Chapter 26

Zhen Yi strongly rejected Qin Feng's request, refusing to agree to the marriage between him and his daughters, determined to break them up.

Qin Feng, unwilling to fall out with his future father-in-law, tried to reason, "Mr. Zhen, I and Mi'er and Jiang'er are deeply in love..."

"Enough talk, no means no!" Zhen Yi shook his head vigorously and added, "Qin Zijin, since ancient times, even thieves have their code. Are you going to be the kind of person who breaks his word?"

Qin Feng frowned and stood up, saying, "Mr. Zhen, I have already made a promise to your daughters, and I cannot just leave like this." As he spoke, he took out the jade pendants given by the two sisters.

Seeing the family heirloom jade pendants, Zhen Yi trembled with anger, "Even with a promise, it's still no. I will never marry my daughters to you."

Qin Feng's eyebrows twitched, thinking to himself that this old man was just like the last life. If he didn't show his strength, the old man wouldn't back down.

With a loud bang, Zhen Yi, who had his eyes closed, was startled, and his heart raced. The sound of heavy footsteps filled the hall as over a hundred fully armed soldiers entered.

Clang! A hundred swords were drawn, and the hall was instantly filled with the glint of blades and the air of killing.

Qin Feng was very satisfied with his troops. Without hesitation, he said to Zhen Yi, "Since that's the case, don't blame Qin Feng for being ruthless!"

"Ah!" Zhen Yi's body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground. At that moment, a call came from the back hall.

Everyone turned to see Lady Zhang.

Zhen Yi crawled into the inner hall.

Lady Zhang, pale-faced, said, "Sir, are you really going to abandon your family and fight it out with Qin Zijin?"

Zhen Yi, furious, said, "Isn't it for our daughters!" He shouted, "You raised such daughters, giving away jade pendants and making private vows. Where is my old face to go?"

In fact, during the month Qin Feng stayed, he got along well with the Zhen family. Qin Feng had repeatedly promised to repay them in the future. Seeing Qin Feng's ability to train troops, Zhen Yi felt that this investment might pay off. Therefore, they were not as hostile as at the beginning.

Lady Zhang knew it was about Zhen Yi's face, so she suggested a compromise, "I think Qin Zijin is also a capable person. Nowadays, many people form local militias for military merit. Given Qin Zijin's abilities, he will certainly gain a lot of military merit. When the rebellion is quelled, the emperor will reward him with an official position."

"What do you mean?" Zhen Yi asked, one eye bigger than the other.

"Let's do this: such and such... How about it?" Lady Zhang finally said.

Zhen Yi sighed, "I have no choice."

When Zhen Yi returned to the front hall, he looked much more relaxed. He cleared his throat and said, "Zijin, the marriage can be arranged, but it will be a provisional engagement."

Qin Feng was taken aback, "What is a provisional engagement?"

Zhen Yi, who had never seen such a thing in all his years of arranging marriages, felt very awkward, "It's like this: add a clause that the engagement is for one year. If you can achieve a position of 2,000 stones or higher within a year, the engagement will be valid, and you can come to marry my daughters when they come of age. If you don't achieve a position of 2,000 stones or higher within a year, the engagement will be null and void. How about it?"

Damn! Qin Feng cursed inwardly, thinking this old man was truly a businessman, full of tricks.

Dian Wei was shocked and said to Xu Chu, "Good grief, 2,000 stones, that's at least a governor. Many noble families spend their whole lives trying to achieve such a position. This old man is deliberately making things difficult!"

Xu Chu hurriedly said, "Lord, you can't agree to this. To go from a commoner to 2,000 stones in a year, even those from the Three Excellencies' families have to start as filial and honest officials, and no one has ever achieved it!"

Zhen Yi suddenly had an idea, "Zijin, what do you think? If you don't agree, I won't either. Kill my whole family then. I guess you'll spare my two daughters and tell them their parents were killed by their husband. How sweet!"

"Go ahead." Zhen Yi closed his eyes, but after a long while, nothing happened. Opening his eyes, he saw Qin Feng trembling. Zhen Yi laughed, feeling the magnanimity of a father-in-law, thinking, "This Qin Feng isn't a real bandit. He and my daughters are in love, so let's see if he has the ability to marry them."

