Chapter 223: Chapter 59: Visiting Vice Magistrate Wang
Originally, Gu Chengyu was cautious because he was a candidate and didnât want to have excessive contact with Vice Magistrate Wang, and he also had to be wary of the Prefectâs wife, which made it inconvenient for him to go. However, since he couldnât find anyone else, he had to go himself, as Yu Tuanzi was occupied with matters at the restaurant and couldnât spare time.
"Young Master! If itâs 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 Wangâs 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 Niuâs 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 masterâs favor and land a steward role, it would be a respectable position!
If she performed well, the young master wouldnât 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.
"Alright! Coming!"
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 Niuâs eyes were full of joy as soon as his wife appeared.
"Ah? How could I? Iâve never met an officialâs wife before!" Mrs. Lin prepared to bow and was greatly surprised upon hearing this.
"Aunt, just go. Iâve already prepared the gifts and sent the calling card. You only need to exchange a few pleasantries, and it wonât take long before we return! Thereâs nothing to fear from the officialâs 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 didnât prefer employing both husband and wife for significant tasks, at least not entrusting both with important responsibilities, as they werenât his own purchased people. One mustnât put all eggs in one basket.
"Well, since the young master says so, Iâll 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; weâre 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 wasnât mealtime, so leaving temporarily was fine.
Furthermore, since the recent incident of catching thieves implicated the Prefect significantly, no rewards were given, and the innâs business became much quieter than before.
Gu Chengyu nodded at Mrs. Lin, who emerged in a changed outfit, "Letâs 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 wouldnât believe it; Madam Tongzhi is quite amiable without the airs of an officialâs wife!" It was Mrs. Linâs first time meeting an officialâs 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 wouldnât be willing, for those gifts were irresistible to any woman.
As long as Madam Tongzhi whispered good favors in Vice Magistrate Wangâs ear, inviting him to grace their restaurantâs 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 Governorâs legitimate daughter recently reached her coming-of-age and was already betrothed. The gifts were predominantly womenâs 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 didnât cost much silver.
He didnât believe a mother could willingly return such gifts, quietly accepting them to add to her daughterâs dowry. Besides, he sought nothing more than simple care.
"And you, showing off to the young master? Donât 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? Iâm just inexperienced, seeing an officialâs wife for the first time and getting overly excited! But, I wonder if todayâs 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 Familyâs scented soaps, ten pieces! Theyâre 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 wonât be shabby. These pearls will make a set of headpieces, and any surplus will become other jewelry!"
The Liao Family woman, seeing her daughterâs joy, laughed along. After many years with her husband, they hadnât accumulated much wealth. Her future son-in-lawâs family was an esteemed family, but though it sounded impressive, the family had many book-consuming scholars, and lived rather frugally. Hadnât she seen her son-in-lawâs promising future, she wouldnât have married her legitimate daughter into such circumstances.