Chapter 94: Generous Gift
Old Master Shi is a shrewd merchant, worldly-wise and pragmatic.
After the news came that Sixth Sister Pei led people to annihilate White Tiger Stockade, Old Master Shi spoke full of praise for Sixth Sister Pei, without a single word of criticism.
At this moment, Luo Hu’s head was right before them, and Sixth Sister Pei was the Shi Family’s honored guest.
Pei Qinghe declined humbly a few times, then calmly took the seat of honor.
There were six people at the table, all influential families and wealthy households with close ties to the Shi Family. Wang Mengyi stood behind a middle-aged man, whispering a few words in his ear.
This man was about forty years old, wearing a sky-blue silk robe, with a round face and big ears, and several layers of chins. He was Shi Yan’s consanguineous uncle, the family head of Guangning’s Wang Family, Wang Xun.
Wang Xun looked at the refined and heroic Sixth Sister Pei and sincerely praised, “Indeed, heroes emerge from youth. Sixth Sister Pei annihilated White Tiger Stockade, which is not only revenge for the Shi Family but also venting the foul breath for us merchants.”
Poor common people have nothing worth looting, so the mountain bandits target the magnates. The Wang Family runs dozens of cloth shops and embroidery shops, just like the Shi Family, fat meat in the eyes of the mountain bandits.
This was not the time to be low-key and modest. Pei Qinghe smiled slowly: “Young Master Shi sent grain to Pei Family Village several times, allowing us Pei Family old and young to have enough to eat every day, all thanks to Young Master Shi’s generosity and righteousness. When the Shi Family had trouble, how could the Pei Clan stand idly by.”
Old Master Shi praised again. It was unclear whether he was praising Pei Qinghe or his own grandson for making a precise investment.
With elders present, Shi Yan said little, smiling as he picked up the wine pot and personally poured wine for Sixth Sister Pei.
Wang Xun stood up with his wine cup: “Sixth Sister Pei is righteous and loyal, risking life and death to take revenge for the Shi Family. Today, I toast to Sixth Sister Pei on behalf of my nephew.”
Pei Qinghe stood up accordingly, held her wine cup, and drank it all in one go.
After Wang Xun, the others at the table also toasted Pei Qinghe one by one. Pei Qinghe gave face to everyone, accepting every toast and drinking a cup with each. But just one cup each.
“I have not yet reached the age of hair-pinning, and I never drink alcohol usually. Today at the Shi Family, sitting with all of you, I am happy in my heart. However, my drinking capacity is shallow, so I truly dare not drink more.”
This Sixth Sister Pei, who was like the God of Slaughter reborn, was still a girl who had not reached the age of hair-pinning. Everyone was old enough to be Sixth Sister Pei’s grandfather, so even if they wanted to probe her depths, they could not press her to drink.
Shi Yan had the wine cups removed and poured a cup of clear tea for Pei Qinghe, chuckling softly: “Today’s banquet was specially prepared by several famous chefs I invited. Sixth Sister, taste it and see if it suits your taste.”
Pei Qinghe nodded gladly, neither restrained nor polite, and ate her fill with abandon.
Old Master Shi watched this and nodded secretly to himself. Sixth Sister Pei was a master of the current era; leading troops in training consumed a great deal of physical strength, so a large appetite was inevitable. Moreover, born into a military family, Sixth Sister Pei’s every move had a natural ease beyond ordinary people.
Wang Mengyi, standing behind Wang Xun, was also stunned by Pei Qinghe’s appetite.
To maintain her slim figure, she ate only six or seven tenths full each meal. What Pei Qinghe ate in this one meal was enough for her for two or three days…
Wang Mengyi’s gaze swept over Pei Qinghe’s slender figure, full of envy.
After the birthday banquet, the crowd moved to the side of the opera stage, where Youzhou’s most famous opera troupe would perform a three-day hall assembly. This item alone would consume several hundred taels of silver.
The Shi Family’s extravagance was evident.
