“In Xiping and Chen County, to recruit me, Seventh Uncle-Granduncle gave me—though I didn’t agree, I did take money to buy shares in his merchant convoy. Not much, but over the years it should have accumulated quite a bit.”

Fu Tinghan had never requested distributions, so with daily accumulation, there should be even more.

Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes also became starry, full of anticipation. “How much did you initially invest?”

Fu Tinghan smiled. “Not much, just two hundred thousand coins.”

So although he didn’t know how much he’d earned these years, the minimum two hundred thousand was certainly there.

He actually had money?

Zhao Hanzhang tried hard to recall. In Xiping she still had money. After all, she had her dowry and the treasure grandfather left. The glass workshop had also begun earning her large sums, so she’d been quite generous, giving Fu Tinghan money monthly.

But she could guarantee that after expenses, little of that money would remain, let alone after reaching Chen County when she’d become poor, trying to split every copper coin in two. Fu Tinghan supported her then and also had no money.

So, “Where did you get two hundred thousand for capital?”

Fu Tinghan replied, “I earned it from Seventh Uncle-Granduncle.”

He explained, “In Xiping, I improved his kiln’s temperature and control. He wanted to pay me, but it was just a small favor, so I didn’t take money. Porcelain is enduring in China. Though his kiln wasn’t famous, it sold well to middle and lower classes in Yuzhou, so I had him give me half a percent of the kiln shares.”

At that time, the kiln’s annual income wasn’t even one hundred thousand coins. After all, except for occasional fine porcelain selling for around a hundred coins, most bowls, dishes, plates, and vases ranged from two to twenty coins.

These prices, minus transportation, sales, and production costs—the profit Zhao Hu could make wasn’t much.

Giving half a percent profit was equivalent to giving Fu Tinghan five thousand coins yearly. Honestly, one meal treating Fu Tinghan was worth that.

So at the time, he didn’t take it seriously.

Zhao Hanzhang’s glass workshop was so profitable—compared to her workshop, his kiln was completely insignificant.

Having Fu Tinghan improve the kiln was more about maintaining relations and enticing him with benefits—he also wanted to open a glass workshop.

Unfortunately, conflicts erupted one after another. Zhao Hanzhang, Xiping County magistrate, first became acting Runan Jun commandery governor, then leaped to Yuzhou Provincial Governor.

That position, that power—like riding clouds shooting upward.

Thanks to Zhao Hanzhang, Zhao Hu’s commercial territory also expanded rapidly with her influence. Under these circumstances, he didn’t want to antagonize her, so regarding Fu Tinghan, he remained wanting to recruit but not daring to make major efforts.

Where he couldn’t see, his hardworking, clever craftsmen, inspired by glass, had already fired new porcelain.

This porcelain was called crackle glaze, its glaze surface covered with small cracks—sparse and dense, thick and thin, long and short, curved and straight—like cracked turtle shell or ice-crack patterns.

Initially this appeared because after Fu Tinghan improved kiln temperature, craftsmen couldn’t control it properly. Porcelain came out with cracked glazes—originally a defect, but because it cracked beautifully, craftsmen couldn’t resist studying how to fire better cracks forming natural harmony with the glaze.

Later they succeeded and tentatively sold it mixed with regular porcelain.

Facts proved: more than one person had an eye for beauty. Chinese aesthetics were highly unified to a degree.

Crackle glaze was very popular, once becoming Zhao Hu’s kiln’s bestselling porcelain with high prices and profits.

Combined with expanding through Zhao Hanzhang’s influence, the kiln business was thriving.

Of course, Fu Tinghan didn’t know this yet. He said, “In Chen County, I worked with craftsmen to improve his loom and accounting methods. At that time, part of Chen County’s earnings went to support your army. The remaining two hundred thousand coins I put in his convoy. His convoy has prospered these years. I think it earned substantially.”

Fu Tinghan thought kiln money might not be much—half a percent over several years, maybe seventy or eighty thousand—but the convoy should have earned substantially, since his capital was already two hundred thousand.

He thought this and said this, comforting Zhao Hanzhang, “I’ll give you the extra. Over two years, convoy returns should exceed thirty percent. I’ll withdraw it all.”

“No,” Zhao Hanzhang looked at him intently. “Only withdraw returns, or tell Seventh Uncle-Granduncle to reinvest returns as shares too. Don’t withdraw. These two years you haven’t received distributions. Money owed you should count toward convoy capital funds too.”

Hearing his sister wouldn’t let them withdraw, Zhao Erlang immediately panicked. “Sister, the county office really lacks money. Without funds, I’ll lose face.”

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him. “Why panic? I didn’t say I wouldn’t give you any.”

Face? Hers was long gone!

But looking at her brother’s still-tender face, Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t bear letting him lose too much face. She told Fu Tinghan, “Withdraw the kiln returns.”

Fu Tinghan asked, “That doesn’t have much, does it?”

Zhao Hanzhang said faintly, “It has plenty. You haven’t paid attention and don’t know—these years Seventh Uncle-Granduncle’s kiln became renowned, nearly dominating Central Plains kilns. Just withdraw kiln returns. If you can’t get two hundred thousand, have him show you the accounts!”

Zhao Hanzhang decided: if Zhao Hu dared withhold Professor Fu’s money, she’d dare have Ming Yu audit the accounts.

With Ming Yu investigating, who’d dare falsify accounts?

Fu Tinghan half-believed. That small kiln developed this well in just over three years?

He called Fu An. “Tomorrow morning, send Seventh Great-Granduncle a card saying I want to withdraw the kiln’s accumulated returns.”

Fu An agreed and went to prepare.

The room quieted. Zhao Erlang scratched his head, confused, looking at his sister then his brother-in-law. He didn’t understand—why had they stopped talking?

Hadn’t the money issue been resolved?

By his understanding, shouldn’t they happily cheer now?

Where was Sister’s cheer?

Fu Tinghan looked at silent Zhao Hanzhang and asked, “You’re very short of money?”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, pointing at the diagram. “Building a port is no small expense.”

Fu Tinghan fell silent. County office expenses he could help with, but filling the national treasury—he felt he lacked that ability.

Returns all needed time. Even minting money required a process…

Fu Tinghan’s mind stirred. He couldn’t help looking at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and nodded, confirming his thoughts. “I want ‘Zhao’ character coins to completely replace old coins. I’ll find more copper mines, refine more copper, make the treasury wealthier.”

Fu Tinghan was silent before saying, “It’s not impossible. These are copper coins, not paper currency. They have inherent value, like gold and silver…”

He paused because he saw Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes light up like the sun rising over mountains, her whole being brightening.

“You…”