The story of Pei Liang's path to prosperity is too long and complicated to detail here, and strictly speaking, the capital she now controls can only leverage the first round of financing. Many of her preparations would have to wait until the realm descends into chaos and the world's order is reshuffled for her to catch the rising tide. So for now, we won't dwell on it.
That said, compared to a few years ago, Pei Liang's wealth and capabilities have grown beyond recognition.
Back then, she was just a woman from a fallen family who sought refuge at Yixiang Tower. Even when she borrowed the banner of Shi Feiyu, others saw her as no more than the confidante of a privileged young master.
Now, however, anyone of importance south of the Yangtze addresses her respectfully as "Head of the Pei Family," and through years of open and covert dealings, no one dares underestimate the business acumen of this young woman.
This particular moment in time was crucial. Pei Liang needed to return to the capital.
So she made months-long plans and arrangements for her businesses, gathered her people and a large shipment of goods, and left the Jiangnan region.
Chef Sui disapproved of her traveling at such a time. "It's chaotic everywhere now, even more so than a few years ago. Even though you're bringing a sizable escort, they're not trained soldiers who can fight in battle. With your skills now perfected and your wealth immense, why risk it?"
Pei Liang insisted, and he could say no more.
The girl had too many ideas of her own—a troublesome trait, but also a good one. Had she lacked initiative, she would likely have been dragged down by that worthless Pei Fugui long ago. She never would have come to Jiangnan alone and built up such a fortune in just a few short years.
Unlike their departure from the capital, when the army's task had been to suppress bandits and they'd traveled by land, this time Pei Liang and her party went by water.
She had a close friendship with Old Master Sun, the head of the Canal Guild, and under his protection the whole way, she returned to the capital without incident.
After coming ashore, Pei Liang first arranged for her main force and goods, most of which she didn't seem to be in a hurry to move into the city. Instead, she rented several large warehouses at the dock and stored them there.
With the convenience of the Canal Guild and connections through the Shi family, no one managed to get a look at her cargo.
Then Pei Liang, leading several dozen people, drove several carts piled high with goods back to Pei Family Village.
At this time, the realm was unstable, and the emperor was fond of extravagance. In regions stricken by disaster and war, there was no excess wealth to squeeze from the people, so places that had previously been well-off were now struggling.
Before Pei Liang had left, the signs of decline hadn't yet reached the capital, and the farmers around it had been doing reasonably well.
This time, on the way back, she noticed the pinch of hardship everywhere. Harvest season was approaching and the crops in the fields looked decent, but the faces of those passing by held no joy.
In the past, at market days, most people had spare change for a bowl of meat wontons, or at least some malt candy and flatbread to bring home to the kids. But now, walking along the docks, the snack stalls and peddlers' stands were doing meager business.
Against this backdrop, Pei Liang's several carts loaded to the brim—side after side of pork, plucked and dressed chickens, ducks, and geese, basket after basket of sugar and fruit, the rich aroma of sauces wafting even before you approached, and the neatly bundled bolts of cloth that could be recognized by their packaging alone—made quite the impression.
Several large carts, their wheels cutting deep ruts in the mud road, clearly weighed down by their heavy loads.
Halfway along the road, they encountered villagers from Pei Family Village. Someone recognized her: "Is that Fugui's girl—Liang? Miss Liang?"
Pei Liang saw that the speaker was a generation older than her and quickly replied, "We're all from the same village. I don't deserve to be called 'Miss.' Uncles, please just call me by my childhood name."
The villagers were flattered by her warmth despite her obvious wealth and status. Pei Fugui had spent years making a fool of himself in the village, but it seemed the bad bamboo had produced a good shoot. Old Grandpa Pei, if he could have seen that his son was useless but his granddaughter had risen to the occasion, would have died with peace of mind.
"So, you're back to pick up your father?"
Pei Liang smiled. "My father has been living in the village these past few years, cultivating his character and staying out of trouble. I can see that keeping good company breeds good behavior—all thanks to the elders who've guided and kept him in check."
"Since he's content living here, as his daughter, I won't force him to come with me for my own convenience."
"But I do feel guilty for troubling the clan elders. Fortunately, after years of traveling and doing business, I might not have gained much worldly wisdom, but I did get lucky and earn some money."
