Chapter 324: Glory
It’s normal to ask a married miss about some things, but it’s very strange to ask a son-in-law grandson.
Shi Yan looked at his grandfather’s awkward and embarrassed face, held back his laughter, and replied seriously: “We get along very well.”
Old Master Shi couldn’t ask any more either.
Shi Li and Shi Yan were brothers, so they spoke more casually in private and asked about some intimate matters that outsiders shouldn’t hear. Shi Yan glared at him with a smile: “The general and I are doing great. No need for you to worry.”
Shi Li chuckled, quietly took out a porcelain bottle from his sleeve: “This is a tonic I bought from Imperial Physician Lu at great expense. When you’re occasionally not up to it, you can take one.”
Shi Yan was both annoyed and amused, but didn’t refuse Shi Li’s good intentions and reluctantly accepted it.
On the day of the wedding banquet, many distinguished guests who hadn’t received invitations also showed up. Since they had come, they couldn’t just chase the guests away.
Shi Li busied himself greeting the guests, wiping sweat from time to time.
Fortunately, he had prepared several extra tables of food and drink.
In total, more than a dozen tables were set up, packed full. Shi Yan sat in the seat of honor at the main table. Before he could stand, people came to toast him one after another. No matter how good Shi Yan’s drinking capacity was, he couldn’t withstand drinking like this.
Shi Li stepped forward and blocked most of the toasts for Shi Yan.
The banquet hadn’t ended yet when Shi Li drank himself under the table. Fortunately, there were clansmen from the Shi Family’s branch family to hold up the banquet. This was the Shi Family’s most glorious moment.
Although the Shi Family had been wealthy for decades, they were just merchants. Now even prefects and county magistrates actively came to the door to drink wedding wine. This was all because of Shi Yan, or rather, because of General Pei behind Shi Yan.
Husband and wife are one. Shi Yan was qualified to share General Pei’s power and prestige and honor and glory. The Shi Family greatly benefited as well.
Wang Xun was especially joyful today, patting his round belly and saying happily to Shi Yan: “I’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time. After today’s banquet, go to your mother’s grave, kowtow and burn paper money, and tell her this happy event. Let her be happy underground too.”
His parents had passed away early, his grandfather was elderly, so in Shi Yan’s heart, his uncle was like a father.
Shi Yan solemnly agreed: “I’ll go kowtow and burn paper money for Mother tomorrow.”
Wang Xun smiled, his eyes full of gratification: “Now that you’ve become General Pei’s husband, you must be wholeheartedly devoted to the general in everything, always considering things from the general’s perspective. The Shi Family and Wang Family are your most solid backing.”
Shi Yan’s eyes grew a bit wet: “Without Uncle, there wouldn’t be me today.”
Wang Xun laughed heartily: “Before, it was this uncle taking care of you, but now it’s me relying on Steward Shi to look after me.”
The Wang Family was originally a major cloth merchant in Youzhou, and by boarding the Pei Family Army’s giant ship, they rose with the wind. Now they were renowned in the Northern Lands, with boundless glory.
For merchants, it was almost like changing their family status.
Shi Yan also smiled: “Be it common people or merchants, even the officials of various commanderies and counties all have to rely on the Pei Family Army. General Pei plans to expand troop strength, and the military ration supplies needed by the army each year are enormous. Such a big business can’t be supplied by just a few merchants. They want to do business with the Pei Family Army, and the Pei Family Army also needs stable supplies. It’s a win-win for both sides.”
“It sounds simple, but actually managing this pile of affairs is not easy.” Wang Xun admired his nephew’s shrewd competence endlessly and praised him nonstop: “Only you could handle the Pei Family Army’s logistics and internal needs so orderly. If it were anyone else, there would have been problems long ago.”
To ensure everyone in the army is fed and clothed, and to deal with all the shrewd merchants supplying military needs, the effort put in behind the scenes is unimaginable.
Pei Qinghe was the soul of the Pei Family Army, and Shi Yan was equally meritorious.
Shi Yan smiled again: “It’s one thing if others praise me like this, but why is Uncle also trying so hard to praise me? Could it be that you have a favor to ask? This year’s military uniform orders, I gave half to Cousin. The other half has to take care of other cloth merchants. Don’t tell me someone heard the news and went through Uncle’s connections!”
Wang Xun laughed heartily: “Nothing can be hidden from you. Indeed, two cloth merchants came to me. They are willing to supply cotton cloth at the lowest price. They don’t seek to make silver, just to form a good relationship with the Pei Family Army.”
These two cloth merchants, one was a magnate from Liaoxi Commandery, and the other from Fanyang Commandery. Now that even the Liaoxi Army and Fanyang Army had changed allegiance to the Pei Family Army, these two cloth merchants had tried every way to find the Wang Family’s connections.
When it came to business, Steward Shi spoke cautiously and meticulously: “If Uncle spoke up, I’ll meet them first. How the business goes will depend on their sincerity.”
Wang Xun grinned: “Of course. They are all magnates with substantial family businesses, so don’t be polite with them.”
Rich households delivered to the door were like fattened pigs for the New Year—how could they not be slaughtered?
Even knowing they would have to bleed money, the magnates still flocked. Firstly, to seek protection from the Pei Family Army, and secondly, because Pei Qinghe had a reputation and left merchants a way to survive.
In these chaotic times, having such credibility made General Pei one of a kind.
……
With Wang Xun making the introduction, the two cloth merchants soon came to visit.
Shi Yan haggled with them, pressing the price extremely low. Cheaper by half a percent than the cloth supplied by the Wang Family.
Even so, the two cloth merchants were quite delighted. They had come with the mindset of giving away a batch of cloth to curry favor, never expecting Steward Shi to be willing to do business with them. The price was very low, but enough to cover costs. With large quantities, there was even a slight profit.
Afterward, various merchants like salt merchants and oil merchants came to the door. Shi Yan unceremoniously eliminated three suppliers.
For those three merchants, it was as if the sky had fallen, and they were anxious like ants on a hot pan. They spent heaps of silver seeking connections to plead.
Steward Shi coldly declared: “The general bought their goods and paid silver. The goods supplied by those three families were of inferior quality and even mixed with fakes. The general is busy training troops and fighting wars, with no time to deal with them. Otherwise, he would have sent people to wipe out their entire families long ago.”
“They have the face to come begging. Tell them to get lost! Get lost far away. Whoever took their silver can get lost with them.”
Those who took the silver felt a chill in their hearts and immediately sent the silver back.
In Youzhou, anyone despised by General Pei was like a rotten apple. Whoever got close rotted too.
Those three merchants became like street rats that everyone avoided.
After this incident, when the merchants mentioned Steward Pei, they felt admiration along with added fear.
“Big Brother is truly majestic and powerful.” Shi Li grinned: “From now on, let’s see who dares to play tricks in front of Big Brother.”
Shi Yan smiled and glanced at Shi Li: “What they fear is the blade in the general’s hand, not me, Shi Yan.”
“Shi Li, don’t let their praise go to your head. A big tree attracts wind. The Shi Family is now the biggest merchant in Youzhou, under everyone’s watchful eyes. You must be even more cautious in your actions.”
“Those who come through your connections, reject them all and ignore them.”
“If you take a wrong step and cause a mistake, this brother won’t spare you.”
