Chapter 124: Family Division
The refugees in the thatched huts of the Old Village were all relocated to the New Village. Dozens of repaired thatched huts were enough for Madam Li and the others to live in.
When distributing money and grain, Pei Qinghe was not stingy and directly had a year’s rations delivered: “This is enough for you to eat and use for a year. Next year, I’ll have someone send more grain.”
A bunch of seventy- or eighty-year-old women and young children in swaddling clothes, with barely enough able-bodied workers being Madam Feng, Wu Xiuniang, and a dozen others.
Pei Qinghe allocated a piece of farmland to them and, as usual, had the refugees farm it.
Daily necessities were moved into the thatched huts one by one.
This family division took place within the Pei Clan. Most of the refugees in Pei Family Village just watched the excitement and then dispersed.
On the day Gu Lian and Feng Chang set off, Madam Lu came to see them off with a stern face and stuffed a letter into Gu Lian’s hand: “This is a letter I wrote to His Highness the Prince. Present it along with the others.”
Gu Lian first looked at Pei Qinghe, and only after Pei Qinghe nodded did she accept the letter.
Madam Lu turned and left without even glancing at Pei Qinghe from the corner of her eye.
Pei Qinghe gave a look to Pei Feng and Pei Yue nearby. Pei Feng immediately understood and pulled the chubby Pei Yue along as they chased after her.
“Grandmother! Walk slower, wait for me.”
One on each side, they each held onto Madam Lu’s arms.
Madam Lu sneered: “You two have both chosen your consanguineous cousin sister, so why are you sticking to an old hag like me?”
Pei Feng couldn’t withstand his grandmother’s sharp tongue and kept signaling Pei Yue with his eyes.
Pei Yue had thick skin and a sweet mouth, rubbing his chubby face against grandmother’s arm: “I want to eat the meal you cook with your own hands, Grandmother. Tonight, I want to sleep with you.”
Madam Lu continued sneering: “These old bones of mine have a stubborn temperament and offensive speech. How can I compare to your Cousin Sister Qinghe? You should go find her!” Yet she didn’t push Pei Yue away.
Pei Yue winked at Pei Feng. Pei Feng had no choice but to imitate Pei Yue, grabbing grandmother’s arm and coaxing softly: “I have to read and practice martial arts during the day, but I’ll come accompany you at night, Grandmother.”
Madam Lu was stifling a belly full of resentment but stubbornly ignored her two grandsons. She kept a stern face all the way back to her house and slammed the door shut.
Pei Feng and Pei Yue both got the cold shoulder.
Madam Feng quietly beckoned to the two brothers and stuffed them each with a piece of candy.
Pei Yue happily ate his candy: “Brother, why aren’t you eating yours?”
Pei Feng glanced at his heartless cousin brother and irritably shoved the candy into Pei Yue’s mouth: “Here, all for you.”
“What letter will Grandmother write to the new Son of Heaven?” Meanwhile, Pei Yan was whispering quietly.
Of course, this was just what Pei Yan thought was private talk. She had a naturally loud voice, and even lowered, it buzzed loudly. Pei Yun and Mao Hongling heard every word.
“Nine times out of ten, it’s pledging loyalty to the new Son of Heaven.” Mao Hongling looked completely certain.
Pei Yun picked up the thread: “Great-aunt is advanced in age and stubbornly conservative. We can slowly persuade her in the days to come; she might come around soon.”
Pei Qinghe was in a bad mood and said offhandedly: “No time for idle talk. Everyone, go to the training ground for training.”
Pei Yan didn’t dare to provoke her and obediently went.
The training ground had been widened by more than double, enough to accommodate hundreds training together. New Pei Family Army recruits like Zheng Xiaoying and Zhao Da also came to the training ground today.
Watching everyone spiritedly practicing punches and sabers, Zheng Xiaoying’s eyes lit up. She grabbed a wooden saber and followed along, humming and hawing as she practiced.
Pei Qinghe impassively patrolled and personally instructed everyone. In just half a day, everyone was crying out in exhaustion.
Pei Yan was thrown around until she was disheveled and dejected, not even daring to grumble. She did a carp flip to get up and continued to get beaten.
On the first day after the family division, the kitchen started cooking half an hour late, and Bian Shulan was full of shame and self-blame.
