Chapter 80: Pillaged Once Again

In the spacious villa hall, seeing Lin Chuanming’s expression, Premier Zhu had already guessed the general situation. With a hint of amusement, Premier Zhu asked, “Could it be that the youngster is still sleeping? I must say, Old Master Lin, you’re spoiling him too much. If you continue like this, he’ll become completely unruly. It’s a rare occasion for me to visit the Lin family, and no matter what, he should be here accompanying Minister Xie and me for a good chat.”

Hearing Premier Zhu’s teasing, Old Master Lin felt rather embarrassed. With a stern face, he turned to Lin Chuanzi and ordered, “Go upstairs and drag your son down here. This is simply unacceptable. I’ve only just left, and he’s already run off.”

Seeing the old man angry, Lin Chuanzi hurriedly got up and went upstairs to Lin Feng’s room. He didn’t even bother knocking, pushing the door open directly. Sure enough, he found Lin Feng sprawled out on the bed, snoring away in deep sleep.

Lin Chuanzi’s face darkened as he walked to the bedside. In a fit of anger, he yanked the quilt off Lin Feng. Lin Feng, still lost in dreams of meeting the daughter of the Duke of Zhou, suddenly felt a chill and reached for his quilt, but after fumbling for a while, he couldn’t find it. Only then did he slowly open his eyes. To his surprise, at some point Lin Chuanzi had come into his room and was now standing by his bed holding his quilt.

Half awake, Lin Feng didn’t notice Lin Chuanzi’s grim face. Weakly, he muttered, “Dad, why did you take my quilt? Give it back, or I’ll freeze!”

At this, Lin Chuanzi could no longer restrain himself. He tossed the quilt back on the bed and dragged Lin Feng up, scolding him as Lin Feng, still groggy, struggled to open his eyes. “You’re really something. Who else is as lazy as you? It’s the first day of the New Year and you can’t even show some diligence. You’ve embarrassed your father!”

Lin Feng blinked, trying to clear his head, and after a moment, managed to reply, “Dad, what’s gotten into you? It’s not like I’m refusing to get up. Wasn’t I just outside with everyone greeting the guests? Now that there’s nothing to do, I’m just catching up on some sleep.”

“Hmph! Who said there’s nothing for you to do? There are two guests downstairs who specifically asked for you to join us,” Lin Chuanzi replied, still annoyed.

Lin Feng finally perked up at this, curiosity overcoming his sleepiness. “What kind of guests want to see me? I don’t even know anyone in Yanjing. Are you kidding me?”

Lin Chuanzi rolled his eyes at Lin Feng’s words and gave him a light smack on the head. “What do you mean, kidding? Don’t you dare say anything like that downstairs. It’s Premier Zhu and Minister Xie! They’re paying visits today and, passing by, decided to have lunch at our home. I don’t care what you say—hurry up and get downstairs. They asked for you by name.”

Hearing it was Premier Zhu and Minister Xie, Lin Feng couldn’t help yawning as he muttered, “Those two old foxes again? Wasn’t it enough for them to fleece me back in Zhahai City? And now they’ve tracked me home—nothing good ever comes of this!”

Lin Chuanzi didn’t care if it was for good or ill. Whatever the elders’ intentions, they were honored guests, and it was a great honor for them to dine at the Lin household. Ignoring Lin Feng’s complaints, he hustled him to wash up, tidy himself, and escorted him downstairs to the sitting room.

In the living room, Premier Zhu and Minister Xie were chatting with Old Master Lin. When they saw Lin Feng being practically dragged in by Lin Chuanzi, looking utterly listless, Premier Zhu couldn’t help but burst out laughing, clutching his aching sides as he teased Lin Feng, “You’re quite a character! You really are the laziest person I know. Were you like this back in Zhahai City too?”

Perhaps the rest of the Lin family would have spoken to Premier Zhu with proper deference, but Lin Feng cared nothing for such formalities. Hearing Premier Zhu’s teasing, he simply rolled his eyes and retorted, “Didn’t I always sleep in as long as I liked in Zhahai? It’s not like I had anything to do today—if it weren’t for the two of you, I’d still be in bed.”

Lin Feng’s blunt words startled the Lin family. Old Master Lin immediately rebuked him sternly, “Watch your tongue, boy! Where are your manners?”

Yet Lin Feng seemed unfazed by the reprimand. Premier Zhu, seeing this, stepped in to defend him. “It’s fine, Old Master Lin. No need to scold Lin Feng. You see, everyone else is so polite and careful when talking to me, hardly daring to breathe. It’s refreshing to have someone like Lin Feng who doesn’t care about such things and can speak frankly. I actually enjoy chatting with him.”

