Chapter 5: Vices

“Five-spice peanuts? I’ve never heard of peanuts flavored with five spices before,” Xiao Die said, her face full of confusion.

Suddenly, Lin Feng realized that the method of making five-spice peanuts probably did not exist in the Great Chu Dynasty.

“I know peanuts can be boiled or dry-roasted, and taverns sometimes serve them fried, but five-spice peanuts? That’s new to me,” Liu Xi swallowed hard. He hadn’t eaten peanuts in a long time either.

Lin Feng thought to himself: since the fluttering of Butterfly’s brave little wings has already altered the course of history, why should he hesitate? He might as well make a fortune by selling things that are rare or nonexistent in ancient times. Who cares if they’ve appeared before or not!

He looked up and spotted a grain store. “Let’s go in first and buy some rice and flour.”

Inside the store, the selection was simple—mainly rice, wheat, millet, and other common grains from ancient times. Sure enough, there was no corn, confirming Lin Feng’s suspicion that corn probably hadn’t reached the Great Chu Kingdom yet.

The white flour and peanuts were considered refined grains. The white flour was indeed expensive, costing twenty-eight wen per jin.

But Lin Feng thought it made sense—the process of making white flour in ancient times was complicated and costly, so it was naturally pricey.

There was also coarse flour, which was unprocessed flour straight from the mill, much cheaper at just seven wen per jin.

Peanuts were even more expensive, thirty wen per jin, and still in their shells.

According to historical records from his previous life, peanuts first appeared during the Ming Dynasty. However, experts later discovered peanuts in a tomb from the Western Han period, pushing back their history by over a thousand years.

Peanuts were recorded in the Ming Dynasty because their cultivation had become widespread by then, but there was no way to confirm if they were truly grown during the Western Han era.

The Great Chu Kingdom likely had very few peanut farmers; otherwise, peanuts wouldn’t be so costly.

Lin Feng bought a variety of items, especially the coarse flour in the largest quantities, as it would probably be their main staple food in the future.

Then they went to the tavern and bought a jar of wine.

Cooked peanuts in their shells were even pricier—fifty wen per jin.

“Young master, fifty wen can buy a jin of pork,” someone said.

“Is pork really that cheap?” Lin Feng asked in surprise.

“That’s still cheap?! Even though Chu Capital is bigger and richer than this small town, pork there is only twenty wen per jin,” came the reply.

Lin Feng immediately thought that pork in Chu Capital must be abundant, driving the price down.

In ancient times, it was impossible to have uniform prices everywhere because every place had completely different conditions. Market regulation was difficult due to high operating costs.

Even in modern times, uniform pricing is unattainable; only the prices of common goods for ordinary people are basically standardized.

“Then let’s buy a jin of pork,” Lin Feng decided.

“Good, tonight I’ll make meat pancakes for the young master,” said Liu Xi.

After buying a jin of pork at the butcher’s and then purchasing pen, ink, paper, and inkstone at the bookshop, the three prepared to return to the village.

Liu Xi carried all the goods by himself. Having followed Lin Feng for many years, he had trained in martial arts and was very strong, still looking fresh despite the heavy load.

Lin Feng didn’t like reading but enjoyed practicing with spear and staff—that was why other young masters in Chu Capital dared not provoke him.

He learned martial arts because, as a son of the third concubine in the Lin family, he was often bullied as a child. He believed martial skills were more important than books.

Many children from Chu Capital avoided him partly because the Lin family was a prominent clan there. Although he was a third concubine’s son, a sick camel is still bigger than a horse—many respected him from a distance.

By now, night was falling, and the small town’s streets began to light up, especially the place called Pear Fragrance Court, dazzling with bright lanterns and red lights.

Several women dressed in elaborate clothes fanned themselves while leaning by the door, batting their eyes at passing men. “Young master, come in and have some fun!”

Lin Feng suddenly felt a strong urge to enter. Oh no! It seemed he had inherited not only the body’s memories but also its bad habits. How could he lose control like this?

But previously, the original Lin Feng only came to such places for a drink and to listen to a little music. He particularly liked the feeling of being surrounded by beauty.

Xiao Die’s face had turned pale. “Young master, I won’t stop you from drinking, but don’t go to such places. They cost too much.”

She disliked Lin Feng lingering in brothels but couldn’t really control him, nor would he listen. Still, from a financial perspective, maybe the young master would realize their precarious situation and come to his senses.

“I’m just looking, just looking,” Lin Feng forced a dry laugh. “Come on, it’s dark. Let’s hurry back.”

Xiao Die let out a sigh of relief.

When the three returned to the village, the sunset had completely faded, and night had fallen.

Every household had lit lamps.

Wealthier farmers even hung oil lamps from trees in their yards. The Tian family next to Lin Feng’s place was one of them, with more than one lamp making their courtyard especially bright.

Lin Feng faintly heard noises of quarrelling from his own home.

He also caught the word “silver,” probably an argument over money.

Throughout history, the woes and unhappiness of the poor have always stemmed from lack of money. Poor couples might quarrel all day over a broken bowl, their fights draining all happiness, leaving no room for peace and prosperity.

Rich families don’t quarrel over a bowl, but they fight fiercely over greater interests. In royal households, conflicts can be ruthless—even turning to swords and bloodshed among kin.

As the saying goes: all bustling in the world is for profit; all scrambling is for gain.

Once home, the three lit oil lamps, and Xiao Die immediately began counting the money.

After counting three times, she smiled happily. “Young master, after deducting our purchases, we still have five thousand six hundred wen left!”

They had sold a sick donkey but earned the price of three good ones—a huge profit.

“Young master, I’ll keep the money,” Xiao Die decided. If Lin Feng held the money, the chest might be empty by tomorrow.

He was no longer the young master of the Lin family in Chu Capital and couldn’t spend so freely anymore.

“Fine, I’ll leave it all to you.”

Xiao Die smiled brightly. “I’ll save up for you. Don’t forget, you still have to marry three beauties who arrived by carriage.” Saying this, she hugged the chest tightly and went to her room.

Lin Feng almost burst out laughing. His grand dream seemed difficult to achieve.

But since it was said, he had to try his best, or others would look down on him even more.

In both this life and the last, Lin Feng had been the type to keep his word. If he couldn’t fulfill it, he would still try his utmost.

A man’s word is his bond; promises cannot be broken like empty talk.

Lin Feng put the grain in Xiao Die’s room as well since she was responsible for their meals, making it more convenient.

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