Chapter 84: Rebirth
The refugees fear authority but harbor no loyalty.
Pei Qinghe never overestimated human nature, showing no mercy in intimidating and disciplining the refugees. With Pei Jia, Pei Yi, and Feng Chang absent, she patrolled the wasteland several times each day. The chatty refugees fell silent like quails at the sight of her.
An eagle soared through the mid-air like a black dot.
Pei Qinghe casually drew her bow, and the arrow shot straight into the clouds. Pa! The eagle was hit in the neck and plummeted straight down.
The refugees who witnessed this scene with their own eyes all drew in a sharp breath, instinctively shrinking their own fragile necks.
Pei Yan ran over excitedly and picked up the thoroughly dead eagle: “Cousin Sister Qinghe, this eagle is not small. Let’s go back and stew a pot of soup.”
Pei Qinghe smiled and hummed in agreement, her gaze sweeping around once.
None of the refugees dared to raise their heads.
Gu Lian led a group of women from the mountain stronghold in farming and working, loudly saying, “Did you all see that? With Sixth Sister here, everyone can live peaceful days. Farming is a bit hard, but it fills the belly and keeps one warm. With Sixth Sister protecting us, no stinking men dare bully us.”
“Sixth Sister said that newcomers must farm for half a year first. Those who perform well will be selected to follow Sixth Sister in practicing martial arts and archery.”
“Also, we are all people of Pei Family Village. If you fancy a man, you can recruit him as a son-in-law. The children born will all bear the Pei surname.”
In truth, there was no need for more words. Just seeing Gu Lian’s imposing demeanor was enough to give the women of Wolf Fang Stockade peace of mind.
Even a woman whose face was half ruined could gain Sixth Sister’s favor and heavy use. Why couldn’t they?
Hot blood surged in their hearts, and their originally weary and sore arms regained strength.
Pei Qinghe turned around, smiling as she instructed: “Land reclamation and farming are tough work. After a busy hour, take a rest. There’s warm water in the wooden bucket over there.”
Gu Lian hurriedly smiled and agreed, loudly announcing to the women to rest for a stick of incense. The warm water had some sugar added, with a faint sweet taste, just like their current life.
A few days later, Pei Jia returned first with a group of refugees.
This group of refugees numbered over forty, having fled into the Yan Mountains due to heavy corvée labor.
The refugees brought back by Pei Yi had fled their hometowns due to drought and lack of livelihood, arriving in Changping County territory.
Feng Chang returned latest and brought back the most refugees. He had stayed in the Yan Mountains for over a year, familiar with the mountain conditions. Moreover, Feng Chang was literate, quick-tongued, and skilled at rallying people.
The village gained nearly two hundred more people. Arranging food and lodging was a tedious task. Everyone followed the rules set by Pei Qinghe, handling everything in an orderly manner.
Young Master Shi sent the Dong Brothers to deliver grain, along with a message: “Sixth Sister killed Scarred Wolf, removing a scourge for Youzhou. There will be refugees coming to seek refuge on their own initiative. Young Master Shi asks Sixth Sister to act freely and recruit boldly. The Shi Family will fully support Sixth Sister.”
Providing grain, labor, and manpower without interfering or meddling—this kind of tactful magnate is rare in the world.
Pei Qinghe personally wrote a letter to thank Young Master Shi.
Dong Dalang delivered the letter to his own master. Young Master Shi held the letter without eagerly opening it, his mouth corners curving up high.
Dong Erlang boldly spoke up: “Why doesn’t Young Master go to Pei Family Village in person to deliver the grain? Sixth Sister would surely entertain him warmly.”
Old Master Shi was urging marriage pressingly, and Young Master Shi neither confronted it directly nor stayed put, constantly busy outside and keeping watch on the movements in Pei Family Village. When Pei Family Village recruited refugees, Young Master Shi immediately sent them with grain.
The implied meaning within was something the Dong Brothers, who had served their master since childhood, had long discerned.
Shi Yan glared at Dong Erlang and said seriously: “Sixth Sister Pei is a heroine with grand ambitions. The Shi Family has placed a heavy bet on the Pei Family. How could I, Shi Yan, be the kind of petty person who repays kindness with demands.”
Dong Dalang nodded in agreement: “Of course not.”
Dong Erlang quickly picked up the thread: “Our Young Master is of noble character, kind and upright. He is one of the finest sons in the world. He will surely have a fine match in the future.”
Shi Yan chuckled speechlessly: “Alright, enough flattery. Both of you, get out.”
After the two withdrew, Shi Yan opened the letter and read the brief words of thanks over and over five or six times. Then he folded the letter and tucked it into his sleeve pocket.
The Shi Family’s millions of mu of fertile land were scattered across Youzhou, with grain stores in every county. Inspecting the family business once took several months.
The Shi Family had several trade routes, buying in countless grain each year.
The managers running the trade routes, the grain store shopkeepers and clerks, the estate heads, the family guards—adding up to hundreds of people. Managing such a vast family business, so many people, and dealing with officials and armies everywhere—Young Master Shi was indeed very busy, with no time to wander in Pei Family Village.
However, the deliveries of grain and materials for building walls never stopped.
The fame of Pei Family Village spread like wildfire.
In these times, a full meal was an irresistible powerful temptation for refugees in famine. Sixth Sister Pei’s formidable martial prowess, promoted and spread by those with intentions, soon reached everywhere inside and outside Changping County Town. Quickly, refugees began coming to seek refuge on their own.
In the fifth month, the spring wheat harvest came, and Pei Family Village reaped a bountiful harvest. However, the village population was still climbing at an astonishing speed. The harvested grain was far from enough, still mostly relying on aid from Young Master Shi.
The new village in Pei Family Village was also built up.
Thatched huts were built first, and later with bricks and tiles, a batch of clean and bright brick houses were constructed. The wall had also been built for several li.
All the Pei Clan female dependents moved into the brick houses. The brand-new thatched huts were given to the earliest arrivals like Feng Chang and Gu Lian. The sons-in-law could also move into new houses with their wives.
There was nothing to complain about. Later-arriving refugees living in old thatched huts had no dissatisfaction. Everything has a first-come-first-served order! They were only one step late, but far better off than refugees joining Pei Family Village later—they at least had houses to live in, while the later ones were still in open-sided thatched sheds!
Loud infant cries rang out from the brand-new brick houses.
Bian Shulan, covered in sweat, was utterly exhausted but refused to close her eyes to rest, insisting on seeing the child.
Zhao Hai happily held the newborn chubby son and leaned over: “Shulan, look, this is our son.”
Bian Shulan looked at the plump baby boy, joy blooming in her eyes.
Xiao Wan’er was very happy but also a bit uneasy: “Mom, I’m a big sister now.”
With a little brother, would Mom still love her?
Bian Shulan reached out, pulled Xiao Wan’er over, and kissed her forehead: “Little Wan’er, don’t be afraid. Mom will always love you the most.”
Five-year-old Xiao Wan’er grinned and proactively went to hold her newborn brother.
Pei Qinghe came upon hearing the good news, picked up the hefty chubby boy, and smiled at Bian Shulan: “This is the first child born after our Pei Family established itself here. May I personally name him?”
Bian Shulan and Zhao Hai were overjoyed and nodded repeatedly.
Pei Qinghe thought for a moment and smiled: “Newborn signifies hope, so let’s call him Pei Wang!”
