NCCnovel Chapter 431 Flower Rebirth
Chapter 431 Flower Rebirth
Chapter 431
Qin Chuan rushed out, turned the corner, and stood with his back against the wall. He lowered his eyes and stood still for a while, the burning sensation on his face gradually fading. Suddenly, he raised his eyes to look at the wooden pillar in front of him, and a smile curled up at the corner of his lips.
Inside the house, Luo Shuiyao tried hard to suppress her laughter, and only when Qin Chuan's figure disappeared did she chuckle.
She wondered whether she should say that this man had an overly strong sense of responsibility, or that beneath his steady exterior lay a reckless streak, which had led him to act so unruly. After laughing, she bent down to place the stool in place, then quietly waited for a long moment, figuring that Qin Chuan had calmed down before leaving.
The sound of footsteps came from the end of the corridor. Qin Chuan took a deep breath, turned the corner, and happened to meet Luo Shuiyao's eyes.
Luo Shuiyao saw him, coughed lightly, and walked slowly forward, a smile on her lips: "Thanks to County Magistrate Qin for rescuing me just now, I wonder if I could have the honor of treating you to a cup of tea?"
These words were like an invisible wall, blocking Qin Chuan's invitation that was about to come to his lips.
Luo Shuiyao looked at his stagnant expression, thinking he was going to be rejected, but he lowered his eyes and whispered, "Thank you very much, Miss Luo."
The two of them tacitly agreed not to mention the previous mistake and walked side by side.
Qin Chuan skillfully led her into a private room not far away.
The moment she pushed open the door, Luo Shuiyao was slightly stunned. A stream of hot tea was already bubbling in a celadon teacup, and several plates of local specialty flower pastries were laid out, the petals still glistening with the luster of morning dew. Clearly, Qin Chuan had already arranged everything.
Luo Shuiyao approached, her fingertips caressing the warm teacup, she raised her eyes and chuckled softly: "It seems that County Magistrate Qin was well prepared, and it was me who was not thoughtful enough."
As the candlelight flickered, Qin Chuan's ears flushed red. The hand holding the kettle moved, and the tea rippled in the cup. His Adam's apple rolled slightly. "When we two came in just now, I had already asked the waiter to prepare tea and snacks."
Qin Chuan lowered his eyes to look at the tea leaves floating in the cup, then raised his eyes to look at Luo Shuiyao, "I don't know if this Mengding Ganlu is to your liking. If you find it bland—"
He suddenly paused, looking at her with a burning gaze, a hint of smile in his eyes, "The next pot will be on your behalf, okay?"
Hearing this, Luo Shuiyao gently rubbed her fingertips along the edge of the teacup. She looked up at Qin Chuan. His tone and expression remained normal, but for some reason, his words seemed tinged with honey, a subtle ambiguity.
But on second thought, these words seemed no different from usual, nothing more than the consideration and thoughtfulness a gentleman should show towards a woman. She opened her mouth, but in the end, only a soft laugh escaped her. "County Magistrate Qin is quite calculating. If the food is to your liking, you're treating me well. If it's not, you're asking me to pay back the bill. What a calculating scheme!"
Although her words were full of sarcasm, her eyes were filled with smiles.
Seeing her so calm and composed, Qin Chuan knew without hesitation that she didn't take his words to heart. Or perhaps she thought too highly of him, not realizing that beneath his polite words, he was hiding a filthy, seductive mind, just like any other man.
Looking at the woman in front of him who was as beautiful as a blooming flower, he suddenly felt that he was no better than her.
Think about Qin Chuan, who became the top scorer in the imperial examination at the age of 18. When his talent first began to show, he angered the powerful officials because he was unwilling to succumb to the enticement of the forces in the court.
You should know that all the top scorers in the imperial examinations have entered the Hanlin Academy for training, and only after accumulating experience can they rise to prominence.
He had been a diligent student since childhood, believing himself to be as good as anyone, yet those people had secretly framed him. They had used clever words to slander him before His Majesty and had him exiled to Baihua County as magistrate. They had done so under the pretext of allowing him to get to know the people and face practical matters firsthand, so that his true talent and knowledge could be revealed.
