Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 140 Backing You Up (Part Two)

Wang Xun and his daughter stayed in Peijia Village for two days before leaving. Afterwards, the Peng and Yue families, salt merchants, each came to deliver large quantities of salt. Wealthy families in Yan County also came to deliver gifts. Even the Lu family specially sent a batch of medicine for injuries.

The Zhan family remained silent. Pei Qinghe ignored it, and Shi Yan went to the Zhan family himself. Then, the Zhan family reluctantly delivered five thousand catties of salt.

“The village doesn’t actually lack salt right now,” Shi Yan said. “We just want to make the Zhan family bow their heads and give all the big families in Youzhou a wake-up call. Right now, the biggest and toughest force in Youzhou is our Pei family army.”

Pei Qinghe chuckled: "It's too early to say that. There are still three garrisons stationed in Youzhou. In terms of sheer military strength, we are not yet as strong as them."

Of course, the rise of the Pei family army is an indisputable fact.

The Fanyang Army, Guangning Army, and Liaoxi Army all bear the heavy responsibility of guarding the border and cannot leave their camps without permission. The Pei family army, however, is different; they can move about at will.

The wealthy families came to offer gifts, partly out of fear of the Pei family army's power, and partly to cultivate goodwill so they could seek their protection in times of crisis.

With ample funds and provisions, Pei Family Village expanded at an increasingly rapid pace. Those who came seeking refuge included not only refugees but also impoverished people from Youzhou who could not afford to eat and survive.

By the end of the year, the total population of Peijia Village had exceeded ten thousand. More than two thousand people practiced martial arts every day.

Now that the family had separated, Madam Lu could no longer interfere with Pei Qinghe's every move, so she took out her pent-up anger on Madam Feng.

Mrs. Feng was used to her mother-in-law's bad temper, so she neither talked back nor argued, but listened obediently.

Suddenly, Xiaoyu'er and the little dog shouted in unison, "Auntie!"

Madam Feng's eyes lit up with surprise: "Qinghe, what brings you here?"

Madam Lu reflexively shut her mouth, put on a stern face, and refused to look Pei Qinghe in the eye: "Sixth Miss Pei, why are you here instead of busy training the new recruits?"

Pei Qinghe never tolerated Lu's bad temper: "Today is the end of the year, I've come to pick up my mother and my little dog Xiaoyu'er to have New Year's Eve dinner together."

Madam Lu sneered: "If you're going, then go quickly. If you don't want to come back, then don't come back."

Feng secretly winked at Pei Qinghe.

Don't get angry with the elderly during the Lunar New Year.

Pei Qinghe pretended not to see it, and with a smile picked up the puppy Xiaoyuer, urging Madam Feng to hurry up and leave.

Madam Lu was furious. Eating alone in the house was tasteless, so she invited Madam Li, Madam Fang, and other elderly women to join her for a meal.

No matter how much they joke around, without a daughter-in-law and without children and grandchildren around, there's still a sense of loneliness.

The other side was much more lively.

Pei Qinghe tore off two plump chicken legs and stuffed them into Xiaoyu'er and Xiaogou'er's hands respectively. She then filled Feng's bowl with braised pork, saying, "Mother, you've lost weight lately, eat more."

The puppy imitated her, stuffing a chicken leg into Mao Hongling's mouth: "Mom, you eat."

Mao Hongling felt a surge of warmth in her heart and couldn't bear to refuse her son's filial piety. She took a small bite and praised the puppy repeatedly.

Xiaoyu'er had long lost her mother, and she held the chicken leg to Pei Qinghe's lips: "Auntie, eat this. From now on, whatever good food I have, I'll give it to you, Auntie."

That's the joy of raising children.

Pei Qinghe smiled and took a bite. Pei Yan peeked out to join in the fun: "Little Yu'er, let Aunt Yan have a bite too."

Then, take a big gulp.

Little Yu'er pouted, almost crying. Pei Qinghe was both amused and exasperated, and slapped Pei Yan, saying, "Don't bully Little Yu'er." Everyone burst into laughter.

