Food Fairy Lord

Chapter 580 Settlement of Accounts
Jiang Yin'er turned around and closed the door gently. There was a kind of silence in the old book building brought about by the passage of time. Jiang Yin'er sat upright next to Pei Ye, just half a head shorter than him.

"There are so many letters." The girl looked at the table and whispered.

"Yes, they were all sent from Bowang Prefecture." Pei Ye smiled, "That one was from the magistrate of Chang County in Fenghuai, and this one was from my teacher in the martial arts school when I was a child..."

Jiang Yin'er leaned over to take a look. The letter contained several long paragraphs on Yu Peiye's martial arts theory, which was pointed out and explained in a very logical manner. The girl did not dare to be disrespectful: "Brother Shi, who is this master?"

"What kind of expert is this? San Sheng is over forty years old." Pei Ye said with a smile, "I can knock him down with one punch right now."

Jiang Yin'er glared slightly. She grew up in a Taoist school with a strict order of seniority and clear etiquette, but when she heard such disrespectful words, she didn't dare to point fingers at this brother. She only apologized to Master Huang in her heart on his behalf.

"So many people care about you, brother." Jiang Yin'er was a little envious, "I only received three letters."

"Oh? Which three?"

"One letter is from my master, one is from my senior brothers and sisters, and one is from my friends who went to the opera with me in Lishui City." Jiang Yin'er listed them clearly.

"Are your friends who are going to the opera male or female?"

Jiang Yin'er was slightly startled: "...There are several people, two young masters and two young ladies."

"Hmm." Pei Ye nodded indifferently.

"..."

"..."

Jiang Yin'er looked at him, and Pei Ye couldn't help laughing: "Why are you looking at me?"

Jiang Yin'er also laughed: "Brother Shi always says strange things suddenly."

"I was just teasing you." Pei Ye said, opening the blue envelope in his hand.

"This letter is so beautiful." Jiang Yiner said.

Li Piaoqing's letter was indeed recognizable at a glance. The paper and ink were very fine, the paper was bluish in color, and there were faint floral prints on it, which matched the girl's light and sharp handwriting.

"I can also make this kind of inlaid paper," Jiang Yin'er whispered beside her, "Mix thin and small flowers in when making paper, and it will leave flower marks after drying."

Pei Ye was slightly stunned. He didn't know Piao Qing also had this skill, and she had never mentioned it to him. But to be honest, the time they had spent together was very short, and he had indeed never climbed the Yufei Mountain where she grew up.

"But this kind of paper is easy to damage and the output is quite small. I use it very carefully." Jiang Yin'er said seriously, "This friend is willing to use it to send a letter to Brother Shi. He must cherish the friendship with Brother Shi very much."

"..." Pei Ye paused, "This was sent to me by Li Piaoqing."

"what……"

Pei Ye smiled, opened it, and looked down.

The unique and light handwriting on the spring flowers reflects a unique brightness and liveliness.

"Mr. Pei, it's been a long time since we last met. It's nice to see you in person.

Qu Xin is too slow in doing things. Considering that this letter has been sent to you, it should be the end of the year, so I wish you good luck and good health.

Stop asking her to mend your clothes.

Thank you for sending back the Jade Sword Theory and precious annotations. My master and I are studying them carefully. Cuiyu Sword Sect has come all the way from despair and now continues the inheritance of [Feiyu Xian]. It has always been well taken care of by Master Pei. Now that Yufei has explored Bowang, it will recruit disciples in the five surrounding states next spring. In the future, when Yufei Mountain becomes the big brother in Longdi, it will definitely give Master Pei a badge of deputy sect leader. "

Jiang Yin'er chuckled.

Pei Ye turned his head to look at her. The girl blushed and quickly turned her head away from his sight.

"I asked you to sit here, but I didn't allow you to peek."

"sorry."

Pei Ye turned his gaze back and continued looking.

