88: Chapter 88 Two Families Arrive

Amidst his swirling thoughts, Pei Qingyun arrived at the main entrance of the Evil Suppression Bureau.

Before he could even alight from the carriage, an Evil-Suppressing Guard stepped forward to greet him, "Sir, please, this way."

As a distinguished guest of the Evil Suppression Bureau, although Pei Qingyun was not their superior, in their eyes, aside from Chen Yuanba, not even the Commander of the Evil Suppression Bureau could compare to him.

Following the Evil-Suppressing Guard, Pei Qingyun arrived at a courtyard.

Upon stepping into the courtyard, Pei Qingyun noticed a quaint, green-tiled brick house standing there.

As his gaze shifted downward, a small pavilion suddenly came into view.

A stone table was placed inside the pavilion, surrounded by three people who were chatting and laughing, seemingly having a pleasant conversation.

With just one glance, Pei Qingyun recognized one of them as Chen Yuanba.

As for the identities of the other two, it went without saying.

Within Wuyang County, there was simply no one who could make Chen Yuanba act as a companion.

Aside from people from the Chen or He families, Pei Qingyun could not think of any other possibility.

Walking along the bluestone path and passing through several small trails, Pei Qingyun arrived at the pavilion.

Upon seeing Pei Qingyun arrive, Chen Yuanba immediately walked forward and introduced him to the two people beside him, "This is the Brother Pei I mentioned, Pei Qingyun."

In front of the two, Chen Yuanba did not hide his relationship with Pei Qingyun.

Among noble families, unequal strength led to unequal relationships.

To a second-rate noble family, an ordinary Five-Viscera Martial Artist was not considered much of an expert.

Direct descendants of second-rate noble families, as long as they didn't perish prematurely, would mostly become Five-Viscera Martial Artists in the future, and direct lineage members had a significant chance of breaking through to the Six Bowels Realm.

This led to direct descendants or lineage members of second-rate noble families often looking down on people from third-rate noble families.

On this point, Pei Qingyun had long understood it clearly from the memories of his predecessor.

That was why, when he initially agreed to sell grain to the Chen and He families, he had asked clearly about the selling price.

With Chen Yuanba's introduction, the two men's attitudes toward Pei Qingyun became much friendlier.

Just as Pei Qingyun had guessed, the man in the green robe was a direct descendant of the Chen family named Chen Yuansi, while the man in the purple robe was a direct descendant of the He family, He Yucheng.

The man in the green robe spoke first, "Brother Qingyun, since you and my cousin are good friends, I won't beat around the bush. I believe you also know that I have come this time with a grain procurement mission for the Chen family. This time, the Family Head has required me to order at least fifty thousand dan of grain to take back. I wonder if Brother Qingyun has enough grain in stock here."

Pei Qingyun pondered for a moment and said, "Fifty thousand dan of grain is something my Pei family can provide. However, Brother Yuansi, at what price do you intend to purchase this batch of grain?"

The man in the green robe, Chen Yuansi, said, "As for the price, how about we calculate it based on the market price? I have investigated, and the grain price in Wuyang County is twenty wen per jin. Because the quantity of grain purchased this time is relatively large, I, on behalf of the Chen family, can appropriately increase the price slightly and purchase it at twenty-five wen per jin. What do you think?"

Pei Qingyun frowned and looked at Chen Yuanba, who was beside him, feeling the apologetic gaze from the other party.

Pei Qingyun then slowly said, "For this price, forgive me, but I cannot accept it."

Seeing Pei Qingyun refuse, a trace of displeasure flashed across Chen Yuansi's face, but he still patiently asked, "This price is already quite high, why must Brother Qingyun refuse?"

Pei Qingyun said, "Brother Yuansi, coming to my Pei family to purchase grain, you must have come with sincerity. Although I am not proficient in the way of business, I am not someone who can be easily fooled."

"Just as Brother Yuansi said, the current price of grain in Wuyang County is twenty wen per jin. But Brother Yuansi should be clear that the reason for all this is because the trade route to the Commandery City has been blocked for the past six months."

"As a major grain-producing county, Wuyang County transports at least five hundred thousand dan of grain to the Commandery City every six months. About forty percent of this is handed over to the Commandery City as grain tax. But even so, there is still a gap of three hundred thousand dan of grain in the Commandery City; this is a fact. Looking at the grain prices of previous years, the price will at least rise to thirty wen per jin. Due to the influence of the Calamity of Demons, the Commandery City has been short of grain for a long time, and grain harvests have also decreased significantly compared to previous years. As soon as the news that the Commandery trade route has opened spreads, the market price of grain will inevitably skyrocket. The price will definitely be higher than in previous years. Moreover, as far as I know, all the major grain merchants in Wuyang County are waiting for this moment."

Hearing this, Chen Yuansi's expression changed. He had not expected Pei Qingyun to be even more difficult to deal with than he had imagined.

Originally, in his view, as the ancestor of a clan, Pei Qingyun would not care about such detailed matters. As a result, the other party saw through it at a glance.

However, he could not just compromise like this; the initiative on the price had to be in the hands of his Chen family.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Yuansi also began to counterattack, "What Brother Qingyun said is indeed true. On this point, I do not deny it. Once the news of the Commandery trade route opening spreads, the grain price in Wuyang County will rise. But my Chen family does not need all the grain in Wuyang County; fifty thousand dan of grain is less than one-sixth of Wuyang County's grain reserves."

"My Chen family can completely take advantage of the time before the news spreads to sweep up the grain on the market in advance. By then, my Chen family might even be able to buy fifty thousand dan at the price of twenty wen per jin."

"And once my Chen family secures this batch of grain and transports it to the Commandery City, although the grain price will still rise then, the increase will not exceed forty percent. My Chen family purchasing grain at twenty-five wen per jin is already showing full sincerity."

Pei Qingyun noncommittally said, "Is that so? If Brother Yuansi thinks so, you can try it and see if you can purchase fifty thousand dan of grain on the market."

"Or we can set up a wager agreement. If Brother Yuansi can purchase ten thousand dan of grain on the market at the price of twenty wen per jin, then the remaining forty thousand dan of grain, my Pei family will sell directly to Brother Yuansi at twenty wen per jin."

"Conversely, if Brother Yuansi cannot purchase ten thousand dan of grain at twenty wen per jin, then if you want to purchase grain from my Pei family again, it will have to be calculated at forty wen per jin. Brother Yuansi, what do you think of this wager agreement?"

Speaking of this, a trace of sarcasm appeared in Pei Qingyun's eyes. At this moment, how could he not see through Chen Yuansi's intentions?

It was true that he wanted to be on good terms with the Chen family, but that was based on the premise of not sacrificing the Pei family.

If he were to sell to Chen Yuansi at twenty-five wen per jin just to be on good terms with the Chen family, he would truly be a big fool.

Furthermore, Chen Yuansi was only a direct member; he did not know exactly how much weight he carried in the Chen family.

In addition, although the two had not fought and he was not clear about Chen Yuansi's Realm, in his view, Chen Yuansi was likely not as good as Chen Yuanba.