Pei Yan was very dissatisfied with Tao Qing's teasing tone.

He treated Yu Tang as a junior, so Tao Qing was very disrespectful to Yu Tang.

Pei Yan's expression immediately changed, and he said coldly: "What are you talking about, Mr. Tao? Madam Yu is my mother's guest, how come she has become someone of mine in your mouth?"

Tao Qing watched and secretly said "tsk tsk" a few times in his heart.

This is the look of someone getting angry out of shame!

And you said it has nothing to do with him?

However, he also came from a young age, so he understands this kind of thing.

Tao Qing chuckled twice and didn't continue talking about this topic, but he was still thinking about it in his heart. He was thinking about sending someone to find out about the background of this Miss Yu. If she was related to Pei Yan's marriage, he would have to find a way to start a conversation with her in advance.

He and Pei Yan got back to the point: "I understand what you mean. I guess Gu Chaoyang is also planning to use this method to resolve our crisis this time. However, what do you think about abolishing the Quanzhou and Ningbo Maritime Customs Offices?"

Since Tao Qing didn't mention it, Pei Yan didn't say anything either.

He looked slightly timid, and whispered with Tao Qing what he had just said: "It doesn't matter how I see it. What's important is, do we want to do it?" He said, his eyes fell on the fourth master Song who was arguing with the first master Wu in the hall, "This is a matter of moving one hair and moving the whole body. I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain it later!"

Tao Qing disagreed and said, "There is no construction without destruction. Even if we don't take action, someone will do it for us."

"Then let's wait until those people take action." Pei Yan lowered his head, gently stroking the edge of the teacup with his thumb, and said, "We can't take action first, otherwise it will be difficult to explain."

Tao Qing didn't say anything for a long time. When he spoke again, Wu, Song and others had already finished their argument. He pulled Gu Chaoyang aside and said, "Let's first find out who paid for the 200,000 taels of silver! Otherwise, everything else is nonsense." Tao Qing had no expression on his face and said in a low voice, "Then I'll listen to you."

If it weren't for that nautical chart, he might never have truly understood what kind of person Pei Yan was, and there would have been no subsequent cooperation.

Pei Yan also lowered his voice and said, "Then let's deal with the Huai'an matter first..." But before he could finish his words, Master Peng turned around and looked at Pei Yan and Tao Qing, saying, "What are you two doing sitting there? If you have anything to say, just say it in front of everyone. If you have any difficulties, you can also tell us. Three cobblers are better than one. Let us all help you with some ideas."

He always felt that Pei Yan and Tao Qing had already reached an offensive and defensive alliance, and he could not let them act alone.

Tao Qing smiled.

He knew exactly what Master Peng was thinking, but in this situation, he didn't need to offend the Peng family and cause trouble.

"Okay!" he said frankly, "Xiaguang and I both prefer quiet to noise. Seeing how excited you were, we didn't go over to join in the fun. We were just talking about Wang Qibao and discussing what gifts to give him when we go to see him."

Now everyone was interested.

If they could learn about Wang Qibao's preferences from Pei Yan, and if they had the chance to leave Pei Yan behind, they could also talk to Wang Qibao, right?

The hall became lively again.

Ah Ming found out that Yu Tang was not ill at all. Not only that, Yu Tang also spent a long time playing with Miss Xu.

How should he reply to the Third Elder?

Ah Ming scratched his head and thought for a long time but could not come up with an idea, so he ran to Pei Man for help.

Pei Man was so busy that he had no time to care about him. Seeing that he was pestering her, he said impatiently, "Of course you should tell whatever you want to tell. Are you going to lie to the Third Elder? Besides, one lie always needs countless lies to cover it up. Do you think you have the ability to deceive the Third Elder?"

Ah Ming's head was shaking like a wave drum, and he really replied to Pei Yan according to Pei Man's instructions.

When Pei Yan heard that Yu Tang was faking illness, his expression was very strange. He thought in his heart that she was really angry with him. Not only did she pretend to be sick and not go out, but she also hid at Miss Xu's place. There would be a sutra lecture tomorrow. The Yu family had to donate a merit box and the women of the Pei family had to donate incense. She couldn't keep hiding!

However, that’s not necessarily the case.

She never plays by the rules.

She was angry with him now, and if she stayed indoors for just today, he might not even know about it. But if she didn't show up at the sermon tomorrow, he would definitely find out.

Maybe she just wanted to make things more natural, pretending to be sick today and not going out tomorrow, so that it would seem natural. Even if he knew, he might not know that she was faking illness.

Should he just accompany her in the play?

The thought flashed through his mind, and Pei Yan immediately felt it was inappropriate.

Tomorrow's occasion is too important. It would be a shame if she didn't show up.

What should I do now?

Pei Yan's mind was racing.

After thinking about it, I feel that I have to make Yu Tang change his mind.

As for her being angry with him, he had to look at the bigger picture and wait until the Bible seminar was over before settling the score with her.

Pei Yan usually acts swiftly once he has made up his mind.

