Chapter 62: The Beauty Zhao Min

  A truly profound family is not about how loud and resounding their reputation is, nor is it about piling up gold and silver in their mansion. Rather, it's about pursuing a spirit of contentment and tranquility, having an attitude of striving upwards, showcasing luxury in the ordinary, brewing in silence, and bursting forth in progress. Lu Haoshan was already impressed with the Zhao family even before they had exchanged words when he walked into Zhaojia Village.

  Zhaojia Village is built in a valley, surrounded by mountains on all sides. In the center of the valley, houses are built in an orderly manner, and around the houses, there are fields that resemble rays, stretching out in all directions. The overall appearance is very neat and tidy. Upon closer inspection, it appears to be roughly in the shape of the Eight Trigrams. The houses seem to form a phalanx-like formation with each other, and if they were to encounter an external enemy, they could easily use the houses as a defensive perimeter to shrink and defend against the enemy.

  Obviously from a superior hand.

  Walking on the small path paved with bluestone, looking at the beautiful scenery, listening to the sound of books being read aloud, smelling the fragrance of cooking smoke in the air, it gives people a sense of returning to nature and returning to the divine. What moved Lu Haoshan most was that the people of Zhaojia Village had an inexplicable confidence and satisfaction between their eyebrows, and the smile that came from the heart was very infectious. Being in this environment, the whole person becomes more spirited, and the mood also broadens.

  Unexpectedly, in a small Jiangyou County, there is such a place. Lu Hao felt some regret, last time he went to the countryside for patrol, he didn't go to Zhaojia Village.

  Suddenly, Lu Haoshan's pupils contracted, his mouth opened into an "O" shape, and he couldn't help but say: What a beauty.

  Just as Lu Haoshan was walking on the bluestone path, he didn't expect to meet a group of people coming towards him. The one walking in front was surprisingly a young maiden. The woman had raven-black long hair and a pretty face like a pear blossom in the rain. She had an elegant temperament, a slender figure, and carried with her a pure and fragrant air like the orchids in the mountains. She walked gently towards him, especially that refreshing and calm temperament, making people feel as if they were encountering a mountain elf or a celestial being from the clouds.

  In an era where men were superior to women, this woman was actually walking in front, probably her status was not low.

  "Miss Zhao Min, I have met the county magistrate, but I didn't know that the county magistrate had arrived. Please forgive me for not welcoming you from afar." Zhao Min walked up to Lu Haoshan and smiled as she curtsied, her eyebrows slightly displeased.

  This county magistrate was very rude and impolite. As soon as he saw him, he stared straight at himself. In Zhao Min's heart, he had already regarded this county magistrate as a **disciple.

  Zhao Min's face showed displeasure, and Lu Haoshan immediately sensed it. He had a sudden realization in his heart, but fortunately, he had seen many beautiful women before and had strong self-control, so his eyes quickly cleared up again.

  "With a serious face, Lu Haoshan said: 'Miss, you are born with beauty, stunning like a heavenly being. I, Lu, was momentarily impolite just now, please forgive me.'"

  "The great lord is indeed humorous, and I am just an ordinary woman. The great lord has shown me favor." Zhao Min smiled slightly, her tone calmer than before.

  Just now, I still thought he was a **disciple**, and my heart had somewhat looked down on this person. Unexpectedly, his eyes quickly recovered their clarity, and he spoke out loudly and clearly. This made him seem even more open-minded and generous. The "**" behavior from before turned out to be the greatest praise for his own face.

  Which woman doesn't like others saying she's beautiful? Zhao Min is no exception, and now the person saying this is the county magistrate, which makes it even more credible. As a result, not only does Zhao Min not dislike the young county magistrate in front of her, but she also develops a bit of affection for him.

  "Miss Zhao, what is your relationship with Zhao Lichang?" Lu Haoshan looked around and said in a somewhat strange tone: "Why isn't Zhao Lichang here? Is it because the official position is too low and not worth his visit?"

  Lu Haoshan knew that the village chief here was also the clan chief, surnamed Zhao and named Yuqing. Although he had a lot of energy, he didn't have any official titles to his name. As the seventh-rank county magistrate and parent official of Jiangyou, Lu Haoshan thought that even if he couldn't go far to greet him, at least he should be welcomed in person. But unexpectedly, after entering Zhaojia Village for so long, not a single person was seen. On the surface, Lu Haoshan remained calm and composed, but inwardly, he felt a bit uneasy.

  "County Master" Zhao Min smiled slightly and said in a soft voice: "I am just the daughter of Zhao, the village head. My father happened to catch a cold and is not feeling well, so it's not suitable for him to meet outsiders. He specially sent me to welcome you, sir. Please forgive us."

  This Zhao Yuqing, never catching a cold in the morning or evening, but as soon as he comes, he gets sick. How convenient is that? It's clearly an excuse to avoid seeing him. Lu Haoshan publicly announced that he would be collecting donations, and now that someone has come to his doorstep, it's obviously for money and grain. At this time, if someone makes an excuse to avoid him, it's also reasonable.

  Can't see the "troublemaker" of the Zhao family, but his daughter is not bad either. Lu Haoshan was afraid that he would send a trusted person or elder to deal with himself, this stretching out one's hand to ask people for money, it turns out that it's not a good job, still have to look at other people's faces to do things.

  Although he was a bit miffed that Zhao Yuqing, the head of the Zhao clan, hadn't personally come to greet him, he couldn't show it on his face. Lu Haoshan pretended to be concerned and asked, "How is Director Zhao now? Has nothing happened?"

  It's also good to have a beautiful woman like that, and Lu Haoshan is still very willing in his heart. After all, it's more interesting to be with a beauty than with an old Chinese man.

  "It's still okay now, the doctor said it'll be fine after resting for a few days, thanks for your concern, County Master"

  Lu Haoshan said with a worried face: "Zhao Lichang is a kind-hearted person, one of the few good people in Jiangyou County. His body can't have any problems. By the way, there's a doctor in the county who has his own understanding of typhoid fever. Why don't I order him to come and check on your father's health?"

  If the doctor he invited saw it, then his father's fake illness would be exposed. Zhao Min said without thinking: "Thank you for your trouble, County Lord, but our family has its own trained doctors and dare not bother you."

  As soon as he heard this, Lu Haoshan had already confirmed in his heart: the head of the Zhao clan was deliberately avoiding him.

  "Oh, I'll just say it like that too. Since nothing's wrong, then let's not make a fuss over nothing, right, Miss Zhao?" Lu Haoshan said with a smile, his words seeming to imply something.

  Zhao Min was taken aback, not expecting the young county magistrate in front of her to be so calm and confident, directly affirming that Father's illness was a serious matter. It seemed that Lu Haoshan was also a difficult person to deal with, but Zhao Min was resolute in her heart, hiding it without revealing anything.

  "Yes, Magistrate's words are indeed correct." Zhao Min smiled and said: "I don't know what instructions the Magistrate has for my father."

  It's better to be straightforward, both of them are smart people, there's no need to make things so complicated. It's better to just say it out loud instead of beating around the bush. Lu Haoshan decided to get straight to the point:

  "It's not worth mentioning, but recently, I believe Miss Zhao has also heard that the common people really can't afford this tax, for the sake of the county's livelihood and stability, Lu Mou has come to solicit donations with a thick face, and please don't be stingy, Miss Zhao."