Ting He delivered the command token to Fan Ying and had already been waiting outside the door ahead of time. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang approaching, she hurriedly ran forward with a cloak and draped it over her shoulders. “Miss, I’ve inquired about everything clearly. Among the newly opened wine houses and restaurants, there’s one called Youran Residence with pavilions, towers, and scenic gardens—quite elegant. Many scholars and literary men love to go there for drinking and dining. There’s another called Zhenxiu Tower, where I heard their stir-fried dishes are excellent, and they also have vinegar fish that’s extremely delicious. There’s also a Dashun Studio—their wine is excellent, and many people go there too.”
Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Are all three in one place?”
“Not far apart. Youran Residence goes without saying—it was converted from an old garden. The other two also chose prime locations on good streets to convert. I heard they’re on two different streets.”
Zhao Hanzhang asked Fu Tinghan, “Which would you like to go to?”
Fu Tinghan was indifferent either way.
Zhao Hanzhang said, “Since we’re going out to eat, we should naturally choose the delicious one. Let’s go to Zhenxiu Tower.”
She smiled, “After eating at Zhenxiu Tower, we can go to Dashun Studio to buy two jars of wine, then go to Youran Residence to drink.”
Visiting three places in one day—perfect!
No one found any problem with this arrangement. Both Ting He and Fu’an were very happy. Following Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan, they too hadn’t strolled through the streets for a very long time.
The two of them boarded the carriage. Zhao Hanzhang pushed open the window to look outside. Chen County had already recovered its vitality. Many stalls were set up on both sides, and the passing people avoided the carriage lane, selecting items from the stalls and shops on either side.
The faces of the passersby were all brimming with smiles, and Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but smile as well.
Fu Tinghan sat beside her watching. Seeing her entire being soften, he followed her gaze to look outside. Seeing the peace on the streets, he too couldn’t help but smile, saying softly, “All of this exists because of you.”
Zhao Hanzhang’s smile deepened, happiness spreading from the bottom of her heart. “It’s not just me—there’s also you, Master Ji, Uncle Ming, and the many officers and soldiers. It’s because we have all of you.”
Fu Tinghan gazed into her eyes, and the two couldn’t help but smile at each other.
“Miss, we’ve arrived at—” Ting He lifted the curtain and saw the two smiling at each other. She immediately pulled her head back and lowered the curtain again.
Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Have we arrived?”
“Yes, we’ve reached Zhenxiu Tower.”
Fu’an jumped down from the carriage and placed the carriage step. Ting He lifted the curtain. Fu Tinghan lowered his head to exit the carriage, then turned to help Zhao Hanzhang down.
There were quite a few carriages and horses in front of Zhenxiu Tower. Just standing outside, they could already hear the liveliness inside. The two of them looked up together at the plaque of Zhenxiu Tower.
Zhao Hanzhang exclaimed in surprise, “These characters look somewhat familiar.”
Ting He pointed and said, “Zhen—Xiu—Tower, I recognize them too!”
Fu Tinghan said, “She means the calligraphy style.”
He examined it carefully and also felt it was somewhat familiar, but couldn’t recall for the moment.
Zhao Hanzhang never dwelled on things she couldn’t remember. She quickly cast this matter aside and smiled, “Let’s go, let’s eat first.”
As soon as they entered, a server approached, bowing with a smile and asking, “Would the young master and young miss like to dine downstairs or upstairs?”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “Upstairs.”
The server was about to lead them to the second floor when the shopkeeper, who was working an abacus behind the counter, happened to look up. His eyes widened slightly, and he hurriedly put down his brush and came forward, bowing deeply. “Miss, Master Fu!”
Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t surprised that she and Fu Tinghan would be recognized. After all, quite a few people had seen them. She nodded slightly and said to the shopkeeper, “We’ve come to dine.”
The shopkeeper immediately said, “Please, come up to the third floor for the best seats.”
The server dared not be negligent and brought the three of them upstairs.
