The youth turned to glance at Zhao Hanzhang. Seeing that although she wore drab, patch-upon-patch clothing, she was clean and neat, appearing somewhat better off than him, he couldn’t help but roll his eyes. “Just because you say I cut doesn’t mean I cut. I’ve been standing here from the beginning—you’re the one who’s blind and didn’t see.”

Fu Tinghan turned his head, frowning as he looked at him, his expression becoming somewhat serious. “She and I are together.”

But the youth wasn’t afraid. He snorted, reached out to grab Fu Tinghan and shoved him aside, then stepped forward to occupy Fu Tinghan’s position.

Zhao Hanzhang reached out to steady the staggering Fu Tinghan, steadying his body before pushing him back, also stepping forward, still right behind the youth. “Brother, now you’re being unreasonable. Cutting in line is one thing, but how can you get physical too?”

The youth was quite indignant and turned back to point his finger at Zhao Hanzhang. “You keep saying I cut in line… Aiya!”

Zhao Hanzhang’s face smiled sweetly, but her hand grabbed his extended finger and twisted. He cried out in pain and indignantly lifted his foot to kick Zhao Hanzhang. But as soon as his leg lifted, Zhao Hanzhang kicked him, hitting exactly a point on his calf. His foot instantly went soft, and with a thud he dropped to one knee in front of Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang still held his hand, smiling cheerfully as she said, “Oh my, brother, you’re being too polite. Although cutting in line isn’t good, you needn’t perform such a grand gesture, surely?”

Since this was traveling incognito, she had to act like a real refugee. She wasn’t Provincial Governor Zhao Hanzhang right now, but refugee Zhao Hanzhang—she could afford to be a bit petty.

Zhao Hanzhang pettily gripped the other person’s hand until sweat beaded on his forehead and he began begging for mercy, only then did she relax her strength.

She patted his shoulder, grasping the bone in his shoulder to lift him up, smiling as she said, “Brother, in life one must follow the rules. I most detest people who don’t follow rules. The rule for queuing is first come, first served. Go on, to the very back, and don’t you dare cut in line again.”

The youth’s teeth itched with hatred. Clutching his finger, he withdrew from the line. Seeing the bailiff notice this area and already heading this way, he glared viciously at Zhao Hanzhang and lowered his voice threateningly. “You two siblings just wait—I won’t let you off easy.”

Having said this, he ran off before the bailiff arrived.

Fu Tinghan only managed to say, “We’re not siblings…”

But aside from Zhao Hanzhang, no one heard.

Zhao Hanzhang watched the youth run off, turned back to smile at Fu Tinghan, then lowered her head to avoid the approaching bailiff.

The bailiff’s expression was quite unpleasant. Walking up beside Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan, he raised his gong and began clanging it right by their ears. “What’s all the fuss? We’re giving you work to do and you still can’t behave. Keep making noise and I’ll throw you out—go line up again from the very back!”

He didn’t recognize Zhao Hanzhang. Mainly because she was now completely drab all over, her face smeared evenly with some kind of juice mixed with yellow mud. Now with her head lowered, the bailiff who had only seen her from afar a few times on the street couldn’t recognize her.

It should be said that those who hadn’t interacted face-to-face with Zhao Hanzhang would find it very difficult to recognize her by face alone. After all, people first recognize others by their clothing. Unless dealing with someone particularly distinctive, the vast majority of people in this world judge others’ identities starting from their clothing and bearing.

Zhao Hanzhang obediently listened to the scolding. Only after the bailiff finished scolding and left did she raise her hand to rub her ear.

Fu Tinghan also breathed a sigh of relief—the sound had really been too loud.

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang frown in discomfort, he was somewhat worried. “Are you all right?”

Her hearing was so sensitive.

“I’m fine.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “Make a note—later we’ll have them treat the refugees with better attitudes.”

Fu Tinghan nodded and asked, “Won’t you punish them?”

“Forget it. If I punish them for this, they may not say so out loud, but they’ll definitely have resentment in their hearts.” She said, “In a few more days it’ll be New Year’s. Normally at this time the government offices have already sealed up for the holidays, and the bailiffs and clerks can basically take rotating breaks. Because of one decree from me, this year the offices won’t seal up, and they still have to brave the cold wind to come out and work. Having resentment is understandable.”

“Though understandable doesn’t mean I support it, so they can avoid punishment, but it must be pointed out—they need to be more careful in the future.”

Fu Tinghan nodded. “All right, I’ll help you remember it. If you forget, I’ll remind you.”

Zhao Hanzhang agreed. While they were talking, the line moved forward quickly, and in no time it was their turn.

Zhao Hanzhang stood in front of Fu Tinghan and didn’t switch back, directly going up to register first.

“Name, age, ancestral home, who else is in your family, any special skills? Literacy, tailoring, and weaving all count.”

“Zhao Sanniang, fifteen years old, ancestral home in Liang Kingdom, Yuzhou. My family still has my mother and younger brother, but we got separated. As for special skills…” Zhao Hanzhang looked conflicted, finally saying, “Does having great strength count?”

The recording clerk lifted his eyelids to glance at her before saying, “No matter how strong you are, can you be stronger than a man? If you don’t have any, just say so—stop mentioning fringe things. Go on, take the wooden token and wait over there. A foreman will come shortly to take you to work.”

Zhao Hanzhang quickly asked, “What about wages? I wonder how much the pay is—can it be settled daily?”

Few people asked this, especially not women. The clerk couldn’t help but lift his head to look at her again, inexplicably feeling she looked somewhat familiar.

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her head, her voice becoming softer, saying in a tiny voice, “I need to earn money to find my mother and brother. I don’t know if this wage is high or not…”

Standing behind her, Fu Tinghan gave a visible shudder. Zhao Hanzhang noticed and without changing expression turned back to glare at him.

Fu Tinghan lowered his head to suppress his laughter. Only after pressing the laugh back down did he step forward and say to the clerk, “We two are together. I can read. I wonder if we could be arranged in the same place?”

The clerk instantly forgot that bit of familiarity toward Zhao Hanzhang and earnestly examined Fu Tinghan. Seeing his scholarly air, he immediately asked, “What’s your name, age, ancestral home, and what else are you good at besides literacy?”

He asked, “Are you good with numbers?”

He was extremely good with them.

Fu Tinghan paused for a moment then nodded, answering his questions one by one. “My name is Fu Dalang…”

“Good!” The clerk was very pleased, recording everything before taking out a wooden token, drawing a mark in ink on it and handing it to him. “Wait over there. A foreman will come shortly to take you to work.”

He paused, and because of Fu Tinghan, still gave Zhao Hanzhang some face, saying a couple more sentences. “Your wage is fifteen coins a day, yours is ten. The worksite provides two meals a day—all this is written on the public notice. Since you’re literate, you should know.”

He certainly knew—these wages had been discussed and decided by him and Zhao Hanzhang. The person before him just wanted to confirm once more.

Fu Tinghan accepted the token, agreed, and pulled Zhao Hanzhang aside to wait for the foreman.

Quite a few people were waiting with them. When those standing together numbered twenty, a dark-faced young man arrived. As soon as he appeared, he waved his hand. “Everyone follow me.”

—