Chapter 172: The Extravagant Gift List
The carriage drove directly into the front courtyard. Zhang Ze and Liu Zhuangtou began unloading the items from the cart.
Gu Zhang came out quickly, his jaw dropping at the sight of the pile of goods on the ground. "This— Young Master Su is far too generous."
Zhang Ze smiled. "Our Young Master said that he’s deeply grateful for Mr. Gu’s family’s care during the journey. These things are just a small token of his appreciation."
Gu Zhang said hurriedly, "Brother Zhang, please, come inside for some tea."
Zhang Ze waved his hand. "I won’t come in. Second Uncle Gu, please give my regards to Aunt Chen for me."
"Oh, and our Young Master said there’s no need for a return gift. After the New Year, once his leg has healed, he will come to visit Second Uncle Gu."
Gu Zhang grew anxious. How could they not send a return gift? "May I ask where Young Master Su’s residence is located?"
Zhang Ze just smiled. "The Young Master is currently staying with his maternal uncle, so it’s not very convenient."
Before he came, the Young Master had instructed him not to reveal his identity, to avoid making Second Uncle Gu’s family feel uncomfortable.
Unable to get the location out of him, Gu Zhang practically dragged Zhang Ze into the house for tea.
He quietly instructed Gu Qing to find Gu Fei and see if she could come up with something for a return gift for Young Master Su, which Zhang Ze could take back.
When Gu Qing found Gu Fei and told her, she panicked. She closed the door and began frantically searching through her dimensional space.
’Watermelon?’
’They exist in this era, but definitely not in this season. Common people can’t get them. I did have some once at the Marquis Mansion.’
’Apples are no good either. They don’t have them here, and besides, I plan to save them to grow later.’
’I don’t want to get into any more trouble because of the things in my space.’
Finally, her gaze landed on a cardboard box in her space. The name on the outside, written in three large characters, was Wuliangye.
She opened the box and took one out. It was a glass bottle. ’That definitely won’t work.’
Gu Fei then ran to her tent and rummaged around. She remembered drinking some eighteen-yuan-a-bottle plum wine before. The bottles were ceramic—one pink and one green, each with a plum blossom painted on it. She had thought they were fun and brought them home.
After searching for a while, she finally found the two wine bottles.
With great effort, Gu Fei managed to open the Wuliangye and pour it into the two plum blossom bottles.
Zhang Ze was drinking tea in the main hall when he suddenly caught the scent of alcohol. He couldn’t help but twitch his nose. "What kind of liquor is that? It smells amazing."
Gu Zhang guessed his daughter was up to something, but he said nothing.
A moment later, Gu Fei came out carrying the two bottles. She smiled and said, "Brother Zhang, this is some fine liquor my father happened upon some years ago. Please take it for Young Master Su to try."
Zhang Ze only hesitated for a moment before accepting them. The liquor smelled too good.
’Besides, Miss Xiao Fei had presented the liquor herself. The Young Master will surely be very happy when he receives it.’
Zhang Ze smiled. "Then I thank you on the Young Master’s behalf, miss."
"I must take my leave. I will impose on Second Uncle Gu again another day."
Gu Zhang saw Zhang Ze to the door and watched the carriage disappear into the distance before turning back.
It was already the twenty-eighth of the twelfth lunar month. Er Lang and Sanlang hadn’t gone out to pull their cart these past few days. Instead, they were both squatting in the courtyard, looking at the New Year gifts from Young Master Su.
Gu Sanlang rummaged through the items for a moment before crying out, "There’s a list here!"
Gu Fei took it. It was customary for wealthy families to include a gift list.
On a sheet of red paper flecked with gold was written: One deer, one roe deer, a pair of rabbits, a pair of suckling pigs, a pair of mountain pheasants, a pair of swans, eight cured chickens, eight smoked ducks, eight cured fish, eight pieces of cured meat, ten jin of green jade rice, ten jin of purple rice, twenty jin of black rice, and twenty jin of fragrant rice.