Yu Yuan, like Yu Wen, was trembling with fear when hearing this, and any suspicion he had was gone. But Yu Tang heaved a sigh of relief.
In her previous life, she was a person who had seen the world. The more so, the more she realized her own insignificance, the more she could examine herself, and know what she could do and what she could not do.
Even if she were reborn again, she would not dare to do an auction like this.
However, judging from Pei Yan's tone, the news leaked during the sea trial. I wonder if the Peng family will take action upon hearing this!
When Pei Yan finished explaining and asked Yu Wen "Do you have any other questions?", Yu Wen just shook his head. Yu Tang couldn't help but ask, "What about the Peng family?"
Pei Yan heard this and said, "I was just about to discuss this with you."
In his opinion, it would be completely fine to let the Peng family bid. After all, they would have to pay a deposit upon entry, and the deposit would not be refunded regardless of whether they won the bid or not.
It's still possible!
The three members of the Yu family looked at each other.
"Besides, some things are not as simple as you think." Pei Yan continued, "If someone really opens up a new route, the risks and the manpower and material resources required will be enormous. In order to reduce the risk, some of those who come to participate in the auction will definitely want to join forces to form a fleet. There are only a few families who have the ability and the idea. Even if we hide it from the Peng family now, when these people get the nautical chart, I dare not guarantee that none of them will join forces with the Peng family, so I think we might as well invite the Peng family over and make some money from them first. As for the grudges between you families, it is never too late for a gentleman to take revenge, so you might as well wait until you have the opportunity in the future."
Yu Wen and Yu Yuan both looked at Yu Tang, as if asking her to make the decision.
Yu Tang felt that what Pei Yan said made sense.
Instead of letting other families make money from the Peng family, they might as well extort money from them first.
She nodded and said to Pei Yan sincerely, "Then there is Master Lao San."
Pei Yan nodded, feeling that Yu Tang was flexible and his actions were becoming more methodical.
He couldn't help but ask, "I heard that your family wanted to buy some sea buckthorn trees recently? Why didn't you ask me?"
Yu Tang was stunned.
Of course it would be much more convenient for her to ask Pei Yan, but these things were of no benefit to the Pei family. She felt embarrassed to take advantage of the Pei family and always bother Pei Yan.
"My brother and I want to plant fruit trees in the forest at home to make preserved fruits," she answered Pei Yan honestly. "Sea buckthorn is just one of the trees. We don't know if it will work, so we didn't dare to bother you."
"Seabuckthorn trees are indeed a bit inappropriate." Pei Yan said, "The cost is too high and it's unnecessary."
Yu Wen became anxious when he heard this.
He had already asked Mr. Shen to help get the sapling. If the tree was not suitable, wouldn't it implicate Shen Shanyan and make him owe a favor to others?
"This is just a joke between the two siblings," he explained. "I didn't expect it to be inappropriate."
He was wondering whether he should go and see the sea buckthorn trees at Pei Yan's house.
Who knew Pei Yan smiled and said, "It's always a good thing to have ideas." Then he asked Yu Tang where the forest was.
Yu Yuan told the location.
Pei Yan thought for a moment and said, "You go find Manager Hu and ask him to go with you. His father used to be my grandmother's companion. My grandmother's family grows fruit trees. Among the managers, he may be the only one who knows something. See if he can help."
This was Pei Yan's kindness, and the Yu family thanked him again and again.
Pei Yan has been surrounded by people since he was a child. When he grew up, he was smooth sailing and invincible in business. He didn't know how many people thanked him like this. He was a little too involved in the affairs of the Yu family, but Miss Yu was a woman, so it didn't matter if she helped with something that was easy. He accepted the Yu family's thanks and brought the topic back to the auction: "In order to avoid trouble, it's best for your family members not to show up. When the time comes, Master Yu and Master Yu can come, stand in the aisle, and listen to the final transaction price of each family. Afterwards, I will let Pei Man send the silver from the auction to your family."
This is because they were afraid that someone would target the Yu family, and those who failed to take the photo would target the Yu family. They were also afraid that the Yu family would be suspicious and worry that the Pei family would swallow up the money from the auction.
Yu Wen's forehead was covered with sweat, and he said, "Third Master, there is no need to make such arrangements. Our family is small and we don't know much about these things. I think you can just preside over the auction. We won't have anyone coming over. As for the silver, we will deposit it in the Pei family's silver shop, and we can withdraw it when we need it."
If he had planned to partner with others to do this business before, now after listening to Pei Yan's introduction of the identities of those buyers, he really didn't dare to get involved. If he wasn't afraid of Pei Yan's suspicion, he would even want to give them a few hundred taels of silver and treat this map as a sale to the Pei family.
Seeing that Yu Wen was sincere, Pei Yan knew that he really understood the seriousness of the matter, so he stopped forcing him and agreed with Yu Wen to deposit the silver from the auction in Pei's silver shop. They also discussed how to secretly take the silver away from Pei's silver shop.
Yu Tang was a little absent-minded.
Since Pei Yan felt that the forest at home was not suitable for growing sea buckthorn, why did he grow it in the forest at home in his previous life? What went wrong that made this life different from the previous life?
She thought she had to find a chance to ask.
