Dad, don't be greedy! My brother climbed into the emperor's bed, and I became famous overn

Zhou Peiyuan, quick-witted, noticed Gu Mingyue's silence and hurriedly explained:

"Please don't take it to heart, young lady. I was just asking out of curiosity."

Gu Mingyue remained composed, straightened her cuffs, and calmly asked, "Are you acquainted with Prime Minister Gu, sir?"

Logically speaking, her powerful biological father was not someone that a lowly sixth-rank county magistrate could easily get to know.

They were not even acquainted.

But the magistrate insisted on investigating the matter, which made Gu Mingyue more wary.

Seeing that the girl had asked a question in return, Zhou Peiyuan smiled and replied:

"Prime Minister Gu is my mentor. I have not been able to see my esteemed mentor for several years."

"Back then, I was a poor scholar whose mother was seriously ill and urgently needed money for treatment. I had no choice but to give up the imperial examination and make a living by copying books and selling my writings to raise money for my mother's treatment."

"It was by chance that Prime Minister Gu saw someone's article and praised it, saying: 'A pearl is covered in dust.'"

"Afterwards, he had a doctor cure my mother's illness and funded my continued studies for the imperial examinations. In his busy schedule, he also gave me some advice on strategies on several occasions."

"Zhou's current official position is entirely due to the kindness of Prime Minister Gu."

Gu Mingyue blinked in disbelief upon hearing these words.

The Prime Minister Gu mentioned by the county magistrate was actually her... corrupt official's cheap father?

However, Gu Mingyue was not easily swayed.

She simply nodded calmly: "The teacher-student relationship between you and Prime Minister Gu is indeed a beautiful story in this world."

When Zhou Peiyuan recalled the past, he couldn't help but sigh for a long time.

Seeing that Miss Gu was unwilling to say any more, he tactfully changed the subject.

"What brings you here, sir?"

Gu Mingyue got straight to the point:

"Lord Zhou, I wish to inspect all the abandoned plots of land, fields, and old shops along the river in your county. I want to see as many as possible."

Zhou Peiyuan's eyes darted around.

"Does Mr. Gu intend to... purchase these lands?"

"Yes, buy them all."

Gu Mingyue nodded.

"For those with land deeds, I can sign the deed after reviewing it. For unclaimed and abandoned land, we can proceed according to the county government's procedures. The price is negotiable."

Zhou Peiyuan paused slightly, stroking his beard as he pondered for a moment.

He served in Qingshui County for six years.

Over the course of six years, he witnessed the imperial officials who came to provide disaster relief, only to leave after a brief visit, and he also saw ordinary people huddled at the gates of government offices, crying and pleading for a way to survive.

This was the first time he had ever met someone who would willingly come to such a muddy swamp and spend money to buy land.

Zhou Peiyuan grew increasingly curious: "What does the boss intend to do with this land?"

Gu Mingyue didn't hide it from him, after all, the local industries would still need government support in the future.

She said casually, "Build a commercial street."

"A commercial street?" Zhou Peiyuan didn't quite understand the term. "The kind where it's all shops?"

Gu Mingyue nodded, not having time to explain further.

"Yes, at least it can provide a livelihood for the people in the county and encourage population return."

No local official could refuse such an investor, and Zhou Peiyuan was no exception.

His eyes lit up; he was very perceptive.

"The owner wants to build a commercial street. Do you need any workers? If so, the county can help you gather people."

Originally, Qinghe County had a considerable population.

However, due to years of floods, people had no way to make a living and had to leave their homes.

Gu Mingyue naturally needs manpower! And the more the better!

As long as she signs the employee contract first, she can get a month's salary in advance from the system.

Moreover, the sooner this area regains its popularity, the sooner her businesses can take root and flourish.

"Of course we need it. Once we have these lands, Pujitang will recruit villagers from all over the county to work in the community."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Peiyuan stood up from his chair in surprise and clapped his hands:

"Excellent! Very good! The master is very kind!"

He quickly turned around and shouted loudly towards the back room:

"Clerk Zhang! Quickly! Bring out all the land registers!!"

……

There were seven large volumes of land registers in Qingshui County, piled up on the desk like a small mountain.

Gu Mingyue flipped through a few books.

A rough description doesn't tell whether the location is good or bad; she needs to go to the site to investigate.

"Lord Zhou, please send someone familiar with the terrain to guide us. I want to inspect all the land along the river today."

Zhou Peiyuan slapped his thigh and readily agreed.

"I'll lead it myself!"

A sixth-rank county magistrate personally led the way to inspect the land; that's quite a display of power.

Of course, given the mess that was Qingshui County, Magistrate Zhou really didn't have much else to offer besides prestige.

The four men left the yamen, and together with Zhou Peiyuan and Zhang Shuli, the group of six did not take a carriage, but walked directly south along the river.

Yi Wu followed at the very back.

The long sword on his back was particularly conspicuous.

Zhou Peiyuan secretly looked back several times, a forced smile on his face, and occasionally took out a handkerchief to wipe the thin layer of sweat from his forehead.

Yi Wu glanced at him only once, silently making a mental note of him.

The young lady invited the magistrate of Qinghe County for a stroll along the river, and the magistrate was overjoyed.

Gu Mingyue visited five locations along the way.

At each location, she would squat down to examine the terrain, stomp on the soil to test its softness and hardness, and then check the location marked on the map to confirm its orientation and area.

Some plots of land were overgrown with weeds, and you could sink halfway down with your foot.

Some of the mudflats near the water are still piled with rocks and broken wood washed in by the flood.

But the terrain is indeed good.

The river bend offers a wide expanse of water and an unobstructed view.

The terrain on both sides of the river rises slightly, naturally forming two levels of terraces.

The upper floor is suitable for building houses, while the lower floor can be used as a dock and pier.

Gu Mingyue quickly sketched out a blueprint in her mind.

The two-kilometer-long commercial strip along the river consists of restaurants, teahouses, and inns on the upper level, and docks, warehouses, and ferries on the lower level.

The lights reflected on the river, while on the banks, the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, accompanied by singing and dancing, and folk songs echoed in the bars…

Okay, the visuals are a bit too futuristic.

Let's buy the land first.

After a round of investigation.

Gu Mingyue already had a plan in mind.

She stood on the high point of the last mudflat and turned to face Zhou Peiyuan.

"Lord Zhou, I want the whole land."

Zhou Peiyuan was bending down to help her clear away a clump of weeds, his hand still suspended in mid-air.

"Master, you mean...you want them all?"

"For all the registered abandoned plots of land along the river in Qingshui County from north to south, I will buy the ones with owners and take the unclaimed ones at the official price. Payment will be made in one lump sum."

The mountain wind blew across the river, making the wormwood rustle.

Zhou Peiyuan stared blankly for a long time, his mouth agape, the corners of his mouth uncontrollably curving upwards.

He never dreamed that he would encounter something like this in his life.

"Alright, alright! Let's go back to the yamen and sign the contract!"