Chapter 266: An Early Triumphant Return

’Here it comes,’ Gu Fei thought. ’You’ve finally shown your true colors. I knew you only helped me because you wanted the Blood Drop.’

She put on a pained expression. "Young Master Heir, I really can’t give that to you. If I do, my guts will rupture and spill out—"

Xiao Yu held up a hand. "Stop, stop, stop. I get it. I won’t bring it up again."

"Alright, I’m off." Xiao Yu strode toward the door.

Gu Fei enthusiastically saw him to the door. As she watched Xiao Yu mount his horse, she waved a small handkerchief. "I wish you a safe journey and a triumphant return, Young Master Heir."

Xiao Yu snorted. "A bit early for that. I’m just heading back to my residence now. I don’t leave until tomorrow."

Gu Fei gave an awkward laugh. "I’m just wishing you well in advance, that’s all."

Seated on his horse, Xiao Yu gave Gu Fei a deep, lingering look. He seemed to want to say something but ultimately remained silent. With a flick of his whip, he galloped away.

After everyone had left, the shop was cleaned and closed for the day.

「The next day.」

Not long after Gu Fei opened the shop, she heard the distant sound of approaching horse hooves.

Her heart stirred, and she walked to the entrance of the shop to look outside.

In the blink of an eye, a few horses were right in front of her.

Xiao Yu pulled on the reins, and his horse reared its head with a long neigh, coming to a halt.

Gu Fei looked up and saw Xiao Yu in the spring morning light. He was clad in a suit of body armor, looking heroic and formidable. The sunlight glinted coldly off the black metal.

Xiao Yu looked down at Gu Fei, and Gu Fei looked up at him.

Gu Fei gave Xiao Yu a solemn curtsy. "Take care, Young Master Heir. Return in triumph soon."

Xiao Yu gazed at Gu Fei.

This morning, her eyes were brighter than ever. A gentle smile played on her lips, warmer than the spring sunshine itself.

Xiao Yu felt as if his heart would burst. He didn’t know what he might do if he stayed a moment longer. He abruptly turned his head away, spurred his horse, and the animal shot forward.

Gu Fei, completely oblivious to the Young Master Heir’s surging emotions, stood at the entrance for a moment before going inside. She called Lan Zhi out to mind the counter, then hurried to the kitchen to start making chopped chili peppers.

A newly bought wooden basin was placed on the floor with a cutting board set inside. After covering her mouth and nose, Gu Fei sat on a small stool and began chopping the chilies.

She had only been chopping for a moment before tears and snot streamed down her face. The fumes were incredibly spicy.

The older woman helping in the kitchen quickly pulled Gu Fei away. "Shopkeeper, let me do it."

"You’re a young lady with such delicate skin. How can you handle this?"

The woman chopped for a full hour, filling a large basin.

Gu Fei added chopped ginger, garlic cloves, and salt, then sprinkled in some cooking wine. She packed the chopped chili mixture into a jar and sealed it tight.

’In about ten more days, we can have steamed fish head with chopped chili!’

After finishing the chopped chilies, Gu Fei started on the white chilies.

She washed the chilies clean, blanched them in boiling water, then removed them and spread them on a bamboo sieve to dry in the courtyard sun.

After drying in the sun for a few days, the chilies would slowly turn white. Then, they would be cut open, mixed with salt, and dried for another day or two before being stored in a jar, ready for use.

Stir-fried white chilies with pork or chicken gizzards were incredibly appetizing and went perfectly with rice.

After setting the chilies out to dry, Gu Fei returned to the main hall, just as Lan Zhi was getting up to go into the courtyard.

The sunlight in the courtyard was lovely. She sat with Que’er, Mr. Huang’s concubine, to do some needlework.

Lan Zhi had just gone out to the courtyard when the matchmaker from yesterday arrived again.

The woman came in, glancing around. Not seeing Lan Zhi, she approached the counter. "Where is Miss Lan Zhi? I’ve come for her answer."

Gu Fei stood up and said politely, "I’m sorry to have troubled you with another trip. I asked Lan Zhi yesterday, but she is not willing."