131: Chapter 131 Year-End

Aside from the Li Family industries, the dividends from the Wang Family industries were handed over to the Pei Clan a few days ago.

After a thorough count, it amounted to a full thirty thousand taels.

Since the rebellion a few months ago, the Wang Family's strength had been reduced to only half of its Peak.

The decline in population did not affect the revenue of the Wang Family industries. On the contrary, because of the Wang Family's population decline, even after a portion of the profits was distributed, the income received per Family member was actually higher.

However, a revenue of thirty thousand taels could certainly not be considered a small sum.

Calculated on a yearly basis, the silver handed over by the Wang Family could reach ninety thousand taels.

And the profits handed over by the Wang Family were only sixty percent of the Wang Family industries' total.

Looking at it this way, the annual profit of the Wang Family industries could reach one hundred and fifty thousand taels.

In comparison, the net profit of the Pei Clan industries was actually the lowest.

Whether it was the Wang Family or the Li Family industries, their development was better than the clan's own industries.

It was no wonder that the Pei Clan had been the perennial third place for a thousand years.

Therefore, the annual revenue appeared lower.

The industries of the other two families were different; even the Wang Family members could only receive the most basic monthly allowance from the Wang Family industries and could not enjoy the same treatment as the Pei Clan members.

However.

What surprised Pei Qingyun the most was the Yuanhang Trade Caravan.

Since the establishment of the Yuanhang Trade Caravan, Pei Qingyun had entrusted it to the Pei Family's Third Elder, Pei Tianping.

In just three months, the Yuanhang Trade Caravan had brought in nearly one hundred thousand taels of revenue.

This made Pei Qingyun realize that he had underestimated the transportation market.

Ever since the Pei Clan took over the Fuyuan Escort Agency, half of the escort business had fallen into the hands of the Yuanhang Trade Caravan.

Some escort agencies that were unwilling to join the Yuanhang Trade Caravan thought they could rely on their past connections to struggle and hold on.

Unfortunately, the Yuanhang Trade Caravan was too large, and with the Pei Clan's support in the background, these escort agencies soon stopped receiving any business.

For one, the Yuanhang Trade Caravan had great strength and fast transportation efficiency, and these escort agencies could not compete in terms of price either.

The crushing superiority from all aspects caused the transportation business to be almost entirely monopolized by the Yuanhang Trade Caravan.

After the monopoly, the Yuanhang Trade Caravan appropriately increased prices slightly.

Unexpectedly, just this small change earned the Pei Clan one hundred thousand taels of silver in three months.

In addition, the Yuanhang Trade Caravan had also opened up a certain market within the six counties of Jinhuai.

However, this also indicated that the cake in the transportation sector was still very large. If the Yuanhang Trade Caravan could monopolize the entire six counties of Jinhuai, one million taels a year would not be a problem.

Beside him, when Pei Tianrong heard Pei Tianping report the revenue of the Yuanhang Trade Caravan, his mind went blank, and he found it hard to believe.

If the Li Family's eighty thousand taels of revenue had pleasantly surprised him, then the one hundred thousand taels brought in by the Yuanhang Trade Caravan was somewhat beyond his comprehension.

Pei Tianrong said, "The Yuanhang Trade Caravan is actually this profitable. Tianping, bring the ledger over for me to see."

Upon hearing this, Pei Tianping handed over the ledger.

Pei Tianrong stepped forward, took the ledger, and began to examine it carefully.

The ledger clearly recorded every instance of revenue and expenditure for the Yuanhang Trade Caravan. Especially in the large transaction sections, the details of the escorted goods were explicitly noted.

Pei Tianrong flipped through it quickly; while browsing the ledger, he was also silently calculating in his mind.

Before long, Pei Tianrong put down the ledger and couldn't help but exclaim, "Earning one hundred thousand taels in three months—all of our Pei Clan's industries combined only earn one hundred and ten thousand taels after a year of hard work. If it weren't for the Old Ancestor's suggestion back then, our Pei Clan would have missed yet another golden opportunity."

Pei Tianping agreed, "If it weren't for the Old Ancestor's profound insight, seeing through the mystery at a glance, we wouldn't have the current Yuanhang Trade Caravan."

The Yuanhang Trade Caravan was the final link in all the industries.

As Pei Tianping finished his report, the overview of the Pei Clan's major industries was basically complete.

As of now, the Pei Clan's profitability had already surpassed that of the vast majority of veteran third-rate families.

This year's profit alone reached three hundred and seventy thousand taels.

This did not even count the five hundred thousand taels of compensation from the Liu Family.

Developing with this trend, it was not impossible for next year's profit to reach one million taels.

Such revenue was not inferior at all, even when compared to top-tier third-rate families presided over by a Six Viscera Grandmaster.

However, in terms of strength, the Pei Clan still had a certain gap compared to these top-tier third-rate families.

Mainly because the Pei Clan's four Five-Viscera Martial Artists were all at the Early stage of Five Viscera Realm.

With the Pei Clan's current foundation, it would take at least another half a year to produce a Mid stage of Five Viscera Realm expert.

Of course, where there is profit, there is naturally loss.

It was just that the loss-making industries were a drop in the bucket compared to the profitable ones.

Pei Qingyun sat to the side, listening silently without speaking.

Only when the Family's major direction deviated would he say a few words. Specific matters and details were all handled by Pei Tianrong.

After the report was finished, it was time for the awards.

The Yuanhang Trade Caravan had the best business performance, so naturally, it received the highest reward. For this, Pei Tianping received five Divine Pills as a reward.

The heads of the other industries also came up to receive their rewards. This continued until the hour of Hai, when everyone finally dispersed.

The next day was the testing of the younger generation.

It was also presided over by Pei Tianrong, while Pei Qingyun acted as an observer.

Compared to last year, the Si-generation had made significant progress. Many young Family members of the Si-generation had entered the Perfection of Foundation Establishment.

A few had entered the Early Stage of Divine Power and were already capable of handling matters on their own.

Pei Tianrong was very pleased with these test results.

What the Pei Clan lacked most now were young Family members at the Divine Power level.

Although the Li Family industries had been taken over, due to a lack of manpower, there were still many drawbacks remaining.

If the entire Si-generation could grow up, they would be able to fill this gap perfectly.

After the testing was finished, Pei Tianrong organized the young Family members of the Si-generation for the winter hunt.

After many years of development, the winter hunt had become a way for Great Family Disciples to celebrate the festival.

For this reason, the Pei Clan would clear out a hunting ground before the year-end.

After all, the strongest young Family member of the Si-generation, Pei Sili, was only at the Mid-Stage Divine Strength, and many others were still Foundation Martial Artists.

They could handle ordinary wild beasts or first-rank exotic beasts, but if they encountered a second-rank exotic beast, they wouldn't even be able to protect themselves.

Training is training, but the Pei Clan would not deliberately place the younger generation in dangerous situations; otherwise, that would be foolish.

"In previous years, the first place in the hunt was always the Young Lord. I wonder if it will change this year," a Pei Clan member laughed and said.

"In my opinion, there won't be much change. Although Siyou and Silong have both broken through to the Early Stage of Divine Power, I don't think it's likely they will surpass the Young Lord," another Pei Clan member retorted.

"That's hard to say. How about we make a bet? Let's bet the price of a meal of wine. What do you think?"

"Sure."

...

The Pei Clan members present, including Pei Qingyun, had all participated in the winter hunt when they were young.

As the primary festival on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the winter hunt naturally attracted the attention of all Family members.