Chapter 95: Magnates
Wang Xun and the Shi Family were in-laws, so he was the first to be invited over.
Before Old Master Shi could speak, Wang Xun said to Pei Qinghe, “Our Wang Family and the Shi Family advance and retreat together. Whatever amount of cotton cloth Sixth Sister needs in the future, just speak up, and our Wang Family will only charge the cost in silver.”
Pei Qinghe smiled and gave thanks.
Wang Xun smiled and said, “It is I, Wang Xun, who is fortunate to be acquainted with a heroic figure like Sixth Sister. The Wang Family has an embroidery shop and also embroiderers with exquisite skills. Whenever Sixth Sister needs them, just give the instruction.”
Everyone with eyes could see that Pei Qinghe had lofty ambitions and was ambitious. There would surely come a day when military banners were needed.
The second one invited was salt merchant Zhan Fei.
The Zhan Family had a strong background and had backers in the court. They controlled nearly fifty percent of the salt permits for official salt in Youzhou. The Zhan Family’s wealth was second only to the Shi Family. Moreover, the Zhan Family had abundant descendants, with sons and grandsons filling the hall.
Old Master Zhan was elderly and had long ceased managing affairs, so the current head of the Zhan Family was Old Master Zhan’s eldest son, Zhan Fei.
Zhan Fei was forty-five this year, of medium build, with a fair face and no beard, his eyes revealing sharp glints. When speaking, he slightly raised his head, his chin pointing at Pei Qinghe: “Sixth Sister is in Youzhou and probably doesn’t know the news from the Capital City yet. Several days ago, the Emperor issued an imperial decree to abolish the Eastern Palace, and the Crown Prince was imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court. All officials in the court have successively submitted memorials, requesting the Son of Heaven to select a wise Prince as the new Crown Prince.”
His words revealed a bit of arrogance and disdain.
Shi Yan frowned slightly.
Old Master Shi remained impassive, his gaze falling on Pei Qinghe’s face. Everyone knew that the Pei Clan’s greatest backer was the Eastern Palace. Now, with the Crown Prince abolished, the Beiping Army had mobilized in great force to the Capital City to rescue the Crown Prince. Victory or defeat was unknown, with no certainty.
At such a time, associating with Sixth Sister Pei carried enormous risk. Zhan Fei’s current arrogance was a test, also weighing Sixth Sister Pei’s substance.
Pei Qinghe remained composed: “Youzhou is thousands of miles away. The chaos in the Capital City does not reach Youzhou. Now that my Pei Clan has taken root in Changping County, all I think and worry about is the safety of Pei Family Village. Those on good terms with the Pei Clan, I will also protect together in peace.”
“As for other matters, I, Pei Qinghe, have no power to reach out and will not interfere. Young Master Zhan need not worry. Even if Pei Family Village is affected, it will not implicate the Zhan Family.”
“As far as I know, the Zhan Family’s salt is even sold to the Xiongnu. Could it be that you dare not sell it to my Pei Clan?”
Zhan Fei had initially remained steady, but upon hearing the words “Young Master Zhan,” his expression had already slightly changed.
He usually socialized as equals with various prefects and county magistrates, associating with influential families and wealthy households like Old Master Shi. Who would have thought that today he would be so humiliated by Pei Qinghe? A man over forty managing the family affairs, yet still addressed as Young Master.
Hearing the last sentence, Zhan Fei’s expression suddenly changed, and he abruptly stood up, his gaze revealing ferocity: “Sixth Sister Pei, please mind your words! My Zhan Family has done business honestly for generations—how could we possibly collude with the Xiongnu?”
Pei Qinghe remained unmoved, curling up the corner of her mouth and slowly smiling: “I only heard it along the way. Why is Young Master Zhan so agitated and angry? Could it be that these rumors are true?”
Zhan Fei snorted coldly: “Groundless rumors—Sixth Sister Pei would do well to say less.”
“If word spreads, the good reputation of several generations of my Zhan Family would be ruined in Sixth Sister Pei’s hands.”
“Sixth Sister Pei surely does not want to form a grudge with the Zhan Family over this!”
Pei Qinghe raised her eyes and met Zhan Fei’s gaze: “Of course. I only want to buy salt and am not interested in other matters of the Zhan Family.”
