Chapter 873: First Volume, Chapter 873: All People Are Born Equal

First Volume, Chapter 873: All People Are Born Equal

The County Magistrate's Wife gave him a side-eye and muttered under her breath: "Husband, if you'd said this earlier, wouldn't I have understood sooner?"

"If we can cling to Lord Qin's leg, even if we lose every last coin, it's worth it."

"What are you all standing around for? Hurry and carry it out! Take my firepot to Lord Qin—if he catches a chill and blames you, you wretched servants won't be able to bear it!"

To curry favor, the County Magistrate's Wife personally led her maids, carrying the firepot to Qin Feng's side, beaming with a forced smile.

"Lord Qin, use this firepot first—I've ordered the maids to stand by and keep adding charcoal. Don't you dare find it beneath you."

"But honestly, it's freezing cold out here—fine when there's no wind, but once the wind picks up, it's deadly. Lord Qin, please retire to the Inner Courtyard. Whatever needs doing, just order the servants."

As the saying goes, you don't strike a smiling face—Yan Peng said nothing, merely smiled faintly, acknowledging her goodwill.

As for the true nature of the County Magistrate's Wife, the Brocade Guard had already investigated her thoroughly before arriving.

She had committed no great evil, but she was a snob and greedy to the core.

Chen Tian kept to his duties, but he was plagued by a wicked wife who secretly commanded Yamen Runners to extort money—she didn't outright oppress the common folk, since their meager coins had long been stripped bare by Local Strongmen; instead, she flirted with them, took bribes, and smoothed over their troubles.

People like her were everywhere.

Seeing Qin Feng remain silent, the County Magistrate's Wife felt a flicker of annoyance, but mostly, she refused to give up.

She kept smiling, lowering her posture even further.

"Lord Qin, you truly have the heart of a Living Bodhisattva, caring so deeply for these lowly folk."

"They're freezing out here, yet you freeze with them—truly leading by example, I am deeply moved."

"But you are a Lord, while they are lowly folk—there's a fundamental difference."

"If you fall ill from the cold, how could these lowly folk ever bear the blame?"

Her intent was to urge Qin Feng to return to the Inner Courtyard, while subtly reminding the crowd not to burden him—hoping they'd join in persuading him.

But she was used to being cruel, so her words came out brutally harsh.

Qin Feng frowned slightly and turned to face the County Magistrate's Wife.

"You keep calling them 'lowly folk'—the people are just people. Why must you prepend 'lowly'?"

"Do you only feel noble by trampling these common folk underfoot?"

"All people are born equal—why must you impose ranks of high and low, noble and base?"

At these words, the crowd's gaze toward Qin Feng burned even hotter.

They had entirely forgotten Qin Feng's identity as a "Foreign Envoy"—now they saw him as a true Father Official who genuinely cared for them.

Qin Feng had no patience to waste words on the County Magistrate's Wife—he simply waved his hand, signaling she was dismissed.

The County Magistrate's Wife bowed and smiled, but the moment she turned away, her face twisted into contempt as she muttered under her breath.

"All people are born equal? What a ridiculous joke."

"Does she really think she's a Living Bodhisattva? Pfft!"

"From the moment a person is born, they're destined to be noble or base."

"Hmph, only you treat these lowly folk like treasures. To me, I wouldn't care if I killed them all."

"A bunch of greedy parasites wasting grain—they'd all be better off dead!"

Qin Feng's ears weren't as sharp as the Brocade Guard's, but he wasn't deaf either.

These cruel, even venomous mutterings slipped straight into his ears—impossible to ignore.

Qin Feng's brow tightened as he stared at the County Magistrate's Wife's back.

Before Qin Feng could give an order, Ning Hu had already stepped directly in front of her.

"What did you just say?"

"Without these people, where would your brocade and jade come from?"

"The people are the foundation of a nation. 'Better off dead'? Even His Majesty would never say such a thing—where do you get the courage?"

The County Magistrate's Wife, facing the fearsome Ning Hu, felt her heart lurch—she spun around, forcing a smile.

"What did I say? I didn't say anything!"

"Lord Qin must've misheard—I was just saying, it's almost dinner time, with so many mouths to feed, how much food will we need to prepare? Hehe."

"Lord Qin shows compassion for the people—I admire you a hundredfold. If it makes Lord Qin happy, our County Yamen should gladly lend a hand."

Hearing this, Qin Feng's gaze grew even more disdainful.

"Your County Yamen? When did the County Yamen become yours?"

"The County Yamen exists to serve the people—has it become your private pocket for embezzlement?"

This struck straight at her heart. She cursed inwardly, yet feigned terror, waving her hands frantically.

"Lord Qin, you've frightened me to death—I'd never dare embezzle, no matter how bold I am!"

"Lord Qin, it's getting late—what about dinner…?"

Qin Feng studied the County Magistrate's Wife silently; from her defiant eyes, he knew that even if he argued until his lips bled, she'd never repent.

Moreover, as the County Magistrate's wife and a woman, with so many eyes watching, punishing her too harshly would seem unjust.

Besides, she was right—it was indeed time for dinner.

Di and Shedynasty differed: due to harsh conditions, the body needed more calories to withstand the cold, so two meals a day were insufficient—hence, they added a third evening meal.

Meals best reveal human nature, especially under such dire scarcity.

Qin Feng wanted to see what kind of dinner this so-called County Magistrate's Wife would prepare for the "lowly folk" she despised most.

Back in the Inner Courtyard, the moment the Gate closed behind her, she burst into furious curses.

"What a piece of trash! That damned Qin Feng is so ungrateful!"

"Look at yourself—you've killed countless people, yet now you play the Living Bodhisattva? How hypocritical!"

"I gave money and materials, and still got slapped with a cold shoulder—how disgusting!"

"Pah!"

The County Magistrate's Wife, furious, summoned her maid and snapped, "Go tell the cook: just give everyone a bowl of beans. Feeding those lowly peasants fine bran is no better than feeding pigs."

The maid looked troubled and whispered, "Madam, this might not be wise."

"Besides, the Master has already ordered: for dinner, give the people outside one bowl of millet and one bowl of meat broth—no need to see actual meat, just a hint of meaty flavor will do."

"He also said..."

Before the maid could finish, the County Magistrate's Wife slapped her across the face, making the maid burst into tears.

"You wretched thing—do you listen to the Master, or to me?!"