The Wealthy Eldest Sister Rules Supreme - Chapter 640

Chapter 640: Chapter 627: After Unsuccessful Searches Everywhere, the lost item is found where it is least expected

“Barging in like this, I’ve never had such a visit,” Xu Zhengping glanced at Zhuang Lianghong, “I’m afraid Young Master Zhuang isn’t here for a visit, but rather to cause trouble.”

His tone was decidedly hostile, which Zhuang Lianghong obviously detected.

However, Zhuang Lianghong didn’t care and simply gestured dismissively. He circled Xu Zhengping, sized him up and down, then scoffed. “Whether I come for a visit or to cause trouble, it has nothing to do with Mr. Xu.”

“If Mr. Xu is wise, he’ll depart right now to avoid future trouble and potentially losing his official position.”

“You…” Xu Zhengping clenched his teeth.

“What about me?”

“Mr. Xu, there’s no need to be so agitated. Even if you must, you should be angry at yourself for being disappointing. After all these years, you are still just a lowly county magistrate.”

“They say a promotion of one rank can kill a person, but there’s really no choice. Who can blame Mr. Xu for being just a lowly county magistrate? Mr. Xu, isn’t what I said correct?” Zhuang Lianghong jeered.

Xu Zhengping’s face grew whiter and whiter, his flushed face turning slightly red.

Though humiliated by Zhuang Lianghong, he wouldn’t dare to arrest him. After all, it was Zhuang Qisheng who was pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Zhuang Qisheng was notoriously corrupt, regularly skimming off the imperial court’s rewards and subsidies for his own gain. Every time grace came from the court, it rarely reached the counties.

If Xu Zhengping offended Zhuang Qisheng, life in the county would likely become even harder.

Xu Zhengping ground his teeth in anger but swallowed his retort in the end.

Upon seeing this, Zhuang Lianghong felt even more smug. “Seems Mr. Xu realizes that he’s just a small official compared to me, barely a mung bean to my sesame.”

“As a county magistrate, you are an imperial official. But no matter how high-ranking your father is, you have no honours or achievements of your own. You are nothing more than a commoner. According to tradition, ordinary people should kowtow upon seeing an official.”

Zhuang Qingning walked slowly over and softly said, “Moreover, you trespassed into my county government complex, which is all the more reason to punish you.”

“Just a lowly county lord, nothing more than a mud-legged…” Zhuang Lianghong opened his mouth to mock her. But when he looked up and saw Zhuang Qingning’s appearance, his heart sank and rose to his throat.

A heavenly beauty!

He has finally found what he has been searching for without lifting a finger.

The girl he had been yearning for, who possessed heavenly beauty, was none other than the Lord of Ninghe County himself.

He can’t deny his own luck. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, with a father who’s a high-ranking magistrate. Now that it’s time for him to get married, the girl he has fallen for is the Lord of Ninghe County.

“Serendipity. It’s the Lord of Ninghe County.” Zhuang Lianghong immediately changed his attitude and started to ingratiate himself, “I’m Zhuang Lianghong, at your service, Lord Ninghe.”

“I thought that after leaving Ying County in a hurry, I wouldn’t get to see you again. Never did I imagine we would meet here. It seems we are truly meant to be.”

“Looking at you, it seems your arm has fully recovered?” Zhuang Qingning asked with a derisive smile, “There’s a saying that one quickly forgets the pain once the wound has healed, and I always thought it was just a joke, but it seems to be true.”

“But since Young Master Zhuang has forgotten his pain, it might be time for a reminder.”

“Someone, treat Young Master Zhuang well.”

As soon as her words fell, Su Mu and Su Ye emerged from the shadows. After acknowledging her order, they approached Zhuang Lianghong.

Their faces somber.

Zhuang Lianghong saw that Zhuang Qingning was alone, with only Xu Zhengping who didn’t dare to act rashly. He thought his luck was pretty good, but as soon as he saw Su Ye, who had once single-handedly beaten his men, he instinctively stepped back.

Su Mu and Su Ye naturally did not give him any opportunity to escape. The two sisters joined hands to beat Zhuang Lianghong into a pig’s head, then took care of his servants who had come to protect him.

“Miss, this guy hasn’t learnt his lesson and is still so arrogant. He should be severely punished.” Su Mu offered a proposal.

Zhuang Qingning nodded slightly, thought for a while, and said, “He is so obnoxious only because of his father’s high-ranking position. A father who can spoil his children into such a state is no good man either. Let’s clean up this mess.”

With both Zhuang Lianghong and Zhuang Qinglan like this, and even Zhuang Qisheng earlier attempting to take credit for her deeds, Zhuang Qingning had grown extremely disgusted with Zhuang Qisheng.

“Send a letter to the capital city to Jinnian, explaining the situation,” she instructed.

“In addition, since Zhuang Qisheng is not an upright official, knowing his son is involved, he will probably give Xu a hard time. During this time, let’s treat Young Master Zhuang well, with food and drinks.”

Su Mu understood that they were to temporarily detain Zhuang Lianghong, so as not to let Zhuang Lianghong go back, inform Zhuang Qisheng, and take his anger out on Xu Zhengping instead of Zhuang Qingning.

“Yes, miss, rest assured, I will handle the matter.” Su Mu and Su Ye agreed, and they hurriedly went to carry out Zhuang Qingning’s instructions.

Zhuang Qingning and Xu Zhengping then left the gates of the county government complex.

Because of what had just happened, Xu Zhengping truly regretted his honesty in his official duties, but he was too entangled in complicities and had too much to consider. Facing such a spoiled young master, he didn’t dare to make the decision to handle him outright.

In the end, his abilities were still limited. At his age, he was still just a county magistrate.

Even though he was committed to being a good official, he felt helpless.

These feelings of frustration and discomfort were unbearable.

The more Xu Zhengping thought about it, the deeper he sighed.

Zhuang Qingning seemed to perceive his thoughts, she smiled, “Mr. Xu, don’t worry too much. In my opinion, being able to remember your initial aspirations and stick to your principles is already more than enough.”

“You have made every effort to do the best you can. As long as your conscience is clear, that’s enough. You really can’t worry too much about other things. There are so many problems in the world, it’s not possible to solve all of them.”

Xu Zhengping was momentarily taken aback, then nodded in agreement, “The words of the lord are very true. I have been thinking too much.”

That he could use the limited power in his hands to do his best for the common people and be a good county magistrate was enough. Anything else, He need not think too much about.

“Because Mr. Xu is kind-hearted and determined to serve the people, that’s why you think and worry so much. If you were one of those corrupt officials, you definitely wouldn’t consider so many things.”

Zhuang Qingning gave a slight smile. “I won’t disrupt Mr. Xu’s work any longer. I’ll check on the textile workshop.”

The textile workshop business has always been booming. However, Zhuang Yutian and Mrs. Meng were probably under a lot of pressure because it was their first time handling such a big business.