Zhao Hanzhang looked at Wang Shi with eager eyes.

Wang Shi couldn’t withstand her gaze, so she looked around and had the maidservants all withdraw. Even Qinggu smiled and stepped back.

Only mother and daughter remained in the room. Wang Shi looked out the window again and saw Fu Tinghan and Zhao Erlang looking up at the falling snow, not paying attention to what was inside. Only then did she say in a low voice, “Your Seventh Great-Uncle is unreliable.”

Zhao Hanzhang leaned in to listen carefully. Hearing this, she nodded seriously. She had deep personal experience regarding this point.

“Ever since your uncle announced he would end his bloodline himself, Seventh Great-Uncle began arranging marriages for him everywhere, even publicly scolding your uncle for being unfilial, causing quite a disturbance. In the end, it was your grandfather who intervened and reprimanded Seventh Great-Uncle, and only then did this farce subside.”

Zhao Hanzhang was surprised, “Grandfather reprimanded Seventh Great-Uncle?”

Wang Shi nodded, “Yes, saying he was not like a father should be, which is why the son didn’t act like a son should, and told Seventh Great-Uncle not to force your uncle, to let things take their natural course—perhaps there would still be room for reconciliation.”

“But is your Seventh Great-Uncle someone who listens? After being reprimanded by your grandfather, he behaved for two years, then began arranging marriages for your uncle everywhere again.”

“But your uncle’s reputation in Xiping was already ruined—it was very difficult to arrange a match with a good family’s daughter. Seventh Great-Uncle wasn’t picky either. He took out a large sum of money and went to Quyang to arrange a match with a scholar’s daughter.”

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “The engagement was settled?”

“It was settled, but your uncle went and broke it off,” Wang Shi said. “Your uncle was also frank. After arriving in Quyang, he found a matchmaker to visit the family and explain the reason, making clear it was his own issue that he didn’t want bloodline, so outsiders misunderstood that your uncle was infertile, and therefore…”

“Anyway, this marriage was smoothly broken off. Seventh Great-Uncle learned of it and was furious, had people bind your uncle and bring him back, then used the fastest speed to bring back a concubine for your uncle,” Wang Shi said vaguely, “and then you had younger brother Zheng. But the father-son bond was also nearly severed. Before the child was even born, he had already left for distant lands. He only returned because that concubine had a difficult labor. After giving birth to the child, she passed away, and he came back to see the child, then took the child away directly as well.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s mouth fell open. Although Wang Shi hadn’t said it explicitly, she could guess what had happened. This made her feel somewhat disgusted, “Seventh Great-Uncle is truly unreliable.”

Wang Shi nodded in deep agreement, “At that time your father had already passed away, and your brother showed signs of being different from ordinary people. Our whole family was focused on seeking famous physicians, so we only learned of this matter much later.”

She sighed, “He only had your father as a good friend. With your father gone, only your grandfather could console him somewhat, but at that time… So he suffered alone, not willing to return to the fortified village for many years. With your grandfather present, no one said anything.”

Zhao Hanzhang then began to go through the good empty houses in the county town in her mind.

The next day when Zhao Hanzhang woke up, she opened the door to see a thick layer of snow covering the ground outside. Fu Tinghan was holding a small wooden shovel, shoveling snow and packing it together.

This was the first time Zhao Hanzhang had seen Fu Tinghan at play. She ran forward curiously, “Are you making a snowman?”

“Yes,” Fu Tinghan smiled and handed her the small wooden shovel, “Do you want to play?”

Since going blind, Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t played with snow. Her heart stirred intensely, and she immediately took the small wooden shovel, shoveling over the clean white snow from the courtyard and piling it together.

The two worked hard together for half the day and finally built up a snowman half their height.

Zhao Hanzhang placed the rolled head on top, then began making its eyes. “Every year after heavy snow, there would be snowmen made by other families’ children outside my door. Once when I came home, I slipped on ice and fell, bumping into one, and only then knew there was a snowman there. I carefully felt it over afterward and found it was about the same height as me, and moreover, as I grew taller, it also grew taller.”