"This time, I've come back for two reasons: first, to visit my parents, and second, to thank the elders."
"If you two uncles are quick on your feet, would you mind running back to the village to spread the word? Tonight, no one in the village needs to cook—everyone's coming to my place for a feast."
Everyone in the village knew what Pei Fugui had done. He'd squandered the family fortune and slunk home, and on the very night he'd arrived, his daughter had called the clan elders over and had him beaten black and blue, then left him a bit of pocket money and thrown him in the old village home to fend for himself.
When the villagers had gossiped about it, more than a few had called Pei Liang cold-hearted—not only refusing to support her father but dragging him before the family to be beaten, and then, a young woman at that, running off with a huge sum of money. How could that possibly end well?
The clan elders had been quick to let her go too.
But looking at it now, the clan chief and elders had clearly had more foresight. This girl, though a woman, had skills that would keep her fed anywhere. And she'd been personally taught by Grandpa Pei, so her character was bound to be sound.
And look here—she'd come home in glory, not forgetting the village.
Hearing there was a feast to be had, the men hurried back to spread the news. With taxes and levies growing heavier by the year, it had been a long time since they'd gotten any meat.
By the time Pei Liang's carts neared the village, a crowd had already come out to meet them.
Strong young men came forward to help push the carts, while a swarm of children circled the convoy.
Pei Liang handed each child a handful of peanut candy, and their faces lit up like it was New Year.
At the village entrance, she saw the clan chief and several elders waiting in person. Pei Liang bowed:
"Thank you all for your care over the years."
The chief and the village leaders, seeing her return in such splendor—a stark contrast to the shabby escape she'd made in the dead of night—felt a swell of pride.
They quickly gestured for her to rise. "No trouble at all. We're of the same blood and clan; we should look out for one another."
They walked together back to the Pei family compound, and the moment they stepped through the gate, they were met with a rundown, cluttered yard, a few clearly unwashed clothes hanging on a line, and a stench rising from the house itself—like someone with athlete's foot who hadn't washed his feet in six months.
The Pei family had flourished for many generations, and the old village estate had been expanded again and again, making it the grandest house for miles around.
The money Pei Liang had left behind, though not much, was enough for meat at every meal—as long as the couple put in even a little effort to keep things in order, they could have lived comfortably.
Seeing Pei Liang's expression, the clan chief sighed and said, "Your father gave up on himself after you left. He drinks all day, and your mother—she's a delicate soul—she ran through the money you left fairly quickly. At first, the village could help out, but now everyone's struggling, so there's only so much we can do—"
That was putting it kindly. Pei Fugui spent every day in Pei Family Village doing exactly one thing besides eating, drinking, and answering nature's call: he cursed Pei Liang, all day, every day.
And Pei Fugui's wife was just as lazy and good-for-nothing. Even with servants and maids attending to her in the past, she couldn't keep a house in order—let alone now.
Pei Liang retracted her forward step and turned around, ordering people to unload the goods into the village chief's courtyard. The chief's yard was plenty big—more than enough to set up banquet tables.
By now, nearly every household in the village had gathered around, a sea of people stretching out in every direction.
Pei Liang smiled and said, "I've been cooking for so many years, it's time the villagers got a taste of my skills. But I can't do it alone—I'll need a few aunties to lend a hand."
A dozen or so capable women immediately stepped forward and, under Pei Liang's direction, began washing vegetables and slicing meat. Others hurriedly stacked bricks to build stoves, set up the big iron woks borrowed from several households, and steamed several large pots of rice using the fine grain she'd brought back.
By the time the rice was done—except for a few stews that required a long burn—all the dishes were set out.
The villagers took their seats according to seniority, with women and children assigned to separate tables, while Pei Liang was invited to the head table, seated beside the clan elder. That had never happened before.
The fragrant rice, the tantalizing aroma of meat—these were flavors they'd never even smelled before, let alone tasted.
The dishes were all familiar local fare; country folk preferred big, hearty portions over delicate cuisine. The star of the table was the braised pork—glossy, deep brown, perfectly balanced between fat and lean, half-soaked in a rich, savory sauce. It was the first choice for many.
