Zhao Hanzhang didn’t think so. Seeing that Wang Shi and Zhao Erlang both loved stir-fried dishes, she knew the iron wok had been the right choice.

She immediately said, “When I get back, I’ll have people make several more woks and put them in the shop to sell. Mm, and send one to Fifth Great-Uncle.”

Iron woks weren’t difficult to forge. The molds were ready-made, and having done it once with experience, Zhao Hanzhang gave the order and Wushan forged ten woks in one go and sent them over.

Zhao Hanzhang had someone send one to Fifth Great-Uncle and put the rest in the shop for sale.

Yes, Zhao Hanzhang had opened a shop.

She used the shop fronts Zhao Changyu had left her, plus a few she’d previously exchanged from Zhao Zhongyu. One of them happened to be adjacent to Zhao Changyu’s. She had people break through the wall to combine the two into one.

The two large doors opened simultaneously each day, with the sign hung in the center—very imposing.

Zhao Hanzhang named the shop “Treasure Pavilion.” By now, full-length mirrors and glassware had become famous throughout all of Yuzhou, so there was no need for Ji Yuan to painstakingly go out and promote them.

So she planned to open a Treasure Pavilion each in Xiping County and Shangcai County, filled with various treasures produced by their workshops for traveling merchants visiting Xiping and Shangcai to purchase.

Currently, Treasure Pavilion had mostly glassware and soap, so when these nine iron woks were displayed, they immediately caught everyone’s attention.

But the pricing was also outrageous—the price was actually higher than full-length mirrors, absolutely absurd.

People who habitually came to Treasure Pavilion to browse gathered around the iron woks in a circle, utterly baffled, and asked, “What is this object, that it can be priced so high?”

The shop assistant immediately stepped forward to introduce them, “This is an iron wok, which can fry, stir-fry, cook, and deep-fry. The dishes made are extremely delicious.”

The other person looked doubtful, “How delicious would it have to be to merit such a high price?”

The assistant smiled and said, “Mainly these iron woks are difficult to forge, so the price is set this high.”

When they received the pricing, they were also shocked, but since the master insisted on this pricing, what could they do?

Zhao Ming learned of this when he once again ate stir-fried dishes at home and learned Zhao Hanzhang had sent a wok to the house. He frowned and went to the kitchen.

The kitchen staff was using the iron wok to pan-fry tofu. Seeing Zhao Ming, she immediately tried to kneel and pay respects.

Zhao Ming waved his hand and, smelling the drifting aroma, was silent for a moment before asking, “Did this preparation method also come from the old residence?”

The kitchen staff lowered her head and answered, “Yes.”

Among the several households on this street, currently only she and the old residence’s kitchen staff had the best relationship, because only their two households had iron woks. The two often exchanged various new dish preparation methods. She’d heard these new dishes all originated from Sanniang.

Zhao Ming rubbed his forehead and turned to leave.

By the time he walked back to the front courtyard, it had started snowing. His shoulders were covered with snowflakes. Zhao Song was holding a hand warmer in the corridor, singing poetry at the top of his voice.

Zhao Ming stopped and quietly listened to his father finish singing a poem before stepping forward, “Father, two days ago you were still talking about being frugal. How is it you’ve accepted the iron wok Sanniang sent again?”

Zhao Song said righteously, “That was Sanniang showing filial devotion to me. If I don’t accept it, wouldn’t that hurt her feelings?”

He said, “You’ve benefited from my good fortune. If you mind, then don’t eat.”

Zhao Ming stopped speaking to his father and turned to leave.

Zhao Song was irritated, pointing at his retreating back and complaining to the steward, “What kind of attitude is that? If he doesn’t upset me every day, he’s not comfortable, is he?”

The steward said helplessly, “Master, since the young master asked you, you should have answered him properly. Why say such things to provoke him?”

Zhao Song said, “…Wasn’t I afraid he’d go to the kitchen and smash my wok?”

The steward said, “The young master isn’t such a crude and unreasonable person.”

