Courtyard House: My Time Travel is a Bit Too Strong

The world is vast and boundless; we will eventually forget each other. Time passes silently, and memories naturally fade. How can one live a lifetime clinging to old dreams?

Having been here for almost a year, Zhong Guohong's emotions had long since returned to normal.

In ancient times, the days were long, there were no mobile phones or the internet, and there were very few forms of entertainment.

If one does not marry and have a wife, one will have nothing to do and one's days will only become more and more empty.

"Young Master Zhong, we are on our way back to Suzhou Prefecture. Why don't we travel together?" Wang Zhenyuan's eyes were filled with eagerness.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Uncle Wang," Zhong Guohong replied.

"If you don't mind, call me Uncle Wang; and I'll just call you Guo Hong, how about that?"

"Okay, Uncle Wang." He agreed readily. He was only eighteen years old in his current body, while the other person was over fifty, so there was no incongruity in their seniority.

"May I ask which school of martial arts Guo Hong studied under?"

"My family was relatively well-off when I was young, and I received some schooling. Five years ago..." He changed the subject and began to fabricate a story.

"The deceased is gone, Guo Hong, please accept my condolences." Wang Zhenyuan sighed softly.

The group proceeded slowly, resting several times along the way. After more than ten days, they finally entered Suzhou Prefecture.

"If Guohong has nowhere to stay for the time being, why don't you stay at my house for a few days?" Wang Zhenyuan sincerely invited.

"Hmm," he simply replied.

Not long after entering the city, half an hour later, the group arrived at the gate of the Prince's Mansion.

"This newly recognized uncle comes from a distinguished family; his family is certainly not poor," Zhong Guohong thought to himself.

After meeting the Wang family, he was led to a guest room by a maid.

About half an incense stick's time later, a clear voice came from outside the door: "Young Master Zhong, dinner is ready."

He followed the maid to the hall, where there was a sumptuous feast. After the meal, he exchanged a few pleasantries with Wang Zhenyuan before taking his leave.

Suzhou was bustling with activity, teeming with merchants and travelers, and exuding the prosperous atmosphere of the Jiangnan region.

"Young master—" By the window on the second floor of the brothel, a young woman gently waved her handkerchief, her eyes smiling.

Brothels are also divided into different classes, and the top courtesan rarely shows her face.

He glanced sideways at the woman leaning against the railing on the right side of the brothel, then walked straight past her without stopping.

I spent 120 taels of silver to buy an old house: it was small, dilapidated, and the walls were peeling.

"It's getting late. Tomorrow we'll hire someone to repair the house and add some tables, chairs, beds, and cabinets."

The courtyard was dilapidated and occupied less than 200 square meters.

Fortunately, it's not far from the main street, only about a hundred steps away.

He was temporarily staying at the Prince's Mansion, and he couldn't expect Wang Zhenyuan's family to wait for him to cook their meals.

In those days, without electric lights, it got dark as soon as it got dark, and ordinary families would bring their bowls to the table at 4:30.

There are very few places to relax after a meal—the only places still lit up are the inn, the gambling den, and the brothel.

Ordinary people eat their fill and then go back to their rooms to rest, at most closing the door to do some serious things like procreation.

Not long after he stepped into the Prince's residence, a maidservant hurriedly came to invite him: "Young Master Zhong, it's time for dinner."

"Guohong, Xueqin tomorrow..." Wang Zhenyuan said with a smile.

"Then I'll prepare the gift tomorrow morning," Chung Kwok-hung replied.

"We have everything we need, don't bother buying anything," said Zhang Xueqin, Wang Zhenyuan's legal wife, gently.

"Guohong, have you been engaged yet?" Wang Zhenyuan asked again.

"Not yet." Chung Kwok-hung shook his head.

"I have a niece, she's sixteen years old..." Wang Zhenyuan continued with great interest.

In this day and age, it's common to see people getting married at fourteen or fifteen, and sixteen is the peak age for marriage proposals.

Zhong Guohong did not refuse—if the girl was satisfied, he would not rule out adding another room.

The next day, as soon as he opened his eyes, he went out to look for someone without even having breakfast.

During the dinner last night, he had already asked Wang Zhenyuan about the residences of the craftsmen.

In less than an hour, he had won over the three men.

