Published at 17th of January 2024 6:32 am

Chapter 374: A Deception or a Trick

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

Translator: CokeZero Editor: Rainystars

After they finished their conversation, the group continued on their way. Lu Jiao, accompanied by Lady Xu and Ruan Zhu, sat in the front carriage, while Feng Zhi and Old Man Xiao sat in another carriage behind. Zhao Lingfeng rode in the Zhao family’s carriage. The group headed straight for the outskirts of Qinghe County.

However, as they reached a bustling street, they unexpectedly encountered someone, causing both horses to be startled.

Lu Jiao lifted the curtain to look outside and saw that there was a woman on the opposite side also lifting the curtain to look out.

It turned out to be Zhang Biyan, the wife of Li Wenfu – one of the daughters of the Zhang family, one of the four prominent families in Qinghe County.

Seeing Zhang Biyan, Lu Jiao couldn’t help but recall what Xie Yunjin had previously told her.

The merchants in Qinghe County might be eyeing them since they want to reestablish their network.

Did the Zhang family have some hidden intentions by running into her like this?

Lu Jiao remained composed and stared at the carriage opposite of her. With a smile on her face, Zhang Binyan said, “It turns out to be Lady Lu. I apologize for startling your horses.”

Zhang Biyan’s attitude was much more polite than before when they were at Dean Lu’s home.

Lu Jiao responded calmly, “It’s nothing. It was our horses that startled your carriage. Please don’t worry about it.”

“Lady Lu, you’re too kind. I will treat you to tea another day.”

“Lady Zhang, there’s no need to be so polite. It’s really not a big deal.”

Zhang Biyan continued with a grin, “Actually, our two families should be closer. Wenbin and Scholar Xie are good friends from their school days.”

“Yes, indeed. When my husband was bedridden, Scholar Li specially brought gifts to visit us. My husband has always praised him as a genuine person.”

Suddenly, Zhang Biyan raised her hand and patted her forehead, “I just remembered something. It seems like Scholar Xie is injured, but we forgot to visit him.”

Lu Jiao smiled and said, “Lady Zhang, no need to be apologetic. My husband encounters various incidents every now and then, and it’s quite a bother to trouble you for visits each time. I feel embarrassed.”

Zhang Biyan replied, “It wasn’t intentional. There’s no need to be embarrassed.”

She didn’t say much more and instructed the coachman outside, “Back up and let Lady Lu and her group go first.”

The Zhang family’s carriage soon moved backward, and Lu Jiao’s expression darkened. They were showing too much solicitude for no reason, which was either a deception or a trick.

“Let’s go.”

Lu Jiao instructed the coachman. The Xie family’s carriage passed by the Zhang family’s carriage. As they passed, Lu Jiao lifted the curtain and thanked Zhang

Biyan, “Thank you, Lady Zhang.”

“Let’s not be overly polite with each other.”

Lu Jiao returned a polite smile and then dropped the curtain, her face turning cold.

Today’s incident with the frightened horses indicated that the Zhang family had set their sights on her.

Lu Jiao’s expression worsened. She sneered, thinking that the Zhang family must have underestimated her and wanted to deceive her. They were overthinking things.

Inside the carriage, Lady Xu and Ruan Zhu didn’t dare to say a word.

Lu Jiao noticed that they seemed a bit nervous. She immediately softened her expression and spoke with a smile.

“Initially, I was going to ask Lady Xu to manage the fields for me. But now, I’ve found someone, and it’s Uncle Xiao. He is a good person from our Xie family village. Lady Xu will temporarily stay at the fields in the coming days. Once everything is settled, she can help at the shop.”

Lu Jiao didn’t plan to expand the two shops too much. The oil mill’s products and the medicinal herbs from the medicine shop couldn’t be sold only in Qinghe County. It would be too conspicuous. They needed to sell the oils and medicines across the entire Zhou empire. When that happens, their stores here would only be able to supply a small percentage of the demand. Therefore, the shops didn’t need to be too large.

Since it was a small business, Lu Jiao didn’t intend to have Lady Xu sign an indenture. If she wanted to make a big move, she would use the people she bought herself as others might not be trustworthy. Moreover, without an indenture, it would be difficult to handle any issues if Lady Xu betrayed them.

If someone signed an indenture and dared to betray their owner and eat the owner’s resources, Lu Jiao not only had the right to deal with them but also to sell them.

Lady Xu nodded, “Okay, I will follow your arrangements.”

“Good.”

The carriages continued to travel and left Qinghe County, heading towards the fields Lu Jiao had purchased.

However, the one thousand acres of land were not all in one place, which was a bit inconvenient.

Zhao Lingfeng took her to a more remote area first, where they found around six to seven hundred acres of land. Although it wasn’t entirely contiguous, the plots were not far from each other.

The tenant farmers on the fields knew that the property had changed hands, and they had been quite worried. However, since the new owners hadn’t shown up, they were extremely anxious.

As soon as Lu Jiao and the others appeared, they received the news and hurried over, kneeling on the ground.

“Sir, Madam, please spare us and don’t take back our land. We won’t be able to survive without it.”

“Sir, Madam, please let us continue working the land. We promise to cultivate it well and pay the rent on time every year.”

The tenant farmers on the estate addressed Zhao Lingfeng and Lu Jiao as a couple, which led to the misunderstanding.

Lu Jiao gave Zhao Lingfeng a quick glance, and he did the same in return.

Then, Lu Jiao turned to the kneeling people and scolded them, “What nonsense are all of you saying?”

Although Lu Jiao looked stunning and charming, her aura was strong, and when she scolded people, she had a powerful presence.

The tenant farmers were all startled and looked uneasy as they raised their heads to face Lu Jiao.

Lu Jiao’s expression softened slightly as she glanced at the crowd, then she spoke in a deep voice, “My surname is Lu, and I am the one who bought this one thousand acres of land.

At this point, Zhao Lingfeng understood that Lu Jiao wasn’t too happy. He knew better than to provoke her now and quickly explained, “I am a friend of

Lady Lu.”

As Zhao Lingfeng spoke, the tenant farmers realized their mistake. No wonder Lady Lu was angry. Moreover, judging from the young master’s words, Lady Lu already had a husband. They had misunderstood and no wonder Lady Lu was upset.

Realizing their target, the tenant farmers began to plead again, “Lady Lu, please let us continue to work the land.”

“Without this land, we won’t survive.”

“Lady Lu, please show us mercy and let us keep the land.”

“Look, our whole families rely on this land. Without it, we won’t have enough to eat.”

“If Lady Lu doesn’t allow us to work the land, it will force us to our deaths.”

The last statement made Lu Jiao’s face suddenly change. She looked at a burly, dark-skinned man in the crowd. There was a cunning glint in his eyes.

Lu Jiao’s gaze turned cold as she stared at the rugged man. In a cold voice, she said, “Hmph, are you trying to morally blackmail me into giving you the land?

Do you think I’m the kind of person who can be coerced?”

Lu Jiao disliked being morally blackmailed, especially by men.

Deep down, she sympathized with the weak and women, and she was more patient with children and women. But when it came to men, she had no sympathy.

The atmosphere on the scene instantly turned cold..

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