Chapter 649: First Volume, Chapter 649: When Misfortune Reaches Its Peak, Fortune Turns!

First Volume, Chapter 649: When Misfortune Reaches Its Peak, Fortune Turns!

Chen Kang's face was pale, his eyes lost and bewildered as he stared at Qin Feng.

"Young Master Qin, you… don't blame us?"

Qin Feng did not answer immediately, but reached out and brushed the dust off Chen Kang's knees.

For a merchant with conscience who thought of small traders, Qin Feng naturally held immense respect.

"Master Chen, where did you get such an idea?"

"When I first founded the Qin Grain Shop, I invited grain merchants from all over—including you."

"I remember it clearly."

"How could I possibly neglect one of the Qin Grain Shop's first partners?"

Hearing this, Chen Kang's paper-white face instantly flushed with color.

Overcome with emotion, his hands trembled uncontrollably.

Chen Kang had never dreamed that this "second-rate grain merchant" would be remembered by Qin Feng.

What an honor was this?

"Young Master Qin, what exactly do you mean?"

Qin Feng patted Chen Kang's handback, signaling him not to panic.

He spoke with solemn gravity: "Master Chen, I don't blame you—in fact, I'm grateful to you."

Grateful?

Chen Kang looked utterly confused, unsure whether Qin Feng truly appreciated him or was mocking him.

Qin Feng gave a firm nod.

"Exactly!"

"Master Chen, as a major merchant of the North, you've long enjoyed an excellent reputation in the northern grain trade."

"Many merchants in this city follow your lead."

"You are the barometer."

"Given the Qin Grain Shop's precarious position and the Zhao Clan's fierce suppression…"

"You held out this long without immediately siding with the Zhao Clan, stabilizing most of the merchants."

"Simply for that, you are a great contributor."

Saying this, Qin Feng declared loudly.

"The first matter: I forgive past grievances. The Qin Grain Shop will not hold any merchant accountable."

"Even in our weakest state, we will never harm the innocent."

"You may all come forward and trade with the Qin Grain Shop without fear—I guarantee with my personal reputation that no one will harass you."

At these words, the crowd fell utterly silent.

All the merchants could hardly believe their ears.

Qin Feng… had pardoned all the merchants?!

Boom!

After the silence, the entire street was drowned in deafening cheers.

The merchants, as if reborn, clenched their fists and stared at Qin Feng with blazing eyes.

"Young Master Qin is wise!"

"Phew, I thought Qin Feng would retaliate against us!"

"Hmph! What nonsense! Young Master Qin may be decisive and ruthless—but only toward the nobility. To us common people, he has always been benevolent."

"Exactly! If you don't believe it, go ask around in Jingdu—any common person will speak well of Young Master Qin!"

"After this incident, I've finally seen clearly."

"From now on, no more empty posturing. When you come to Jingdu, first and foremost, trade with the Qin Grain Shop."

"After all, Young Master Qin truly considers our interests—unlike the Zhao Clan, those profit-hungry merchants."

"Well said!"

The merchants were ecstatic.

Chen Kang stood frozen for a long while before he finally reacted.

Before this, Chen Kang knew Qin Feng treated common people well—but he never imagined Qin Feng was this close to them…

Listening to the cheers, Lin Ziyi's face flushed bright red with excitement.

Her gaze toward Qin Feng was filled with admiration.

Ning Hu held his head high, barely suppressing his grin, radiating pride.

As if the one being worshipped by the merchants wasn't Qin Feng, but himself, Ning Hu.

Qin Xiaofu whispered to Ning Hu.

"Little Marquis, Young Master's methods—we'll never learn them in a lifetime."

"When he must be hard, he's terrifyingly firm. When he must be soft, he's profoundly kind."

"Crushing aristocratic clans and giving benefits to the people—he handles both with equal strength."

"Sigh, I've followed Young Master for so long, and I've only learned a fraction."

Ning Hu didn't understand commerce, nor did he enjoy thinking.

But one thing Ning Hu knew for certain.

He grinned at once: "You don't need to learn."

"A crafty, evil servant like you is exactly what Brother Qin needs—after all, many tasks are easier for you to handle than for him."

Qin Xiaofu secretly chuckled.

On the other side, Qin Feng was also not idle.

Amid the crowd's fervent, worshipful gazes, he continued to announce.

"The second matter is to lift restrictions on grain purchases."

"Limited grain purchases will become history."

"From now on, any Merchant who comes to the Qin Clan Grain Shop, no matter how much grain they bring, will be accepted in full."

If Qin Feng's pardon of the Merchants had merely stirred gratitude in the crowd,

then lifting the grain purchase restrictions was an unparalleled blessing to them.

After all, everyone had already braced themselves for massive losses.

Even then, it was under the assumption that all their grain would be sold.

If they couldn't sell a single grain, and were left holding it all, their families would soon be ruined.

The crowd stared blankly at Qin Feng.

"Qin… Qin Young Master… could you be our savior?"

"It must be!"

"In the past, rumors spread that Qin Feng was the Wenchang Star Descended to Earth; now it's clear these rumors were no baseless gossip."

"Too… too wonderful!"

"Even if we sell at twenty wen per Shi, low as it is, as long as we can sell all our grain, there's still hope."

"That's right. Given Yanshou County's current state, just selling the grain is already hard enough. Qin Young Master is truly our lucky star."

Qin Feng stood with his hands behind his back, calmly and steadily announcing.

"As for the third matter, we will restore the grain price to its normal range."

"In past years, the purchase price of grain in Yanshou County was always thirty wen per Shi."

"Then we shall return to the price of past years."

Boom!

The crowd instantly erupted.

Everyone felt as if they were dreaming, their heads spinning.

Even Chen Kang stared blankly at Qin Feng, his face filled with shock.

Restore to the normal price? That would mean… Qin Feng would suffer heavy losses?

"Qin Young Master, we deeply appreciate your kindness, but there's no need to restore the grain price."

"Or at least, not fully—twenty-five wen per Shi would already fill us with boundless gratitude."

Qin Xiaofu hurried to Qin Feng's side and whispered a warning.

"Master, this won't do."

"The grain price has already been crushed by the Zhao Clan—ten wen per Shi lower. We should restore it gradually."

"If we suddenly raise the price, we may not be able to withstand it."

The Merchants present, fully aware of Qin Feng's goodwill, all urged him to reconsider.

"Qin Young Master, thirty wen is unnecessary. As Master Chen said, twenty-five wen is more than enough."

"That's right. At twenty-five wen, we can break even."

"After what the Zhao Clan did, we no longer expect to profit—just breaking even and returning home is enough."

Facing the crowd's pleas,

Qin Feng's stance remained firm.

"Break even is enough? That won't do!"

"Your families are waiting for you to earn money and return home!"