“Why else? Naturally for the people of our Xiping,” Zhao Song took it for granted, then asked, “What, were these three departments not well established?”

He glared at Zhao Ming, looking ready to berate him if he dared say they weren’t good.

Zhao Ming sighed. “Where would they not be good? Rather, they’re too good.”

He said, “The Office of Agriculture for grain, the Office of Imperial Stud for horses, the Office of Medicine and Health for people—all three departments, no matter which one, require massive upfront capital investment and won’t show results in the short term. Moreover…”

Zhao Ming paused before continuing, “Even when results are seen, the wealth enriches the people, not the county office in the short term. Father, have you considered whether Xiping County’s office has enough money to support her in doing these things?”

Of course it didn’t.

Zhao Song frowned. “Just say what you want to say directly. Stop beating around the bush.”

Zhao Ming said, “My point is, Sanniang is currently using her own money to fill this pit. However, is our family’s Sanniang someone who would spend money filling pits for political achievements and reputation?”

Before his father could speak, Zhao Ming continued in one breath, “Obviously, she has bigger plans. Father, have you thought about what she’ll do once she has grain, horses, and manpower?”

Zhao Song’s eyebrows began twitching violently. “What, what do you mean by this?”

Zhao Ming didn’t answer him, wanting him to think for himself.

But would Zhao Song think for himself?

Oh, he actually did think about it, but he couldn’t quite accept the answer he came up with, so he specifically rushed to the county office to see Zhao Hanzhang, wanting to hear her say it personally.

But they were separated by a generation after all, and Zhao Song had always presented the image of a loving grandfather. Of course he couldn’t just come out and interrogate Zhao Hanzhang.

So he asked roundabout questions. Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t stupid—would Zhao Song, who had such rose-colored glasses about her, think of these things without someone reminding him?

Then who would remind him of such things, and he would actually believe it?

Zhao Hanzhang could figure it out using her toes. Yes, she was just that smart.

So she sighed and said, “Uncle, Elder Brother Ming knows about all these things, and he supports me.”

Zhao Song’s mouth instantly dropped open, utterly shocked.

He was greatly impacted and couldn’t recover for a moment.

Zhao Hanzhang sat obediently beside him, waiting for him to come to his senses.

After a long while, Zhao Song’s gaze finally moved to Zhao Hanzhang’s face. Staring at her intently, he asked, “What exactly are you two trying to do?”

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t hide anything and smiled slightly. “Uncle, everything I do is to protect my family, while Elder Brother Ming does it for the clan.”

Zhao Song asked, “Is it necessary to go to such lengths?”

“Because I’m rather greedy,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “I don’t just want them to survive in this chaotic world—I want them to live no worse than before. Then I saw more people and came to care about more people, like Fifth Great-Uncle, Elder Brother Ming, Uncle Cheng, and those brothers and sisters in the clan. Losing any one of them would pain my heart.”

“To protect so many people requires great power,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “To obtain this power, I can’t worry so much about rules and regulations.”

She was referring to her unauthorized establishment of official positions. She thought Zhao Song had learned the truth and come to hold her accountable.

But Zhao Song didn’t know! For a moment, he was so moved that tears streamed down. He couldn’t help reaching out to hold her hand. “Sanniang, you’ve worked so hard.”

“Ah?” Zhao Hanzhang was somewhat confused.

Zhao Song wiped his tears. “It’s my fault for placing such a heavy burden of the clan on your shoulders. Your elder brother is the same—having such difficulty, he didn’t tell me either.”

Zhao Hanzhang had a head full of question marks, looking at Zhao Song somewhat bewildered.

To Zhao Song, it looked like this child was stunned by his words. He became even more agitated and asked, “Do you have enough money now? Uncle has some here. I’ll give it to you.”

Though she really wanted it, how could Zhao Hanzhang take an old person’s money?

Zhao Hanzhang firmly refused and repeatedly stated she wasn’t short of money at the moment.

Though she had no idea what Fifth Great-Uncle was thinking, it seemed like a good thing for now?

Zhao Hanzhang thoughtfully escorted Zhao Song home. She also wanted to communicate privately with Zhao Ming—for instance, why would he suddenly sabotage her when they’d been getting along so well?

But before she could speak, Zhao Song, seeing Zhao Ming, already let out a roar from flat ground. “Zhao Ming, what have you been doing wandering around all day? Sanniang is so young yet knows to strive for the entire clan, while you spend every day either drinking or…”

Zhao Hanzhang, catching Zhao Ming’s calm, unruffled gaze, turned and ran. “Fifth Great-Uncle, I still have matters at the county office, I’ll leave first…”

Zhao Hanzhang ran far away. Only then did Zhao Ming look at his father. After he finished scolding, Zhao Ming asked wonderingly, “Father, how exactly did you give birth to someone as intelligent as me?”

Zhao Song fell silent, but only for a moment. Turning his head left and right looking around, unable to find anything handy, he removed his shoe for the first time without any refinement and threw it at Zhao Ming. “You bastard, how dare you call your father stupid!”

Zhao Ming fled from home in somewhat of a mess. He circulated his energy, then finally still went to the county office.

Zhao Hanzhang ran back to the county office and had just taken a sip of water when she said to Fu Tinghan, “Fifth Great-Uncle and Elder Brother Ming are arguing again.”

Fu Tinghan looked up with a confused expression. “Over what?”

“Uh…” Zhao Hanzhang thought about it and said, “Probably because I’m too excellent, making Elder Brother Ming seem not quite so outstanding by comparison.”

Fu Tinghan’s gaze focused, the confusion in his eyes finally clearing. “Are you serious?”

“Am I not excellent?”

Fu Tinghan smiled and nodded. “You’re very excellent, but Elder Brother Ming isn’t bad either.”

Zhao Hanzhang was about to speak when suddenly the sound of the door being pushed open came from behind. Zhao Ming’s ghostly voice drifted over: “Tinghan has good judgment.”

Zhao Hanzhang, who had been leaning on the table like she had no bones, immediately stood straight, stiffening her spine. Without turning her head, she nodded to Fu Tinghan. “That’s right, what Tinghan said is absolutely correct. Elder Brother Ming is more excellent than me. I’m still young—how can I compare with Elder Brother Ming?”

“Stop flattering,” Zhao Ming raised his hand to stop Fu Tinghan from bowing, looked around, and still chose a chair to sit in. Then he looked at Zhao Hanzhang and asked, “What did you say to my father?”

Zhao Hanzhang sat down across from him and said with a smile, “Nothing much, just that we uncle and nephew get along very well, and that everything I do has your support, Elder Brother. But I don’t understand why Elder Brother would tell Uncle these things?”

Zhao Ming said, “Summer harvest is over, and summer taxes are about to be collected. Over in Shangcai, aren’t you going to pick the peaches?”

Zhao Hanzhang looked confused. “Pick them, of course. Why wouldn’t I pick what I planted? But what does this have to do with Fifth Great-Uncle?”

Zhao Ming said methodically, “The relationship is significant. When you go pick peaches, who won’t know that Shangcai County is also under your control? When that time comes, can you guess how my father will think, and how others will discuss this matter with him?”

Rather than letting him learn these things from others’ mouths, it was better for him to speak first, giving advance psychological preparation.

—