Though Zhao Kuan hadn’t been there at the time, as one of the incidents widely circulated in the fortress about Zhao Hanzhang stopping babies from crying, he had heard clan members who were present recount it many times.
He heard that at the time, aside from Fifth Great-Uncle and Uncle Ming scolding and stopping Seventh Great-Uncle, everyone else was silent.
And Zhao Hanzhang had pressed Seventh Great-Uncle against the coffin, pulling him to die together as a martyr, which finally stopped that farce.
Zhao Dong’s face was embarrassed. He glared at him, and though very unwilling, still seriously pondered the matter.
Deep in his heart he didn’t want to agree. He couldn’t say exactly why—he just felt very awkward. How could his daughters go out showing their faces in public to work?
Zhao Kuan said, “Father, teaching is a very respectable thing. You needn’t worry about losing face. Besides, I’ll be there. I’m at the school too and will look after my sisters well.”
The Eastern First Uncle’s wife had held back all evening and finally couldn’t help but say softly, “Just agree. Look at your younger sister-in-law—now who in the entire clan dares give her attitude? Even Fifth Uncle, who never liked her, has become much gentler with her. Is this all because of the late eldest brother? Or because of Erlang?”
“Neither. It’s because of Third Sister,” she said softly. “If my daughters could be as accomplished as Third Sister, then I could enjoy that glory too.”
Only then did Zhao Dong tacitly agree.
Seeing he no longer spoke in opposition, the Eastern First Uncle’s wife knew the matter was settled and quickly pushed her son.
Zhao Kuan smiled, “I’ll take my two sisters to the county town tomorrow.”
The Eastern First Uncle’s wife breathed a great sigh of relief, smiling, “You look after them well.”
But Zhao Dong asked, “What about your match with Fan Ying?”
He wanted to trade one thing for another.
Zhao Kuan said helplessly, “Father, this is just your wishful thinking. Whether Fan Ying will agree is still uncertain.”
“You don’t need to worry whether she agrees or not. You just say whether you agree.”
Zhao Kuan pondered for a moment and said, “If Father can successfully arrange it, your son naturally has no objection.”
Fan Ying absolutely wouldn’t agree. The Fan family valued mourning—Fan Ying had to observe mourning for her parents and family, at least not discussing marriage for two and a half years.
But Zhao Dong had his own plans. He had his wife seek out Wang Shi, wanting Wang Shi to ask Zhao Hanzhang to come forward to arrange this match.
Wang Shi didn’t even tell Zhao Hanzhang and directly refused. She said, “Third Sister is still young. She herself is an unmarried young girl. How could she do something like matchmaking?”
The Eastern First Uncle’s wife: …
She hadn’t expected this reason and was about to say more when Wang Shi suddenly withdrew the smile from her face and said solemnly, “These words are fine between you and me, but if it were someone else, I’d definitely throw a teacup in their face.”
The Eastern First Uncle’s wife was startled.
Wang Shi said, “I haven’t read as many books as you all, but I still know basic propriety. The Fan family values mourning. To propose marriage at this time—isn’t that stabbing Miss Fan in the back? Third Sister is also in mourning. If anyone dared come propose marriage at this time, I’d beat them out for sure.”
“The Fan family is gone, but we can’t bully orphaned girls and weak women,” Wang Shi said in a low voice. “Sister-in-law, please don’t mention such things again in the future.”
The Eastern First Uncle’s wife said awkwardly, “We know this too. We’re not thinking of getting engaged immediately, just wanting to ask Third Sister to help mention it. If she’s interested, she could interact with Kuan over these two years.”
Wang Shi still refused, “This doesn’t conform to propriety.”
The Eastern First Uncle’s wife could only return disappointed.
Turning around, Wang Shi complained to Zhao Hanzhang, “I’m not stupid. You’re Fan Ying’s superior, and she regards you as her savior, obeying your every command. If you mention this, can she not agree?”
“But if she agrees, she may well harbor resentment in her heart,” Wang Shi said. “She’s your subordinate. Having grudges with subordinates—what if she’s not dedicated enough in the future? We won’t do things that harm others without benefiting ourselves.”
“Of course, if she’s also interested, that’s another matter.”
Zhao Hanzhang thought of Fan Ying, who was now wholly devoted to work, and shook her head, “She’s still in mourning and not very old. We’ll discuss it after her mourning ends.”
“That’s what I think too.” Wang Shi served her various delicacies, asking, “Why is it only you coming back today? Where’s Tinghan?”
Zhao Hanzhang: “He’s busy. I’ll bring him back for a meal in a couple days.”
Zhao Hanzhang was actually busy too, but she specifically came back today to ask Zhao Ming to look after the county office—she needed to go to Shangcai.
“Mother, Sister Yunying and Sister Yunxin have already entered the school. Please praise them more in front of others recently and express more envy toward the Eastern First Uncle’s wife.”
Wang Shi asked, “Which other family’s young ladies have you taken a fancy to?”
“All literate, capable young ladies,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “The school is short of people. We not only lack literate people but also those skilled in weaving and embroidery. Though the uncles in the clan certainly won’t agree to let their sisters and daughters be craft masters for me, sigh, I can only focus on teaching.”
Wang Shi became thoughtful.
Regarding weaving, most women in Dajin knew how to do it, especially those from slightly better-off families—every household had looms.
The Zhao family was the same. Though Wang Shi had many servants, she still personally wove cloth and cut and sewed clothing.
The undergarments Zhao Hanzhang and Zhao Erlang wore next to their skin were basically made from cloth she wove, which she personally cut and sewed.
Many other garments were the same. She felt her weaving skills were adequate, but…
She hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping.
She both wanted to share some of her daughter’s burdens and didn’t quite want to show her face in public doing such things, feeling somewhat timid in her heart.
Zhao Hanzhang was very sensitive to people’s emotions. Seeing her expression change, she asked, “What’s wrong?”
Only then did Wang Shi say, “I do know how to weave…”
Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes lit up and she immediately asked, “Mother, will you come to the school to help me?”
Seeing her so happy, Wang Shi made up her mind and said, “If someone wants to learn from me, I can teach them. I won’t hold anything back.”
Zhao Hanzhang immediately held her hand and said, “Good. After I return from Shangcai, I’ll personally escort Mother Superior to the school.”
“Such a tease,” Wang Shi’s heart also relaxed somewhat. While serving her food, she asked, “What are you going to Shangcai for?”
Zhao Hanzhang chuckled, “I’m going to see County Magistrate Chai. Spring has arrived—I wonder how he’s doing?”
County Magistrate Chai was not doing well!
After New Year’s Eve, there were consecutive days of bright sunshine. Though it was still very cold, the snow in the fields began to melt.
Common people who had been holed up for winter gradually came out of their homes, preparing for spring plowing. Of course, at this time everyone was still lazy—there wasn’t much work to do. Preparing grain seeds was the first task.
So some people took out the seeds they’d saved from last year to select them, wanting to pick out better seeds. County Magistrate Chai also had to distribute a batch of grain seeds.
The reality was that the common people of Shangcai County had very difficult lives last year. He was quite afraid they’d eaten their saved seeds and would have no seeds for plowing this year, so he also needed to buy a batch of seeds to distribute.
Upon checking the storehouses, he discovered he was quite poor. After buying the seeds, he’d have almost nothing left. But there was still a long time until summer harvest. The county office had so many officials who needed to eat and receive salaries—what to do without money?
—