Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 326 - 162: Thank-You Gift

Ming Mo frowned. He had never seen Mrs. Gao, and he couldn’t help but wonder how she knew his young master.

Gu Chengyu paused in his movements, only now remembering the bite wound on his shoulder that was yet to be treated! He would have to apply some medicine later, or it would undoubtedly scar! It wasn’t that he minded having another scar, but this scar was a bite mark, which felt quite awkward.

"Let her in," Gu Chengyu instructed Ming Mo.

Upon hearing this, Ming Mo invited Mrs. Gao inside.

As soon as Mrs. Gao entered the room, she saw the meal set before Gu Chengyu. She thought to herself that her timing was truly unfortunate, arriving while he was eating.

She immediately performed a courtesy, "I did not realize Young Master was having a meal, and for that, this old servant was impudent!"

Gu Chengyu did not put down his chopsticks, as he hadn’t eaten since last night and was genuinely hungry. Besides, he was still growing, and skipping a meal made him ravenous!

Though he was hungry, with someone else present, he couldn’t gobble up his food. Over the past three years, under his teacher’s instruction, his demeanor had changed greatly; politeness, one of the six gentlemen’s skills, was one of his basic skills!

"No need for such formality; it’s no bother!"

Mrs. Gao quietly assessed the young master before her. His dining etiquette was no different from those aristocratic young masters in the manor, and his movements were even more natural and fluent. Looking at his attire at the moment, it was different from yesterday’s. This time, he wore a moon-white round-collared long robe with a light purple bamboo leaf satin trim, outlined with gold and silver threads, making him appear as though he was as precious as jade, exuding wealth. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

With a guest present, he couldn’t enjoy his meal fully. Gu Chengyu took another two bites and put down his chopsticks, taking a cloth to wipe his mouth.

Seeing the young man’s refined actions, Mrs. Gao couldn’t help but recall his fierce demeanor when fighting the River Bandits yesterday, making it hard to believe he was the same person. He seemed like a young master from some aristocratic family, but she hadn’t heard of such a person in the Capital. Was he perhaps from the provinces?

Seeing Gu Chengyu put down his chopsticks, Mrs. Gao felt even more embarrassed, fearing he had just started eating!

Gu Chengyu glanced at the gift box in Mrs. Gao’s hand, already knowing she had come to present a gift. However, there was still a fragrance of food emanating from the gift box?

"I wonder what brings Mrs. Gao to see me?"

"It is my fault for disturbing your meal, as my young lady had instructed me. She is eternally grateful for your life-saving grace. Being her savior, she cannot help but know your esteemed name. She specially sent me to inquire about your residence, so our young lady can send her family to thank you personally!"

Gu Chengyu felt it was just a trivial matter; he couldn’t stand by and do nothing when encountered. He didn’t want to entangle himself in this matter.

"You are too kind; it was merely a minor effort, not worth remembering. There’s no need for thanks, please ask your young lady to not dwell on it!"

"I really feel ashamed. My young lady said that at the time, she mistook you for a River Bandit and even injured you, and she’s been harboring guilt ever since. It is your magnanimity that you don’t hold it against my young lady."

Before she left, her young lady had already said that he would surely refuse to leave his name. Indeed, she felt a bit heated holding the gift box; this young master didn’t seem like someone lacking in Silver Coin, judging by the jade pendant he wore, which was probably worth more than her young lady’s jewelry box.

But her young lady also said that the intention matters more than the value of the gift. It seemed her young lady was quite observant. She hadn’t closely examined this young master’s attire yesterday.

"Such minor matters and misunderstandings, how could I take them to heart?" Gu Chengyu wanted to practice calligraphy again; he hadn’t practiced it because he hadn’t woken up properly this morning.

He picked up his tea bowl, lifted the lid, swept away the floating tea leaves, and took a gentle sip. Mrs. Gao recognized this as a gesture to invite guests to leave and was too embarrassed to continue talking.

She placed the gift box on the table and said with a smile to Gu Chengyu, "This is a gold cake I made myself, plus a dish of flower mushroom duck feet. These two are my specialty dishes. Seeing that Young Master travels with just a servant, I thought the meals might not be as delicate, so I brought these over, hoping Young Master could have a taste of my cooking."

Had she not mentioned it, Gu Chengyu wouldn’t have remembered the meals on the boat which were indeed not exquisite – large pot dishes that required additional Silver Coin if one wanted something better, or else his servants would have to borrow a stove to cook themselves. But could Ming Mo and the others cook? Certainly not.

Gu Chengyu wasn’t particularly picky about food. When traveling, he’d eat whatever was convenient. The fragrance from the food in the box did pique his hunger.

"In that case, thank you very much, Mrs. Gao!" Since it wasn’t anything valuable, Gu Chengyu didn’t refuse further.

Actually, there was a red envelope in Mrs. Gao’s sleeve, which she hadn’t taken out.

"Then I’ll not disturb your rest further. My young lady is waiting for my reply."

"I won’t keep you then; your young lady also likely needs her rest!" Gu Chengyu made a polite remark before having Ming Mo escort her out.

Although Gu Chengyu’s room was on the lower level, it was spacious, with an inner and an outer chamber. The outer chamber was where Ming Mo and the others stayed, with a bookshelf separating a small study.

Before leaving, Mrs. Gao glanced towards the study, noticing some written words and drawings laid out on the shelf.

After Mrs. Gao left, Gu Chengyu brought out the two dishes from the gift box. They smelled truly appetizing, and he was even hungrier as he hadn’t eaten enough earlier.

As he ate, Gu Chengyu mused on how housemaids from elite families truly knew the rules and were skilled in serving people, not to mention having some culinary talents.

Mrs. Gao went upstairs and immediately entered the room where her young lady, Yao Mengxian, was. At that moment, Yao Mengxian was sitting in a rose chair in the study, reading a book.

"Miss! It’s late already, why are you still reading? Take care of your eyes! Where is Qing Dai? Why isn’t she serving by your side?" Mrs. Gao was somewhat displeased with Qing Dai; the girl was getting more and more impertinent.

Yao Mengxian smiled and said, "I let her go back to rest. These days have been busy and tiring. I’m also not sure if Lianxin has recovered. Although she looks better, we should still invite a doctor to check her health."

Mrs. Gao knew her young lady was changing the subject again and decided not to pursue the matter of Qing Dai further.

"We should indeed find a doctor at the next port. Those medicine pills seemed effective, but one feels more at ease when a doctor examines them."

After saying that, Mrs. Gao took out the red envelope hidden in her sleeve and placed it on the desk.

Yao Mengxian glanced at it and smiled knowingly. She was mentally prepared; the gentleman didn’t seem like someone who lacked money. How could he possibly accept her Silver Coin?

"I didn’t take out the red envelope. The young master seemed wealthy! Our paltry three hundred taels would hardly interest him. Sending some food instead to express our feelings was wise! Young lady, you were right to have me bring the food over, as he accepted it!"