CH 108

Chapter 108 – Goodwill

Hu Xing and the others quickly retreated.

Pei Yan lifted his hand, gesturing for Yu Wen and the others to sit down and chat.

Yu Wen sat down apprehensively, as Ah Ming close the door and left.

“Why have you kept us behind, Third Master?” Yu Wen asked perplexed.

Pei Yan paused as if he was tidying up his thoughts before replying, “A while ago, the fourth master of the Song family came to see me, that is, the family head of the Song family. Their family’s patriarch is the fourth master of the third branch. Somehow, he knew about the nautical chart and hoped to have a share. He proposed to form a partnership with us, the Pei family. As you know, my father just passed away, and we brothers have no intention to join in this business. However, the fourth master of the Song family and our family is somewhat related – his mother and mine have familial ties. His mother is my mother’s older sister, nearly 20 years older than my mother. Although my maternal grandparents have since passed away, but our two families still maintain regular contact with each other. I was just thinking, if your family is still interested in participating in the business, why don’t you cooperate with the Song family? I just wanted to ask for your input. I can then make the necessary arrangements.”

Yu Wen was thrilled to hear this.

PeiYan didn’t bring this up earlier, which showed that he didn’t think it was wise for their family to be involved in this business. Thereafter, he gave a detailed explanation of the backgrounds and ability of all the families participating in the auction, with an implicit message of caution that the sea-trade business was extremely risky and not suitable for families like theirs to participate.  However now, he proposed to act as the intermediary between their family and the Song family, clearly thinking that it is possible for their two families to cooperate. This either means that the Pei family had the power and reputation to protect the interests of their Yu family before the Song family, or that the Song family was loyal, reliable and a trustworthy partner.

No matter the former or the latter, their family was relying on the Pei family for support.

For this Yu Wen was deeply grateful.

So should they seize this opportunity?

Yu Wen customarily looked towards Yu Tang.

Yu Tang’s heart was in turmoil.

She had intended to join in this business, which was why she kept a copy of the nautical chart. Should there be an opportunity, they could have a share in the maritime trade. But she had never imagined working with families like the Tao family in Guangzhou.

The power disparity between the two families was too great. They as the weaker party would be unable to voice their opinions, and the partnership was highly inequitable and they could possibly be easily eaten alive by others.

Her first choice was the Jiang family.

It was the same Jiang family as Jiang Ling.

According to her previous life’s memories, their family has not made their fortune yet, but it would seem that they were on track to do so again.

To form rapport with a person before they become successful is key to establishing a great partnership.

However, at this moment, Pei Yan’s offer was like putting a bowl of succulent pork-belly meat in front of their family, making them salivate.

Thankfully, she managed to calmed herself down quickly under her father’s gaze.

Being beguiled or indecisive would not result in a good outcome.

Yu Tang cough lightly and said gently, “Third Master, many thanks for thinking of us. However, we are just an ordinary family of little significance. This sort of business goes far beyond our capabilities and is not within our reach. I think we should leave things as it is.”

Pei Yan’s heartfelt enthusiasm seemed to have been doused by ice-cold water on a winter’s day and he had a hard time keeping his calm.

Wasn’t she always finding ways to earn money?

This was such an excellent opportunity, and he rarely got soft-hearted, thinking to help her along as it was not easy for a young lady to do business, but yet she ended up rejecting his offer.

“Do as you please!” The atmosphere around Pei Yan chilled, and his tone of voice was curt. “I only thought that if you cooperated with the Song family, they would not do anything to harm you in secret, on account of my family. Since you have no intention of joining in, forget I even mentioned it.” After saying that, he picked up his tea cup.

This was a signal for sending off the guests.

Yu Wen felt terribly embarrassed.

Anyone could sense Pei Yan’s kind intentions and he did not expect Yu Tang to refuse.

Certainly, they had discussed about this earlier and had made their decision long beforehand, but nothing was set in stone.

Yu Tang was being too disrespectful towards Pei Yan.

Yu Wen glared at his daughter, the corners of his mouth twitched and he dearly wanted to overturn Yu Tang’s decision. In any case, for the sake of not offending Pei Yan, and also the fact that Pei Yan was only looking out for their family’s best interests, they had to accept.

Yu Tang thought that Pei Yan might feel somewhat awkward after hearing her words, but she didn’t expect Pei Yan’s mood to change so drastically. Her father was a people-pleaser, so when he saw that Pei Yan was displeased, he immediately thought of agreeing just to pacify Pei Yan, not realizing how his agreement would put their Yu family in a difficult predicament.

“Third Master!” She quickly interjected before Yu Wen could speak, “Many things happened in our family this past six months, if it weren’t for your help, not to mention peace and security, just my mother’s illness alone could have plunged us into great hardship. It’s all thanks to you that my family is what it is today. What you have proposed was also for the betterment of our family. However, it has always been our family’s principle to rely on ourselves rather than on uncertain factors like fate.

The Song family is one of the leading families in Suzhou, whereas, my family has never engaged in any business apart from running a lacquerware store. Even if the Song family supports our family, it’s only because they respect your name and the Pei family’s name. We ourselves well know our own worth and what we can handle. It’s easy for us to talk about starting a partnership with the Song family, but we can’t just be contributing the nautical chart as our only stake in the business. Even if we only take the nautical chart as our stake in the partnership, how do we sort out the details? What should be our share of the profit? Do we form a fleet of ships together? How many vessels should sail out to sea each time? How many people on each boat? What kind of goods to sell? Where to dock? We do not understand these matters. Do we have to ask you about each and everything? What can we possibly do for the Song family? What are the benefits for the Song family to partner with us? If the benefits were heavily skewed in our favour, then on what basis should we have the privilege of working with others? Then what is the difference between that and relying on you?”

