Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 127: Stockpiling Food
The Shi family is the largest grain merchant in Youzhou. Anyone who wants to stockpile grain cannot bypass the Shi family.

After sorting out the accounts, Shi Yan took the Dong brothers to the Shi family's grain shop to buy grain.

Upon seeing the young master, the grain shopkeeper hurriedly stepped forward to pay his respects. Shi Yan smiled gently and said, "I have now left the Shi family and am no longer your young master. I am now a resident of Pei Family Village, and I have come today to buy grain."

The Shi family, grandfather and grandson, had a falling out, and the old master Shi made a big show of adopting Shi Li from a collateral branch, which the grain shop manager naturally knew about.

The shopkeepers couldn't understand the inside story, but one thing they saw clearly: Shi Yan was now working for Miss Pei, who had slaughtered countless Xiongnu barbarians. The Shi family could only, and had to, befriend such a person.

Furthermore, Shi Yan brought silver to buy grain, which was all in accordance with the rules. A business shouldn't be afraid of big clients.

The shopkeeper bowed and smiled obsequiously: "Young master, if you want to buy so much grain, even if we empty the warehouse here, it will still be far from enough. Young master, you can pay the deposit first, and I will send a clerk back to deliver the grain to Pei Family Village."

Shi Yan smiled and said, "For large-scale grain transactions, the price can't always be based on the market price. How about we set it at 70% of the market price?"

The shopkeeper looked troubled: "Young master, you're putting me in a difficult position. In the past, large-scale grain transactions were 70% of the market price. But now, grain prices are rising everywhere. We have to sell the grain slowly, and it will definitely continue to rise in the future. It's only because you came that we were able to buy so much grain. If it were anyone else, I would have already made excuses and said that there was no grain to sell."

It's common for businesses to hoard and accumulate grain. The fact that the market price has stabilized and hasn't skyrocketed is already quite generous. At times like these, grain shops are actually reluctant to engage in large-scale grain transactions.

These are all unspoken rules and conventions within the industry.

Shi Yan smiled and said, "What you said makes sense. I came to buy grain on the orders of Miss Pei Liu, and I can't go back empty-handed today. Seventy percent of the grain is too low, so we'll raise it by another ten percent."

The shopkeeper mustered his energy and negotiated with Shi Yan, only agreeing to lower the price to 90%.

Don't underestimate this 10% difference in grain price. In a grain transaction involving tens of thousands of bushels, the 10% price difference can buy a lot more food to survive.

Shi Yan suppressed his smile and said calmly, "Of the ten counties in Yan Prefecture, Anle County has become a ghost town, and everyone in Changping County supports Miss Pei Liu. Quanzhou County and Yongnu County are also frequently trying to curry favor with Miss Pei Liu. Given time, perhaps the entire Youzhou will have to consider Miss Pei Liu's mood before speaking and acting."

"Sixth Miss bought the grain at 80% of the original price, which was a great concession to the Shi family. If I were to offer only 70% today, or even less, would the Shi family dare to refuse the deal?"

The shopkeeper twitched his lips and gave a wry smile: "Such a big matter is beyond my ability to make a decision. Please stay a few days, young master, and I will send someone to deliver a letter to the old master so that he can make a decision."

Shi Yan's expression remained indifferent: "I'll only wait five days. If there's no response within five days, I'll consider it a rejection of the business. All the goodwill we've built up in the past will likely be wiped out."

The shopkeeper saw off his former young master without even having time to shake his head or sigh, and immediately sent someone to deliver a message.

The messenger rode at top speed and arrived at Shijiawu Fort in two days.

Old Master Shi had lost a lot of weight these days, and his internal heat was raging, with two blisters appearing on the corners of his mouth. Upon hearing this, he sneered repeatedly: "This is someone trying to bully others by abusing their power."

"Grain prices are skyrocketing outside. Trying to buy grain at 80% of the original price is practically robbery. Go back and tell that scoundrel that the Shi family isn't doing this deal. Tell him to buy grain elsewhere!"

The boy standing to the side quickly whispered to comfort him, "Grandpa, don't say such hurtful things. This deal is definitely going to happen."

"Sixth Miss Pei has several thousand men under her command, and even Prefect Tang of Yan County has to swallow his anger. Our Shi family runs a business, and we absolutely cannot afford to antagonize Sixth Miss Pei." This young man, eighteen years old this year, with a handsome face and a healthy body, is none other than Shi Li, the current young master of the Shi family.

Shi Li was only three months younger than Shi Yan, and they studied together from a young age, learning accounting and abacus skills. Shi Yan often took him along when he was busy managing the family business. Among the collateral descendants of the Shi family, he was the most intelligent.

Old Master Shi glared at him first: "Why are you still calling me grand-uncle?"

Shi Li had no choice but to change his tune: "Grandfather, please hear me out. Our Shi family has been operating in Yan County for a hundred years to build our current business. We are merchants, we open our doors to do business, and we sell grain to whoever pays us. Why should you turn away such a big customer just to spite your cousin?"

That sounds much better.

Old Master Shi's expression softened a bit: "Eighty percent of the grain price is too low; it should be at least ninety percent."

Shi Li said, "Eighty percent is not a small amount. The grain in our granary was all stockpiled when prices were low. Eighty percent of the grain is still profitable. Consider it a favor to Miss Pei Liu. My cousin is right about one thing: Miss Pei Liu is powerful. In less than two years, she may be able to take over Yan County. Our Shi family has always sent grain to Pei Family Village. This good relationship should continue."

“I’ll go and talk to my cousin in person. This deal will be based on 80% of the grain price. If Peijia Village buys grain again in the future, we’ll have to negotiate based on the future market price.”

Old Master Shi snorted through his nose, still not giving a pleasant look, but he didn't object.

Shi Li secretly breathed a sigh of relief and rode his horse to Changping County. He arrived in front of Shi Yan within five days.

Shi Yan waved his hand, telling Dong Dalang and Dong Erlang to stand guard outside the door. Shi Li also sent his men away.

“Cousin, you really angered our great-uncle.” Shi Li said in a low voice, “After you left, our great-uncle scolded you for half a month straight.”

Shi Yan sighed, "I didn't want things to come to this. But my grandfather is so stubborn, I can't persuade him. If I want to go to Peijia Village, this is the only way."

"Shi Li, please take good care of your grandfather on my behalf."

Shi Li's sigh was even longer than Shi Yan's: "Cousin, my great-uncle was just trying to spite you, which is why he made me adopt. I'll take care of the Shi family for you. You can come back whenever you want."

“Adoption is not a game.” Shi Yan said seriously, “Grandfather has already opened an ancestral hall and recorded your name in the direct line, making you the young master of the Shi family. From now on, the Shi family’s business will be yours.”

Shi Li stared in shock, blurting out, "Cousin, that's not what you said to me that day. You said it was a temporary measure, that I should step forward first and appease our great-uncle. You promised to come back once he calmed down. That's why I agreed."

Shi Yan replied frankly, "If I didn't say it like that, you wouldn't agree. Now that I've left the Shi family and sought refuge with Miss Pei, I belong to Miss Pei from now on. Whether it's life or death, wealth or honor, I will be with her."

Shi Li: "..."

Shi Li suddenly stood up, his handsome face flushed red, and angrily squeezed out a few words: "Cousin, how could you lie to me!"

(End of this chapter)