Chapter 18: The Township Chief Arrives

Life in the countryside is always busy.

As high summer approached, the temperature rose higher and higher. All kinds of fruits were about to ripen, and the weeds in the fields grew taller by the day. Everywhere you looked, you saw farmers working hard.

Ling Mo took the initiative to take on all the farm work at home – weeding, watering – truly becoming like a genuine, down-to-earth farmer.

At the same time, he experimented with channeling on all the existing vegetables and fruits at home.

With his current strength as a level one Spirit Master, he could only control small plants like vegetables on a large scale. For large plants like fruit trees, the number was limited; he could channel at most ten trees at a time.

Every day as he chatted with his father, he also sought his advice on the management techniques for vegetables and fruit trees.

With his profound foundation as a Spirit Master from the Azure Wave Continent, Ling Mo understood everything after Ling Hongshan explained it just once.

“Ling Hongshan, Ling Hongshan!”

Ling Mo had just finished breakfast with his parents when he heard shouts coming from outside.

“Director Zhou, what brings you here? Have you had breakfast yet?”

The three of them walked out of the house and saw Zhou Zhishu standing at the entrance to the courtyard. Beside him was a graceful girl dressed in white.

Ling Mo was stunned. Wasn’t this Zhao Qingxue, the girl he had saved in the city? How did she end up here?

“Yes, yes, I’ve eaten. Let me introduce you. This is Comrade Zhao Qingxue, our newly appointed Township Chief of Jinping Township, who is also temporarily serving as the Village Chief of Dasha Village. Township Chief Zhao, this is Ling Mo, and Ling Mo’s parents.” Zhou Zhishu introduced both sides.

“Township Chief Zhao?” Ling Hongshan and Yang Shulan looked at the beautiful girl before them, their eyes lighting up. But upon hearing her title, they couldn’t help but reveal a hint of awkwardness and awe. “Township Chief Zhao, quickly come into the house and sit, please come in. Xiao Mo, quickly go get some chairs.”

“Uncle Ling, Auntie Yang, please don’t stand on ceremony. My name is Zhao Qingxue; you can call me Xiao Xue. Actually, I’ve come here for two reasons. First, I want to conduct a survey of Dasha Village, and I hope Ling Mo can show me around. Second, I want to thank Ling Mo for his help in the past. I heard that Uncle Ling has been ill; this is a small gift from me. It’s nothing much, please accept it.” Zhao Qingxue’s sweet smile was like a spring breeze.

“Township… Township Chief.” Ling Hongshan and Yang Shulan exchanged glances. Their son was actually connected to such a beautiful female Township Chief?

“Uncle Ling, just call me Xiao Xue,” Zhao Qingxue said.

“Okay, okay.” Ling Hongshan replied quickly. “Xiao Xue, you shouldn’t have brought gifts when you came. Uncle’s illness is already cured; thank you for your concern. If you need anything done in Dasha Village, just tell Xiao Mo to do it.”

“That’s right, Xiao Xue, quickly come and sit, sit, come, come, have some water. Have you eaten? You must be tired after coming all this way. Auntie will make you something to eat, okay? Leave the errands to Xiao Mo,” Yang Shulan said with boundless enthusiasm.

Ling Mo helplessly watched his parents’ sparkling eyes and said, “Dad, Mom, the Township Chief is here to do important work in the village; we can’t delay her work.”

Yang Shulan said, “Delay what? Precisely because Xiao Xue has come to our mountain village to investigate work despite the hardship, we should treat her even better. Let me tell you, you drop everything you were doing today and focus on accompanying Xiao Xue on her survey. If there’s any neglect, I won’t spare you, understand?”

Zhao Qingxue smiled as she looked at Ling Mo’s family. Taking advantage of Yang Shulan’s distraction, she winked playfully at Ling Mo and then said with a smile, “Auntie, don’t bother making anything; I’ve already eaten. While it’s still early, let Ling Mo take me for a walk around the village.”

