Chapter 161: Fury
“What happened?” Shi Yan and Pei Yan both blurted out almost simultaneously.
Pei Qinghe’s eyes flashed with anger as she forced out word by word: “Grandmother and the others set off for Jizhou.”
What?
Pei Yan drew in a sharp breath and blurted out: “What is Grandmother going to Jizhou for?”
Pei Qinghe was expressionless: “Second Sister-in-law said in the letter that Grandmother insisted on going to Jizhou to pay respects to the Son of Heaven. Second Sister-in-law tried to stop her but was scolded by Grandmother. Yesterday morning, Grandmother and the others set off. Second Sister-in-law didn’t dare delay a moment and immediately sent someone to deliver the letter to me.”
“This old fool!” Pei Yan was furious, nearly swearing: “She went to Bohai Commandery—can she even come back? No way! I’ll take men on fast horses to chase them back right now. It’s only two days’ journey; I can catch up with fast horses all the way.”
She said it and moved to leave.
Pei Qinghe let out a deep breath and reached out to stop Pei Yan: “No need to chase.”
Pei Yan was startled and turned to look at Pei Qinghe.
Pei Qinghe had calmed down from her raging anger: “Even if you chase them back, what then? You know Grandmother’s temper. She is set on going, and no one can stop her.”
“Just let her go!”
Pei Yan’s thick black brows were nearly knotted: “You’re really not going to do anything? What about your mother? And Little Doggy, Little Yu’er…”
“My mother didn’t go, and Little Doggy and Little Yu’er were both left behind.” Pei Qinghe said: “The ones who went are a total of twenty-three people, all elders over sixty.”
Pei Yan immediately relaxed: “That’s good. By the way, did Second Sister-in-law send anyone to follow?”
Pei Qinghe hummed: “Second Sister-in-law was worried the road might not be safe, so she had Pei Jia lead a camp of Hundred Men to escort them.”
With a hundred elite soldiers escorting, common people, refugees, and bandits would all have to steer clear. If they truly encountered a large force, displaying the Pei character flag would also deter them.
It was just that this matter was too vexing.
Pei Yan felt upset inside and scowled.
Pei Qinghe was in a poor mood and had no interest in speaking.
This was Pei Clan business, and Shi Yan was an outsider, so it wasn’t convenient for him to say much. After a moment, Shi Yan broke the silence in a low voice: “I’ll have people pack the luggage right away and return to Pei Family Village early. To avoid unrest from the old lady’s departure.”
Pei Qinghe let out a stifled breath: “No need to rush this instant. It’s already evening now; no need to travel at night—set off tomorrow morning.”
When Pei Qinghe went to bid farewell to Old Master Shi, her expression had already returned to normal.
Old Master Shi said cheerfully: “Sixth Sister has stayed at the Shi Family for quite some days, and the Pei Family Army can’t do without Sixth Sister, so she really should go back. I’ve had Shi Li prepare dozens of carts of grain for Sixth Sister to take back as well.”
It was Old Master Shi’s kind intention, so Pei Qinghe didn’t politely refuse and nodded with a smile to accept.
After Pei Qinghe left, Old Master Shi called Shi Yan over and asked in a low voice: “Did something happen with the Pei Family Army?”
Shi Yan sighed and explained how Madam Lu and the others had gone to Bohai Commandery.
Old Master Shi was also stunned, and only after a long while did he say: “Old lady’s temper…” He really couldn’t find polite words to describe it.
Shi Yan said in a low voice: “Sixth Sister didn’t say it out loud, but she’s extremely angry inside. Grandfather, just keep this in mind; don’t spread it around.”
Old Master Shi glanced over: “I’m not some clueless child. How could I go blabbing about such a thing?” He felt some regret: “With the old lady and the others gone, Sixth Sister is in a bad mood—it looks like there won’t be a happy event this year. You’ll just have to keep waiting!”
