Zhao Hanzhang and her party quickly returned to Luoyang.

Hearing his elder sister had returned, Zhao Erlang immediately threw down his plough and ran back.

Originally a rather fair young man, after an autumn of not seeing him, he had shot up another notch in height, already slightly taller than Zhao Hanzhang.

This was fine, but the important thing was his entire face had been tanned dark. Wang Yu was ashamed to admit the boy resembled him.

Rarely, Wang Yu first found a topic to discuss with him. “Erlang, you’re already a young man. You should pay attention to your appearance. Since you have neither father nor brothers, why don’t Uncle teach you how to groom yourself in the future?”

Zhao Erlang directly refused. “My elder sister said men don’t need to powder their faces. We Yuzhou men value masculine beauty.”

He clenched his fist and vigorously flexed his arm muscles for Wang Yu to see. “Look, Uncle. Am I especially masculine now?”

Wang Yu stared dumbfounded. Masculine he was, but Second Nephew’s aesthetic was problematic!

However, Zhao Hanzhang felt there was no problem at all. She only reminded him, “You can get tanned, but don’t get sunburned. Otherwise your face will sting painfully and be uncomfortable.”

Zhao Erlang: “Elder Sister, you’re saying this too late. I already got that stinging feeling. Look, there’s still peeling skin here on my cheek—that’s from July.”

Zhao Hanzhang touched it. Indeed, it was quite rough.

Her younger brother was so handsome—she couldn’t let such a good face go to waste. She quickly said, “Later I’ll have Ting He give you a jar of face cream. It’s what I use daily. Apply some.”

Zhao Erlang didn’t want to.

Zhao Hanzhang then said, “If you restore your complexion, whenever your personal guard applies for provisions in the future, I’ll give an extra ten percent.”

Zhao Erlang’s words died on his lips. “Really?”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded.

Zhao Erlang agreed.

Fu Tinghan was curious. “Why does applying cream earn him an extra ten percent in provisions?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Fan Ying just reported that thirty percent of this year’s taxes haven’t been collected yet. With autumn planting finished, the uncollected taxes should be collected. I plan to have Erlang lead people to collect them. He needs to look better.”

Not only did Zhao Erlang need to look good, but the others going to collect the remaining taxes also needed to look good—both men and women, all selected from the army and offices.

Even Wei Jie, who had just arrived in Luoyang, was sent out by her to collect taxes.

Zhao Hanzhang personally escorted Wei Jie to the door and said to him, “Besides collecting the remaining provisions, you can also discuss next year’s grain matters with each household. The military is in difficulty, especially since Gucheng is still employing refugee troops. Monthly grain consumption is considerable. I’m now both poor and troubled, very difficult.”

Wei Jie was also doing this kind of thing for the first time and felt rather embarrassed. He nodded in acknowledgment, then turned, took a deep breath, boarded his ox cart, and left.

Zhao Hanzhang turned to go back. Just crossing the courtyard, she saw Fu Tinghan walking toward her.

Seeing her, Fu Tinghan paused mid-step and turned to leave.

Zhao Hanzhang quickly called out to him and jogged to catch up. “Tinghan, I was just looking for you. There are several people who need you to visit.”

Fu Tinghan: “…The Ministry of Works doesn’t handle taxes, right?”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “It’s not taxes. Or rather, not only taxes. I heard from Wang Huifeng that right after we left Luoyang, Zhang Xie and Xiahou Yan came down from the mountain. They helped build water conservancy projects in Luoyang and Gucheng, and Zhang Xie even made a plan for managing the Luo River. Why don’t you go see them? If they’re willing to stay down the mountain long-term, that would be wonderful.”

Fu Tinghan: “At this time you still want to collect their taxes?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “These are two separate matters. I’m recruiting them and willing to give them compensation and honor, but the taxes they owe still must be paid.”

