Chang Ning paid no mind. Zhao Hanzhang had said long ago that Fu Tinghan was her equal—if there was business with her and she wasn’t available, Fu Tinghan could make all decisions.

Because of their marital relationship, Chang Ning indeed treated Fu Tinghan as a second master.

He’d even worried at one point that Fu Tinghan might compete with Zhao Hanzhang for power, but…

This Master Fu truly had no interest in power and such things. “Detached as a gentleman” described him perfectly.

As long as you gave him paper and brush, he could sit quietly for an entire day. Regarding county affairs… his most frequent words were: “Ask Chief Clerk Chang.”

Otherwise: “Ask Hanzhang.”

Chang Ning didn’t know whether this marriage match had been Zhao Changyu’s deliberate arrangement, but with the two masters getting along so harmoniously and with such clear division of labor, he was very pleased.

Chang Ning turned to Zhao Hanzhang. “Young lady, the merchant Zhu Chuan from Shu is hosting a banquet at the Song residence. The invitation has arrived. I made some inquiries—he plans to sell iron woks at the banquet.”

Zhao Hanzhang paused, stunned. “He still hasn’t left? I thought he was taking those woks back to Shu to sell.”

“No,” Chang Ning paused before continuing meaningfully. “Perhaps his purse is rather light.”

Zhao Hanzhang: “…”

After thinking, she turned to Ting He. “Go to the Treasure Pavilion. Have the manager take down two iron woks and display only one. No matter who asks, say there’s only one available.”

She smiled at Chang Ning. “It’s my fault. Master Zhu has been generous—we can’t be stingy. I’ll send a cook over later to help.”

Chang Ning, seeing she’d handled it appropriately, nodded slightly and handed her the invitation. “This is the invitation. On that day, you and Master Fu should attend together.”

Though Zhu Chuan was from Shu, his family business was substantial, and they could use many products from Shu. Chang Ning didn’t want to lose such a major merchant.

After discussing Zhu Chuan, Chang Ning casually mentioned: “Young lady, Chen Zhou still hasn’t left. He also wants to attend Master Zhu’s banquet and is currently looking for someone to bring him along. Do you want to meet with him?”

Zhao Hanzhang sighed. “I mentioned him once to Uncle, but Uncle seems quite displeased with the Chen family.”

So while she could give Zhu Chuan an invitation to attend the Zhao clan ceremony, she couldn’t give one to Chen Zhou.

First, his status hadn’t reached a level of general recognition, nor did he possess sufficient talent. Second was Zhao Ming’s attitude.

Zhao Ming disliked the Chen family, so naturally Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t upset her elder.

With just one sentence, Chang Ning understood her meaning and immediately said: “I’ll find an excuse to decline for you.”

Zhao Hanzhang stroked her chin. “If he were generous enough to gift me a craftsman skilled in printing—even an apprentice would do.”

Chang Ning: …

Though shocked by her shamelessness, Chang Ning quickly picked up the thread: “I’ll drop some hints.”

Their eyes met, both brimming with ambitious determination. Now was winter—everything moved slowly, including information transmission. Who knew when Ji Yuan and Zhao Ming would find craftsmen in Luoyang? The printing house was about to be completed—if there were no craftsmen inside, she’d be quite distressed.

How could one put all eggs in one basket?

Search in multiple places—who knows, you might find a stray egg somewhere.

Master and strategist exchanged knowing smiles.

Having received direction, Chang Ning was about to implement it. Halfway there, he remembered something and turned back to call out to Zhao Hanzhang, saying quietly: “Young lady, you haven’t been to the front office to handle county affairs for several days.”

Zhao Hanzhang replied: “Don’t I have you? Has there been a major case in Xiping County?”

There hadn’t been. Xiping County was very peaceful—even trivial cases didn’t reach Zhao Hanzhang, being mediated by village heads and clan elders first.

Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand. “You handle these matters. Just ask me about decisions you can’t make.”