Zhao Ming braved the snow to go to Xiping County.

Xiping County had little snow this year. This was a rare snowfall, so when he reached the county town, quite a few children were running wildly in the snow while being chased and scolded by parents behind them.

Only half the shops in the county town were open. Most shops had no one inside, and there were very few pedestrians on the streets. Naturally, Treasure Pavilion also had no one.

When Zhao Ming got out of the carriage, the shop assistants in Treasure Pavilion were nearly dozing off. Seeing Zhao Ming, they immediately perked up and came forward with bowed backs, “Master Ming, are you here to look at glassware, soap, or soybean oil?”

“Do you have iron woks?”

The assistant’s spirits lifted immediately. “Yes!”

Then he led Zhao Ming to look.

Zhao Ming looked at the iron woks displayed on the shelf, tapped one and asked, “How much for one wok?”

“Five hundred thousand coins.”

Zhao Ming said, “…How much?”

The assistant said carefully, “Five hundred thousand coins.”

Zhao Ming’s heart immediately settled, and his mood became quite pleasant. He examined them carefully, glanced again at the woks on the shelf, nodded, and turned to leave.

The snow had started suddenly, but Zhao Hanzhang and the others had anticipated it. After all, the sky had been dark and overcast.

She ran into the corridor, shook her head to shake off the snowflakes, patted her shoulders while asking Song Zhi, “Have all the villages received word to temporarily stop work?”

“Yes, the order was given yesterday. If it snows, they’re not to work outdoors anymore.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded with satisfaction, “The snow came at an inconvenient time, but it’s auspicious snow. I hope it snows more. But we must also guard against snow disasters. Have the bailiffs increase street patrols and watch the houses—don’t let too much snow accumulate.”

Song Zhi agreed.

Zhao Hanzhang then asked Chen Siniang on the other side, “Does Yushan Hall have enough cold-weather supplies?”

Chen Siniang bowed and replied, “They’re already sufficient.”

Zhao Hanzhang was about to ask more detailed questions when she glanced up and saw Zhao Ming walking in with an umbrella. She immediately stopped talking, raised her eyebrows, and happily called out, “Uncle, why have you come? Please take the seat of honor.”

The various officials and advisors following Zhao Hanzhang immediately paid respects, “We pay respects to the County Magistrate.”

Zhao Hanzhang and Zhao Ming simultaneously realized—oh, he (I) is still County Magistrate.

Zhao Ming nodded to them and, standing on the steps, asked Zhao Hanzhang, “You have a perfectly good main hall—why are you crowded in the corridor discussing business?”

Zhao Hanzhang pointed at the falling snowflakes with a smile, “Admiring the snow. Did Uncle also come to find me to admire the snow?”

Zhao Ming didn’t answer, but asked instead, “Where’s Tinghan?”

“He’s in the rear courtyard.” Zhao Hanzhang turned to Song Zhi and the others, “If you have questions, go consult Chief Clerk Chang.”

Everyone agreed.

Zhao Hanzhang then smiled and invited Zhao Ming to the rear courtyard.

Ting He found an umbrella to hold for Zhao Hanzhang.

The uncle and niece entered the county office’s rear courtyard through the small gate.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t know what business Zhao Ming had with Fu Tinghan, so while leading him toward the study, she probed, “What does Uncle need Tinghan for?”

Zhao Ming said instead, “It’s exactly mealtime. I want to eat braised lamb ribs, sweet and sour lamb ribs, pan-fried tofu, and stir-fried bean sprouts.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “…Uncle, there’s no way to make those here. If you want to eat them, how about I have someone go back to the old residence to make them for you? But there’s definitely no time for the noon meal—let’s have them for the evening meal.”

Zhao Ming stopped and looked at her, “Why go back to the old residence to make them? Can’t you make them here?”

Zhao Hanzhang spread her hands, “I don’t have an iron wok here.”

Zhao Ming’s lips curved slightly as he gave a cold laugh and asked, “Then why did you make such an extravagant item as an iron wok, and after making it, not use it yourself?”