Chapter 72: Placing A Bet
After receiving a pair of bear paws, General Meng immediately sent Young General Meng with men to Pei Family Village for the winter wheat harvest.
Having been cooped up in the barracks for months, Meng Liulang was finally allowed out, and his heart was filled with excitement. When he arrived at Pei Family Village, he still carried the proud demeanor of Young General Meng, barely giving anyone a proper glance.
Pei Qinghe did not mind and greeted the soldiers with a beaming smile to settle in.
The first winter wheat harvest was not good, but growing grain from barren wasteland was a happy event. With dozens of Beiping Army soldiers and more than twenty men like Feng Chang, there was no worry about heavy labor like wheat harvesting.
Today, Young Master Shi came to Pei Family Village in person. Pei Qinghe understood the implication and made the welcome especially grand.
“Long time no see, Young Master Shi. I hope you have been well.” Pei Qinghe cupped her hands in greeting, a smile on her lips, her tone revealing closeness.
Young Master Shi smiled and returned the cupped-hands salute: “I am doing well. After just a few days, Sixth Sister’s elegance surpasses the past.”
Having eaten full meals for months, Pei Qinghe had grown quite a bit taller, with rosy cheeks and black eyes full of spirit.
Pei Qinghe smiled and said: “Young Master Shi often sends people with grain. We Pei Family old and young all remember this kindness in our hearts.”
Shi Yan smiled and replied: “Sixth Sister need not stand on ceremony. A little grain is nothing to the Shi Family. The words ‘kindness’ are too much.”
The ignored Meng Liulang could not help but cough once.
Pei Qinghe smiled and introduced: “This is the youngest son of General Meng of the Beiping Army, sixth in the family. Young Master Shi may call him Sixth Young Master or Young General Meng.”
Meng Liulang had the advantage of height and swept his gaze over with a disdainful look.
Shi Yan, experienced in worldly affairs from traveling constantly, put on a face of amazement: “I have long heard that General Meng’s youngest son is like a tiger. Seeing Young General Meng today, I know the rumors are wrong. Young General Meng is tall and handsome, with outstanding bearing. The words ‘mere tiger’ cannot capture Young General Meng’s elegance at all.”
Meng Liulang’s expression visibly softened a lot, but his eyes still only looked at Pei Qinghe: “Who is he?”
Pei Qinghe smiled and said: “Let me introduce to Young General Meng. This is the young master of the Shi Family Grain Store.”
The Shi Family was a major grain merchant in Youzhou, with vast family business, generous and wealthy, and renowned fame. How could Meng Liulang not know? This pretense was deliberate, to give Shi Yan a show of strength.
Shi Yan cooperated fully, bowing in salute with an especially respectful posture: “Shi Yan has seen Young General Meng.”
Meng Liulang grunted, waving his hand casually: “Rise!”
In the Jing Dynasty, merchants’ status was not low. A major grain merchant like the Shi Family, who controlled trade routes and could obtain large amounts of grain, even made General Meng treat them with courtesy.
Pei Qinghe glanced at the ignorant Meng Liulang, ignored him, and smiled at Shi Yan: “Young Master Shi, please come into the village to talk.”
Shi Yan nodded gladly and followed Pei Qinghe into the village.
This was Shi Yan’s second time entering Pei Family Village, yet he was as familiar as if he had come hundreds of times, casually smiling: “There are two new houses at the village head here.”
Pei Qinghe was somewhat surprised: “Young Master Shi has a good memory.”
Shi Yan did not act proud, very humble and low-key: “I inspect grain stores and travel constantly, so my memory is slightly better than ordinary people.”
“Sixth Sister has built a new village, and it is expanding here, probably to settle the recruited refugees.”
Pei Qinghe nodded: “Exactly. Some days ago, a group of refugees came seeking refuge, more than twenty people. Pei Family Village is all delicate women, so we can only recruit refugees into the village for land reclamation and farming.”
Pei Qinghe spoke brazenly, and Shi Yan kept a straight face in agreement: “Indeed, some men should be recruited into the village.”
Meng Liulang could not help rolling his eyes and interrupted the two chatting happily: “With one bow and arrow and one knife, able to kill a black bear. And still dare to call yourselves delicate women?”
Pei Qinghe pretended not to hear and invited Shi Yan into the thatched hut to talk. She smiled at Meng Liulang: “I have business to discuss with Young Master Shi, so I won’t trouble Young General Meng to accompany us.”
Meng Liulang watched wide-eyed as Pei Qinghe and Shi Yan entered the thatched hut, an indescribable anger surging in his chest.
With Young General Meng’s pride, he certainly would not thicken his face to follow in. He stood outside the thatched hut for a moment, then left with a taut handsome face.
In the thatched hut, Pei Qinghe personally poured a cup of warm water for Shi Yan: “The Pei Family suffered disaster and now barely has a foothold. Thanks to Young Master Shi’s favor and help, I, Pei Qinghe, am endlessly grateful.”
Shi Yan took the tea from Pei Qinghe’s hand, drank it down, and gently placed the tea bowl on the table. Then, he took a thick gift list from his sleeve and placed it by Pei Qinghe’s hand: “What I value is Sixth Sister. In the future, if Sixth Sister lacks anything, just send someone to give me a message.”
The gift list had no gold or silver, only jaw-dropping amounts of wheat, beans, millet, sorghum, and other grains, fodder needed to feed warhorses and other large livestock, and large quantities of coarse cloth, cotton, salt, iron pots, and so on.
All were supplies urgently needed by Pei Family Village right now. With these, more refugees could be recruited.
Pei Qinghe carefully looked at the gift list and solemnly replied: “Young Master Shi is willing to place a heavy bet on the Pei Family. I certainly will not disappoint Young Master Shi.”
“Perhaps in a few years, perhaps in a dozen. When Young Master Shi looks back on today, he will rejoice that he had the insight to recognize talent and made the right decision.”
With that, Pei Qinghe took another tea bowl and filled both tea bowls.
Shi Yan smiled and raised his tea bowl, lightly clinking it against the tea bowl in Pei Qinghe’s hand, making a crisp sound.
Afterward, Shi Yan went around the new village once more.
Liu Shan and the other artisans saw the young master and called out greetings one after another. Shi Yan did not put on the young master’s airs and smiled as he talked with Liu Shan and the others.
“It’s been over two months coming to Pei Family Village. Are you used to working here?”
“Replying to young master, very used to it.”
“Sixth Sister pays full wages, and three meals a day are good.”
“It’s just that the project period is too long; we haven’t gone back for many days.”
Shi Yan smiled: “There’s one more month until New Year. Go back before New Year, and come back after.”
“Work steadily and at ease, follow Sixth Sister’s instructions. In the future, take your wages from me; I’ll add thirty percent to your monthly pay.”
The artisans grinned and agreed one after another.
Pei Qinghe praised inwardly. Young Master Shi was generous, open in his actions, and discerning. Such a magnate was rare in the world.
After touring the new village, Shi Yan said to Pei Qinghe: “The new village has two hundred new houses. For now, it is enough. I brought another batch of artisans; with sufficient personnel, we can lay more foundations and build new houses.”
“A circle of wall can also be built around the village. It can defend against wild beasts, bandits, and thieves.”
Needless to say, the huge expenses required would all be covered by Young Master Shi.
Pei Qinghe suddenly realized that Young Master Shi, with his lean face slightly pale, was exceptionally handsome, standing there smiling radiantly.
