Chapter 20

First Volume, Chapter 20: Poaching Talent

Qin Feng didn't care what Cheng Fu thought; even if the sky fell, his old man Qin Tianhu would hold it up—it wouldn't crush Qin Feng's head.

He'd become an official second-generation, and moreover, the most powerful one in Shedynasty; if he still hesitated and second-guessed every move, he'd be betraying his own status.

Qin Feng took the money, strode with the Eight-Character Step, stepped through the complex gazes of the onlookers, and walked off with arrogance.

But since he'd finally gotten out once, he certainly wouldn't return easily; Qin Feng immediately took his little followers and strolled boldly to Zui Xian Lou, Jingdu's top wine house, to spend.

The wine house clerk spotted Qin Feng at once, hurried over, rubbing his hands with a forced smile: "Oh, isn't this Young Master Qin? Your presence alone brightens our humble shop—this way, please."

The clerk bowed low, gestured with a hand, and pointed to a square table in the corner.

Qin Feng's face dropped to the floor; he grabbed the clerk's ear and glared threateningly: "Kid, you looking down on me? Put me in a corner? Qin Xiaofu, break his dog-legs—let him learn some manners."

Hearing this, the clerk turned instantly pale, knelt down, and begged: "Young Master Qin, even if you lent me a hundred lives, I'd never dare look down on you! It's just that today's business is too good—all the private tables are booked!"

Qin Feng said nothing, kicked the clerk squarely in the buttocks: "Booked? What a joke. When I go out to eat, do I need to book? If I followed proper procedures, wouldn't that disgrace the name of Jingdu's number one wastrel?"

At these words, all nearby guests rolled their eyes, emitting waves of disgusted murmurs.

"This guy knows he's infamous in Jingdu, and he's not ashamed—he's proud? I've never seen anything like it."

"Young Master Qin? In all of Jingdu, who doesn't know him? Everyone knows he's a bully who picks on the weak and fears the strong!"

"That's not quite right—he does bully the weak, but fearing the strong? Not necessarily. Just heard the news—he nearly gave the Ministry of Revenue's Assistant Director a nervous breakdown earlier."

"They say after falling into the river, he changed… from a little ruffian to a big ruffian. Stay far away from this kind—don't want to get covered in stink."

Hearing the whispers around him, Qin Feng didn't get angry—he secretly relished it.

I love how you all hate me but can't touch me.

Qin Feng, who had spent his whole life obeying rules and working diligently, had finally tasted petty success—and now he was determined to savor every bit of the pleasure of being a shameless scoundrel.

The shopkeeper, seeing this, hurried over with a forced smile: "Oh my, water flooded the Dragon King's temple—we didn't recognize our own kin!"

As he spoke, the shopkeeper kicked the clerk hard: "Young Master Qin, calm down—this boy just started; he doesn't know Taishan from a rock. Young Master Qin coming here to spend? That's an honor—we don't need bookings! Please, right this way!"

That's more like it! The more disdainful the glances, the higher Qin Feng held his head; he marched with unrecognizable steps, leading Qin Xiaofu and the others straight to the central private table.

The wine house clerk looked miserable: "Boss, why are we afraid of this ruffian?"

"You know nothing!" the shopkeeper snapped, glaring: "Every guest here is either rich or noble. If we let this ruffian ruin the refined mood of our esteemed patrons, that's the real loss."

Today's business at Zui Xian Lou was excellent—nearly every seat was reserved; the hall buzzed with people, yet remained quiet. After all, those here were all prominent figures.

And on the wooden stage at the center sat a woman holding a pipa half-concealed behind her face—Shen Qingshuang, the head courtesan of Yi Hong Yuan, hired at great expense by Zui Xian Lou, now playing gracefully.

Guests sipped wine, exchanged cups, enjoyed the delicate music, faces serene. Just then, a jarringly discordant voice shattered the refined atmosphere.

"Hey, where are all the clerks? I've been here this long and no one serves me—do you think I won't pay?"

At these words, all nearby guests clenched their teeth, loathed Qin Feng to the core—but dared not act; no one wanted to openly clash with the Minister of War.

Shen Qingshuang frowned slightly, her eyes showing annoyance—but she pretended not to hear.

The shopkeeper sighed helplessly and snapped at the clerk beside him: "What are you standing there for? Go serve that ancestor!"

Qin Feng crossed his legs, took the menu, didn't rush to order, but shoved it straight to Shu Feng's face with a smile: "Little Shushu, what do you like? Order anything—young master's got money!"