“Good, good. Remember to come back to Auntie’s house to rest when you’re tired,” Yang Shulan said, her face almost splitting with smiles. Then, her voice changed as she said to Ling Mo, “You stinky brat, hurry up and go!”

Zhou Zhishu stared blankly at Zhao Qingxue’s conversation with Ling Mo’s family. It took him a long while to react. Something wasn’t right. Why was Township Chief Zhao so polite to Ling Mo’s family? He knew that Township Chief Zhao’s impression at the township government was that she was aloof, especially aloof!

Could it be that this beautiful Township Chief was really interested in Ling Mo?

It was possible! Ling Mo was a college student and also a handsome man. Maybe the two of them had a relationship long ago, and Zhao Qingxue came to Jinping Township to be the Township Chief because of that, and she couldn’t wait to take the initiative to also serve as the Village Chief of Dasha Village. This was simply a good show of a woman chasing a man!

In an instant, Zhou Zhishu thought of countless possibilities. The way he looked at Ling Mo was burning brightly. If Zhao Qingxue could become the daughter-in-law of Dasha Village, wouldn’t Dasha Village become prosperous?

This was definitely a great thing!

Support! This matter must be supported. Even if there was no possibility, he would have to provide Ling Mo with the conditions to create that possibility.

Zhou Zhishu smiled and said, “Yes, Xiao Mo, I’m old; I get out of breath as soon as I climb a mountain. Township Chief Zhao is paying special attention to our Dasha Village and wants to help our Dasha Village get rid of poverty and become rich. You represent Dasha Village and accompany the Township Chief properly. Oh, right, weren’t you planning to develop in your hometown? Tell the Township Chief about your plans. If you can get Township Chief Zhao’s support, then you’ll definitely succeed.”

Ling Mo was practically chased out of the house by his parents. The two walked on the village path.

Zhao Qingxue smiled and said, “Your uncle and aunt are very nice people.”

Looking at Zhao Qingxue’s sly smile, Ling Mo had the thought of teasing her. “Of course, my parents saw a daughter-in-law and forgot about their son. Alas, I really have no status now.”

Zhao Qingxue’s cheeks flushed slightly. “What nonsense are you talking about? Ha, Ling Mo, I originally thought you were a gentleman, but I didn’t expect you to be a rogue.”

Ling Mo raised his head and looked at the sky, suddenly saying, “Remember to wear more clothes in a couple of days.”

Zhao Qingxue said, “Why?”

Ling Mo sighed softly and said, “It’s going to snow.”

Zhao Qingxue said curiously, “It’s June now; how can it snow?”

Ling Mo said with a profound look, “Have you heard of a ‘June Snowfall’? Whenever there is a great injustice in the world, even the heavens can’t bear to watch.”

Zhao Qingxue reacted and couldn’t help but laugh. This guy had taken such a big detour; he was actually saying that he was being wronged.

“I’m even more certain now that you’re a bad egg,” Zhao Qingxue said in a serious tone, but she couldn’t stop the smile in the corners of her eyes.

“But I don’t understand why a dignified young lady like you would come to such a poor and remote place to be a Township Chief. It wouldn’t really be because of me, would it?” Ling Mo joked.

Zhao Qingxue’s eyes twitched. She had indeed obtained Ling Mo’s information and then chose to come down to Jinping Township. But for her, what difference was there between Jinping Township and Yushan County?

More precisely, she had subconsciously escaped here.

Sensing Zhao Qingxue’s low mood, Ling Mo shrugged and smiled, “What plans do you have for this survey of Dasha Village? Is the township really preparing to carry out poverty alleviation work in Dasha Village?”

Hearing this, Zhao Qingxue collected her thoughts and said, “That’s right. When I first arrived in Cuiping Township, I really couldn’t believe that there were still such poor villages in the country. And your Dasha Village, being the second largest village in Cuiping Township, is one of the worst in terms of conditions, so I wanted to come and see. Having come here, I should at least do something before leaving.”

Ling Mo said, “Yes, it’s true that it’s so poor here that it has to be changed.”