Chapter 140: Backing
Wang Xun and his daughter stayed in Pei Family Village for two days before leaving. Afterward, the salt merchant Peng Family and Yue Family each came to the door and sent large quantities of salt. The magnates in Yan Prefecture also came one after another to send gifts. Even Madam Lu specially sent a batch of medicine.
The Zhan Family had no movement at all. Pei Qinghe did not pay attention to it. Shi Yan personally went to the Zhan Family once. Then, the Zhan Family held their nose and sent five thousand jin of salt.
“Actually, the village doesn’t lack salt now,” Shi Yan said. “It’s just to make the Zhan Family bow their head, to give a warning to all the magnates within Youzhou. Now, the Pei Family Army has the biggest and hardest fist within Youzhou.”
Pei Qinghe laughed in spite of herself. “It’s too early to say that. There are still three garrisons within Youzhou. In terms of actual troop strength, we temporarily cannot match them.”
Of course, the Pei Family Army’s sudden rise was an indisputable fact.
The Fanyang Army, Guangning Army, and Liaoxi Army all shouldered the heavy responsibility of guarding the border and could not casually leave the barracks. The Pei Family Army was different; it could move freely.
The magnates came to send gifts: one, out of fear of the Pei Family Army’s might; two, to build a good relationship. In times of crisis, they could seek protection from the Pei Family Army.
With sufficient money and grain, the pace of Pei Family Village’s expansion grew faster and faster. Those coming to seek refuge included not only refugees, but also poor common people within Youzhou who could not eat or survive.
By year-end, the total population of Pei Family Village exceeded ten thousand. More than two thousand people practiced martial arts and trained every day.
Having already divided the family, Madam Lu could no longer point fingers at Pei Qinghe’s every move. The stifled anger in her heart was directed at Madam Feng instead.
Madam Feng was long accustomed to her mother-in-law’s bad temper. She neither talked back nor refuted, but listened obediently.
Little Yu’er and Little Doggy suddenly shouted in unison: “Aunt!”
Madam Feng’s eyes were full of surprise: “Qinghe, how did you come?”
Madam Lu reflexively stopped talking, put on a stern face, and refused to look straight at Pei Qinghe: “Sixth Sister Pei isn’t busy training new recruits; how did she run over here?”
Pei Qinghe never indulged Madam Lu’s bad temper: “Today is year-end; I’m here to pick up my mother, Little Doggy, and Little Yu’er to eat New Year’s Eve dinner together.”
Madam Lu sneered: “If you’re going, go quickly. If you don’t want to come back, then don’t come back.”
Madam Feng quietly gave Pei Qinghe a look.
It was the big New Year; no need to get upset with the elderly.
Pei Qinghe pretended not to see it, smiling as she picked up Little Doggy and Little Yu’er, urging Madam Feng to hurry and leave.
Madam Lu was quite angry. Eating alone in the house was tasteless, so she simply invited Madam Li, Madam Fang, and others; the old women gathered for a table.
No matter how much they joked and laughed, without daughters-in-law and without grandsons around their knees, it carried a bit of loneliness.
The other side was much more lively.
Pei Qinghe tore off two plump and tender chicken legs, stuffing one into Little Yu’er’s hand and one into Little Doggy’s. She also filled Madam Feng’s bowl with braised pork: “Mother, you’ve gotten thinner lately; eat more.”
Little Doggy followed suit, stuffing the chicken leg into Mao Hongling’s mouth: “Mother, you eat.”
Mao Hongling’s heart was warm; she couldn’t bear to refuse her son’s filial piety. She took a gentle bite and praised Little Doggy again and again.
Little Yu’er had long lost her own mother and brought the chicken leg to Pei Qinghe’s mouth: “Aunt eat. In the future, whatever good things I have to eat, I’ll give them all to Aunt.”
This was the joy of raising children.
Pei Qinghe smiled and took a bite. Pei Yan poked her head in to join the fun: “Little Yu’er, give Aunt Yan a taste too.”
Then, ah-wu, one big bite.
Little Yu’er pouted, almost crying. Pei Qinghe was both amused and exasperated, slapping Pei Yan: “Don’t bully Little Yu’er.”
