The Tao family’s ancestors were great merchants—excelling in commerce, they entered officialdom. After entering the civil service, their family business grew even larger, making them one of the wealthiest families in Guangzhou and even the entire south. Maritime business was just one part of their family enterprise. The clan had seven or eight fleets. Although talents who could both read maps and reproduce them by hand weren’t numerous, they weren’t so scarce that losing one or two would stop operations. Judging from Steward Tao’s meaning, if this map weren’t so important to the Tao family, for the sake of keeping secrets, once the Tao family sent people out, they weren’t prepared to bring them back.
Pei Yan smiled and said, “Let’s first finish reproducing the map before talking further.”
People who could reproduce maps were worth a thousand gold pieces to the Yu family, but for him, they were quite easy to obtain.
His “request for help” from Tao An was originally intended to attract the Tao family to participate in the bidding. Steward Tao’s words were exactly what he wanted. However, besides notifying the Tao family, he had also had someone leak the information to his second senior fellow apprentice—namely Jiang Hua, Minister of Works and Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion.
Jiang Hua’s eldest daughter-in-law was the daughter of the Wu family of Huzhou.
The Wu family had built their fortune on grain transport.
Their family also had five or six fleets.
He had to at least wait for people from the Wu family to arrive before he could decide whether to agree to the Tao family’s request based on the situation.
Pei Yan was being vague, and Steward Tao would definitely overthink it.
He pondered—did Pei Yan feel he wasn’t qualified to discuss this matter? Then this matter would require Tao Qing, who currently managed the Tao family affairs and was Tao An’s elder brother, to personally make a trip to Lin’an.
Of course, before that, he needed to see the map first and confirm whether it was indeed, as Pei Yan said, a new route from Guangzhou to Dashi.
He exchanged a glance with Tao An’s advisor who had come along. Tao An’s advisor stepped forward to introduce himself, established some rapport with Pei Yan, and sensing that Pei Yan’s impression of them wasn’t bad, left the two reproducing masters behind and withdrew to rest.
Whether the map was genuine, the two masters both had maritime experience and could judge its authenticity at a glance. The only thing that couldn’t be confirmed was whether the route marked on this map was truly safe.
By evening, Steward Tao received definitive news. He immediately arranged for someone who had followed them secretly to send a letter to Tao Qing.
Lin’an was the Pei family’s territory. As long as Pei Yan was willing, he could immediately know if even one unfamiliar face arrived, let alone when he had specifically assigned people to watch the Tao family’s people.
Far from just letting Tao Qing know about this matter, at this moment he wished he could have Steward Tao secretly send part of the map back so the Tao family could dispatch a fleet to test-sail a portion of the route.
Geese leave traces when they pass. When those aristocratic families learned this map was not only genuine but also allowed safe sailing, that would be the perfect time to name prices.
He therefore instructed Pei Man, “The first small section of the map can be allowed to reach the Tao family, but they can’t be allowed to get their hands on the latter parts.”
Pei Man nodded repeatedly in agreement, his eyes full of eager bright light, very different from his usual impression.
Pei Yan smiled and said, “Are you bored?”
Pei Man smiled and said, “Not bored exactly, it’s just that there’s nothing to do in Lin’an. I feel like my blade is rusting.”
Wasn’t that still being bored?
Pei Yan smiled slightly and said, “Very soon you’ll be too busy to handle everything.”
Pei Man knew Pei Yan would definitely invite many families with real power to participate in the auction. However, Pei Yan’s invitation list wasn’t completely finalized yet, and the invitation cards hadn’t been sent. He felt he should still have some time to prepare. Who knew that just as he left Pei Yan’s study, Hu Xing walked in excitedly.
When the two met, they naturally had to exchange greetings.
Pei Man asked him, “What happened to you?”
Like it was New Year—so happy his face was practically glowing with oil.
Hu Xing had no intention of hiding anything from Pei Man. First, Pei Man was the head steward, commanding all servants inside and outside the Pei family. Second, Pei Man was highly capable—in just a few months on the job, he had already made all the servants and staff, large and small, inside and out, submit obediently. Even if he didn’t tell Pei Man, there would naturally be people wanting to curry favor with Pei Man who would voluntarily inform him. Why would he oppose Pei Man and seek his own death?
He wanted to sit in this position for a long, long time. If he could pass it to his son, that would be even better.
“It’s people from the Wu family of Huzhou.” Hu Xing said excitedly. “Their family’s eldest master personally came to deliver New Year gifts to our family. From his tone, there’s also something specifically for our Third Master.”
The eldest master of the Wu family of Huzhou was the Wu family’s head.
Third Master had replaced the main branch to become the Pei family head. The other branches of the Pei family seemed to accept this—not one family had come to make trouble. But in Hu Xing’s view, those branches might be holding back out of respect for Old Master Pei. Who knew what they were thinking privately? Perhaps once Old Master Pei’s mourning period passed, disputes could arise at the ceremony for removing mourning garb. Especially since the Li clan’s main branch had recently split from Li Duan’s branch—who dared say the Pei family had no hand in this? Who dared say this wasn’t the other Pei family branches testing Pei Yan?
This was the first Spring Festival since Pei Yan took over the Pei family. At this time, the more families that came to deliver New Year gifts, the better—the more distinguished they were, the more it showed Third Master had capability and connections. If they were like the Wu family of Huzhou, a powerful clan that previously had no dealings with the Pei family, that would be even better—this was Pei Yan’s own connection, unrelated to the Pei family. If not for Pei Yan, how could the Wu family have had their family head personally come to deliver New Year gifts to the Pei family?
He had thrown in his lot with Third Master.
He was now tied to Third Master’s wagon—glory and loss were shared.
