Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 51 Good Karma (Part Two)

There's no reason not to eat fatty meat that's offered to you.

Pei Qinghe accepted the gift list and solemnly stood up to express her gratitude: "Young Master Shi has sent such a generous gift. On behalf of the Pei family, I thank Young Master Shi. If there is anything we can do for the Pei family in the future, please don't hesitate to ask."

That's the point, but in reality, you should only make the demands that need to be made, and never utter a single word about things that shouldn't be made. Equivalent exchange is the essence of "good karma."

Shi Yan understood the reasoning behind it and replied with a smile, "The Shi family has been running a grain shop for generations and has a certain reputation in Youzhou. I came to Pei Family Village today because I admire Miss Pei's character and personality, and I have absolutely no intention of seeking favors or repaying them."

"This amount of grain is not considered a large gift for the Shi family. Miss Pei, you don't need to worry about it."

Shi Yan made his stance clear. He valued Miss Pei the Sixth, and his investment was in Pei Qinghe herself; it had nothing to do with the Pei family as a whole.

They're all smart people; there's no need to be too direct. They understand each other immediately.

Pei Qinghe looked at Young Master Shi and said meaningfully, "In five or ten years, when Young Master Shi looks back on today, he will never regret it."

Shi Yan smiled and said, "There's no need to wait until later. Just sitting across from Miss Pei today is enough to make this trip worthwhile."

Pei Qinghe laughed: "Young Master Shi is generous and magnanimous, and treats people with sincerity. He is the most generous person I have ever met. It is my good fortune to get to know Young Master Shi."

Pei Yan quietly shook her arm, scattering goosebumps all over the floor.

After a long period of mutual flattery and praise, the young master Shi took the initiative to suggest that his servants carry the grain into the village.

The women of the Pei family were not idle either; apart from the elderly and weak, everyone pitched in. Those who were strong carried grain by themselves, while those who were a little weaker carried a sack of grain in pairs.

Looking at the thatched hut where the grain was stored, the young master Shi made a tactful suggestion: "The thatched hut is drafty and lets in light. It's fine on sunny days, but if there's a heavy rain, the grain will get damp and moldy. It would be best to build a few sturdy and spacious granaries specifically for storing grain."

“There is plenty of timber available for building the granary,” Pei Qinghe said. “A while ago, the Beiping army wiped out the bandits and stayed in Peijia Village for a few days. They cut down a lot of timber and piled it up at the entrance of the village to dry.”

"Not only should we build a granary, but we should also build new houses."

"We have plenty of money, but reliable craftsmen are hard to find."

With the hint so obvious, the perceptive young master Shi indeed picked up the thread: "There are quite a few skilled craftsmen in the Shi family's Wu Fortress. After I go back, I will send them over."

Pei Qinghe immediately smiled and said, "I will pay them the market price, provide them with food and lodging, and ensure they have three full meals a day."

One thing at a time. The grain is a gift, and the silver paid for the craftsmen will not be less than what is owed.

A smile flashed in Shi Yan's eyes, and he nodded.

It took almost half a day to move the 500 shi of grain.

Young Master Shi, of course, didn't need to lift a finger. Accompanied by Miss Pei Liu, he leisurely toured Pei Family Village. Upon seeing over a hundred magnificent warhorses, Shi Yan, who had been relaxed, was suddenly moved: "These are all top-quality horses! Each one is worth a hundred taels of silver, and they are priceless."

"General Meng is truly generous, giving away so many fine horses!"

All four garrisons in Youzhou were well-equipped with warhorses. How could General Meng possibly be willing to give away over a hundred warhorses to the women of the Pei family?
Where did these horses come from?

Pei Qinghe smiled but remained silent.

Shi Yan immediately changed the subject and stopped asking questions.

In the evening, Shi Yan did not stay for dinner, but took his leave with his servants and the empty wooden cart.

"This young master Shi is meticulous and thoughtful, and his words and actions are always thorough," Madam Feng couldn't help but praise. "He is truly a promising young man."

Grandmother Lu, who rarely praised others, also said, "He is sensible, eloquent, knows his place, and is a good young man."

Pei Qinghe had been socializing for half a day, and her throat was a little dry. She reached out, and a glass of warm water was handed to her: "Cousin Qinghe, have some water." Pei Qinghe patted Pei Xuan's head, smiled and praised her, then tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp.

Madam Feng continued to praise, "Young Master Shi sent so much grain, yet he didn't stay for dinner. He doesn't want us to spend money on hospitality. Such thoughtfulness is truly rare."

Lu was much more direct: "Meng Liulang is handsome and brave, and Shi Shaodongjia is exceptionally intelligent; they are both fine young men."

It's a common problem for middle-aged and elderly women: when they see a young man of suitable age, they start to fantasize and make wild guesses.

Pei Qinghe bluntly shattered her mother and grandmother's illusions: "Meng Liulang is General Meng's youngest son and is deeply loved. General Meng would definitely not be willing to let his youngest son marry into the family. Young Master Shi is the only male heir of the Shi family and bears the heavy responsibility of carrying on the family line. It is even more impossible for him to become a son-in-law."

"Neither of them is suitable, so you shouldn't overthink it."

Madam Lu gasped, her eyes widening in shock: "You're going to take in a son-in-law who lives with you in the future?!"

Pei Qinghe glanced at her shocked grandmother: "I have too many things to do, I don't have time to get married. In five or eight years, if I change my mind, I'll find a son-in-law to live with me."

What a loud tone!
What good man in the world would be willing to become a live-in son-in-law?
Madam Lu gasped again. Seeing a string of harsh words about to spill from her lips, Pei Qinghe, impatient, gave Pei Feng a wink. Pei Feng immediately stepped forward, took Madam Lu's arm, and said sweetly, "Grandmother, I'm hungry."

Mrs. Lu was dragged out by her beloved grandson.

Madam Feng looked at Pei Qinghe.

Pei Qinghe smiled and said coquettishly, "Mom, I'm hungry too."

As expected, Mrs. Feng forgot her nagging and busied herself preparing dinner for her daughter.

……

Six days later.

"Miss Pei, we are bricklayers from Shijiabao."

"We received the message from the young master and immediately set off for here."

A dozen or so dark-skinned craftsmen, carrying various tools, appeared neatly outside Pei Family Village.

Judging by the time, Young Master Shi had just left Pei Family Village when he sent someone back to Shi Family Fortress to deliver a message. In just a few days, the craftsman arrived.

Pei Qinghe was very satisfied with the way Shi Shaodong was doing and greeted the craftsmen into the village with a smile.

The foreman's surname was Yang, and his given name was Shan. He was not tall and had a simple and honest face: "Sixth Miss Pei, just tell me how you want the house built."

Pei Qinghe took out a charcoal pencil and began to sketch on the paper.

There are more than 200 people, and every family needs a place to live.

Pei Jia and the others need to be given separate accommodations. As for Gu Lian and the other women from Black Bear Village, if we want them to completely submit to us, we need to ensure they have a stable life.

In the future, she will also take in refugees, recruit hidden households, and establish the Pei Family Army.

Fortunately, the Peijia Village area is mostly wasteland, and the territory is quite large, so it was good to plan ahead.

The charcoal pencil moved nimbly across the paper, and soon, rows of neat houses appeared before my eyes.

Yang Shan stared at the sketch in astonishment: "Sixth Miss Pei wants to build so many houses?"

Pei Qinghe nodded slightly: "These thatched huts are crooked, leaking wind and rain, and are no longer habitable. I want to rebuild Pei Family Village."

(End of this chapter)