Zhao Hanzhang was watching people press oil.
This was just an experiment, so they chose to conduct it at the mill. After all, the county office’s mill had ample space.
This was prepared for criminals, but recently Xiping County had been too peaceful—no one had committed crimes, not even petty theft.
So the mill sat empty. Aside from occasional use by soldiers or hired laborers to grind flour or bean powder, no one else came here.
At this moment, the mill was bustling. Soldiers pushed the millstone grinding beans while craning their necks to watch what the young lady and her group were doing.
Zhao Hanzhang grabbed a handful of roasted beans from the pot. After rolling them around to cool them slightly, she gave a few to Fu Tinghan and popped two into her own mouth, crunching away. “They taste pretty good. Try them.”
Fu Tinghan ate one and nodded—perfect for grinding one’s teeth.
Zhao Hanzhang also thought these beans were ideal for that purpose. After finishing them, she clapped her hands and said, “That’s good enough. Let’s try it.”
A hired laborer came forward with a fine cloth bag, filled it with roasted beans, tied it closed, and stuffed it into the press they had prepared.
This was made from several large trees they had cut down, using camphor wood. According to the young lady, camphor wood was best.
So they had gone through considerable effort to find camphor wood.
Though they didn’t understand why beans should be pressed for oil.
These beans were so valuable—not only could livestock like horses eat them, but people could too. Using them to press oil seemed too wasteful.
Wealthy families were truly different—they actually wanted to use bean oil.
At this point, the hired laborers still didn’t know that bean oil was meant for eating.
After securing the press, the laborers followed instructions and began striking it with wooden hammers. At first, the press showed no reaction. After a long time of pounding, liquid began dripping from the opened spout.
Seeing this, both Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan’s eyes lit up. They immediately moved closer to look. Smelling the familiar bean fragrance, Zhao Hanzhang said excitedly, “Quick, quick, continue! We can have stir-fried vegetables tonight!”
She had already had iron woks made.
Although they could use mutton fat or beef tallow, Zhao Hanzhang still wanted to eat vegetable oil.
Under the laborers’ continued pounding, the soybeans released more and more oil. Eventually, it flowed steadily like a small stream.
Zhao Hanzhang watched with delight, nodding repeatedly. “See, my memory is indeed excellent—I didn’t get anything wrong.”
Fu Tinghan couldn’t help but comment, “This is the fifth press we’ve made.”
Before this, they had already failed five times.
Zhao Hanzhang acted as if she hadn’t heard. Only five failures—not fifty. She felt these five times could be completely rounded off—well, actually the five could be discarded, making it a success on the first try!
The two squatted at the side watching the flowing oil. When Chang Ning brought the guests in, he saw the busy scene in the mill.
Chang Ning quickly called out, “Young lady! Young lady!”
Zhao Hanzhang turned to look and saw Chang Ning had brought so many people. She immediately stood up and tidied her clothes before approaching with a smile.
Fu Tinghan watched her transform from crouching without any dignity into an elegant, noble lady. Looking at the people Chang Ning had brought in, he quickly judged they held no interest for him and silently turned back to watch the oil pressing, treating himself like a hired laborer.
Chang Ning glanced at Fu Tinghan. Seeing he had no intention of rising to greet the guests, he pretended not to know him and smiled while introducing them to Zhao Hanzhang.
Chang Ning moved closer to Zhao Hanzhang and whispered, “This is the Chen family of Ancheng County. They run a bookshop and are among the most notable book merchants in Runan Commandery.”
Zhao Hanzhang immediately understood. Looking at the visitor again, her smile grew warmer by two degrees. “Is Master Chen staying at the fortified estate or in town?”
Chen Zhou replied, “How could Chen have such an honor as to stay at the fortified estate? I’m currently lodging at an inn in town.”
“Oh? Which inn?”
Chen Zhou saw that Zhao Hanzhang didn’t mention inviting him to stay at the fortified estate and couldn’t help feeling disappointed. With a slight smile, he said, “Ping’an Inn.”
“That inn is quite good—their mutton is excellent,” Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “When I have time, I’ll treat Master Chen to mutton.”
Chen Zhou wasn’t lacking that one meal from Zhao Hanzhang. He had come to participate in the Zhao clan’s winter solstice banquet specifically to establish connections with the Zhao family. Although progress wasn’t going as he’d hoped, at least he’d made one connection.
Discussing price, Chen Zhou had wanted to leave it to his subordinates to negotiate, since it really was quite vulgar for them to discuss money.
But Zhao Hanzhang directly brought up book prices, so Chen Zhou could only endure the awkwardness and continue sitting, though his gaze involuntarily drifted toward the steward he’d brought.
However, Zhao Hanzhang didn’t even glance at the steward. Besides books, she also ordered large quantities of paper, brushes, and ink.
Their papermaking workshop still didn’t know when it would produce paper. Until then, everything had to be purchased.
She was tired of the county office crying “we’re out of paper!” every so often, so she wanted to stockpile as much as possible.
So with such a large order, shouldn’t the Chen family consider offering a discount?
Zhao Hanzhang didn’t even bother having them calculate individual unit prices—she directly asked Chen Zhou to name a total, and if it was reasonable, she could pay immediately and draw up the contract.
