However, Pei Yan still felt that this young miss of the Yu family had a very agile and sharp mind. He had only just started, yet she could already draw inferences from one instance and think of many strategies.

Making several reproductions of this map—only she could think of such a thing…

Pei Yan stroked his chin, suddenly feeling this idea was actually quite good.

Doing business indeed avoided eating alone. People with such thoughts usually found it very difficult to become successful great merchants. How precious this map was—although he had explained it to the Yu father and daughter, they might not truly feel it. Only those aristocratic families doing maritime business would know.

Pei Yan thought for a moment. Regarding whom to invite to bid on this map, he compiled a list in his mind, then said to Yu Wen and Yu Tang, “So what are your plans? Does your family want to keep one copy of the map?”

Or throw them all out.

Through this matter, he had also seen clearly. Although the Yu family members had transparent hearts, their courage was rather small—they weren’t a family that liked taking risks.

Yu Wen and Yu Tang once again spoke in unison. However, Yu Wen said “Of course we won’t keep one,” while Yu Tang said “Of course we should keep one.”

For the first time, father and daughter had a disagreement and couldn’t help looking at each other.

Pei Yan was also quite surprised.

Yu Wen’s reaction was within his expectations, but Yu Tang’s reaction was beyond his expectations.

He couldn’t help asking Yu Tang, “What do you mean?”

Yu Tang naturally knew that throwing off this burden was best, but she had truly had enough these past days. No—she should say she’d already had enough in her previous life.

The Li family had merely produced a few scholars, yet they could control the fate of the Yu family.

The prefect who exterminated families—she had truly experienced that.

This matter, for the Yu family, was both a crisis and an opportunity.

With this map, their family would have the chance to connect with the current dynasty’s aristocratic families.

If handled properly, they might even get a share of the benefits from them.

But she also knew the Yu family was far too insignificant.

If she didn’t want to be devoured by these aristocratic families, the best method was to find an ally.

Although Yu Tang had just stopped her father from passing the burden to Pei Yan, in her heart she actually agreed very much with her father’s words.

In this matter, their family had to bind themselves together with the Pei family to possibly emerge unscathed, to possibly use this as an opportunity to gain even a little bit of say, so that not just anyone could bully the Yu family anymore.

Therefore, what was most important for Yu Tang right now was to persuade Pei Yan.

Not only persuade him to help the Yu family, but also persuade him to bring the Yu family along when making money.

Only by boarding the Pei family’s boat could their family use this opportunity to develop and grow stronger. Only then could her nephews and nieces study and enter officialdom, possibly becoming generations of officials.

She wondered what the Pei family had originally relied on to build their fortune?

Although Yu Tang thought much, it was only a momentary thing. Actually, Pei Yan saw her merely contemplate briefly before she said to him, “Today it’s the Li family, tomorrow it could be the Wang family or the Chen family. I don’t want our Yu family to forever be like this now, unable to fight back when encountering anything. Third Master Pei, I know you’re a reasonable person. I have an idea and would like to hear your opinion first.”

This meant she wanted to seize this opportunity to help the family rise!

Pei Yan had always greatly admired those who refused to admit defeat and were actively progressive. Yu Tang’s words not only didn’t make him feel disgusted, but rather made him feel this girl was very resilient. No matter what she encountered, as long as there was the slightest possibility, she would grasp it and not let go. The only shortcoming was perhaps that she was too young and, restricted by the inner chambers, lacked much experience.

If he cultivated her and then had her constrain the Li family… just thinking about it, Pei Yan found it very interesting.

“Speak!” His tone was gentle, with indulgence in his eyes that even he himself didn’t know about.

Yu Tang breathed a sigh of relief.

She could now faintly sense his emotions from some of Pei Yan’s small actions and tone.

Pei Yan was clearly very pleased right now.

Although she didn’t know what there was to be pleased about…

Yu Tang hurriedly said, “I know the Pei family doesn’t care about these things. But no matter what, we’re also people of Lin’an. We previously received much protection from Old Master Pei, and now we’ve received many kindnesses from you. Saying this might be a bit inappropriate, but it’s what’s in my heart. I want to share our family’s copy of this map with the Pei family. I’d like to ask the Pei family to bring our family along to make money, so our family can also have money to support our children’s studies and seek a better future.”

To say Pei Yan wasn’t tempted by this map was impossible, but he felt that although maritime business made a lot of money, the risks were also great. Most importantly, it was very troublesome—there were too many connections to establish, too many trivial matters to handle. He had no intention of wasting his limited time on this.

Without thinking, he said, “Our family doesn’t have enough manpower and can’t do this business. If you’re interested, I can help introduce you to a partner.”

This was a tactful refusal.

Yu Tang felt very surprised. Her instinct told her Pei Yan wasn’t this kind of person, but looking at his expression, it was very sincere, showing he genuinely didn’t want to do this business.

Was it because he didn’t know how substantial the profits from this business actually were?

She couldn’t help saying, “Third Master, our family only trusts you. Won’t you first inquire about the maritime business before making a decision?”

Pei Yan laughed and said, “I have a senior fellow apprentice who’s from Guangzhou. His family does exactly this business. Otherwise, how could I tell at a glance that this is a map for sailing from Guangzhou?”

