Chapter 213: Face
The new stable hadn’t been built yet when year-end arrived.
Those coming to Pei Family Village to deliver year-end gifts included county magistrates from various county towns, Prefect Tang from Yan Prefecture, the Shi Family, Wang Family, and others. They came in an endless stream.
Pei Qinghe calmly accepted them without needing to return any gifts.
The Pei Family Army protects the safety of common people in the area, preserving the heads of county magistrates and prefects, and ensuring magnates live without worry. These year-end gifts are what the Pei Family Army deserves.
Shi Yan couldn’t help but privately remind her: “These year-end gifts are for the general and should go into the general’s private storeroom.”
Pei Qinghe smiled slightly at Shi Yan: “The entire Pei Family Army is mine; no need for a private storeroom.”
Shi Yan had proposed setting up a private storeroom more than once or twice. Each time, Pei Qinghe firmly refused. Shi Yan felt no regret in his heart, only admiration.
Which person in power is not greedy?
Wealth, beauty, power, fame—which one does not intoxicate the heart and captivate the soul?
Pei Qinghe neither craves beauty nor loves wealth. Her food, drink, clothing, and daily needs are simple and casual; she hasn’t even collected military pay, so her pockets are cleaner than her face.
“Actually, I’m not as good as you think,” Pei Qinghe said with a soft laugh. “The Pei Family Army has only been established for a few years, with shallow foundations; it’s not yet time for extravagance and waste. What I’m thinking now is to ensure those who follow me have enough to eat and wear warmly, to make the Pei Family Army grow stronger day by day, and to protect more common people in peaceful days.”
Shi Yan gazed at Pei Qinghe, his mood surging: “I will follow the general forever!”
Toward her, he felt not only the affection between man and woman, but also the worship and love of the strong for the even stronger. He knew her ambition was far-reaching; he wanted to stand behind her forever, like a firefly chasing moonlight.
Pei Qinghe chuckled lightly, her face drawing closer.
Shi Yan tightly embraced her.
They were truly too busy; the two had no time for intimacy, only stealing brief moments of closeness amid official duties.
Soon, this private moment’s romance was interrupted: “Report to the general, the Guangning Army has sent someone to deliver year-end gifts.”
The one delivering the year-end gifts was none other than Pei Yan’s fiancé Yang Huai.
Yang Huai was also a clever fellow. At first, he was reluctant about his son-in-law status and often wore a sour face. But in just over half a year, he adapted well and even grew to enjoy it.
“Congratulations, general, on taking Beiping Commandery,” Yang Huai said with a smile, cupping his hands in congratulations. “Our general ordered me to deliver year-end gifts and to congratulate the general on gaining another commandery under her command.”
The Pei Family Army had swallowed this fat meat of Beiping Commandery, making the other three armies within Youzhou very envious. The Fanyang Army was the Pei Family Army’s defeated foe and dared not provoke them. The Guangning Army and Pei Family Army had an alliance with good relations; General Yang had even specially sent someone to congratulate them. The one truly seeing red was the Liaoxi Army.
Yang Huai had specially brought General Yang’s words: “Uncle ordered me to tell the general to be cautious and guard against the Liaoxi Army.”
Pei Qinghe’s eyes flashed: “Thank General Yang for the reminder on my behalf.”
Yang Huai coughed, thickening his face to say: “There’s one more thing. Uncle heard that the Pei Family Army sent a merchant caravan outside the passes and bought a large batch of warhorses back. Our Guangning Army is also short on horses.”
“Next year at the start of spring, Uncle plans to send a merchant caravan out of the passes and wants to travel the same route as the Pei Family merchant caravan for mutual support. I wonder if the general can agree?”
Before Pei Qinghe could speak, Pei Yan glared with her copper bell eyes and spat: “Travel the same route? What kind of support? We risked our lives to open this trade route—why should you freeload? Have you no shame!”
Feeling guilty and in the wrong, Yang Huai took the scolding and continued with an apologetic smile: “The Guangning Army really lacks warhorses. We’re not greedy; following along to buy a few hundred would satisfy us. We’ll send troops and men then, bringing cotton cloth and tea, without taking advantage of the Pei Family Army.”
Pei Yan was about to glare and curse more when Pei Qinghe shot her a glance.
Pei Yan immediately shut her mouth.
Pei Qinghe looked at Yang Huai again.
Yang Huai could bend and stretch; he bowed even lower, his eyes showing no resentment, only eager longing for the warhorses.
“Buying horses together would indeed be inconvenient,” Pei Qinghe said slowly. “This trade route was paved with the lives of the Pei Family Army and the Zhan Family; it cannot be revealed to outsiders.”
“However, the Guangning Army and Pei Family Army are closely allied, not outsiders. How about this: the Guangning Army can prepare supplies and send them over together then. I’ll have people take them outside the passes to exchange for horses. How many can be exchanged and safely brought back is uncertain now. It all depends on General Yang’s luck.”
Yang Huai was overjoyed and deeply bowed in thanks: “Many thanks, General Pei!”
Pei Yan huffed angrily.
Yang Huai’s heart trembled, but he pretended not to hear and respectfully withdrew.
“Cousin Sister Qinghe, why bother with him,” Pei Yan said, unable to suppress her frustration. “Just refuse directly. Who isn’t short on horses? Warhorses exchanged at the cost of great hardship and lives—why share them with them?”
Pei Qinghe smiled to soothe the fuming Pei Yan: “Not a single one of our more than eight hundred horses this year goes to them. Whether we can smoothly exchange and bring back horses outside the passes next year is still uncertain. Agreeing first is just giving General Yang face.”
It also gave her future brother-in-law Yang Huai some face.
Pei Yan wasn’t stupid; she didn’t like using her brain usually, but now she understood at once: “That old fox General Yang! No wonder he eagerly had Yang Huai marry into the Pei Clan back then, acting like I got some great deal. And now they want us to exchange horses for them!”
“The more I think, the more we lose. Might as well call off the engagement!”
Pei Qinghe was amused and exasperated, rolling her eyes: “Don’t fool around! Since we’ve allied with the Guangning Army, sending some favors when convenient is only right.”
“Don’t even utter the words ‘call off the engagement.’ And absolutely no bullying Yang Huai privately!”
Pei Yan promised nicely to her face, then dragged her fiancé straight to the training ground.
The crowd of watching male and female soldiers could testify that Miss Pei Yan didn’t bully her fiancé privately; she openly beat him soundly.
Yang Huai had long anticipated getting beaten and was mentally prepared. He even secretly felt fortunate. When Pei Yan struck, she avoided his head and face; after the beating, his handsome face was unscathed.
Leaving him face meant she cared about him.
Coming with Yang Huai to deliver year-end gifts was also Cousin Brother Yang Hu.
Yang Hu was persistent, his eyes always glancing at the charming and lively Pei Zhi.
Pei Zhi was annoyed by his staring and suddenly approached with a smiling invitation for Yang Hu to spar. At Pei Zhi’s smile, Yang Hu lost his head and agreed on the spot.
Yang Huai sat cross-legged, grimacing, watching his cousin get beaten with a bruised and swollen face, utterly humiliated, and couldn’t help but feel amused. Everything is relative; this comparison brought a sense of happiness.
Yang Hu held on without begging for mercy in public, but back in the room applying medicine, he wailed incessantly.
Yang Huai was also applying medicine to himself, not looking up: “I told you before not to come. Pei Zhi doesn’t like you at all.”
Yang Hu was stubborn: “She doesn’t beat others, only me, which shows she still cares about me.”
Yang Huai: “……”