She was quite busy herself right now.

Chang Ning thought of her still-unpolished spear technique and reluctantly nodded. Fine—they would need their master’s protection in the future. Let her practice martial arts first.

Chen Zhou still couldn’t integrate into Runan’s gentry circles—yes, Runan gentry.

Because of the cold weather and scholars’ casual nature, many had left after attending the Zhao clan ceremony. However, a small portion decided to remain in Xiping.

Some stayed in guesthouses at the Zhao clan compound, some lodged with friends in various Zhao clan branches, and others stayed with local gentry like the Song and Qian families.

These people spent their days feasting and enjoying themselves, admiring snow and composing verses, dancing with swords and drinking wine. Occasionally they observed Xiping County’s bustling activity under Zhao Hanzhang’s governance. Chen Zhou wanted to join them.

But they all refused Chen Zhou’s participation.

Chen Zhou expressed his hurt. Unable to find connections, he discovered after searching around that only Zhao Hanzhang offered a glimmer of hope—after all, they’d recently completed a business transaction.

To demonstrate his regard for Zhao Hanzhang and obtain an invitation to the Zhao clan ceremony, he’d practically had people gallop back to Ancheng County to fetch her book order.

Ancheng County wasn’t far from Xiping. The books had arrived days ago, but unfortunately, the Zhao clan ceremony had already passed. He’d gotten no invitation—never mind Zhao Ming’s private banquet a few days prior, which he’d had even less chance of attending.

He felt Master Zhu’s banquet was his last opportunity. If he missed this one, New Year would come. He didn’t mind staying in Xiping for the festival, but the scholars would probably want to see him even less during that time.

So Chen Zhou gritted his teeth and visited the county office again. This time he brought his steward and a book list.

Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t available—supposedly she’d gone to inspect the countryside again.

Chen Zhou felt she was far too fond of rural inspections. In nearly a month, no matter when he came, she was always in the countryside—if not there, then on her way.

Chen Zhou sighed disappointedly and, after sitting briefly with Chang Ning, prepared to take his leave.

The usually quite courteous Chang Ning suddenly looked up at Chen Zhou’s steward.

Chen Zhou showed no reaction, but the steward caught on first. After thinking, he had Chen Zhou wait while he pulled Chang Ning aside to speak privately. “Chief Clerk Chang, you know our young master’s wishes. Alas, our Chen family isn’t well-connected in Xiping. Please, Chief Clerk Chang, offer some guidance.”

He slipped a purse into Chang Ning’s hand as he spoke.

Chang Ning pushed it back. “I don’t know what’s happening either. Someone in Xiping County seems to dislike Master Chen. You know our young lady—managing Xiping as a woman, she walks on thin ice, so…”

Chang Ning offered advice: “If Master Chen had dazzling literary works, why would he worry about not fitting in with them?”

The steward: …If their young master had that ability, why would they need to maneuver like this?

They could just slap them in the face with brilliant compositions!

They simply couldn’t write such things.

The steward pushed the purse back again, asking quietly: “In Chief Clerk Chang’s view, are there other methods?”

Chief Clerk Chang looked hesitant. Perhaps seeing his sincerity, he finally said: “Though our young lady’s position as county magistrate isn’t easy, her status is still what it is. If she speaks up, Master Chen’s matter would be no problem.”

The steward smiled and nodded, cursing inwardly: No kidding—as if I don’t know that! Claiming Zhao Hanzhang had it hard—what nonsense.

The Song and Qian families and other local gentry in the county town cowered like quails, not daring to voice opposition to any of Zhao Hanzhang’s decisions.

To say it was all due to Zhao clan backing—he wouldn’t believe it even if beaten to death.

But Zhao Hanzhang simply refused to introduce their young master. What could they do?

The steward tried his best to look sincere at Chang Ning.

Only then did Chang Ning hint: “Our young lady has established a printing house in the city and wants to print some books and manuscripts she likes…”