Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity
Chapter 118 - 43 Manager Zhou

Chapter 118: Chapter 43 Manager Zhou

"This young man! Is your Manager Zhou here?" Mr. Gu, seeing that the assistant mistook them for cloth buyers, hurriedly explained.

"And who might you be? Let me pass on a message for you." The assistant, realizing that the person in front of him knew Manager Zhou, felt fortunate that he had been hospitable earlier.

"Sorry to trouble you, but please tell him that Gu Changqing from Shangling Village is here to visit!"

"Please wait a moment! I’ll be right back!" The assistant lifted the curtain and ran into the back courtyard of the cloth shop.

While they were speaking, the bookkeeper at the counter woke up. It was just opening time, so surely no one would be here yet. Soon enough, the morning market would be busy. Taking a look at the two in front of him, the older one clearly seemed like a farmer from a nearby village, but the younger one had a certain charm.

The bookkeeper found it odd that Manager Zhou knew a rural farmer. Wasn’t it said that Manager Zhou was transferred from the county?

Before long, footsteps came from the back courtyard, and it was more than one person’s. Gu Chengyu knew that Manager Zhou must have arrived!

Soon, a man in a dark silk cross-collar gown lifted the curtain and walked out. Upon seeing Mr. Gu, he was initially surprised, but in an instant, his surprise turned into joy.

"So it’s really Brother Gu! After all these years, Brother Gu, you still look so robust!" The man happily stepped forward, patted Mr. Gu’s shoulder, and exclaimed.

"It’s been many years, but Manager Zhou, you still look as young as ever!" Mr. Gu was also delighted to exchange pleasantries upon seeing Manager Zhou.

"Brother Gu, why haven’t you come to find me all these years?" In truth, Manager Zhou appreciated Gu Changqing very much. He was sincere and never shirked work. Years ago, when he fell into the river, it was Gu who rescued him, refusing any reward afterward. He was indeed a good person. But not having seen him for years, Manager Zhou wondered if there might be something difficult that required his help, otherwise, he wouldn’t have suddenly come to visit.

"I’m getting old! I don’t come to town often these days. However, every year I send my eldest and second sons to visit you. Speaking of which, I must thank Manager Zhou for taking care of my two sons. Without you, they wouldn’t have found work in town!" Mr. Gu sighed with emotion, realizing how much he had aged over the years.

"Brother Gu, what are you saying? Chengli and Chengyi are as diligent as you in their work. Even if they weren’t working here, they would find employment elsewhere! You’re always so courteous, Brother Gu. I’ve long asked you to call me by my name, but you still call me Manager Zhou."

"It’s just out of habit! Even if I wanted to change, I couldn’t!" Mr. Gu would never take polite words at face value. Manager Zhou appeared to be an important figure under the Tang Family’s big boss. He had seen all sorts of people. Being courteous to him was already a kind gesture, and Mr. Gu didn’t dare to overstep and call him by name.

Gu Chengyu thought that it was indeed Manager Zhou’s talent in business; even polite words sounded sincere. However, his time was limited, and he couldn’t afford to listen to them reminisce. Stealthily, he tugged on Mr. Gu’s sleeve, signaling him to quickly get to the main topic.

"Oh! I haven’t introduced him yet. This is my youngest son, Gu Chengyu! Xiao Bao, quickly call Uncle Zhou!" Mr. Gu, prompted by the tug on his sleeve, remembered the purpose of their visit and hastily introduced them.

Gu Chengyu obediently called out, "Uncle Zhou!"

"Ah! Your youngest son looks quite good. Does your father call you Xiao Bao? In my haste, I didn’t prepare a meeting gift. Here’s this Jade Pendant for your little one to play with." After saying this, Manager Zhou unfastened a Jade Pendant hanging from his waist.

"Ah~ This won’t do. Such a precious item, how could it be given to a child to play with? It could get lost; please take it back!" Mr. Gu saw Manager Zhou removing the Jade Pendant, intending to give it to Gu Chengyu, and quickly stopped him. They had come to ask Manager Zhou for a favor, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to accept such a gift.

"For a first meeting, it’s indeed appropriate! Your youngest is still a child; I only gave one. Your eldest and second sons are adults, so I won’t give them any. Just take it! Oh, how forgetful of me to be so happy that I even forgot to invite you inside to rest." Manager Zhou took Gu Chengyu’s hand and firmly placed the Jade Pendant into it.

Gu Chengyu looked at the Jade Pendant in his hand. It was a Double Fish Pendant made of Nephrite Jade, smooth and warm. Although it wasn’t as valuable as Mutton Fat Jade, it wasn’t cheap either. Moreover, it had likely been played with often, as it felt slick to the touch. Thus, the pendant must have at least been frequently worn by Manager Zhou, if not his favorite. He absolutely couldn’t accept it, so it would be right to return it.

The bookkeeper at the counter was curious as to what kind of people these were, as the Manager was willing to give a frequently worn Jade Pendant to this child, clearly indicating a close relationship!

"How could I accept this? Coming to see you and still getting a Jade Pendant, it’s making me feel embarrassed! I dare not come to you again next time!" Mr. Gu felt a bit awkward. Manager Zhou seemed genuinely generous, but he was truly embarrassed to accept such a valuable item.

"Uncle Zhou! Please, take back the Jade Pendant. My father and I came to ask for your help. If you don’t take it back, we will be too embarrassed to mention our difficulties. Moreover, keeping this pendant with me might not be safe!" Gu Chengyu held up the pendant, trying to return it to Manager Zhou.

"When an elder gives, one should not decline. Since it’s given to you, it’s yours now! It’s just a meeting gift, don’t overthink it. Quickly put it away, so others don’t see it!" This Jade Pendant was indeed one that Manager Zhou often wore since it was given by the owner when he first started working for them as a gesture of encouragement. Although the Jade Pendant was worth at most twenty ounces of silver, it held significance for him.

He gave it to Gu Chengyu because the Gu family showed up unexpectedly, and he hadn’t prepared any meeting gift. Giving money wasn’t appropriate, so he had to pull off the Jade Pendant from himself. Since he had given it, he didn’t plan on taking it back!

"Xiao Bao! Since Manager Zhou has given it with such sincerity, you should accept it! Keep it safe in your pocket and don’t let anyone take it." Mr. Gu thought that since Manager Zhou was a man of importance, once he gave something, he wouldn’t take it back. Therefore, even if they didn’t want to accept it, they had to, or it would be disrespectful.

"Thank you, Uncle Zhou!" Gu Chengyu bowed, thanked him, and placed the Jade Pendant inside his pocket, though he actually put it into his personal storage space.

"No need for formalities! Come on, Brother Gu! Let’s go inside to talk!" Manager Zhou, realizing they were still standing in the shop, quickly invited them to the back courtyard.

"Manager Zhou, we won’t take a seat inside this time. Actually, the reason I came to see you is to ask for your help with something!" Mr. Gu, realizing they had been talking for about half a quarter of an hour, grew anxious.

"Oh? Has Brother Gu encountered some difficulty?" Manager Zhou hurriedly inquired.

"I heard that Manager Zhou is acquainted with the shopkeeper of Yingkelai, and my family has gathered some fresh ingredients from the mountains. I wanted to ask if you could introduce us to see if Yingkelai might be interested in these ingredients." Mr. Gu briefly explained the situation.