On the second day after the division, Madam Zhou, in charge of the storeroom, sweated profusely while working the abacus.
On the third day, several cousin brothers and cousin sisters made trouble wanting Grandmother and were beaten by their respective mothers, crying loudly.
On the fourth day, there was a hole in the sole of Pei Qinghe’s shoe.
Previously, Madam Lu had sewn several new shoe soles, neatly stored in a wooden box. Madam Feng hurriedly came over that evening to make a new pair of shoes for her daughter. She returned late and was pointedly scolded harshly by Madam Lu.
Madam Fang couldn’t stand listening and stepped forward to mediate, only to be sprayed until she was disheveled and dejected as well.
Previously, with Pei Qinghe keeping things in check, Madam Lu didn’t dare make trouble. Now, with the family divided and living separately, Madam Lu had become the family head. She was only slightly polite and tolerant toward Madam Li.
Madam Fang, having been scolded, was full of pent-up anger and pulled her granddaughter Xiao Wan’er back to their house. Xiao Wan’er went to the New Village to read during the day and returned at noon and evening.
Xiao Wan’er thoughtfully poured a bowl of water for Madam Fang: “Grandmother, drink some water to calm your anger.”
Madam Fang gulped down a big mouthful in a huff: “If you stick with me, your mother and stepfather must be overjoyed in their hearts.”
Actually, her stepfather had secretly come looking for her today and stuffed her with a steamed bun. Her mother had also brought her little brother Pei Wang to see her.
Xiao Wan’er was clever and sensible, not mentioning a word, and instead patted Madam Fang’s back to soothe her.
Once Madam Fang’s anger subsided, she felt sorry for her granddaughter and pulled her into her arms: “Be more obedient from now on and don’t imitate your Aunt Qinghe. That heart of hers is too wild; she’s bound to court a great disaster in the future.”
Xiao Wan’er obediently agreed, but in her heart, she thought that when she grew up, she too wanted to follow Aunt Qinghe.
……
On the thirteenth day after the Pei Clan’s family division, the sky was overcast with drizzling rain.
The master and two servants, drenched like drowned rats, appeared outside Pei Family Village.
Pei Qinghe personally welcomed the long-absent Young Master Shi into the village.
Dong Dalang, having recovered for over a year, had his injuries fully healed. He and Dong Erlang supported their master one on each side as they entered the house.
No carriage, not even luggage—just the three of them bare-handed.
Young Master Shi usually traveled with dozens of people and over a dozen carriages; when had he ever been so destitute and down-and-out?
Pei Qinghe didn’t rush to ask questions and first had hot water and ginger soup prepared.
After Young Master Shi bathed, changed clothes, and drank the steaming ginger soup, he broke out in a sweat. Immediately after, Doctor Bao came to take Young Master Shi’s pulse.
Young Master Shi chuckled: “I just got caught in the rain; it’s not enough to make me fall ill.”
Doctor Bao chuckled: “Sixth Sister is concerned for Young Master, and I’m following Sixth Sister’s instruction.”
Young Master Shi had no choice but to let Doctor Bao perform acupuncture and drink another bowl of herbal medicine as bitter as coptis.
Dinner was fairly sumptuous, with vegetables, meat, soup, and rice. There was even a pot of wine.
Young Master Shi and Pei Qinghe sat facing each other, with Dong Dalang pouring the wine and Dong Erlang guarding outside the door.
Pei Yan poked her head in to look again and again, muttering softly: “Why did Young Master Shi only bring the Dong Brothers? And empty-handed at that. Could something have happened in the Shi Family?”
Pei Yun gave her a reproachful look: “Don’t talk nonsense. If it reaches Young Master’s ears, it’ll be too rude and presumptuous.”
After a pause, she said softly: “Cousin Sister Qinghe has been in a poor mood these days. Perhaps Young Master Shi’s arrival will bring some good news.”
Pei Yan mumbled vaguely in agreement and continued peeking.
The rain gradually weakened, raindrops pattering against the wooden window. Inside the house, two candlesticks provided bright light.
Young Master Shi had an average appetite and quickly finished eating.
“Don’t mind me; eat your fill first before we talk.”
Pei Qinghe wasn’t polite and ate another bowl before setting down her chopsticks: “Tell me, what happened in the Shi Family?”
