From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 682: Chapter 684: Some Other Day

He Nan stopped and looked at him. "Lord Ning, my sincerest apologies. My wife sent a messenger today to inform me of a matter at home, so I must be getting back early. Perhaps another day!"

Ning Yuchen knew this was just a polite refusal. He Nan had used this kind of excuse many times before.

"No matter what it is, surely it won’t keep you from a meal." Having already made the invitation, he wasn’t going to give up so easily.

He Nan started walking toward the exit. "If Lord Ning is looking for a dining companion, I’m sure many would be willing. I truly have urgent business and cannot get away. I’ll take my leave now."

Seeing the carriage at the gate, He Nan stepped onto the mounting block prepared by the driver and entered the carriage without a backward glance.

Having failed to secure his company again, Ning Yuchen’s face darkened as he walked off in the other direction.

Their previous landlord had demanded they move out. After negotiations failed, he had been forced to rent another place nearby. It cost the same, but the courtyard was half the size.

The only silver lining was that he no longer had to walk as far, saving him a considerable amount of time.

Fang Yuan heard a knock and was about to open the door when a figure suddenly rushed past, beating her to it.

She gave a cold smirk and turned back into the side room.

"Brother Ning, why are you back so early? Didn’t you say you had an engagement?"

She had been forced to give up the house Ning Yuchen had previously rented for her, as she could no longer afford the rent.

With nowhere else to go, she had no choice but to move in with the Ning Family.

"You shouldn’t have troubled yourself. Why were you the one opening the door?" Ning Yuchen asked casually.

"I was just doing some chores in the courtyard when I heard your footsteps and knew you had returned.

You’ve been working all day. Go on inside and rest for a bit. I’ll bring you some tea."

"I can’t have you doing such menial chores. Where is the serving woman?"

Now that the family’s living space had been downsized, they only had two maidservants and one older serving woman left.

Lady Yao replied, "I’m idle all day at home. I’d feel terrible just eating for free, so I help out with whatever I can.

Brother Ning, you mustn’t blame Sister-in-law. It was my own idea to do this."

"You’re a guest, no matter what. I’ll have a word with your sister-in-law. You shouldn’t be doing these chores from now on." Ning Yuchen’s mind was preoccupied, so he answered perfunctorily and headed for his study.

Lady Yao was left speechless. "..."

Her expression faltered, especially when she heard the study door close.

Just then, Madam Ning emerged from her room, feeling her way forward with the help of a maidservant. "Is Yu Chen back?"

"Aunty, Brother Ning is back. But he must have some business to attend to; he went straight to his study."

"Lady Yao, why are you alone in the courtyard? Where is Mrs. Fang? Her own husband returns, and she isn’t even here to attend to him."

She might be old and blind, but her heart was sharp. Mrs. Fang hadn’t said a word lately, just sulked around the house all day as if the world owed her something.

"Sister-in-law must have gone to her room. Madam Ning, did you need her for something? If it’s nothing important, I can do it." Lady Yao moved to support Madam Ning.

"It’s nothing important." Old Mrs. Ning felt a pair of hands take her arm and promptly shrugged them off. "Besides, you are a guest my son brought home. I wouldn’t dare ask you to lift a finger.

It’s just... you’ve been away from home for a long time now. Haven’t you given any thought to your future?"

Ever since Xiao Wanyu stirred up so much trouble, Madam Ning had harbored a deep distrust for women with ulterior motives.

Her son had finally managed to escape the shadows of his past and get his life back on track. She couldn’t let this woman drag him down again.

While she wouldn’t mind her son enjoying the company of more than one woman, she simply couldn’t stomach the idea of a widow. She truly looked down on her.

Once Yu Chen worked hard for a few more years and earned a promotion, it wouldn’t be out of the question for him to bring another high-born lady into the family.

"Madam Ning, I have had a bitter fate," Lady Yao began, her tears immediately welling up. She dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. "It’s my lack of fortune that has led me to be a disturbance to you. Starting tomorrow, I’ll find some work nearby so I won’t be a burden to the family anymore."

Madam Ning cursed internally, ’...Who cares if you find work? This would only ruin the Ning Family’s reputation! Letting a guest go out to work... would my son have any honor left?’

"What I mean is, you must have relatives. You’ve been away for so long, they must be worried about you."

Anyone with a bit of sense would have taken that as a cue to offer their departure, but Lady Yao refused to take the hint.

"As you know, Madam Ning, I’ve lived a hard life these past years. Ever since my engagement with Brother Ning was broken, it’s been like my days are steeped in bitterness.

I’ve been wanting to leave all this time, but Brother Ning feels he owes me a great deal. He insists I stay to give him a chance to make it up to me, and I simply can’t refuse him."

"And how does he plan to ’make it up to you’?" Madam Ning’s voice grew cold. ’A widow whose engagement was broken dares to covet my son.’

Lady Yao replied, "That I don’t know. Perhaps Madam Ning could ask him for me?"

’I’ve been here so many days, and Ning Yuchen still hasn’t given me a straight answer. If he wants me to be a concubine, I’d rather it be here in the Ning Family. After all, this place should have been mine to begin with.’

Madam Ning said, "I can make this decision on my son’s behalf. I will give you some silver. One shouldn’t be too greedy. Our family already compensated you when the engagement was called off.

My son only brought you back now because he took pity on you and couldn’t bear to see you homeless on the streets.

I can give you another ten taels of silver. That should be more than enough for your journey home."

Lady Yao lowered her head. "I will do whatever Brother Ning arranges for me."

’Trying to get rid of me with just ten taels of silver? If that’s all I wanted, why would I have gone through all this trouble?’

That night, after dinner, Madam Ning summoned Ning Yuchen to her room to ask him how he planned to deal with Lady Yao.

Ning Yuchen had been agonizing over a potential out-of-town assignment recently. Now, with Old Mrs. Ning meddling in this as well, he felt like his head was about to burst.

"Mother, she’s just one woman. How much can she possibly eat? Let’s just let her stay for now. I’ll find a suitable place for her in a few days.

After all, our family did wrong her in the past. It’s only for a short time. Can’t you just put up with it?"

"This isn’t a question of whether I can put up with it. I’m genuinely scared. Have you forgotten about Aunt Xiao all those years ago? She nearly tore our family apart! Now you’re bringing another woman just like her into our home. Aren’t you afraid of making the same mistake all over again?"

"That’s completely different. The business with Xiao Wanyu was so long ago. What’s the point of bringing it up now?

Mother, please don’t offend her in the coming days. I have an important use for Lady Yao."

Old Mrs. Ning was unconvinced. "What nonsense are you talking about? What ’important use’ could a woman possibly have?

I know you still have feelings for her, but you must listen to me. Our family can’t withstand any more drama right now.

When you have a successful official career, it would be perfectly fine to marry even a high-born lady. But a village girl like her... she is simply not worthy of you."

Ning Yuchen said, "Mother, you’ve misunderstood. I have no romantic interest in her whatsoever."

He lowered his voice. "Do you remember what Lady Yao used to look like?"

"Of course I remember," Madam Ning said, lost in recollection. "My eyesight was still good back then."