Families like the Wu family of Huzhou—naturally, the more that came, the better.
Without guessing, Pei Man knew Hu Xing’s little thoughts. He smiled and said, “Then quickly go inform Third Master so the Wu family’s eldest master doesn’t have to wait long,” then brushed past Hu Xing to attend to his own business.
Hu Xing couldn’t help touching his head.
Pei Man was being a bit cold!
Could it be that he had somehow offended Pei Man?
But now wasn’t the time to think about such things. Hu Xing went joyfully to Pei Yan’s study.
Pei Man, however, turned to meet A’Tiao, who had come from the Yu family to deliver New Year gifts.
That A’Tiao could meet Pei Man wasn’t because he was lucky enough to happen upon him, but because of Pei Yan’s regard for the Yu family. People like Pei Man who served by Pei Yan’s side naturally followed his wishes and paid attention to the Yu family as well.
Pei Man met A’Tiao in the front hall of the small side room and inquired in detail about the Yu family’s New Year gifts.
Those waiting in the small side room for the Pei family steward to register their gift lists couldn’t help being very envious and discussed the Yu family one after another. Some who couldn’t stand the Yu family’s sudden “rise” didn’t dare criticize them in front of Pei family people, but holding back their resentment, once they left the Pei residence, they couldn’t control their mouths: “I heard the Yu family’s eldest young miss is extremely beautiful. Many young men want to become live-in sons-in-law at their house. I wonder what Old Master Yu is being so picky about? Or does he have other plans?”
Since they were all respectable stewards from various families, no matter how unhappy they were inside, they wouldn’t speak like village shrews who dared say anything.
Naturally, someone with similar thoughts picked up the conversation: “I heard that eldest young miss of the Yu family dares to wear servant’s clothes and even manages household affairs. If I had a nephew, I definitely couldn’t let him marry such a girl!”
“That depends on whether your nephew has the ability to marry her back.” Someone teased. “The Yu family has made it clear they want to keep their daughter at home and recruit a son-in-law. Didn’t you see even the Li family’s second young master wouldn’t do?”
“Who knows if they’re unwilling to marry their daughter out or have no choice because she can’t be married off! I think that girl is very bold and acts very forcefully—those aren’t methods an ordinary girl would have.” Those with insinuations laughed and dispersed.
The Yu family, however, didn’t know Yu Tang had been gossiped about.
A’Tiao pointed to one of the brocade boxes and specifically said, “This is something our master found at an antique shop. He said it’s very interesting—to give to Third Master to pass the time or use as a paperweight or something.” The other items were just chicken, duck, fish, meat, tea, wine, candies, and sweets, similar to what neighbors usually sent—nothing special.
By rights, for families like the Yu family, the Pei family wouldn’t bother sending return gifts. They would record the gift list and immediately return gifts of similar value on the spot—either rice and grain or oil and noodles, sometimes even enclosing a red envelope. But for the Yu family, Pei Man felt it would be better to send someone to deliver return gifts. So smiling, he registered the brocade box separately in the accounts. In the evening, he personally delivered the brocade box to Pei Yan’s room.
Pei Yan had already washed and changed into everyday clothes. Wearing a black sable fur draped over his body, he was reclining on a luohan couch listening to the young boy A’Ming reading through a thick gift list, calling out names.
A’Ming wore a madder-red brocade-padded jacket. His face was round and chubby, like a wealth-distributing child spirit, making people feel festive just looking at him.
Seeing Pei Man enter, Pei Yan signaled A’Ming to stop and said, “What is it?”
With New Year approaching, people came every day seeking Pei Yan’s decisions.
Pei Man had spent an afternoon in the warm anteroom with underfloor heating. Entering Pei Yan’s room, which didn’t even have a brazier, all the warmth from his body dissipated at once, and even his fingertips felt cold.
“From the Yu family, for you.” After handing the brocade box to Pei Yan, he tucked both hands into his sleeves, then called A’Ming with some pity, saying, “You go down. I’ll attend to things here first.”
Pei Yan had vigorous inner heat. If the room had underfloor heating, he’d get nosebleeds. He also couldn’t stand the smell of silver frost charcoal. In winter, he only used fur and cotton for warmth. Those serving by his side could only endure the cold along with him.
A’Ming, thinking Pei Man had something to say privately to Pei Yan, nodded repeatedly, bowed to Pei Yan, handed the gift list to Pei Man, and ran back to his own room with underfloor heating to warm up.
Pei Yan liked distinct four-season climates but didn’t prevent those around him from enjoying spring-like conditions year-round. While taking the brocade box and asking “What is this thing?”, he opened the box, revealing the bronze door knocker.
“What is this thing?” Pei Yan raised an eyebrow and held it up to the light to examine it.
Pei Man conveyed A’Tiao’s words.
Pei Yan quickly discovered the secret of the beast-shaped door knocker.
“Quite interesting!” He casually placed the door knocker on a small table nearby and said, “This is probably a little trinket from the previous dynasty. The Yu family put some thought into it.”
He had liked these miscellaneous items since childhood. He had many such things—there were plenty more exquisite and interesting than this. This door knocker wasn’t particularly rare. However, since someone had given it to him, he wouldn’t carelessly discard it.
He’d just put it in the study as a paperweight.
Pei Yan said to Pei Man, “I had Hu Xing arrange for the Wu family’s people to stay in the guest rooms on the east side. Tomorrow I’m planning to host a banquet for them—prepare for it. If the Tao family’s people want to inquire about anything, there’s no need to prevent them.”
Besides the two reproducing masters, the Tao family’s people were staying in guest rooms on the southeast side, separated from the Wu family’s people by a flower garden. If they wanted to inquire about anything, it would be very convenient.