Transmigrating to the Qi Family - Chapter 164

Duke Zhong’s Residence

Granny Gao holds a letter in her hand and walks briskly toward the small Buddha hall where Grandmother Pei resides.

“Miss, the heir has sent a letter! He also sends back quite a lot of mountain goods. I’ve stored some in the warehouse, and the rest will be prepared for your meal tonight.” Granny Gao is visibly delighted. Just the previous evening, they had talked about the heir during their conversation, and to her surprise, a letter arrives early this morning.

In contrast to Granny Gao’s joyful demeanor, Grandmother Pei is initially pleased but then suddenly frowns and sighs.

Granny Gao looks puzzled. “The heir is so filial; why are you sighing?”

Grandmother Pei says, “It’s only about ten days until the New Year. Receiving a letter from Che’er at this time means that they won’t be coming back for the celebrations this year. Tell me, is Che’er still upset with me?”

This possibility hasn’t occurred to Granny Gao before. Upon hearing Grandmother Pei’s explanation, she finally understands. Before she can nod in agreement, Grandmother Pei continues, forcing her to halt her nod midway and change it into a shake of her head.

“Miss, how could you think that?” she says disapprovingly. “The heir is the most filial of all; he would never hold a grudge against you over a minor matter. If he isn’t coming back, it must be because he is too busy with official duties. Moreover, officials like him, assigned to local posts, cannot leave without proper orders. The heir is upright and loyal; how could he disregard the court’s rules?”

Her heartfelt words comfort Grandmother Pei somewhat. She takes the letter from the table and opens it to read.

As expected, after expressing his greetings, Pei Che tactfully explains that he will not be able to return for the New Year. In the letter, Pei Che expresses sincere regret for not being able to come home and his guilt over not being able to accompany her. His heartfelt words reassure Grandmother Pei, and her earlier displeasure quickly dissipates.

After closing the letter, Grandmother Pei says, “Cangzhou is a poor place, and I imagine even if they have money, they wouldn’t be able to buy anything decent. Later, take a few people to prepare the New Year supplies they’ll need and send them over.”

Granny Gao agrees, but Grandmother Pei still seems uneasy. She adds, “This is the first time Che’er hasn’t been by my side for the New Year. My heart can’t settle. Since he can’t come back, why don’t I go to Cangzhou to see him?”

Granny Gao is stunned by her mistress’s sudden whim and quickly exclaims, “Miss, that’s not possible!”

“Why not?”

“Let’s not even mention that it’s year’s end and freezing cold outside. Even on normal days, your body can’t handle the strain of sitting in a carriage for a long journey. If the heir finds out you’ve had such an idea, he’d likely defy orders to rush back and spend New Year with you. Please, don’t make everyone worry!” Granny Gao is well aware of her mistress’s age and her life of comfort. She knows that just a few hours into the journey, the complaints will begin. A trip to Cangzhou? What’s the point of such trouble?

Grandmother Pei is a little upset but has no retort. Granny Gao isn’t wrong. If Pei Che really defies orders to return, she would regret it even more.

The first time Pei Che disobeys an imperial order, he marries a male spouse who runs a business. If he defies the emperor a second time, who knows what consequences await him?

Far away in Cangzhou, Pei Che and Jiang Miao remain unaware of this situation. If they knew, they might send a letter specifically to thank Granny Gao for persuading Grandmother Pei. Otherwise, they’d be left with a major headache.

The mountain goods shipped back from Cangzhou to Liangjing are divided into premium and regular grades, which Manager Chen sells in the capital. Among them, there are also some top-grade items that he doesn’t sell. Instead, he carefully packages them and sends portions to the Duke’s residence, the Feng family, Jiang Miao’s second uncle’s household, and Miss Xiaoyu’s family. These presents allow them to savor the authentic flavors of Cangzhou.

In addition to the goods, letters are sent to inform everyone that they won’t be returning for New Year, ensuring they don’t worry unnecessarily.

Initially, Pei Che plans to return to Liangjing, but after calculating the time, he realizes his leave is too short. The journey itself would take nearly twenty days round trip. Instead of rushing back, arriving in a flurry just to make a brief appearance at family gatherings, he decides it’s better to stay in Cangzhou, save up his leave, and plan a proper trip later.

…

Although Cangzhou is poor, it becomes lively during the New Year period. Every day, people flock to the town, either to buy cheap grain or to pick up some New Year goods.

