Transmigrated as an Unwanted Ugly Girl

As it turned out, Juhua’s worries were not unfounded.

Government officers from the county government led a search through all the villages, and they managed to find a number of young women of considerable beauty.

It takes all sorts to make a world. While most families in Qingnan Village did not want their daughters chosen, others thought differently. In fact, many families were desperate for their daughters to be selected. They dreamed that if their girls could use this opportunity to enter a high-ranking, noble household, the entire family would prosper. For that reason, some people actively dressed their daughters in their finest and presented them to the government officers, including not a few wealthy families.

However, in the area around Xiatang Market and Qingnan Village, most young women of suitable age were already married. The ones who weren’t were considered rather plain. Since word of the situation had spread throughout the area, the locals knew some of the inside story. As long as their parents weren’t blinded by greed, most would not do something so foolish.

In the rear courtyard of the county government, the new County Magistrate Li looked over the group of young women who had been gathered. They were acceptable, he supposed, but only a few were truly outstanding. Most were timid and shrinking, displaying a distinct lack of worldly grace. The rest had a feverish look in their eyes, clearly desperate to latch onto a powerful connection and secure their fortunes. ’They’ll need to be thoroughly trained.’

He gave some instructions to Nanny Liu from his wife’s quarters, then turned and went to the front offices to ask the officers for details about the search. When he heard about the situation in the Xiatang Market area, his expression darkened. Then, another man stepped forward and told him a certain story, causing him to immediately break into a cold sneer.

The informant, as it happened, was an officer named Huang Yan’er, and he was exceptionally greedy. For the past few years, he had served under County Magistrate Hu, who had kept him on an extremely tight leash. This filled Huang Yan’er with resentment, and he constantly reminisced about the glory days under the magistrate before Hu. Back then, his job had been so much better—even if the people below were poor, he could always manage to bring home a few chickens or ducks while out on official business. His family had lived in great comfort.

Now that County Magistrate Li had arrived, Huang Yan’er carefully observed his new superior and realized this was not a man who would be content to lie low. His own scheming mind immediately began to whir.

During his recent trip to Qingnan Village, Li Gengtian had not treated him badly. In fact, before he left, Li Gengtian had given him some local produce like wood ear mushrooms, hoping he would go easy on them. But this man’s greed was a bottomless pit, and he had long since set his sights on the village’s two workshops.

After he spun his manipulative tale for County Magistrate Li, the Lord County Magistrate let out a continuous cold sneer and said, "Make preparations. I am going to Xiatang Market to have a look for myself."

With that, he flicked his sleeves and strode toward the rear courtyard, thinking as he went, ’He’s just a scholar. What can he possibly do to me? He’s the son-in-law of Ding Xuezheng’s brother-in-law, not Ding Xuezheng’s own. I’m not even afraid of Ding Xuezheng, so why would I fear some of his distantly connected relatives?’

**********

Li Gengtian watched County Magistrate Li, seated in the seat of honor in his family’s main hall, and felt deeply uneasy. ’On such a hot day, for the Lord County Magistrate to come to Qingnan Village in person, and with such a large entourage... what on earth could this be about?’

’If it was about selecting beauties, didn’t they already go through that last time?’

When Li Changyu heard the news, he rushed back home to wait upon their guest. He wore a smile, but inwardly, he was grinding his teeth in hatred. ’Why hasn’t this damn dog of an official fallen into the Qinghui River?’ he fumed silently.

County Magistrate Li took a leisurely sip of his Juhua tea and smiled. "This is truly a blessed land, and this is excellent tea!" He lifted his eyes, scanned the hall, and added, "It’s cool in here, too. Not sweltering like in Qinghui."

Li Gengtian quickly bowed his head and offered a humble smile. "This is just the countryside, my lord. All we have are crude and rustic things. We have made a poor showing for you."

County Magistrate Li chuckled. "Village Chief Li, you are far too modest! This magistrate and you share the same surname, you know. Five hundred years ago, we were one family. And though your son, Li Changfeng, failed the examinations last year, with Ding Xuezheng’s patronage, he is sure to succeed in two years. We may even become fellow officials serving the same court then."

Li Gengtian hurriedly smiled placatingly. "I thank you for your auspicious words, my lord. If that truly comes to pass, our whole family will have the Emperor’s grace to thank."

The Lord County Magistrate made small talk with Li Gengtian and his son for a good while, asking especially detailed questions about the two workshops.

Li Changyu smiled and said, "My lord, you may not be aware, but our Qingnan Village workshops were only started to help everyone earn a little spending money and make life a bit easier. We’re still farmers, first and foremost. We’re nothing like those big merchants with their large-scale workshops and wide distribution. Manager Song of the Fang family even laughs at us for not looking like proper businessmen, going to all this trouble just to earn a few taels of silver a year. Their family’s workshops are much, much larger."

County Magistrate Li shot him a look that was not quite a smile. He didn’t respond to that, instead changing the subject to ask about the acorn trees on the mountain.

Li Gengtian quickly rose to his feet and answered, "There are a good number of acorn trees scattered about on Little Qing Mountain. If there weren’t, we wouldn’t be able to gather the acorns to feed our pigs. When times are tough and people can’t make ends meet, they gather them for food. They’re terribly bitter, though. We later discovered that if you leach them thoroughly in water, they become edible."