Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 128 Brothers
Shi Yan poured a cup of warm tea and handed it to Shi Li: "Here, have a cup of warm tea to calm your temper."

Shi Li downed the tea in one gulp, then slammed the teacup down on the table with a thud: "Cousin, that's so unfair of you. What kind of person do you make me?"

“Everyone will definitely curse me behind my back for shamelessly plotting to seize the family business.”

Shi Yan poured another bowl of warm tea: "Don't be angry, calm down."

Shi Li downed another gulp, his chest still blazing with anger: "No wonder my great-uncle scolds you every day. You're full of tricks, and you use them all to deal with your own grandfather, and even betray your own cousin. You've gone too far!"

Shi Yan continued pouring water: "Yes, yes, I was wrong, it's all my fault. You have to bear the bad reputation and still take care of my grandfather and manage the family business on my behalf. I'm sorry to you."

Shi Li drank three cups of tea and couldn't drink anymore, so he sat there sulking.

Shi Yan continued to coax his cousin gently, "We grew up together since we were little. In my heart, you are my own brother. If I have to leave, I can only ask you for help."

“You’ve always lived with me, so you don’t need to change your name or surname. It’s just a matter of changing one page in the family genealogy. Everything else is the same. Your grandfather won’t stop you from being filial to your parents.”

"Furthermore, only after you become the young master of the Shi family will you be qualified to ask for Mengyi's hand in marriage."

Mentioning Wang Mengyi, Shi Li's face flushed again. This time, however, it wasn't from anger, but from guilt and unease. Her gaze darted around, avoiding Shi Yan's eyes: "I... I'm not worthy of Miss Wang."

Shi Yan reached out and patted his cousin on the shoulder: "You were a bit lacking before, but now you're the young master of the Shi family, how can you not be good enough for me? You're healthier than me, more handsome, and you're also very good at managing the estate and grain shop. Go and ask Grandfather to take you to the Wang family to propose marriage. Your uncle and aunt will definitely agree."

Shi Yan was eloquent and persuasive, and every word she uttered struck a chord with Shi Li.

Shi Li blushed and remained silent, the intense anger in her heart slowly subsiding.

"Even if the Wang family doesn't agree, your grandfather will definitely find you a good marriage." Shi Yan chuckled softly, "You should get married and have children as soon as possible to carry on the Shi family line."

Shi Li finally raised his head and looked at Shi Yan for a moment: "Cousin, won't you regret this later?"

"Is it worth it to give up your family business and abandon your loved ones for Miss Pei?"

Instead of answering, Shi Yan asked, "If the Wang family doesn't agree to the marriage, but Cousin Mengyi insists on having her son-in-law marry into the family, would you be willing to become a son-in-law of the Wang family?"

Shi Li hesitated for a long time: "I have always secretly admired Miss Wang. However, I am still not very willing to become a live-in son-in-law."

Shi Yan chimed in, "Then you're not as good as me."

Shi Li was amused by Sheng's anger and poked Shi Yan in the heart: "You are so willing. It's a pity that Miss Pei only cares about training troops, money and grain, and conquering territory. Even if she were to find a son-in-law, there would be the handsome and capable General Meng with hundreds of men under his command. It's not necessarily your turn."

True brothers, every shot is a hit.

Shi Yan replied without changing his expression, "Love is like a battlefield. He has already retreated, and I am the one by Sixth Miss's side."

Looking at his cousin, whose skin was as thick as a city wall, Shi Li asked curiously, "Does Sixth Miss know that you have this kind of face?"

Shi Yan smiled slowly: "Sixth Miss has keen eyes and can see everything clearly, yet she still wants to keep me around."

Shi Li twitched the corner of his mouth.

Well, he's never had the upper hand in front of his cousin since he was a child.

His only flaw was that he was physically weak, and he was as cunning as a sieve.

The two brothers bickered for a while, then began to discuss serious matters.

“Eighty percent of the grain price is indeed a bit low.” Shi Li, who had been experienced since childhood, was very shrewd when it came to business. “However, for the sake of the Sixth Miss, the Shi family will take on this deal.” “Next time we come to buy grain, we will have to pay the market price.”

Shi Yan quickly switched to his role as the head steward of Pei Family Village: "Alright, this time we'll buy 10,000 shi of grain. I'll pay 30% as a deposit first, and then pay the balance once the grain is delivered to Pei Family Village."

"In addition, I need to order a batch of grain seeds. The best ones."

"The best ones are not cheap." Shi Li took the abacus, turned it a few times, and handed it to Shi Yan.

Shi Yan glanced at it, reached out and fiddled with it, then changed the number: "Let's go with this price."

Shi Li said helplessly, "This price is already at cost. If we don't make money in business, wouldn't we be working for nothing?"

Shi Yan replied with a smile, "How could it be a wasted effort? The Shi family and Pei Family Village are on good terms. If we encounter any danger in the future, Miss Pei Liu will not stand idly by. Such a friendship cannot be bought with a mere amount of silver."

Shi Li glanced over and said, "Although my cousin was expelled from the family, he still bears the surname Shi. Just because of my cousin, Sixth Miss will not ignore the Shi family."

Shi Yan said with a righteous expression, "If you think like that, you're underestimating Sixth Miss. She wouldn't make a move so easily without enough benefits."

Shi Li had no choice but to concede: "Fine, I'll sell you the seeds at this price."

After finalizing the business deal, the two brothers sat down and drank together.

Shi Yan poured wine for his cousin and raised his glass in a toast: "Cousin, from now on, the heavy responsibility of the Shi family will be entrusted to you."

Shi Li clinked glasses with Shi Yan: "To be honest, I've gotten the better deal. It would be too shameless of me to say anything more. Don't worry, cousin, I will definitely protect the Shi family. If you ever want to come back, I will return it with both hands. If your wish is fulfilled, I will stand by you and help you."

Shi Yan raised an eyebrow and smiled, then downed the wine in his cup in one gulp.

……

After buying the grain, Shi Yan went to buy salt.

Pei Qinghe was too lazy to argue with the display stands, but Shi Yan was different. He went to the Zhan family under the guise of Pei Family Village.

There's no reason not to do business that comes to your door. Zhan Fei quoted a high price, his expression arrogant: "You left the Shi family and went to Pei Family Village. I'm only selling you salt because of your grandfather's reputation."

Shi Yan's stance hardened further: "The Guangning army suffered a crushing defeat, Anle County was massacred, and the Sixth Sister led eight hundred men to defend Changping County, driving away the Xiongnu barbarians. What about Uncle Zhan's private salt smuggling team compared to the Xiongnu barbarians?"

"I've brought money today to buy salt, and I'm also giving Uncle Zhan a chance. Are you sure you want to turn away my goodwill?"

Zhan Fei's arrogance was immediately suppressed.

The Zhan family's private salt smuggling team might have a chance against bandits, but they were far inferior to the imperial army. Against the Xiongnu barbarians, they would only be sent to their deaths.

Pei Qinghe's victory in defending Changping County demonstrated his sharpness and strength, which was enough to awe people.

Shi Yan took out the red gold abacus he always carried with him, his fingers flying across the dial as he dialed a number: "How about this price?"

The price is only slightly higher than the cost, barely enough to make a profit, not enough to drive anyone to desperation.

It was just right.

Zhan Fei reluctantly agreed to the deal, but after Shi Yan left, he smashed a set of teacups in anger: "Bad luck! Stay away from that kid from now on!"

(End of this chapter)