Zhao Hanzhang’s proposal for Zhao family girls to enter the school to teach was because during the New Year at the fortress, when female relatives came to visit, they mentioned Fan Ying, who could work at the county office, with eyes full of envy.

After Fan Ying was rescued, she lived at the fortress for a period. Plus, she had been the daughter of County Magistrate Fan and was already friends with some young girls in the fortress. That experience made their friendship even better.

Clearly they were the same age, or close to it—Fan Ying was already self-sufficient at the county office, able to seek welfare for the people, while they could only stay in the fortress waiting to be married or have matches arranged.

The girls were quite dissatisfied.

They didn’t dare compare themselves to Zhao Hanzhang, because this older sister/younger sister had stood at heights difficult for them to reach from the very beginning, with capabilities they lacked.

But compared to Fan Ying, they still dared.

So because the old residence was in mourning and didn’t go out to visit relatives, the young female relatives arranged to come visit them.

Zhao Hanzhang saw the envy and longing in their eyes, and couldn’t suppress her restless heart.

What she lacked now—was it positions?

She clearly lacked useful talent.

As long as they were capable, who cared about age or gender?

Now Xiping County was under Zhao Hanzhang’s control, and there were also two female clerks in the county office. Zhao Kuan could work normally with women, but thinking that the woman might be his sister made him somewhat unable to accept it, so he didn’t agree for a long time.

Zhao Hanzhang sighed, “Before they marry, if they can manage affairs in the county office and school, they’ll have better understanding of household management, and won’t fear being bullied when they go to their husband’s families in the future. Why won’t Brother Kuan agree?”

Zhao Kuan fell into deep thought.

Seeing he was finally tempted, Zhao Hanzhang quickly said, “They don’t need to do overly tiring or complex things. Just start with teaching students—recognizing some characters, knowing some arithmetic, that’s all.”

Zhao Kuan: “When the school first opened, Third Sister said the same thing when she invited Uncle and us. Yet now we not only manage the school, we also have to copy books and draw diagrams for you.”

Xiahou Ren’s manuscripts and drawings were still being organized. Eleventh Great-Uncle was completely immersed in them, but his manpower was limited, so many young people in the clan were conscripted by him.

Zhao Kuan had the best artistic skills and was conscripted the most. It was exhausting.

Even so, his parents still wanted him to stay by Zhao Hanzhang’s side, replacing Ji Yuan and Changning. Heaven knew how afraid he was of seeing Zhao Hanzhang now.

He was already so busy he rarely saw friends. If someone in the family could divert his parents’ attention… And what Zhao Hanzhang said was right—if his sisters could come out and gain experience, they wouldn’t be too bullied when they married later.

After convincing himself, Zhao Kuan said, “I can speak well of you to them.”

Zhao Hanzhang understood—she had to propose it herself, and he would assist from the side.

Zhao Hanzhang gave him an approving look, “Brother Kuan is truly an enlightened brother who dotes on his sisters.”

Zhao Kuan fully accepted her praise.

Zhao Hanzhang left the task of teaching them Arabic numerals to Fu Tinghan and ran off first.

She ran all the way back to the old residence and said to Wang Shi, “Please help me invite the Eastern First Uncle’s wife and their two daughters to visit.”

Wang Shi was curious, “Invite them for what?”

Zhao Hanzhang: “Just to eat and chat. We’re still within the New Year period. We can’t go to others’ homes, but we can invite people to ours. No need for a big fuss—everyone can just sit and talk.”

Zhao Hanzhang thought for a moment and said, “The glass workshop at Shangcai sent two sets of particularly exquisite glass bottles. Would you invite them to admire the bottles?”

Wang Shi then sent someone to invite them.

Of course, it wasn’t possible to only invite Zhao Kuan’s family’s female relatives. Since they were inviting people, might as well invite several families.

Zhao Hanzhang waited at home for them to arrive. When they came, she went to the front hall to meet them.

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang was actually at home, several people were slightly surprised, “Didn’t Sanniang go to the county office?”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled, “We’re still within the New Year period. The office isn’t busy, so I came back to keep Mother company.”

She obediently sat to the side listening to them talk, but the aunts and elder sisters-in-law were somewhat reserved. After the Little New Year, the men in the family were increasingly respectful toward the old residence, and also told them to get along well with Wang Shi.

Facing Wang Shi, they were as close as friends, but facing Zhao Hanzhang, they didn’t quite dare.

Zhao Hanzhang seemed not to notice their discomfort, pricking up her ears to listen as they talked from clothes and jewelry to the Zhang family’s matters and the Li family’s affairs.

Because Zhao Yunying would marry in half a year, the Eastern First Uncle’s wife inevitably mentioned this, “Kuan is still her brother, yet still won’t marry. Who knows what kind of person he’ll take a fancy to in the future. Sigh, if he doesn’t marry or establish himself, when Yunying and Yunxin marry in the future, they won’t know whom to rely on.”

Zhao Hanzhang immediately said upon hearing this, “Eastern Auntie, if their future brothers-in-law bully them, I’ll stand up for them.”

The Eastern First Uncle’s wife’s eyes brightened at once, “Really?”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and nodded, “Naturally. We’re all sisters—would I lie about such things?”

The Eastern First Uncle’s wife became happy and immediately pulled Zhao Yunying and Zhao Yunxin forward, having them bow to Zhao Hanzhang in thanks.

The two sisters weren’t coy either, and immediately came forward to bow.

Zhao Hanzhang reached out to hold their hands, stopping them, and even pulled them to her side, smiling at the Eastern First Uncle’s wife, “Eastern Auntie, this makes me so embarrassed.”

Zhao Hanzhang held their hands and said, “Speaking of reliance, I’d say fathers and brothers aren’t as good as oneself. If you’re strong yourself, not only do you not wait for matters to reach your fathers and brothers—you solve them yourself without troubling your fathers and brothers. Isn’t that better?”

The Eastern First Uncle’s wife smiled, “What kind of talk is that? What are fathers and brothers for, if not to rely on?”

Others nodded repeatedly, laughing, “Brothers and sisters are meant to help each other. When Erlang establishes himself in the future, won’t you as his sister help him?”

“Yes, the principle is the same. If you’re bullied by the Fu family in the future, Erlang will have to help his sister too.”

Zhao Hanzhang immediately nodded in agreement, “What the aunties say is very true. This reminds me of Sister Huifeng from the Wang family.”

Why bring her up?

The female relatives felt somewhat uneasy, yet were curiously pricking up their ears. Then they saw Zhao Hanzhang heave a deep sigh and fall silent.

Everyone felt as uncomfortable as cats seeing a ball of yarn, and really couldn’t hold back, whispering, “What happened to Wang Huifeng?”

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang speak, “Everyone knows Sister Wang from the Wang family was the former Crown Prince’s consort. When the Crown Prince was wrongly imprisoned, she wrote home to the Wang family begging for rescue. Unfortunately, Grand Commandant Wang refused to help and, disregarding her wishes, forcibly ordered her to divorce the Crown Prince. Sister Wang ultimately cried all the way back to the Wang family.”

Zhao Hanzhang sighed faintly, “At that time, Sister Wang cried all the way from the Crown Prince’s residence back to the Wang family. Passersby were all moved. At that time I thought—a woman can rely on her father and brothers, but if one day her father and brothers are unwilling to be her support, then wouldn’t she be helpless, with no strength to resist, at the mercy of others?”

Not to mention the Eastern First Uncle’s wife and others—even Wang Shi’s mouth fell open in shock.

—