Today, Gu Chengyu just returned from the First-class House, the cook had already arrived. He went to the shop to teach them how to make pastries and cakes, and left Yu Tuanzi to watch over things when he ca back!
"Ah! Mr. Gu! You’re finally back!" Manager Niu saw Gu Chengyu step into the inn and imdiately bead with a big smile. He had been waiting for Gu Chengyu for quite a while.
"Oh! Manager Niu, is there so good news?" Gu Chengyu saw Manager Niu’s flushed face, not knowing what joyful news he had received!
"I don’t have good news, but you sure do! Haven’t congratulated you yet for becoming the Prefecture Chief!" Manager Niu still admired Gu Chengyu sowhat, saying he intended to inquire around these few days to see if Gu Chengyu was worth following.
This inquiry turned out to be quite remarkable. It turns out the person standing before him was not only the county champion but also the Prefecture Chief, excelling in studies and a talented individual. Just these rits alone were worth following. If he doesn’t take the chance to pledge allegiance before Gu Chengyu rises, in the future, he might not even be noticed by him.
"Manager Niu is certainly well-inford!" Gu Chengyu laughed. Liuhe Inn had no scholars staying and wasn’t located in a busy area, so how could Manager Niu know unless he made a special effort to find out?
Nonetheless, even if he inquires about you, it’s not unwarranted. Who would believe you just based on your words?
"The matter you ntioned last ti, is it still valid?" In truth, Manager Niu felt sowhat uneasy. Gu Chengyu seed very busy these past two days and often wasn’t at the inn, not rushing him either. This left him unsure. He saw that Mr. Gu had many people under him, and wasn’t certain if he’d be useful if he joined.
"How could it not be valid? What’s the matter? Has Manager Niu made up his mind?" Gu Chengyu noticed Manager Niu seed hesitant to speak earlier in the morning, but he was busy heading to the shop, so he didn’t engage him then.
"I’ve thought it through! Decided to close this inn and follow you!" Manager Niu having made his decision, had no more hesitations. He possessed little and had nothing to lose.
"Since Manager Niu has made up his mind, then welco aboard! As long as you’re dedicated to working for , I won’t treat you poorly! When does the lease on this inn expire?" Gu Chengyu wasn’t just opening this restaurant; he intended to expand into a chain later!
"In more than a month’s ti!" Manager Niu calculated the date and replied.
"Then keep it open for now. Once I’ve settled things at the restaurant, you can co over!"
Opening a restaurant isn’t sothing that happens overnight, the current restaurant’s setup was a bit outdated, requiring refurbishnts. He still needed to hire chefs and staff, plus he needed to create a nu. He planned to buy people for the chef and staff roles because many of his recipes were unique to this era, requiring people capable of keeping secrets.
The most crucial part of opening a restaurant was finding soone to back it. He thought of Vice Magistrate Wang. He had Gu Wanqian inquire over the past few days, and Vice Magistrate Wang seed quite upright. However, he had a legitimate daughter of marriageable age. Gu Chengyu wanted soone to et Vice Magistrate Wang’s wife, but being a man, he couldn’t enter the inner quarters, so he would need a matron.
At this mont, Gu Chengyu realized it was sowhat inconvenient. In the future, if he’s to forge connections with influential households, he’ll inevitably have to interact with their female mbers. Yet, among his people, none were suitable, so it seems necessary to buy a few matronly figures who understand etiquette.
"Oh! Right! Sir! This is the invitation sent by the governnt office after you left earlier today. I heard it’s for the banquet organized by Lord Prefect, inviting the top ten to attend!" Manager Niu rembered another important matter after the serious discussion was over.
"Has Mr. Ye received his invitation?" Ye Zhiqiu was quite reclusive, never easily stepping out, and when free, only stayed in his room reading books.
"It has been delivered to his room, but there’s sothing I’m unsure whether to say or not!" Manager Niu hesitated, as he had decided to work for Gu Chengyu but was still unfamiliar with him, unsure if he should speak up.
"Feel free to speak your mind, we’re now allies, what’s there that cannot be said?" Gu Chengyu said humorously.
"It’s nothing much, just that you’ve been busy these days. Isn’t it true you asked to keep an eye on Young Master Wan Hua?"
Manager Niu wiped the counter with a rag and continued, "I’ve noticed a scholar nad Huang visiting him these past days. They disappear for the whole day without returning for lunch and ca back late yesterday, reeking of alcohol! I just feel your family not being from the Prefecture and your nephew being straightforward, might be misled if influenced improperly!"
"Oh? Did you happen to hear where they went for drinks?" Gu Chengyu frowned, wondering how Gu Wanhua got involved with Huang Ming, despite having reminded him. Truly exasperating.
"They were quite secretive. I only caught whiffs of sothing called Yan Bi, and they avoided ; I couldn’t hear clearly!"
"Yan Bi? Is it a shop or a person’s na?" Gu Chengyu hadn’t heard this na during his days in the Prefecture.
"I’ve lived in the Prefecture all these years, never heard of any shop called that! Sounds more like a person’s na!" Manager Niu had more to say, suspecting it was a woman’s na!
What he considered, Gu Chengyu thought about too. Could it be that Gu Wanhua couldn’t resist temptation and went to such a place of debauchery? He felt a bit of a headache coming on. Didn’t Gu Wanhua have any self-control? After all, he was a married man. What a sha!
"If he cos back, tell him to co to my room, saying I have sothing to discuss with him!" Gu Chengyu felt he needed to talk to him properly, unsure of how much advice would sink in.
"Yes! I’ll definitely tell him!"
Gu Chengyu turned and headed upstairs. He had to dress for the banquet tonight and still needed an outfit change. People always respected appearances first, and with the ans he had, he should dress well. He also wanted to take this chance to probe Vice Magistrate Wang!
Gu Chengyu opened the invitation and his expression beca sowhat peculiar. Late afternoon? So early?
"Chengyu! You’re back? Haven’t seen you these past two days. I see the invitation says late afternoon. It’s already one o’clock, let’s head there early, still need to purchase the four symbolic gifts on the way!"
At this mont, Ye Zhiqiu entered Gu Chengyu’s room, seeing him looking at the invitation, and prompted him.
In the Dayan Dynasty, absent a deep friendship, gifting was typically done with four symbolic gifts. Naturally, the contents were chosen according to one’s own heart, those with silver prepared sothing expensive, those without made modest gift boxes.
Gu Chengyu originally planned to say he had set it up, since he had plenty of tea and soap in his space to suffice. Yet he recalled Ye Zhiqiu’s family circumstances weren’t great, so he decided to give the sa gifts alongside Ye Zhiqiu!
"I’ve been rather busy these days! Hold on, I’ll take a bath and change clothes. Being outside all day makes you ashen-faced, need to freshen up first!" Finished speaking, Gu Chengyu dashed out of the room, instructing Manager Niu to bring hot water!
Gu Chengyu didn’t think the ti was set so early, so the bath had to be quick. Actually, he was covered in baking ingredients, smoked by the oven for an entire day. Attending the banquet in such a state would definitely be improper.
Ye Zhiqiu watched Gu Chengyu rush out and shook his head with amusent; everyone knew how much Gu Chengyu loved cleanliness!
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