From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 793: Chapter 795: News

Jin Qianqian received even more detailed information than what Gu Wenheng had managed to gather.

Xu Nuo frequently returned to visit her children over the years, giving her more contact with the Gu family and a more comprehensive understanding of the situation.

Jin Qianqian hadn’t expected Gu Dashi’s health to deteriorate over the past two years. It seemed the letters from home had only reported good news while hiding the bad.

"What about the old madam?" Jin Qianqian didn’t have a good impression of Gu Dashi. After expressing a few words of perfunctory concern, she immediately asked about Li Cuicui.

Having been married into the Gu family for years, Xu Nuo naturally knew that the Gu Family Brothers respected old Madam Li Cuicui far more.

She smiled and replied, "Grandmother is still hale and hearty. When my Yunnan went back previously, she even took the child for a long stroll around the village.

"It’s just that she constantly talks about you. She said that if the journey wasn’t so long, she would have loved to visit you."

In front of the younger generation, Jin Qianqian naturally had to say a few pleasantries. "The Master and I have been unfilial. With neither of us there to serve the old madam all these years, it’s been hard on you all."

Because of the long distances, they often traveled directly between posts when rushing to assume new offices. Counting the years, they hadn’t returned to the village in a long time.

How could Xu Nuo dare to accept such words? She hastily said with trepidation, "It hasn’t been easy for you and Seventh Uncle out there all these years either. Our clan only has such prestige because of Seventh Uncle’s hard work.

"Grandmother often says that we’re only able to live these good days thanks to the blessings you and Seventh Uncle bring. We’re all deeply grateful.

"Besides, serving our elders is what we juniors are supposed to do.

"Le Huan and I have also been away all these years, so we are the truly unfilial ones."

Jin Qianqian was merely expressing a polite stance before moving on to ask about the rest of the family. Since Xu Nuo now had children, she was naturally even more eager to build a good relationship with Jin Qianqian and answered everything openly.

Relying on their secret tofu recipes and the guidance from Jin Qianqian’s letters, Gu Yuanjin and his brothers had developed many new varieties. Their business was booming in several nearby cities, and they had amassed quite a fortune.

As for Xu Nuo’s father-in-law and mother-in-law, because they had returned home relatively late, they hadn’t joined the tofu business. However, relying on the income from their estate, along with the filial respect Gu Lehuan and Gu Lexi had shown them over the years, they lived quite happily, much like minor landlords.

After Gu Letian returned home, it didn’t take Gu Yuanjin long to arrange a marriage for him. He now had two sons.

Besides Gu Yunrui, Gu Le Di had fathered two more sons.

As for Gu Lejia, Song Xiuyang hadn’t borne him a single child over the years. Since he hadn’t divorced her, he could only wait until he reached the appropriate age to take a respectable concubine to continue his family line.

The brothers who had followed Jin Qianqian and her husband to their posts had also gradually married over the years and had children of their own.

At this point, Xu Nuo made a special mention of Gu Yuanfeng. Shi Laiyun, the son Gu Yuanfeng gave birth to, had also come of age.

Because of her spoiling, the grown young man had achieved absolutely nothing. Now that he had reached marriageable age, Gu Yuanfeng actually went to their door to propose a marriage between him and Gu Lebao.

Gu Lebao was the youngest daughter of Gu Yuantu and Hong Daya. Ever since her birth, Hong Daya had even neglected Gule Shun, devoting all her doting love to Gu Lebao.

As soon as Hong Daya heard that Gu Yuanfeng had come to propose, she immediately jumped up, pointed at Gu Yuanfeng, and unleashed a torrent of abuse, scolding her son Shi Laiyun as worthless and practically dragging his name through the mud.

Shi Laiyun was Gu Yuanfeng’s only precious son, so naturally, she refused to swallow the insult. The two women fought over the matter for months on end.

Gu Yuanfeng even boldly declared that she was determined to have Gu Lebao as her daughter-in-law, and if she couldn’t, no one else would be allowed to marry her either.

