Chapter 16: First Volume, Chapter 16: The Art of Making Wealth

First Volume, Chapter 16: The Art of Making Wealth

Liu Hongyan stared at Qin Feng in disbelief—no one without decades of experience in commerce could have spoken those words!

Is this really the same brother who used to squander everything, indulging in drink, gambling, and every vice under heaven?

He's clearly a seasoned, shrewd merchant!

"Brat, where on earth did you learn all this?"

Looking at Qin Feng, who had become an entirely different person, Liu Hongyan didn't know whether to be happy or afraid.

Qin Feng directed Qin Xiaofu and Xiao Xiangxiang as they collected the filtered white sugar, then counted on his fingers with solemn seriousness:

"I once read an ancient book called The Heavenly Craft Exposed, which recorded many strange and unusual things. I dared not use them before, fearing Father would call them Odd Skills and Tricks."

Upon hearing this, Liu Hongyan kicked him hard in the buttocks.

Liu Hongyan's frame was slender and delicate; even when she kicked with all her strength, it felt as light as a massage.

Qin Feng secretly enjoyed it, but grimaced and groaned as if his bones had broken, barely holding back tears as he imagined running to his father to accuse Liu Hongyan of abuse.

Liu Hongyan placed her left hand on her waist and pointed her right finger at Qin Feng's forehead, furious: "You wastrel, always daydreaming on your own—Odd Skills and Tricks? This is divine craftsmanship! This white sugar method is nothing short of Technique of Turning Decay into Wonder—do you know how much profit it can bring?"

"If your claim is true—that the white sugar method is just one of many—then the book must contain countless ways to make wealth! Bring out that The Heavenly Craft Exposed—I'll keep it safe for you, so you don't one day, in a fit of stupidity, give it to some unknown little girl."

"Safekeeping"? She meant to claim it for herself!

Sister, you've gone bad!

Qin Feng pouted, but to avoid Liu Hongyan harping on this, he tilted his head and concocted a lie: "The The Heavenly Craft Exposed was already tattered and ruined—it turned to mud long ago. But all its secrets are etched into my mind. If you want them, just take them."

Liu Hongyan was baffled: "Etched into your mind? How am I supposed to take them? Are you going to let me smash open your skull?"

"Ah? No way! I need this head…" Qin Feng waved his hands frantically, then suddenly brightened, eagerly suggesting, "Sister, have you ever heard of absorbing Qi? Just absorb my knowledge directly."

"I've been sheltered by you sisters for so long—it's time I contributed to this family! Sister, go ahead and absorb!"

Declaring this with righteous grandeur, Qin Feng puckered his lips.

A flush of crimson instantly spread across Liu Hongyan's cheeks; enraged, she raised her fist: "You little rascal, daring to tease your own sister? You want a beating!"

Qin Feng turned and ran, shouting dramatically: "Help! Third Sister's going to beat my butt… Ouch, it hurts!"

"Run all you want—I'll see where you go!"

Liu Hongyan chased him for a few steps, then gave up—she simply couldn't handle this brat.

Seeing Qin Xiaofu and Xiao Xiangxiang had finished collecting the white sugar, filling two enormous jars, Liu Hongyan ignored that brat and ordered them to seal the jar mouths and move them all to the storage room inside Qin Feng's Xiaoyuan.

She then called them forward, pulled a purse from her waist, and took out two small ingots of silver, giving each one.

"You both worked hard—here's two taels of silver each as your wages. Keep everything that happened today buried in your guts—don't spread a word."

"If the white sugar method leaks, I'll peel your skins off—got it?"

Liu Hongyan's position in the Qin Residence was equivalent to Chief of Internal Affairs.

Every major and minor matter passed through her hands; even Qin Tianhu relied heavily on her.

No one dared disobey Liu Hongyan's words.

Qin Xiaofu immediately dropped to the ground, swearing he'd never utter the word "sugar" again for the rest of his life.

Xiao Xiangxiang accepted the silver with trembling reverence, vowing never to betray her master.

While Liu Hongyan was scolding the two, Qin Feng had slipped away and wandered back.

"Hehe, you heard what your sister said—if you can't keep your tongues still, even I can't protect you. But if you two work hard, rewards won't be lacking… I'll give you each an extra five taels of silver every month!"

"Really?!"

"Of course!" Qin Feng gave Qin Xiaofu a light tap on the head. "When have I ever lied to you?"

"Wonderful! Young Master, you're our second parents!"

Qin Xiaofu, moved to tears, threw his arms wide and lunged toward Qin Feng.

Get off…

This Young Master doesn't have a taste for men-on-men affection!

Qin Feng shoved Qin Xiaofu away with disgust, then smiled sweetly at the pretty maid: "But if Xiao Xiangxiang wants a hug… this Young Master wouldn't mind granting it…"

"Y-Young Master… Third Sister's right here…" Xiao Xiangxiang's cheeks flushed red; she lowered her head, whispering like a fly.

Uh…

Before he could speak, Qin Feng suddenly felt his ear being pinched.

Seeing trouble brewing, Qin Xiaofu and Xiao Xiangxiang exchanged glances and fled the danger zone.

"Teasing a maid in front of your sister is bad enough," Liu Hongyan said, ignoring Qin Feng's cries of pain and pleading, eyes narrowed in a classic 'confess or suffer' stance. "But this tactic—whip then sweeten—is that also taught in The Heavenly Craft Exposed?"

Qin Feng squinted, groaning as he explained: "I learned it from you sisters! As the saying goes, near vermilion you turn red, near ink you turn black—being around you all day long has taught me so much! Oh, Third Sister, let go, or I'll scream 'Assault!'"

Liu Hongyan, flattered by Qin Feng's flattery, felt thoroughly satisfied and released his ear.

As for why Qin Feng had improved so dramatically—if she couldn't get answers, she didn't press further.

In any case, it was good for Qin Feng himself—and for the entire Qin Family—that was enough.

Right now, Qin Feng only had two jars of white sugar—nowhere near enough.

Since Qin Xiaofu and Xiao Xiangxiang had learned the white sugar method, he could now leave it to them entirely and comfortably play the absentee boss.

As for sourcing materials, Liu Hongyan would handle all the logistics.

Although the original red sugar sources had been affected, buying red sugar above Market Price wasn't difficult.

As for the birthday gift for Ji Wang, a plan had begun to take shape.

When Liu Hongyan learned Qin Feng intended to gift Ji Wang white sugar, she worried: "I fear too many eyes will notice—and someone might ask where the white sugar came from."

Qin Feng tilted his head back, adopting a fearless, defiant posture: "As the son of the Minister of War, if I refuse to say, can they really put a knife to my throat and force me?"

"Besides, Ji Wang's birthday will draw every elite of Jingdu—this is a free advertising opportunity for white sugar! How could I miss it? I intend to make white sugar explode in fame across Shedynasty through this event!"

Advertising?

Liu Hongyan propped her chin on her hand, lost in thought, not understanding the meaning of this term.

This brat always comes up with strange, odd new terms that… secretly carry deeper meaning.

Still, if one could use Ji Wang's birthday banquet to make White Sugar widely known, it wouldn't be a bad idea…