Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 324 Glory
It's normal to ask a married woman some questions, but it's quite strange to ask a grandson who has married into the family.

Looking at his grandfather's awkward and embarrassed face, Shi Yan suppressed a laugh and replied seriously, "We get along very well."

Old Master Shi didn't dare to ask any more questions.

Shi Li and Shi Yan are brothers, so they speak much more casually in private, and Shi Li asked about some private matters that outsiders shouldn't hear. Shi Yan smiled and glared at him, saying, "The General and I are doing very well, you don't need to worry about it."

Shi Li chuckled and quietly pulled a porcelain bottle from his sleeve: "This is a tonic I bought from Physician Lu at a high price. I can take one when I feel weak occasionally."

Shi Yan was both amused and annoyed, but she didn't refuse Shi Li's kindness and reluctantly accepted it.

On the day of the wedding banquet, many distinguished guests who had not received invitations also showed up. Since they were already there, it was impossible to turn them away.

Shi Li was busy greeting guests, wiping away sweat from time to time.

Fortunately, he had prepared extra food and drinks for several tables.

There were over a dozen tables, all packed full. Shi Yan sat in the head seat, and before he could even stand up, people started offering him toasts. One group after another, and even with Shi Yan's high alcohol tolerance, he couldn't keep up with the drinking.

Shi Li stepped forward and blocked most of the damage for Shi Yan.

Before the banquet was even over, Shi Li had already passed out from drinking. Fortunately, members of a collateral branch of the Shi family managed to keep the banquet going. This was the most glorious moment for the Shi family.

Although the Shi family had been wealthy for decades, they were still just merchants. Now, even prefects and magistrates were coming to their door to celebrate their wedding. This was all because of Shi Yan, or rather, because of General Pei, who was behind Shi Yan.

As husband and wife are one, Shi Yan is entitled to share in General Pei's prestige and honor. The Shi family will also greatly benefit from this.

Wang Xun was also exceptionally happy today. With his round belly protruding, he cheerfully said to Shi Yan, "I've been looking forward to this day for a long time. After the banquet today, go to your mother's grave, kowtow, burn paper money, and tell her this good news. Let her be happy in the afterlife too."

With her parents gone early and her grandfather old, Shi Yan regarded her uncle as her father.

Shi Yan solemnly agreed: "I will go and kowtow to my mother and burn paper money tomorrow."

Wang Xun smiled, his eyes full of satisfaction: "Now that you are General Pei's husband, you must be devoted to the general and consider his needs in everything you do. The Shi family and the Wang family are your strongest support."

Shi Yan's eyes were a little moist: "Without my uncle, I wouldn't be where I am today."

Wang Xun laughed heartily: "Before, it was I, your uncle, who took care of you, but now I'm relying on Manager Shi to look after you."

The Wang family was originally a major cloth merchant family in Youzhou. After joining forces with the Pei family army, they rose to prominence even further. Now they are renowned and enjoy immense prestige in the north.

For the merchants, it was almost like changing allegiances.

Shi Yan smiled and said, "Whether it's commoners, merchants, or officials in various counties, they all have to rely on the Pei family army. General Pei plans to expand his forces, and the amount of military supplies needed by the army each year is enormous. Such a large business cannot be supplied by just a few merchants. They want to do business with the Pei family army, and our Pei family army also needs a stable supply of supplies. This is a win-win situation for both sides."

"It sounds simple, but truly managing this whole operation is no easy task." Wang Xun had endless admiration for his nephew's shrewdness and competence, praising him highly: "Only you have managed the Pei family army's logistics and internal needs so well. Anyone else would have made a mess of things long ago."

Ensuring that everyone in the army is well-fed and clothed requires dealing with all the shrewd merchants who supply military supplies; the effort put in behind the scenes is unimaginable.

Pei Qinghe is the soul of the Pei family army, and Shi Yan is equally meritorious.

Shi Yan smiled again: "It's one thing for others to praise me like this, but why is Uncle going to such lengths to flatter me? Could it be that you have something to ask of me? I gave half of this year's military uniform order to my cousin. I have to give the other half to other cloth merchants. Could it be that someone heard the news and went through Uncle's connections?" Wang Xun laughed heartily: "You can't hide anything from you. Indeed, two cloth merchants have approached me. They are both willing to supply cotton cloth at the lowest price. They don't seek to make any money; they just want to establish a good relationship with the Pei family army."

These two cloth merchants were a prominent family in Liaoxi Commandery and Fanyang Commandery, respectively. Now that even the Liaoxi and Fanyang armies had switched sides and joined the Pei family's army, these two cloth merchants tried every means to find a way to get in touch with the Wang family.

When business was mentioned, Steward Shi became meticulous and cautious in his speech: "Since my uncle has spoken, I will meet with them first. How the business deal goes depends on their sincerity."

Wang Xun grinned and said, "Of course. They're all wealthy families with substantial assets, so don't be shy."

Wealthy households that come knocking on our door are like fattened pigs for the New Year; how can we not slaughter them?

Even knowing it would mean losing a lot of money, the wealthy merchants still flocked to it. Firstly, they wanted the protection of the Pei family army, and secondly, Pei Qinghe's reputation ensured that the merchants could survive.

In chaotic times, General Pei's reputation is truly unique.

……

With Wang Xun acting as a go-between, the two cloth merchants soon came to visit.

Shi Yan negotiated and pushed the price down to an extremely low level. It was even half a percent cheaper than the cloth supplied by the Wang family.

Even so, the two cloth merchants were quite fortunate. They had approached the manager with the intention of getting a free batch of cloth, never expecting him to agree to do business with them. The price was low, but it covered their costs. With a large-volume supply, they could even make a small profit.

After that, various merchants, including salt merchants and oil merchants, came to visit. Shi Yan unceremoniously eliminated three suppliers.

These three merchants were devastated, as anxious as ants on a hot plate. They spent a fortune trying to find connections and plead for leniency.

Steward Shi coldly declared, "The general paid them for their goods. The goods supplied by these three companies are of inferior quality and are even adulterated. The general is busy training troops and fighting battles and has no time to bother with them. Otherwise, he would have already sent men to wipe out their entire families."

"They have the nerve to come begging? Get them out of here! Get them far away. Whoever took their money should get out with them."

Those who accepted the money felt a chill in their hearts and immediately returned it.

In Youzhou, those despised by General Pei are like rotten apples. Whoever relies on them will rot.

Those three merchants were treated like rats in the street, avoided by everyone as if they were nothing.

After this incident, when the merchants mentioned Steward Pei, they felt both admiration and fear.

"Big brother is really impressive and powerful." Shi Li grinned and said, "From now on, let's see who dares to play tricks on big brother."

Shi Yan glanced at Shi Li with a smile: "They revere the sword in the general's hand, not me, Shi Yan."

"Shi Li, don't let their praise cloud your judgment. The bigger the tree, the more the wind will blow against it. The Shi family is now the largest merchant family in Youzhou, attracting everyone's attention. You must be extra careful in your actions."

"Reject all those who try to use your connections; don't pay them any attention."

“If you make a mistake or something goes wrong, I, your elder brother, will not forgive you.”

(End of this chapter)