Chapter 639: First Volume_Chapter 639: Reward Only, No Punishment!

First Volume_Chapter 639: Reward Only, No Punishment!

Lin Ziyi could never have dreamed that the legendary Qin Feng, who stirred the winds of Heaven, would be so affable and approachable.

The nerves that had been taut gradually loosened.

A faint blush rose on her cheeks.

She couldn't tell whether it was the joy of finally having someone to lean on, or the near-instinctive shyness before this world-famous Young Master.

"To answer Young Master, this Young Lady never attended Private School, nor has she ever worked outside."

"Since childhood, I followed my father, learning by osmosis."

"In the end, I'm just a Wild Solo Chan."

Saying this, Lin Ziyi's eyes filled with self-reproach, and she looked timidly at Qin Feng.

"Young Master, it's all this Young Lady's fault for being incompetent, letting the Branch fall into such a state."

"Even if Young Master were to drive us father and daughter away, this Young Lady would not harbor a single grievance."

Lin Ziyi had already prepared herself to pack up and leave.

After all, with the Zhao's Grain Branch in such a wretched state, she and her father bore an inescapable responsibility.

Just then, a large hand suddenly landed on Lin Ziyi's shoulder.

Lin Ziyi jolted as if struck by electricity, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Immediately after, Qin Feng's incomparably gentle voice sounded in her ear.

"Silly girl, even if blame is to be assigned, it is my own responsibility as Qin Feng—how could it possibly fall on you and your father?"

"You faced the combined siege of the Zhao Clan and the Grain Merchants of Yanshou County."

"To have held on until now without closing shop is already a great merit."

"Not only will there be no punishment, there will be a reward."

"Qin Xiaofu, reward Shopkeeper Lin with One Thousand Liang of Silver, as compensation for her hard work during this period."

Qin Xiaofu acknowledged with a Liao and hurriedly took out a Silver Note from his sleeve.

Lin Ziyi was overwhelmed by the favor and waved her hands repeatedly.

"Young Master, that won't do."

"Young Master not punishing us is already more than we father and daughter could ever repay with gratitude—how could we dare accept a reward?"

"Even if a reward is warranted, this One Thousand Liang is far too much."

"Our father and daughter's annual Labor Cost is Two Hundred Liang—this single sum equals five years of wages."

Qin Feng gently patted Lin Ziyi's violently trembling shoulder.

"If I say take it, then take it."

"This is what you deserve."

"With the Zhao's Grain Branch in such dire straits, you father and daughter still held your post steadfastly—loyalty like this alone is worthy of reward."

"From now on, this Zhao's Grain Branch belongs to you father and daughter, with full authority to manage."

"Work hard. If you run Yanshou County well, I'll transfer you father and daughter to the Capital Main Branch for duty."

Lin Ziyi was moved to tears, her eyes welling up again and again.

All the grievances and exhaustion of this period had been worth it.

To be able to follow a master like Qin Feng was a blessing her father and daughter must have earned in a past life.

Lin Ziyi accepted the Silver Note with both hands, feeling as if she were dreaming.

Qin Feng, hands clasped behind his back, stepped through the Door of the Grain Shop and said lightly, "Enough, let's go see your father first."

"As the Old Shopkeeper charging at the First Line, if he collapses, it would be a great loss to our Qin Clan."

Hearing this, Lin Ziyi's heart swelled with even greater admiration.

After all, the merchants of this age are all profit-driven.

A merchant like Qin Feng, who both cares for his subordinates and considers the common people of Heaven, has gone extinct.

The listless Clerks in the Grain Shop all perked up at once.

They fixed their blazingly fervent gazes on Qin Feng.

Qin Feng walked toward the Back Courtyard as he spoke casually, "The Clerks have all worked hard too."

"Qin Xiaofu, give each Clerk Five taels of silver."

The Clerks were so excited their bodies trembled, and they shouted in unison, "Many thanks, Young Master!"

……

Zhao Clan, Yanshou County Grain Shop Headquarters.

