Zhao Cheng had also noticed. He looked at Zhao Ming in surprise.
Zhao Ming gave him a slight smile and coughed lightly.
Everyone turned around and only then saw the two people standing at the entrance. The youths hurriedly bowed, first toward Zhao Cheng, calling him “Teacher,” and then bowing to Zhao Ming.
It was clear that Zhao Cheng had high prestige among them.
Zhao Cheng nodded slightly toward everyone, first bowing to Zhao Song, then bowing to his father, coldly calling out “Father.” He looked toward Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang had already raised her hands, just about to bow, when Zhao Cheng asked her, “What do you rely on?”
Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow, pausing only briefly before continuing to bow, bending deeply at the waist, saying with a smile, “Probably I rely on my creditor status.”
Zhao Cheng frowned, “Creditor?”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded, looking toward Zhao Hu, “Seventh Great-Uncle, now that winter has arrived and everyone is free, why don’t we find a time to tally up the accumulated grain taxes owed over the years?”
Zhao Cheng turned to glance at his father, seeing his face flushed red, then turned back to ask Zhao Hanzhang, “How much is owed?”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “The office calculated three thousand eight hundred and sixty dan.”
“Have people come collect it. No need to verify,” Zhao Cheng directly called over a servant, “Go back and have Sanjin open the grain storehouse. Let the office people come take it.”
“You, you, you,” Zhao Hu’s finger trembled slightly as he pointed at Zhao Cheng, “you unfilial son…”
Zhao Cheng then said to Zhao Hanzhang, “Just take a round number—take four thousand dan. The extra can count as our Zhao family’s donation.”
Zhao Hanzhang glanced at Zhao Hu before loudly saying, “Uncle is truly benevolent and righteous! On behalf of the common people of Xiping County, I thank you, Uncle.”
Fu Tinghan’s eyes flashed with amusement, looking at her helplessly.
Zhao Cheng felt something and vaguely understood what she relied on.
Usually those collecting debts felt somewhat embarrassed to ask people for payment, especially when the other party was a friend or relative. And Zhao Hu was not only Zhao Hanzhang’s relative but also her elder.
But she could ask without changing expression, even faintly pressing Zhao Hu. This was very rare in a noble family that emphasized propriety.
His gaze moved from Zhao Hanzhang to the youth beside her.
Zhao Ming smiled and introduced for him, “This is Hanzhang’s betrothed, Changrong from the Fu clan of Beidi Commandery.”
Zhao Cheng’s expression softened somewhat as he nodded slightly and asked, “Is your grandfather Vice Director Fu?”
Fu Tinghan bowed and replied “Yes.”
Seeing no one was paying attention to him, his heart stifled, Zhao Hu became even more heartbroken and angry. His anger rising, he flung his sleeves and was about to leave. Zhao Hanzhang was actually afraid he might get so angry he’d fall ill. She quickly approached with a smile to coax him, “Seventh Great-Uncle, a few days ago Master Ji had people send me some spices. I had them ground into powder. Today I’ll have people slaughter a sheep—no, two sheep—and roast them with the spices. It will be especially delicious. Will Seventh Great-Uncle come with me?”
Zhao Hu snorted. At least he didn’t continue walking out. “You’d be so kind as to invite me to eat?”
“Seventh Great-Uncle, those words are too hurtful. I thought after going through so many events, not only do we have ancestral affection between us, we’re also friends who’ve forgotten our age difference. Shouldn’t I invite you to eat when I have good things?”
Zhao Hu’s expression eased somewhat. Only then did he say, “What are those spices? Are they worth you specifically showing off about them?”
“Things like pepper and such. There’s quite a lot—if you asked me to name them all, I really couldn’t remember them all at once.”
Zhao Hu looked strange. “You’re using pepper to roast meat?”
“Aiya, what of it? If Seventh Great-Uncle loves it, I could use it to stew soup too.”
