Chapter 601: Chapter 603: Giving Gifts
"I haven’t even taken it out yet, so how can you already be set on it?
Aren’t you afraid I might just pull out something worthless to fool you?" Ancient Wen Heng said.
"That’s impossible," He Gaofei said. "Mr. Gu wouldn’t offer something so cheap."
His two companions nodded vigorously, in complete agreement.
"You’ve guessed correctly," Ancient Wen Heng said. "It really isn’t anything valuable."
With that, he rummaged inside his robes and pulled out three wooden plaques. "Here, this is the gift I prepared for you. See if you like it."
Joking aside, they were only stunned for a moment upon seeing the wooden plaques before happily accepting them with both hands.
He Gaofei and the others couldn’t figure out what the plaques were, but since they were a gift from Mr. Gu, they held them and examined them curiously.
The two strange symbols looked like the characters for "Tian Hu," but they couldn’t quite put their finger on what felt off.
"A bit disappointing, isn’t it? Just a couple of small wooden plaques." Ancient Wen Heng couldn’t help but smile as he watched them stare at the plaques, trying to figure them out.
"They are a bit strange," one said. "We hope you’ll enlighten us, Mr. Gu." By now, the three of them had gotten into the habit of asking whenever they didn’t understand something.
"These are VIP tokens for Tianfu Restaurant," Ancient Wen Heng explained. "From now on, with these tokens, the shopkeepers at any Tianfu Restaurant branch will treat you with the utmost hospitality. You’ll also get a forty percent discount on all food and drink."
As for why they weren’t free, Ancient Wen Heng and Jin Qianqian had never considered it. A business had to at least break even; otherwise, he wouldn’t dare hand out these tokens.
"This is amazing! It’s exactly what I needed." The wooden token suddenly felt precious in Wu Yichen’s hands. He examined it carefully one more time before quickly tucking it away inside his robes.
"Thank you, Mr. Gu," said He Gaofei. "Now I can afford to go for a drink and treat myself every once in a while."
Lu Shenggen was even more direct. He tucked the token away, patted his chest twice to make sure it was secure, and said, "It’s a shame I have no suitable gift to give in return right now. I’ll make it up to you once I’m back in Shangjing."
’I wonder if I can get one of the rare books from the family library out of the old man,’ he thought. ’A connection like this is worth maintaining. We might end up working together again someday.’
He Gaofei and Wu Yichen chimed in, promising they too would make it up to him once they returned to the Capital City.
Ancient Wen Heng waved his hand dismissively. "We’ve been brothers-in-arms for years. There’s no need for such formalities between us.
I just hope we all keep in touch, no matter where we end up."
Until now, their relationship had been that of a superior and his subordinates. Once they left this place, they would simply be colleagues of equal standing.
Since all of them wished to maintain this connection, they readily agreed.
"Should we head downstairs to wait for General Zhou and the others?"
He Gaofei remembered they were also hosting several other generals today. He and the others had finished their duties at the government office early and had come ahead.
Looking at the time, he figured the generals should be arriving soon. Since their ranks were higher, it was only proper to go down and greet them.
Although Ancient Wen Heng was on good personal terms with the generals, he understood his subordinates’ concerns. "Then let’s all go down and wait together."
They didn’t have to wait long before Zhou Shixiong arrived with Wang Liqiang and several of his close confidants.
After exchanging greetings, they all headed up to the large private room.
"Mr. Gu, it’s been a while! You’re looking a little heavier," General Wang teased when he saw Ancient Wen Heng.
Ancient Wen Heng glanced down at his waist; he had indeed put on some weight.
"Our Brother Gu is radiant from good fortune. A carefree mind leads to a well-fed body," Zhou Shixiong joined in, laughing.
"You’ve been at sea all this time, so of course you wouldn’t know the interesting things happening in Lu City. Our Brother Gu is the darling of the people here now. Whenever a family has something good, they send it to the Prefect’s Office."
Wang Liqiang’s face lit up with interest. Ever since becoming the commander of the Navy, he was so busy he could barely leave the sea.
Having a rare moment to spare, he was eager to catch up on the gossip.
When he heard what the people of Lu City had been doing, his face filled with envy. "Brother Gu, to have earned the love and respect of the people here... your efforts these past few years have not been in vain."
It wasn’t just the people of Lu City. He knew that even his own position as a Great General was owed to Ancient Wen Heng.
If he hadn’t devised the strategies to seize so many ships from the Eastern Yi, and if he hadn’t provided the detailed blueprints for shipbuilding, the Navy would still be nothing more than a pipe dream, just as it had been in the past.
Military men are always direct. "Speaking of which, I should send a gift to your residence as well. You’ve helped me so much these past few years, Mr. Gu. I ought to send you a handsome gift in return."
At this, Ancient Wen Heng stood and bowed to Wang Liqiang. "You flatter me, General Wang. I am humbled by your words."
Zhou Shixiong watched him with a smile. "We’re all brothers here. With a display like that, you must be about to ask for a favor, aren’t you?"
"Brother Zhou, you know me too well," Ancient Wen Heng admitted. "I do, in fact, have a favor to ask of General Wang."
Wang Liqiang, however, was delighted. "That’s how it should be! We’re brothers. We should always be direct with each other.
A rough fellow like me gets tired of guessing games. I’m not patient enough for that.
There are no outsiders here, so just speak your mind, Mr. Gu."
"Now that I’m about to leave my post," Ancient Wen Heng began, "we still have a small stake in the sea trade. I was hoping General Wang could keep an eye on it for us in the future."
Ancient Wen Heng had already spoken with them about his intentions regarding the sea trade.
Though they felt it was a shame, they knew it was the best decision under the circumstances.
"You’re speaking as if we’re strangers," Wang Liqiang agreed readily. "You can rest assured. As long as I’m here, I dare them to even think about causing trouble.
Besides, don’t forget, I’m a shareholder in the sea trade too. I won’t let them short you by a single copper coin."
That bandit-like swagger in his voice was music to Ancient Wen Heng’s ears. "It’s precisely because we knew you would still be here, General Wang, that we dared to leave our shares in place."
Those were words Wang Liqiang loved to hear. "We’re all brothers here, of course we have to look out for each other. It’s just a shame... I wonder when we brothers will be able to get together like this again."
If he hadn’t specifically made time today, he might not have seen them at all before General Zhou and Ancient Wen Heng left Lu City.
He Gaofei and the others also held some minor shares, but their stakes were too small to be worth calling in such a significant favor. They remained silent, listening quietly from the sidelines.
"What’s so difficult about that?" said Zhou Shixiong. "You’ll all have to return to the Capital City to report on your duties eventually. I’ll be there waiting for you."
"Great General, are you sure you won’t be sent to another border?"
Zhou Shixiong patted Wang Liqiang’s shoulder. "My Zhou Family has guarded the borders for generations. It’s time to give others a chance.
Besides, the Eastern Yi won’t dare to invade anytime soon, and the neighboring Maozi Country is only interested in trade. This region is stable for now.
What’s more, with your Navy here now, the Eastern Yi will turn tail and run at the very sight of you. What nerve would they have left for provocations?"
