From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 765: Chapter 767: Dai Ling

Gu Shulin had made this trip specifically for Gu Yi’s wedding. After resting in the estate for two days, Dai Ling started busying herself alongside Jin Qianqian.

The couple knew absolutely nothing about the local customs. Even though Jin Qianqian had already arranged for someone to explain everything to them in detail, they were still afraid of making mistakes in their haste.

"Could you take a look at these gifts for me and see if anything is inappropriate?" Dai Ling felt increasingly anxious the closer the wedding date approached.

Jin Qianqian asked a nearby older servant woman to inventory everything again and report back once she was certain there were no issues.

"I wonder if this Miss Hou will be easy to get along with. My heart is just constantly doing flips."

"Auntie, let’s relax," Jin Qianqian said. "Gu Yi passing the examination to become a Scholar this time has already added a wonderful touch to this marriage.

"Besides, didn’t I tell you? The girl is very quiet and easy to get along with.

"If we treat her with sincerity, she will return it in kind. Life will definitely be good."

Jin Qianqian was gently reminding Dai Ling that as long as she treated her future daughter-in-law genuinely, the younger woman would certainly reciprocate. If she constantly used filial piety to suppress her, everyone’s lives would be miserable. Why bother?

"I just can’t shake this uncertainty. After all, we’re marrying above our station." Dai Ling still felt awkward. Her future daughter-in-law was born into an aristocratic family, while they were people who dealt with the land. She was terrified they wouldn’t have any common ground.

Jin Qianqian didn’t know how to comfort her anymore. She hadn’t expected pre-wedding jitters to appear in the mother-in-law at this juncture.

"I heard these prominent families have a lot of rules, but I don’t understand any of them. Could you find someone to teach me?"

Jin Qianqian was speechless. She had heard of setting rules for a daughter-in-law, but never of a mother-in-law wanting to learn rules. How was she supposed to answer that?

"Auntie, you really don’t need to worry about this," Jin Qianqian said after a long pause. "Once she enters our family, she will naturally follow our family’s rules."

"But what rules does our family have?" Dai Ling asked. "It seems like we don’t have any."

Jin Qianqian almost choked on her breath and coughed a few times in a hurry. "How can you say our family has no rules? What about the clan rules?

"We don’t fuss over the minor rules; we only uphold the major ones."

"Will that work?" Dai Ling asked hesitantly.

"It will work. Why wouldn’t it? You’ve been staying with me for a few days now. Do you see any strict rules here?

"We are living our lives, not living to serve rules.

"Don’t be intimidated by the phrase ’aristocratic family.’ A lot of the time, they are even less rule-abiding than us country folk.

"If you feel you’ve finished the tasks at hand, how about I have someone take you for a stroll around the city?

"There are some pretty nice things here. If you find anything interesting, you can give it a try."

Frightened, Dai Ling hastily shook her head and waved her hands. "I am absolutely unwilling to try those bugs and such! Looking at them is fine, but putting them in my mouth is out of the question."

On the journey here, she had heard her son recount many amusing anecdotes, including the great feats Gu Benluo had previously accomplished.

"Some of the local flowers are quite nice," Jin Qianqian clarified. "They like to add them to pastries, and they taste pretty good. How about I have someone bring some in for you to try?"

Hearing that it wasn’t bugs, Dai Ling quietly breathed a sigh of relief. "I was making a fuss over nothing. I’ve made a fool of myself in front of you."

"What are you saying, Auntie?" Jin Qianqian replied. "I was terrified back then too. It’s my fault for not explaining it clearly just now and causing a misunderstanding."

On Gu Wenheng’s end, he had also managed to squeeze out some rare free time to take Gu Shulin for a stroll around the streets.

At this moment, wearing casual clothes, he stepped into Tianfu Restaurant.

A waiter was just about to come over and bow, but Gu Wenheng stopped him with a raised hand. "Send some tea to the private room."

They had a permanently reserved private room here, so Gu Wenheng headed straight upstairs.

A nearby customer took offense. "Waiter, didn’t you just say there were no private rooms available? How come they get to go in?"

"I booked this in advance." Gu Wenheng nodded politely at the man. This was, after all, his wife’s restaurant, so he felt he should at least offer an explanation.

But the other party wasn’t buying it. "What kind of nonsense is booking in advance? First come, first served—do you understand that?

"We clearly got here first! Even if there is a private room, you should let us in first.

"I see there are only a few of you anyway. Just pick any table in the main hall. I have guests to entertain shortly. Give the private room to me, and I’ll reward you with this."

With that, the man pulled out some silver coins from his waist pouch, weighing about two or three taels.

"I’m truly sorry," Gu Wenheng said. "I’m also using it to entertain a guest."

He continued walking upstairs. He didn’t want to waste his breath on someone who couldn’t be reasoned with.

The man wanted to say more, but Minghai had already stepped in front of him. "Honored guest, if you have an issue, let’s step over here to discuss it."

As soon as Gu Wenheng entered the private room, a staff member brought up the tea.

Gu Shulin sat opposite him and marveled, "Qianqian’s restaurant has even opened all the way out here. Business looks really good."

Gu Wenheng had been busy recently and hadn’t visited for a while. "It might just be a recent surge. Business used to be rather average."

The waiter standing off to the side kept his head down. A while ago, the Tianle Restaurant across the street had been booming with business, and Mr. Wu had walked around all day with a long face. But over these past few days of average business, they had actually noticed a smile returning to Mr. Wu’s face.

"As long as you are doing well, we can rest easy back home," Gu Shulin said, cradling his teacup with a face full of smiles. "When I left, my father repeatedly instructed me to see how you were living so I could report back to him.

"When I go back this time, I reckon he’ll keep me talking for days and nights on end just to satisfy his curiosity."

"Uncle Sanbu is just getting a bit old," Gu Wenheng said. "Otherwise, I would genuinely welcome him to come for a visit as well.

"But it doesn’t matter. When you head back, I’ll prepare some local specialties. Getting to taste the regional delicacies is just as good."

"Just some ordinary side dishes will do," Gu Shulin said hesitantly. "I’m afraid his stomach won’t be able to handle anything too exotic."

Gu Wenheng instantly understood and laughed. "Don’t worry. There are some things that even I can’t stomach."

"Since Dai Ling isn’t here right now, I’ll just ask some questions directly." Gu Shulin looked at Gu Wenheng, knowing this was a rare opportunity.

"Uncle Shulin, I know your concerns. This marriage is only beneficial to us; there are no downsides.

"There is just one thing: Gu Yi will continue living here for the next few years, so he won’t be able to fulfill his filial duties by the Old Clan Leader’s side."

Gu Wenheng understood that the Old Clan Leader had undoubtedly asked Gu Shulin to inquire on his behalf. For the sake of the entire clan, Gu Sanbu had to consider every matter from multiple angles.

"My father is just worried that we might reap the benefits while causing trouble for you," Gu Shulin said.

"Before I left, he specifically instructed me that if any of these youngsters let this go to their heads or cause any trouble, you should just punish them as you see fit. He will take responsibility for whatever happens."