From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 581: Chapter 583: Building Suspense

Ancient Wen Heng, thinking of the next day’s itinerary, asked Jin Qianqian directly, "The lighthouse we talked about is finished. Do you want to come see it tomorrow?"

"It seems to have taken longer this time. It’s been over a month. Did you run into any problems?" Jin Qianqian mentally calculated the date they had last gone out to sea.

On that day, Ancient Wen Heng had rushed back to the government office with the other officials; it shouldn’t have taken until now to be completed.

Ancient Wen Heng gave her a mysterious look. "If you’re curious, just come see it with me tomorrow. Won’t all be revealed then?"

"Still keeping me in suspense," Jin Qianqian said, not missing the smug look in his eyes. "I suppose this lighthouse is something to look forward to, then."

Ancient Wen Heng said, "Why don’t you take a guess?"

Jin Qianqian just shook her head, refusing to play along. "I’ll know the answer tomorrow morning, so I’m not going to waste any brain cells on it."

Ancient Wen Heng was speechless. ’This wife of mine is getting harder and harder to manage...’

The next day, in the carriage, Ancient Wen Heng asked again, "You’re really not curious?"

Jin Qianqian replied, "It’s just a lighthouse. No matter what you do to it, it’ll still look like one."

Ancient Wen Heng sighed. "...Am I really that unimpressive to you?"

Regardless, his expression, which was practically begging for praise, made Lichun and the other maids huddle in a corner of the carriage, bowing their heads and snickering.

"Is something funny?" Ancient Wen Heng shot a glance toward the corner. He could clearly hear their stifled laughter.

Lichun and the others immediately straightened up and apologized, "We wouldn’t dare, my lord."

Having been with him for so long, they knew that the Master was actually very gentle in private.

As long as they served their mistress well, the Master wouldn’t punish them, even if they made a little joke now and then.

Sometimes, when he was in high spirits, he would even tell a few jokes to amuse the Madam and the Young Master. They loved the atmosphere in the Gu Mansion and had gradually started to relax a little. freewebnσvel.cѳm

However, they always remembered their duties as servants and knew how to behave according to the occasion.

"Alright, stop teasing them," Jin Qianqian said, pulling some dried fruit from a nearby cabinet. "We received some fresh fruit earlier, so I had some of it preserved. Here, try some."

Ancient Wen Heng picked one up and tossed it into his mouth. He found the natural, unadulterated flavor of the preserved fruit quite acceptable. "A light, tart flavor. Not bad.

"But, Madam, you let me be ridiculed like that. Do you really think you can win me over with such a small treat?"

Jin Qianqian replied, "It’s really not my fault. Why don’t you have these maids taken away and whipped a few times?"

"Am I such a cruel person?"

Jin Qianqian said, "Well then, how about this? These maids are of age. Why don’t you help find them husbands? Then someone else can discipline them in the future."

Lichun and the others were speechless.

Seeing their stunned faces, Jin Qianqian laughed. "Look at them, so eager they can’t wait. They’re not even trying to look shy."

Ancient Wen Heng actually considered it seriously. "We can start looking for matches for them. But you have so few people with you right now, you should train a few more to take their place.

"Take a look at my men. If any of them seem suitable, feel free to ask them. If it’s a good match, we can go ahead and arrange the engagement."

Having lived in this ancient era for so many years, they had long since changed their way of thinking.

If they really let their maids wait until they were older to get engaged and married, they would likely earn a bad reputation.

There was no concept of marrying or having children late here, and given their current positions, they had no power to change that.

Jin Qianqian sighed, "Time flies. We married off Qingzhu and the others, and now Lichun’s group has grown up too."

At the time, I felt they were too young to order around, but now the downside is apparent. They’ve barely been by my side for two years, and they’re already of marrying age.

"Madam, we don’t want to get married," Lichun and the other maids said in a low voice, having finally snapped out of their daze.

They could learn so much by the Madam’s side, and life was simple. They weren’t foolish enough to want to leave. freewebnσvel.cѳm

"I’m not telling you to get married right now. It’s just a reminder that you should start keeping an eye out for yourselves. If you find someone suitable, just let me know. The Master and I will not treat you unfairly."

Lichun and the others lowered their heads, not daring to say another word.

Just then, the carriage slowly came to a stop. Jiang Milie and Ming Feng’s voices came from outside, "Master, Madam, we’ve arrived."

"The moment of truth," Jin Qianqian teased, just as she was about to step out of the carriage.

Ancient Wen Heng smiled and shook his head. He didn’t believe for a second that Jin Qianqian hadn’t already guessed; she was just teasing him.

The moment Jin Qianqian stepped out of the carriage, she saw a towering stone structure before her. One could even call it a stone blockhouse.

"It’s built entirely of stone. No wonder it took so long."

Ancient Wen Heng explained, "By the sea, if you want something to last without constant repairs, stone is the only suitable material."

By now, rows of soldiers and officers were standing nearby. Jin Qianqian knew this meant Zhou Shixiong had already arrived.

"Where are Brother Zhou and the others?"

Ancient Wen Heng pointed to the lighthouse ahead and simply smiled without a word.

Jin Qianqian couldn’t believe he was still trying to keep her in suspense. She turned to examine the newly built stone lighthouse before her.

Its base, a solid foundation of stacked stone, was more than three meters high. Stone steps led up to an entrance that revealed a hollow interior.

Inside, a staircase spiraled up along the wall, disappearing into the darkness above so that she couldn’t see the top.

"This lighthouse must be dozens of meters high, right?"

Ancient Wen Heng didn’t answer her, but instead took her arm and guided her up the stairs.

These stairs weren’t stone but wood, supported by several large beams reaching upwards.

Every few dozen steps, a window let in enough light to illuminate the path ahead.

Jin Qianqian guessed they must have climbed several hundred steps. When she felt the light from above growing brighter, she knew they were nearing the top.

"Considering all this, building it in just over a month is actually quite fast."

Jin Qianqian had originally assumed it would be a simple wooden structure; it seemed she had underestimated the project.

Just then, Zhou Shixiong’s hearty laughter reached her ears, along with the sound of several people arguing.

"You’ve been hogging it forever! Let me have a look."

"First come, first served, don’t you get it? My rank is higher than yours, so you have to defer to me."

"Bullshit! I’m older than you, so why don’t you show a little respect for your elders?"

...

Hearing the argument, Jin Qianqian finally understood what all the fuss was about.

At the top was a wide, open platform where four or five commanders were standing.

They all smiled upon seeing them arrive.

Jin Qianqian then saw someone holding a device that looked like a telescope and gazing into the distance. She immediately understood the mystery Ancient Wen Heng had been dangling in front of her.

"When did you manage to make this?" she asked. "I don’t recall you leaving Lu City."