190: Chapter 190

Pei Tianming glared at Pei Siyi and said, "Speak up, what do you want this time?"

Pei Siyi said with a fawning expression, "Dad, you really understand me. This time, just one thousand taels of silver will do."

Without even blinking, Pei Tianming pulled two silver banknotes stamped with the imperial seal from his robes, "Here are two thousand taels in banknotes. Take them and use them for now."

"Dad, have you made a fortune somewhere recently? In the past, whenever I asked you for five hundred taels, you would haggle for ages. This time, you handed over two thousand taels without hesitation," Pei Siyi said in surprise.

He had expected another round of bargaining, never imagining his father would be so generous.

Today, the sun must have risen from the west.

Looking at Pei Siyi's expression, Pei Tianming felt his anger flare, "You little brat, is your backside itching again? You dare to ridicule your own father?"

Pei Siyi shrank his neck and immediately cowered, "Dad, I really didn't mean it. Please believe me..."

Pei Tianming put on a serious face, though a hint of affection lingered deep in his eyes, "That's enough. You haven't been back in two years, so I won't lecture you this time. The Family has changed a lot over these two years; once you return, ask more questions and learn more."

Through the curtains, Pei Siyi watched the bustling crowds on Shiming Street, feeling a sense of trance as if he were still in Longnan Prefecture.

Half an hour later, the carriage stopped at the main entrance of the Pei Clan Estate.

As soon as Pei Tianming and Pei Siyi stepped off the carriage, they were recognized by the Pei Clan members entering and leaving the main gate, who greeted them warmly.

As the general manager of the Yuanhang Trade Caravan for all counties, Pei Tianming was also the Third Elder of the Pei Clan.

In the eyes of many Pei Clan members, Pei Tianming not only held a high status but was also a highly sought-after figure.

Even when Pei Clan members reached adulthood and chose to work in the Family's industries, their top priority was the Yuanhang Trade Caravan.

Although working for the Yuanhang Trade Caravan required frequent travel away from home and involved harsher conditions, the high compensation alone was enough to overcome any difficulties.

Furthermore, when Pei Clan members managed or worked in various major industries, they basically brought their whole families along.

However, the spots in the Yuanhang Trade Caravan were limited, and the vast majority of Pei Clan members had to be assigned to other industries.

Naturally, Pei Siyi also became a target of the Pei Clan members' enthusiasm.

"Dad, what exactly happened in the last two years? The Family has changed so much; even the location of the main gate has changed," Pei Siyi remarked with emotion.

Pei Tianming explained, "That is only natural. Not long ago, the Pei Clan Estate underwent an expansion. Look at the surrounding walls; aren't they different from before? These walls are much neater and more solid than before because the Old Ancestor added a material called cement to them."

"It really is. This is too magical; how did the Old Ancestor manage to do that? Dad, can you tell me what has happened in the Family over these past two years?" An expression of disbelief appeared in Pei Siyi's eyes.

He hadn't been to Wuyang for only two years, yet he never expected the changes in the Family to be this massive.

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed it.

Pei Tianming laughed, "That is a long story. Once we reach our courtyard, I will tell you all the details."

Before long, the father and son returned to their courtyard.

With the expansion of the Pei Clan Estate, the courtyards of the Elders had naturally undergone renovations, and the conditions were much better than before.

The courtyard where Pei Tianming lived alone was nearly an acre in size, having expanded by almost half compared to before the renovations.

Walking from the main entrance, Pei Siyi was almost completely immersed in the astonishing changes that had occurred within the Pei Clan.

Originally, he had thought that having stayed in Longnan Prefecture for two years, he could be considered somewhat knowledgeable.

Now it seemed he had become the frog at the bottom of the well instead.

Fortunately, his father had come to pick him up personally. If he had returned alone, he might have been bragging about his experiences in Longnan Prefecture in front of some friends.

By then, it would have been him who felt embarrassed...

Once they reached their courtyard, Pei Tianming began to recount the development history of the Wuyang Pei Clan over the past two years.

Pei Siyi listened attentively, but his eyes were wide as copper bells.

What exactly had he missed out on during these two years of study?

He had thought that while studying in Longnan Prefecture, he hadn't neglected his cultivation as a Martial Artist, and his Realm had reached Early Stage Divine Strength.

At fifteen years old, at the Peak of Early Stage Divine Strength, he was just one step away from Mid-Stage Divine Strength. Among his direct-line peers in the Pei Clan, he should have been able to rank in the top five, or even the top three.

Now, looking at the situation, his cultivation speed might not even rank in the bottom five.

After hearing Pei Tianming's account, he realized that his rate of progress in Longnan over these two years hadn't helped him pull ahead of his peers; instead, he had been left behind by them.

Some of the twelve or thirteen-year-olds of the "Si" generation had already caught up to him in cultivation.

Studying, what kind of study was this?

He had endured hardships and traveled alone to another prefecture.

Even if he didn't stand out from the crowd, he should have at least been a step ahead of his peers.

But in the end, he had become the clown.

He was the one who suffered, and he was the one who ended up last.

His peers in the Family only had to focus on their cultivation within the Family.

For these past two years, what exactly had he been striving for?

"Dad, when you sent me to Longnan Prefecture to study and Cultivate back then, did you ever consider how I would feel today?" Pei Siyi looked at his father with eyes full of resentment and a pitiful expression.

"Yi'er, it's alright. Dad doesn't expect you to stand out; as long as you are down-to-earth, that's enough," Pei Tianming said.

At this moment, the resentment in Pei Siyi's eyes deepened.

"Dad, what kind of talk is this?" Pei Siyi thought to himself.

Pei Tianming seemed completely unaware of Pei Siyi's change in mood and continued to speak to himself, "Yi'er, look, you are already fifteen; in another year, you will be able to graduate from the Longnan Academy successfully. Your father has been thinking, you are grown up now, and it is time to find you a marriage arrangement."

Hearing this, Pei Siyi shrank his neck, his body trembling subconsciously, and he hurriedly refused, "Dad, I am still young, and my aspirations lie in the Martial Dao. I don't want to waste my Martial Dao at such a young age."

Pei Tianming said with a serious face, "Who said that getting married means you can't practice martial arts? Your Sixth Uncle's child, Sixing, is not even thirteen this year; he is not only a Divine Strength Martial Artist but also a First-Rank Alchemist. You have been studying in Longnan Prefecture for two years, and I am not asking you to stand out from the crowd, I just want to hold a grandson sooner. Is that wrong?"

"Dad, you..." Pei Siyi was suddenly unable to speak.

Was this still the same father who loved him dearly?

It is said that parents hope their sons will become Dragons and their daughters will become Phoenixes.

And yet, he, Pei Siyi, had been abandoned by his own father.

Could he, Pei Siyi, not become a generation's Prodigy?

Was he only meant to breed offspring for the Family?

At this moment, he understood everything. It was no wonder his father had specifically come to pick him up from Longnan Prefecture this year.

It turns out that the business trip was a ruse; getting him back to arrange a marriage was the truth.