"Master is very happy about your concern and wants me to tell you the good news and hidden worries, but his body is indeed exhausted. It has been a long-cherished wish to see the "Fei Yu Xian" reappear in the world. 'Death and life are natural laws, and nothing can stop them.' I hope I can spend another year with him this year.

The situation in Bowang is good, and I am also taking care of Fenghuai. However, after more contact, Tianshan puzzles me a little. I gradually know that they have been preparing to enter the world in recent years and are willing to support the revival of Yufei in Shaolong. However, they have little desire to control Yufei and do not try to exert any influence. When asked about it, Miss Shi just smiled and said nothing, saying that Tianshan is now "focusing on the inside and looking up", and I don't know what chessboard is outlined.

I heard from Qu Xin that you have made a big splash in Shenjing again. You and Yan Feiqing took on the largest gang in Shenjing with your swords at Xichi. The Cui family pearl in the national newspaper wrote a sword review for you, and Qu Xin recited it to me. Zhang Dingyun was worried that you were too stupid to get along in Shenjing, but I told him that the bigger the occasion, the more impressive you would be. Now I know who understands Young Master Pei the best.

I hope you can make more friends in Shenjing, and don't forget to write to your old friend Li Piaoqing when you have time. I know that Master Pei will be a famous swordsman sooner or later, so don't let any worries hold you back.

Maybe we can meet next spring. I look forward to seeing you again.

An old friend writes with sincerity. "

Pei Ye stared at it for a while, feeling a smile of comfort and a sense of loss. He didn't know what he expected to read from the letter. He turned the letter paper around in his hands twice, as if he saw the girl in late autumn writing these relaxed words in front of the rainy window and then sending them to an old friend thousands of miles away. Jiang Yin'er, who was standing next to him with her hands on her knees and looking straight ahead, whispered, "Brother Shi, can I turn around?"

The girl's face was stern, and she stared ahead motionlessly.

"...Who told you not to turn your head?" Pei Ye laughed, "You peeked by yourself."

Jiang Yin'er apologized: "I was careless."

Then she cast a glance and suddenly noticed: "Brother Shi, there is another line of words on the back of this letter."

Pei Ye was startled, and turned it over. There was indeed a line of scribbled handwriting, as if it was added later:
"Also: I have already paid the medical bills you owed to Qu Xin, and I also paid her seventy taels of silver in advance. According to her price, it can save three of your lives. If you get hurt again, just come to her."

"..."

"...Brother Shi, what did Sister Piaoqing write?" Jiang Yin'er looked at Pei Ye in confusion as he stood up silently, put on a warm cloak and walked out.

"The date of Qu Xin's death."

……

New Year's Eve passed by amid the city's firecrackers and lights. The next morning, the house began to really get lively. People who had been staying up all night began to visit relatives and friends. The adults had their own team, while the younger generations gathered in groups and had their own places to go.

The white snow was still falling, but the sky was much less gloomy. As soon as the bright morning arrived, there was a knock on the door of the house. Over the course of the morning, familiar faces came in one after another.

There is no need to say much about Yuan Zhao, Di Jiu, and Li Mingqiu who were welcomed directly into the inner courtyard by Xu Chuo. Among the remaining young people, Chang Sun Jue came here early in the morning dressed warmly, and it was obvious that he didn't love home anymore; Shang Lang arrived later, wearing a neat martial arts uniform and with exquisite eyes, but his clothes did not look very new, which was not decent for a son of a general; Xie Chuantang came with Zhang Piaoxu, and they paid a visit to this "Lord Tong" very properly and seriously. Zhang Piaoxu behind him looked a little stiff among so many strangers, but in silence he kept looking into Xu Chuo's yard.

Firecrackers rang out from time to time in the yard, accompanied by Chang Sun Jue's laughter. In the corner, Qu Xin was forced to stand against the wall, looking up at the sky with a cold face, as if there was endless fun in it.

