From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 350: Chapter 351: Mooching a Meal

As for the families behind these men, Zhang Daji was not the least bit afraid.

Cao Shijiang was the first to lose his nerve. After all, he came from a Military General Family and had only scraped by, passing the exam to become a scholar through a stroke of luck. His family had spent years leveraging their resources to push him into his current position. When it came to literary knowledge and mathematics, he truly didn’t have the courage to challenge anyone.

Seeing Cao Shijiang back down, the others also sensed their behavior was inappropriate and began to leave in twos and threes.

Only Liu Shijiang remained. "Your Excellencies," he said, "I believe it’s rather inappropriate to send two people who are unfamiliar with the Six Ministries to handle these affairs. I volunteer to go and provide some oversight."

Wenheng looked up to observe the expressions of the two Grand Scholars. He knew this Liu Shijiang was rumored to be the nephew of the Old Prime Minister, Liu Donglai.

He saw that Scholar Gong and Scholar Zhang were merely staring at him coldly. ’Could my earlier investigation have been wrong?’

The Old Prime Minister had been a great benefactor to both of them. ’Even just to give the Old Prime Minister face,’ he thought, ’surely they won’t refuse?’

"Liu Shijiang, are you trying to stir up trouble?" Gong Zhengping glared at him. "Will you not be satisfied until you’ve completely offended all Six Ministries?"

"Your Excellencies misunderstand. I have no such intention."

"This matter is settled. Do not bring it up again." Zhang Daji glanced at Wenheng, who was watching the spectacle from the side, then walked over, patted Liu Shijiang on the shoulder, and led the way out.

Gong Zhengping also shook his head and slowly departed. Soon, only Wenheng and Liu Shijiang were left in the vast courtyard.

Wenheng noticed the other man sizing him up and offered a nod.

But the man merely shot him a cold glance before striding right past him.

"So? Got the cold shoulder, huh?" He Nan suddenly appeared from some corner, draping an arm over Wenheng’s shoulder.

Wenheng shrugged, shaking his arm off. "So *now* you decide to show up?"

"You can’t blame me for lacking loyalty. Who told you to be so dense? You saw that whole crowd making a scene, and you still walked right out." He Nan looked entirely unapologetic, even a little smug. "I’m telling you, those guys are not to be trifled with. As for the ones who stayed away, they’re the ones who don’t dare to cause trouble because they have no connections."

Wenheng knew that, of course. "And you haven’t been getting a hard time all day?"

’I’m fine for now, I have my own room,’ he thought. ’But He Nan has to share a room with several other people.’

"Of course I have," He Nan said with a scornful laugh. "Ning Yuchen has been making snide remarks all day long, painting me as some despicable, bootlicking toady.

"But the moment he saw that crowd trying to get in on the action, the little brat just slipped away. And here I was, thinking he actually had some backbone."

Wenheng glanced at the sky and started walking toward the exit. "We’ll have to put up with this for a while. Just hang in there."

"Want to know why Liu Shijiang was so dead set on getting involved in this?" He Nan asked, catching up just as Wenheng was about to board his carriage.

"No," Wenheng said bluntly. "Sometimes, knowing too much isn’t a good thing."

’Even if I wanted to know, I could find out myself,’ he thought. ’I have no interest in gossiping about someone’s private business right outside the gates of the Hanlin Academy.’

"You’re no fun at all," He Nan grumbled, but he followed Wenheng onto the carriage anyway.

"Why are you following me?" Wenheng asked, leaning back in his usual spot.

"So, you’re allowed to bum a ride off me, but I’m not allowed to do the same with you?" He Nan lifted the curtain, waved goodbye to his own attendant, and then began to survey the carriage’s interior.

"Tsk, tsk. As expected of a rich family. Even your carriage is one of a kind." He gestured around. "Our carriages are just for getting from one place to another, but look at this! It’s lined with cabinets, and even the decorative pieces look incredibly valuable."

Wenheng pulled open a nearby drawer, and a puff of cool air wafted out.

He Nan leaned over curiously and saw that it was filled with ice.

"All this fuss for some ice? You could have just used a basin..."

Before he could finish, he saw Wenheng grab a small scoop, push aside the top layer of ice, and pull out a small metal box from underneath.

"So there’s hidden treasure." He Nan craned his neck curiously. "What’s in there?"

Wenheng silently lifted the lid. Inside was a container of finely diced fruit.

Wenheng pulled out two toothpicks from a compartment, stuck them into the fruit, and began to eat.

"Damn, you really know how to live! How did I never think of this?" He Nan didn’t hold back, helping himself to his favorite fruits. After such a long day at the Hanlin Academy with nothing but a little water, his stomach was completely empty.

His eyes darted to the other cabinets. "No wonder you had so many cabinets built in here. What else do you have stashed away?"

"Personal belongings. Not for public viewing."

"Come on, what’s with the distance between us? Besides, this carriage is so well-designed. Let me take some inspiration."

Of course, He Nan wouldn’t actually open the cabinets himself, but he curiously poked and prodded at everything. "If I’d known, I would’ve started hitching rides with you long ago. I’ve never seen a carriage like this before."

Wenheng simply picked up a book and began to read. ’Once his curiosity is satisfied, he’ll quiet down on his own.’

"Mr. Gu certainly knows how to live well. This carriage is miles ahead of any of ours... I haven’t even finished my tour, and we’ve already arrived." He Nan felt the carriage halt and lifted the curtain as he spoke.

Staring at the words "Gu Mansion" in front of him, He Nan’s eyes went wide. He turned back to Wenheng. "Why are we at your house? Aren’t you supposed to drop me off first?"

"Did you tell me to?" Wenheng asked, straightening his robes as he prepared to get out.

Only then did He Nan remember that he had been so caught up in his curiosity upon boarding that he had completely forgotten to say where he was going.

Now, seeing Wenheng disembark, he followed suit and stood in front of the Gu Mansion.

"Well then, it must be fate. Guess I’m freeloading a meal at your place today." He Nan strode right past Wenheng toward the main gate, which was already opening.

Wenheng shook his head, amused. "If you wanted to bum a meal, you could have just said so instead of going through all this."

"It wasn’t my intention to freeload, but since I’m here, it would be a shame to leave empty-handed," He Nan said, already ordering food as if he owned the place. "The fish at your mansion is quite good. I’m thinking a full fish banquet today."

Wenheng waved for the steward to go and make the arrangements. "You wouldn’t show up without a reason. Just spit it out. No need to be so indirect."

He Nan sighed. "You know me best, Brother Gu. There actually is one thing I need to ask of you."

Wenheng led him to a side hall, where Liu Qingmei was already entering with servants carrying tea and pastries.

Once the servants had withdrawn, He Nan continued, "I know this is asking a lot, but I truly have no other choice but to turn to you again.

"That ginseng you traded me for wine last time, Brother Wen Heng... do you have any more?"

He finished, looking at Wenheng with hopeful eyes.