Chapter 580: Chapter 580: Being Admired is Her Blessing

Huo Xingzhou extended his finger, slowly smoothing out her furrowed brows.

“Why are you looking at me with such eyes?”

Qiao Xi shook her head, “Just thinking about some things.”

Huo Xingzhou’s collaboration with Zhong Yi is a bit strange and even involves the needle testing conference. Her woman’s intuition told her that there must be something going on.

She had asked Huo Xingzhou about Zhong Yi’s matter and got no useful information.

Moreover, he always gets jealous.

This time, she needs to find someone else to verify it.

Qiao Xi pursed her lips, the corners of her mouth slightly raised: “I just want to ask you if you want to attend the engagement banquet of Zhong Yi and Lu Yingxue? Lu Yingxue invited me very warmly today. I did not refuse nor did I agree, saying I would ask for your opinion when I get home.”

“The alliance between Zhong Family and Lu Family will be attended by all reputable families in the Imperial Capital. It will be very lively, and we cannot avoid it.”

The Huo Family wants to establish a presence in the Imperial Capital, so they must make appearances at such events.

“Okay.”

Qiao Xi hid her emotions and obediently nodded her head.

…

The next day.

The day is already bright.

Banshan Qiushui Lu Family welcomed a special guest.

The butler politely said, “Mr. Zhao, please come inside; our master is already waiting in the living room.”

Zhao Chang was wearing a suit that strained over his belly.

He looked around the building and sighed, “As expected of an Imperial Capital noble family, even the Lu Family holds such prime land. We country bumpkins can’t compare, hahaha…”

“Mr. Zhao, this way, please.”

“Okay.”

Zhao Chang, carrying two bottles of finely packaged medicinal wine, walked up to the living room and called out loudly, “Doctor Lu, long time no see. This is the fine local wine I brought for you, and this medicinal wine is a new line developed by our factory.”

Lu Bannong glanced at it and asked the butler to take good care of it.

Then he politely said, “Have a seat, drink some tea.”

Zhao Chang sat on the sofa, took a couple of sips from the teacup making a loud noise.

“I’m a crude man, I can’t tell good tea from bad, just want to quench my thirst.” Zhao Chang put down his teacup, “Doctor Lu, I started out planting medicinal herbs in the Southwest as a wealthy country man, I speak very bluntly, please forgive me.”

Lu Bannong hid the disdain in his heart and smiled, “Mr. Zhao has made a big business out of herbal trade, a prominent figure in the Southwest. No need to be so modest, a hero needs no introduction. I was just a humble doctor back in the day…”

“Now you are a saving Bodhisattva relieving suffering, I won’t beat around the bush either. It’s been two years since my wife passed, and it’s time to remarry. Doctor Lu, I fancy your niece.”

Zhao Chang looked up, smiling at him, “What do you think?”

Lu Bannong kept a calm face, but sneered inside.

Zhao Chang was old enough to be his brother but had the nerve to want to be his niece’s husband.

If it wasn’t for the Lu Family needing that source of herbs from the Southwest, he would never meet with someone like Zhao Chang. Previously, the Qian Family’s medicine factory was controlled by Zhong Yi, and Lu Bannong always saw it as a hidden trouble.

“This… you and Mingzhu…” Lu Bannong smiled and left the words hanging.

But everything was said in the unsaid.

Zhao Chang spoke in a loud voice, “Doctor Lu, I assure you, if we become family, Lu Family’s medicine hall will never be short of supplies. After the Qian Family fell, you must have been inconvenienced. One Xiang Mingzhu for a stable decade-long source of herbs, with priority given to Lu Family, with signed and notarized contract.”

Zhao Chang wouldn’t dare to come if he hadn’t investigated thoroughly.

Lu Family did not offer help when Xiang Family went bankrupt, so a niece was not too important to Lu Bannong. Xiang Mingzhu had also caused a lot of troubles, partly responsible for both families’ downfall.

He, Zhao Chang, just loved beautiful women, especially those stubborn and proud rich young ladies.

Xiang Mingzhu is also top-notch in appearance.

“How about it, Doctor Lu?”

Zhao Chang looked at him with a smile, his plump face appearing much more amiable.

Lu Bannong, sipping his tea leisurely, said, “Mr. Zhao, after all, this is my niece’s daughter.”

“Hasn’t your sister been recuperating abroad for many years without returning to the country? As an uncle, you still have a say in your niece’s marriage.”

“Mr. Zhao, Mingzhu is stubborn.”

“As long as you give the nod, I’ll handle the rest. I love a stubborn woman. Doctor Lu, I know this is difficult for you, just your tacit approval is enough, there’s no need to announce the union publicly.”

Zhao Chang could tell that Lu Bannong was a man like himself, driven purely by profit.

But he was more shameless than Lu Bannong; the Lu family regards both reputation and benefits.

Reassured by his words, Lu Bannong said, “Alright. Mingzhu has been feeling down lately, always goes to bars to drown her sorrows in alcohol.”

“Thank you, Doctor Lu.”

Zhao Chang beamed with joy, the information provided by Lu Bannong was already enough. However, he was still greedy, aiming to get a ticket into the business circles of the Imperial Capital.

“I heard Miss Lu and Young Master Zhong are getting engaged on the eighth, I’d also like to attend the engagement party of the first prominent family of the Imperial Capital. I wonder if…”

Lu Bannong understood: “I will have someone send you an invitation.”

“Thank you so much.”

Zhao Chang was completely satisfied.

His trip to the Imperial Capital had indeed brought him plenty of gains.

“Mr. Zhao, would you like to stay for dinner? I’ll ask the kitchen to prepare something,” Lu Bannong said with a smile, yet his hand was pouring tea into his cup until it was full.

Seeing this, Zhao Chang immediately understood his meaning.

Tea filled means sending off the guest.

“I still have some business matters to discuss, I won’t impose any longer on Doctor Lu. I’ll take my leave!”

Zhao Chang left cheerfully.

“Butler, see Mr. Zhao out.”

“You are too kind, I can manage on my own. Us coarse folks don’t fancy such niceties.”

Zhao Chang strode out of Lu family’s villa, while Lu Bannong lowered his eyes and sipped his tea. His chilly expression was concealed beneath his elongated beard.

Lu Yingxue slowly descended from the staircase, having eavesdropped for a long while, she knew Zhao Chang’s intentions.

“Father.”

She approached Lu Bannong and called out, “Is Zhao Chang truly interested in Xiang Mingzhu? That would be her good fortune.”

Her eyes shifted, brimming with ripples of water, hinting at a trace of a smile.

“To exchange a disposable piece for a decade’s supply of medicinal materials is indeed a profitable deal,” Lu Bannong drained the tea from his cup in one gulp.

Lu Yingxue calculated with a smile: “Xiang Mingzhu is delusional about Zhong Yi, there’s no guarantee she won’t do something foolish that could damage our marriage in the future. And with Zhong Yi being deep and calculating, even if we get the medicine factory, it wouldn’t be reliable. Zhao Chang’s actions are beneficial to us without any drawbacks.”

This not only eliminates the problem of Xiang Mingzhu but also secures tangible benefits for the Lu family.

Lu Bannong looked at her and said, “Have you found any leverage on Zhong Yi?”

The issue with Zhong Yi is a consensus between father and daughter, but regardless of the result, it won’t affect the marriage alliance between the two families.

They would just need to be more wary of Zhong Yi in the future.

Lu Yingxue turned and looked solemnly at Lu Bannong: “What I’ve found will definitely shock you!”

“Let’s hear it.”

Lu Bannong’s expression was serious.