"When did I owe you medical bills? Ah? Speak!" Cui Zhaoye's mouth was dry from helping him along, and Jiang Yin'er was tired of trying to persuade him, but the young man still maintained his inextinguishable anger, "Last time you left Beijing, I gave you some Linxue wine as payment, and you even gave me twenty taels in return!"

"We had already settled the debt at that time, but you actually went to Piao Qing to pay the medical bills I owed. How could you be such a blatant fraud!"

"I didn't expect..." Qu Xin looked at the sky calmly.

"What didn't you expect?"

"I didn't expect Li Piaoqing to write in light strokes on the back." Qu Xin thought thoughtfully.

"Is it her business whether to write the light pen or not?!" Pei Ye glared at her, "Hide it in the middle and make money from both ends! What do you mean by little medicine man? You are just a small medicine dealer!"

Qu Xin counted the snowflakes falling towards his eyes.

"Anything else you want to say?" Qu Xin turned his head and said, "I told you that this is the cost of keeping you in the top pavilion for three extra days after you left Shaolong Medical Building without permission..."

"Give it back to me!" Pei Ye stretched out his hand.

Qu Xin paused for a moment, then took out twenty-one taels and gave them to him.

"You told Piaoqing it was twenty-one taels?"

Qu Xin was silent for a moment, then took out another nine taels and gave them to him.

Pei Ye weighed the heavy weight in his hand and snorted coldly.

At this time, a hesitant and solemn step came to the side of Qi Zhaohua, Xing Zhi and others who were watching and laughing, and stood quietly behind them.

"There's more." Pei Ye said, "Who told you to collect my medical expenses in advance? If I hadn't read it in the letter, would you have never told me?"

"How could that be?" Qu Xin said calmly, "This is insurance money."

"…What insurance money?"

"Just in case one day you are seriously injured and dying, and all your money is gone, I will use these three chances to save you." Qu Xin looked at him seriously and said, "So that I won't have to watch you die without helping."

Pei Ye was silent for a long time before she understood. This meant that she would still have to spend money to treat her injuries in the future... She would not use the seventy taels until all her money was gone.

Pei Ye pointed at her nose and didn't care about it: "Let me ask you, we agreed in Shaolong that one of my lives would cost 20 taels, and three lives, why do you want 70 taels for Piao Qing?"

"I think your life is becoming more and more valuable now, so it has increased by three taels, and is now worth twenty-three taels."

"What about the remaining one or two?"

"…It's hard to find, so I'll make it up."

"Give it back."

Qu Xin took out one or two pieces and handed them to him.

Pei Ye then snatched it away, glanced at her sideways, and decided to stare at this seemingly heartless girl with extreme vigilance in the future.

Then he turned around and saw the tall figure of a man standing in front of him - Shang Lang looked at him with a smile, with some anticipation and joy.

"Brother Shang, why are you gathered here?" Pei Ye said with a smile.

Shang Lang didn't quite know how he got here. He was leaning against the wall and talking with Xie Chuantang about the security of the imperial guards and the government office in Shenjing, but his ears suddenly caught some words like "return the money" and "twenty taels", and his feet moved subconsciously.

Shang Lang held his arm, looking somewhat ashamed: "I really misunderstood Young Master Pei. I just heard from Officer Xie that your money was stolen and used, and the account cannot be recovered. Now I see that Taishan Medicine House is owing you money. I thought that you were seriously injured several times, and the money must have been spent on treatment, but I thought... Alas, I thought you were deliberately withholding the money."

"Brother Shang, we met in Fenghuai, and witnessed each other's character in life and death. How can you doubt me so much?" Pei Ye also smiled and said, "Look, I have collected all the money, haven't I?"

"That's right, that's right. Very good!" Shang Lang was obviously two years older than him, and when he was happy, he acted like a big boy.

