Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 129 Heavy Burden
Shi Yan spent more than half a month traveling around, spending a lot of money like water, and the things he bought were delivered to Peijia Village one after another.

Salt, cloth, and medicinal herbs were one thing, but what was most impressive was the convoy of grain delivery vehicles, one after another, a sight to behold.

The villagers working in the fields felt at ease and reassured watching the endless grain delivery teams.

"No matter how chaotic things are outside, they won't reach our Pei Family Village. The Xiongnu barbarians have all been driven away by the Sixth Miss."

"There's so much grain, we couldn't eat it all in a year."

"Following the Sixth Sister, this is what a good life is like."

Some people murmured with concern: "With people constantly coming to seek refuge, the village is becoming increasingly crowded. Can Sixth Sister support so many people?"

"Is this something you need to worry about? Since Sixth Miss has taken us in, she must have the ability and confidence to support us. We just need to listen to Sixth Miss."

“That’s right. We have worthless lives. If it weren’t for Sixth Sister, we would have starved to death in the mountains long ago. We’ll do whatever Sixth Sister tells us to do.”

Pei Qinghe was in a very good mood today, and said with a smile to Shi Yan, who had worked hard these past few days.

Previously, Wu Xiuniang managed the finances and provisions; she was loyal but not very capable, and Wu Xiuniang often caused Wu Xiuniang some trouble. Now, with everything running smoothly—from the inkstone and storeroom to the ledgers and procurement—Wu Xiuniang has no worries at all. This is wonderful!

Looking at the smiling Pei Liu, Shi Yan felt a flower slowly bloom in his heart: "I know nothing about fighting, and this is all I can do."

Pei Qinghe laughed and said, "Why are you being so humble and polite in front of me? Do you want me to praise you in a mushy way?"

After a few jokes, Shi Yan got down to business: "The Shi family sold us 10,000 shi of grain at 80% of the original price. I also went to two other grain merchants and bought 5,000 shi of grain."

"The Zhan family wanted to sell salt at a high price, but I ruthlessly slashed the price. The Wang family also proactively lowered the price of their cotton cloth supply by another 10%."

"Unfortunately, the Lu family's wound medicine is too expensive to be discounted."

There's nothing we can do about it. Once war breaks out, Lu's wound medicine becomes even more precious. The fact that the price hasn't increased is already out of consideration for Miss Pei.

Pei Qinghe didn't care: "Anyway, the money was all stolen. So it's okay if it's expensive."

Shi Yan said, "That won't do. We have to be frugal with our money. Pei Family Village has five thousand people who need food and drink."

Pei Qinghe corrected: "It's five thousand six hundred people."

Shi Yan was also stunned: "I've been gone for more than half a month, and there are already six hundred more people?"

The speed of this expansion is astonishing.

Pei Qinghe patted Shi Yan on the shoulder: "At this rate, the population of Pei Family Village will only increase. We still need to continue buying and storing grain. Thank you for your hard work."

Shi Yan accepted this heavy responsibility without changing his expression: "Sixth Miss, just focus on training the troops, leave these trivial matters to me."

Wu Xiuniang stood at the village entrance watching the commotion for a long time, then returned to the thatched hut with a look of satisfaction. She whispered to Feng Shi with a smile, "Young Master Shi is really capable. He's only been here for less than a month, and he's already sorted out all the accounts clearly. He's also gone out to buy supplies smoothly. With so much grain he's brought back, all the people in Peijia Village won't go hungry."

Madam Feng's hands were busy with needle and thread as she smiled and said, "Qinghe is just missing a shrewd and capable person to manage the internal affairs."

Fang, who was sewing shoe soles, peeked out and interjected, "After the New Year, Qinghe will be sixteen. Are you planning to get married and bring a son-in-law into the family next year?"

The Pei family's elderly women, who had separated from their original households, lived in thatched huts in the old village. With the strict, stern, and bad-tempered Madam Lu around, the women dared not openly discuss the state of Pei Family Village. When Madam Lu was not around, they would inevitably whisper among themselves.

Madam Feng chuckled and said, "That's hard to say. Qinghe is very busy training troops every day, so I'm afraid she doesn't have the time or inclination for that."

Madam Feng was making clothes for Pei Qinghe, and Madam Fang would also send the shoe soles she sewed to her daughter-in-law, Bian Shulan. The other old women did the same. Even though the family had separated, Pei Qinghe was still supporting them. They couldn't eat for free; they had to make clothes and shoes to pay for their meals.

The clothes, shoes, and socks made were first given to their own daughters-in-law, granddaughters, and grandsons. Then came the clothes and shoes for Pei Jia and the others who trained diligently every day. Military training not only consumed weapons but also a great deal of clothing and shoes. The old women of the Pei family were constantly busy, never having a moment's rest.

Upon seeing Lu Shi approaching, Feng Shi immediately fell silent.

Fang immediately changed the subject.

No one dared to mention Pei Qinghe in front of the Lu family.

Madam Lu sat down with a gloomy face and began sewing shoe soles expressionlessly. She accidentally pricked her finger, and the pain made her irritable, so she put down her needlework. Suddenly, she blurted out, "Gu Lianfeng has already arrived in Bohai County. There are no Pei family members, only gifts and letters. I wonder how the new emperor will react."

Neither Madam Feng nor Madam Wu said a word, only Madam Fang chimed in: "We'll find out soon enough."

Feeling frustrated, Madam Lu glared fiercely in the direction of the new village, as if Pei Qinghe were right in front of her. Then she looked towards the direction of Bohai County and sighed deeply.

……

Feng Chang also sighed.

Gu Lian grew impatient and glared at Feng Changyi, who was sighing all day long: "What's the use of sighing all day? Instead of wasting time, you should think of a way to get the letter submitted."

They have been in Bohai County for four days now. Forget about the new emperor, they can't even get into the Zhang family's house.

Ministers who cared about the Crown Prince flocked to Bohai County, including military generals who brought troops and wealthy families who brought large amounts of wealth.

The line of people waiting to pay homage to the new emperor stretched for five miles. The Pei family had made a name for themselves in Yan County, but here they were nothing special. They weren't even a regular army; they could barely be classified as a rebel army.

They had to wait another day until the gifts and letters were presented. And so they waited, not knowing how long it would take.

Feng Chang was getting impatient, and Gu Lian was even more anxious and frustrated.

This was her first time being given a task. Only by doing a good job could she truly catch the eye of Miss Pei.

“Let’s go to the Zhang residence to deliver the invitation,” Feng Chang said in a low voice. “Prepare a generous gift for Young Master Zhang.”

Gu Lian curled her lip: "The Zhang family has supported the new emperor and their influence has soared. Countless people seek to see Young Master Zhang every day. I'm afraid Young Master Zhang won't even look at the gifts we send."

Feng Chang, who was just a private tutor with limited knowledge, was at a loss: "Then what should we do?"

Gu Lian's eyes suddenly lit up as if she had thought of something: "I have a way."

Feng Chang pressed for answers, but Gu Lian refused to say a word, only saying, "You'll know in a few days."

Left with no other choice, Feng Chang could only keep a close eye on Gu Lian's whereabouts.

Instead of sending a visiting card to the Zhang residence, Gu Lian went to the most expensive jewelry store in the largest embroidery shop in Bohai County. She bribed a shop assistant, and soon a message came: "Miss Zhang is coming to the embroidery shop."

Gu Lian changed into brand new clothes, put on a veil, and waited in the embroidery shop for a day and a night before Zhang Jingwan finally arrived.

……

(End of this chapter)