Pei Yan finished his words and served the guests tea.
Yu Wen and the others stood up to say goodbye, but ran into Pei Man who was walking hurriedly towards them.
After they greeted each other, Pei Man said before Yu Wen could speak: "Master Yu, the head of the Suzhou Song family is here and is waiting in the flower hall. I won't see you off."
Hangzhou and Suzhou are close to each other, and people in Lin'an City have heard of one of the most powerful families in Suzhou. The Song family in Suzhou, like the Tao family in Guangzhou that Pei Yan just mentioned, is a wealthy family whose children study and do business. In Suzhou City, they are so powerful that the walls will shake three times if they stomp their feet.
The Yu family was somewhat curious about what the Song family was doing here, but since this was the Pei family's family affair, it was not polite to ask. Even if they wanted to know, they could only keep it to themselves.
Separated from Pei Man, Yu Tang said, "Should we take this opportunity to find Manager Hu?"
Firstly, they were quite familiar with Manager Hu and it was easy for them to talk to each other; secondly, the Pei family’s gate was not easy to enter, so it would be better to finish everything they needed to do once they got in.
Yu Wen also had this idea.
The three of them asked the servant to take them out to find Hu Xing.
Seeing that they were invited by Pei Yan, the servant did not ask any further questions and accompanied them to Hu Xing's place.
Yu Tang then realized that the several stewards of the Pei family were all working in a house less than a shot away from the main gate to the east of the Pei Mansion. And they were assigned a number of servants and chambers of different sizes according to whether they were stewards or managers.
Yu Yuan looked at them in amazement and whispered to Yu Tang, "No wonder people say the Pei family is so wealthy. I thought they had never seen the wealthy families in Hangzhou. It turns out I have little experience and a narrow vision."
Yu Tang was thinking that it was no wonder that the Li family wanted to replace the Pei family. Anyone who saw the Pei family with so many servants would be envious!
Hu Xing was not in his own room, and the servant who served Hu Xing politely and considerately served them tea and snacks. After a while, Hu Xing, who had heard the news, came over and apologized to Yu Wen as soon as he entered the room: "Old An asked me to do something, but I didn't expect Master Yu to come over. I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
Yu Wen exchanged a few polite words with him, Yu Yuan and Yu Tang stood up and greeted him, and everyone sat down again. Yu Wen then explained his purpose.
When Hu Xing heard that it was Pei Yan's idea, he could no longer sit still and immediately said, "Please let me change my clothes, and I will go with you to take a look."
The enthusiasm was somewhat surprising.
Yu Wen said hurriedly: "We are not in a hurry here, just help us take a look when you are not busy."
The saplings are said to arrive in mid-April.
Hu Xing has been trying to find a way to show off in front of Pei Yan these days. He wishes Pei Yan would let him do something so that he can ask Pei Yan for instructions every day. There is no way he would listen to Yu Wen.
He said, "Our Third Elder is a man who enforces his orders. How can we, the managers, neglect his words?"
Yu Wen had no choice but to make an appointment with Hu Xing to go to the forest near the Yu family's old house early the next morning.
Hu Xing was convinced and happily sent the three people from the Yu family out.
But before they left the courtyard, a servant came over with sweat all over his face, "Have you seen the old and young masters of the Yu family? The third master asks Master Yu to stay!" As he spoke, he saw Yu Wen beside Hu Xing, and was so happy that he almost cried. He trotted forward to greet Yu Wen and said, "Master Yu, please follow me to the flower hall and sit for a while. The third master said he has something to discuss with you."
The three members of the Yu family looked at each other, and accompanied by Hu Xing, they followed the servant through twists and turns and arrived at an unfamiliar brothel.
The servant served tea attentively and said, "Third Master, please wait here for a while. When he finishes talking about his business, Brother Ming will come to invite you. Please sit down first."
Yu Tang secretly groaned in his heart.
Ah Ming is called "Brother" by everyone in the mansion, which shows how honorable it is to work for Pei Yan.
Yu Wen smiled and agreed, then sat down.
Hu Xing volunteered to talk to the Yu family.
Yu Tang was bored and began to admire the scenery around him.
This glance made her realize something.
It was the beginning of spring, the time when willows were sprouting and peach and plum trees were in full bloom. Beside the Pei family flower hall, there were green trees and lush grass. At first glance, it was all deep green, lush green, very pleasing to the eyes, but there was not a trace of any other color.
Don’t the peach and plum trees in their house bloom?
Or is it that there are no peach or plum trees planted next to this flower hall?
Even if there are no peach or plum trees planted, is there no wild flower?
Yu Tang searched for a long time but couldn't find it.
She clicked her tongue again.
They waited for about half an hour, and Ah Ming came trotting over.
"Master Yu, Master Yu, and Miss Yu, thank you for waiting for a long time!" He panted, "Our third master is seeing you off and will be here soon."
Didn't you say to let them pass?
The three people from the Yu family looked at each other again.
But before Yu Wen could say anything, Pei Yan strode over.
Yu Wen, Yu Yuan and Yu Tang went forward to meet them.
Pei Yan bowed to Yu Wen and said to Hu Xing, "You all go down! I have something to talk to Master Yu alone."