At the mention of the topic, Zhang Huai's brow furrowed, and the tenderness in his expression vanished. He unconsciously plucked at blades of grass as he said worriedly, "Changyu had someone deliver a message. He said he's afraid this new County Magistrate Li will be difficult to handle—up north, he was known for extortion and imposing arbitrary levies, and it seems he has a powerful backer in the imperial court."
Juhua's heart sank when she heard this.
'Ordinarily, the villagers of Xiatang Market wouldn't be worth the attention of someone like him—it would be a matter of some extra taxes at worst. But Qingnan Village wasn't an ordinary village anymore. If they were targeted, the next three years would be hard to endure, and there was no telling what might happen.'
