The contracts were very detailed, not only limiting him to completing construction within five years but also specifying regulations. However, unlike previous understanding, she only required minimum specifications with no upper limit.
Changning noticed this. Although he didn’t know Zhao Hanzhang’s intention, he didn’t ask. He simply followed the contract issued by the Inner Court and submitted it to the county office for the county office to copy for those wanting to buy land.
That’s right—the contract contents were all the same, with only the price section left blank.
Zhao Erlang, that simple-minded fellow, wouldn’t overthink it. As soon as he got the response and contracts, he immediately had someone invite Zhao Hu. “Tell Seventh Uncle-Grandfather to bring the money along, so he doesn’t make another wasted trip.”
The bailiff accepted the order and left.
Zhao Zheng at the side wanted to speak but hesitated. “The Ministry of Finance crossed out the Wang family plot.”
Zhao Erlang said, “We knew that early on—Sister won’t let us sell it to Seventh Uncle-Grandfather.”
Zhao Zheng: “…I mean, the Ministry of Finance didn’t approve everything. Grandfather may not be willing to only transact for four properties. Having him bring money—he might be unhappy.”
“If he’s unwilling, I’ll sell to someone else,” Zhao Erlang said. “My sister is in urgent need of money.”
Zhao Zheng silently looked at him.
How could he tell him that currently everyone was observing and waiting—only his grandfather was willing to put out large amounts of cash to buy land? And this was only achieved because the General had made some concessions.
Looking at Zhao Erlang’s resolute profile, Zhao Zheng silently held back. Forget it—Yong Cousin’s brain didn’t work that way. Telling him might cause who knows what trouble.
Since Zhao Zheng didn’t speak up, Zhao Erlang confidently and proudly faced Zhao Hu. In his heart, Sister was so capable and had set out so many terms and conditions—it must be Zhao Hu begging Zhao Hanzhang to sell him the land.
So he directly filled in the Ministry of Finance’s highest price on the four contracts.
The Ministry of Finance’s pricing wasn’t high. Even the highest price was within Zhao Hu’s acceptable range. Because Zhao Erlang was so matter-of-fact and had directly filled in the price, it gave Zhao Hu an illusion that he couldn’t bargain anymore. So he accepted the contracts without haggling and asked instead, “What about the other plot?”
“That plot’s price hasn’t been determined yet, so we can’t sign a contract now.” This reason was Zhao Zheng’s idea.
Zhao Hu glanced at the very serious-looking Zhao Erlang without suspecting anything. He frowned and signed all four contracts. “Hurry and press the Ministry of Finance—determine the price quickly. If they can’t decide, just call out a price. If I can buy it, I’ll settle it. If I can’t, I’ll bargain. Always dragging this out wastes my time.”
Zhao Erlang said, “Seventh Uncle-Grandfather, you’re buying four plots at once—all requiring buildings. Do you have enough manpower?”
“Not enough. What, are you going to lend me your household servants?”
Zhao Erlang shook his head. “My household has few servants—mostly personal guards. I can’t lend you anyone. But I’m curious—you don’t have enough people, yet you’re buying so many plots at once. The Wang family plot is too large. Sister says such a good plot requires well-built houses. It probably can’t be completed in three or four years, and that’s if there’s no shortage of money.”
Zhao Erlang hesitated before asking, “Seventh Uncle-Grandfather, are you very wealthy? If I borrowed money from you, would you lend it?”
Zhao Hu answered without thinking, “No!”
After speaking, seeing his grandson standing to the side, he paused and softened his tone. “Erlang, it’s not that your uncle-grandfather doesn’t care for you, but because you haven’t married, I won’t lend you money.”
Zhao Erlang was bewildered. “What does this have to do with marriage?”
“Of course it’s related. Establishing a family and career—only when you’re married can your heart settle and your spending have limits,” Zhao Hu said. “Otherwise, you’re a bachelor, spending lavishly without restraint. If I lend you money, when will I ever get it back?”
“You must remember, if someone asks to borrow money from you in the future, you must consider whether they can repay you, whether they will repay you. Only if you’re certain they can and will repay should you lend to them. Besides that, there’s lending for life-saving needs—you can casually spare a little for people without expecting emotional return, just hoping not to make enemies. For this kind of money, you don’t need to think about getting it back either.”
After speaking, he turned to Zhao Zheng. “Don’t learn from your father. In this world, only money and power can give people peace of mind. Your father neither covets power nor holds onto money—his fingers are as loose as a sieve. I don’t feel confident entrusting the family business to him. In the future, I’ll give it all to you.”
Zhao Zheng wasn’t particularly happy. He said seriously, “How can Zheng inherit the family business by skipping over Father?”
“I say it’s possible, so it’s possible,” Zhao Hu looked worried. “I’m afraid that if I give the family business to your father, in the future you father and son will end up begging. Then I truly couldn’t rest in peace even in death.”
Zhao Zheng opened his mouth but couldn’t produce words of refutation.
Zhao Erlang, however, turned his eyes and said to Zhao Hu, “Seventh Uncle-Grandfather, I think Uncle Cheng is quite good. Why don’t you give the family business to Uncle Cheng?”
“Go, go, go. Do you know how much family business I have? Do you know what money is? Children shouldn’t meddle in adults’ affairs.”
Zhao Erlang’s eyes widened. “Seventh Uncle-Grandfather, you’re cursing at people!”
Zhao Hu was startled, not expecting this fool to actually hear it. But he wouldn’t admit it. “Nonsense—how did I curse you? Which word did I use to curse you?”
Zhao Erlang declared angrily, “You cursed me! Every word was cursing me, even your eyes were cursing me. Don’t think I don’t know you’re calling me stupid in your heart. I’ve seen it plenty of times.”
Zhao Zheng quickly stepped between the two to mediate. “County Magistrate, didn’t you need to go see the settled migrants? The verification documents should be issued—otherwise you won’t make it out today.”
Zhao Erlang was very unhappy and humphed, then irritably went to calculate the money Zhao Hu had brought.
The money Zhao Hu brought was placed in the county office courtyard, packed in burlap sacks. Opening them and pouring out produced the clear, pleasant sound of clinking coins.
Zhao Erlang’s expression improved somewhat. He picked up a string to look at it, then proudly raised his chin at Zhao Hu. “Seventh Uncle-Grandfather, not only can I count money, I can also weigh it.”
He told those around him, “Go get a scale. Counting them one by one would take forever. Court-minted coins all have fixed weight—just weigh them and you’ll know how much there is.”
Zhao Zheng’s forehead twitched. He lowered his eyes and shifted two steps to the side, distancing himself from Zhao Hu.
Sure enough, before he’d even moved one step, Zhao Hu was already jumping up and down in rage, shouting at Zhao Erlang, “Who does business like this? Don’t you know copper coins lose weight during circulation? These copper coins have passed through who knows how many people’s hands, clinking in and out constantly—there’s bound to be some wear. One weighing and you profit two extra coins from me—how much are you stealing from me?”
Zhao Erlang snorted. “When there’s a lot of money, the military calculates military pay and provisions this way. Stop trying to fool me—I’m not stupid, I’m very clever. Even with maximum wear, a basket of coins won’t have much extra. Besides, I haven’t even told them to untie the coin strings. Don’t the strings count as weight?”
Zhao Hu’s spittle was practically spraying in his face. “You even want to count the weight of such a light string—why don’t you just go rob people?”