If she was inviting Zhao Hu, then certainly she had to invite Zhao Song.
Zhao Hanzhang ran to Zhao Song’s side, very affectionately saying, “Fifth Great-Uncle, others might not go, but you must go. I’ve had people stew mutton soup—eating it in this season is perfect for dispelling cold.”
Zhao Song smiled and agreed.
Of course, she also invited Zhao Ming and Zhao Cheng. Although this mutton feast had been decided on early, this additional sheep was because of Zhao Cheng.
She invited all the youths in the room as well. Now with such chaos outside, what was the point of running around? Staying home to study was much better!
Since they were staying home to study, then they should build up their hometown and help share the burden for her, their sister or younger sister.
The youths all looked toward Zhao Cheng.
Zhao Hanzhang said to Zhao Cheng, “Uncle hasn’t seen Erlang yet, has he? He’s grown up now. Mother says he increasingly resembles Father.”
Zhao Cheng, who had been about to refuse, paused, glanced at her and said, “I saw him yesterday.” He hadn’t seen how Zhao Erlang resembled Zhao Zhi at all.
“Aiya, that was just a hasty glance. You only saw his appearance but didn’t hear his voice,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Erlang still wants to pay respects to Uncle, and Mother wants Uncle to examine Erlang.”
Zhao Cheng only briefly considered before nodding in agreement.
Zhao Hanzhang smiled, “Bring younger brother Zheng too. He and Erlang are just the right age—the two of them might get along.”
However, the other youths didn’t think so. Although yesterday they’d only had a brief encounter with Zhao Erlang, and he didn’t seem as foolish as rumored while sitting on horseback, last night when they returned home and heard their parents speak, Zhao Erlang up to now recognized fewer than ten characters. Because of this, the main branch had to rely on Zhao Hanzhang.
When they were four or five years old, they already recognized more than ten characters. In other words, Zhao Erlang couldn’t even compare to a five-year-old child. And unfortunately, Zhao Zheng was a mature and steady person. Though only eight years old, his temperament was no less stable than theirs.
Everyone secretly glanced at the imposing Zhao Cheng, but saw Zhao Cheng nod and say, “Good.”
Zhao Hanzhang warmly invited them, so everyone moved from Fifth Great-Uncle’s house to Zhao Hanzhang’s home.
With so many guests suddenly arriving, Wang Shi was stunned for a moment. Especially since these were all men, different from the female guests she usually received.
She froze briefly, then quickly had servants go fetch Chengbo: “Important guests have arrived at home. Have him return quickly.”
Chengbo had gone to select sheep.
There were many families in the fortified village raising sheep. The wealthier the family, the more sheep they raised, such as the Zhao Song and Zhao Hu households.
After selection, Chengbo felt that Seventh Great-Uncle’s sheep were raised the most deliciously—neither too fat nor too lean, fresh and tender. They were the best quality among the dozen or so families he’d examined.
So he paid a deposit for two sheep, deciding to follow Sanniang’s instructions to slaughter one today and another tomorrow for Sanniang to take back to the county town to eat.
Winter had arrived—it was time to eat mutton.
He leisurely led the two sheep back. Before reaching the gate, a guard came running out, “Chengbo, Madam and Miss are both looking for you. Fifth Great-Uncle and Seventh Great-Uncle and others have all come as guests.”
Chengbo nodded calmly, “I know. Miss mentioned it yesterday. The time is still early. I’ll have people slaughter the sheep now.”
“Miss says to add two more sheep. There are quite a few people who came today.”
Chengbo was surprised. He looked down at the two sheep in his hands, “Then I’ll need to buy two more. Tomorrow Miss will be going back to the county town and needs to take one sheep.”
Zhao Hanzhang had brought Zhao Song and the others to the garden. The youths obediently followed behind the elders. Wang Shi also knew that Zhao Song and the others disliked her, so she only came out to show her face briefly before withdrawing, having the kitchen serve them wine and refreshments.