From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 689: Chapter 691: Scheming

No matter how much He Tiping pleaded, he couldn’t get the Gu family sisters-in-law to yield. Clutching his bundle, he departed, looking back every few steps.

Liu Liu shook her head. "I really don’t know if he’s finally thought things through or if someone else gave him the idea. Does he really think a few pleas would be enough to make us do what he wants?"

Wang Caiyue stood with her hands on her hips, her lips curling as she spoke. "He was smart this time, at least. He didn’t bring the He family’s old madam or his brother and sister-in-law. If he had, I wouldn’t have wasted so much time on him. I would have just cursed him out and sent him on his way."

"Alright, his approach saved us some trouble.

If we can settle things peacefully, who wants to be shouting and screaming every day?

Besides, the Gu family isn’t what it used to be. If we cause a huge scene, outsiders who don’t know the full story might think we’re using our position to bully people."

After saying her piece, Xie Ruyi clapped her hands and started walking back toward the village. She didn’t forget to greet the onlookers who had gathered to watch the excitement, inviting everyone to come over for tea when they had time.

「Stone Village」

Li Chuncao sat in the newlywed’s chamber, dressed in her wedding gown. But there was no trace of a new bride’s joy on her face; instead, it was a mask of grim resentment.

She had been living as a guest in the Shi family home, and things had been peaceful enough.

Because she had a step-brother of the same age, she had done her best to avoid him.

She had no idea why she had woken up that one day to find herself lying in her step-brother’s room.

She was met with her own mother’s disbelieving eyes and endless accusations.

She’d have to be a fool not to realize she’d been set up. ’I just wonder if my hysterical mother had a hand in this?’

After that, she was never given a chance to speak. In less than two days, her marriage was settled. She wasn’t even of age yet, but she was already married into the Shi family.

It wasn’t that she didn’t resist. But faced with one wave of persuasion after another, she eventually gave in.

"You’re not of age yet, so I’ll have Lai Cai sleep in a room in the back courtyard," Gu Yuanfeng said, bringing her a bowl of food. "Don’t blame me. What’s done is done.

From now on, with your mother here to help you and your younger brother in this family, you won’t be bullied.

As long as we women stick together, Shi Laicai won’t dare to treat you poorly."

"Was this your scheme all along?"

Gu Yuanfeng looked at Li Chuncao with a complicated expression. "Whether you believe me or not, I truly knew nothing about this from start to finish.

I may be a little selfish, but I know who’s family and who isn’t.

You and your sister may not be close to me, but you’re still closer than Shi Laicai and his sister.

I also wanted to marry you to someone from a better family. That way, you could have helped your brother in the future."

Li Chuncao believed her. "When all is said and done, Shi Laiyun is still the most important one in your heart.

If you still see me as your daughter, can you please send Chun Ya back to the Gu family?

They schemed against me today. Do you think they won’t scheme against Chun Ya tomorrow?"

She had raised Chun Ya herself. Her own life was already ruined; she didn’t want her younger sister to follow in her footsteps.

"I’d like to, but your maternal grandmother won’t take her in.

Don’t worry. With you and me here, don’t you think the two of us can protect Chun Ya?"

Li Chuncao fell silent. ’It’s because you’re here that I’m even more worried.’

In the back courtyard of the Shi residence, Shi Dayong and his children were also discussing the matter.

Shi Dayong looked coldly at Shi Laicai and Shi Niu. "Are you satisfied now? You didn’t even think to discuss such a huge matter with me beforehand.

The relationship I worked so hard to maintain has been nearly ruined by the reckless actions of you two."

Shi Niu replied, "Father, aren’t you happy? When you were receiving guests outside, you were smiling from ear to ear.

You and Eldest Brother both married women from the Gu family. Doesn’t that make our families even closer?"

"Do you really think people can’t see this was all a setup?" Shi Dayong glared at his daughter. "The matter was blown open, and they only acknowledged it because they didn’t want to tarnish their reputation any further.

But you two... this time, you’ve completely dragged our Shi family’s reputation through the mud."

"Father, this was all my idea," Shi Laicai said, stepping in front of his sister. "I know you and that woman were planning to arrange a marriage for me, and I’m sure you know what kind of family you were looking for.

Weren’t you just looking for someone meek and easy to control, someone who would come here and wait on that woman?

Isn’t this much better? We got her own daughter to be her daughter-in-law, who also comes with a large dowry. In the future, with my connections to my new maternal uncles, I won’t have to work as hard as others."

By cementing this connection, calling them ’maternal uncle’ is now completely justified. It’s not like before, when outsiders would introduce us merely as Gu Yuanfeng’s stepchildren—that relationship was far more distant.

"Sigh... look at you two. You still don’t get it.

Do you think that just because you’ve forced this connection, you can rest easy now?

This scheme of yours has put us at a disadvantage in the eyes of others."

"So what? They have to acknowledge this relationship whether they want to or not," Shi Laicai said, his tone firm. "Li Chuncao has been by the old madam’s side for so long; her bond with her is no worse than that woman’s.

Besides, marrying Li Chuncao is better than marrying any of the women you would have found for me. At least she’s been educated in a school for a long time. When we go out, it gives me face.

Look at the people who came to the banquet today. They might have said some sour words, but who knows how envious they really are on the inside.

What does losing a little face matter? What’s important is the real benefits we’ve gained."

Shi Dayong was speechless. "..."

Everyone in the Shi family had their own agenda. The peaceful life Shi Dayong had worked so hard to maintain quickly vanished, replaced by constant chaos that gave Stone Village plenty to talk about.

「Yongchang County」

Gu Wenheng was still waiting for the official documents and initial funding from his superiors when an old acquaintance arrived instead.

When Ning Yuchen came to call, it took Gu Wenheng a long moment to process it.

"What an ill-fated connection," Gu Wenheng muttered, shaking his head. He guessed Ning Yuchen had been assigned to this region.

Since the man had come all this way to see him, he couldn’t very well refuse.

He had someone show Ning Yuchen to a side hall for tea, then finished processing the official documents he had brought back for the day before finally leaving his study.

"Lord Ning, my apologies for the delay. I had some matters to attend to," Gu Wenheng said as soon as he entered the room.

"Not at all," Ning Yuchen said, quickly standing to bow. His attitude was much more respectful than before. "It was presumptuous of this subordinate to disturb you. Please forgive me, Mr. Gu."

Gu Wenheng took the host’s seat. "Please, sit, Lord Ning. It’s a long journey. You must be tired."

"It is to be expected. I haven’t officially reported it yet, Mr. Gu, but this subordinate has been appointed as the Assistant Magistrate of He Xi County. When I realized you were in Yongchang County, I took the liberty of stopping by to pay my respects."

Having spent the last several days studying the region, Gu Wenheng knew the local geography like the back of his hand. The route to He Xi County didn’t pass through Yongchang County at all. This fellow had intentionally taken a detour. Besides making his presence known, it was more likely he wanted to borrow the influence of Gu Wenheng’s position as Inspector General.

If it had been anyone else, Gu Wenheng wouldn’t have given it much thought.

But Ning Yuchen had always been unfriendly toward him, even scheming against him several times. He had no desire to associate with such a person.