Chapter 238: First Volume, Chapter 238: Twenty Staff Strikes

First Volume, Chapter 238: Twenty Staff Strikes

Hearing the continuous shouts outside the door, Qin Feng curled into a ball, feet planted on the chair, hands clutching a bowl of chicken soup, slurping noisily, his bloodshot eyes dull and lifeless, utterly broken.

Being an official is hard.

Being a good official is harder.

Since taking office, Qin Feng had slept fewer hours than one could count on one hand; his greatest wish now was to crawl into bed and sleep soundly.

Unfortunately, even this simple desire had become a luxury.

This damned county yamen had piled up too much official business, so much it made Qin Feng's testicles ache.

Hearing that Chen Li had been executed by the Fuya, Qin Feng longed to send someone to retrieve Chen Li's corpse and flog it mercilessly in revenge.

"Grand Commandant Gao, you played that move brilliantly! Whoever tries to make me an official again, I'll fight them to the death."

Hearing the loud shouts outside, Qin Feng wanted to cry but had no tears; he handed the soup bowl to Li Xiaolan and pleaded, "Third Sister, could you take over for me a few days? I really can't hold on anymore."

Li Xiaolan's eyes were full of pity, but seeing Qin Feng's state, she couldn't help letting out a chuckle: "No one can help you with this. But this morning, Mother praised your reforms for Beixi's people's livelihood and the new regulations you issued."

"She even said that once we return to Jingdu, she'll arrange several concubines for you as a reward."

Forget it.

At these words, Qin Feng shrank his neck, utterly cowed.

He was exhausted to the bone—how could he possibly think about taking concubines? By day, the people drained his energy; by night, concubines would drain him too—even adrenaline couldn't save him.

Qin Feng rubbed his abdomen, confirmed the spot where he'd been stabbed had healed, yet still said nervously, "Third Sister, let's talk properly from now on—there's no obstacle Heaven can't overcome. Can you please stop stabbing me?"

Li Xiaolan smiled faintly: "That depends on your behavior."

Just as Qin Feng was miserable enough to die, a commotion erupted outside the door.

Though there had been noise before, this was clearly different—filled with curses and shouts.

Qin Feng frowned, looked up, and saw the crowd gathered at the door turning their heads toward the public notice board.

Immediately, the guards temporarily serving as Yamen Runners rushed over, bowing to report: "Young Master, someone has torn down the public notice!"

Having been schemed against by Grand Commandant Gao and burdened by Beixi County's endless problems, Qin Feng had been simmering with rage; now hearing someone dared tear down a notice, his face dropped like a stone. "Who tore down the notice?"

The guard shook his head, speaking gravely: "Unknown. But from their attire, they appear to be a local magnate."

Magnate?

Qin Feng nearly laughed out loud, shaking his head in amusement: "So the new regulations have touched the interests of the local magnate clans, and they've come here to pick a fight. I've been in a bad mood these past few days—since they're throwing themselves at my spearhead, it's perfect!"

Qin Feng immediately waved his hand, signaling the guards to bring the man who tore the notice into the DaTang.

Seeing the court was about to convene, Li Xiaolan rose, holding the soup bowl, and said softly, "I'll step aside for now."

But Qin Feng grabbed her arm, whining, "Third Sister, stay with me a bit—I've suffered unprecedented emotional trauma and need special comfort."

Li Xiaolan rolled her eyes and scolded, "You're such a grown man, why act like a child?"

Though she complained, she stayed, standing silently beside Qin Feng.

Meanwhile, under the escort of two guards, a young man in his twenties stormed in, cursing: "Let go! I'm telling you again—release me! What the hell are you? Who do you think you are, laying hands on me?!"

As the saying goes, when the top is corrupt, the bottom follows suit; Qin Feng's own arrogant and erratic behavior had rubbed off on the guards.

Though they knew this kid had powerful connections, they grabbed his collar without hesitation and threw him into the DaTang, kicking his ass on the way.

"Enough nonsense! Say another word, and I'll break your legs!" the guard snarled coldly.

The young man, clearly unaccustomed to such brazen Yamen Runners, was momentarily stunned—but his arrogance remained unshaken.

Standing in the center of the hall, he straightened his slightly disheveled clothes; he didn't kneel, didn't even look at Qin Feng directly, muttering, "A bunch of outsiders—I'll see how long you can last!"

Hearing this, Qin Feng's face lit up with delight.

Back in Jingdu, Qin Feng had specialized in breaking the will of arrogant nobles and wastrels—who among them hadn't bowed to him in fear?

Today, he'd see what arrogance this backwater county brat possessed!

At this moment, the county yamen's door was once again packed solid with local civilians.

They pointed and whispered inside the DaTang.

Qin Feng sat cross-legged behind the Shushu, draped in his coat, hands tucked into his sleeves, looking every bit a wealthy landowner, with not a trace of official dignity, smiling as he studied the young man: "Do you hold any scholarly degree?"

The young man lifted his chin and snorted: "No."

Qin Feng softly "oh'd," still smiling, then asked: "Does your family hold any noble title?"

The young man sneered, took a long pause, then replied indifferently: "No either."

Qin Feng "oh'd" again, silently picked up a command arrow from the desk, and tossed it gently before the young man, smiling: "No degree, no title. Refusing to kneel before me is an insult to the yamen. Twenty staff strikes as punishment—try it out!"

At these words, the young man's arrogant expression shattered; he gritted his teeth and growled: "Qin Feng, you dare strike me?! Do you know who my father is?!"

Qin Feng ignored him entirely, turned to Li Xiaolan, and beamed: "Sister, can you get me another bowl of chicken soup? I feel a bit weak."

Li Xiaolan's lips curled slightly: "Weak? Chicken soup won't help. How about I give you a needle prick?"

Seeing Qin Feng shrink his neck and raise both hands in surrender, Li Xiaolan rolled her eyes but turned to fetch more soup.

Meanwhile, the young man was kicked down, dragged by the nape of his neck to the inner courtyard, tied to a horse stool, and beaten mercilessly with water-and-fire staves.

The entire county echoed with the young man's pig-like screams.

The civilians watching outside stared in fear, whispers never ceasing.

"I was worried Deputy Qin might spare him due to his status—but he's utterly impartial!"

"As they say, a strong dragon can't overpower a local snake. Deputy Qin must deal with these people to push his new regulations—tonight's feud might…"

Seeing Qin Feng punish the arrogant youth, the onlookers felt no satisfaction—only deep unease.

Qin Feng didn't care—he'd strike first, think later!

When the young man was dragged back into the DaTang, all his arrogance was gone; he lay sprawled on the floor, trembling uncontrollably.

Qin Feng smiled again, warm as spring breeze: "Who are you?"