The third floor was very spacious with only six rooms. Each room could hold more than ten sitting mats, and there were also writing desks separated by screens—no worse than a great hall.
Zhao Hanzhang only looked from the doorway before turning to go back downstairs. “We can dine on the second floor.”
Including Ting He and Fu’an, there were only four of them. Why sit in such a large room?
The shopkeeper immediately followed up. “Yes, yes, yes, there are good seats on the second floor too.”
He immediately found them a window seat.
Ting He and Fu’an stood behind them to serve. After sitting down, Zhao Hanzhang beckoned, “You two sit down as well.”
The two performed a courtesy, then knelt and sat behind Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan to serve. Only then did Zhao Hanzhang ask the shopkeeper for the menu.
“I heard your vinegar fish is quite good.”
“Indeed,” the shopkeeper bowed and said, “Not only the vinegar fish, our Zhenxiu Tower’s sesame cakes are also extremely delicious. Miss, you can try them.”
The shopkeeper recommended several dishes, and Zhao Hanzhang accepted them all.
When the dishes arrived, she smiled and said, “These dishes also look familiar.”
Fu Tinghan felt the same way. After eating a chopstick of vinegar fish and breaking open a piece of sesame cake, Zhao Hanzhang fell somewhat silent.
Fu Tinghan also loved eating them. After eating the third dish, he too realized and couldn’t help but laugh aloud.
Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him and continued eating. After eating and drinking their fill, she had someone invite the shopkeeper and asked, “May I know who the owner of this Zhenxiu Tower is?”
The shopkeeper was stunned for a moment, then bowed and said, “Miss, this… our master is the Seventh Old Master!”
She knew it!
No wonder the dishes became more and more familiar the more she ate.
Zhao Hanzhang was very curious. “Hasn’t Seventh Great-Uncle always been stingy with his cooks? How could he be willing to send them to Chen County?”
The shopkeeper bowed with a smile and said, “Our master heard that the young master would be residing long-term in Chen County in the future, so he specially dispatched cooks to come.”
Zhao Hanzhang raised her eyebrows.
Zhao Cheng wasn’t currently in Chen County. He was absorbed in teaching, and Zhao Hanzhang had simply entrusted him with the matter of opening schools in each commandery and county, asking for his help.
“But since the young master isn’t currently in Chen County, our master simply had people buy this wine house and establish it first. When the young master returns to Chen County, they’ll be ready to serve him.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded and waved for him to withdraw.
“I must say, Seventh Great-Uncle is indeed one of the few in the clan who excels at business management, second only to my grandfather. No wonder he’s so wealthy.”
That Zhao Hu had people establish Zhenxiu Tower in Chen County was naturally not solely for Zhao Cheng. Previously, Zhao Cheng had also traveled around for his studies, and even now he was still moving about throughout Yuzhou with no fixed residence. Why would he dispatch people to open a wine house in Chen County at this time?
Of course, it was to make money.
Previously, the Zhao family had no foundation in Chen County. If he wasn’t in Chen County, such a wine house naturally couldn’t be opened. But now, who would dare cause trouble for his wine house?
Zhao Hanzhang smiled slightly, not minding that Zhao Hu was borrowing her influence, because: “Ting He, when we return, have someone inform the shopkeeper that the commercial taxes for each quarter must be paid in full.”
“Yes.”
Zhao Hanzhang stood up. “Let’s go, we’re going to Dashun Studio to buy wine.”
The shopkeeper didn’t want to accept Zhao Hanzhang’s money. He declined, saying, “Consider it our master treating his grand-niece to a meal. How could we accept Miss’s money?”
Zhao Hanzhang insisted on paying. “If I want to freeload off Seventh Great-Uncle’s meals, I can go to his home. This is a wine house. In business, we discuss business. How could we leave without paying? Ting He, pay the money.”
Ting He firmly placed down the money. The shopkeeper didn’t dare refuse too forcefully, fearing he might anger Zhao Hanzhang. Therefore, he humbly agreed and bowed as he escorted them to the door.
—