Chapter 220: Auspicious Grand Opening

Xing’er glanced at her mother. "This is nothing. Little Fei said we’ll also be getting padded jackets in the winter as part of our uniform."

Ms. Qian’s eyes lit up, and she said gleefully, "Winter clothes, too? That’s wonderful! I won’t have to make you any clothes from now on. We’ll save another sum of silver."

Xing’er frowned. She looked like she wanted to say something, but in the end, she couldn’t be bothered. She just picked up her bundle and went into the side room.

The opening day, the nineteenth of the third month, had been chosen by Gu Zhang after consulting the almanac. It was an auspicious day for opening a business and breaking ground.

Gu Fei hadn’t gone home the previous night, deciding to just stay at the shop.

She had meticulously inspected every corner, ensuring not a single detail was overlooked.

Early the next morning, the entire Gu Family, dressed in their finest, headed into the city.

Little Cao had changed into a new, red floral padded jacket. Her hair was tied into two small tufts with red string, making her look quite festive.

Although Mrs. Chen had already visited the shop many times, she still looked around with fresh curiosity, touching this and examining that.

Everything she saw seemed wonderful.

Before long, the village chief arrived with his sons, Jin Sheng and Yinsheng. Beaming, he cupped his hands in a salute toward Gu Fei, who was standing at the entrance. "Little Fei, you’ve really made something of yourself! Opening such a large shop just like that. I’m sure you’ll be raking in the gold from now on."

Gu Fei quickly smiled and returned the gesture. "Thank you for your auspicious words. Village Chief, please, come inside and have a seat."

The village chief waved his hand and laughed. "Just call me Sixth Grandpa from now on. With the village gone, there’s no village chief anymore."

The village chief’s two sons, Jin Sheng and Yinsheng, stood behind him, each holding a scroll of a congratulatory couplet. Gu Zhang accepted them with a hearty laugh and had Er Lang and Sanlang paste them on either side of the doorway.

On the left: May your business prosper and reach the four seas.

On the right: May your wealth flourish and flow to the three rivers.

Shortly after, her eldest paternal aunt and uncle, as well as her third and eldest paternal uncles, also arrived. The families had pooled their money to gift a plaque of black lacquer traced with gold. It must have cost a fair amount of silver.

Gu Fei quickly ushered them into the shop.

Young Master Zhou and Sister Dan from next door came over as well, followed by two servants carrying an embroidered screen.

Young Master Zhou cupped his hands in greeting. "Miss Gu, congratulations on your grand opening."

Sister Dan beamed at Gu Fei. "You’re a capable one, little lady. I wish you overflowing wealth."

Just as she said that, Manager Wang from the First-class Pavilion and Manager Liu from the Drunken Immortal Tower arrived. Gu Zhang hurried forward to greet them.

While the group was chatting at the entrance, they saw two more servants approaching, carrying a large gift box between them.

Zhang Ze walked ahead of the two servants, saluting Gu Zhang from a distance. When he reached Gu Fei, he smiled and said, "My young master had intended to come in person, but as he is currently studying at the academy, he sent me to deliver a gift and congratulate Miss Gu on her grand opening."

Gu Fei curtsied to Zhang Ze. "Thank you, Brother Zhang. Please thank your young master on my behalf as well."

The two servants carried the gift box to the entrance, set it down, and then opened the lid. The onlookers standing by the door all gasped in unison.

Inside the box rested a green jade bok choy sculpture, about half an arm in length.

The stalk of the bok choy was a translucent white jade, while the leaves were a lush, verdant green. The transition between the colors was perfectly natural. The carving was so lifelike that the dewdrops on the leaves looked as if they were about to drip off.

The name for bok choy is a homophone for "a hundred fortunes," making it a very auspicious symbol.

The guests standing at the entrance were all people of discerning taste.

Needless to say, Young Master Zhou and Sister Dan—whose family owned a pawnshop—could tell at a glance that this bok choy was immensely valuable, worth at least one thousand taels of silver, if not more.

Green jade was only considered a mid-tier stone; Mutton Fat Jade was the finest. However, the masterful carving of this piece and its perfect harmony with the natural coloring of the green jade was a rare sight.

It elevated this green jade bok choy beyond the intrinsic value of the stone itself, raising it to the status of a treasured masterpiece.