Chapter 50
Mrs. Gu took out a jewelry box from her bag, "I felt a connection with you the moment I saw you, so this is for you. You'll look beautiful wearing it."
Shen Wei opened the jewelry box to reveal a string of bright green jade beads, plump and rounded.
The size was 10-11, indicating high quality apple green jade.
A young lady wearing this would look gorgeous.
With the skyrocketing prices of jade these days, this jade necklace is easily worth tens of millions, a true family heirloom.
As Mrs. Gu pulled out the necklace, Shen's Mother immediately spoke up, "Oh my, this is too much to accept."
This jade piece was well-known in high society circles, last auctioned at Sotheby's.
Back then, the starting bid was 30 million, not to mention the premium added during the auction. It was an astronomical price.
Shen Wei also politely declined, "Auntie, this is far too precious."
But Mrs. Gu insisted, "I felt an instant connection with Shen Wei. A young lady should wear beautiful things like this."
Despite Shen Wei's repeated declines, she could not refuse the gift.
Just then, the aroma of dishes wafted in from the kitchen!
Mrs. Gu linked arms with Shen Wei, "I was craving these dishes after watching your livestream. Come, let's taste them."
Everyone eagerly followed to the dining room upon hearing there was food.
The table was filled with delectable dishes.
Included was the famous sizzling beef tendon, along with dishes previously featured on the livestream.
The rest were dishes fit for honored guests.
Liu Chef did not disappoint as the head chef of Jiangbei Grand Restaurant, expertly combining flavors.
Each dish, meat or vegetable, looked mouthwatering.
Though not initially hungry, the tantalizing aromas had everyone's stomachs growling!
As they took their seats, there was no need for formalities as at other gatherings over drinks.
Everyone was here for the food.
Gu Ru, ever conscious of her figure from constant dieting, went straight for the vegetable dishes first.
One bite had her eyes widening - it was exceptionally delicious!
No wonder viewers on the livestream went wild with cravings. The vegetables were stir-fried to a perfect crisp, retaining their fresh sweetness.
If she could eat like this every day while dieting, she'd be happy! The flavors were impeccably balanced.
Boss Gu's favorite was the sizzling beef tendon, with its irresistible wok-charred aroma and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.
It was the perfect accompaniment to rice - even he, usually not a big rice eater, had two bowls.
His brother Gu Wei loved the lobster meat, a high-protein delicacy with incredible freshness.
They often ate lobster, but this was the most delicious they'd had all year.
Not only was the quality superb, but the cooking was perfectly timed.
The others had intended to make small talk at the table, but once the food arrived, all thoughts were consumed by grabbing more bites before others claimed their desired dishes.
By the time dessert - almond tofu - arrived, everyone was stuffed.
The almond tofu was incredibly smooth, like a soft silky pudding.
The subtle flavor combined with the velvety texture made it seem to melt down the throat.
Boss Gu laughed, "Old Shen, your daughter is truly blessed to pull off such an impressive feat!"
With support from talents across various fields, even the prestigious Noble Kindergarten was shaken in such a short time. Her success was undeniable.
Hearing this, Shen's parents beamed with pride.
Once shunned by the elite as nouveau riche, they now basked in their daughter's glory.
Shen Wei invited, "Uncles and aunties, please come back if you enjoyed the food!"
Boss Gu quipped, "You said it, so I won't hold back next time."
Shen Wei smiled, "Of course."
The chatter turned to family matters, these socialites effortlessly creating a warm atmosphere.
Mrs. Gu and Shen's Mother made plans to visit a beauty parlor together, Mrs. Gu lamenting she only had one child while praising her daughter.
Shen's Mother reciprocated the flattery.
Though their relationship was not close, the Gu family's efforts fostered a pleasant rapport.
Amidst the pleasantries, the demure Shen Wei secretly messaged her system, "System, any high-value gift recommendations?"
With the system store's vast offerings, she was unsure what to choose.
The system suggested, "You can use points to custom order in the bespoke section."
In this section, Shen Wei would describe her desired gift, the system would quote the points required, and she could decide whether to redeem it - far easier than searching the massive store listings.
Shen Wei's eyes lit up at this idea.
In the bespoke section, she placed an order:
Half a pound of Da Hong Pao mother tree tea leaves, gift box set.
She had previously heard from Gu Qingyan that his parents loved tea.
While Shen Wei had prepared an expensive tea set worth hundreds of thousands, the Gu family's opening gift of a priceless jade bead necklace rendered hers inadequate.
Thankfully, she had her system cheat.
The Da Hong Pao mother tree produced only a few pounds of tea leaves each year, revered by tea connoisseurs as divine - beyond material value.
The system quoted 10,000 points for this order.
Shen Wei gritted her teeth and redeemed the points, and a tea leaf gift box appeared in her spatial storage.
She retrieved the wooden gift box in a private room. Upon opening it, a fresh fragrance wafted out, hinting at the extraordinary quality within even before seeing the leaves themselves.
Shen Wei brought the tea gift to the living room and presented it to Boss Gu, "Uncle, this is my gift to you."
"Oh my, you're so thoughtful! Your aunt and I love tea. This is wonderful!"
Mrs. Gu also praised the gift.
After an entire afternoon of pleasant conversation, as the Gu family prepared to leave, Mrs. Gu said to Shen Wei, "I'm at ease leaving my son in your care. Our whole family supports him getting more experience here."
Though phrased vaguely, everyone understood the implication - their hope for this young couple's romantic future together.
It was the Gu family's acknowledgment and approval.
This meal was enjoyed by hosts and guests alike, leaving the Gu family raving about it even after returning home.
Once home, Mrs. Gu remembered the tea gift from Shen Wei and decided to open it right away.
She was determined to praise the gift regardless, having already been won over.
Boss Gu was equally curious as they opened the box together.
Afterward, they saw the words inside and exclaimed, "Imperial Golden Bud Mother Tree Tea!"
The others quickly gathered around.
Even those outside the tea circles knew the value of this item.
Just asking for one or two buds of this tea online would fetch offers in the tens of millions.
The key was that the mother tree's yield was extremely low each year.
It basically never fell into the hands of outsiders.
Upon opening the outer box, a deep fragrance wafted out.
Boss Gu was a tea lover and couldn't resist immediately brewing a pot.
As soon as it brewed, the aroma almost overflowed.
This tea was too precious; even the first brew wasn't thrown away. He took a light sip.
That lingering fresh aroma, smooth and mellow, brought a sweet aftertaste. Layers of flavors bloomed in the mouth. In that instant, all the high-end teas he'd had before seemed like mere leaves. This was the true king of teas.
The Gu family members all sipped a few cups. Afterward, Boss Gu put the tea away, treasuring it like a precious gem, "No one is allowed to mention this. I'll slowly savor it myself!"
However, Mrs. Gu remarked, "That girl Shen Wei is really honest, giving us such a precious tea. The pearl necklace I gave her doesn't seem enough. Maybe I should gift her a pair of aquamarine earrings next time."
Boss Gu said, "Ah, this life is worth it! That Shen Wei girl is truly good, a perfect match for our son. We're the ones who lucked out."
Gu Qingyan was speechless. He'd wanted his family to help give him a boost, but how did they end up all siding with Shen Wei instead?
Wait, whose parents were they anyway?