Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 60

Lu Tang and Qin Mo stepped out of the main door, just in time to meet Qiao Tiezhu carrying a basin of chili peppers. Seeing Lu Tang heading out, Qiao Tiezhu asked in surprise, “Young Master, are you going out? It’s almost dark.”

Lu Tang smiled, “I’m going for a walk.”

The people in this village were all tenants of the Qiao family. Seeing Lu Tang arrive, they were both surprised and a bit anxious but also excited.

The third house on the left from the Qiao family mansion belonged to Qiao Fugui. Qiao Fugui was now in his sixties. He had four sons and two daughters, all married.

His daughters were married to men from the neighboring village. Today happened to be Qiao Fugui’s birthday, and his daughters and sons-in-law had brought their children to stay overnight.

The courtyard was bustling as if it were New Year’s.

“I didn’t know it was your birthday today. If I had known, I would have brought you a good bottle of wine,” Lu Tang said as Qiao Fugui led her inside, smiling.

From years of working in the fields, Qiao Fugui’s back was bent and couldn’t straighten up, but he was still spirited.

“The landlord reduced our rent by twenty percent. That’s better than any wine. Besides, I can’t get used to the taste of wine from outside. I prefer the wine we brew at home,” Qiao Fugui said with a satisfied smile, inviting Lu Tang to sit in a chair placed at the head of the courtyard. It was clear that this chair had been Qiao Fugui’s seat before Lu Tang arrived.

Lu Tang didn’t refuse and sat down, “With all the rain this year, the crops in the fields should be growing well, right?”

Lu Tang’s task was to visit each household in the village, so she just made small talk when visiting the tenants’ homes.

Qin Mo didn’t say how he planned to “draw the snake out of the hole,” but he didn’t object to Lu Tang chatting.

As soon as Lu Tang finished speaking, she noticed Qiao Fugui’s smile freeze, and the four sons who had been chatting fell silent.

Lu Tang asked, puzzled, “What’s wrong? Is there a problem with the crops?”

Qiao Fugui’s wrinkled face turned to Lu Tang, and after a moment, he smiled and shook his head, “No problem, the crops are growing well.”

“Father!” Qiao Fugui’s youngest son suddenly called out anxiously.

Qiao Fugui glared at him.

The youngest son, obviously not afraid of his father, didn’t back down even after being glared at. He shook off his older brother who was trying to stop him from speaking and directly asked Lu Tang, “Young Master, is it true that Qiao Village is going to move to the neighboring Gu Village?”

Lu Tang widened her eyes, “Who told you that?”

One of Qiao Fugui’s sons-in-law said, “We’re from Gu Village. We heard it from the eldest young master of the Gu family yesterday.”

This son-in-law had studied for a few years and taught children to read in the private school in Gu Village.

Whenever someone important came to the village, this educated young man was often asked to accompany them.

“Are you talking about Gu Songming?”

“Yes, the eldest young master mentioned it yesterday while bringing his children to the village. He told me not to mention it in Gu Village.”

Lu Tang suddenly recalled the time Gu Songming had privately approached her.

Gu Songming wanted to collaborate with her…

Lost in thought for a moment, Lu Tang then smiled, “Did he tell you alone, or were there others present?”

Upon hearing Lu Tang’s question, the son-in-law laughed, “He told me alone and asked me not to spread it in Gu Village.”

Lu Tang instinctively looked at Qin Mo, who gave a slight shake of his head. She then turned back to the son-in-law, smiling, “Don’t believe him. Do you think a member of the Gu family knows more about Qiao Village than I do? Why would we move? You have good land here, but if you go there, you’ll be outsiders, treated poorly, and given unwanted land.”

Qiao Fugui’s youngest son slapped his thigh, “Exactly! Unless there’s no other choice, who would want to be an outsider? With the Young Master’s assurance, I’m relieved. I was worried that if Qiao Village moved, not only would this year’s crops go to waste, but we’d also be mistreated there.”

With his doubts cleared, he smiled at Lu Tang.

A simple and honest young man.

Lu Tang smiled back, “Why did you believe it in the first place?”

The youngest son scratched his head and laughed, “It’s because our village is going to build a big canal. I heard they’re going to build a dam here.”

This was something Lu Tang wouldn’t have known if Qin Mo hadn’t told her. It seemed the villagers knew more than she did.

“Who told you about the dam?”

Not only the youngest son, but Qiao Fugui’s other sons and daughters-in-law also chimed in.

“Tiezhu told us.”

“Didn’t the landlord ask Tiezhu to pass on the message?”

“Aren’t we building a canal and a dam?”

“I heard building the dam will require land, and the government will give new houses and a big subsidy. Everyone is looking forward to it.”

“Even without the new houses and subsidy, the dam and canal will make farming much easier. No more relying on the weather!”

“I heard Yuyang Town was just a small village before they built a dam. In three years, it became a big town, bustling with activity, good schools for kids, and several medical clinics.”

After calming their concerns, Lu Tang left Qiao Fugui’s house, about to speak to Qin Mo, when Qiao Fugui’s son-in-law followed them out.

“Young Master Lu, wait a moment.”

Lu Tang stopped and looked back at him.

The son-in-law smiled, approached, and glanced at Qin Mo, “I have something to discuss with Young Master Lu.”

He wanted to speak privately with Lu Tang.

Lu Tang smiled, “Do you want to say that what you mentioned earlier was specifically instructed by Gu Songming to be told to me?”

The son-in-law’s smile froze, staring at Lu Tang in surprise.

Lu Tang continued leisurely, “You knew I was coming to Qiao Village, so you told your father-in-law those things, knowing your brother-in-law couldn’t keep quiet. Even if I didn’t come, he would find a way to ask me about it.”

The son-in-law:

“Were you also going to warn them not to spread what was said today?”

Being from Gu Village, and specifically instructed by Gu Songming not to spread the news, yet he did, meant he intended for Lu Tang to hear it.

As for his in-laws…

Being an educated man, his words would be respected by his in-laws.

Caught out, the son-in-law was embarrassed.

Lu Tang smiled, “Don’t feel bad. Go back and tell Gu Songming that I’m open to cooperation, but I don’t like these sneaky tactics.”

She patted his arm, “Let’s have a drink sometime. I enjoy making friends with educated people!”

Revealed by Lu Tang, the son-in-law had been nervous, fearing he had failed his task. But hearing Lu Tang’s words, his eyes brightened, looking at her.

Lu Tang smiled, “Go back. Your family is waiting. If you get a chance, visit Qingshui County. You can look for me or Gu Songming.”

As he left, Qin Mo, arms crossed, looked at the little fool, “Why waste so many words with him?”