“I always wanted to build one myself, but with my eyes unable to see, I had to rely on touch to slowly explore and determine the shape. Taking off gloves to play with snow was really too cold. My grandfather was afraid I’d get sick, so he wouldn’t let me play. After all these years, I can finally build one myself.”

Zhao Hanzhang stepped back two paces and carefully examined the snowman she’d made, very satisfied. “The snowman I made is indeed good-looking.”

Fu Tinghan smiled and handed her a handkerchief to wipe her hands, “Don’t let yourself get cold.”

Ting He came forward at the right moment to report, “Miss, it’s time for breakfast. Young Master Ming sent someone to say that when you have time, please come over.”

“Understood. After breakfast I’ll go.”

Zhao Hanzhang pondered for a moment, then called to Fu Tinghan, “Let’s go together.”

Fu Tinghan raised an eyebrow, “For me to just sit there?”

“Today I’ll take you to meet someone. You might become friends.”

Fu Tinghan asked, “Is it the young man we met on the way back yesterday?”

“It’s him. His name is Zhao Cheng, courtesy name Zitu. He’s Seventh Great-Uncle’s son.”

Fu Tinghan was curious, “Why would you think we’d become friends?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Because pure people all like to find pure people to be friends with.”

Although she’d only met him once, from the information Wang Shi provided, Zhao Hanzhang believed Zhao Cheng was a pure person.

Fifth Great-Uncle’s household was very lively. Not only was Seventh Great-Uncle’s family there, but the youths who had just returned from their study travels were also all there.

They had all come to pay respects.

Zhao Song really liked children, and especially loved these clan children who enjoyed learning and symbolized the future. His face was full of smiles.

When he saw Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan approaching, his smile deepened. He directly beckoned, “Hanzhang and Tinghan have come. Quickly come up and meet your elder and younger brothers.”

Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan smiled and came forward to greet him, only then looking toward the standing youths.

The oldest among them was seventeen or eighteen, the youngest around ten years old. At this moment they were all curiously looking at her and Fu Tinghan.

Although they had met yesterday, the encounter had been rather unpleasant. The youths silently watched Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan, who were about the same age as them, finding it hard to imagine she was already the master of a county.

Everyone’s impression still remained on her rudeness from yesterday.

Before the elders, even if they were dissatisfied in their hearts they had to suppress it. The oldest one introduced himself first, “Greetings, Third Sister. I am Zhao Kuan.”

Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan bowed, with obedient smiles on their faces, “Elder Brother Kuan.”

Fu Tinghan said, “I am Fu Changrong, courtesy name Tinghan.”

Zhao Kuan was surprised, “You already have a courtesy name?”

Fifth Great-Uncle immediately interjected, “Not only does your brother-in-law have a courtesy name, Sanniang has also taken one.”

He said with a smile, “Your Great-Uncle gave it to her—it’s Hanzhang. She’s now a county lord. From now on all of you should call her by her courtesy name, don’t keep calling her Third Sister, Third Sister—it’s not dignified enough.”

Seventh Great-Uncle on the side sneered coldly, “Sanniang’s dignity doesn’t rely on her courtesy name.”

Immediately a youth asked supportively, “Then what does it rely on?”

Zhao Hanzhang looked toward the speaker, recognizing him as the youth who had been sitting in the ox cart with Zhao Cheng yesterday and had eaten a mouthful of her dust. She couldn’t help but grin, then also looked at Zhao Hu with interest, asking, “Yes, Seventh Great-Uncle, what do I rely on?”

The sarcasm Zhao Hu was about to voice got stuck in his throat.

The youths watched the two of them in shock. Zhao Hu’s expression was clearly so ugly, yet he just wouldn’t speak.

At this moment everyone’s hearts jumped, becoming secretly wary.

In the Zhao clan, who didn’t know Seventh Great-Uncle was troublesome? Even Fifth Great-Uncle found it very difficult to control him. Only the main branch’s Great-Uncle—that is, their paternal grand-uncle—had words that worked somewhat better.

So had Seventh Great-Uncle truly been controlled by Zhao Hanzhang, or was it because of the main branch’s paternal grand-uncle’s relationship?

Having traveled and studied outside and seen much, the youths keenly felt it was the first option.