Chapter 127: Stockpiling Grain
The Shi Family is Youzhou’s largest grain merchant. If one wants to stockpile grain, one cannot bypass the Shi Family.
After sorting out the accounts, Shi Yan took the Dong Brothers to the Shi Family Grain Store to buy grain.
Seeing the Young Master, the grain store manager hurriedly came forward to pay respects. Shi Yan said warmly with a smile: “I have now left the Shi Family and am no longer your Young Master. I am now a man of Pei Family Village, and today I have come to buy grain.”
The Shi Family grandfather and grandson had fallen out, and Old Master Shi had made a big show of adopting Shi Li from the branch family. The grain store managers naturally all knew about it.
The managers could not figure out the inside story, but one thing they saw clearly: Shi Yan was now working for Sixth Sister Pei, and Sixth Sister Pei had killed Xiongnu barbarians until heads rolled. For such a person, the Shi Family could only and must make good relations.
Moreover, Shi Yan had brought silver to buy grain, and everything was by the rules. For a business that opens its doors to do business, how could it fear a big customer?
The manager bowed with a smile: “Young Master wants to buy so much grain that even emptying the storeroom here would be far from enough. Young Master can first pay the deposit, and I will immediately send a clerk back to send a message and transport the grain, all delivered together to Pei Family Village.”
Shi Yan smiled faintly: “For a large grain deal, the grain price cannot be at market price. How about at seven tenths of market price?”
The manager looked troubled: “Young Master is making things difficult for me. For large grain deals, it used to be seven tenths of market price. But now in these worldly affairs, grain prices are rising everywhere. Grain must be sold slowly, and prices will definitely continue to rise later. Only because it is Young Master can you buy so much grain. If it were someone else, I would have long refused saying there is no grain to sell.”
Hoarding grain in odd amounts when doing business is commonplace. The Shi Family has stabilized grain prices without skyrocketing them, which is already very decent. At such times, grain stores actually do not wish to do large grain deals.
These are all tacit understandings of rules in the trade.
Shi Yan smiled: “What you say makes sense. I am here on Sixth Sister Pei’s orders to buy grain and cannot return empty-handed today. Seven tenths grain price is too low; raise it by one tenth.”
The manager perked up and haggled with Shi Yan, only willing to drop to nine tenths.
Do not underestimate this one tenth grain price; for a deal of tens of thousands of shi of grain, the difference of one tenth can buy more life-saving grain.
Shi Yan restrained his smile and said indifferently: “Of Yan Prefecture’s ten counties, Anle County has become an empty city, and everyone in Changping County supports Sixth Sister Pei. Quanzhou County and Yongnu County are also frequently showing goodwill to Sixth Sister Pei. Given time, perhaps all of Youzhou will have to look at Sixth Sister Pei’s face to speak and act.”
“Sixth Sister buys grain at eight tenths grain price, giving full face to the Shi Family. If today I only give seven tenths, or even lower, would the Shi Family dare not to do this deal?”
The manager twitched his mouth, full of bitter smile: “This is such a big matter, I cannot decide. Please Young Master stay a few days; I will immediately send someone to send a message to Old Master Shi for him to decide.”
Shi Yan’s expression remained indifferent: “I will wait only five days. If there is no reply within five days, I will take it as the Shi Family refusing this deal. The good relationships built in the past will probably all be written off.”
The manager saw off the former Young Master and had no time even to shake his head and sigh; he urgently sent someone to send a message.
The messenger clerk rode fast horses all the way and arrived at Shi Family Fortified Village in two days.
Old Master Shi had lost quite a bit of weight these days, with inner fire flaring and two fever blisters on his mouth. Hearing this, he sneered repeatedly: “This is using rising power to bully others.”
“Now grain prices outside are skyrocketing, and wanting to buy grain at eight tenths price is no different from outright robbery. Go back and tell that scoundrel that the Shi Family will not do this deal. Let him buy grain elsewhere!”
The youth standing to the side hurriedly advised in a low voice: “Great Uncle, do not say angry words. This deal definitely must be done.”
“Sixth Sister Pei has several thousand men under her command; even Prefect Tang of Yan Prefecture has to swallow his anger. Our Shi Family opens its doors to do business and absolutely cannot make an enemy of Sixth Sister Pei.”
This youth was eighteen years old this year, with proper features and a healthy body; it was Shi Li, now the Shi Family’s Young Master.
Shi Li was only three months younger than Shi Yan and had studied reading, accounts, and abacus with Shi Yan since childhood. Shi Yan often took him along when rushing about to manage the family business. Among the Shi Family branch descendants, he was the smartest one.
Old Master Shi first glared at him: “Why are you still calling Great Uncle?”
Shi Li had to change his words: “Grandfather, please hear me out. Our Shi Family has operated in Yan Prefecture for a hundred years to have the family business we have now. We are merchants who open our doors to do business; whoever pays silver, we sell grain to them. Grandfather, why for the sake of rivalry with Cousin ruin such a big customer outside the door?”
These words sounded much more pleasing.
Old Master Shi’s expression softened a bit: “Eight tenths grain price is too low; at least nine tenths.”
Shi Li said: “Eight tenths is not little. The grain in our granaries was all stockpiled at flat prices before. Eight tenths still makes a profit. Just treat it as selling a friendship to Sixth Sister Pei. Cousin is right on one point: Sixth Sister Pei’s power is rising, and in less than two years, she might take Yan Prefecture. Our Shi Family has always sent grain to Pei Family Village; this good relationship should continue.”
“I will go there and talk face-to-face with Cousin. This deal will be at eight tenths grain price. If Pei Family Village buys grain again later, it will be negotiated at that day’s market price.”
Old Master Shi snorted from his nose, still with no good expression, but did not object.
Shi Li secretly breathed a sigh of relief, rode his horse to Changping County Town, and arrived before Shi Yan within the five-day limit.
Shi Yan waved his hand, sending Dong Dalang and Dong Erlang to guard outside the door. Shi Li also sent his attendants away.
“Cousin, you really angered Great Uncle badly.” Shi Li said in a low voice: “After you left, Great Uncle cursed you continuously for half a month.”
Shi Yan sighed: “I did not want things to come to this either. But Grandfather is really stubborn; I could not persuade him, and to go to Pei Family Village, there was only this path.”
“Shi Li, on my behalf, properly show filial piety to Grandfather.”
Shi Li’s sigh was even longer than Shi Yan’s: “Cousin, Great Uncle is rivalry-ing with you, so he adopted me. I will guard the Shi Family for you; you can return anytime.”
“Adoption is not child’s play.” Shi Yan said seriously: “Grandfather has already opened the ancestral hall, recorded your name in the direct line, and made you the Shi Family Young Master. From now on, the Shi Family family business is yours.”
Shi Li stared in shock, blurting out: “Cousin, that day you did not say it this way to me. You said this was an expedient measure, to have me step forward first to placate Great Uncle. Once Great Uncle calms down, you would return. That was why I agreed.”
Shi Yan answered frankly: “If I did not say it that way, how would you agree? Since I have left the Shi Family to seek refuge with Sixth Sister Pei, from now on I am Sixth Sister Pei’s man. Whether life or death, wealth or honor, I am with her.”
Shi Li: “…”
Shi Li suddenly stood up, his handsome face flushed red, and angrily squeezed out a few words: “Cousin, how could you deceive me!”
