From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 343: Chapter 344: What If She’s Not a Concubine?

A sharp pain shot through Ancient Wen Heng’s side, and he quickly grabbed her hand to hold it still. ’Good thing I sent the maids away,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, I’d lose all my authority in my own home.’

"She might not be much to look at, but she sure has some beautiful dreams," Jin Qianqian sneered. "Trying to steal what’s mine? I’ll make sure she loses everything in the process."

Ancient Wen Heng pulled her into his embrace. "She’s just an insignificant person. Let’s not lower ourselves to her level."

"Besides, she hasn’t even done anything yet. We’re just speculating. Aren’t we giving her too much credit by worrying about it?"

Jin Qianqian was only venting. "You have a point. Whatever she’s plotting, she’d better not try to mess with us."

"Aren’t you afraid of the Chief of Staff from the Huang Mansion getting involved?" Ancient Wen Heng teased.

Jin Qianqian fell silent for a moment. "If it really comes to that, the choice won’t be mine to make. It will be yours."

Seeing his wife take it so seriously, as if already contemplating the worst-case scenario, Ancient Wen Heng quickly declared his resolve. "If it truly comes to that, I’ll fight them as long as I can."

"If I really can’t win, then screw it. I’ll resign from my post and find a place to live in seclusion with you. We can live out our days as free as the clouds and cranes."

Jin Qianqian snorted. "The world doesn’t belong to the Huang family. The most they can do is use some dirty tricks. And I refuse to believe their entire Huang Mansion is spotless. I’ll have someone investigate them."

Jin Qianqian and Ancient Wen Heng hadn’t been idle these past few years. They had long since cultivated a group of their own people, a process that was still ongoing.

With the wealth they’ve accumulated, we can hire people to watch the Huang family. I don’t believe we can’t dig up some dirt on them.

Ancient Wen Heng said, "Let’s just be patient for a while longer. When the time is right, we’ll take a post outside the capital for a few years. We’re still too weak right now. We need time to grow."

Jin Qianqian couldn’t agree more. Life in Shangjing, where one was constantly surrounded by high-ranking officials and Marquises, was certainly not as liberating as an assignment elsewhere.

&

As soon as Huang Zhengyong reached the rear courtyard, he immediately summoned his wife.

Mrs. Huang Qian took one look at his face and knew that things had not gone well today.

But remembering the pleas of her good friend and daughter-in-law, she had no choice but to gather her courage and ask, "Second Master, have you eaten? Shall I have the kitchen prepare—"

"Eat what? I’m already full of anger! Go tell Ms. Xiao and the others that I’ve done all I can for their request. From now on, they can handle it themselves!"

If he hadn’t accepted their generous gift, Huang Zhengyong wouldn’t be speaking in such a tone. Besides, he had indeed run the errand for them. It wasn’t his fault that it didn’t succeed.

"Second Master, if this matter had succeeded, it would have benefited us as well," Mrs. Huang Qian tried to persuade him. "Look at us now. You’re the only one with an official post. This entire family relies on you."

"Our Tong’er hasn’t made any progress since becoming a Scholar. The last time he took the exam for scholar, didn’t Father-in-law say his essays were complete rubbish?"

In truth, Mrs. Huang Qian was putting it mildly. The old master had started cursing the moment he read them.

"The boy has no ambition, so what can we do?" Having been out all day, Huang Zhengyong was starving. He grabbed a pastry and stuffed it into his mouth. "If it really comes down to it, let’s have Father find him a position somewhere. I can’t be working myself to death out there while he lounges around at home like a young lord."

Mrs. Huang Qian asked, "Second Master, do you really think this life is so good?"

"What? Are you looking down on me now?" Huang Zhengyong sneered. "I haven’t even started complaining about you. Your father spent his entire life as a measly Sixth-rank official. What right do you have to criticize me?"

Mrs. Huang Qian swallowed her anger, silently chanting in her heart, ’It’s all for my son.’

"How would I dare look down on you, Second Master? It’s just... we can still rely on Father now. But what about the future? When Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law are in charge, they won’t be as easygoing as Father and Mother-in-law. They might even separate our households, and then our branch of the family will be nothing in Shangjing."

"Are you afraid I’ll let you starve? Don’t worry. Even if the family is divided, my mother won’t treat us poorly. Stop gossiping behind my back all day."

Mrs. Huang Qian pressed, "Don’t you want to secure an advantageous marriage alliance for our son?"

"Hah! So now you’re thinking about this?" Huang Zhengyong sneered. "Back then, you were the one who stubbornly insisted on Ms. Xiao. Did you ever stop to think what good the daughter of a small county magistrate could possibly be? Not only could she not help your son, but we had to expend a great deal of effort just to secure her father’s minor post."

Mrs. Huang Qian retorted, "There are plenty of noble young ladies in the Capital, but who among them would be willing to marry our son?"

"Ms. Xiao’s family may not be prominent, but at least she brought a sizable amount of dowry silver. That’s a subsidy, at the very least."

"Do whatever you want. In any case, I’m done with the Xiao Family’s affairs. It’s always a thankless effort."

"Don’t you think that if Ancient Wen Heng were to become Tong’er’s brother-in-law, it would only benefit Tong’er’s future?"

"Think about it! He was the top scholar in the imperial examinations, so his starting point was already higher than everyone else’s. And he’s been promoted three times in such a short period. That means he has caught the Holy Emperor’s eye. Do you really think his official career will falter?"

"I know all that," Huang Zhengyong said dismissively. "But so what? Ms. Xiao’s half-sister would only be entering his household as a concubine. That doesn’t make us proper relatives. Do you think he’d use his power to help my son, all for the sake of a mere concubine?"

Huang Zhengyong said this because that was how his own family typically treated such matters.

A concubine was nothing more than a plaything. You might humor her for a bit of fun, but you would never take her seriously.

"What if she doesn’t become a concubine?"

"That’s impossible. He has a wife and a legitimate son..." At this, Huang Zhengyong’s voice trailed off. He stared at his wife in disbelief.

"You people have some nerve. They say a woman’s heart is the most venomous, and it’s really true," Huang Zhengyong said, fixing his gaze on Mrs. Huang Qian. "Is this your idea?"

A shiver went through Mrs. Huang Qian. "How could it be? Second Master, you know I’m not one to scheme and plot. I only listened to my daughter-in-law’s mother because I want to find a path forward for our son."

"Your daughter-in-law’s mother?" Huang Zhengyong relaxed. He really didn’t want to be sleeping next to a venomous snake. "They’ve been staying in our mansion for quite some time. I recall she has another residence in Shangjing, doesn’t she?"

The implication to send them away was clear. Mrs. Huang Qian didn’t dare say more. "I’ll have Eldest Sister-in-law send someone to take a look later. I believe some of the walls over there are crumbling and are in need of proper repair."

Huang Zhengyong waved his hand dismissively. "You can handle the details. But you’d better not get involved in anything that could cost someone their life. Never mind Mother being displeased—I would be the first to punish you."

"Listen to you, Second Master. This matter has nothing to do with us to begin with. I only guessed their intentions from their words and actions."

"In any case, if it succeeds in the end, it will only benefit us. There’s no downside. I’ll just watch from the sidelines and see what happens."