Third Grandpa heard the words and sensed sothing was amiss, so he hurriedly led a few village n out of the shop, and when they looked towards the Gate Tower, they saw from afar a group of people carrying sothing covered in red silk, followed by two horse-drawn carriages—unbeknownst to whom was sitting inside.
Gu Dashan, upon seeing a man riding alongside a carriage, identified him as Jiang Jiao, and quickly said: "It’s the Jiang family’s brothers coming."
Gu Dafu and the others saw it too and nodded in agreent.
Scholar Shang smiled and shook his head: "Not just that."
In the midst of speaking, the group had passed the Gate Tower and arrived in front of the shop.
Third Grandpa and the village n quickly straightened their clothes and went to et them: "Ah Jiao, you’re here, welco, welco."
Jiang Jiao, sitting on the horse, saw them and deliberately said out loud: "Elder Gu, Brother Gu, the Lord County Magistrate has sent a signboard to your shop!"
"What? The Lord County Magistrate has sent a signboard to the Gu family’s shop?"
"Oh my, is that true? That is indeed quite prestigious!"
Ah Jiu addressed the astonished guests: "You should consider who is the one speaking. This is the Second Young Master from the County Captain Jiang’s family; his words are naturally true."
This statent left the guests present quite amazed.
For a shop opening in this town, to have the village chief and Scholar co to support was prestigious enough; but the Gu family’s shop opening was graced not only by the village chief and Scholar, but also the Jiang Family’s Second Young Master, and even the Lord County Magistrate had sent a signboard.
And that piece of red silk covering the signboard was not just cloth, but expensive silk. Just the piece of red silk alone was worth a considerable amount of silver coin.
"Elder Gu, congratulations, even the Lord County Magistrate has sent a signboard to your shop. It would be hard for your shop’s business to not prosper."
The people present were extrely envious, thinking to themselves how the owners of the Gu family’s tofu stall were so fortunate to have known so many important figures in just half a year.
Jiang Jiao dismounted and gave Third Grandpa and the others a aningful look: "Elder Gu, dearest owners, Master Tian, the steward of the Lord County Magistrate, has also arrived. Let’s go and greet him."
Third Grandpa and the others were even more surprised; after the incident at Sun Lizhang’s family, they knew who this Master Tian was.
Master Tian was one of the three stewards of the Lord County Magistrate, and due to his camaraderie as a fellow student with the Lord County Magistrate, he had the closest relationship and was a highly favored person beside the Lord County Magistrate.
Master Tian had co today to make connections and did not expect Third Grandpa and the others to greet him; hearing this, he lifted the carriage curtain himself and stepped down.
Together with him was Jiang Qi.
From the other carriage, a middle-aged man in a dark blue long gown, appearing scholarly yet astute, alighted.
"Elder Gu, dear brothers, congratulations, the shop has opened, and business is sure to flourish," Jiang Qi offered his congratulations, then pointing at Master Tian, said: "This is Master Tian, a steward beside the Lord County Magistrate, who has specifically co to present the signboard to you."
Third Grandpa and the others quickly clasped their hands and saluted Master Tian: "We commoners greet Master Tian; your presence is auspicious for our shop."
As Master Tian held an official position, Third Grandpa’s reference to himself as a commoner was indeed appropriate.
Master Tian made a feigned effort to assist Third Grandpa and said with a smile: "Elder, there’s no need for such courtesies. Master Tian is of a younger generation to you, Sir; you need not give the salute."
Jiang Qi pointed to the middle-aged man beside him and said, "This is Brother Hu, the owner of Futai Building in the county town. After tasting the brined delicacies and roasted duck from your shop, he simply can’t forget them. He ca specifically today, knowing that your shop is opening, to request so goods."
Brother Hu was eloquent and, after bowing to Third Grandpa, sincerely said, "I know the brined goods and roasted duck from your family are selling well and are hard to acquire, but today is the grand opening day of the shop, so you should allocate so for our Futai Building."
There are two most famous restaurants in Tianfu County, one is Fugui Building owned by the Zou family, and the other is Futai Building owned by the Hu family. Futai Building is most famous for its lotus leaf roasted chicken, but compared to roasted duck, it pales in comparison.
Brother Hu had set his sights on the Gu Family’s roasted duck long ago. When he heard from the Jiang Family that Gu’s shop was opening today, he imdiately prepared a gift and ca.
Third Grandpa smiled and said, "It’s a good thing that Brother Hu values the food from our shop. We will definitely set aside a batch of brined goods and roasted duck for you."
Daya’s family’s brined goods and roasted duck have been sold for over a month, and their reputation was already well established. They had anticipated that other restaurants would co to place orders on the day of the shop’s opening.
"Old man, quickly welco the guests inside. The auspicious hour is upon us." Third Grandma, standing at the entrance of the shop, shouted at Third Grandpa. Missing the auspicious ti would be inauspicious.
Seeing his chance, Master Tian pointed to the two n carrying the signboard and said, "Go, hang up the signboard, and let Elder Gu unveil it to mark the opening."
"Yes." The two servants carrying the signboard responded and moved it to the front of the shop, where Gu Qingliang and Gu Qingtian had already brought two ladders, telling them, "The two brothers can go up without any worries, we’ll hold the ladder steady for you."
The two n smiled and nodded, each holding one side of the signboard, climbed the ladders, and swiftly hung the signboard up.
Master Tian said, "Elder Gu, hurry up and offer sacrifices to heaven and earth, then unveil the sign and open for business."
"Yes, yes." Third Grandpa quickly called the n from several families over, offered incense in respect to heaven and earth, and then approached the entrance. Looking at the red silk draping down, and then towards Master Tian, he asked, "Master Tian?"
Master Tian replied, "Elder Gu, as you are the owner of the shop and the eldest here, it is fitting for you to unveil the sign. Master Tian will abstain from doing so."
After hearing this, Third Grandpa smiled and nodded, then began the unveiling, "We are open for business!"
As the red silk was pulled down, the calligraphy revealed four large characters: Gu’s Restaurant.
"Excellent!" The majority of guests present couldn’t read, but since the signboard was a gift from Lord County Magistrate, as the red silk fell, they cheered loudly in support.
With that, Gu’s Restaurant was officially in business. After Third Grandpa welcod Master Tian, Brother Hu, Jiang Qi, and Jiang Jiao into the side room on the right of the shop, Gu Dafu and Gu Dalin began to attend to the other guests.
Surprised, Master Tian looked around the side room and asked, "You built a private room in this shop?"
Third Grandpa shook his head with a smile, "We just have a small shop, there’s no private room. This place is specially for entertaining honored guests and also where our families settle accounts and discuss matters."
"I see," said Master Tian while scanning the room and pointing at Gu Qingliang and the others, he asked, "Which of these young n is Gu Jin’an?"
Gu Dexing was feeling anxious, thinking of how to connect with Master Tian, and upon hearing this, his smile stiffened. Why would Master Tian single out Gu Jin’an to et?
Could it be because of the Jiang Family?
It must be because of the Jiang Family!
Humph, connecting with Lord County Captain’s family indeed brings many benefits, now even the influential man closest to Lord County Magistrate is asking to see Gu Jin’an by na.
What Gu Dexing didn’t know was that the reason Master Tian asked to see Gu Jin’an was that County Captain Jiang had ntioned to Lord County Magistrate that the idea to reduce Great Chu’s half the village chiefs was his.
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