From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 506: Chapter 507: Production

Bai Jinglie pointed a finger upwards. "If the cut for those above suddenly shrinks, they’re going to ask questions."

"You know I’m completely dependent on him right now. If I mess up this job, a lot of things could get difficult for me in the future."

Ancient Wen Heng pondered for a moment. "But this sea trade venture of mine also has risks. If something goes wrong, won’t you also have to bear the responsibility?"

"You should probably give them a heads-up first, just to save yourself from being in an awkward position later on."

"Are you that unsure about it?"

Ancient Wen Heng shook his head. "Who could possibly guarantee something like this?"

Jin Qianqian sat silently to the side, inwardly rolling her eyes. ’Listen to his tone,’ she thought. ’He’s looking for a surefire profit with zero risk. Where on earth does that happen?’

Bai Jinglie said, "Well, I don’t suppose Brother Gu has any other ideas for our glass workshop to make another fortune?"

Ancient Wen Heng replied, "Does the Young Master think my brain is some kind of magic lamp? It took everything I had just to come up with the glass mirror last time. How could I possibly..."

’Bai Jinglie is getting greedy. He’s trying to squeeze more ideas out of me again.’

"...I’m just getting anxious, that’s all. It’s fine, Brother Gu, just give it some thought when you have time. As for the sea trade, I’ll just invest a small portion. The truth is, I have a lot of people to support and can’t come up with too much ready silver."

At that moment, Ancient Wen Heng felt a pang of regret. ’Why did I ever send him that letter?’

Jin Qianqian made a small gesture. "Just invest whatever you can. We’ll all chip in and see if we can afford another merchant ship."

She had wanted to refuse him outright, but Prince Bai had helped them a great deal in the past, so it wouldn’t be right to completely shut him out.

"May I ask how much Little Sister Gu has invested this time?" Bai Jinglie didn’t dare underestimate Jin Qianqian; he had long since learned that she was the primary decision-maker for this sea trade venture.

Jin Qianqian replied, "Since I’m the one spearheading this, it’s only natural I put in more. I’ve already invested the vast majority of the silver taels I’ve earned over the last few years. You could say I’m staking everything on this."

’Whether it will turn out well or poorly, who can say for sure? It’s better to be upfront about the risks.’

Although Bai Jinglie didn’t know the specific amount, hearing her say that gave him a sense of the scale. "Isn’t that a bit too risky?"

Jin Qianqian said, "High risk, high reward. How will we know if we don’t even try?"

"Besides, this is an untraveled trade route. If it really succeeds, being the pioneers wouldn’t be so bad."

Bai Jinglie gave a bitter smile. He realized he had indeed become indecisive, no longer possessing the bold drive he’d had in his younger years.

He stroked the beard on his chin. ’Am I really getting old?’

’We’re clearly the same age, so why do I feel so world-weary? Where did that competitive drive go?’

Ancient Wen Heng said, "Princely Heir, there’s really no pressure. I only sent you the letter to see if you’d be interested."

"The risks are indeed significant, so it’s only right that you’re cautious. Today just so happens to be the grand opening of my wife’s shop. Let’s not discuss business for now. Come, let’s have a drink."

Bai Jinglie raised his cup. "Your wife is the truly capable one. She’s built a business that spans the entire country, all from a bar of soap. I should be the one toasting you."

...

The next day, Bai Jinglie went to inspect the shipyard. Only then did he make up his mind, pulling out silver notes for one hundred thousand taels. "Success or failure, I’m in. It’s a gamble."

Jin Qianqian was speechless. ’...Maybe you should just take it back?’

＆

「Gaoling Village」

"Why isn’t the doctor here yet?" Xie Ruyi paced to the doorway again. "Lejia, go see what’s keeping your second brother! It’s so late, and he still hasn’t brought the doctor!"

Gu Lejia replied, "Mother, it’s not that fast. A round trip from our place to the next village takes about an hour. Even with Second Brother driving the donkey cart, it’s going to take some time."

"Besides, what if Doctor Liu was already out on a call? Then..."

"BAH! BAH! BAH!" Xie Ruyi glared at Gu Lejia. "Nothing good ever comes out of that mouth of yours! Your second sister-in-law is suffering like this, and isn’t it all your wife’s fault? If she hadn’t pulled her nasty tricks behind the scenes, your second sister-in-law wouldn’t be having such a difficult labor! And you have the gall to stand there making light of it? Where is your conscience?"

Gu Lejia retorted, "Mother, you’ve been nagging me about that one incident for months. Haven’t my wife and I been working our fingers to the bone all this time? Can’t that make up for it?"

"What do you mean ’make up for it’?" Xie Ruyi felt she needed an outlet, or the anger pent up in her chest would make her burst. "So what if I made you two do more work?"

"Let me tell you, if everything turns out fine, we’ll let it go. But if anything, and I mean anything, happens to my eldest grandson, I’ll..."

"That’s enough! Stop adding to the chaos here." Gu Yuanjin heard his wife’s sharp voice the moment he rushed back. "Has the midwife arrived?"

"She went in a long time ago, but she said the baby’s position is wrong and told us to prepare for the worst."

"I already sent Le Di to get a doctor, but the doctor still isn’t here." As soon as she saw her husband, the head of the household, return, Xie Ruyi looked as if she’d found her pillar of support.

"Which doctor did you send him for? Don’t tell me it was Doctor Liu from the next village?"

"It was."

Gu Yuanjin snapped, "You fool! He only knows how to treat headaches and fevers! He’s fine for simple cuts, but for a life-or-death situation like this, you have to go to the town or county seat! You’re wasting precious time!"

Gu Yuanjin spun around and headed straight for the door. Xie Ruyi panicked. "With something this serious happening at home, where are you going?"

"Where else would I be going? I’m going to town to fetch a proper doctor."

"You, go get Mother. And bring the other sisters-in-law over, too. They’re all experienced; maybe they can help."

Only then did Xie Ruyi slap her thigh. She had been so consumed by panic that she’d forgotten about the other helpers in the family.

She smacked Gu Lejia, who was still standing there like a statue. "Don’t just stand there! Go get your aunts! Tell them your second sister-in-law is in labor!"

No matter how reluctant he felt, Gu Lejia could only lower his head and leave.

Still uneasy, Xie Ruyi ran to the door of the delivery room to shout a few instructions before rushing off toward Li Cuicui’s house.

Li Cuicui was sitting in the courtyard, shelling freshly picked green peas and chatting with Granny Song. "I’ll stir-fry these green peas with some meat today. Chuncao and Chun Ya both love it."

Gu Dashishi, with his legs crossed, scoffed, "You’re the only one who treats those two like treasures. When they grow up, you’ll have to provide their dowries, too. I really don’t understand how an old woman like you is so determined to lose money. Wouldn’t it be better to keep that silver to spend on yourself?"

Li Cuicui didn’t even look up. "I do things with a clear conscience. Spending money on my own descendants is always better than spending it on outsiders."

"Do you have to be like this every time? You can’t say a single thing without it being laced with barbs."

"That’s all in the past, old history. Aren’t you tired of bringing it up?" Gu Dashishi felt like he couldn’t stand living like this anymore.