From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 796: Chapter 798: An Ominous Premonition

Li Cuicui felt that Gu Dashi was getting more muddled the older he got. As an elder, how could he say such discouraging words? Didn’t he know that speaking auspiciously would make him much more likable?

"Our Luo Luo has always been taught by Old Seventh himself. Our family might just produce another Champion Scholar.

"If you are bored to tears, I’ll find a storyteller to entertain you, but you need to watch what you say."

Gu Dashi opened his mouth, feeling that he hadn’t said anything wrong. If the titles of Advanced Scholar and Champion Scholar were that easy to earn, the clan wouldn’t have only produced a couple of scholars and a few Scholars over all these years.

Gu Wenheng sat with them a while longer. Only when the other brothers of the Gu family rushed over did he finally leave the side room.

Having not seen each other for so many years, the brothers naturally felt a sense of estrangement. Furthermore, Gu Wenheng had held high positions for so long that he unconsciously exuded a commanding aura, preventing them from acting presumptuously around him.

Everyone sat together stiffly. In the end, it was Gu Yuanjin, the eldest, who broke the silence. "Wenheng, you all need to take care of your health when you’re out there."

Gu Wenheng was momentarily speechless. He wondered why everyone’s attention was fixed on his stomach. Wasn’t it completely normal to put on a bit of middle-aged spread?

"We’ve been doing quite well out there," Gu Wenheng replied. "Over the years, it’s all thanks to you brothers taking care of the two elders at home. You’ve worked hard."

Gu Yuanjin hurriedly waved it off. "We’re all brothers; saying such things makes us sound like strangers. Besides, you and Qianqian have been entirely supporting the elders’ food, clothing, housing, and transportation all these years. If anything, we brothers are the ones who have taken advantage of the situation.

"You’ve come back so suddenly this time. Are you being transferred to another location again?"

The Gu Family had grown used to this. As long as a three-year term expired, Old Seventh would have to move his seat again.

They didn’t fully understand the workings of officialdom, but there were plenty of educated men in the clan. They all said that the reason Old Seventh changed positions so frequently while steadily being promoted was due to his immense capability and the Emperor’s appreciation. Only then could he enjoy such great fortune.

They had heard that some people, upon entering officialdom, would serve as a County Magistrate in some remote borderlands for the better part of their lives. Nowadays, the fact that the entire Gu family could hold their heads high in Fu County and even Dao City was all thanks to Gu Wenheng’s blessings.

Gu Yuanshui asked, "You’re not being transferred to some extremely remote place again this time, are you? It’s rare for you to come back. How long can you stay at home?"

Gu Wenheng naturally wouldn’t reveal the details at this moment. "It’s still uncertain, but I should be able to stay home for a few days."

"Then you’ll stay in the village today, right?" Gu Yuanshui said. "How about I get someone to tidy up that courtyard properly? Although it’s cleaned regularly, the bedding probably can’t be used anymore. I’ll have Little Hua and the others sort it out."

Gu Wenheng also wanted to spend a few leisurely days in the village. "We’ll stay in the village! I’ll have Mother give the keys to our servants to clean the courtyard later. However, I’ll have to trouble you brothers again for the next few days."

He knew that their return meant trouble. Many people would undoubtedly come to visit, and he couldn’t possibly receive all of them. He could only rely on his older brothers to step forward and help handle the guests.

Having gained plenty of experience over the years, Gu Yuanjin and the others readily agreed.

Over on Jin Qianqian’s side, she quickly mingled well with the other wives.

The unfamiliarity between women was easily broken. A gift for each of them, coupled with some casual chat about jewelry and clothes, instantly opened up the conversation.

Furthermore, there were no conflicts of interest among them now, and the other wives all wanted to curry favor with Jin Qianqian, making the atmosphere quite warm and enthusiastic.

"The fact that our Le Ping’s business is doing so well now is all thanks to you and his Seventh Uncle’s help. I really don’t know how to thank you," Li Xiaohua said, holding Jin Qianqian’s hands and expressing her endless gratitude.

"Le Ping is a clever boy," Jin Qianqian replied. "He forged this path all by himself. However, it’s been so long—has he still not settled on a marriage?"

Back in Yi Province, many people had their eyes on Gu Le Ping and wanted to arrange a marriage with him. But the boy had a mind of his own, and as his business expanded, he was constantly running around everywhere, so his marriage had been continually delayed.

Upon hearing this troublesome issue, Li Xiaohua’s brows almost knotted together. "When he came back a few days ago, I was still rushing him about it, but who knew he wouldn’t take it to heart at all!

"His cousins are already married. I don’t know what he’s thinking. Other men his age already have several children."

Whenever she brought up her eldest son, Li Xiaohua felt both proud and anxious. "Besides, Le An has also reached the age to marry. Having his older brother blocking the way in front doesn’t sound proper either."

Jin Qianqian really had no way of helping her solve this problem and could only offer a few words of comfort. After all, for Gu Le Ping to remain unmarried and childless in his late twenties was indeed quite unusual. Most of his cousins were already married, and even the youngest, Le Shun, had already taken a wife.

"Aunt Seven, it’s my Le Hua’s marriage that’s really putting me in a difficult spot. Could you see if there are any suitable matches? Or maybe introduce a family to her?" Hong Daya asked. In the past, Hong Daya had always firmly believed that Gu Lebao was a lucky star, so her marriage had been continuously delayed.

She never expected that Gu Yuanfeng would actually target her precious daughter, even going out of her way to ruin the girl’s reputation outside. Hong Daya couldn’t help but feel anxious.

But seeing Jin Qianqian and her husband return today, she knew her chance had come. If Old Seventh and his wife were willing to help, Lebao might even secure a highly advantageous marriage.

Her nephews were all born to a family of humble farmers, yet the wives they brought in were better than the last, each coming from increasingly higher family backgrounds. Her Lebao was one of the only two daughters in the Gu family, so there was no way she could fare any worse than her older brothers and cousins.

Jin Qianqian felt a slight headache the moment she heard about matchmaking. When so many young men from the family had followed them out in the past, she was the one who had handled most of their marriages.

There were simply too many things involved. Although some of the marriages had brought a certain level of convenience to Gu Wenheng, they had also been a genuine headache for her. Her own two sons had not yet settled down, but she had already organized quite a few weddings for others. Sometimes she would even mock herself, thinking that she was already practicing how to be a mother-in-law before actually becoming one.

"Daya, it’s not that I don’t want to help you," Jin Qianqian replied, "but we’ve just returned. We aren’t as familiar with the local area as you all are. Besides, since she’s your only precious daughter, you definitely wouldn’t bear to let her marry far away, right?"

Hong Daya hesitated. Several of the nephews’ wives had married from afar and settled down here. Although the escort agency helped deliver their letters and seasonal gifts, making a trip back to visit their relatives was extremely difficult. Two of the wives hadn’t been back to their maiden homes once since they married over. Thinking of this made her shrink back a little.

However, she still needed to voice her complaints. Who knows, maybe Old Seventh’s wife could suppress Yuan Feng.

Jin Qianqian didn’t expect that Gu Yuanfeng had genuinely been stirring up trouble again recently.

"There’s no one who acts as a blood aunt like her," Hong Daya ranted. "I’m not asking her to hope for the best for her maiden family or favor us, but she shouldn’t be scheming constantly, trying to move her maiden family’s assets over to the Shi family. She sacrificed her own two daughters, yet that wasn’t enough for her—she actually targeted my daughter! That is something I absolutely cannot tolerate."

Jin Qianqian had an ominous premonition. "Wasn’t it only Chuncao who was married off to her stepson? What about Chun Ya?"