From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 306: Chapter 307: Returning Home in Glory

Shi Dayong suspected there was more to the story. His mother-in-law wasn’t the type to scold Gu Yuanfeng for no reason.

"Get to the point."

Gu Yuanfeng could only blame it all on the He Family. "It was all their fault for coming here and causing a scene. My mother just took her anger out on me. Hurry up and take the carriage back. I’ll come over tomorrow and say a few nice things, and everything will be fine."

’Shi Dayong really wanted to crack open this woman’s head. No matter how you looked at it, those two were her own daughters. Even if she suggested bringing the children to the Shi family, could he, Shi Dayong, possibly refuse, for her family’s sake?’

’Besides, they were just two girls who would eventually be married off with a dowry. Did she really have to make their relationship so strained?’

...

Ancient Wen Heng sat in the carriage, watching the ceremonial procession outside. He smiled at Jin Qianqian and said, "They certainly don’t skimp on the ceremony. No wonder the ancients yearned to top the imperial exams and return home in brocaded robes."

"But because of all this," Jin Qianqian said, "a two or three-day journey has been dragged out to four or five. It’s a good thing our home isn’t far from Shangjing. Otherwise, the short leave we were given wouldn’t have been nearly enough."

"There are just too many people lining the roads to watch," Ancient Wen Heng replied. "They can’t go any faster even if they wanted to. But we’re almost there. We’ve already entered Fu County."

Jin Qianqian lifted the curtain and saw that the streets were crowded with people again. She knew her husband, the "mascot" of the hour, would have to get out and ride his horse again. "This next part won’t be easy. There’s a whole crowd of people waiting for you at home. You have your work cut out for you, my husband."

"You’re the one who’s had it rough, rushing all over the place with me," Ancient Wen Heng said, noticing the dark circles under her eyes. The constant starting and stopping these past few days was far more exhausting than a non-stop journey, especially with two children in tow.

Ancient Wen Heng stood and straightened his clothes. Just as he was about to lift the curtain to exit, Gu Benluo latched onto his leg. "Father, I want to go too."

Ancient Wen Heng casually scooped the boy into his arms. He’d grown accustomed to this over the last few days. The boy loved being the center of attention and cut an even more impressive figure on horseback than he did.

"You’re spoiling him again," Jin Qianqian teased. "He’s going to steal all your thunder."

Ancient Wen Heng pinched Luo Luo’s little cheek. "Let’s let him get used to it now. That way, he’ll have some experience when it’s his turn to become the top scholar."

"Top scholar! I’ll be the top scholar!" Gu Benluo’s face was alight with excitement. He had heard so many cheers over the past few days that he couldn’t help but feel excited too.

Jin Qianqian helped him put on his golden flower official hat, just as the carriage came to a halt.

Jin Qianqian lifted the curtain and saw they had arrived at the gates of the county seat.

A massive crowd of people was gathered there, and she could spot many familiar faces among them.

Ancient Wen Heng alighted from the carriage with his wife and son. County Magistrate Xia was already approaching with his government officials and the local gentry to offer their salutations. Ancient Wen Heng hurried forward to help County Magistrate Xia up. "Mr. Xia, there’s no need for such ceremony. I apologize for keeping you all waiting."

"It is only what this subordinate ought to do," Xia Chenglin replied, his heart a mix of complicated emotions. Before the year was out, this young scholar had to be completely deferential in his presence.

Yet in the blink of an eye, he had become a Sixth-Rank official and a close minister to the Emperor.

Ancient Wen Heng saw Li Yong and He Xiaodong standing behind the magistrate. He gave them a slight nod. He didn’t say anything more, but that small gesture was enough to make them ecstatic.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Ancient Wen Heng once again mounted a tall horse and paraded around Fu County before riding straight for Gaoling Village.

The moment the procession reached Fu County, a servant dispatched by Gu Yuanjin had galloped back to the village with the news. Li Sanbu then led the entire village, young and old, to wait at the entrance.

By the time they arrived, they found that people from several neighboring villages were already waiting. After all, it was a rare and joyous event, and everyone wanted to come and bask in the good fortune.

Feeling the envious gazes of the crowd, Gu Sanbu stood up even straighter. It felt as if the glory of a lifetime was culminating in this single moment.

Li Cuicui, surrounded by her sons and daughters-in-law, was beaming with excitement. Even Gu Dashishi held his head high, doing his best to straighten his slightly hunched back.

Whatever grievances he held against his sons, in this moment, he was proud.

Song Xiuxiang, on the other hand, had been living in constant fear. She had been childless for years, and to make matters worse, the Le Family no longer paid her as much mind as they used to.

With her husband’s family’s fortunes on the rise, she was on edge day and night, terrified that one day she would find herself sharing her husband with a new "sister."

Now, with her Seventh Uncle having become the top imperial scholar, the family’s status had soared. If Gu Lejia truly decided to take a concubine, she, all alone here, would have neither the right nor the power to object.

She fought to hold back the tears welling in her eyes. At a moment like this, if she dared to show even a hint of sadness, the entire village would likely turn on her with angry glares.

"They’re here!" shouted Liu Heizi, who had been scouting ahead, as he and his companions ran back.

In truth, even without their announcement, everyone could already hear the sound of gongs and drums in the distance.

"Seventh is back!" Gu Yuantu exclaimed, standing on his tiptoes in excitement. He was an honest but clumsy businessman. If it weren’t for his scholar brother supporting him from behind, he didn’t know how many times he would have been cheated.

Now things were even better. Their family now included an official, and the top scholar at that. These past few days, whenever he went out, he could feel that people no longer looked down on him.

"It’s a shame we haven’t brought our ancestral tablets back yet," Gu Sanbu said. The thought of the ancestor worship ceremony left him feeling a little unsettled. ’If only we could have built the ancestral hall and retrieved the tablets sooner, then today would have been absolutely perfect.’

Gu Shulin gazed into the distance with a hint of envy. When he was studying in the village school, topping the imperial exams had been his dream, too.

And while he felt a tinge of regret, the glory still belonged to the Gu family.

The village children were somewhat bewildered, but their eyes shone with aspiration. Their parents had told them that if they studied hard, they too could one day become the second person to bring such glory to their clan.

As they were about to enter the village, Ancient Wen Heng and Jin Qianqian made sure their family was presentable.

Upon reaching the village entrance, Ancient Wen Heng quickly ordered the carriage to halt. He then led his family at a brisk pace toward the waiting crowd.

The villagers watched as Ancient Wen Heng, wearing his golden flower official hat and a grand red robe, strode forward with his wife and son. A retinue of guards and servants followed them, and even Mr. Xia, who had visited the village before, trailed at a respectful distance.

Everyone couldn’t help but gulp. The Gu family’s Seventh was truly in a different world from them now.

"Father, Mother, your son has returned." At this critical moment, Ancient Wen Heng certainly wasn’t going to give anyone reason for criticism. He moved to kneel before Gu Dashishi and Li Cuicui.

Li Cuicui snapped back to her senses, stepped forward, and grabbed him firmly. "It’s good that you’re back. We can say everything else once we’re home."

’Seventh looks so handsome in this red robe,’ she thought. ’He’d better not get it dirty out here.’

Ancient Wen Heng didn’t look back at the guards who had escorted him home, but he was keenly aware that they were watching his every move.

He lifted his robes, knelt heavily on the ground, and kowtowed three times to Li Cuicui and his father. Though he said nothing, everyone could see the profound gratitude in his eyes.