Outside the Harvest Grain Shop, long lines form daily. Both buyers and sellers of mountain goods wear broad smiles on their faces.

However, even amid the general cheer, some leave in disappointment.

Early that morning, a guard tasked with surveillance returns to report that the people from Datong Trading Company are packing up and preparing to leave. From the items they are carrying, it’s clear they have sold almost nothing of what they brought.

Pei Che nods in acknowledgment and asks about the grain and mountain goods shops associated with Datong Trading Company. Upon learning that these shops have no plans to move, he understands that they aren’t giving up on business in this region.

Steward Xu of Datong Trading Company indeed harbors such thoughts. During his time in Cangzhou, he waits every day for the Harvest Grain Shop to close due to unsold stock. However, every few days, large shipments of grain arrive at the city gates by convoy.

After his business is disrupted, he tries to use a strategy of refusing to open his shop, hoping this will push the people of Cangzhou to pressure Pei Che. Unexpectedly, this move backfires completely, akin to lifting a rock only to drop it on his own foot.

Now, while no one interferes with his operations, their goods no longer sell either. He even sends people to cause trouble, but within a day, those individuals are caught, paraded through the streets, and publicly shamed.

Currently, the people of Cangzhou have been won over by the Harvest Grain Shop. Steward Xu worries that reopening now might provoke the townsfolk into retaliating against him. After much deliberation, he decides to temporarily withdraw and wait for an opportunity to make his move later.

Three days before the New Year, Pei Che and his team seal the official seal of their office, marking the start of their holiday. Until reopening on the seventh day of the new lunar year, he finally has a break from his usual hectic schedule.

Jiang Miao, however, is busy managing New Year preparations and the operations of the grain shop. Overwhelmed by the workload, he can’t bear seeing Pei Che lounging around idly and promptly ropes him into helping. He tasks him with sorting through items recently delivered from Liangjing. In addition to supplies from the Duke’s residence, the Feng family sends over two cartloads of goods, including a wide variety of food and daily necessities, all thoughtfully prepared.

Aside from Pei Che, Jiang Miao also summons Xiao Shitou and Pei Mu. The two boys have been on winter break for a few days, and after finishing their studies each day, they cause endless mischief. If they aren’t fishing the newly introduced koi out of Jiang Miao’s lotus pond to feed the cats, they are climbing trees and rooftops with Xiao Baidian, never resting for a moment.

Every time Jiang Miao wants to punish them, he is disarmed by their wide, blinking eyes. This time, he hands the two troublemakers over to Pei Che, finally gaining some peace and quiet for his ears.

Now it’s Pei Che’s turn to have a headache. Fortunately, the Feng family’s delivery includes a large box of toys, clearly prepared for the two boys. With new toys to keep them occupied, they finally stop making trouble.

Seated to the side, Pei Che begins opening and reading several letters sent from Liangjing. Upon reading them, he learns that last month, Pei Pu and Pei Min both finalized marriage arrangements. The engagements are set for March of the following year, with weddings planned for August.

Pei Che casually sets the letter aside. These marriage arrangements have little to do with him, save for the need to send a congratulatory present. When the time comes, he will simply instruct someone to deliver it.

The remaining letters are from elders expressing their thoughts and concerns. However, reading his grandmother’s letter leaves Pei Che with mixed emotions. The entire five pages are filled with details about him—every word revolves around him alone. There isn’t a single mention of Pei Mu, let alone Jiang Miao or Xiao Shitou.

Sometimes, Pei Che feels that his grandmother sees him as a stand-in for his father. The way she looks at him often makes it seem like she is gazing through him at someone else. This kind of favoritism leaves him feeling heavy and stifled whenever he is in her presence.

“Brother, what’s wrong?” Pei Mu walks up to Pei Che, his eyes filled with concern. His gaze lingers on the letter in Pei Che’s hand, as though trying to discern what kind of content could leave his brother so distracted.

Pei Che snaps out of his thoughts and instinctively flips the letter over, hiding its contents. Realizing Pei Mu’s puzzled look, he becomes aware that he has overreacted a little.

“It’s nothing,” Pei Che says as he glances around, quickly changing the subject. “Mu’er, where’s Xiao Shitou?”

“Xiao Shitou probably went to find Xiao Baidian. Among the things Grandfather sent, there was a stuffed cloth mouse. Xiao Shitou said it was a toy for Xiao Baidian…” Pei Mu responds casually, unaware of any deeper implications.

