Looking at the standing figure to one side, the rumored imprisoned Fu Dalang, moving freely in and out of the county office and receiving great respect.

It was clear that rumors could only be rumors, and these particular rumors were quite absurd.

Of course, a group of people couldn’t stand chatting at the entrance to the county office, so Changning suggested they all go inside the office to talk.

Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan walked shoulder to shoulder at the front, inviting this esteemed guest who had come from afar to sit in the main hall, while she borrowed the excuse of going to change clothes and pulled Fu Tinghan out to gather intelligence.

Fu Tinghan said: “Chief Clerk Chang says the Zhu Family Commerce is quite a substantial trading house from Shu territory, primarily dealing in cloth and fabric. They surely have quite a lot of cotton wadding on hand. If we can establish good relations with him, it will also be more convenient for us to buy fabric in the future.”

He paused before adding: “Moreover, in the future we may even need to sell things, who knows?”

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “I forgot to ask earlier—what’s his name?”

“Zhu Chuan,” Fu Tinghan said. “Chief Clerk Chang spoke with him for a bit. The goods in his possession are priced quite high, and he heard everything you said outside the county office just now. Knowing we’re short on cotton wadding, he’ll probably raise the price even more.”

Zhao Hanzhang felt slightly regretful. “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have reassured everyone at the county office entrance. Being watched like that, why didn’t any of you remind me?”

Fu Tinghan said: “The stability of the city and the people’s trust are more important than him.”

“True,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Let’s talk with him again in a bit. If the price is reasonable we’ll buy. We really are short on cotton wadding right now.”

Fu Tinghan wanted to say something more, but his gaze traveled past her to land on Fan Ying standing not far away, and he swallowed his words.

Zhao Hanzhang followed his gaze and looked back, seeing Fan Ying standing at a distance. She broke into a smile and warmly beckoned to her.

Fan Ying immediately came forward, her eyes red as she curtsied in greeting. “My lady, I’ve done something wrong.”

Zhao Hanzhang asked with amusement: “What have you done wrong?”

“I shouldn’t have brought them to the county office to ask about the bedding and winter clothes,” Fan Ying’s fists clenched slightly as she pressed her lips together. “My lady, was I used as someone’s blade?”

Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t expected her to be so perceptive, to have thought of this already. She didn’t answer this question, but instead asked: “Are you settling in well living in the county town?”

When Zhao Hanzhang took over the county office, as the daughter of the former county magistrate and from a family of martyrs, she naturally couldn’t mistreat Fan Ying. So knowing she didn’t want to stay at the Zhao Family Stronghold, she arranged a courtyard for her in the county town.

It was part of Zhao Hanzhang’s dowry that she’d exchanged from Zhao Zhongyu’s hands. She had someone directly change the property deed to Fan Ying’s name and even established her as an independent female household head.

The families living in that area were all well-off, all gentry, and it wasn’t far from the county office. One could say the living environment and security were among the best in Xiping County.

However, Zhao Hanzhang was very busy. These matters were all handled by servants on her orders—she hadn’t personally gone to see her.

Fan Ying said: “With the Zhao Family’s care, I’m living very well.”

Zhao Hanzhang not only gave her a house but also provided her with two honest servants and allocated quite a bit of farmland to her. With the servants working those fields, plus some money she’d sent, Fan Ying’s life was far from poor.

When the county office was occupied back then, the Fan Family members either died or fled, and their possessions were naturally plundered clean.

Zhao Hanzhang selected from among them items with identifying marks to return to her, then gave this young lady some money from her own purse.

Though not a great amount, as long as she wasn’t extravagant, it would be enough for her to live comfortably for a lifetime.

So Fan Ying, having nothing to do and seeing all the city’s people busy, also wanted to do something within her ability. After all, this city was what her father and brothers had defended with their lives.

She couldn’t do work like farming or building houses. After learning the county office was recruiting people to make winter clothes and bedding, she led her maid out to collect some fabric to take home and sew.

Because of the shortage of hands, she even encouraged the neighbors on the whole street to help together.

They didn’t lack for that bit of money and grain, but they’d all received Zhao Hanzhang’s favor and likewise wanted Xiping County to be better, so they followed her to collect fabric and bring it home to sew.

Everyone would usually gather together to make clothes and chat—it was quite enjoyable.

The county office distributed fabric first, then after some time would distribute cotton wadding to fill according to the fabric received—based on the cloth collected, they could receive a corresponding weight of cotton wadding to take home and stuff.

At first all was well—it was indeed cotton wadding. But when they came to collect it a few days ago, what they brought home was a pile of light and fluffy willow catkins and reed catkins.

Fan Ying at first didn’t think anything was wrong, happily stuffing them in and sewing up the openings. It was only later when someone said that reed catkins and willow catkins don’t retain heat, that wearing such clothes in winter would freeze people to death, that Fan Ying learned reed catkins, willow catkins, and cotton wadding were not the same thing.

She lowered her head, somewhat distressed as she said: “Everyone gathered together and got angrier as we talked. I thought my lady had been kept in the dark, so in a moment of anger I led everyone to the county office to demand an explanation. I thought no matter what, my lady should know about this, otherwise if word got out it would be a huge blow to my lady’s reputation.”

Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t expected it to be like this. “You’ve done nothing wrong. This time it was my lack of thorough consideration.” She smiled. “Originally I planned to explain when distributing the finished clothes and bedding, but doing it earlier is also good—it gives everyone a process of acceptance.”

Fan Ying shook her head. “No, it’s still best to explain to them one by one when distributing. If not for me, this matter wouldn’t have blown up now. At first I didn’t think of these things, and what’s more, I can’t for the life of me remember who it was that said wearing reed catkins would freeze people to death. After thinking deeply, I realized I was used as someone’s blade.”

Being used as a blade was one thing, but it was a blade aimed at Zhao Hanzhang. Fan Ying was very angry in her heart—angry at herself.

Seeing her so distressed, Zhao Hanzhang thought for a moment then asked: “Miss Fan, can you read and write?”

Fan Ying was startled, looked up at her once, then nodded. “I’ve read a few books following my brother’s studies.”

“That’s good then,” Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “I’ve already said this matter isn’t your fault. When the people have doubts in their hearts, they should frankly ask the office, and the office should frankly answer. If officials and people are honest with each other, there won’t be so-called misunderstandings.”

“But since you feel so guilty, then come help me and make up for what you perceive as shortcomings. How about it?”

Fan Ying’s eyes widened. “Me?”

“Yes, you.”

Fan Ying said uneasily: “But what can I do?”

“There’s so much you can do,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Don’t look at how the county town now has so many more people—those who can read are still few. So the county office is short-handed. If you’re willing to come help me, both the officials and I will be much more relaxed.”

She, a milk-smelling little maiden, how much work could she possibly take on? Fan Ying felt Zhao Hanzhang was just comforting her, and her heart felt even more guilty, but she still asked: “What can I do?”

“Help me keep track of the fabric distributed, the winter clothes and bedding returned, and also, tomorrow we need to set up a table to purchase cotton wadding. The daily accounts of income and expenses all need to be recorded. Some officers can’t read, or they only recognize characters but can’t write them, so…”

Fan Ying immediately said: “I’m willing to do it.”

—