The Little Lucky Girl

Zheng Huan smiled and took out a picture. "We want to merge the two courtyards together and build a small courtyard with three entrances. Especially for the innermost entrance, I hope you can find the best materials for us."

It was also the first time Ming Youyou saw the blueprint. She studied it for a while and said, "Is this the house for me to live in? I don't need such a big place by myself."

"I would also like to invite your grandfather and grandpa to come live with us in the future."

Village Chief Guo glanced at Ming Youyou, who seemed to have grown up a little after not seeing him for a few days. He knew that Zheng Huan was trying to avoid suspicion in the future, so he smiled and said, "Young Master, you are thinking long-term. It would be convenient for the elders to come over. But this kind of exquisite house is not something we can build casually. We have to go to the county to find a specialized craftsman."

"Okay, we'll go find someone tomorrow." Seeing that Village Chief Guo had completed the registration, Zheng Huan handed the box containing the land deed to Ming Youyou.

Ming Youyou took it naturally. Her name was written on the deed, so of course she was the one keeping it. Yuqing locals could buy land at 30% cheaper than outsiders. She thought it was a good deal, so she didn't argue with the three of them. At worst, she could sell it when she didn't live there anymore, and the four of them could just split the money.

When they went to the county to look for craftsmen, they found that County Lieutenant Mu was patrolling the streets with his men. They looked at each other, and Feng Xu whispered, "He's still here?"

Lu Tai was also surprised. "Yeah, it seems that he was transferred back from the periphery. He looks more prosperous than before."

Zheng Huan's eyes darkened. "I guess it's just to reassure the people behind him."

The Mu family's gift caused trouble for Magistrate Tao, but fortunately it was handled in time and did not intensify the conflict with the villagers. It was just the sudden appearance of the white peacock that made things much more complicated.

The four of them asked Master He indirectly for a long time, but he just laughed it off and passed it over. Then they knew that this was not a matter they could handle.

County Magistrate Tao secretly looked for the head of the Mu family, and the old head only then realized that they were being used as pawns by the Gu family.

In addition, Magistrate Tao pointed out their little thoughts in just a few words, and Chief Mu was immediately frightened and felt ashamed. He was about to kneel down tremblingly.

County Magistrate Tao supported him and sighed, "Several generations of the Mu family bravely fought against bandits and made contributions to the county. The county knows about it. Although there have been mistakes, the mistakes should not overshadow the merits. I hope that Chief Mu can remember the bravery of his ancestors in the future and not sacrifice the greater good for the sake of the family's personal gain."

Chief Mu was so ashamed that he couldn't even face his face. With tears streaming down his face, he said, "It was my short-sightedness that almost led my family astray. I have failed the trust of my ancestors and I am sorry to you, my lord..."

Magistrate Tao comforted him for a while and told him that the county government would remove Lieutenant Mu in the future, but would still give the Mu family a chance and let one of his sons work as a yamen runner in the county government. As for whether he could develop in the future, it depended on his own ability.

Chief Mu bowed repeatedly in excitement.

Magistrate Tao asked him to sit down. "It's just that the county government has other arrangements now. These things need to be completed slowly. I just want to reassure the clan leader by telling him now."

"Yes, yes, I understand. I will keep my mouth shut and won't reveal a single word."

"The men of the Mu family are strong and have advantages that ordinary people don't have. Why should they limit their sights to just one place?" Magistrate Tao looked at the old patriarch whose back was hunched over and couldn't help but say, "Now that Yuqing has opened up several new trade routes and the population has increased a lot, isn't this situation better than when those wealthy families made their fortunes?"

Chief Mu raised his head in surprise, "My Lord, you mean..."

Magistrate Tao just smiled and said nothing.

Chief Mu's mind moved, and the more he thought about it, the more frightened he became. He bowed deeply to Magistrate Tao, and walked out of the county government office with trembling steps, leaning on his crutches, just like when he came.

But when I came here, I was trembling because I was scared, but now I am excited.

The previous generations of the Mu family suffered a lot. Now that they have some power in the county government, everyone wants to live a more comfortable life, but they lack the confidence, so they have to pin their hopes on the position of county lieutenant. The whole family almost lost their minds.

Thinking that he had hoped that the county government would have a conflict with the bandits so that the Mu family could reap the benefits, the old patriarch wanted to slap himself in the face.

"Fortunately, no big mistake was made." Patriarch Mu sighed in his heart, but he also understood that the Mu family had gone astray and must correct it.

"Uncle, did Magistrate Tao really hint that we should go into business?" asked the clan members who had been waiting for the clan leader's return at his home.

Chief Mu nodded, "Mr. Tao County Magistrate is very generous. Not only did he not take our previous mistakes seriously, but he also pointed out a clear way forward for us."

"But our foundation is so weak, it's not easy to do business." Someone hesitated.

"Didn't those wealthy families start from just a few people and a few horses? If they could do it, why can't we?" Someone said eagerly, "Chief, if this works, our Mu family will be able to move to a higher level."

Chief Mu nodded, "Back then, our ancestors were starving and cold, yet they were able to escape from thousands of miles away to Yuqing. We are much better off now than we were back then, so we must not lose the spirit in our bones."

Some people don't want their children to suffer. "I only have one child in my family and he is weak. Why don't we just not go? I'll just let his uncle find a position in the county government to make a living."

Chief Mu glanced at him and said, "If your son can't go, then you can go. All families with male children who are old enough can send one. Even if you can't make money, you can gain some experience, which is better than just sitting in the county town and watching the world from a well."

"Also, I want to open a martial arts school in the county town and teach our Mu family's martial arts to those who want to learn."

"We can't do this," someone immediately panicked, "This is the skill we rely on to make a living, how can we just teach it to outsiders?"

"That's right. If everyone knows how to do it in the future, what will we have to compete for the position of county lieutenant?"

Chief Mu rolled his eyes and wanted to tell them that the position of county lieutenant was no longer within their family's reach. However, he thought of Magistrate Tao's instructions and endured the pressure.

"We did something wrong, and others are generous if they don't pursue us, but we can't be ungrateful." He said, "Our martial arts are not that great, and even after several generations, it's still just so-so. We might as well pass it on and give our descendants a better future."

Seeing that everyone was silent, Chief Mu said leisurely, "I met the village heads and the headmen who came to the county government for a meeting a few days ago. I had a drink with them. At that time, Lao Guo from Xiaguan Village said, 'You can only gain if you give. People can't just look at their own little piece of land. They have to look up at the sky from time to time.' I thought it was nothing at the time, but now I think about it and realize that it has a deep meaning. People like us are too petty."

Everyone in the room listened silently, and finally all agreed. One month later, the Mu family martial arts school officially opened. Seeing that County Magistrate Tao had come to show his support in person, the Mu clan leader finally breathed a sigh of relief.