Pei Che looks at him standing confidently before him, healthy and self-assured. His heart fills with relief. The boy standing here, chatting freely, is a far cry from the silent child who used to lower his head and toy with a jade pendant.

Pei Che’s heart once again fills with love and gratitude for Jiang Miao. If not for Jiang Miao, Pei Che might never have realized how inadequate he had been as a brother. Every time he thinks of those years when Pei Mu had been left alone in the small courtyard, bullied and neglected, it breaks his heart.

“Mu’er, do you resent Grandmother?” Almost without thinking, Pei Che voices the question that has been on his mind.

Pei Mu pauses, startled, and lets out a questioning “Huh?” It’s clear he has never considered such a strange question.

“Do you resent Grandmother?” Pei Che repeats. “She’s your grandmother, but she pays no attention to you. Do you hold it against her?”

Pei Mu furrows his brows, giving the question serious thought. After a moment, he shakes his head and replies, “No, I don’t.”

Looking into Pei Mu’s clear eyes, Pei Che knows he is telling the truth.

“Why not?” Pei Che presses.

Pei Mu thinks for a moment before answering, “Because I don’t care about her. If I don’t care about her, there’s no reason to resent her.”

In Pei Mu’s heart, his family consists only of his brother, Jiang Miao, and Xiao Shitou. As long as they treat him well, he doesn’t care about anyone else. Whether others treat him kindly or poorly is irrelevant. Why would he concern himself with the actions of someone he regards as a stranger?

Pei Che opens his mouth but can’t find the right words to say. Should he explain that their grandmother doesn’t act this way on purpose, that she is just venting her grief after losing her children? But what fault does Pei Mu have in this? When their grandmother lost her son and daughter-in-law, Pei Mu lost his parents too.

Perhaps, for them, treating each other as strangers is the best solution.

Pei Che can’t persuade his grandmother to change her attitude toward Mu’er, nor can he ask Mu’er to humble himself to please someone who has always ignored him.

…

That night, Pei Che can’t fall asleep. He doesn’t dare toss and turn, afraid of waking Jiang Miao, so he simply stares wide-eyed at the dark ceiling above.

However, after sharing a bed for so long, Jiang Miao can easily distinguish his different breathing patterns. Noticing the prolonged silence, he asks, “What’s wrong?”

Pei Che flinches and apologizes, “Did I wake you?”

“I wasn’t even asleep yet,” Jiang Miao replies. “Don’t tell me you’re still sulking because I made you tidy up this morning?”

Pei Che chuckles softly, knowing Jiang Miao is teasing him. “How could I be so petty? It’s nothing. You’ve had a long day—get some rest.”

Jiang Miao leans closer. “Well, now I’m curious. If you don’t tell me, I won’t be able to sleep all night.”

Pei Che hasn’t intended to say anything, worried Jiang Miao will think he is being overly sensitive. But the consequences of staying silent seem worse, so he recounts the events of the morning.

After hearing the story, Jiang Miao remains silent for a moment before saying, “Everyone has their own destiny. Even between family members, there can be varying degrees of closeness and distance. If there’s no bond between them, then don’t force it. I was raised by my grandparents. My parents are still alive, but they each remarried and started new families. Neither of them wanted me, and they never came back to see me. So, I’ve always considered them dead. If even biological parents can be so heartless, how can we expect anything more from someone a generation removed? Treating each other as strangers is the best option.”

Pei Che listens patiently. He didn’t know Jiang Miao had experienced such things. What kind of cruel parents could abandon such a well-behaved and understanding child? That Jiang Miao could grow up in such an environment and still live with such positivity and optimism makes Pei Che admire him even more.

But wait—hasn’t Jiang Miao’s parents passed away after having Xiao Shitou?

Jiang Miao suddenly freezes, realizing he has let something slip. His heartbeat quickens, pounding as if it will leap out of his chest.

Just as he is scrambling to come up with an excuse, Pei Che suddenly hugs him tightly and says, “I understand, Ah Miao. Thank you for making up a story to comfort me.”

“Heh… yes, that’s it! Now go to sleep!” Jiang Miao hasn’t expected Pei Che to be so easily fooled and quickly plays along.

Pei Che smiles, replies with a soft “Okay,” and closes his eyes. Holding Jiang Miao’s slightly stiff body, Pei Che thinks to himself: Ah Miao’s lies are so full of holes. Does he really think this is the first time he’s slipped up?