Zhao Li, who had been drinking tea, heard what had happened on North Street and sprayed all his tea out in one mouthful.

He sprang to his feet, glared at the servant, and growled, "Are you certain? It really was Qin Feng?"

Zhao Li, only twenty-five years old, had been tempered by years of experience—young in age, yet already commanding an impressive presence.

He quite possessed the bearing of a future Patriarch.

The servant was so terrified he trembled all over.

"Re… replying to the Eldest Young Master."

"This servant dare not conceal the slightest falsehood—Qin Feng has indeed arrived, and with him are Commander Ning and Qin Xiaofu."

"The Second Young Master was beaten by Commander Ning on the spot until his mouth was full of blood."

"That Qin Feng was utterly arrogant, paying no heed to the Second Young Master at all."

Zhao Li slowly sank back into his chair, his brows tightly furrowed.

What you fear most is what comes!

Although the Zhao Clan had the backing of the Central Plains Imperial Party, in the Thirty-Six Counties of Jingdu, they still had to keep their tails between their legs.

Especially when facing an opponent like Qin Feng, they had to be on their guard one hundred and twenty percent.

Zhao Li slammed the table and said in a deep voice, "I told Second Brother long ago — don't act so aggressively."

"Even in the worst case, it's nothing more than splitting the realm with the Qin Grain Shop. My Zhao Clan can still profit from it."

"Even if we must bring down the Qin Grain Shop and drive Qin Feng out of the grain business, we still have to do it slowly — boil the frog in warm water."

"But now look! A single Price War has nearly squeezed the Qin Clan Branch to death."

"Qin Feng would have to be blind not to notice."

The servant asked tentatively, "Eldest Young Master, our Zhao Clan is also a Great Clan — surely we aren't completely outmatched against Qin Feng?"

Zhao Li let out a long sigh, his face helpless.

"A Great Clan? At best, we're only a local power."

"A true Powerful Clan, like the Lin Clan, can control the rise and fall of an entire region."

"My Zhao Clan is still far from being a true Aristocratic Clan Powerful Clan."

The servant hadn't expected that the usually confident Eldest Young Master would be so nervous just hearing Qin Feng's name.

As the saying goes, the King of Hell is easy to deal with — it's the Little Ghost who's hard to shake off.

The servant, mustering his courage, puffed up the Zhao Clan's prestige, hoping to win the Eldest Young Master's favor.

"That Qin Feng may be strong, but behind our Zhao Clan stands the Central Plains Imperial Party."

"Since ancient times, the Central Plains Imperial Party has been the trusted right hand of the Li Imperial Clan."

Zhao Li, usually able to keep his composure, could not help being angered by these words. He glared: "What the hell do you know!"

The servant flinched and quickly tucked his head back in.

Zhao Li rubbed his temple and said irritably, "The Central Plains Imperial Party is strong, but that Qin Feng himself has already rapidly grown into a Northern Border Noble Clan!"

"In military ability, in territorial breadth, in the strength of the populace — they're about six of one, half a dozen of the other."

"But in economic strength, Qin Feng, backed by Beixi County, can actually press the Central Plains Imperial Party by a head."

"Even the current Sage-Emperor has to avoid his edge when facing Qin Feng — what use is a Central Plains Imperial Party whose help is too far away to quench a nearby thirst?"

Saying this, Zhao Li suddenly felt weary.

Toward his own brother, he felt both love and hate.

Having the Central Plains Imperial Party's support was originally the Zhao Clan's greatest opportunity.

If they had used that chance to hide their strength, bide their time, and gradually build power, becoming a regional Powerful Clan in the future was not impossible.

But in the end, a perfectly good game of chess was completely ruined by Zhao Zan.

The moment Qin Feng arrived, only two paths were left for the Zhao Clan.

Either back down and bow in submission, or launch a Trade War ahead of time with no guarantee of victory.

The former would disappoint the Central Plains Imperial Party, and thereby cost them their backing.

The latter, however, was far too risky…