He stood up and said to Mr. Peng and others who were discussing how to find out who gave the two hundred thousand taels of silver, "There is something important. I will be out for a while. It won't be too late to tell me what the discussion has concluded."

After saying that, without waiting for Mr. Peng and the others to speak, he quickly walked out of the hall, stood under the eaves outside the hall, and ordered Pei Qi who was accompanying him: "Go and ask Mr. Shu to come over!"

As soon as I said it, I felt it was inappropriate.

Many staff members and teachers from various families came, and Shu Qing had to entertain them on his behalf. Moreover, Shu Qing was a thoughtful person, and if he discussed with Shu Qing how to compensate Yu Tang, Shu Qing would definitely think he was making a fuss.

Although he also felt that he was making a big deal out of nothing, wasn't Yu Tang particularly difficult to deal with?

She could really do something to make sure that I won’t show up at the sermon tomorrow!

"Shu Qing is busy, so let's not look for him." Pei Yan changed his mind quickly, "Let me think about it, why not look for Qing Yuan..."

Qing Yuan is considerate and as a girl too, she should know what Yu Tang, also a girl, likes.

Pei Qi didn't think much about it, turned around and left.

Pei Yan felt something was wrong again.

Qing Yuan was a maidservant by his side, and her perspective was definitely different from Yu Tang's. What Qing Yuan liked might not be what Yu Tang liked. If she knew that the thing he gave her as a compensation was what Qing Yuan loved, she might think he was humiliating her and get even angrier.

"Pei Qi, wait a minute." He called Pei Qi back and stood there racking his brains for how to give Yu Tang a gift.

Pei Qi didn't know what Pei Yan was going to do, but seeing his troubled look, he couldn't help but ask, "Third Master, what difficulties have you encountered? Do you want to ask Ah Man to come over?"

His words reminded Pei Yan, and Pei Yan said, "No need, go call Hu Xing over."

Pei Qi trotted over to call Hu Xing over.

Pei Yan asked Hu Xing directly: "I have offended Miss Yu. Do you think I can give her something to make her forgive me?"

What does "offended Miss Yu" mean? !

Hu Xing's head was buzzing and he thought he had heard it wrongly.

He looked at Pei Yan intently, but saw that Pei Yan was waiting for his answer with a serious face.

Hu Xing rubbed his eyes involuntarily, but Pei Yan ruthlessly rejected him: "What's wrong with you? Didn't you sleep well? Then go down and have a rest. I'll find someone to ask."

How could he rest at this critical moment?

This was the time to demonstrate his ability and the opportunity for him to share the Lord's worries. How could he give up so easily?

Hu Xing said hurriedly: "No, no. I was thinking about what you said." In fact, he was not sure at all and had no idea at all, but this did not prevent him from delaying time while trying hard to think of a solution. He also had to use the corner of his eyes to glimpse Pei Yan's mood and measure whether his answer would satisfy Pei Yan: "Girls like flowers. But there are differences between men and women. Although you are the elder, it is not appropriate after all. Similarly, rouge and powder are also inappropriate. Miss Yu is a straightforward person, not an ordinary lady of the upper class. She is generous. I think she must like to speak and act clearly. What kind of things do we give more when we give gifts to others..."

Pei Yan thought he was too long-winded, and it was the right decision not to use him in the first place.

"Then just send some snacks and candies or something." Hu Xing's words did remind him that since the clothes were not suitable, just send food.

Didn’t the Yu family often send him snacks and candies?

Now that he thought about it, Yu Tang seemed to like eating fruits very much.

"Should the cherries be on the market?" Pei Yan continued, "Send two baskets to Mrs. Yu and Miss Yu. Also send two baskets of plums and melons that have just come in these days. I heard from Lao An that the nest silk candy from Beijing, the dragon beard cakes from the two lakes, and the ice rice cakes from Fengcheng, Jiangxi, are delicious. Send some of them as well. Then tell Miss Yu to get better soon and show up in good shape at the lecture tomorrow morning." But he felt that just saying this was not a sure guarantee that Yu Tang would be obedient, so he added, "When you go over, remember to tell her that Miss Gu will also show up tomorrow."

Does this mean that we should leave this matter to him?

Hu Xing was overjoyed, and fearing that he would lose the job, he immediately agreed, and left quickly without waiting for Pei Yan to say a few words.

Pei Yan felt that Hu Xing was not doing a good job and wanted to call him back to give him some advice. But Master Peng found him and said, "What are you doing? Everyone has been waiting for you for a long time but you haven't come back. Come on, we are the only one waiting. We are going to divide the 200,000 taels of silver among them and say that we sent it together."

Whose idea was this!

Idiot!

Pei Yan cursed in his heart, not wanting to let those people in the hall know what he had just done, so he simply followed Master Peng back to the hall.

Everyone was waiting for him.

The fourth master Song was still shouting, "The Yin family and the Li family are also famous for their wealth. They should also bear part of the responsibility, right?"

This time, no one from the Yin family of Quanzhou or the Li family of Longyan came.

I don’t know whether he didn’t want to get involved or he was not well-informed and didn’t know that the court intended to abolish the Quanzhou and Ningbo Maritime Customs.