Chapter 101: Zhenwei Escort Agency
Gu Zhang pondered for a long while, hesitating on whether to agree, when he suddenly saw Gu Fei emerge from the pharmacy.
He said to Zhang Ze, "Let me discuss it with my daughter."
He pulled Gu Fei aside and explained the situation.
Gu Fei blinked. "Dad, I think it’s a good idea."
"Do you know who that young master is? He’s most likely the Prefectural Governor’s son."
"Weren’t you thinking about hiring people from an escort agency just the other day? The Prefectural Governor’s guards are bound to be skilled. Besides, we know their background, and they certainly aren’t short on silver, so they won’t be coveting our meager grain supply. If they travel with us, it’s like getting two bodyguards for free."
Gu Zhang was a little surprised. "He’s really the Prefectural Governor’s son?"
Gu Fei nodded. "I’ve seen the lady who was with them that day. It was the governor’s wife."
"But, Dad, since they haven’t revealed their identities, I think it’s best we pretend not to know."
Gu Zhang nodded slightly. "If they don’t say anything, I won’t ask. Pretending not to know is the best approach."
"The Prefectural Governor is a rare, good official. For that reason alone, we should offer the young master some protection."
Lying on Chen Hu’s back, Su Chen watched as the Gu father and daughter whispered to each other off to the side.
He couldn’t understand what a grown man had to discuss with a little girl.
Just as he was thinking this, the pair turned and walked over. Gu Zhang smiled and said, "It’s settled then, we’ll travel together and look out for one another on the road. The other families traveling with us agreed to meet at the East City Gate at noon. If you plan on joining us, just make sure you aren’t late."
Zhang Ze was delighted. "Thank you so much, Uncle. We’ll go buy a carriage now and meet you at noon."
The Gu Family continued to wander around Tong City and even bought some expensive vegetables. As they passed a large gate, Gu Fei exclaimed, "Dad, there’s an escort agency here."
Gu Zhang looked up at a plaque hanging above the gate which read, "Zhenwei Escort Agency."
Gu Zhang couldn’t help but ask the old man guarding the gate, "Old sir, are you accepting escort jobs to East Sea County?"
The old man waved his hand. "We’re not accepting any more jobs. We don’t have the manpower; all the masters in the escort agency have been sent out."
With that, Gu Zhang completely gave up on the idea.
At that moment, in a room in the back courtyard of the escort agency, Uncle Ma had just finished writing a secret letter. He had detailed nearly everything Gu Fei had done recently, trying his best not to inject any personal feelings so the Young Master Heir could make an accurate judgment.
After finishing the letter, Uncle Ma sealed it with wax and handed it to the escort agency’s steward. The steward had his own channels for delivering the secret letter to the Young Master Heir.
The Gu Family party would never have guessed that Uncle Ma was right inside the escort agency. They asked a few more questions and left. It was nearly noon, and since it was inconvenient to start a fire and cook in the city, the family found an inexpensive-looking restaurant and each ordered a bowl of knife-cut noodles.
Lian’er initially refused, saying she would be fine with just a coarse grain bun, but Gu Fei insisted on ordering a bowl for her.
The Gu brothers weren’t full after one bowl, so each of them ordered a second.
When Gu Zhang went to pay the bill, it turned out the noodles were one hundred cents a bowl. The total came to one tael and three maces of silver.
When the old matriarch heard the price of one tael and three maces of silver, she swayed and looked as if she were about to faint.
Before they were even out the door, she began to curse, "This place is a total rip-off! One hundred cents for a bowl of noodles! I’ve lived for decades and I’ve never seen such a thing!"
The shopkeeper glared at the old matriarch. "If you don’t have the money, then don’t eat! What are you squawking about? Do you have any idea what white flour costs these days?"
"Keep shouting and I’ll give you a beating!"