Yu Tang’s face reddened. She still wanted to persuade Pei Yan, but heard him say, “Your family also knows about acting and refraining. The Pei family also has the Pei family’s ancestral teachings. Miss Yu, please don’t say more. If you agree to let me introduce you to a partner, I’ll call them over during the auction, and you can meet before the auction begins.”

The Pei family had previously suffered from being too prominent.

Their family’s ancestral teaching was to make a fortune quietly.

This muddy water—he wouldn’t wade into it!

Yu Tang refused to give up, but Yu Wen felt Pei Yan had already done everything he could and shouldn’t trouble the Pei family further. He waved his hand at Yu Tang, signaling her not to speak anymore, then said to Pei Yan, “Then you take seventy percent of the silver from the auction, and our family takes thirty percent.”

Pei Yan laughed heartily and said, “Do you know how much silver this might fetch at auction?”

This was the first time Yu Tang had seen Pei Yan laugh so heartily.

Different from the smile when his mouth corners curved up, when he laughed heartily, his expression was relaxed and comfortable. Not only did he not appear frivolous, but rather made people feel he was mature and steady, reliable and solid—completely different from the bright, dazzling quality when he smiled with curved lips.

How could someone be like this?

Yu Tang blinked her eyes.

Could this be yet another side of him unknown to others?

On Yu Wen’s side, however, he said earnestly, “Third Master Pei, although I don’t understand mundane affairs, I also know that without you, those aristocratic families wouldn’t possibly participate properly in any auction. Having the map stolen would be a small matter—our family’s people being able to keep their lives would already be great fortune, not to mention how much silver we could get. This entire matter relies on your blessing. If you don’t agree, we won’t auction this map either. We’ll keep the map, and whether you burn it, throw it away, or give it to someone, it has nothing to do with our family. Our family will act as if we never had this map.”

Pei Yan was displeased.

Yu Tang immediately soothed him, saying, “Third Master, my father doesn’t know how to speak properly. Don’t be angry. We all know you’re doing these things to protect our family. My father spoke this way also to repay you somewhat. To say nothing else, just having Imperial Physician Yang come every month to check my mother’s pulse for peace—our family wishes we could set up a longevity tablet for you.”

A longevity tablet? What nonsense was this?

Pei Yan interrupted her words, saying, “These matters are merely a small effort for me. You don’t need to be like this.”

Yu Tang could see he was indeed sincere. Not knowing whether to say he was too foolish or too concerned with reputation-fishing, she could only change tack: “Since that’s the case, then we’ll listen to all your arrangements.”

Pei Yan’s expression cleared slightly. He served tea to see off the guests, saying, “When I have news on my end, I’ll have Pei Man notify you.”

Yu Tang looked at him, pulled Yu Wen to his feet, and took their leave.

Yu Wen couldn’t help reproaching her, “How could you speak to Third Master like that just now? If he says he doesn’t want it, we really won’t give it? In the future, who would dare help our family?”

Yu Tang explained, “You also saw just now that Third Master truly doesn’t want any benefits from our family. Moreover, Third Master’s original intention was to help us. If he accepted our benefits, wouldn’t this matter change in nature? You want reputation—doesn’t Third Master also want it? I feel that rather than making Third Master unhappy like you did, we should think about how we can repay Third Master in the future.”

“But Third Master lacks nothing!” Yu Wen said helplessly. “Didn’t we fail to find an opportunity to repay him before?”

Yu Tang smiled and said, “Isn’t this even better? In the future, we’ll have an excuse to bring him festival gifts during every holiday. He can’t very well not give us even this much face. Besides, if he doesn’t accept, does that mean the future Third Madam won’t accept either? If Third Madam doesn’t accept, will his descendants in the future also not accept? Perhaps because of this, our family can establish a connection with the Pei family—turning a bad thing into a good thing!”

When asking favors of others, one had to be thick-skinned.

“That’s all we can do!” Yu Wen sighed.

The two returned home to find Yu Yuan waiting for them in the courtyard.

“Uncle, Little Sister.” He came forward to support Yu Wen into the house, saying, “I came over after tidying up the shop. Why did you and Little Sister suddenly go to the Pei family? Did something happen?”

Yu Wen and Yu Yuan went to the study to talk.

After Yu Yuan heard the whole story, he was so shocked his jaw nearly dropped. He looked at Yu Tang with new respect, exclaiming, “How could you be so bold? What if Third Master Pei didn’t agree to help? What if Third Master Pei also coveted that map?”

That person was so noble—how could he do such a thing?

But she had no intention of saying so much to her eldest cousin. Instead, she smiled and said, “But the facts prove I still have some luck. Third Master Pei not only helped us but is also upright, noble, and chivalrous—someone we can entrust our lives to.”

Yu Wen and Yu Yuan nodded repeatedly.

Yu Yuan even sighed, “Little Sister is a fortunate person.”

Yu Wen thought about it and felt this was really true. He agreed, “Your sister’s luck is indeed quite good.”

Yu Tang smiled bitterly.

Her luck was bought with her life from the previous existence, obtained through her refusal to accept fate in this life.

But being able to be reborn once, her luck had indeed improved.

Then she should even more not waste such good fortune. She should not only change her own fate but also change her family’s fate.