From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 491: Chapter 492: Entering the Back Office

Jin Qianqian put on a look of mock fear. "In that case, you’d better not. You look much more pleasant this way, all fair and clean.

If you really got a tan, I’d probably only see your eyes and your teeth if I woke up in the middle of the night. That would be a little creepy."

Gu Wenheng chuckled, amused. He reached out and stroked her hair. "This is so good. Our family is finally together again."

Nearby, Li Qiu kept her head down, trying to make herself as inconspicuous as possible.

Jin Qianqian said, "Yes, it really is.

But travel in this era is really grueling. No matter how well we prepared, the journey over was still a real ordeal.

Your journey here must have been even more arduous, right?"

Gu Wenheng said, "That’s all in the past. Besides, that was only temporary. Things will get better from now on.

Was the journey smooth? I thought you were setting off at the beginning of spring. You should have arrived days ago, why the delay?"

"We couldn’t find an escort team that came directly here. Prince Bai’s escort agency was swamped because of a surge in orders after the New Year. They had promised to take us, but their escort team had to be reassigned.

In the end, we had no choice but to hire a few different escort teams in succession, which caused the delay."

The anxiety that had plagued Gu Wenheng for days finally subsided. As long as they had arrived safely, the difficulties of the journey no longer mattered.

As they watched the procession of carriages enter the city gates, the soldiers on guard at the city wall began to murmur amongst themselves.

"I wonder who that is visiting Mr. Gu. He actually galloped all the way here on his horse to greet them personally."

"It must be his family. But I wonder who’s in the carriage to warrant such attention from the official?"

"I think it’s probably his elders. Maybe Mr. Gu’s parents?"

"Perhaps it’s one of the women from his household. I wonder if it’s his wife or a concubine?"

"Stop your wild guessing. Haven’t you heard? The official has been sending men to keep watch here every day, waiting for his wife."

"I don’t know about that. A concubine can also be called a ’Madam’."

One of them started to guffaw, and others quickly joined in, while some stepped forward to argue.

Gu Wenheng and his family were completely unaware of all this. At that moment, he had lifted the carriage curtain and was quietly telling Jin Qianqian about the local life in Lu City.

Jin Qianqian looked out at the bustling streets. "It’s not as terrible here as the rumors make it out to be. Look, everyone has a smile on their face."

Especially with so many street vendors around. It was hard to imagine this was a border city plagued by conflict.

A self-satisfied expression appeared on Gu Wenheng’s face. "It certainly wasn’t like this before we arrived. This is all thanks to our efforts."

Jin Qianqian gave him a thumbs-up. "You’re truly amazing."

"Look over there. It might just look like an unremarkable little alley, but several prominent families live inside."

Jin Qianqian followed his gaze and saw an alley that looked just wide enough for two carriages to pass each other.

"How interesting. Is there something special about it?"

Gu Wenheng explained, "They installed a pair of sturdy gates at the entrance. At night, they close them tightly, allowing no one in or out."

Jin Qianqian fell silent for a moment. "...It seems the people here have a difficult life."

Gu Wenheng silently stroked his child. In fact, they had installed similar gates in the narrow passage leading to their own back office, all for the sake of sleeping a little more soundly at night.

The government office wasn’t far, and the carriage stopped in less than fifteen minutes.

Gu Wenheng was the first to lift the carriage curtain and step down, ready to take the child from Jin Qianqian.

As soon as Gu Ben Can saw him, the boy immediately turned and clung tightly to Jin Qianqian’s shoulder.

Jin Qianqian chuckled and patted her little koala’s bottom, then expertly carried him out of the carriage.

"Why don’t you go get Luo Luo from the carriage behind us? I wonder if he’s asleep right now."

Gu Wenheng was about to turn around when he saw several nannies carefully escorting Gu Benluo over.

Gu Benluo blinked his big, adorable eyes at Gu Wenheng, somewhat uncertain. "Dad...?"

Hearing that his son still remembered him, Gu Wenheng immediately strode over, laughing as he lifted the boy high into his arms. "Luo Luo, did you miss me?"

Gu Benluo reached out a small index finger and cautiously touched his face. "It really is you, Dad."

Gu Wenheng bounced the child in his arms. "Of course it is! The one and only, your real dad. So? Did you miss me?"

Gu Benluo immediately wrapped his arms tightly around his neck. "I did! Dad, I’ve been looking for you for so, so long.

Mommy kept tricking me. She said she was taking me to find you, but it took so many days for her to finally bring me here."

Jin Qianqian, who had been surveying their future home, turned back with a smile when she heard this. "Mommy didn’t trick you. It’s your father who ran off so far this time that it took us three forever to catch up to him.

Mr. Gu, now that we’re here, aren’t you going to invite us inside?"

Gu Wenheng, still holding Gu Benluo, walked over and took Jin Qianqian’s hand. "Madam, right this way, please."

Gu Wenheng led them into the inner courtyard. The compact, three-courtyard residence didn’t look very spacious, but it had an ample number of rooms.

It was just that the front and back yards themselves had been drastically downsized.

"Mommy, how many days are we staying here?" Gu Benluo asked casually, assuming it was another temporary lodging like the ones on their journey.

"We’ll be staying here for quite a while," Gu Wenheng said.

"That depends on your father," Jin Qianqian added.

"Huh? Wha...?"

Gu Benluo was speechless. ’What are they talking about? I don’t understand any of this.’

Gu Wenheng led them to their main courtyard. The space was large enough, but the interior furnishings were far too simple.

She remembered that she had prepared the bedding on the heated bed for him in advance. Besides a simple tea set on the table, there was nothing else.

"It is a bit spartan," Gu Wenheng admitted, rubbing his nose. "I wanted to prepare things beforehand, but I’ve just been swamped with work recently and never got around to it."

’As for asking Ming Feng to decorate, the thought had never even crossed his mind. That boy’s taste is appalling. He only likes garish, flashy things.

He had barely managed to tolerate the bedspread Ming Feng had brought for him on the journey here, resisting the urge to throw it out for ages.

He couldn’t imagine what would happen if he let Ming Feng decorate the room he shared with Qianqian. It would probably end up with some ghastly rustic theme. The very thought was horrifying.’

Jin Qianqian said, "Good thing I brought plenty of things with me this time. I’ll have Lichun do some simple decorating for now, and I can plan everything out slowly later.

But you’re still in your official robes. Do you still have work to finish?"

While the two children were looking around curiously, Gu Wenheng seized the opportunity to steal a quick kiss. "It’s just a few minor things. Besides, my wife is here. How could I not come out to welcome you myself?

I’ll have the maids get the room ready. You should rest for a while with the children.

I’m going to finish up a few things, and I’ll hold a proper welcome dinner for you all tonight."