Minister Xie also smiled and added, “Premier Zhu is right. Old Master Lin, you were in the army yourself and know we soldiers prefer straightforwardness. Lin Feng’s character suits me just fine!”

Seeing both Premier Zhu and Minister Xie speak up for Lin Feng, Old Master Lin had no more to say, though the rest of the Lin family looked at Lin Feng with complex expressions—there was even a hint of envy. Perhaps they envied the favor Lin Feng found with such high-ranking figures.

At that moment, the butler, Grandpa Xiang, came out to announce that the meal was ready, easing the awkward atmosphere.

Just as Old Master Lin was about to invite Premier Zhu and Minister Xie to the table, the two elders exchanged a look and turned their gaze in unison to Lin Feng.

Lin Feng felt his scalp tingle under their scrutiny. He scratched his head and asked, “Premier Zhu, Minister Xie, the meal’s ready—why are you still looking at me? I’m not the food.”

Their amusement clear, the two elders shared a glance before Premier Zhu spoke, “You really are something else. We’re looking at you, giving you hints, and you still play dumb? Shouldn’t you bring out something good for us? Yes, I mean that legendary wine that everyone in Yanjing is talking about.”

As Premier Zhu spoke, the Lin family finally realized the real reason for today’s visit. It wasn’t a hidden agenda but an open one, and the Lin family could only play along with a smile. Old Master Lin and the others all looked to Lin Feng to see how he would respond. Would he share this miraculous wine? No one could decide, but they all knew Lin Feng was a notorious miser and wouldn’t give in easily.

Sure enough, Lin Feng immediately shook his head at Premier Zhu, “It’s all gone. There’s none left.”

Premier Zhu had a good grasp of Lin Feng’s character—a classic miser. It was always difficult to get anything good from him. He had heard that this miraculous wine amounted to just ten jin; the Lin family had drunk five jin, and the remaining five were in Lin Feng’s hands. If not for the wine’s legendary reputation, Premier Zhu might have been fooled by Lin Feng.

With a look of mock disdain, Premier Zhu replied, “You stingy miser! You’re getting better at lying through your teeth. If it weren’t for everyone keeping an eye on your wine, we’d have been fooled today. Be quick and bring out the remaining five jin, or I’m not leaving!”

“That’s right, count me in. If I don’t get to taste that wine today, I’m not leaving either,” Minister Xie chimed in with a grin.

The Lin family was stunned by the two high-ranking officials’ shameless banter, especially Old Master Lin, who valued family honor above all. He kept shooting Lin Feng stern looks, but Lin Feng ignored him completely, nearly driving the old man mad.

Lin Chuanzi, observing the interplay between Lin Feng and the elders, saw his father getting angry again and promptly dragged Lin Feng back to his room.

As Lin Feng was escorted away, his helpless and miserable expression sent Premier Zhu and Minister Xie into fits of laughter. The two elders joined Old Master Lin and the others at the table, and only after a while did Lin Feng return, carrying a wine jar and looking utterly dejected.

Seeing Lin Feng’s reluctance, Premier Zhu put down his chopsticks and scolded him with a laugh, “You’re so young, yet already so tight-fisted! Can’t you be a bit more generous?”

“It’s not like this is something from your house. This is all I have left. When it’s gone, it’s gone—you don’t feel any pain, but I do,” Lin Feng retorted with a sigh.

Minister Xie, a lifelong lover of good drink, could hardly contain his excitement at the sight of Lin Feng bringing in the famous Immortal Brew. He hurried over, snatched the wine jar from Lin Feng, and added, “You really are stingy!”

Lin Feng stamped his foot in frustration. Before he could even sit down, Minister Xie had already begun pouring the Immortal Brew into everyone’s cup. As the rich aroma of the wine filled the air, Minister Xie and Premier Zhu, unable to resist, raised their cups to each other and drank deeply, falling silent in their enjoyment.

Seeing the elders already drinking, Old Master Lin and the rest of the family eagerly followed suit. Though they had tasted the wine before, its allure was irresistible, and this second taste was as enchanting as the first, leaving them, like Premier Zhu and Minister Xie, lost in the Immortal Brew’s heavenly depths.

Lin Feng, noticing he hadn’t even sat down and the wine was already being consumed, quickly found an empty seat, took the jar, and poured a small amount into his cup. He sipped it slowly, savoring the flavor, which seemed even richer and more fragrant after a few days’ fermentation.

As Lin Feng took several small sips, his cup nearly empty, Premier Zhu and Minister Xie finally emerged from the wondrous trance induced by the Immortal Brew.