From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 518: Chapter 520: Back and Forth

He Gaofei and his group had been listening quietly from the side.

If this General Li could create an opening, they might be able to pick up some scraps in his wake.

But now, it seemed he hadn’t gained any advantage himself and was instead turning his attention to them.

Sure enough, as they were disembarking and preparing to leave, General Li blocked their path.

"Gentlemen, please wait a moment."

"General Li, is there something we can help you with?"

"Gentlemen, we’ve all been so busy lately that we haven’t had time to sit down for a proper drink. Since we’ve run into each other today, I was wondering if you could spare some time for a small get-together?"

He Gaofei had noticed back on the boat that this General Li had been glancing their way time and again.

Before this, they were practically strangers who would at most offer a nod upon meeting. For him to suddenly extend an invitation... ’Nothing good can come of this,’ He Gaofei thought, and was just about to refuse.

But Wu Yichen beat him to it. "General Li, you’re too kind. Even if we were to go for drinks, the invitation should come from me.

As it happens, Mrs. Gu’s newly opened Tianfu Restaurant has some pretty good wine. Why don’t we go there?"

Li Ji heard this and, with no sense of being an outsider, came to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him. "Is that so? I’m cooped up in the barracks all day, so I had no idea Mrs. Gu opened a restaurant."

"Our Mrs. Gu is quite remarkable. This isn’t the only new business she has under her belt..."

He Gaofei and Lu Shenggen watched the two walk off, chatting as they went, a surge of irritation rising in their hearts.

Although the three of them were usually close, Wu Yichen shouldn’t have taken matters into his own hands like that.

Li Ji then turned back to look at them. "You two, let’s walk and talk."

’Great.’ They had long heard that Li Ji was the type to do as he pleased, but they’d always treated it as a joke. ’How could someone be so self-important?’

Experiencing it firsthand was truly unpleasant.

But if they left now, it would be rude, so they could only brace themselves and follow.

"Mr. He," Lu Shenggen whispered, "we’ve never had any dealings with this General Li. Why has he suddenly sought us out?"

Although Lu Shenggen was rather blunt, that didn’t mean he was stupid. When someone you have no connection with suddenly makes a move like this, they definitely want something.

He Gaofei replied, "I’m not sure either. For now, let’s just wait and see.

But we’re going to have a serious talk with Wu Yichen later for being so presumptuous."

The three of them usually did everything together, with He Gaofei always taking the lead.

Now, Wu Yichen’s unilateral decision to accept Li Ji’s invitation had already left He Gaofei vaguely displeased.

Tianfu Restaurant, personally designed by Jin Qianqian, was far more eye-catching than the other older establishments.

Business was booming. He Gaofei and his group had to wait for a while before the Shopkeeper could clear out a private room for them.

The moment Li Ji entered the room, he remarked, "I’m surprised! You gentlemen work with Mr. Gu, yet you don’t receive any special treatment here!"

He Gaofei replied, "This establishment is run entirely by Mrs. Gu. Mr. Gu has no say in its operations."

He Gaofei didn’t have many Silver Taels to his name, so he couldn’t possibly afford to frequent this restaurant.

Therefore, he couldn’t care less about getting special treatment.

But since the man was being so provocative, He Gaofei naturally had to use his superior as a shield. Besides, what he said was the truth, so he wasn’t afraid of this Li fellow trying to verify it.

"Oh?" Li Ji’s interest was piqued. "Isn’t this the Gu family’s business? How could Mr. Gu have no say in it?"

He Gaofei said, "General Li, you’ve been stationed in this border region for a long time, so it’s understandable your information from the Capital is a bit delayed. Mrs. Gu is not just the Magistrate’s wife; she is also an Imperial Merchant, personally appointed by the Emperor."

"Is that a fact? I was not aware." Li Ji looked at the three officials before him in feigned surprise. "So, this whole sea trade affair... was that also single-handedly managed by Mrs. Gu?"

"Naturally. I heard Mrs. Gu staked her entire family fortune on it this time. She’s certainly bold in her endeavors. No wonder she became an Imperial Merchant," Wu Yichen said with a sigh of admiration.

"Is that so," Li Ji began, but was cut off as a waiter entered with a teapot and menus.

The waiter first poured a cup of tea for everyone present before placing the menus on the table.

"Gentlemen, here are the dishes we’re serving today. What would you like to order?"

Although the men before him wore official robes, the waiter wasn’t the least bit intimidated. After all, his boss was the ’parent official’ of Lu City. Even a Great General would have to show respect here.

"Just bring a few of your house specialties!" Li Ji just wanted to get rid of the meddlesome waiter. Without even looking at the other three men who were currently perusing the menus, he made the decision for everyone.

The waiter didn’t answer, but simply waited quietly by the side.

He Gaofei grew even more irritated. ’I’ve never seen someone treat their guests this way.’

But since the man had already spoken, He Gaofei felt he had to give him some face. He handed the menu he had just glanced at back to the waiter. "Do as this gentleman says."

Li Ji, feeling he had lost some face, slammed his hand on the table and added, "Bring your most expensive dishes."

The waiter smiled. "Of course. Please wait a moment, gentlemen. I will inform the kitchen to prepare your food as quickly as possible."

After the waiter left, he didn’t forget to slide the door shut for them.

Li Ji said, "The architecture of this restaurant is quite nice. I’ve heard of it, but I’ve been too bogged down with trivial matters to visit.

I have no idea how the food is. I just ordered a few random dishes, so please, help yourselves when it arrives."

What else could He Gaofei and the others do when he’d put it like that? They could only sip their tea in silence.

Li Ji continued, "So, it seems Mrs. Gu calls the shots on all matters in the Gu family, big and small. I really didn’t expect that!

I wonder... that sea trade fundraising that caused such a stir a while back, was that also spearheaded by Mrs. Gu?"

Wu Yichen noticed that both He Gaofei and Lu Shenggen were remaining silent, so he had no choice but to smile and say, "That’s right. Only Mrs. Gu has that kind of boldness."

"Oh? I imagine you gentlemen must have gotten involved as well. You must have bought many shares!"

He Gaofei looked up at him. "And what about you, General Li? You must have bought a fair amount yourself?"

Li Ji replied, "I was a bit short on cash at the time, and I got caught up with other matters, so I missed the opportunity. And you, Mr. He?"

He Gaofei said, "The three of us are new here and didn’t bring much silver with us, just enough to get by. So, we pooled our money to buy a single small share together."

Li Ji was silent for a moment. "...You must be joking, Mr. He!"

"And what do you think, General Li?" He Gaofei said with a smile. "I have been an official for many years and have always kept my hands clean. My family is not skilled in managing finances, so our resources are naturally stretched thin. We’re not as lucky as Mr. Gu."

’Real gold and silver—who doesn’t love it?’ Over the past few days, the three of them had already had their fill of feeling sour about it, so now they were happy to just watch the drama unfold.

A flash of jealousy crossed Li Ji’s eyes. Though he had served as an official for many years and accumulated some assets, a sum in the hundreds of thousands of silver taels was something he couldn’t even dare to imagine.