Chapter 19: First Volume, Chapter 19: Tongue-Twister

First Volume, Chapter 19: Tongue-Twister

"Cheng Fa, Cheng Fa, shameless and low, owes money and pretends he's a dog. Lost the Poetry Contest, won't pay up, calls himself master to dodge debt. Hides at home like a turtle, hoards ten thousand liang to buy funeral wreaths."

Qin Feng was quite pleased with his literary skill, waving his hands rhythmically while commanding the old beggars to shout loudly.

Later, unsatisfied, he hired two more old beggars to clap wooden boards beside him.

Bystanders gathered nearby couldn't help laughing—some stifled their chuckles, others ran into the alleyway to burst out laughing.

A child, about seven or eight years old, joined the beggars' chant: "Cheng Fa, Cheng Fa, truly shameless…"

Though adults dared not offend the Cheng family, they couldn't help humming along in their hearts, until eventually, that strange melody filled their minds.

Qin Feng's improvised tongue-twister had suddenly become a widely sung nursery rhyme, spreading farther and wider.

At this moment, in the Cheng Residence's main courtyard, Cheng Langzhong paced back and forth, his face green with rage; not only the maids and servants, but even Madame Cheng dared not breathe a sound.

Hearing the catchy melody outside the gate, Cheng Langzhong trembled with rage, suddenly stopping, turning, and bellowing: "Cheng Fa, come here and die!"

Cheng Fa, hiding in the Back Courtyard, heard his father's furious roar and felt his liver quiver with fear.

Cheng Fa had thought he could simply dodge the ten thousand liang silver by refusing to pay—would Qin Feng really dare storm the Cheng Residence? He never imagined Qin Feng would be this shameless. That damned tongue-twister had already seared itself into Cheng Fa's mind; whenever he let his guard down, it repeated itself involuntarily.

Trembling, Cheng Fa arrived in the Front Courtyard and stammered: "Father, let me explain…"

Before he could finish, Cheng Langzhong spun around and slapped him hard across the face, sending stars swirling before Cheng Fa's eyes and leaving him dazed.

Cheng Langzhong's face turned ashen, and he extended his hand: "Bring me the whip!"

The servants dared not hesitate and quickly handed him the whip.

Cheng Langzhong panted heavily, eyes blazing, ordered the servants to hang Cheng Fa from a tree, then without another word, raised the whip and lashed it hard against Cheng Fa's body.

Each lash drew a pig-like scream from Cheng Fa, leaving him streaming with snot and tears.

In the end, his lower body trembled, and a yellow liquid spilled out—he had been whipped into involuntary urination.

Seeing this, Madame Cheng immediately knelt before Cheng Fa, wailing and begging Cheng Langzhong to show mercy.

Cheng Langzhong whipped him two more times before finally stopping.

Cheng Fa was nearly fainting from pain—he had already been humiliated enough when he was forced to kneel and bow as a disciple in the academy. Now, publicly whipped into urinating himself, this was utter disgrace. Cheng Fa clenched his teeth, roared inwardly, and swore he would make Qin Feng pay with blood.

Madame Cheng, heartbroken for her son, hated Qin Feng with equal fury, sobbing: "Husband! You are a Minister of Revenue's Deputy Director—how can you let this scoundrel insult you so? I say, report him to the Emperor and punish the Qin Residence severely!"

Hearing this, Cheng Langzhong's eyes bulged, and he roared: "What do you know? Women's nonsense!"

"The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War are now locked in rivalry, factional strife growing fiercer by the day. If you go to the Emperor now, won't everyone suspect you're using this as an excuse to strike? As the saying goes: when a tree towers above the forest, the wind will surely break it. We may be from the Ministry of Revenue, but we must not stand out front as cannon fodder!"

"Besides, how long has Qin Feng's vile reputation been spreading through Jingdu? Why pick on anyone else, but this monster?"

Madame Cheng covered her face and wept: "So we just let him insult us at our own gate?"

Cheng Langzhong's face darkened: "How do we respond? Open the gate, and conflict is inevitable. Didn't the Manager say? He's surrounded by experts—seven or eight Protectors couldn't get near him. If we fight, we'll lose. If the matter escalates and reaches the Emperor's ears, who will be at fault for the ten thousand liang silver?"

"If a family dispute becomes an Imperial Court matter, the nature changes entirely!"

Though Madame Cheng seethed, after hearing her husband's words, she had no choice but to swallow the hatred.

Meanwhile, Qin Feng was savoring the thrill of conducting, his hands moving with growing mastery.

Though those around him had no idea what Qin Feng was doing, strangely, under his chaotic waving, the beggars' shouts grew louder and more synchronized—as if his hands held magic.

Watching Qin Feng's fearless, smug expression, Xiao Xiangxiang and Shu Feng couldn't help smirking.

At that moment, the door behind Qin Feng was pulled open.

The Manager, face grim, walked to Qin Feng's side and bowed insincerely: "Young Master Qin, cease your sorcery."

Qin Feng didn't hear him, continuing to conduct the band.

The Manager gritted his teeth and grabbed Qin Feng's arm.

Qin Feng finally noticed him, annoyed: "Can't you see I'm busy?"

The Manager's teeth ached with rage, yet forced a smile: "Young Master Qin, here are ten thousand liang in Silver Notes. Please take them and make these beggars disperse."

Qin Feng glanced at the Silver Notes but didn't take them, eyes closed, still waving his hands: "Didn't I say? Delay one incense stick, pay one thousand liang interest? Four incense sticks have passed."

The Manager's face turned alternately black and white; he turned back inside and returned with four thousand liang in Silver Notes.

Qin Feng finally stopped, took the notes, and handed the ten thousand liang Silver Notes to Shu Feng with a face like he'd lost his last coin: "Shu Feng, why don't we split this money?"

Shu Feng smiled warmly as he tucked the notes away: "Young Master, how humorous."

Humorous your grandpa! Ten thousand liang! My heart's bleeding!

Qin Feng sighed deeply—done was done. He could only accept it, though at least he'd collected four thousand liang in interest.

Qin Feng pulled out five hundred liang in Silver Notes and told Qin Xiaofu to exchange them for cash and distribute to the beggars.

The old beggars immediately bowed their heads in gratitude.

Qin Feng waved his hand, his words layered: "Don't break up your group—might need you again."

Hearing Qin Feng publicly call beggars "old brothers," even the Cheng Residence Manager found it unbelievable.

Qin Feng didn't care—he believed all beings were equal, no taboos. He handed the remaining Silver Notes to Xiao Xiangxiang, then dismissed the beggars. Before they left, Qin Feng glanced at the Cheng Residence Manager and said, pointedly: "If I recall correctly, a Deputy Director of the Ministry of Revenue earns one thousand liang silver per year? Ten thousand liang would take a hundred years to save. The Cheng family must be incredibly wealthy."

At these words, the Cheng Residence Manager's heart lurched—this clearly implied the Cheng family was corrupt and bribed.

The implication: none of us are clean—don't pretend to be virtuous.