Old Master Shi listened for a moment, then excused himself to rest in the inner hall. Shi Yan gave Pei Qinghe a look, and she nodded slightly, rising to support Old Master Shi.
Wang Mengyi watched this scene, her eyes darkening slightly.
In front of everyone, Wang Xun said nothing, only gently patted the back of his daughter’s hand. Wang Mengyi steadied her mind, gathered her wandering thoughts, and focused on watching the opera.
……
“Sixth Sister Pei, for your great kindness, please accept my bow.” Old Master Shi was about to bow.
Pei Qinghe immediately reached out to support Old Master Shi: “No, you mustn’t. I and Young Master Shi are close as brothers. Old Master Shi is Young Master Shi’s grandfather, no different from my own grandfather in my eyes. How can an elder bow to a junior.”
“Moreover, the Pei Family has received great favors from the Shi Family. When the Shi Family was looted by mountain bandits, it was only right for me to annihilate them.”
That was what she said. But to annihilate White Tiger Stockade in one move, how powerful!
Before, the Shi Family had placed a heavy bet on Pei Qinghe, and she had proven with actions that the Pei Family was worth it.
From this moment on, their relationship should become even closer.
Old Master Shi looked deeply at Pei Qinghe: “Sixth Sister has lofty ambitions and will certainly not remain in the pond in the future. To befriend Sixth Sister is the Shi Family’s fortune.”
Pausing, he continued: “This old body of mine can’t run anymore. Now the Shi Family’s family business is all managed by Shi Yan. In the future, Sixth Sister, just recruit refugees boldly. Our Shi Family may lack other things, but grain is always sufficient.”
The word “sufficient” was said with profound meaning.
Shi Yan felt his grandfather’s words were too vague and followed up: “Our Shi Family can support Sixth Sister in raising one thousand soldiers.”
Raising soldiers is different from raising refugees. Recruited refugees can be stabilized with food to eat. But to train troops, they not only need to have enough to eat but also meat regularly, and no time for farming. Raising soldiers consumes the most money and grain. Raising one thousand soldiers costs a terribly large amount of money and grain each year.
But Pei Qinghe did not agree immediately, saying seriously: “This time annihilating White Tiger Stockade, the Pei Family gained abundantly and does not lack gold and silver. Raising soldiers is my Pei Qinghe’s responsibility; I cannot rely entirely on the Shi Family. In the future, I will buy grain with silver, only hoping the Shi Family can stably sell grain to Pei Family Village long-term.”
If the grain all comes from the Shi Family, whose soldiers would they be?
When it came to military power and sovereignty, Pei Qinghe clearly stated her attitude without ambiguity. The Shi Family could invest, but could not interfere. The Pei Family Army was entirely hers.
Shi Yan smiled and changed his words: “Then as Sixth Sister wishes, the Shi Family will sell grain to Pei Family Village.”
Of course, how much silver would be another matter for the Shi Family.
Shi Yan knew when to advance and retreat, understood propriety. Pei Qinghe smiled at him: “Young Master Shi sent charcoal in snowy weather, your aid I, Pei Qinghe, will remember forever.”
“I still say the same: if the Shi Family has matters, the Pei Family will never stand idly by.”
The alliance was thus formed.
Old Master Shi coughed and said with a smile: “Raising soldiers requires not only grain but also large amounts of cloth for military uniforms, shoes, and socks, as well as supplies like salt and oil. Sixth Sister came at the right time; today many major merchants of Youzhou are here. The Wang Family has cloth, the Zhan Family are salt merchants, and the Lu Family is Youzhou’s largest medicinal materials merchant. I will invite them over now to introduce them to Sixth Sister.”
Ginger is still the hottest. This was selling a great favor to the Pei Family Army before it was even formed. Even if Old Master Shi did not say it, Pei Qinghe had planned to visit and pay respects to these major merchants.
With Old Master Shi’s personal introduction, the weight was much heavier.
Pei Qinghe gladly accepted this favor: “Thank you, Old Master Shi.”
