From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 782: Chapter 784: Handling

Gu Wenheng also received the news at the same time. He had not expected the Wu family to be the first to jump out.

Jin Qianqian said, "Since Wu Kun dared to open a restaurant to provoke us before, it’s no wonder his older brother has the nerve to target us.

"These aristocratic families have been entrenched here for years. The government has always deferred to them, which made them forget their place."

As for the Wu family, Jin Qianqian only had a faint impression of a few of the leading madams in their inner courtyard. Being a large aristocratic family, they had likely divided their household countless times, leaving several leading madams across both the main and branch bloodlines.

Gu Wenheng had long been displeased with these aristocratic families. In such an impoverished province, they monopolized all means of livelihood, making it incredibly difficult for the commoners at the bottom to survive.

If anyone touched their interests, these families would unite to squeeze them out, resulting in a situation where no one in Yi Province dared to cross them. Even government officials stationed here tried their best to avoid clashing with them.

"This time is actually an opportunity. It just depends on what Lord Liang chooses to do."

Jin Qianqian, however, was not so optimistic. "Governor Liang has been here for many years. It seems that the officials in the local bureaucracy and these aristocratic families share a tacit understanding. They seem to have agreed not to interfere with each other.

"To be honest, this matter doesn’t really affect Governor Liang much at all. Would he be willing to stick his neck out for us?"

Even if those people had spread rumors by using the servants around his wife, it was merely a case of them being used. He wasn’t deeply involved in the situation.

Gu Wenheng said, "I’ve discussed this issue with him before, and it’s quite a helpless situation.

"These aristocratic families control the economic lifeline of Yi Province. Many industries are directly or indirectly in their hands.

"If they banded together to resist, it would truly be difficult to handle.

"Moreover, these people are quite smart. They know the government’s bottom line and carefully tread right up to the edge without crossing it. Even if we wanted to make trouble for them, we wouldn’t be able to find an excuse.

"Now that Wu Hao has provoked us first, if they don’t want to break the current balance, I suspect the other aristocratic families will definitely abandon him.

"However, the initiative is no longer in their hands. Since they’ve already made their move, and he is a member of an aristocratic family, they can’t simply wash their hands of it anymore.

"Regardless, this time, they will have to show where they stand. This is also the best moment for the official family to turn the tables."

Jin Qianqian said, "Hearing you say this, it seems I’ve moved their cheese."

The few businesses under her management were now booming, and Gu Wenheng had also brought a glimmer of vitality to the local people. Given such a huge variable, it was no wonder that some within the aristocratic families couldn’t sit still.

Gu Wenheng said, "Everything here is far too stale; it’s about time for a shake-up.

"As for this cheese, even if you hadn’t touched it, someone else would have reached for it sooner or later.

"I originally thought they would wait a bit longer. I didn’t expect the moment to arrive so quickly."

Gu Wenheng was waiting now. Governor Liang should be sending someone to invite him over soon. After all, the opposing side had targeted them from the very beginning. Sure enough, not long after the two had spoken, Xu Dawang came to inform them that a steward from the governor’s mansion had arrived with an invitation.

As for the cause and effect of the incident, Liang Shi had his subordinates hand over the results of the interrogation for Gu Wenheng to read personally.

Gu Wenheng had not expected that the person targeting them this time would actually be an old acquaintance.

Liang Shi asked, "Mr. Gu, do you hold a grudge against this Marquis Bai?"

Liang Shi kept an inquiring gaze on him, silently weighing the pros and cons in his heart.

Gu Wenheng sighed. "This subordinate also didn’t expect it to be him. To be honest, I won’t hide it from Lord Liang..."

Gu Wenheng gave a brief recount of how he met Bai Jinglie and all the subsequent encounters they shared.

"This subordinate doesn’t know why he would target us this time," Gu Wenheng said. Naturally, he wouldn’t bring up the sea trade at a time like this. Liang Shi had his own information channels, and he might already be well aware of it.

"Since they have already confessed, this subordinate believes it’s best to tie them up and send them to Shangjing for Marquis Bai to handle."

Liang Shi, however, felt that this matter was a bit like a hot potato. He had never met Marquis Bai and naturally had no enmity with him. If they really had to get to the bottom of it, Gu Wenheng was the one who had provoked the trouble. If Liang Shi were to punish Marquis Bai’s people, he might genuinely forge a bitter feud.

How could Gu Wenheng not understand his implication? But to stir up trouble and just walk away like that—how could it be so easy?

"In that case, I’ll have to trouble Lord Liang to hand these two over to me. The gossip they spread in the city has affected my wife and me. This subordinate needs them to clarify the cause and effect of the situation in front of the local people for us."

Liang Shi had anticipated that Gu Wenheng might argue back or refuse to accept the outcome, but he hadn’t expected him to lay it all out so openly. If this matter spread, Marquis Bai’s reputation would be ruined. Gu Wenheng was practically trying to make an enemy out of him.

If this didn’t involve him, Liang Shi wouldn’t have cared how they fought. However, he was caught in the middle. He was the one who arrested the culprits and interrogated them. He truly didn’t want to wade into these muddy waters.

"Haven’t the rumors outside already died down? If we bring it up again, wouldn’t it..." Liang Shi looked at Gu Wenheng. "It’s best not to make any more noise about this matter, otherwise it won’t be good for your madam’s business.

"Everyone has finally forgotten about it, so just let the matter fade from public view.

"As for these two people, I can hand them over to you to deal with."

If Gu Wenheng could take them off his hands, Liang Shi would feel much more relieved. "But no matter what, the other party is still a Marquis. Mr. Gu should think twice before acting."

If the relationship soured, with the Marquis Mansion’s connections in Shangjing, it would be impossible for Gu Wenheng to gain any advantage.

Gu Wenheng thanked Liang Shi for his good intentions but still decided to take the people away himself.

Liang Shi thought it over again and again before finally telling his subordinates to process it. "In this way, this matter can be considered settled. As for that Winter Granny, I can also hand her indenture over to Mr. Gu to handle."

It was impossible for Gu Wenheng to take the woman in. He spoke very sincerely, "Lord Liang, although that old woman is a bit loose-lipped, she is actually quite innocent when you get down to it.

"I imagine that after this lesson, she won’t dare to gossip anymore.

"She belongs to Lady Liang, so having Lady Liang give her a stern warning will suffice. This subordinate still has to go back and figure out how to handle the next steps, so I won’t disturb you any longer."

Liang Shi was merely putting on a show of attitude. To be honest, it was for the best if they didn’t take his people away.

After Gu Wenheng led the people away, Lady Liang couldn’t wait any longer and barged in.

"Daughter of the He Family, where are your manners? Is this a place a woman like you can come?" Liang Shi hadn’t expected Mrs. Liang He to be so bold as to barge into the front yard. This was his daily office space. Except for his personal attendants, ordinary people were not allowed to enter.

"Master, I’ve heard all about this. It has absolutely nothing to do with Winter Granny.

"These are all underhanded tricks played by Gu Wenheng and his enemies. Winter Granny and I are both victims! Previously, Inspection Commissioner Gu self-righteously demanded that we give him an explanation. Shouldn’t we be the ones marching to their door to demand an explanation now?

"We were clearly implicated for no reason, yet he just brushed it off and took the people away?"