From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Liao Weidong stood there, grinding his teeth. Gu Wenheng was truly as stubborn as a mule.

He had already swallowed his pride to ask for a loan of silver. As long as they started interacting, a relationship between their two estates would naturally develop over time.

“What a stick-in-the-mud,” Liao Weidong cursed under his breath before flicking his sleeves and storming off.

Gu Wenheng paid no mind to whatever schemes Liao Weidong was brewing. Today, he needed to head back and have a good talk with the boys.

“I hear you’ve all been staying at the Imperial Manor these past few days,” Gu Wenheng said, cutting straight to the chase. “Have you been slacking off over there?”

Gu Letian and the others hurriedly shook their heads. They cherished this hard-won assignment too much to ever dream of slacking off.

Gu Wenheng turned his gaze to Gu Ben Can, who immediately sprang to his feet. “Father, don’t look at me like that! I’ve been on my best behavior.

“They told me not to do any work, but I didn’t just sit around idly. I helped out wherever I could.”

Although he had handed over all his previous records, he wasn’t about to embarrass his parents in this matter.

The officials at the Imperial Manor were incredibly polite to him, respectfully addressing him as “Uncle” with every breath. At first, they wouldn’t let him lift a finger, even going so far as to prepare tea and pastries for him. Gu Ben Can knew this was all thanks to his father. Otherwise, how could an Uncle in name only like him receive such VIP treatment?

Seeing that he understood, Gu Wenheng nodded in approval. “You’ve done well these past few days. Since the Holy Emperor has sent you all to work at the Imperial Manor, stick to your duties. Don’t think about using your status to slack off.”

Gu Ben Can and the others hastily voiced their agreement. They all knew exactly why they were being treated with such special regard.

“I’ve been busy with Ministry of Revenue affairs lately, so I haven’t been able to keep a close eye on you,” Gu Wenheng continued.

“But you must discipline yourselves. Aside from our estate and the Imperial Manor, do not set foot anywhere else.

“Le Tian, you mentioned earlier that you all wanted to purchase property here. I’ve already asked Housekeeper Xu to look into it for you.

“However, I do have a suggestion to offer. It’ll be up to you to decide.”

Gu Letian quickly led his younger brothers in expressing their gratitude. “Thank you, Seventh Uncle.”

“If you want to establish a foothold in Shangjing, you don’t necessarily have to buy property within the city walls,” Gu Wenheng advised.

“Moving forward, you’ll primarily be working at the Imperial Manor. If you’re looking to settle down, you can absolutely consider the areas around there.”

He knew exactly what his nephews were capable of. Their careers would likely peak right where they were. Even if he used connections to get them transferred, they might not be competent enough for the new roles. It was better for them to maintain the status quo—holding onto official posts and waiting for the next generation to make something of themselves.

“Does Seventh Uncle mean we can buy land and build houses in the nearby villages?” Gu Le Ping asked. He currently owned quite a few shops, and his annual income was nothing to scoff at. He had bought a courtyard in Shangjing years ago, but it was small and only used for brief stays. He had originally planned to upgrade to a larger compound. However, after hearing his Seventh Uncle’s suggestion, settling down in a nearby village didn’t sound like a bad idea at all. It was close to the Imperial Manor, saving them the hassle of a long commute. Most importantly, it was cost-effective; they could build a much larger, more comfortable estate.

“There are a few small villages around the Imperial Manor,” Gu Wenheng said. “Buying a few acres of land and building a house there would make for a peaceful life.

“When the time comes to bring your parents over, they’ll be able to adapt much faster, too.”

Now that the younger generation of the Gu family had all moved away, if Gu Yuanjin and the elders ever felt lonely in Gaoling Village, they could come here to enjoy family life. Houses in Shangjing were small and exorbitant. Cramming the whole extended family into one place would inevitably feel suffocating. It was better to plan ahead.

Gu Letian and his brothers realized this as well, universally agreeing it was the best choice. With the silver they had on hand, they could easily build a sprawling mansion and buy over a dozen acres of land. Just thinking about it felt perfect. Shangjing was undeniably prosperous, but they were used to a rustic village lifestyle. This arrangement suited them best. At the very least, having a farmhouse courtyard to grow vegetables and raise chickens would allow them to be completely self-sufficient.

Seeing that they understood, Gu Wenheng brought up another matter. “Don’t forget, you are still observing the mourning period. If your colleagues invite you out to dine, remember to watch what you eat and say.

“If you can decline, decline. If you can’t, make sure you brothers go together.”

Gu Ben Can looked at his father. “Father, are you worried someone might try to set us up?”

“Whether someone is plotting against us or not, you must remain vigilant,” Gu Wenheng warned.

“Otherwise, if you do fall into a trap, crying about it later won’t do any good.

“I won’t hide it from you: our family is currently at the heart of the storm in Shangjing. Who knows how many eyes are watching us out there? I’ve made comprehensive preparations on my end, but I fear they might try to find a weak link through you.

“Whether for the Gu family or for yourselves, you need to stay sharp.”

Gu Wenheng wasn’t just being an alarmist. Over the years, his steady climb up the ranks had required him to dodge countless schemes. These boys had received careful instruction from their tutors before coming here, but it was impossible to guard against everything. They needed constant reminders.

“From now on, we brothers will stick together wherever we go,” Gu Letian promised.

Truth be told, these past few days had felt somewhat surreal to them. Whenever they stepped out, people respectfully addressed them as officials. Since they all shared the same surname, people put their given names first to tell them apart. Having so many Mr. Gus from the Gu family concentrated at the Imperial Manor definitely drew some attention. They had already noticed plenty of scrutinizing gazes, both subtle and overt. The brothers had already agreed amongst themselves to travel in groups as much as possible. At the Imperial Manor, they strictly followed the Agricultural Officers’ orders, focusing solely on completing their assigned tasks and keeping their mouths shut about everything else. Perhaps because of their Seventh Uncle, they had managed to coexist peacefully with everyone so far. Over time, however, conflicts were bound to arise.

“That is for the best,” Gu Wenheng said. “If you brothers ever need any help, just look for Cancan.”

He had secretly and openly assigned plenty of guards to watch over Gu Ben Can. If a problem arose, they could easily find someone to ask for assistance. After a few more words of caution, he kept Gu Ben Can behind and dismissed the rest of the brothers to rest.

Under Gu Wenheng’s stern glare, Gu Ben Can’s eyes darted around evasively. “Father, do you have further instructions for me?”

“I hear you’ve been carrying a slingshot with you to the Imperial Manor?” Gu Wenheng asked.

Gu Ben Can instantly realized this was a massive misunderstanding. He hurriedly waved his hands in defense. “Father, I did bring a slingshot, but I wasn’t playing with it myself!

“A while back at the Imperial Manor, I met an interesting little kid and played with him for a bit. I promised to give him a slingshot, but I haven’t run into him lately, so I just had to keep it on me.”

He wondered which son of a bitch had snitched on him. Would he ever have any secrets to himself anymore?

“That’s for the best,” Gu Wenheng replied. “Don’t forget, there are many eyes on us now. The slightest misstep could implicate our entire family.

“You’re no longer an ignorant child. Even when your mother and I aren’t around to guide you, you need to grow up.

“From now on, don’t carry playthings like that on your person. Hand them over to your subordinates and let them pass it along for you.”

Gu Ben Can pulled the slingshot from his robes and said sincerely, “Father, I was careless this time. I’ll be much more careful in the future.”

Seeing that the lesson had sunk in, Gu Wenheng finally let him go rest.