He understood the man's intentions better than anyone else. Baihua County wasn't bad, not far from the capital, but it was a place in a difficult position. The weather was good, and the people had no worries about food and clothing. As long as the county magistrate was competent and fulfilled his duties, it would be difficult for ordinary people to show their talents and achieve real results. Without long-term planning, such a place would only be able to gradually wear down its ambitions and lose its edge.
This played into the hands of those who framed the suspects.
He is a man of letters, and beneath his gentle appearance lies a character and self-confidence that is no less than that of any other man of letters.
How could he let those who framed him get what they wanted? Despite facing numerous repressions, he remained relentless in his efforts to cultivate Baihua County. Over the years, he transformed Baihua County, bringing prosperity and prosperity to the people and even changing the county's name to Baihua County. Now, he learned that the accusers had already been arrested. This meant that by the end of this year at the latest, he could be transferred to Beijing. Then, his meteoric rise to prominence was imminent.
Yet, even with the promise of a bright future in sight, he never considered, never felt, that he was no different from any other man. Even when facing the woman he admired, a deep sense of inferiority welled up within him. The resentment and frustration that had lain dormant for years, the dark past hidden in power struggles, now weighed heavily on his heart, terrified that a single misstep would expose his unbearable side.
The candlelight flickered, casting a soft glow on the pearls on Luo Shuiyao's temples. She lowered her eyes and sipped her tea, her eyelashes casting a butterfly-like shadow beneath her eyes. Suddenly, she raised her eyes and smiled, "Master Qin, was your attention distracted just now because the tea has gone cold?"
Qin Chuan's fingertips trembled slightly, nearly knocking over the teacup. He suddenly realized that he had been staring at her for a long time. A sour taste welled up in his throat, and he suddenly felt a little self-deprecating - the top scholar who used to be so powerful and decisive when facing the powerful and influential, now he was also worried about gains and losses.
"I just remembered some old things." He suppressed his turbulent emotions and picked up the pot to add more tea.
The tea soup condenses into a thin silver thread at the spout of the pot, and falls into the cup, creating ripples.
Luo Shuiyao stared at his tense jawline and suddenly whispered, "Although Baihua County is called 'Baihua', in reality, all the flowers are withering, which may affect people's livelihood. I wonder if Lord Qin has any solution?"
Qin Chuan paused as he poured his tea, looking up at Luo Shuiyao with a flicker of surprise. He didn't understand why Luo Shuiyao had suddenly shifted the conversation to matters of the people's livelihood, but he quickly collected his thoughts and followed her lead. "Your Majesty has already issued tax reductions and implemented a number of new policies." "But the withering of the flowers has, after all, had a profound impact on Baihua County."
Qin Chuan put down the teapot, a trace of worry gathered between his brows. "I've been thinking about it over and over again in my free time these past two days, but I still can't find a solution."
He looked up at Luo Shuiyao, his eyes filled with expectation. "I wonder if Miss Luo has a good plan in mind since you mentioned this matter today?"
The Luoshui Yao have always had a deep affection for the people of Baihua County. The folk customs here are honest and simple, like unpolished jade, which is truly rare.
Inspired by the origin of Baihua County's name, her thoughts had been lingering on it during her two days of leisure. In reality, Qin Chuan had already, with his exceptional vision and strategy, sketched out the outlines of a tourist destination for Baihua County. While it hadn't yet formed the sophisticated and complete system she had witnessed in her previous life, it already possessed considerable potential, like a bowstring poised to burst forth, waiting only for a gust of wind to unleash boundless vitality.
Although the withering of hundreds of flowers seems to be bad news, crises and opportunities coexist. For Baihua County, it is not an insurmountable desperate situation.
Her eyes lit up slightly, and her fingertips unconsciously stroked the edge of the teacup: "Master Qin, do you know that a blessing in disguise may come from a misfortune?"
Luo Shuiyao looked up at Qin Chuan, a determined glint in her eyes. "Now is a difficult time for the withering of all flowers, but it also presents a golden opportunity to rebuild the country. If we can seize this opportunity, we can restructure Baihua County, plan routes through the county, and completely renovate the accommodations. We can then use the 'rebirth of a hundred flowers' as a gimmick to invite the dignitaries of the capital."
Before she finished speaking, Luo Shuiyao suddenly smiled cunningly, her eyes full of intelligence, "By then, Baihua County will be bustling with people. Not only will Lord Qin no longer have to worry about the people's livelihood, I'm afraid his official career will also reach a new level."