From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 400: Chapter 401: Angry Confrontation

Jin Qianqian looked at Old Mrs. Huang in astonishment. "Surely, Madam, you must know that accompanying an escort agency requires following their arrangements or booking a spot in advance?"

’Of course, I know that,’ Old Mrs. Huang thought. It was just that her brother had been abruptly kicked out of the mansion by her husband, and she hadn’t had time to book a proper spot.

She had only managed to shove him into the escort team at the last minute by leveraging her status as a First-rank Lady, granted by imperial decree. Naturally, there had been no good positions left.

The journey back home was long and arduous, and she worried something might happen to her brother along the way. Being closer to the dart masters would allow them to look after him.

She had assumed she was just taking the spot of some commoner, but she never expected to run into such a nemesis.

To be honest, she was actually quite intimidated by this Mrs. Gu Jin. This was a woman who could make you suffer in silence at any time.

Take her granddaughter-in-law’s dowry shops, and later, the shops her own mansion depended on for its livelihood—a single thought from this woman was enough to bring them down.

Then there was the Xiao Family’s concubine, who was now in prison. All of this was the handiwork of the ruthless person standing before her.

What made her even more hesitant to rashly use her status to pressure them was the fact that she had no idea how much leverage this person already had over her mansion.

"Since you booked it first, I’ll have my brother give up the spot," Old Mrs. Huang said. After weighing the pros and cons, she was unwilling to put herself in harm’s way.

Ever since the rumors she had spread about Mrs. Gu Jin, the Central Palace and several other mansions had already sent people to warn her. Even if she was a fool, she knew that the couple before her was not as simple as they appeared.

For so many years, she had clawed her way up from being the wife of a small official to her current position as a First-rank Lady. She had only enjoyed a few years of comfort and had no desire to return to her old life.

"Sister, why should we?" the scrawny old man tried to speak again, but a pair of hands yanked him back inside the carriage.

At that moment, a woman’s scolding voice could be faintly heard. "You’re just a commoner! Even your sister can’t do anything about this, so why are you running your mouth?"

"Wife, I was just trying to make sure we’d be safer on the way back! My sister prepared so many valuables for me. If someone gets greedy at the sight of our wealth, wouldn’t we be at a huge loss?"

"Shut your mouth! Everything was fine until your big mouth ruined it all.

"If you hadn’t been blabbering on, would my brother-in-law have sent us back? And stop letting your eyes wander! Don’t think I don’t know you were sneaking glances at that young lady again..."

...

Feeling she had lost face, Old Mrs. Huang barked at her carriage driver, "Hurry up and move! I’ll have the leader of the escort rearrange a spot for you."

"I’m sure the leader of the escort will give you a good spot out of respect for our Huang Mansion."

Since she couldn’t afford to offend the Gu Family couple, she directed her ire at Leader Li instead.

Leader Li gave a wry smile and opened the record book he carried with him. After picking through the entries, he found that he could only squeeze them in somewhere in the middle-to-rear section of the convoy.

Old Mrs. Huang was still not satisfied. Leader Li said helplessly, "Most of these people have connections, and some are our long-term customers. We can’t move them.

"If you mind, Old Mrs. Huang, perhaps you could reschedule for another time. We will be sure to make proper arrangements for you then."

Under everyone’s gaze, Old Mrs. Huang gritted her teeth and said, "Then we’ll do as the leader says. However, you must ensure they are delivered safely back to their hometown. Otherwise, no matter how powerful your backing is, this Madam will not be afraid."

Jin Qianqian thought, ’...’ It would have been better if she hadn’t added that last sentence. Leader Li’s face had gone completely stiff.

Just when it seemed the matter was over, the old madam turned back before entering her carriage and shot a contemptuous look at Ancient Wen Heng.

"Mr. Gu, sometimes a man should show the authority of the head of the household. Otherwise, how can you live up to your parents’ teachings? They worked so hard to cultivate you, only for someone else to reap the benefits."

"That is no concern of yours, Old Mrs. Huang." Li Cuicui, who had been lifting a corner of the curtain to watch coldly from the side, could no longer hold back.

"My son and his wife are the most filial. My husband and I have no objections, so I’m surprised it has become an eyesore to an outsider."

Old Mrs. Huang studied Li Cuicui with curiosity. "So you are Madam Gu? Mr. Gu has been an official in the Capital for so long, yet he was slow to bring you here. Everyone has been talking. Why haven’t you come to enjoy this good fortune with them?"

Li Cuicui had heard some of this gossip over the past few days, but seeing as her seventh son and his wife paid it no mind, she couldn’t be bothered to interfere.

But now that the challenge was right in her face, she couldn’t possibly let her children down. "That’s all my fault. In my early years, I gave birth to seven boys and one girl in a row.

"My children are all filial, each one fighting to support me. But unfortunately, this old woman has worried about them her whole life and wants to enjoy a few years of peace and quiet.

"I just want to live a free and easy life. Old Mrs. Huang, don’t you think I have a point?

"As women, we toil and labor our entire lives. Now that we have the means, we should naturally treat ourselves a little better."

Gu Yuanshui also poked his head out and called to Li Cuicui, "Mother, when it comes to the duty of supporting you, it’s not even my turn as the fourth son yet. How could our seventh brother snatch that chance from his older brothers?"

Old Mrs. Huang could easily see that they were showing off. ’This family’s power is all in their mouths,’ she cursed inwardly.

But her face showed a look of great surprise. "Then you are truly a great contributor to the Gu family, helping it spread its branches and leaves.

"However, the Gu Mansion only has two children. Isn’t that a bit thin for Mr. Gu? As a mother-in-law, you should be more concerned. This won’t do."

Li Cuicui smiled, but her eyes were like ice as she stared back. "It seems this Old Madam’s household situation must be quite superior. I imagine you have a hall full of children and grandchildren, with plenty of sons and daughters from concubines.

"This old woman would also love to have as many descendants as possible. Unfortunately, the Gu Family rules do not permit it. The sons of my Gu family do not have the good fortune to enjoy the bliss of having both a wife and concubines."

Only then did Old Mrs. Huang recall hearing someone mention that the Gu family’s rules were truly bizarre and exceptionally strict, especially regarding the men of the clan.

She wanted to shoot a few barbs back, but nothing she could say seemed appropriate.

"Mother," Jin Qianqian said, walking over to the old woman. "It’s cold out here. You should hurry inside where it’s warm.

"Besides, we know our own family’s business best. It’s inevitable that Old Mrs. Huang has some misunderstandings about us."

At that moment, the other carriage spot was vacated, and the driver led the horse to the position that rightfully belonged to them.

Seeing her brother’s carriage already moving toward the back, Old Mrs. Huang had no choice but to have her own driver follow.

She would have plenty of time to deal with these people later. But her brother had just been publicly humiliated, and who knew how furious he was. She had to go and keep an eye on things, lest those unobservant dart masters place him at the very end of the line.