Chapter 241

First Volume, Chapter 241: What Excuse Is There Not to Find?

The merchants stared at each other in shock—they had never in their lives seen an official like this!

The merchants who had just been swaggering were now completely deflated.

Qin Feng had already sent someone to the Yizhan to deliver a message; clearly, this was not empty talk—he was genuinely stepping into Beixi's commerce.

Pursuing profit is the merchant's nature.

After a brief weighing of gains and losses, all the merchants present, except Fang Tingshan, turned against him.

Shedding their earlier aggressive postures, they all smiled obsequiously, bowed to Qin Feng, and the hall echoed with a chorus of flattery.

"Hahaha, County Magistrate Qin, you've misunderstood—we were merely testing your resolve. Since you care so deeply about the New Regulations, we naturally offer our full cooperation."

"Beixi County has suffered under Chen Li for years; civilian morale has long boiled over. Before, we dared not speak out—but now that County Magistrate Qin is here, we too wish to lend our strength."

"Exactly right! Please, County Magistrate Qin, proceed with the New Regulations without hesitation."

Qin Feng sneered inwardly—these so-called merchants turned on a dime; had his grip been any weaker, they would have devoured him down to the last bone.

Yet reshaping Beixi's commerce would take more than a day or two, and with internal strife and external threats looming, Qin Feng himself was glad to see temporary peace with the North Creek Gentry.

But today's affair could not end so lightly.

If you're going to be hard, be hard to the end—let every sector of Beixi know that only one man holds authority here: Qin Feng.

At this moment, Fang Tingshan's face had turned utterly dark.

He had never imagined his so-called allies and fellow merchants would betray him without even blinking.

Just as Fang Tingshan silently swore revenge against Qin Feng—and indeed the entire North Creek Merchants—he suddenly felt a chill down his back. He looked up—and his heart dropped. Qin Feng had somehow left his Seat and now stood before him, wearing a chilling, eerie smile.

Fang Tingshan swallowed hard and instinctively stepped back one pace, stammering: "C-County Magistrate Qin… what are you going to do?"

Qin Feng patted Fang Tingshan's shoulder, adopting a "you've been bad" expression: "Leading the rebellion, eh? Refusing to cooperate with the County Yamen's New Regulations, eh? I now strongly suspect you're deliberately weakening Beixi to create an opening for Beidi Spies to infiltrate Liang's Rear Area. Speak—when did you start colluding with the Beidi?"

These words nearly scared Fang Tingshan to death.

His face turned instantly as white as paper; his voice trembled violently: "Y-you can't slander me like this! As ChiefMerchant of Beixi, why would I risk extermination of my Nine Clans and abandon my comfortable life to collude with the Beidi? What do I gain? County Magistrate Qin, you're deliberately framing me—what excuse is there not to find?!"

Qin Feng smirked and spread his hands: "I said I suspect. Why are you so nervous?"

"As Beixi County Magistrate, I bear the heavy responsibility of blocking BeidiSpies' Secret Infiltration. I have both the right and the reason to suspect anyone of colluding with a Foreign Country."

Here, Qin Feng spoke with righteous indignation: "I will never let a villain escape, nor will I ever wrong an innocent. If you are truly clean, I will release you home. But you may cooperate with the investigation—after all, confession brings leniency, resistance brings severity."

Fang Tingshan's mouth hung open; his gaze at Qin Feng finally revealed a flicker of fear.

This young man's ruthlessness was astonishingly severe!

Before Fang Tingshan could react, two guards seized his shoulders—one on each side—and gestured with a "please" motion, their faces menacing: "Kindly cooperate with the investigation. Come along."

Then they shoved and dragged Fang Tingshan into the Squad Room.

As for when the investigation would be complete? Probably not until the New Regulations were fully implemented.

The merchants present were equally pale, their backs chilled.

No one had expected this young County Magistrate to be so brutal—he arrested the ChiefMerchant of Beixi on the spot.

To oppose such a ruthless official was to court death.

The merchants exchanged glances and dared not hesitate another moment—they all knelt and bowed.

"The North Creek Merchants pledge our humble aid to County Magistrate Qin."

Meanwhile, the crowd gathered outside the Yamen erupted in astonishment, their gazes burning with admiration for Qin Feng.

Even Chen Li had to kowtow to these powerful gentry to collect his money.

The gentry's money was returned in full; the people's money was split three-seven.

Yet now, this seemingly youthful Qin Feng had, through sheer iron will, subdued the North Creek Gentry on the spot!

Such an act surpassed the common people's wildest imagination.

The scene fell utterly silent.

Moments later, as the crowd finally recovered from their shock, a deafening roar of cheers erupted.

An old man, tears streaming down his face, gripped the Yamen's fence and trembled: "Beixi County is saved! County Magistrate Qin is heaven-sent to rescue us!"

"Even these deeply rooted gentry crumble before County Magistrate Qin. His New Regulations will surely be fully enforced—our good days have finally come!"

A middle-aged woman pressed her son's head hard: "Kneel and bow to County Magistrate Qin! Remember—in Beixi County, besides your parents, there is one other parent: County Magistrate Qin!"

Li Xiaolan, hidden behind the curtain, watched the roaring crowd through a crack, a flicker of pride crossing her face.

She looked down and saw the chicken soup in her hands had long gone cold; she let out another bitter smile.

She had been so absorbed watching that she forgot her duty.

Li Xiaolan immediately turned and returned to the kitchen, replacing the soup with a steaming bowl. When she returned to the DaTang, the crowd had already dispersed under the guards' orderly direction.

This sudden calamity ended with Qin Feng's iron fist.

Qin Feng, however, shed his earlier vigor and slumped back into his chair, looking utterly drained, as if life held no meaning.

Seeing Li Xiaolan finally return, Qin Feng sighed mournfully: "Sister, I—"

Before he could finish, Li Xiaolan smiled and gently interrupted: "I know."

She placed the soup on the Shushu, pulled up a chair beside him, and wrapped the exhausted Qin Feng in her arms. Slowly, tenderly, she fed him spoonfuls of soup, then patted his back—without a word—and in the blink of an eye, Qin Feng fell fast asleep.

Li Xiaolan held him close, gazing at his peaceful sleeping face—hard to believe this was the same man who had crushed the North Creek Merchants with a mere flick of his wrist.

Li Xiaolan bit her thin lips, reached out to stroke Qin Feng's forehead, and sighed softly, heart aching: "Qin Family has only you as its male heir… you've suffered so much…"