The Pei family had their New Year's Eve dinner together, and Shi Yan also came. He took the initiative to sit with Zhao Hai and the other sons-in-law. Shi Yan looked open and composed, so the others didn't dare to make fun of him, only exchanging winks and glances.

The festivities continued until midnight, when everyone returned to their houses to warm themselves by the charcoal brazier and keep vigil.

There are people guarding the important outposts inside and outside the village.

Pei Qinghe surveyed the area, caught two dozing off, and reprimanded them with a stern face: "The bigger the tree, the more the wind blows. Pei Family Village is now rich in money and grain, and I don't know how many people are secretly envious and coveting it. Both of you, be alert, and blow the bamboo whistle immediately if there is any unusual movement."

Both of them blushed with shame and perked up to keep watch.

In the middle of the night, some thieves, of unknown origin, stealthily crept up to the vicinity of Peijia Village.

Without alerting anyone, the night watchmen drew their long knives, caught the thief, bound his hands and feet, gagged him, and hoisted him to a tree north of the village in the cold wind.

Such little incidents happened every few days. The gourds hanging under the trees north of Peijia Village were never broken.

During the New Year, Pei Qinghe gave everyone a few days off, and then said to Shi Yan, "It's rare to have some free time. Go back to the Shi family and wish your grandfather a Happy New Year."

Shi Yan smiled helplessly: "Before the New Year, I asked Dong Dalang to send New Year's gifts back home, but my grandfather chased him away. He's still angry, and even if I go back now, he won't see me. I'm not going to bother him."

Pei Qinghe didn't insist and casually said with a smile, "Then when Shi Li gets married, I'll accompany you to the Shi family to offer my congratulations."

Wang Mengyi accepted the marriage proposal, and since the wedding was in a rush, it was set for March in the spring.

Shi Yan's eyes lit up with joy: "You really want to come with me?"

Pei Qinghe nodded and said, "The Shi family has grain, and the Wang family has cloth. They both have close ties with our Pei family. I will definitely pay a visit to congratulate them on the marriage alliance between our two families."

Shi Yan's eyes were full of smiles as she echoed, "Sixth Miss is right."

Pei Qinghe was infected by Shi Yan's bright smile and smiled along: "Of course, I'm also here to support you. So that everyone won't laugh at you behind your back. You are now the head steward of my Pei family army, and no one can look down on you."

……

On the sixth day of the third lunar month, Shijiawubao was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and a grand celebration was held.

People are in high spirits when they have a happy occasion. Old Master Shi was beaming with joy as he led the groom, Shi Li, to greet the guests.

The Shi family was associated with many powerful and wealthy families, and everyone had witnessed the spectacle of Old Master Shi expelling his own grandson from the family and having him adopted into a collateral branch. Behind his back, they had mocked him countless times. But in front of Old Master Shi, however, they praised Shi Li repeatedly.

Young and outstanding, shrewd and capable, a dragon among men, one in a thousand. They're practically praising him to the skies.

Shi Li used to follow his cousin around and was used to everyone praising Shi Yan. Now that he was the center of attention, he felt rather insecure and lacked confidence.

Old Master Shi laughed and said, "He is young and inexperienced, and there is still much for him to learn. If he is not good enough, please forgive him for the sake of my old bones."

Some people sarcastically pointed at Old Master Shi's heart: "The marriage between the Shi and Wang families is such a joyous occasion, why isn't Shi Yan showing up today?"

It was Zhan Fei, the salt merchant.

Before the New Year, Shi Yan visited the Zhan family. Zhan Fei produced 5,000 catties of salt to shut Shi Yan up, but Shi Yan remained uneasy. He seized every opportunity to annoy Old Master Shi.

Old Master Shi's smile faded slightly. Before he could speak, a servant rushed over to report, "Old Master, Miss Pei has come to offer her congratulations and has already arrived outside the Shi family's Wu Fortress."

(End of this chapter)