant caravan, so it was delayed for quite a while. The master and his party might already be on their way. At the latest, they’ll arrive in a little over half a month. At the earliest, it could be within a few days."

"In that case, Eldest, you shouldn’t go for now. When your seventh brother and his family return, there will be a ton of things to handle. Won’t you just be in the way?

Besides, you don’t know anyone or anything there; you wouldn’t be much help. It’s better to let Le Huan go back first. He can lend a hand if anything is needed."

Li Cuicui spoke this way because she knew that Ancient Wen Heng and his family didn’t really need any help. Furthermore, the Gu Family couldn’t offer much assistance anyway and might even cause more trouble if they went.

Gu Lehuan and his wife were different. They were a married couple with a place to stay in Shangjing, so moving about wouldn’t be a burden.

Gu Yuanjin was a little disappointed. "I was hoping to take this opportunity to visit Shangjing. Looks like I’ll have to wait until next time."

Li Cuicui ignored him and turned to Hu Dong with an exceptionally kind smile. "Manager Hu, you’ve worked hard. We’re always making you run around for our family’s affairs."

Li Cuicui was one of the few who knew the inside story about Hu Dong. Although he had signed an indenture with her son’s family, that indenture had never been filed with the government office. He was free to leave at any time.

He was a rare and capable subordinate working for her daughter-in-law, so naturally, she wanted to win him over and was especially polite to him.

"Madam, you’re too kind. This is all part of my duty." Hu Dong bowed slightly. "I am also preparing to travel to Shangjing in a few days to await the masters’ arrival. If anyone from the estate wishes to go as well, we can travel together."

"That’s perfect," Li Cuicui immediately agreed with a smile. "As you know, our Le Huan is heading to Shangjing after his wedding celebration. I’ll have to trouble you to look after the young couple then."

"It’s my duty," Hu Dong said, having already expected this. "As it happens, the escort agency has a shipment heading to Shangjing in three days. I’ll have to ask Young Master Le Huan to meet us in the county town beforehand."

Gu Yuanmu immediately stood up and said, "I’ll go tell him right away. He definitely won’t be late."

* * *

「Shangjing」

Lately, Shangjing had been exceptionally lively. Everyone was endlessly discussing the same topic, with new rumors and theories cropping up every day.

In the Hanlin Academy, Ning Yuchen felt like he was drowning in a vat of pickled vegetables.

’Is there nothing else to talk about all day? They just go on and on about Ancient Wen Heng.’ He couldn’t help but mutter upon hearing it again.

"Lord Ning, it can’t be helped. Everyone is curious about where Ancient Wen Heng will be assigned.

He came from our Hanlin Academy. For him to achieve so much, we also get to share in the glory." Cao Shijiang spoke with great magnanimity, but if he could have controlled his facial expression a bit better, he might have been more convincing.

"So what?" Ning Yuchen had no intention of playing along. He wouldn’t speak well of Ancient Wen Heng, not even with false sincerity.

"He’s definitely coming back for a promotion, right? He probably looks down on us here at the Hanlin Academy now."