Shu Feng felt the surrounding disdainful glares, flushed, and whispered: "I'm just a servant—whatever the young master gives, I'll eat."

Qin Feng rolled his eyes, snatched the menu, and shouted: "If you won't order, I'll order for you—this, this, and this! Wait—clerk! Bring one of every dish over ten taels of silver! Hurry up—or I won't pay!"

The guests around him could no longer tolerate Qin Feng's "nouveau riche" act; they began muttering curses under their breath.

"What trash! Has a few stinking coins and thinks he's something!"

"Exactly! Zui Xian Lou is a refined place—how did this cat or dog get in?"

"My refined mood's been ruined by this bastard!"

Qin Feng wanted to be the center of Zui Xian Lou—to see which of Jingdu's nobles still looked down on him!

Whoever dared lift a finger against him, Qin Feng would drop to the floor and convulse—then demand every last copper he could squeeze.

To keep this ancestor quiet, a third of Zui Xian Lou's clerks clustered around the private table; one glance from Qin Feng and they instantly understood and rushed to serve.

The rear kitchen focused solely on Qin Feng's dishes—everyone else was pushed to the back.

Soon, a full table of rare delicacies arrived.

Shu Feng involuntarily swallowed, felt Qin Feng's suspicious gaze, lowered her head, cheeks burning red.

Didn't know this little girl was a foodie!

Qin Feng adored this girl—he swore it wasn't because he lusted after her body, but purely because he was awed by her martial skills.

Since the assassination attempt, Qin Feng's young heart had suffered severe trauma, and he deeply realized his own weakness.

Having no decent bodyguard at his side? That'd be a disgrace to our "wastrel circle."

Now Qin Feng's sole focus was to "get" this girl, Shu Feng.

"Tasty?" Qin Feng smiled at Shu Feng.

Shu Feng instinctively tugged at her collar, turned her face away, nervously: "Young… Young Master, what exactly do you want? I… I'm Fourth Miss's person."

"Where are your thoughts going?"

"Do I look like that kind of man? As they say, even rabbits don't eat the grass by their own burrow—right, Xiao Xiangxiang?" Qin Feng pulled Xiao Xiangxiang into his arms, making her testify that he wasn't some lecherous cad targeting maids.

Being held in a man's arms before so many—even if it was her own young master—Xiao Xiangxiang blushed crimson, wishing she could crawl into a crack in the floor.

"Fourth Sister feeds you plain tea and rice every day—you suffer with her. So here's the deal: if you stay by my side, I'll make sure you eat well, drink well, taste every delicacy under Heaven—and I'll give you one thousand liang of silver monthly. After two years, when you're plump and fair, I'll find you a good husband."

High salary, free room and board, plus marriage arrangements—such a boss didn't exist even with lanterns lit; Qin Feng figured Shu Feng had no reason to refuse.

But the result surprised Qin Feng—Shu Feng bit her thin lips: "I've been with Fourth Miss since childhood; she treats me like a sister—how could I leave over a single meal?"

Qin Feng spread his hands: "What about the one thousand liang and the husband assignment? If you still won't budge, I'll even give you a house when you marry—full package."

Husband assignment… Shu Feng's cheeks burned blood-red—how could her young master say such things? And who, in all of Heaven, would poach his own sister's maid—and do it so calmly?

Just as Qin Feng was wheedling, cajoling, and exhausting every trick to "win over" Shu Feng, a commotion interrupted his first-ever HR recruitment effort.

Two young men in brocade Huayi were tugging at Shen Qingshuang on stage, grinning lewdly, insisting she come home with them to drink.

Drink chicken feathers? We're all men—what's going through your mind, do you need to think about it?

Qin Feng originally had no intention of meddling in such trivial matters; rescuing a beauty was the hero's business—what did it have to do with him?

In the tussle, Shen Qingshuang's veil fell off; Qin Feng, who had just been calm, instantly turned his expression a full 180 degrees, radiating nothing but righteousness!

Shen Qingshuang was no doubt the top courtesan of Yi Hong Yuan—her eyebrows like autumn mountains, her eyes like cut autumn water, her expression brimming with indescribable allure.

Damn it! Under the bright sun and clear sky, to forcibly seize a common girl—how outrageous!

Qin Feng stood up at once and growled: "Filthy! Shameless!"

Such a good opportunity, and you didn't even invite This Young Master?

Qin Feng, furious and desperate, lunged forward and shoved the two youths apart in a few quick motions.