Everyone burst into laughter.
The Pei Family Members ate New Year’s Eve dinner together. Shi Yan also came and took the initiative to sit with Zhao Hai and the other sons-in-law. Shi Yan’s expression was open and composed, so everyone couldn’t openly mock him; they just exchanged knowing glances.
The merriment lasted until midnight, then everyone returned to their houses to keep watch by the charcoal basin, roasting by the fire.
Key sentry posts inside and outside the village all had people guarding them.
Pei Qinghe patrolled once around and caught two who were dozing off. With a stern face, she reprimanded them: “A tall tree attracts the wind. Pei Family Village now has abundant money and grain; who knows how many people are secretly coveting it. All of you, perk up. Blow the bamboo whistle immediately if there’s any movement.”
Both were ashamed and blushed, each pulling themselves together to keep watch.
In the latter half of the night, some bandits from who-knows-where quietly sneaked near Pei Family Village.
There was no need to alarm others; the few on night watch drew their long sabers and caught the bandits. They directly bound their hands and feet, stuffed their mouths, and hung them under the tree north of the village in the cold wind.
Such minor incidents happened every few days. Under the tree north of the village, the gourds hanging there never stopped.
During the New Year, Pei Qinghe gave everyone a few days off. She also said to Shi Yan: “It’s rare to have free time. Go back to the Shi Family once to pay New Year’s respects to your grandfather.”
Shi Yan smiled helplessly: “Before the New Year, I had Dong Dalang send New Year’s gifts back, but Grandfather chased me out. Grandfather’s anger hasn’t subsided; if I go back now, he won’t see me. I won’t go to invite that embarrassment.”
Pei Qinghe didn’t force it, casually laughing: “Then when Shi Li gets married, I’ll go with you to the Shi Family to offer congratulations.”
Wang Mengyi had agreed to the marriage, and the wedding date was rushed, set for the third month of spring.
Joyous light bloomed in Shi Yan’s eyes: “You really are willing to go with me?”
Pei Qinghe hummed: “The Shi Family has grain, the Wang Family has cloth; both have close dealings with us Pei Family. For their marriage alliance, I definitely have to come to the door to offer congratulations.”
Shi Yan’s eyes were full of laughter as he echoed: “Sixth Sister is right.”
Pei Qinghe was infected by Shi Yan’s brilliant smile and laughed along: “Of course, also to back you up. So no one mocks you behind your back. You are now the big steward of the Pei Family Army; no one can look down on you.”
……
On the sixth day of the third month, Shi Family Fortified Village was decorated with lanterns and colored hangings, red silk hung and joyous postings pasted, holding a grand happy event.
Where fortune favors, spirit is refreshed. Old Master Shi was beaming, leading the groom Shi Li to greet the guests.
Those who dealt with the Shi Family were mostly influential families and wealthy households. Everyone had seen the spectacle of Old Master Shi expelling his own grandson and sending him to a branch family. Behind his back, they didn’t know how many times they had mocked it. But to Old Master Shi’s face, they praised Shi Li again and again.
Young heroic talent, shrewd and capable, dragon and phoenix among men, one in a thousand. They almost praised him to the heavens.
Shi Li had previously followed behind his cousin and was used to everyone praising Shi Yan. Now that he himself was the center of attention, he felt somewhat guilty and lacked confidence.
Old Master Shi smiled: “He is young and inexperienced; he has much to learn. If there are any shortcomings, for the sake of this old man’s face, please be tolerant.”
Someone sarcastically poked at Old Master Shi’s heart: “The Shi Family and Wang Family are forming a marriage alliance; for such a grand happy event, is Shi Yan not showing up today?”
It was none other than the salt merchant Zhan Fei.
Before the New Year, Shi Yan had gone to the Zhan Family. Zhan Fei had to fork over five thousand jin of salt to shut Shi Yan’s mouth, and he had been unhappy about it. He seized the chance to annoy Old Master Shi.
Old Master Shi’s smile faded a bit. Before he could speak, a follower ran over quickly to report: “Old Master, Sixth Sister Pei has personally come to offer congratulations and has now arrived outside Shi Family Fortified Village.”
