Chapter 254

Chen Wuji could see that Qin Feng's love for Ji Yunxuan was truly deep.

Love to death.

When praising, he was not stingy with flowery words; some adjectives he had never even heard before.

But when the butcher's knife was brandished, it was also swift and decisive, without hesitation.

"Brigade Commander Chen, you say such an elegant place is just normal operation, the wealth they earn is beyond ordinary people's reach, why do they still lend money at interest and evade market taxes?" Qin Feng shook his head and muttered, as if asking Chen Wuji, but more like sighing.

Actually the answer to this question is simple; Qin Feng couldn't possibly not know, but he asked so seriously, Chen Wuji still replied, "Does the Qin County magistrate dislike having too much silver?"

"I dislike it!" Qin Feng immediately said, "Having too much of that thing is troublesome, and you have to guard against people coveting it, which is even more troublesome."

Chen Wuji was somewhat speechless, "Then just pretend I didn't say anything."

Strangely enough, he really felt that what Qin Feng said was true.

This is something he could do.

"Let's go, this is our last meal at Ji Yunxuan; you'd better keep me company today!" Qin Feng patted Chen Wuji's shoulder, his expression carrying the heaviness of parting with a lover in life and death.

Chen Wuji's mouth twitched slightly.

When it comes to being abstract, it's gotta be the Qin County magistrate.

This is clearly the last meal at Ji Yunxuan; as someone who gives orders, feeling sentimental here is bullshit.

Ji Yunxuan is gone, but those girls inside are still there as before; liking them, you can take them all into your mansion—it's not difficult at all.

Chen Wuji, left speechless, did not understand this at all.

The two stepped over the threshold one after another, and the bustling scene inside instantly unfolded before Chen Wuji's eyes.

The hall was crowded, with small groups of diners eating and drinking; scantily clad women flitted about like butterflies among flowers, sometimes sitting to share a drink, sometimes taking on a small task to perform a little dance or play music for the guests.

"Come on, come on, upstairs—there's nothing fun down here," Qin Feng reminded, then went straight up the right-side staircase.

He was a regular here, familiar with the layout inside and out.

Without needing the shop's errand boy to guide them, Qin Feng led Chen Wuji to an empty private room and they sat down.

"Officer Qin, who handles myriad affairs, finally has time to come to my little shop to handle myriad affairs? My poor welcome—surely Officer Qin won't blame me?" A voice, deliberately lowered and tinged with flattery, sounded, and immediately a woman with a man's face hurried in.

She looked about forty, her figure well kept, neither fat nor thin, a pity that her face ruined all her charm.

At first glance she looked like a man without a beard—square face, high cheekbones, thick eyebrows.

"Send Yingdong and Zixia over to keep us company with a couple of drinks," Qin Feng said impatiently, "Don't bother with all that nonsense; I don't want to hear it. Also, order a few hot dishes from Li Si Fencha and warm a pot of wine."

"Got it, sir, please wait a moment," the woman called out happily, then hurried away.

Soon a woman's loud calls came from the doorway, ordering people to bring wine and tea.

She made no secret of Qin Feng's identity, shouting loudly, almost as if she were flaunting a tiger's skin as a banner, practically telling the diners in the shop that the Yunan county magistrate was right there.

Chen Wuji casually glanced at the surroundings and asked lightly, "Is this also your order?"

"I didn't order any of this; she's acting on her own," Qin Feng snorted lightly, "She's already courting death—because I've been coming often, she keeps pushing her luck, testing the limits."

"I like many people at Ji Yunxuan, but the one I despise most is just this one—who happens to be the madam and also the manager of Ji Yunxuan. I just don't understand how someone like her could run this business to such a scale."

"Probably it's directly related to her shameless tactics," Chen Wuji chuckled.

Though just a few little tricks, they work very well.

The wine Qin Feng ordered arrived quickly, and the two ladies to keep him company also came.

Upon seeing them, Chen Wuji showed his approval with his gaze toward Qin Feng.

Indeed, a feast for the eyes!

Just a glance at these two girls makes one feel pity and the urge to protect them, yet they are also very lively.

As soon as they took their seats, a few words were enough to liven the atmosphere, their emotional value spot on—except their hands weren't quite honest, constantly wandering toward Chen Wuji's lower regions.

The girl sitting beside Chen Wuji is called Zixia; she looks sweet and cute, the type who could easily go along with any kind of training—no, any kind of breaking-in.

However, Chen Wuji had no such thoughts; he just felt a tiny, insignificant urge.

If Qin Feng weren't here, he might spend a little money to try it out.

But with Qin Feng present, Chen Wuji no longer had that idea.

He certainly didn't want to become Qin Feng's partner in crime.

After three rounds of wine, Chen Wuji said, "Officer Qin, the Tianchi Pass militia has agreed to come down the mountain, but I have no funds, grain, or arms in my hands—this will likely require even more reliance on you."

The county itself is struggling; Brigade Commander Chen, please hold on a bit longer," Qin Feng sighed.

Chen Wuji shook his head: "I doubt I can hold out; to get them down the mountain I've already poured all my own resources into it. If Officer Qin doesn't allocate funds and grain, I certainly won't be able to suppress these tough troops."

Qin Feng glanced at Chen Wuji and suddenly snapped, "Putting on an act—keep acting for me."

I admit I may be neglecting my duties, spending a lot of energy on drinking, but I'm not blind. You've made such a big show, dragging grain around everywhere—who could you possibly fool?

Chen Wuji was quite candid; he had long known this couldn't be hidden, and he hadn't tried to hide it.

So what if he knows? It's what he bought with his own silver.

If the provincial troops need the brigade commander to raise his own funds and supplies, they wouldn't really be provincial troops—they might as well be renamed a private militia.

"Sir, what am I pretending about? Nobody knows how the situation stands now, not even when a change might occur; how many days can this bit of grain I've scraped together last?" Chen Wuji said.

Qin Feng raised his hand to cut off Chen Wuji's words: "Known, known. However, the county office really is short of money and grain lately—the previous official, that corrupt dog, embezzled hugely, and then a refugee wave hit; for nearly a month they've been opening the granaries to dispense grain, and the funds and supplies have pretty much been squandered."

But don't worry—these will be available in a few days; just drink in peace, wait a few days and it'll be ready.