Pei Ye chatted with him while carefully counting the silver in his hand. He got thirty-one taels from his pocket and added some from his waist to make a total of nineteen taels. Shang Lang watched his actions with great energy.

"Let's not hold grudges in the new year!" Pei Ye smiled, stretched his body, and took two steps forward.

Shang Lang held his arm and couldn't help but smiled and said, "Add that one ounce, and it will be just right—"

Pei Ye took another step forward, combined the two bundles of silver together, a total of fifty taels, and handed it to Qi Zhaohua.

"..."

"Miss Qi, since you don't want interest, just pay back the fifty taels of silver."

Qi Zhaohua smiled and said, "Since Sect Leader Li has been so devoted to helping me, I have no choice but to temporarily give up the honor of being Young Master Pei's creditor."

"Haha." Pei Ye laughed twice, but turned his head to the side and said, "Brother Shang, how come you also know that I borrowed money from Mr. Qi?"

"..."

Shang Lang was silent for a while: "Pei Ye, I don't want any interest either."

"..."

"..."

In Xiangzhai, by the wall, Pei Ye and Shang Lang sat side by side, leaning against the wall, quietly looking at the falling snow together.

"Oh, yes." Pei Ye scratched his head, "I actually owed you twenty taels."

Shang Lang gave him a cold look.

"Because, Brother Shang, you acted so cool and carefree at that time." Pei Ye frowned and said, "You said something like 'I should have about twenty dollars left in my pocket, you can use it', and I spent all the money in the ten days I stayed in the state capital, and then I forgot about it..."

"Then why don't you return it?"

"I will definitely pay it back!" Pei Ye frowned and reached into his wallet, "But now... Tsk..."

They both fell silent at the same time.

"Oh, that's right!" Pei Ye suddenly slapped his knee.

Shang Lang's eyes lit up and he looked at him.

Pei Ye was silent for a moment: "Brother Shang, I may be able to return the twenty taels to you. I may even pay you back a lot more...but it depends on whether you have the courage."

Shang Lang looked at him warily: "What are you going to do?"

"What are you doing?" Pei Ye glanced at him, "Don't think wrongly - this is it, wait a moment."

He stood up, went back to the house and got a green long sword. He sat next to Shang Lang, drew the blade for him to see, and saw a gap on the sword that was as bright as water.

"Brother Shang, this sword was the reward for winning the Bowang Golden Autumn Contest, and it was chosen by Piao Qing for me, but it was broken by someone - how much do you think it would cost to repair this sword?"

Shang Lang frowned slightly and took it for a closer look: "...Swords of the lower grade of [Eastern Sea Sword Furnace] are often sold for 180 taels. This one is particularly solid and fine, so it's probably worth more than 100 taels...Although only one piece is broken, the entire structure of the sword is damaged. If it needs to be repaired, the steel is not expensive, but it takes a lot of skill for the swordsmith to carefully dissect the sword and finally restore it to its original state...I think the total cost is more than 30 taels."

"That's it." Pei Ye said seriously, "Someone broke my sword and needs compensation. I haven't asked him for the money yet. Don't worry, he has plenty of money. Now I'll give you the identity of the creditor. You can take the sword and ask for compensation. All the money you get will be yours."

“…I don’t feel comfortable with this.” Shang Lang touched the back of his head as he took it, looking a little bit unbelieving.

"Ok?"

"...Okay." Shang Lang was still a little embarrassed and emphasized, "He has to pay you back at least thirty taels."

"It's okay." Pei Ye waved his hand and said, "As long as you are satisfied. Anyway, you are a member of the Imperial Guard, so it's convenient if you are close."

Shang Lang was slightly confused: "Why is it so convenient for the Imperial Guards... Who is this person? How did he break your sword?"

"It was the day when we gambled for the sword. I used this sword." Pei Ye said in a normal tone, "I don't know his name, but he is the emperor in Daming Palace anyway...just go and get it."

"..."

(End of this chapter)