Fu Tinghan thought for a moment and nodded. “I can handle the latter matter. The former…”

“You can handle the former together. You’ve all been building water conservancy projects during this time. You must have much in common. Go quickly, quickly. Should I have someone harness horses for you and Fu’an?”

“No need,” Fu Tinghan slumped his shoulders. “I heard they don’t live far. I’ll walk there.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded repeatedly and sent Fu Tinghan to the door as well.

Ting He was very puzzled. “Miss, you’ve never had Master Fu worry about such things. Why did you specifically assign him this kind of task this time?”

“He’s been gloomy the whole journey. Even after returning to Luoyang, he’s been unhappy, always holed up in his study calculating. I’m afraid he’ll become depressed. Going out for a walk is good.”

Ting He said quietly, “But having Master Fu do awkward things like collecting taxes—won’t that be very embarrassing?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “As long as he goes out. Besides, Zhang Xie and Xiahou Yan are both famous scholars. Others might get scolded, but he definitely won’t. And being a bit embarrassed might actually help.”

Zhao Hanzhang even nodded to affirm her own method. “Quite good.”

Ting He: Well then, if you say it’s good, it’s good.

This was Wei Jie’s first time doing such a thing. Fu Tinghan even more so.

In his entire life, forget collecting taxes—he had never even had experience dunning someone for debt repayment.

So walking to Zhang Xie’s doorstep, he hesitated and stopped, circling in place.

This house was found for Zhang Xie by Wang Huifeng. It was an office building. Because before leaving, Zhao Hanzhang had said that as long as Zhang Xie and Xiahou Yan came down from the mountain, they must be treated with courtesy.

So she gave them this house.

The servants inside were all dispatched by Wang Huifeng.

The gatekeeper watched Fu Tinghan pace back and forth in front of the door five or six times and finally couldn’t stand it. Hands on hips, he walked to the steps. “I say, young master, are you going to knock or not? If you’re not going to knock, then leave. Stop wandering around in front of my door.”

Fu’an, who had been following Fu Tinghan back and forth, was displeased upon hearing this and stepped forward. “How do you speak? My young master will knock if he wants and won’t if he doesn’t. What business is it of yours?”

“Him wandering in front of my door is my business.”

Fu Tinghan quickly stopped the two who were about to quarrel. “Enough, enough, Fu’an, go knock.”

Fu’an snorted at the gatekeeper and walked up the steps to knock.

The gatekeeper waited until he finished knocking before saying, “Stop knocking. My master isn’t home.”

Fu’an: …

He couldn’t help stamping his feet. “If he’s not home, why didn’t you say so earlier? You had to wait until I finished knocking?”

“How did I know whether you were knocking on my household’s door or the one across the way? And didn’t you see me standing at the door? If you had something to say, you should have asked me. What are you knocking for?”

Fu’an actually felt he made sense and couldn’t help looking at Fu Tinghan.

Fu Tinghan rubbed his forehead, turned to leave. “Since he’s not here, let’s go back.”

This wasn’t his fault for not doing the work—the other party wasn’t home. It had nothing to do with him.

But just as he turned around, the door opened from inside. A servant came out, bowed to Fu Tinghan, and said, “Master Fu, my master invites you in.”

Fu Tinghan: …

Fu’an glared at the gatekeeper. “Didn’t you say your master wasn’t home?”

Gatekeeper: …Earlier the master clearly said that no matter who came calling, to say he wasn’t in.

However, the gatekeeper wasn’t the least bit guilty. Instead, he said righteously, “My household doesn’t have just one door. Can’t my master return home through another door?”

Fu’an was so angry he snorted. He couldn’t help saying, “Do you know who my young master is?”

Gatekeeper: “I don’t care who he is. I only need to know who my master is.”

“Enough,” Fu Tinghan stopped Fu’an, who still wanted to argue, and sighed sorrowfully. He said to the servant, “Please lead the way.”

The servant quickly bowed and invited him in.