He had expected them to slink away in shame, but to his surprise, they didn't run—instead, they laughed in a mocking, sneering tone.

"You dare meddle in This Young Master's business? Qin Feng, are your bones itching again?"

"Who is it? Oh, it's you, brat! The infamous rogue of Jingdu, pretending to be a hero rescuing a beauty? Don't you know you're making yourself a laughingstock?"

Hearing this, Qin Feng grew curious, turned around to look—and sure enough, they were familiar faces.

Both were around seventeen or eighteen, which in Qin Feng's world meant they were just high schoolers.

But in this world, they were already old enough to bully men and oppress women.

The boy in blue brocade, with a pointed face and monkey-like features, was Wu Yong, son of Minister of Personnel Wu Mian.

The boy beside him, dressed in White Clothes, was An Shiyun, son of Anqing Marquis.

Like Qin Feng, both were "infamously renowned" Wastrels of Jingdu—but even within the rogue circle, there was a hierarchy, and clearly Qin Feng sat at the very bottom.

According to the former body's memories, these two had never ceased setting traps and sabotaging Qin Feng. He didn't know whether they had any connection to Li Rui—whether they'd helped in the assassination attempt on him.

Since they'd already had a grudge, Qin Feng naturally had no intention of being polite—but he plastered on a smiling, fawning expression: "Oh? If it isn't the two Young Masters! A misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding! I merely worried you two were too young to handle this woman, so I stepped in to help."

"Get lost!" Wu Yong snarled. "I can help with other things, but this? No way, Qin. I warn you—stay out of this. Others ignore you, fine, but I won't put up with your act. If I beat you until your teeth are scattered and you piss yourself in public, don't blame me for being merciless—we're both sons of officials!"

With that, Wu Yong ignored Qin Feng entirely and reached for Shen Qingshuang.

Shen Qingshuang turned pale with terror—when suddenly, a slender figure stepped in front of her, pleading desperately: "Two Young Masters, my lady performs for art, not for sale. If you have refined tastes, please go to Yi Hong Yuan."

The personal maid attendant bravely defended her mistress—but the next second, Wu Yong slapped her hard across the face, knocking her senseless.

Before she could recover, An Shiyun grabbed her hair and hurled her off the stage, cursing: "Worthless slut, who gave you the right to speak? You're lucky I didn't break your bones!"

No one dared intervene—after all, one was the Minister's son, the other the Little Marquis; they were among Jingdu's top aristocratic families.

Seeing her personal maid collapsed, Shen Qingshuang turned ashen and moved to help—only to be blocked by Wu Yong and An Shiyun.

Wu Yong seized Shen Qingshuang's wrist triumphantly: "Just a maid? If you please This Young Master, I'll give you ten or eight maids—what's hard about that?"

All guests present had come for Shen Qingshuang; seeing her humiliated, they burned with rage—but could do nothing. In all of Jingdu, was there truly no one to punish these two rogues? Already, some had stormed out in disgust.

Shen Qingshuang naturally refused—during the struggle, An Shiyun stepped back and bumped squarely into Qin Feng.

Qin Feng, who had been cheerfully watching the show, reacted as if his tail had been stepped on—his expression flipped a full 180 degrees, he leapt backward, and pointed at An Shiyun, roaring: "You dared attack This Young Master! Shu Feng, beat him senseless!"

At these words, Wu Yong and An Shiyun froze, thinking: Is this Qin guy having a fit?

Normally, Shu Feng should have reminded Qin Feng to respect the dignity of official families.

But Shu Feng had begun to understand Qin Feng's nature—if he'd spoken, he meant it.

Shu Feng didn't hesitate—he leapt from the table onto the wooden stage, kicked An Shiyun square in the face, and knocked the Little Marquis unconscious.

Seeing this, Wu Yong turned pale with shock but forced a brave front, pointing at Qin Feng and bellowing: "Qin Feng! You dare lay hands on someone!"

Qin Feng clutched the foot An Shiyun had stepped on, writhing in agony: "This is self-defense."

Wu Yong gritted his teeth: "I am the son of the Minister of Personnel—how dare you…"

Before he could finish, Qin Feng cut him off, shouting loudly: "Son of whom? The wind's too loud—I can't hear you! Beat him!"

Shu Feng said nothing—he punched Wu Yong straight in the nose.

Wu Yong, raised in luxury since childhood, couldn't withstand such a blow—blood sprayed everywhere as he toppled backward onto the wooden stage, screaming like a slaughtered pig…