Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 126 Traveling Together (Part Two)

Pei Yun and Mao Hongling exchanged a glance, secretly amused, and then each greeted Shi Yan.

Previously, Shi Yan was a major supplier of grain and supplies, and everyone treated him with respect and courtesy. Now, he has transformed into almost family, and everyone's attitude towards him has become visibly more intimate and casual.

Fang Hai, the first son-in-law of the Pei family, spoke with particular warmth: "I'm about ten years older than you and have lived in Pei Family Village for more than two years. I know everyone in the village well. If you need anything, just come and find me."

Shi Yan smiled and said, "Thank you, Brother Fang."

The simple phrase "Brother Fang" warmed Fang Hai's heart and brought a smile to his face.

People generally look down on sons-in-law who marry into their wives' families. Even in Pei Family Village, there are plenty of people who make sarcastic and cynical remarks.

Back in the house, Fang Hai whispered to Bian Shulan with a smile, "Shi Yan is quite good. He's shrewd and capable, yet not arrogant, and speaks very kindly. I think he's much better than that haughty Meng Liulang."

Bian Shulan wholeheartedly agreed: "Meng Liulang is handsome, skilled, and has several hundred men under his command. However, he is ambitious and unwilling to be a live-in son-in-law. Our Qinghe is destined for great things, so Young Master Shi is more suitable."

He paused, then chuckled softly, "Shi Yan even gave up being the young master of the Shi family and his vast fortune for Qing He. Such deep affection would warm even Qing He's heart, which is as cold as iron."

"However, given Qinghe's temperament, now is not the time to talk about this. Keep your mouth shut and don't say anything carelessly."

Fang Hai nodded repeatedly.

Pei Yun went to Mao Hongling's room and whispered, "Judging from the time, Young Master Shi should have received the news of the Pei family's division and then had a falling out with Old Master Shi, so he came to Pei Family Village."

Mao Hongling replied with satisfaction, "Only those who share the same path can walk together. Shi Yan has this intention, and Qing He will not let him down in the future."

Pei Yun, who clearly understood Pei Qinghe better, said with a smile, "It's too early to talk about these things now. One thing at a time, Qinghe must be moved that Shi Yan came to the Pei family at such a crucial moment. However, it's still too early for Shi Yan to become a live-in son-in-law."

……

After several days of travel, Shi Yan slept soundly and peacefully that night.

The next morning, everyone lined up to get breakfast. Shi Yan stood behind Pei Qinghe, greeting the familiar faces with warmth and openness.

Even Pei Qinghe couldn't help but glance at her: "How do you know Zhai Sanlang and Zheng Xiaoying? They haven't been here long, you probably haven't met them before!"

Shi Yan smiled and said, "Yang Shan sends me messages about everything that's going on in Pei Family Village. Although I haven't met the newcomer, I can roughly guess who he is."

Even Zhai Sanlang and Zheng Xiaoying knew that the fact that Meng Liu Gongzi had led five hundred soldiers to come and then left was naturally even more obvious to him.

Yang Shan, an honest and simple bricklayer, chuckled.

Pei Qinghe was both amused and annoyed, and rolled her eyes at Shi Yan: "You're the most cunning one."

Shi Yan stopped praising him without blinking: "I can't practice martial arts, and I don't know how to ride or shoot. I can only work hard on these minor skills."

Pei Qinghe laughed and said, "This is no small matter. You have a photographic memory, you know how to use people well, and you are good at dealing with different kinds of people. These are all your abilities."

Shi Yan was deeply moved: "So, in Sixth Miss's eyes, I am still considered a useful person."

Pei Qinghe smiled and said, "More than useful, you are a genius of our time. With your help, I am like a tiger with wings." As they chatted and laughed, it was time for breakfast.

Originally, the kitchen was managed by Fang Shi. After the family split, Bian Shulan took over the kitchen. Preparing meals for thousands of people daily was no easy task. The dozens of people in the kitchen had to get up at four in the morning and work until dawn.

This morning's breakfast was hot porridge, pickled vegetables, and mixed flour steamed buns.

Shi Yan, holding a bowl and a steamed bun, squatted down next to Pei Qinghe, eating with great relish. After finishing, he said seriously, "There's something I haven't told you yet. My grandfather has severed ties with me, and the Pei family will no longer send grain. We'll have to buy grain ourselves."

Previously, the Shi family had placed a heavy bet on Pei Family Village, generously providing grain. Pei Qinghe recruited several thousand refugees and raised over a thousand elite soldiers in just two years, and at least half of that was thanks to the Shi family.

Right now, even Grandpa Shi has kicked his beloved grandson out of the house, so naturally there's no food to send.

Pei Qinghe was mentally prepared last night, and was not flustered at all when she heard this: "I have accumulated a lot of wealth from suppressing the mountain bandits. It is all in the warehouse. Go and take stock of the accounts and clean up the warehouse today to see how much grain we have left to buy back."

Shi Yan nodded in agreement.

Pei Qinghe called Zhou Shi over: "Sister-in-law, from today onwards, the account books and storeroom will all be handed over to Shi Yan."

After being overwhelmed with worries for more than ten days, Zhou was so excited that tears welled up in her eyes. She immediately led Shi Yan to the storeroom: "Aunt Wu used to manage these account books and storeroom. After the family split up, this mess fell on my shoulders. I can't figure out these accounts at all, and I'm so worried that I'm losing clumps of hair."

"It's so good to have you now."

Zhou placed a stack of account books on the table and took out a set of keys: "Take a look at the account books first, then take stock of the storeroom. Ask me anything you want."

When it came to their professional field, Shi Yan was completely unambiguous. After sitting down, he reached out to Dong Dalang. Dong Dalang immediately presented him with a small abacus made of pure gold.

Shi Yan flipped through an account book, his right hand moving the abacus beads rapidly. The beads fell like pearls onto a plate, making a crisp, clear sound. Any discrepancies in the accounts were noted down in his notebook.

Before an incense stick had burned, they switched to a second book.

Zhou was dumbfounded.

Dong Dalang and Dong Erlang were already used to it. One of them served pen and ink and changed account books, while the other checked the storeroom against the calculated account books. Zhou Shi was not idle either; she led several people from the storeroom forward to follow Dong Erlang's instructions.

It took Shi Yan two days to recalculate the accounts and redo the ledgers. The income, expenditure and balance were all listed by date, neat, clear and easy to understand.

“I’ve already made the general ledger. The individual ledgers for the purchased supplies will have to be redone one by one. Give me half a month, and I’ll sort out all the accounts.” Shi Yan placed the general ledger in front of Pei Qinghe: “Please take a look, Sixth Miss.”

Everyone has their own expertise. Pei Qinghe, skilled in leading troops and fighting battles, and ruthless in killing, couldn't help but feel a headache when looking at the account books. With Shi Yan's patient and detailed explanation, Pei Qinghe went through the general accounts, mainly to confirm one thing: "Is the silver in the treasury enough to buy grain, salt, and cloth for a year?"

Shi Yan replied, "At current prices, it's enough to last a year. However, the imperial court is constantly at war, and grain prices are rising rapidly. In Youzhou, the Shi family is holding on, so grain prices are relatively stable. But when you go to other places to buy grain, the price has already started to double. There's also the risk of being robbed of grain by refugees on the way."

"My advice is to spend all the silver in your savings and buy as much grain and other supplies as possible. Stockpiling grain and supplies is much more worthwhile than keeping silver in your savings."

Pei Qinghe nodded: "Okay, you take care of these things. If you need money, just tell me, and I'll find a way."

(End of this chapter)