He led his men straight to the newly purchased courtyard, explained the work, and paid the deposit on the spot.

He then went into a shop, picked out a pearl necklace, and bought it for five taels of silver.

With no interest in lingering in the marketplace, he hurried back to the palace as fast as the wind.

Upon entering, he found that many guests had already gathered in the hall, chatting and laughing with Wang Zhenyuan.

"It looks beautiful. I'm so glad you thought of it." Zhang Xueqin's eyebrows relaxed, and she smiled brightly.

Around noon, a woman in her early thirties with exceptional charm entered the house with a young girl, followed by two middle-aged women.

"Sister-in-law, Yuyan." Wang Zhenyuan stepped forward to greet her.

"Brother." Li Qingluo nodded slightly, and the old woman beside her immediately presented a congratulatory gift.

"Uncle..." Wang Yuyan curtsied respectfully.

"Uncle Wang's niece? Could it be Wang Yuyan?" Zhong Guohong's heart stirred slightly.

"Sister-in-law, Yu Yan, this is Young Hero Zhong Guohong... If it weren't for his rescue, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to go home." Wang Zhenyuan said sincerely, his voice filled with deep emotion.

Li Qingluo had skin as smooth as jade, an unparalleled beauty, and a shapely figure. Upon hearing this, she couldn't help but raise her eyes and glance at Zhong Guohong.

"Young Master Zhong," Wang Yuyan called softly.

"Miss Wang," Zhong Guohong replied with a smile.

"Sister-in-law, may I speak to you in private?" Wang Zhenyuan said.

"Yu Yan, you stay here." Before Li Qingluo finished speaking, she had already turned and left with Wang Zhenyuan.

"Yu Yan, come sit here," Zhang Xueqin said with a smile, beckoning.

"Mmm." Wang Yuyan lowered her eyes and responded softly, then moved gracefully with light steps.

"A mature, beautiful woman, and a naive young girl." Zhong Guohong shook his head inwardly, rolled up his sleeves, and went to move tables and chairs.

In the study, Wang Zhenyuan got straight to the point: "Sister-in-law, what do you think of Zhong Guohong?"

"He has a dignified appearance and clear eyes; he doesn't look like a bad person," Li Qingluo replied cautiously.

"Haven't you been thinking about finding a marriage partner for Yu Yan?" Wang Zhenyuan reminded her.

"Do you know his family's background?" Li Qingluo pondered for a moment.

"Born into a scholarly family..." Wang Zhenyuan said slowly.

"If we give Yu Yan to him, I'm afraid she'll suffer." Li Qingluo looked hesitant.

"I'll give him the house; with his abilities, he can easily support Yu Yan. You and I both know perfectly well what that young man from the Murong family is plotting," Wang Zhenyuan said calmly.

Thinking of Murong Fu, who was determined to restore his kingdom, and then of her naive and oblivious daughter, Li Qingluo gritted her teeth and said, "Alright, it's settled then!"

After Zhang Xueqin's fiftieth birthday celebration, Wang Zhenyuan approached Zhong Guohong and asked, "Guohong, what do you think of Wang Yuyan?"

"She's beautiful and has a good personality," Chung Kwok-hung said frankly.

Wang Zhenyuan spoke fluently for more than ten minutes, a smile always on his face, before turning and walking away.

Zhong Guohong was overjoyed—he was already in love with Wang Yuyan, so how could he refuse her?

Before he could even figure out how to propose, everything was already settled, leaving him somewhat dumbfounded.

"I haven't even finished tidying up the yard I just bought, and Wang Zhenyuan has already given me an even bigger one."

Half a month later, with red candles lit and after bowing to heaven and earth, Zhong Guohong officially became Wang Yuyan's husband.

Wang Zhenyuan brought two maids with him as part of his dowry; when Wang Yuyan got married, she also brought two personal maids with her.

After the guests had all left, he, reeking of alcohol, walked briskly straight to the bridal chamber.

Four girls, all under twenty, bowed their heads in silence and deftly tidied up the wedding paper and leftover mats scattered on the floor.

The candlelight flickered, illuminating Wang Yuyan's exquisite features, making her appear breathtakingly beautiful.

Seeing that she seemed a little flustered, Zhong Guohong gently comforted her with a few words...