Chapter 571 – The Wayward Feng Zhen (Part 4)
Jiang Pengji said, “Think back to the taste of Cold Food Powder; tell me honestly, is there no harm in it?”
Feng Zhen’s expression stiffened.
Just as Jiang Pengji said before, it had been nearly four and a half years since he first took Cold Food Powder. At first, it was only once every month or two, occasionally for fun, but in the past year, it had become every two weeks, and now it was every seven to eight days.
Every time he took it, his spirits lifted, his body strengthened, he felt light as a feather, and his mind was especially clear.
But once the craving for the powder hit him and he didn’t take it in time, it felt like a thousand bugs were gnawing at his bones—it was unbearable.
However, he still had some integrity; his dependence on Cold Food Powder wasn’t too severe. If it were someone else taking it intermittently for four and a half years, they would probably have lost their sanity, indulging in pleasures, plagued by headaches and anxiety, unable to rest, living in madness every day.
But considering his current situation, if he continued taking Cold Food Powder, the intervals would only shorten, and his life would be in jeopardy.
Jiang Pengji shook her head, “You’ve noticed it too. From your initial use of Cold Food Powder until now, the intervals between doses are becoming shorter. If you don’t take it on time, with a thousand bugs gnawing at your bones, can you endure that kind of pain?”
It was a vicious cycle; not quitting Cold Food Powder would lead to greater dependence, shorter intervals between doses, and less time of clarity for his mind. The cycle of decay would eventually lead to his demise, and Feng Zhen found it hard to refute.
However, quitting the powder meant enduring the struggle through the cravings, which was no easy feat.
Feng Zhen shared the thoughts of many aristocrats; with money at home and a constant supply of Cold Food Powder, why torture himself during cravings?
He thought about the pain during the cravings and shook his head like a bobblehead, “No way, no way! The cravings are enough to make one wish for death. Why endure quitting? One should enjoy life when they can; who can guarantee tomorrow? Life is short—just enjoy it! Why torture yourself?”
The audience in the live stream realized that this frail, wayward guy was indeed an addict.
【Today is Nurse’s Day】: This guy is impressive, been using Cold Food Powder for over four years and still alive, talk about luck!
【Happy Holidays】: Sigh, isn’t being alive good? Why not value life?
【Mother’s Day is the day after tomorrow】: I’m scratching my walls; why do I feel this guy’s words make sense? Oh no, my worldview is being overturned. Though Cold Food Powder isn’t a drug, using too much can lead to addiction and ruin your life.
【Don’t forget】: Those shocked viewers clearly haven’t followed the stream long enough; Cold Food Powder has been mentioned before. It seems similar to how it was in our Wei-Jin period, where aristocrats were all the rage for it.
Did they really not know Cold Food Powder was harmful?
Not necessarily!
Like Feng Zhen thought, many knew once you got addicted to Cold Food Powder, quitting would be painfully difficult, but they could afford it; when the cravings hit, just take it. Why bother torturing themselves with the pain of withdrawal?
In this age, beauty is one of the essential conditions to hold office, rise to the height of life, and marry a wealthy beauty. Cold Food Powder provides comfortable sensations, enhances spirits, giving rosy complexions, and beauty. To them, it’s a good thing.
Thus, there were many admirers.
Feng Zhen didn’t use Cold Food Powder for beauty; it was purely for enjoyment and livin’ it up—after all, life is short; why not try everything at least once? Now Jiang Pengji advised him to quit, and he insisted that was impossible. He wouldn’t quit even if he died.
Jiang Pengji similarly stated, “I won’t take on unreliable idiots.”
Zhang Ping sighed as he watched; seeing his lord was still able to keep calm amid such reckless behavior showed Feng Zhen had a masochistic streak.
Feng Zhen found it strange why he was poking into his personal affairs if talent was all that mattered.
Wei Ci’s opinion was clear; though he seemed like a wise ruler, his character was quite unlikable.
Feng Zhen mocked her, “With so many followers of Cold Food Powder, are you going to tell every one of them to quit?”
Better not leave himself with no one to use in the future.
Younger and meddling in a lot of things.
Jiang Pengji replied in surprise, “Why would I? Not everyone is qualified for me to advise. Once addicted to Cold Food Powder, if they don’t firmly decide to quit, I will never use such useless people. How can I know when they might be hit with cravings and cause me trouble? The world is so vast; there are those who maintain their integrity and clarity of mind. Why waste my energy on useless people?”
Feng Zhen didn’t know whether to feel honored or angry.
Such a lord was playing with fire; if he didn’t change, the name Feng Zhen might very well be read backward.
“You tasted the dishes from the Zhi Ke restaurant; what did you think of the flavor?” Jiang Pengji asked him.
Feng Zhen replied, “Delicious! I never knew there were so many variations in human cuisine.”
Jiang Pengji coldly responded, “Once you’re dead, you’ll never taste those delicacies again; they’ll be on someone else’s table.”
Feng Zhen: “…”
She asked, “Do you enjoy sleeping among flowers and getting drunk until dawn?”
Feng Zhen smirked, “As the sages say, food and joy are human nature. What’s wrong with me liking that?”
He knew he didn’t have long to live; his legitimate wife had died, and he had neither married again nor taken a concubine.
Living carefree is the way to go.
“Once you’re dead, beauties will be in someone else’s arms; fine wines will be in someone else’s cups.”
Feng Zhen: “…”
Jiang Pengji continued, “You still gamble?”
Feng Zhen endured, “A bit of gambling for fun, what’s wrong with that?”
Jiang Pengji sighed, “Once you’re dead, your yet-to-be squandered estate will belong to others.”
Feng Zhen: “…”
“You have a son, only five years old, with cruel relatives at home?”
Feng Zhen was surprised, not knowing how she knew that. He replied, “What of it?”
“Once you’re dead, your relatives will use your inheritance to bully your son. Isn’t that pitiful?”
Feng Zhen couldn’t hold back: “……”
All he could think was “Once you’re dead—”
Once he really dies—
No, he was still alive, okay?
Jiang Pengji said, “I agree with you when you say, ‘Enjoy life while you can’; however, you can only relish the pleasures of life if you’re alive. If you die, there’s nothing left. If you quit Cold Food Powder, you might enjoy an additional seven or eight years. If you don’t quit, you’ll be lucky to live another seven or eight months. Thinking about it, don’t you feel it’s a loss? You could have lived joyfully for a few more years, now it’s just months before you die.”
Feng Zhen: “…”
“Beauty isn’t yours, food isn’t yours, fine wine isn’t yours, nor is that gambler’s silver… do you think that’s fair?”
Living well is essential to have the strength to enjoy life; death only turns one into a dried fish.
So, are you really not going to quit Cold Food Powder?
“Quit—”
He must live well and see how this kid gets himself killed.
Who told him to keep saying, “You’re going to die,” and “It’s not yours,” in such an ear-piercing manner?
Once he quits Cold Food Powder, he’s definitely going to find a way to off this little brat!