The meat bounced slightly at the bite, then melted the instant it hit the tongue. The fat had zero greasiness, the lean was tender and not the slightest bit dry, and together the textures were pure satisfaction. The sauce, layered and thick with depth, was so delicious it made you want to dissolve completely.
One bite in, a kid started fussing: "Mom, when I'm done eating, save that sauce for my rice!"
"Me too!"
"Me too!"
The adults paid them no mind—privately, they wanted the same. Who knew what heavenly bliss that sauce would bring poured over steamed rice? It was first come, first served.
Then everyone reached for the glazed spare ribs, the braised lion's head meatballs, the ginger-sautéed duck slivers, the mouth-watering chicken, the scallion-blasted lamb, the braised fish, and other hefty, substantial meat dishes.
None of these were rare delicacies, so why did they taste so extraordinary when made by the Pei girl? The village women who fancied themselves decent cooks now realized they'd been parading their ignorance—how much good meat they'd wasted in the past.
Usually, at a feast, people would toast each other and chat and laugh. Now, all eyes were fixed solely on the food in front of them, and the entire courtyard was silent except for the sounds of chewing and swallowing. Even the kids who normally loved to make a racket were so focused they could nearly bite off their own fingers. The food was so good, it was enough to make you swallow your own tongue.
Halfway through the meal, the front gate banged open.
Everyone turned with mouths full of food to see Pei Fugui and his wife standing there, bedraggled and filthy.
Pei Fugui stared at Pei Liang, his face twisted with rage, his finger shaking as he pointed at her: "You—you unfilial daughter!"
"I—I'll beat you to death!" He grabbed a stick from the yard and made to lunge at her.
But no one was having it—not just Pei Liang's dozen-strong escort, but also the villagers themselves.
Pei Fugui hadn't gotten two steps before he was pinned down. He struggled violently and yelled: "What's the matter with you all? A father disciplining his daughter is a matter of heaven's law! Who are you to interfere?"
"Pei Fugui, you have no standing to speak here. The Pei clan doesn't stoop to mistreating young girls—we have our principles!"
"If you want to throw your weight around, look at what you've done first. You gambled away a century of family fortune, you wallowed in your own filth without an ounce of ambition, and left a young girl to fight tooth and nail for a future. For that alone, we could beat you to death on behalf of your father. When we meet him down below, I swear he'll say we did right by him."
"Little Liang's a capable lass—in just a few years she built herself up, and she's filial and good-hearted. She came back and tended to everything herself, busy from sunup to sundown. We know what you're up to—just trying to lord over your daughter."
"Look at your house—you two have run it into the ground. Everything sellable is sold. The village blocked you from going to the capital, so you sold it off cheap to that scoundrel in the next village. How your father never drowned you in a chamber pot, I'll never know—raising the afterbirth would have been an improvement."
"Your courtyard is more decrepit than a pigpen. How is Little Liang supposed to step foot in that? A normal person would die of shame even mentioning it, and you have the nerve to throw a tantrum?"
"Now that you're here, park yourself in a corner and eat. Make another fuss, and you'll be sorry."
Pei Fugui had been stewing in resentment for years. He'd finally gotten his hopes up when Pei Liang returned, planning to put her in her place, and had been waiting at home with all the pomp of a haughty patriarch. But she'd had everything delivered to someone else's house instead.
Of course he was furious enough to explode. But not a single person spoke up for him—not the clan elders who'd originally decided to let Pei Liang leave with the lion's share of the family's silver, and not even the usual gossips who'd had their reservations about her.
Hundreds of pairs of eyes stared straight at him—men and women, young and old, all with the same message written clearly on their faces:
"Sit down and eat quietly, or get out. If you dare ruin this banquet, we'll beat you to death on the spot."
Pei Fugui: …
But by then he was starving. All their household goods had been pawned off, and no one had given them a handout in ages. He was dizzy with hunger. Getting fed took priority.
He was just about to swallow his pride and sit down to eat when Pei Liang spoke with a smile: "I see father looks pallid, and his lips are pale—he must be weak and empty-bellied."
"Someone in that state can't eat rich meat all at once, or he'll be stuck with vomiting and diarrhea, exhausting himself. He should start with plain congee and pickled vegetables for a few meals, then ease his way to better fare."
With that, she gave a small wave: "Escort the master aside and serve him some congee."
