Chapter 405: A Filial Gift

Jiang Yiru smiled when she saw that Gu Qingyao had agreed.

“I'm glad you've agreed. Right now, our living conditions are rather simple, so we will dispense with the usual ceremonies. As long as you've agreed, we will be teacher and apprentice. I…”

“That won't do,” Gu Qingyao said hurriedly. “Grandma Qin, since I'm going to be your apprentice, I have to observe the usual forms. I'm not just going to learn from you casually and ask for some advice here and there. I'm serious about this.

“Grandma Qin, wait for me. Over the next three days, I'll go look for some good tea leaves. In three days time, I'll come and formally kowtow to you and offer you tea. Even if we forgo the rest because of our poor living conditions, we cannot dispense with the tea ceremony.”

An aristocratic family like the Jiang family was especially particular about these rituals. At present, in many trades like calligraphy, painting, and medicine, whenever a teacher took on an apprentice, the latter had to kowtow and offer tea.

Considering Jiang Yiru's status, she would certainly care about these things.

Since Gu Qingyao was going to be officially apprenticed to her, she could not neglect this area.

Jiang Yiru was taken aback but immediately smiled. She looked gratified as she said, “All right, I'll wait.”

It was already late, so Gu Qingyao and Mo Beihan tidied up the precious stones and jewelry, and put them into the small baskets they carried on their backs, and into their own bags.

They did not take the box because it was too big and took up too much s.p.a.ce.

The two of them left the house with the items. Then they turned a corner and once they reached a quiet spot, they placed everything in the inters.p.a.ce.

On the way home, Gu Qingyao was thinking about what present she should give once she took on her apprentices.h.i.+p.

Although she was younger, and Jiang Yiru said she would give Gu Qingyao a gift to mark their first meeting, she also had to show her filial piety.

“Elder Brother Beihan, what do you think I should give?”

Mo Beihan looked at the excited little girl and said with a smile, “Just prepare something simple. Those two old people don't lack valuable items. All they lack are the most simple items.

“The weather is cold. Why don't you make a set of clothes and shoes for each of them? Then, later on, you can take care of them and occasionally give them some fine grain, or other resources. That will suffice.”

Gu Qingyao felt that what he said made sense, so she nodded and said, “All right! I'll do that!”

When they got home, Gu Qingyao began to make the clothes for the two old folks. She made them a set each, and a pair of shoes.

Although she had plenty of time in her inters.p.a.ce, she had told Jiang Yiru three days. If she made too many things in three days, it would look strange.

But if she hurried, she could make two sets of clothes and two pairs of shoes.

And then there were the tea leaves.

She was not worried about that. She had many superior tea leaves in her inters.p.a.ce. Some were part of her treasured collection, and she had made the others herself.

Gu Qingyao even prepared an exquisite set of teacups which had been pa.s.sed down from her ancestors in the Gu family. There was also a tea service for making tea, which had been part of the Gu family's collection.

Three days later, she and Mo Beihan brought the things over to Old Master Qin.

Mo Beihan carried a basket on his back. When they arrived, Gu Qingyao took the things out. Jiang Yiru had not expected her to prepare clothes and shoes, and was even more pleased with Gu Qingyao.

Her eyes lit up when she saw the tea service that she took from the bottom of the basket. “Girl, you are very particular.”

Gu Qingyao smiled. Of course, she was particular. This was a serious matter; she could not be too casual!

Also, she knew the older generation liked things like that. Although Jiang Yiru spoke indifferently, she looked delighted, so Gu Qingyao was not deceived.

The Gu family used to be an aristocratic family, so Gu Qingyao was an expert at making tea. In her previous life, she had often made tea for her grandfather after they moved to the capital, so she was very skilled at this.

Jiang Yiru and Old Master Qin were stunned when they saw the tea leaves. They crowded over for a look.

“Good stuff!”

It was top-quality Long Jing tea, which had been picked before the rain. It was part of Gu Qingyao's collection.