From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

"He sublet our old courtyard?" Jin Qianqian looked at Hong Tianbao in surprise, then added sarcastically, "I’m surprised they had the brains to become sub-landlords."

Ancient Wenheng said, "I was just saying yesterday that I’d go over tomorrow to terminate the lease with the landlord. I never thought he’d exploit the opportunity. You just said they rented a very remote and small place?"

Hong Tianbao held nothing back, recounting in detail everything that happened and all he had seen while following the two siblings.

"So he sublet the house and gave all the silver taels to his so-called brother-in-law?" Jin Qianqian couldn’t believe someone could be so brainless. ’Is this the power of pillow talk everyone mentions?’

"..." Ancient Wenheng struggled to suppress his temper. "Tianbao, take a couple more men with you later. If he still can’t walk, then carry him back here."

"And, uh, what about Lady Song?"

"...Don’t worry about her for now." Ancient Wenheng was truly furious this time. Even if Gu Lejia had been scheming, most of this was undeniably instigated by Xiuxiang.

Ancient Wenheng admitted he was taking out his anger on her, but he didn’t feel he was accusing her unjustly.

＆

"Sis, stop crying here. They’ve taken him back, so you should hurry up and follow them." Little Brother Song was visibly impatient. ’Does she think whining all day is going to solve anything?’

"Gou Dan, what can I do? They’re a powerful family. I can’t even get past their main gate.

His Seventh Uncle must be angry. Why don’t you give me the rent money first? I can take the silver and go apologize."

"I told you, don’t call me Gou Dan," Song Gou Dan said, his face turning sinister. "You and my brother-in-law have a marriage certificate. What’s the big deal if we use a little of his silver?

Besides, they live in such a huge courtyard. Are they really going to care about our little bit?

And don’t forget, his family is leaving town soon. If they take my brother-in-law with them, you’ll have the reputation of an abandoned wife heaped on you again.

Being a jinx to your husband is already bad enough luck. You want to add another bad name to your reputation?"

"How can you say that to me? Who do you think I’m doing all this for?" Song Xiuyang lifted her face, a complete mess of tears, but saw not a trace of pity in her own brother’s eyes.

A chill went through her heart. This was the brother she had devotedly protected, for whom she had constantly given in to their stepmother, even risking the charge of great unfilial piety to help him break free from their father and stepmother’s control.

"I’m just worried about you, aren’t I? Stop crying here and go wait over there. If they don’t let you in, just keep kneeling. I refuse to believe they don’t care about their reputation."

The moment he thought about the benefits he’d nearly gotten his hands on flying away, Song Gou Dan felt a surge of anger, and the sight of his sister became even more irritating.

＆

"You’re saying Xiuxiang is kneeling outside right now?" Jin Qianqian asked, listening to Qingzhu’s report. "Has Gu Lejia woken up yet?"

"He was up at dawn. The kitchen sent over some white rice porridge, and he ate two small bowls," Qing Lan said as she finished combing Jin Qianqian’s hair and inserted a silver hairpin.

"He didn’t say anything?"

Qingzhu shook her head. "According to the servant attending him, he lay back down after finishing the porridge. We don’t know if he’s awake or asleep now."

"Then let her keep kneeling. Without an audience, let’s see how long she can keep this play going."

Thinking of Ancient Wenheng, who had left early in the morning, Jin Qianqian felt a pang of regret. ’Why didn’t I go with him?’

＆

A frail, small woman kneeling at the gate quickly attracted a crowd of onlookers.

No one understood the reason, but that didn’t stop them from wanting to watch a good show. Some even squatted down to ask Xiuxiang what was going on.

"My husband is in there, but they won’t let me see him." After saying this, Xiuxiang covered her face and began to cry, refusing to utter another word no matter how much the others asked.

"Isn’t this just bullying people with power? Look at her clothes, she’s a young wife from a poor family."

"She must have offended someone in this household, and they’ve locked her husband up inside."

"If that’s true, then his situation is likely grim. Young lady, you shouldn’t just kneel here. Hurry up and report it to the authorities."

"That’s right! We can’t let people like this get away with it, or there’ll be no way for us common folk to survive."

"..." Many in the crowd started chiming in, offering her advice. Some even picked up small stones from the side and secretly threw them at the closed main gate.

The gatekeeper heard the unusual commotion and hurried inside to inform Housekeeper Fu.

Jiang Zhongfu immediately put down his work and hurried to the gate to see what was happening.

’Isn’t this just stirring up trouble? Lady Song isn’t saying a word. What is she trying to do?’

Before they had much time to think, the situation outside changed again.

"I recognize her! She’s the widowed daughter of the Song family from up the road. Didn’t we hear she married an outsider? What’s going on now?"

"We all heard about that. I heard the outsider’s family has some money. Not only did he give her stepmother a large betrothal gift, but he also moved her into a big mansion. They couldn’t be talking about this family, could they?"

"These rich young masters are all just looking for a bit of novelty. Once the novelty wears off, this is the result."

"What are you all standing around making sarcastic comments for? This is a local being bullied by an outsider! Instead of trying to get justice for her, you’re just here to watch the show."

"Then you go! We’re not related to her in any way. You really expect us to stand up for her?"

"Fine, I’ll do it! With so many of us here, are you saying we can’t demand a proper explanation?"

"Right! Make them open the gate and give us an explanation!"

"They’re a married couple! What right do they have to keep him locked up and prevent them from seeing each other?"

The voices grew louder, and the crowd at the gate swelled. Standing in the gatehouse, Housekeeper Fu’s expression grew more and more solemn.

He quickly made a decision, pointed to one of the servants, and said, "Go inform the Madam. I’m going out to take a look."

The side gate opened, and everyone stared at Jiang Zhongfu. "Someone’s coming out!"

The scene immediately fell silent. Housekeeper Fu cupped his fists. "Everyone, this is a private family matter. It would be best if you all dispersed."

"How is this a family matter? You can’t just bully a weak woman! She’s been kneeling here for ages, and you’re only coming out now. Isn’t that blatant bullying?"

"That’s right! Get the person in charge of this household out here to give us an explanation! They already married her, how can they just kick her out like this?"

"Lady Song, why don’t you explain things to everyone," Housekeeper Fu said, ignoring the crowd and looking directly at Song Xiuyang, who was kneeling on the ground, not daring to look up at him.

"Why is he still calling her Lady Song? Could it be we’ve misunderstood? Maybe she has nothing to do with this family at all."