Zhao Hanzhang went through all the people she could currently trust, finding that not one was suitable.
The main issue was that the few people she could use were all already employed. She had no one available!
So it still came down to a shortage of people.
“I’ve finished writing out both ‘The Thousand Character Classic’ and ‘The Three Character Classic,'” Zhao Hanzhang asked, “What about your mathematics textbook…”
Fu Tinghan said, “The first volume is almost complete. Following what you said, I’m writing the most basic content, having them first learn Arabic numerals.”
Zhao Hanzhang had a headache, “So how do we explain Arabic numerals to them?”
“Why explain?” Fu Tinghan said matter-of-factly, “Just teach them directly. This is just substituting terms. One is written this way—does this need explanation?”
Zhao Hanzhang was stunned for a moment, then came to her senses and cupped her hands toward him, “Professor Fu, you’re too brilliant. I bow in admiration.”
Fu Tinghan’s eyes were full of smiles as he reached out to press down her fists, “No need to be so polite.”
“Then write quickly. Once you’re done, we’ll go teach them together.”
Fu Tinghan raised an eyebrow, “You’re going to teach them too?”
This was indeed their old profession. Although they taught different students, they were both teachers.
Zhao Hanzhang said, “They should at least meet me and know that they are talents I’m cultivating.”
That way, she could deploy them to various positions in the future!
“As for textbooks, should we copy them or print them?”
Zhao Hanzhang sighed, “I’ve already sent Ji Yuan to the Luoyang area to find craftsmen skilled in woodblock printing, but we’re not sure yet if he can find any. So for teaching, let’s use blackboards.”
As for textbooks, they could discuss that later—have the students copy them by hand.
In the early days of the nation, not all literacy class students had textbooks either.
After discussing for a long time, the two realized they could only temporarily use this foreman.
The next day, after Zhao Hanzhang inspected the paper mill’s operations and nodded approvingly, she took Fu Tinghan back to the city.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ming, who had kept his guests overnight in the garden, was just sitting down for breakfast when the steward came to report, “Several guests are very interested in the iron woks and the various soy products they ate yesterday. Especially Master Zhu Chuan from Shu—he’s already learned the recipes. This morning, he took his leave early, and judging by the direction, he went toward the county city.”
Zhao Ming nodded and waved his hand, “No need to report further. I’ve already done what I should do. Whether it succeeds depends on heaven’s will.”
Having done this much, if it still didn’t work, it meant Zhao Hanzhang’s luck was poor.
Zhao Ming leisurely finished his breakfast. The steward went out for a round and came back again, “Young Master, the guests in the garden are asking what today’s arrangements are.”
Zhao Ming looked disgusted, “There are no arrangements. Let them entertain themselves.”
They had no discernment at all! Even Zhu Chuan from Shu knew to take his leave, yet they were still staying—what for?
Since Zhao Ming, the host, wasn’t entertaining anymore, the invited gentry felt no offense and simply entertained themselves in the garden.
The Zhao family’s servants provided them with good food and drink, and they played until noon before finally leaving in high spirits, arm in arm.
Zhu Chuan, who had left early, was currently browsing the Treasure Pavilion in the county city. He picked up a bar of soap, smelled it—it had a fresh fragrance—and smiled, “This is indeed more fragrant than the soap beans we make at home, and more moisturizing too. Select ten bars, all with different scents.”
Hearing this, the shop assistant happily agreed and picked up a basket to fill it.
Zhu Chuan wandered over to the iron woks. Seeing such a large wok, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. He reached out and tapped it—very solid iron indeed.
Using such a large piece of iron to make a wok—the Zhao family was truly extravagant!
Zhu Chuan asked, “I’ll take all these iron woks. Wrap them all up.”
The assistant froze, “This…”
He hesitated before saying quietly, “Honored guest, one iron wok is enough. Buying so many is wasteful.”
Zhu Chuan glanced at him sideways, “What, doesn’t your Treasure Pavilion sell if I buy too many?”
“No, it’s not that,” the assistant deliberated before saying, “These woks are made of iron, so they’re a bit expensive.”
Zhu Chuan hadn’t spoken yet when his attendant Da Li angrily asked, “What, you think our young master can’t pay?”
“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare,” the assistant had been hesitant to speak plainly precisely because he feared they would think this. He was in a difficult position. With limited experience, he didn’t know how to hint to them that these woks cost five hundred thousand coins each.
In the end, after agonizing for a long time, he still couldn’t bring himself to say it. He could only nervously go find boxes to pack them, while discreetly signaling another assistant to find the manager.
Before the manager arrived, Zhu Chuan already knew the price of the wok.
Because Zhao Hanzhang and their carriage and horses passed by the entrance, and seeing someone at the Treasure Pavilion’s door, Zhao Hanzhang pulled Fu Tinghan inside to inspect her shop.
As soon as she entered, she saw the assistant packing iron woks. She was amazed, “Who is this wealthy person? They bought one, two, three, four woks?”
The assistant saw Zhao Hanzhang and his eyes lit up. He immediately stood up, “Nine woks—the honored guest ordered all of them at once.”
Zhao Hanzhang was even more shocked, “Which honored guest?”
Such a wealthy customer—she had to get to know them!
Zhu Chuan emerged from behind the shelf, smiling, “That would be me. I didn’t expect to have such fortune today—to actually encounter you both.”
Zhao Hanzhang looked at him, then down at the iron woks in the boxes, pausing before offering a friendly reminder, “Master Zhu, although these iron woks are good, there’s no need to buy so many. After all, iron implements are hard to come by, and the price is rather high.”
Zhu Chuan felt confident he could afford it. He probed, “Could it be that Magistrate Zhao only has these nine woks and is unwilling to sell more to me?”
Although it was true that she only had these nine woks, could Zhao Hanzhang admit it?
Seeing Zhu Chuan so confident, she smiled at him and let him proceed with the purchase.
At checkout, both Zhu Chuan and his attendant Da Li were stunned, “How much did you say?”
The assistant glanced at Zhao Hanzhang and felt he probably hadn’t miscalculated. He said quietly, “Four million five hundred thousand and one thousand coins. The one thousand is for these ten bars of soap.”
Zhu Chuan asked expressionlessly, “So how much is each iron wok?”
The assistant: “Five hundred thousand coins.” That’s why I told you to be cautious earlier. If only you’d asked about the price then!
But Zhu Chuan never concerned himself with prices when buying such trinkets. How would he think to ask specifically?
Zhu Chuan turned to look at Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t left. She had pulled Fu Tinghan to stand aside and watch. Seeing him look over, she even grinned at him.
Zhu Chuan smiled back at her, then turned to Da Li and said, “Go back and get the money.”
His merchant caravan had already returned to Shu with the glass products and other goods he’d purchased. At this moment, he certainly didn’t have that many copper coins to settle the bill. He could only use the gold he’d been keeping for emergencies.
Currently, copper coins were valuable. The exchange rate with silver was basically one thousand to one, sometimes even reaching nine hundred to one. So four million five hundred thousand coins equaled forty-five hundred taels, which converted to gold was four hundred fifty taels.
Zhu Chuan closed his eyes. This sum almost emptied his reserves here. But…
Having already boasted, Zhu Chuan had no face to say he wouldn’t buy. He could only swallow this loss, “Magistrate Zhao’s iron woks are truly valuable.”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him, “Iron implements are hard to come by. These woks were made by melting down quite a bit of iron.”