Chapter 650: First Volume_Chapter 650: The People

First Volume_Chapter 650: The People's Great Savior!

"My wife is waiting for new clothes, my son is waiting for a bamboo horse, my parents are waiting for better meals."

"Return home empty-handed? Wouldn't that disappoint your family?"

"Among the merchants here, some are first-timers, others are regulars."

"Some came with Master Chen, others came because of the reputation of our Qin Family Grain Merchants."

"I, Qin Feng, will never let you make this trip in vain."

"Thirty wen per shi—that's the price. Whoever disagrees can find their own sales channel."

Hearing Qin Feng's words, many merchants burst into loud sobs.

Moved.

Nothing but being moved.

If Qin Feng isn't the people's savior, then who is?

Chen Kang had spent half his life traveling north and south, meeting all kinds of merchants, but he had never seen a merchant like Qin Feng.

Could it be that such a merchant truly exists in this world—profiting only to give back to the people?

From a rational standpoint, Qin Xiaofu believed Qin Feng's actions would surely lead to total ruin.

But emotionally, he admired Qin Feng utterly.

After all, the very purpose of Qin Feng establishing the Qin Family Grain Merchants was to ensure the people of Shedynasty had food to eat.

These merchants, naturally, were also the people.

Lin Ziyi's face flushed red, her whole body trembling with excitement.

To work beside a man like Qin Feng in this lifetime—she would die content.

But the problem must be faced.

Lin Ziyi softly reminded: "Young Master, raising the price to thirty wen is no issue."

"But where will our capital come from?"

That's right!

Only then did everyone realize.

Qin Feng had come empty-handed—he had brought no money.

And the Qin Family Grain Merchants branch was barely surviving itself; if it had funds, it wouldn't have limited grain sales.

Just as everyone was baffled,

Qin Xiaofu suddenly stepped forward.

"Master, I still have some money—let me lend a hand."

Qin Xiaofu first reached into his sleeve, then into his chest, and finally took off his shoes.

The boy had practically searched every inch of himself.

He pulled out a pile of silver notes.

Enough for twenty thousand li silver!

Qin Xiaofu handed all the silver notes to Lin Ziyi.

Lin Ziyi stared, dumbfounded.

Qin Xiaofu was merely a servant—how could he carry twenty thousand li silver notes? It was unbelievable!

Could it be that even a lowly servant beside Qin Feng was dripping with wealth?

Qin Xiaofu grinned.

"Hehe, this money was all siphoned off from the Master's funds—little by little, it added up."

"The Master never scolds me for embezzling, so I've always kept this money on me, just in case of emergencies."

Lin Ziyi covered her mouth, her heart filled with deep emotion.

Qin Feng's way of managing people was simply brilliant.

Only Qin Feng would allow his servants to embezzle funds.

Yet this servant embezzled precisely to help his master in a crisis.

This master-servant bond was unprecedented, never to be seen again.

"Lin Shopkeeper, these twenty thousand li silver will cover our expenses for the next few days."

Qin Xiaofu turned to look at Qin Feng.

"Master, I only brought this much money."

"The remaining funds for grain purchases—you'll have to find a way."

Qin Feng patted Qin Xiaofu's shoulder and smiled lightly: "Don't worry."

"These twenty thousand li silver are your own Small Treasury—go back and get reimbursed from my Second Sister."

Qin Xiaofu never treated Qin Feng as distant—he nodded vigorously: "Of course, hehe."

Qin Feng had already calculated the numbers in his mind.

Beyond the immediate need for grain funds, he also needed to inject capital into the branch as a reserve.

Altogether, it would require roughly twenty thousand li silver.

After all, Yanshou County was vital—it could not afford another mishap.

Just as Qin Feng was considering asking his Second Sister for the money after returning to Beijing,

dozens of merchants from Yanshou County arrived uninvited.

Leading them, Zhao Ping trembled as he bowed deeply.

"Young Master Qin, previously we clung to the Zhao Clan out of necessity."

"Please, Young Master Qin, show mercy and do not hold our little deeds against us."

"Young Master Qin's concern for the nation and its people fills us with admiration."

"All merchants of Yanshou County are willing to offer Ten Thousand Liang of Silver, seeking Young Master Qin's forgiveness."

Qin Feng never intended to punish these small merchants.

After all, their businesses are small and they could only follow the tide, with no autonomy at all.

If they refused the Zhao Clan's orders, their own families would likely be destroyed.

"Forget the money—I never planned to punish you."

"Just remember: learn from your misfortune. Do not collude to oppress merchants and common folk again."

"As long as I, Qin Feng, am alive, I will never tolerate such evil deeds."

Seeing that Qin Feng would not hold a grudge, the local grain merchants instantly felt a great weight lifted.

Yet Zhao Ping insisted on offering the silver.

"Please, Young Master, accept it."

"To be honest, this money isn't from our own pockets."

"After all, by following the Zhao Clan and buying and selling grain at low prices, we made plenty of ill-gotten gains."

"Now, we offer these ill-gotten gains, hoping to ease our conscience."

So that's how it was.

Qin Feng did not refuse; he ordered Lin Ziyi to send clerks to collect the silver.

Just this sum alone was enough to fund the branch and buy up all the grain stockpiled in the city.

Future capital injections…

Almost the moment Qin Feng thought of this,

Wang Peng, the fifty-year-old County Magistrate of Yanshou County, hurried over, trembling.

"Young Master Qin, I have ordered all downstream grain merchants who engaged in speculation to be detained."

"Anyone who profited from ill-gotten gains must surrender their money—otherwise, they may not leave Yanshou County."

"We have seized a total of Five Ten Thousand Taels of Silver."

The County Magistrate's eagerness surprised Qin Feng.

Yet…

It was not hard to understand.

After this incident, the Qin Family Grain Merchants had firmly taken root in Yanshou County.

Wang Peng, as the Father Official of Yanshou County, naturally needed to cultivate a good relationship with Qin Feng.

Qin Feng accepted it all; thus, the future funding for the Qin Family Grain Merchants now had a source.

At that moment, Lin Ziyi suddenly spoke up.

"Young Master, I have a humble request."

"There are still many merchants in the city who sold their grain and have lost everything."

"Why not set aside Ten Thousand Liang of Silver and distribute it according to each merchant's losses, minimizing the tragedies of families destroyed?"

"Save a person to the end; see the Buddha to the West."

Hearing this, Qin Feng's eyes brightened.

Sensing Qin Feng's gaze, Lin Ziyi's face flushed even redder, and she quickly lowered her head.

She whispered, "I spoke foolishly—I beg your pardon, Young Master."

Qin Feng found himself liking this girl more and more.

Not only was she cut out for business, but her heart was also exceedingly kind.

Entrusting the Qin Family Grain Merchants branch to her, Qin Feng felt at ease.

"Then let us set aside Three Ten Thousand Taels—save as many as we can."

"Ziyi, from now on, the entire grain trade of Yanshou County is under your full authority."