"Okay, Erald Villa, right? Got it."
Alex responded serenely after seeing Raju’s ssage.
Earlier, he’d just received a bunch of texts and voice ssages from Raju on WhatsApp. Raju had gone out of his way to inform him that the class reunion tomorrow would be at Erald Villa one of the most expensive places in town.
Raju’s voice note beeped again:
You have to co! If you don’t, the others won’t be interested either, don’t skip it, okay?"
Alex typed a brief response:
"Okay.
A few seconds later, another voice ssage arrived. This ti, Raju’s tone beca all dramatic, as though he were a victim of so grand expense. "Man, I have no idea who chose Erald Villa out of all places. I hear it is very costly and it’s a Dutch treat, everyone pays their own way! My wallet will weep, haha..."
Alex read the note and smiled quietly. He didn’t bother to respond. He knew all too well what Raju was doing pretending to be poor while showing off in that flashy Porsche.
Alex had caught it all in an instant but he wasn’t in the mood to spoil the charade.
See through, but don’t say anything.
Go ahead then, Raju continue with your act. Faking poverty? You think you can deceive ?
Alex sat back, phone against his ear, a serene smile pulling at his lips. This reunion could prove to be more fun than he’d anticipated
----------------
Ancient Tis
Ironhold City
City Gate — Hartwell Family Storehouse
With the ti-traveling power of his security uniform, after going back to his villa, Alex sent all the provisions he had arranged back into the ancient period and deposited them securely in the Hartwell family’s ancient granary beside the city gate.
The uniform would only be able to bring roughly 100 cubic ters at a ti but for the mont, that was sufficient for what he had in mind.
Once all was arranged, Alex walked through the serpentine streets of Ironhold, making a beeline for the Hartwell family residence. He still knew the way like the back of his hand.
He ca to a stop at the old wooden gate and rapped twice.
"Who is there?"
The gate creaked open soon after, and Nathan Hartwell looked out. When he caught sight of Alex, his eyes widened in surprise and true exhilaration.
"Brother Alex! You’re back at last!" Nathan smiled. "You’ve been away for two days my sister keeps ntioning you a hundred tis a day. My ears are going to fall off!"
Nathan exaggerated a face, shaking his head for dramatic effect. But before Alex could even smile, there appeared from nowhere a slim hand and seized Nathan’s ear in a sharp tug.
"Nathan! What rubbish are you talking now?"
Lucy Hartwell stood behind him, her face flushed and irritable. Her firm hold on her brother’s ear caused him to yelp.
"Ow! Ow! Lucy that hurts! I was just joking, don’t take it so seriously!" Nathan wriggled free, rubbing his ear and giving Alex a beseeching look.
Alex chuckled lightly. "It’s okay, Lucy. He was just kidding around no hurt done."
Nathan hastily filled in, "See? Brother Alex gets !"
Lucy released him with an indignant huff. "Fine. I’ll forgive you this ti — but if you open your mouth again, I won’t!" She shot Nathan a threatening glare, and he bead at her in obedient compliance.
Nathan swung the gate wider and beckoned Alex in. "Co in, co in! Father will be so delighted to welco you.
Within the small but neat courtyard, Mr. Hartwell ca out of one of the side rooms, rather leaning on a carved cane. His face lit up when he spotted Alex.
Due to Alex’s present of pure water, the worst of Mr. Hartwell’s agony from the stones had faded away. He was able to stand and walk around again a miracle in these dry years.
"Alex! Hope you haven’t had supper yet. Co in to supper with us. We don’t have much in these lean tis, but we have so little rice left." Mr. Hartwell spoke warmly but in an apologetic manner.
Lucy and Nathan looked at each other. During this three-year drought, rice was as valuable as its weight in silver. Even their family, who was once prosperous grain rchants, now protected the few remaining buckets of rice as if they were precious. Typically, they lived off wild greens picked on the hills.
Alex instantly noticed the faint unease on their faces. He understood exactly how precious that small offer of rice was to them. Seeing the Hartwells so open-handed, he couldn’t be stingy himself.
"Wait here a mont I’ll be right back," Alex said with a soft smile.
Nathan stared confused as Alex went outside. A few minutes passed, and the door creaked open again — this ti Alex returned with two big cloth-wrapped packages.
He shut the door and unwrapped the first package on the small wooden table. A new, shiny slab of beef was inside.
Nathan’s eyes widened. "That’s... that’s beef! Such a big piece!"
Lucy put her hand over her mouth in astonishnt. Even Mr. Hartwell stopped for a mont.
But Alex still wasn’t finished. He unwrapped the second package and out tumbled salted fish, pork ribs, eggs, prawns, fresh cabbage, beef atballs, thin slices of mutton, chicken wings, apples, even a waterlon food none of them had laid eyes on in years.
Nathan stood there mouths agape. Lucy’s eyes sparkled with incredulity.
Alex laughed at their faces. "Co on since you were so gracious to offer your remaining rice, let’s do better than that. Tonight, I’m buying. We’ll have a real barbecue. I even brought beer do you want a glass or two?
The Hartwells drew in a sharp breath almost in unison. For a mont, the small house was filled with nothing but the sll of fresh at and stunned silence.
In this ti of famine, rice alone was a luxury but at, vegetables, fruit, and cold beer? That was unthinkable.
Nathan swallowed hard, then broke into a grin. "Brother Alex, you’re incredible! We’ll never forget this!"
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