Chapter 35: A Pretty Face and a Way with People

Lu Chuan walked through the venue, exchanging greetings with the merchants present. As he passed Miss Mi, he deliberately bypassed her.

Though he said nothing, Lu Chuan was well aware of the situation. With so many merchants rising to show their respect and welcome him, Miss Mi alone remained seated, looking stiff and aloof, staring straight ahead as if she were somehow superior. Even if her brother, Mi Zhu, were here, he would have offered a formal greeting out of respect. Where did she get such arrogance? Consequently, Lu Chuan refused to grant her any face, pretending not to see her as he walked right by.

Seeing Lu Chuan ignore her, Miss Mi felt even more indignant. How dare he overlook her? It was outrageous! Never in her life had anyone dared to treat her this way. She wanted to stand up and confront him, but realizing that chasing after him would diminish her own status, she merely gave a cold huff and remained in her seat, also feigning indifference. She failed to notice, however, that the surrounding merchants were shaking their heads at her behavior. The Mi family was powerful and Mi Zhu was capable, but this young lady lacked any sense of tact. Compared to Zhen Jiang of the Zhen family, the difference was stark.

Zhen Jiang had been standing in place for several minutes, waiting for Lu Chuan; she had no intention of sitting until he approached. Noticing her, Lu Chuan finished his rounds and headed her way. This was his first time meeting Zhen Jiang. Initially, he hadn't given it much thought, as she was a minor figure in history—had her sister Zhen Mi not married Cao Pi, the name "Zhen Jiang" might never have appeared in the historical records.

However, upon seeing her, Lu Chuan was stunned—or rather, pleasantly surprised. As the eldest daughter of the Zhen family, she was only around twenty years old, arguably the prime of her youth. Despite her status, she possessed no air of arrogance, nor did she feel inferior due to the low social standing of merchants; instead, she carried herself with grace and poise.

"I offer my respects, Magistrate Lu," Zhen Jiang said, bowing with elegance and a calm, collected expression, embodying the grace of a refined lady.

"Miss Zhen, please, no need for such formalities! I have long looked forward to the Zhen family investing in Lu County."

"You are too kind, Magistrate Lu! We have heard much of the thriving commercial atmosphere in Lu County and the importance you place on merchants. The Zhen family has long desired to come here and forge a deep partnership with you. I hope this pre-sale event marks the beginning of our collaboration!"

"Indeed! I, too, look forward to working with the Zhen family."

Lu Chuan smiled. Zhen Jiang was not only tactful and respectful, but she was also strikingly beautiful. The Zhen family’s genetic heritage was legendary—after all, it produced the beauty Zhen Mi, who inspired Cao Zhi to write the immortal "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River." As the eldest sister, Zhen Jiang was naturally gifted with an extraordinary appearance. In an era where merchants were predominantly men, her presence, meticulously groomed and radiant, was impossible to ignore. Even with Lu Chuan’s modern experience with countless online beauties, he was still struck by her charm. In an age without digital enhancements, her beauty was entirely natural—pale, delicate, glowing skin needing only a hint of rouge to surpass any filtered image.

While Zhen Jiang was captivating, her younger sister, Zhen Mi, who followed behind her, was completely overshadowed. Regardless of how famous or noble Zhen Mi would become in the future, she was currently just a little girl. Yet, the way Zhen Jiang tilted her head to look at Lu Chuan left a deep impression on him; she seemed like a figure stepped out of a classical painting.

Lu Chuan felt an immediate fondness for her, but knowing the importance of the pre-sale, he kept the conversation brief. He continued making his rounds, and while others eagerly sought him out, Miss Mi sat alone, stewing in her own resentment. Seeing Lu Chuan laughing and chatting harmoniously with Zhen Jiang only made her mood sour further. *Hmph! Men are all the same—they lose their wits the moment they see a pretty face!*

Lu Chuan cared little for Miss Mi’s attitude. From his perspective, it was better that she kept her distance; she was destined to become the wife of Liu Bei, and he had no desire to alter the course of history and suffer the consequences.

As Lu Chuan reached the stage at the front of the hall, the room finally fell silent. He gave a slight cough and bowed to the crowd.

"Thank you all for taking the time to attend this pre-sale of fixed assets in the northern outer city. I know you have been looking forward to this, so I will skip the pleasantries and get straight to the point. Lu Shui!"

"Here!"

"Display the layout of the northern outer city!"

"Yes, sir!"

Lu Shui gestured, and four soldiers carried in a large, screen-like object covered by a curtain. As they placed it on the stage, the curiosity of the crowd was piqued. Lu Chuan stepped forward and pulled away the cloth, revealing the detailed layout of the northern outer city.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the layout of our northern outer city. It details every building, including homes, shops, workshops, and warehouses. The structures specially marked on this map are the primary focus of today’s pre-sale!"

The merchants began studying the map intently. While they were initially indifferent to the "pre-sale" concept, the prospect of acquiring prime shop locations was an opportunity they wouldn't pass up—partly for investment, and partly to show respect to Lu Chuan.

Zhen Jiang and Miss Mi also stood up to get a better look. Seeing this, Lu Chuan smiled and said, "Everyone, please, there is no need to rush! I have more to say. Once I finish, I will give you ample time to study the map. I believe you will be very interested in what I have to say next, because for this pre-sale, you will be granted rights to these properties for at least seventy years—or even, in some cases, permanent ownership!"