Shi Yan said seriously: “You absolutely can’t go saying that. Sixth Sister has never said she wants to marry me in as a son-in-law.”
Right now was a time of tense situation, with warfare ready to ignite at any moment. Pei Qinghe had no spare time or mood to marry a man into the family.
Old Master Shi didn’t want to hear this: “You abandoned your family and career to join the Pei Family Army, laboring day and night for it, wholeheartedly assisting Sixth Sister. Could she not even give you a proper status?”
The Shi and Wang Clans had emptied their family fortunes to strongly support the Pei Family Army, both placing a bet and backing Shi Yan.
However, there was no need to say these things. Quite a few Youzhou magnates had their families destroyed; the Shi Family and Wang Family remaining safe was all thanks to the Pei Family Army.
“After the new year, Sixth Sister will be seventeen, and you’re three years older than Sixth Sister, both reaching twenty years old.” Old Master Shi couldn’t help nagging a bit: “I hear County Magistrate Ji of Quanzhou County’s eldest son is outstanding in literary talent and extremely handsome. You stay by Sixth Sister’s side all day; you need to keep a close eye.”
These words were both amusing and exasperating. But Grandfather was thinking entirely for his sake, so Shi Yan felt warm inside and responded softly: “Grandfather, rest assured—I know what I’m doing.”
Old Master Shi let out a long sigh: “When you have some free time in the future, don’t forget to come back and visit. This old bag of bones doesn’t know if it can last until the day you get married.”
Shi Yan felt some guilt: “It’s my unfilial behavior; I can’t stay by your side to show filial piety.”
Old Master Shi snorted: “Don’t feed me these sweet words to coax me. When you left the Shi Family, you didn’t miss your dear grandfather one bit.”
Shi Yan coughed guiltily and poured tea to placate his grandfather. Shi Li and Wang Mengyi happened to come over holding a pair of children; Old Master Shi saw his great-grandchildren and immediately beamed with joy. He impatiently waved them away.
Shi Yan winked at Shi Li.
Shi Li grinned.
……
Three days later, Pei Qinghe and her group returned to Pei Family Village with a vast grain transport team.
Mao Hongling, who hadn’t slept well for several nights, had bloodshot eyes, slightly thinner cheeks, and whispered full of guilt: “Qinghe, I’m sorry—I failed to guard Pei Family Village for you.”
Even the fiercest anger would burn out after a few days.
Pei Qinghe comforted her warmly: “This isn’t your fault. Grandmother didn’t decide on a whim; she must have planned it long ago. After I left, she quietly packed her luggage and set off on New Year’s Day.”
“She was set on going to Bohai Commandery; you can stop her once, but not two or three times. Forget it—just let her go!”
Madam Lu was also bullying her granddaughter-in-law Mao Hongling for having a soft temperament that was easy to manipulate. If it were Pei Yun, she would exhaust her words to persuade Madam Lu. If it were Pei Yan, one punch to knock Madam Lu out. If it were Pei Qinghe, one cool glance and Madam Lu would behave.
Mao Hongling felt much better after these words and said softly: “The children didn’t go along, and all under sixty were left behind.”
“Old Village’s thatched huts are simple and rundown, so I took it upon myself to have Mother and the others all come back.”
The “mother” Mao Hongling referred to was Pei Qinghe’s birth mother, Madam Feng.
Madam Feng was a second wife, only a few years older than her daughter-in-law Mao Hongling.
Pei Qinghe’s brows relaxed: “I’ll go see my mother.”
After a year had passed, everyone was a year older. Little Yu’er and Little Doggy, the sister and brother, had both started to read. They formally bowed and called her “Aunt.”
Pei Qinghe smilingly took out two pieces of candy and stuffed them to them: “Go play!”
Little Yu’er puffed out her chest: “I’m not going to play; I’ll stand guard outside the door.”
Little Doggy also said loudly: “I’ll guard the door for Aunt too.”
Pei Qinghe burst out laughing, and the gloomy mood of the past few days was swept away.