Moreover, their family is auctioning off the nautical chart, and the Song family didn’t lack the silver to buy it, so why would they bother to partner up with the Yu family when they can just obtain the nautical chart outright?

After all was said and done, it was only because of Pei Yan.

This favour also had to be repaid by Pei Yan in the future.

Even if Pei Yan didn’t think it mattered, their family couldn’t accept it just like that.

Yu Wen and Yu Yuan listened and nodded, and their previous hesitation dissipated.

As for PeiYan, he was still feeling unhappy.

After all this talk, although it sounded reasonable, it was still a rejection.

“Do as you like!” Pei Yan raised the tea cup in his hand again.

Yu Tang did not expect Pei Yan to be so stubborn, even after saying so much, she still could not get him to let it go.

If Pei Yan had malicious intentions, it wouldn’t matter, but he was well-intentioned. Yu Tang knew that her decision was right and the most beneficial choice for the Yu family, but she still felt terribly guilty towards Pei Yan in her heart.

Pei Yan’s personality was arrogant and he seldom intervened in other people’s affairs. In this rare instance where he took an interest in helping out, he was coldly rebuffed by her. For this, she felt that she was being extremely ungrateful.

Yu Tang wanted to cheer him up a bit, so she simply pretended not to see him lift the tea cup. She took a few steps forward and said demurely, “Third Master, we will certainly do our best and make my family’s business a success and obtain the right to receive your favor one day.”

Seeing her head bowed, her forehead was smooth and gentle like jade and her long eyelashes, unmoving, like phoenix feathers on her eyelids, she looked so docile and meek. His heart softened and the mysterious fire in his chest gradually faded away.

At least she was cognizant of the fact that not just anyone could receive his favor!

“Forget about it.” He heard himself saying with a slightly mollified tone, “I didn’t think about it thoroughly either, so let’s leave this matter as it is.”

Yu Tang secretly breathed out a sigh of relief.

Finally, she managed to smooth the ruffled feathers of this temperamental noble.

Should she continue to placate him?

She still wanted to know the reason why Pei Yan planted sea buckthorn tress in their family’s mountain forest land in her previous life.

Yu Tang’s mouth moved before she could think.

She heard herself say deferentially, “Whatever the case maybe, we still owe our thanks to Third Master. If Third Master doesn’t mind, my mother made some green riceballs the other day, I’ll ask Head Steward Hu to bring some for Third Master to try. We don’t have anything special to offer, except for this common sweet, which was done a little earlier than others, so you can try it while it’s fresh.”

Traditionally, it would be another month or so before families started making green riceballs. However this year, Madam Chen’s health improved and her enthusiasm increased, so she made some green riceballs in advance. Although she didn’t make a large batch, but her skill was good, and the riceballs were made more than a month before others, so it was a respectable gift.

As Pei Yan listened, the irritation in his heart lessened.

Although he didn’t particularly like eating green riceballs, but as he was still in mourning, he was supposed to eat them during this period. However, many people forgot about this and kept inviting him to go for drinks or to admire flowers, and only the Yu family gave something that was considered appropriate.

It seems as though people have forgotten that his father had only passed away a short while ago.

What’s worse was that many of them had received favors from his father.

Clearly, the old adage of “Killers and arsonists wear gold belts, but those who build and construct roads and bridges die tragically1” holds true.

Pei Yan coldly snorted internally, but his tone of voice softened considerably. “There’s no need for such politeness. Please thank Mrs. Yu for me.”

This implied that he accepted the gift.

Yu Tang was elated and exclaimed, “It’s good that you like it.” Thinking that he came over in a rush and neglected the Song family all this while, she didn’t want to be a further imposition. She respectfully bowed and said, “We’ll take our leave and return after the auction.”

Fourth Elder Master Song was indeed temporarily settled in a guest room, and Pei Yan still had to host a banquet later, so he could not afford to linger. He was very satisfied with Yu Tang’s discernment and perceptiveness, so he added a few more words of advice. “These few days, all the patriarchs of the various families will be arriving in Lin’an City, so it is best for you to remain indoors when you have nothing important to do, lest someone finds out anything that could cause trouble.”

Was it because if people knew that the nautical chart was theirs, they would forcibly seize it before the auction?

Their family couldn’t afford to provoke those people.

Yu Yuan’s face turned pale.

Pei Yan glanced at her expression and said, “You all do not need to be overly concerned. I have instructed all participants to limit their movements within Lin’an City before the auction, and I have sent some people to guard your family in secret. I’m just being cautious……”

Yu Tang immediately replied, “Yes, yes. It’s always good to be cautious. Our family will definitely not move around unnecessarily before the auction. You can rest assured.”

Only then did Pei Yan’s face regain his initial cold and dignified look.

Yu Tang’s anxieties were also put to rest.

1. Meaning that those wicked people who do bad things often enjoy wealth and prestige, but those who do good deeds and paved the way for others have sad and bitter endings. Often used as a way to say society in general was unjust and unappreciative.