Chapter 296: First Volume_Chapter 296: Life Is Also Death

First Volume_Chapter 296: Life Is Also Death

Outside Pingyao County City.

The originally empty city gate began to see scattered common folk appearing.

Looking at the three human heads hanging on the city gate, the common folk's gazes shifted from blank to stunned, and finally settled on wild joy.

No one knew who shouted: "Zhou Yufu has been brought to justice!"

A deafening cheer instantly erupted on the scene.

The common folk ran to spread the news, and within a single day, the matter spread throughout the entire Pingyao County City.

Countless common folk, in groups of three or five, came together to gaze upon Zhou Yufu's severed head.

Some wept with excitement, others cursed at the top of their lungs.

"That bastard finally died!"

"Evil gets evil rewards, Old Heaven opened its eyes!"

"The Inspector Official sent from Jingzhong only arrived in Pingyao County yesterday, and today Zhou Yufu's head is already hanging on the city gate— isn't that a bit too fast?"

"Haven't you heard? The one who came is Qin Feng!"

"Which Qin Feng?"

"Which other Qin Feng could it be! Naturally it's the son of Ministry of War Minister Qin Tianhu, the notoriously infamous Qin Feng among the Jingdu young masters' circle."

Upon learning that the Inspector Official was Qin Feng, the scene boiled over even more.

The common folk embraced and wept, cheers and shouts echoing throughout the entire Pingyao County City.

"No wonder! I was wondering which official had such incredible efficiency— turns out it's Young Master Qin, then it all makes sense."

"Notoriously infamous?! If there were a few more such 'notoriously infamous' young masters under Heaven, the common folk of Shedynasty would truly be blessed."

Just as the common folk were cheering.

A youth dressed in coarse blue cloth, styled as a servant, walked out of the city gate with his hands behind his back, swaying leisurely.

That swaggering, cocky youth— who else could it be but Qin Xiaofu.

Seeing the scene in chaos, Qin Xiaofu brought his hands out from behind his back, holding a copper basin in his left hand and a WoodenStick in his right.

Bang bang bang!

Like the sound of a gong.

The noisy scene finally, barely, returned to calm.

Under the bewildered stares of the common folk, Qin Xiaofu raised his chin and said proudly: "I'm not much, but I am Young Master Qin's LoyalServant, Qin Xiaofu. The fact that my young master could come to Pingyao County means you lot are sharing in some good fortune. Now I'll tell you three things, and you better do them well!"

"First, in the Back Courtyard of the Wine House where my young master is staying, there are three large chests of Silver Money. You lot push out some carts, buy food with it, and transport it all to the Tianji Camp in Jingdu."

At these words, the common folk exchanged uncertain glances.

What does this mean?

Could it be that all crows under Heaven are equally black, and Qin Feng is also going to embezzle?

Just as everyone was bewildered, Qin Xiaofu added: "Second, go wait on the Official Road— before long a Grain Escort will pass by. These convoys are hired by Tianji Camp to transport Grain and Forage to Beixi County. You just need to explain to the convoy Manager that Young Master Qin sent you, and guide the Grain and Forage convoy into Pingyao County City."

"Third, drag out every Official in the city who's been playing dead, make them oversee the grain distribution— anyone with Pingyao County Household Registration can receive three dou of Grain!"

The common folk were dumbfounded, none daring to believe their own ears.

Qin Xiaofu had long anticipated this reaction, and said irritably: "That Three Ten Thousand Taels of Silver is money for buying grain, funded by Zhou Yufu— my young master doesn't run a losing business! So what? You lot aren't hungry?"

Everyone awoke as if from a dream.

Roar!

An earth-shattering cheer erupted on the scene.

"Young Master Qin, your great kindness and virtue— the common folk of Pingyao County will never forget, even to the grave."

"With Young Master Qin here, we are saved."

The deathly silent Pingyao County of three years finally came alive once more.

The common folk, who normally couldn't get enough to eat and minimized movement as much as possible, now went mad, sprinting in all directions.

Some went to the Wine House to transport the Silver, some went to the Official Road to wait for the Grain Escort, and the remaining common folk searched the entire city for those county officials playing dead, forcibly dragging them out of their homes and herding them toward the County Yamen like ducks being shoved onto a perch.

The county officials who had been hiding at home "taking refuge" finally learned that Zhou Yufu's entire faction had been swept clean by Qin Feng.

Moreover, Qin Feng had decreed that any Pingyao County official only needed to resume the County Yamen's duties and serve the people, and all past offenses would be pardoned.

The county officials, who had been under Zhou Yufu's oppressive might, also breathed a sigh of relief, overjoyed.

Pingyao County, once like a dead city, not only came back to life— some even hung lanterns and tied up festive decorations, looking like a New Year scene.

Soon, common folk discovered Qin Feng's whereabouts.

So much so that…

Qin Feng was practically "dragged" out of Gao Fu's courtyard by the common folk, with all manner of excited thanks pouring at him from every direction, leaving him with a thoroughly bewildered face.

The three young misses were also surrounded by the women of Pingyao County, layer upon layer.

A girl of thirteen or fourteen, her eyes burning with fervor, looked at Shen Qingci: "Does the Qin Family miss still need a maid? I am willing to serve you like a horse or an ox, to repay Young Master Qin's kindness."

The mother and son previously settled in the Wine House also squeezed their way over. That emaciated woman, having eaten some rice and water, had recovered a bit of color, and dropped to her knees on the spot, kowtowing several times to Liu Hongyan, saying emotionally: "Miss, thank you, thank you so much— you are truly Living Bodhisattvas who save the suffering."

Jing Qianying had originally planned to rely on her extraordinary skills to slip away from the crowd— after all, she disliked lively commotion the most— but unfortunately her clothes were grabbed by several maids, and she simply couldn't break free.

"Are you the Fourth Miss?"

"Fourth Miss, could you let me serve as your maid?"

The three Qin Family women had never experienced such a scene, and for a moment were at a loss.

But when they looked at Qin Feng, who had been tossed into the air by the crowd, identical looks of pride appeared on their faces.

This brat— his prestige among the Folk is actually this high!

The Li Family Brothers stood by the Second Floor window of the Wine House, watching the crowded Street and Qin Feng surrounded by the crowd, their gazes full of hidden meaning.

Li Zhang patted Li Lang on the shoulder and smiled lightly: "Did you see that? Now, do you still doubt my judgment?"

Li Lang rubbed his nose: "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I'd never believe Qin Feng could be like this. Perhaps, he really can save us from this misery…"

Meanwhile.

Beixi County…

Blood flowed along the street, pooling into tiny streams; the Village Elder sat slumped against the wall, dazed, while young civilian laborers pulled carts piled high with dozens of corpses—indistinguishable as common folk, constables, or Tianji Camp Guards.

They knew only that they must carry these corpses beyond the city walls for mass burial, to prevent plague.

Beside the mass grave outside the city, Xu Mo knelt on both knees, left hand gripping his shattered battle blade, right hand clutching a Helmet, staring blankly at the pit—on top lay a corpse riddled with holes: Qi Meng…

"By Tianji Camp protocol, you should be taken back to Jingdu for a Military Funeral."

"But… we have no strength left."

"Good Comrade, I, Xu Mo, owe you apologies!"

Splash—

A pile of corpses tumbled into the pit, burying and drowning Qi Meng completely…