Hmm! Why am I thinking this? Zhen Yi immediately pulled a long face, "What do you think?"

Zhen Yi thought Qin Feng wouldn't agree, but unexpectedly, Qin Feng burst out laughing, slapped the table, and said, "Alright, it's a deal. 2,000 stones within a year!"

"Ah!" Zhen Yi was knocked over, thinking this kid must be crazy. 2,000 stones, the big belly was right, in the Han Dynasty, no one has ever achieved it. Can you do it? Don't be ridiculous!

However, Zhen Yi was overjoyed, for this would send away the biggest troublemaker in the world.

Qin Feng had Xu Chu grind the ink and wrote on precious Luoyang paper. The gist was: Party B (Zhen family) will fund Party A (Qin Feng) to establish a militia to fight the Yellow Turbans. If Qin Feng achieves a position of 2,000 stones, Party B will marry their daughters to Party A.

Zhen Yi's face turned green. He thought this agreement was the cheapest deal for Party A, meaning he would provide money, people, and even his daughters. Zhen Yi thought, "If this agreement gets out, the Zhen family won't be able to stay in Ji Province. We'll lose all our face!"

However, Zhen Yi also thought, "With his abilities, let alone 2,000 stones, even 500 stones would be a stretch. At most, he'll be a 300-stone county magistrate. I'll agree to it, and he won't come back. I'll just consider it a loss to avoid disaster!"

Maybe he'll die outside, which would be even better. So, Zhen Yi reluctantly took out the seal and signed the agreement, making the engagement official.

"Hmph." Zhen Yi sneered, "You're only fit to be a county magistrate, a million miles away from a governor."

Qin Feng also sneered, thinking, "In my last life, I was an emperor. A measly governor, you're so proud. You think you've outsmarted me."

Thus, both sides, following the customs of the time, exchanged the engagement documents. Qin Feng felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders.

On the day of departure, the Zhen family all came.

Zhen Mi and Zhen Jiang cried like tearful dolls, only able to watch from a distance due to the crowd. Qin Feng reassured them with strong words and promises, and the two girls finally smiled through their tears, but still with worry.

The three brothers were stunned when they heard about the engagement, "Can he do it? 2,000 stones, that's a high-ranking official. Our Zhen family has never had such a high-ranking official!"

Zhen Yi laughed, "It's best if he can't!"

Just as everyone thought Qin Feng was about to leave, he rode up to Zhen Jiang and her sister.

Oh! Everyone gasped as he hugged them.

"Ah!" Before the girls blushed, Zhen Yi's face turned red, and he lunged at Qin Feng, but the three brothers held him back.

"Don't hold me back, I'll fight him, I'll fight him!"

The three brothers held their father's waist and pulled him back, saying, "Father, don't be impulsive. Qin Feng has 500 iron cavalry. If you anger him, everyone except the sisters will be left as chicken and dog!"

"What a disaster, how did I end up with this? Where did this Qin Zijin come from, and why did he set his sights on our Zhen family? Woe is me!" Zhen Yi was very sad, seeing his daughters being kissed and willing, he pounded his chest and legs, shouting, "Living bandit, living bandit!"

After comforting his future wives, Qin Feng remounted his horse. Before leaving, he couldn't help but say to his father-in-law, "Father-in-law, I, Qin Feng, will definitely come back."

These words sounded so familiar.

Zhen Yi trembled, forcing a smile that was uglier than a cry, thinking, "I hope you never come back, and die outside!"

In the sunset, a golden figure rode away, and behind the sunset, the beautiful ladies sent their husband off to war.

He was about to take the first step in his conquest of the world. He would let the world know that Qin Feng had arrived! This land was not just the stage for Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, and Liu Bei, but also for Qin Feng. Who would ultimately win this life? Would Qin Feng achieve his desires this life? Who would stand tall on the grand stage and raise the seal again?

"Husband, we'll wait for you to come back!"

"Husband is called out! My face..." Zhen Yi stomped his feet, "A million Yellow Turbans, and he only has 500 men, not even enough to fill their teeth!"

"Oh, my daughters, don't be angry. Your father is doing this for your own good. A good man... a good iron doesn't make nails! Oh, who hit my head!"