The steward brought Chen Zhou back to the inn, his expression somewhat somber.

Chen Zhou asked anxiously, “What did Chief Clerk Chang say?”

The steward’s face remained grave as he replied, “Zhao Hanzhang wants our family’s woodblock printing craftsmen.”

Chen Zhou froze for a moment before saying, “How is that possible? That’s the foundation of our family’s livelihood.”

The steward lowered his eyes and said, “They said if we don’t have craftsmen, even two or three apprentices would do.”

Chen Zhou frowned, somewhat unwilling.

The steward wasn’t too willing either, but the conditions Chief Clerk Chang offered were too good. He lowered his voice and said, “Chief Clerk Chang said that Zhao Hanzhang is currently in need of capable people. If the young master catches her eye, staying by her side to work is also possible.”

Chen Zhou replied, “…You want me to become a minor clerk?”

His goal was next year’s, or perhaps in two years’ time, the Nine-Rank Selection Banquet. As long as he could be assigned a rank, even a lower rank, he could emerge as a county magistrate. Why would he stay in Xiping as a minor clerk?

Once he became a minor clerk, his path would be set, and in the future there would be no possibility of receiving a rank and pursuing an official career.

The steward said, “Not as a minor clerk, but as an aide by her side. Following her, everyone you’d meet would be distinguished scholars. Besides, I’ve learned that Xiahou Ren has a very good relationship with her. Next year at the Great Selector’s talent selection, she might put in a good word for the young master.”

Xiahou Ren’s cousin Xiahou Jun was the Great Selector of Yuzhou.

Chen Zhou fell into deep thought.

The steward waited for him to contemplate.

Chen Zhou asked repeatedly, “Only apprentices?”

“Only apprentices.” The steward lowered his voice and said, “Moreover, they don’t have woodblocks. Even if they open a book bureau, they’ll have to accumulate woodblocks from scratch, which is far inferior to our family’s inventory. What are you worried about, young master?”

In the case of large-scale printing, why was woodblock printing said to be much cheaper than movable type printing?

Because a woodblock could be used repeatedly. When not in use, it would be stored away. Many book bureaus had several rooms full of woodblocks, accumulated over generations and years.

Why had the Zhao family never considered opening their own book bureau?

Was it because they truly had no way to find a woodblock craftsman?

Of course not, but because it wasn’t worth it.

Currently, besides printing, books were copied by hand, one by one. The vast majority of profound knowledge was transmitted through hand-copying. What could be printed were mostly very common textbooks.

The Zhao family didn’t rely on the book bureau to make money, so naturally they wouldn’t think of expending this effort.

Because it truly required too much effort. Each woodblock needed a carpenter to carve it character by character. For a newly established family to compare with established book bureaus in book and woodblock storage would either take ten to twenty years, or require enormous human and material resources, with gains that simply wouldn’t match the investment.

Who would be foolish enough to establish a book bureau regardless of cost?

So after much deliberation, Chen Zhou finally gritted his teeth and said, “Alright, agree to it. Return home immediately and select two apprentices to come over. They just need to know how to print books; their craftsmanship doesn’t need to be too good.”

“Young master, I actually think we should choose one good one and one not-so-good one.”

“Why?”

“This way Zhao Hanzhang will know we were sincere. First promote the apprentice with good skills to master, and have him bring the other apprentice over.”

Chen Zhou stared wide-eyed at the steward. “That… isn’t that improper? Wouldn’t that be deceiving people?”

The steward said, “…It’s not exactly deception. That apprentice has good skills and should be promoted to master anyway.”

Only then did Chen Zhou exhale in relief. “What you say makes sense.”

The steward also exhaled, feeling somewhat mentally exhausted.

Zhao Hanzhang knew nothing of all this. She was currently enjoying herself in the military camp, sparring with Zhao Ju. At first she deliberately tried to remember fixed moves, but once she got into it, she completely forgot about that and only remembered some of Fu Tinghan’s principle-based requirements. Her movements became increasingly smooth and fluid.

She gradually fought Zhao Ju to a draw.

Even though he had seen this many times before, Zhao Ju couldn’t help but exclaim again, “Sanniang has exceptional natural talent.”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled with pursed lips. She could fight even when blind—oh no, practice martial arts well—so naturally she could do even better now.

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her spear and used her sleeve to wipe her sweat. Zhao Erlang immediately ran up with a handkerchief, eagerly wiping his sister’s sweat.

Zhao Hanzhang simply tilted her face up for him to wipe. After he finished, she asked, “If you have any requests of me, speak quickly. I still need to inspect the city in a while.”

Zhao Erlang immediately said, “Elder sister, can you give me the other spearhead in the box?”

Zhao Ju had just unscrewed his bamboo water container and was drinking when he heard this and started coughing, choked by the water.

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him and said to Zhao Erlang, “Don’t you practice the blade? Why do you want a spearhead?”

Zhao Erlang’s eyes lit up as he said, “I think the long spear is more imposing and more convenient for killing people on horseback. Also, it’s the same weapon my sister uses, so I want to switch!”

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t mind, but said, “That spearhead belongs to Tinghan. If you want it, you still need to ask him.”

She paused and then said, “Forget it, I’ll ask him myself.”

This was a special gift Fu Tinghan had given her. If she wanted to give it to someone else, she had to ask him first.

Hearing this, Zhao Erlang immediately followed her back to the county office.

As soon as he dismounted, he ran ahead of her inside, running all the way to the study. Sure enough, Fu Tinghan was at his desk writing and drawing.

Zhao Erlang immediately ran forward. “Brother-in-law, I’ll call you brother-in-law one hundred times. Will you agree to one thing for me?”

Fu Tinghan looked up. “What thing?”

“Will you agree to let my sister give me the other spearhead in the box?”

Fu Tinghan raised an eyebrow. “You can speak so logically now?”

He asked, “Did someone teach you to say this, or did you say it yourself?”

Zhao Erlang looked confused. “I said it myself. What’s wrong?”

Fu Tinghan asked, “You want me to agree to your sister’s decision, but where is your sister?”

“Right here.” Zhao Hanzhang entered from outside, complaining, “Deliberately running one step ahead of me. I don’t know when he learned to be so shrewd.”

Zhao Erlang laughed foolishly.

Fu Tinghan smiled and nodded without waiting for Zhao Hanzhang to speak. “I agree.”

He rummaged through the drawings beside him and pulled out the second one from the bottom to show her. “This is the spear shaft I’ve designed for you. See if there are any modifications needed. If not, I’ll have the craftsmen make it.”

Zhao Hanzhang saw there were patterns on the spear shaft and couldn’t help but lean in closer. “What pattern is this?”

“This is your name in greater seal script.” He paused and said, “I originally didn’t want to add anything, but Uncle Ming said that since you want a regular-use spear, this spear should still have its own identifying mark.”

Most importantly, this spear looked valuable and impressive at first glance. Without adding something, Zhao Ming felt it would be wasteful.

Zhao Hanzhang had no objections whatsoever.

Only then did Fu Tinghan look at Zhao Erlang. “Then in a while, you should also practice with the long spear, and I’ll design a spear shaft for you.”

Zhao Erlang’s eyes lit up greatly, and he immediately began calling, “Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, brother-in-law, brother-in-law…”

Seeing he was about to call brother-in-law one hundred times on the spot, Fu Tinghan quickly stopped him. “No rush. You can call them when you have time later.”

—