Chapter 225: Chapter 225
Originally, Gu Chengyu was cautious because he was a candidate and didn’t want to have excessive contact with Vice Magistrate Wang, and he also had to be wary of the Prefect’s wife, which made it inconvenient for him to go. However, since he couldn’t find anyone else, he had to go himself, as Yu Tuanzi was occupied with matters at the restaurant and couldn’t spare time.
"Young Master! If it’s inconvenient for you to appear, why not let me go instead!" Shopkeeper Niu thought that matters concerning the restaurant always required his oversight. It would be better for him to take the initiative to establish a good relationship with Vice Magistrate Wang. In the future, if Gu Chengyu were absent and any issues arose that required Vice Magistrate Wang’s support, it would be more familiar!
"I intend to go personally, but you should come along as well. By the way, where is your wife? Please ask her to come out for a moment; I have a favor to ask of her!" Gu Chengyu had met Shopkeeper Niu’s wife before, and she was a very straightforward woman, adept in speech and action. It would be best to take her along to the Vice Governor Mansion to meet Madam Tongzhi.
"Why mention favors! Young Master, you honor us greatly!"
Shopkeeper Niu was quite pleased at this moment! The young master was still young and unmarried, unable to enter the inner chambers of big households. Though an older woman could step in, she was merely a servant. Moreover, the young master had few trusted individuals by his side. If his wife could gain the young master’s favor and land a steward role, it would be a respectable position!
If she performed well, the young master wouldn’t treat them unfairly. Naturally, he was delighted; who would complain about having too much silver?
"My dear? Come out for a moment!" Shopkeeper Niu called to the courtyard behind.
At this moment, a woman dressed in a crimson fine cotton cross-collared shirt lifted the curtain and entered from the back courtyard. Her face was as round as the full moon, with fair skin and a smile before speaking, leaving a good impression upon first sight.
"My dear! The young master and I are going to visit Lord Deputy Governor, and you should come along to meet Madam Tongzhi!" Shopkeeper Niu’s eyes were full of joy as soon as his wife appeared.
"Ah? How could I? I’ve never met an official’s wife before!" Mrs. Lin prepared to bow and was greatly surprised upon hearing this.
"Aunt, just go. I’ve already prepared the gifts and sent the calling card. You only need to exchange a few pleasantries, and it won’t take long before we return! There’s nothing to fear from the official’s wife; just show your usual straightforwardness!"
Gu Chengyu reluctantly chose Mrs. Lin because Nanny Liang was in Shanhe Town, unable to address immediate issues, and he had no other capable people around. He didn’t prefer employing both husband and wife for significant tasks, at least not entrusting both with important responsibilities, as they weren’t his own purchased people. One mustn’t put all eggs in one basket.
"Well, since the young master says so, I’ll give it a try!" Mrs. Lin was not one to shy away easily but felt nervous due to never having dealt with official wives before.
"My dear, go change your clothes and freshen up; we’re about to leave!" Shopkeeper Niu then called Er Ma Zi to watch over the inn. Guests must pay a deposit before staying, so there was no worry about them leaving without paying. Besides, it wasn’t mealtime, so leaving temporarily was fine.
Furthermore, since the recent incident of catching thieves implicated the Prefect significantly, no rewards were given, and the inn’s business became much quieter than before.
Gu Chengyu nodded at Mrs. Lin, who emerged in a changed outfit, "Let’s go!"
As Gu Chengyu was the owner, it was Shopkeeper Niu who carried the gifts. Visiting a prominent household required appropriate pomp.
By the time Gu Chengyu and the others returned, it was already late afternoon.
"Young Master, you wouldn’t believe it; Madam Tongzhi is quite amiable without the airs of an official’s wife!" It was Mrs. Lin’s first time meeting an official’s wife, and the wife seemed to have a good impression of her, treating her warmly! They were even invited to stay for lunch.
Gu Chengyu smiled slightly, "Was it warmth towards you? Rather, it should have been warmth towards the silver." He had given many fine gifts, dividing them into two parts: a common one left in the outer yard and a substantial one sent to the inner yard.
Even if Vice Magistrate Wang discovered this later and attempted to return the gifts, Madam Tongzhi wouldn’t be willing, for those gifts were irresistible to any woman.
As long as Madam Tongzhi whispered good favors in Vice Magistrate Wang’s ear, inviting him to grace their restaurant’s opening in the future, the affair would be settled. Subsequent visits and annual tokens of appreciation would suffice.
Others had previously offered gifts to Vice Magistrate Wang and his wife, but they were always silver; how could Vice Magistrate Wang dare accept them? His supposed integrity was actually timidity, fearing gaining a handle.
The Deputy Governor’s legitimate daughter recently reached her coming-of-age and was already betrothed. The gifts were predominantly women’s jewelry, such as pearls, gold jewelry, and soap, abundantly available in his domain. He carefully selected similarly sized pearls, about the size of pinky fingers, which were rare treasures in the Prefecture. He bought gold jewelry from a shop, as he was reluctant to part with domain-crafted premium items. The soap was homemade and didn’t cost much silver.
He didn’t believe a mother could willingly return such gifts, quietly accepting them to add to her daughter’s dowry. Besides, he sought nothing more than simple care.
"And you, showing off to the young master? Don’t you realize why Madam Tongzhi was kind to you?" Shopkeeper Niu understood that Gu Chengyu likely sent lavish gifts, as felt while carrying the gift boxes.
Upon return, he still had to advise his wife that the Lord Deputy Governor held the young master in high regard and the Lord Prefect also praised him; they should wholeheartedly serve the young master as assured benefits awaited them.
Mrs. Lin felt somewhat embarrassed by these words, acknowledging her slight overconfidence.
"Look at me, what kind of person is the young master? I’m just inexperienced, seeing an official’s wife for the first time and getting overly excited! But, I wonder if today’s endeavor was successful?"
Vice Magistrate Wang entered the inner courtyard from his study, heading towards his legitimate wife, Mrs. Lian.
Mrs. Lian and her legitimate daughter were examining the assortment of gifts on the table. She held a box of pearls, inspecting one; the pearls were truly beautiful, uniformly round and lustrous. Such a box sufficed for a complete set of headpieces, with plenty left over, and the gemstone-studded bracelet and golden hairpin dazzled the eyes.
"Oh, Mother! These are Gu Family’s scented soaps, ten pieces! They’re all floral and medicinal, not cheap! Mother, whose family sent these?" A good medicinal piece could cost five silver taels!
"Why do you, as a young miss, inquire about such things? With these included in your dowry, it won’t be shabby. These pearls will make a set of headpieces, and any surplus will become other jewelry!"
The Liao Family woman, seeing her daughter’s joy, laughed along. After many years with her husband, they hadn’t accumulated much wealth. Her future son-in-law’s family was an esteemed family, but though it sounded impressive, the family had many book-consuming scholars, and lived rather frugally. Hadn’t she seen her son-in-law’s promising future, she wouldn’t have married her legitimate daughter into such circumstances.