People need salt, and salt is also needed in the water that warhorses drink. To develop and expand, a stable channel to purchase large quantities of salt is essential.
Zhan Fei forced a smile and said, “If Sixth Sister wants to buy salt, send someone with silver to the Zhan Family, and I, Zhan, will, for the sake of Old Master Shi’s face, surely give Sixth Sister a satisfactory price.”
Old Master Shi coughed once and smoothed things over: “Many thanks, Nephew Zhan.”
He then said amiably to Pei Qinghe, “Sixth Sister might as well buy five thousand catties of salt first.”
Calculated for one thousand men and two hundred warhorses, five thousand catties of salt would last about a year.
This was for Old Master Shi’s face, a one-time deal. If wanting to buy more later, the price would increase, or other salt merchants would have to be sought.
Pei Qinghe fully gave face to Old Master Shi and smilingly agreed.
Zhan Fei stood to leave, deliberately throwing down a few words: “The situation changes unpredictably. If the Capital City falls into chaos, I fear the whole realm will be in turmoil. I advise Uncle Shi to act more cautiously. Don’t step into a quagmire, lest the Shi Family get trapped and unable to extricate itself.”
Old Master Shi chuckled: “At my age, half in the grave already. Family matters were long handed over to A Yan. Let him worry about it all!”
Shi Yan calmly picked up the thread: “Grandfather, rest assured. I won’t misjudge anyone.”
Zhan Fei tugged at the corner of his mouth and stood to leave.
Once Zhan Fei left, Shi Yan’s expression darkened somewhat, and he said to Pei Qinghe, “I didn’t expect the Zhan Family to be so shortsighted, selling illicit salt beyond the passes just to make money.”
Whether this matter was true or false could be seen from Zhan Fei’s reaction when his tail was stepped on.
Such a secret, the Zhan Family would absolutely not easily reveal. Even the Shi Family didn’t know—how exactly did Sixth Sister Pei find out?
Old Master Shi pondered in his heart but showed nothing on his face: “The Zhan Family sells official salt and also has several teams selling illicit salt, with many men under them. Moreover, the Zhan Family has some friendship with General Lu of the Fanyang Army. Sixth Sister Pei has great ambitions and need not rivalry with the Zhan Family.”
This was reminding Pei Qinghe that the Zhan Family had both overt official roads and covert paths unknown to others.
Ordinary merchants feared mountain bandits and bandits, but the Zhan Family feared nothing. They didn’t even take Pei Qinghe, who had annihilated White Tiger Stockade, seriously.
Pei Qinghe smiled composedly: “Many thanks for the reminder, Old Master. I pay silver to the Zhan Family to buy salt, with no other entanglements. As long as the Zhan Family doesn’t provoke me, I’m happy to live in peace.”
Shi Yan raised an eyebrow: “The Zhan Family is so ungrateful—let’s do this one deal and be done. Besides the Zhan Family, there are still a few salt merchants in Youzhou. At that time, I’ll introduce them to Sixth Sister.”
Without the Zhan Family, there were still the Peng Family and Yue Family.
Old Master Shi smiled wryly: “Very well, I’m old and unlike you young people with hot blood. You decide for yourselves.”
Shi Yan said flatly, “The Zhan Family doesn’t take Sixth Sister seriously, showing their arrogance. With such people, our Shi Family should have less dealings.”
In front of Pei Qinghe, Old Master Shi couldn’t say more.
Pei Qinghe deeply looked at Young Master Shi: “Young Master Shi has such confidence in me—I certainly won’t disappoint Young Master.”
Shi Yan met Pei Qinghe’s gaze, his eyes containing a smile: “Sixth Sister, please wait a moment. I’ll introduce Imperial Physician Lu to Sixth Sister.”
The Lu Family had generations in the medical field; this generation produced an imperial physician. Imperial Physician Lu served in the Palace for fifteen years and returned to his hometown two years ago upon retirement. Now the Lu Family operated over ten pharmacies and was Youzhou’s largest medicinal merchant, with both medicinal materials and finished medicines, especially one golden sore medicine that was a divine medicine in the eyes of soldiers.
Pei Qinghe had long coveted the Lu Family Medicine and stood to welcome Imperial Physician Lu.