Chen Zhou looked bewildered. He didn’t even know the unit prices for all the books on Zhao Hanzhang’s list—how could he possibly quote her a price right away?
But Zhao Hanzhang just sat there, waiting unhurriedly for Chen Zhou, who had said he disliked the stench of money, to name his price.
Forced to save face, Chen Zhou said without thinking, “County Magistrate Zhao can just pay whatever you think is fair.”
Zhao Hanzhang actually wanted to do just that, but under Chang Ning’s warning gaze, she still didn’t dare let herself go wild.
Taking advantage of someone now would require paying them back later.
Zhao Hanzhang didn’t want to pay back—she was quite thick-skinned now. With so many mouths waiting to be fed under her command, saving every bit counted.
But Chang Ning didn’t want their lord to be too shameless, so he kept looking at her.
Since he was a valued advisor she respected, Zhao Hanzhang could only quote a fairly reasonable price to Chen Zhou.
The steward sitting beside Chen Zhou breathed a huge sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Their young master was a bit foolish, but fortunately County Magistrate Zhao was fairly honest—the price she quoted was somewhat low but still within their acceptable range.
Whether books or paper, brushes, and ink, these were all extremely precious items. With Zhao Hanzhang ordering so much, the expenditure was considerable.
Having spent such a large sum, Zhao Hanzhang wanted to recoup some of it, so she invited Chen Zhou to view her household’s glass products.
Chen Zhou looked at these glass items with surprise.
Seeing the flash of amazement in his eyes, Zhao Hanzhang said, “Copper coins are too vulgar. How about we trade goods instead?”
Chen Zhou’s eyes brightened slightly. Ignoring his steward’s attempts to stop him, he agreed immediately, “Would it be glass cups like these?”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “I don’t only have glass cups here—I also have glass mirrors.”
She had someone bring over a full-length mirror.
When Chen Zhou saw the person-height full-length mirror, his eyes widened instantly. Even the steward was shocked speechless.
What Wei-Jin scholar could resist a mirror that showed their entire body?
At least Chen Zhou couldn’t, and even the steward found it difficult to voice opposition.
Seeing this, Zhao Hanzhang understood in her heart and immediately had Chang Ning draft the contract.
Full-length mirrors weren’t cheap, so although books were expensive, Zhao Hanzhang still managed to exchange them for two full-length mirrors and several sets of glass cups.
Good—not a single coin spent, and she’d even sold some glass products. Zhao Hanzhang was very pleased.
“It seems that compared to beautiful glass cups, people prefer practical full-length mirrors,” Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand grandly. “Go tell Scholar Ji to send more full-length mirrors. Have the glass workshop make only full-length mirrors these next few days.”
Thinking of the guests coming for the winter solstice banquet, Zhao Hanzhang simply returned to the fortified estate to borrow space from Zhao Ming.
“The banquet garden is open to all Zhao clan descendants. Why would you need to borrow it from me?”
“Mainly because I want to arrange some decorations.”
Zhao Ming looked up at her warily. “What kind of decorations?”
Zhao Hanzhang wanted to display glass products throughout the garden—glass vases, glass horses, and other craft items.
She would also place full-length mirrors in various pavilions and resting rooms for guests to adjust their clothing, and could even kindly replace the banquet cups with glass ones.
Zhao Ming instantly understood her intentions. Narrowing his eyes, he asked, “Are you short on money right now?”
“Uncle, I’m supporting so many people—how could I not be short on money?” Zhao Hanzhang asked tentatively, “Would Uncle help me out?”
With him saying this, Zhao Ming actually didn’t quite believe her, but he didn’t stop her from making money either. Waving his hand, he said, “Arrange whatever decorations you want, but we Zhao clan are aristocrats—we shouldn’t be too obsessed with money, lest we acquire a merchant’s air.”
Zhao Hanzhang understood—they needed to maintain their prestige. She got it.
The Zhao clan’s winter solstice banquet seemed to be a major event. The day before the winter solstice, the Zhao fortified estate was filled with guests, and even the inns in Xiping County were fully booked.
Ji Yuan personally led his troops to escort a shipment of glass products. When unpacked, they could be placed directly in the garden.
What Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t expected was that County Magistrate Chai also came.
Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help asking, “Is the Zhao clan’s winter solstice banquet this grand?”
Chang Ning replied, “Naturally. Moreover, not just anyone can enter the Zhao clan’s winter solstice banquet.”
“Don’t be fooled by how many people have come now, young lady—most of them are just here for the excitement and don’t have the qualifications to attend the banquet.” Chang Ning said, “County Magistrate Chai has wanted to attend the Zhao clan banquet for years but never had the opportunity. Your sending him an invitation, young lady, represents an enormous favor to him.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded thoughtfully. “No wonder Chen Zhou has been hanging around me constantly these past few days, even trying to give me a precious inkstone.”
If she hadn’t already had inkstones and felt no attachment to such things, she would have accepted it.
Ji Yuan came over. He was more familiar with these matters and told Zhao Hanzhang, “Within Yuzhou, the Zhao clan ranks first. In past years, the Grand Impartial always went to the lord, and the various Lesser Impartials under Yuzhou were also all appointed by the lord.”
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