Curious, Jin Qianqian asked, "And the rest of the family didn’t intervene?"

"It’s not that I, as a junior, like to speak ill of my elders," Xu Nuo replied. "It’s just that Aunt is too fierce. Anyone who tried to speak up for Fifth Aunt would have her blocking their doorway, cursing for half a day.

"In the end, Grandmother couldn’t stand it anymore. She led some people to drive Aunt out of the village, and only then did things quiet down.

"However, we received a letter from home a few days ago. In order to help her son marry Lebao, Aunt has been telling everyone she meets that the marriage between the two families is already settled. I reckon that when we return this time, the family will still be arguing over this."

Jin Qianqian rubbed her temples. She had long experienced Gu Yuanfeng’s endless pestering and unreasonable behavior. That woman was only tough at home, continuously stirring up trouble because she knew the old madam still cared about their mother-daughter bond.

Jin Qianqian really couldn’t understand what Gu Yuanfeng was thinking, offending all her brothers and sisters-in-law in her maiden home. Once the two elders passed away, how could a married-out aunt like her have any standing left there?

Thinking of a letter she had received previously mentioning Li Chuncao marrying into the Shi family, Jin Qianqian asked, "How is Chuncao doing nowadays?"

Back then, the girl had wanted to follow her but had been refused. Out of curiosity, Jin Qianqian decided to ask a bit more.

"You mean Chuncao? Speaking of her, it’s quite a pity.

"With Aunt’s temperament, having only Shi Laiyun in her heart and eyes, Chuncao doesn’t have an easy time being wed to the eldest son of the Shi family, caught in the middle.

"Especially since she’s only given birth to two daughters over the years. A few days ago, the eldest son of the Shi family even made a fuss about taking a concubine.

"In consideration of the many years she raised her, Grandmother summoned Uncle Shi over and scolded him for half the day before finally suppressing the matter.

"But in my opinion, this is only temporary. If Chuncao still doesn’t give birth to a son, the Shi Family taking a concubine is only a matter of time."

Hearing this, Jin Qianqian couldn’t help but sigh. Having lived in this dynasty for so many years, she had already seen many battles between wives and concubines.

She didn’t regret her decision to refuse keeping Chuncao by her side back then. Leaving aside the girl’s character, Jin Qianqian simply hadn’t wanted to get too involved with someone like Gu Yuanfeng.

Jin Qianqian shook her head inwardly, thinking, "This Gu Yuanfeng really doesn’t know what’s good for her." The affection between their families had probably been completely worn away by her antics.

Jin Qianqian’s guess was close to the truth. The Gu Family Brothers had long since lost their last shred of patience with Gu Yuanfeng.

It was fortunate she was a married-out daughter; if she were a son of the main family, her name would have been struck from the genealogy book long ago.

Gu Wenheng was now a First-Grade Governor, so his travels naturally followed a certain standard. With soldiers clearing the way and his usual guards in tow, they arrived at Gaoling Village by the afternoon of the second day.

Looking at the familiar village entrance and the familiar courtyard, Jin Qianqian grinned and said, "To think that it hasn’t changed a bit despite us not coming back for so many years."

Their first house had been extremely well maintained. The moment they entered the village, that familiar feeling washed over them.

Gu Lehuan said, "My grandmother personally keeps an eye on this courtyard now. Every other day, she brings people over to clean and sweep.

"She’s even planted some vegetables in the yard. How about I head into the village first and get the keys?"

Gu Wenheng could have sent someone riding ahead to notify the family, but he hadn’t wanted to cause a commotion. Since it was mealtime, no one at the village entrance had noticed their arrival yet.

"There’s no need for that," Gu Wenheng stopped him. He then turned to instruct the captain of the guards beside him to stay put, saying, "So many people entering the village will disturb the residents. Rest here for now."

The captain of the guards hastily agreed. In any case, Mr. Gu was still protected by his personal guards.