Because new stock had arrived, the crude Treasure Pavilion was very lively, with workers who had heard the news continuously arriving with money.

They weren’t very short on grain anymore. Working here, they had food every day, and the wages they earned could also buy grain.

So everyone had stored up a certain amount of grain.

Instead, they were quite short on cloth, ready-made clothes, shoes, socks, and such, especially now that it was winter. Everyone’s clothes were drafty, their shoes were still straw sandals, let alone things like socks.

With money, they wanted to acquire some things for themselves—at least to be warmer and make life a bit more comfortable.

Zhao Hanzhang had anticipated this early on. From the end of the war, she had Runan Commandery’s peaceful counties start mass-producing various supplies.

In Zhang Family Village, Zhang Village, Shangcai County, Runan Commandery, Zhang Dayan and Bao Sanzhu had just pushed their handcarts into the village when sharp-eyed villagers spotted them and rushed out to ask, “Dayan, did we get our money?”

“Got it, got it. Come to my house to get the money in a bit.”

“No rush, no rush,” the person said not to rush, but their face bloomed with smiles, eyes fixed on the items on the cart. “Dayan, is this cloth? Is there more work? You must save us a few bolts. My wife’s handiwork is good…”

Zhang Dayan said, “That won’t work. The county office steward didn’t select the clothes your wife made, said the stitching wasn’t fine enough. But the shoes she made are passable. This time I got a quota for two hundred pairs of shoes. I’ll give your sister-in-law twenty pairs.”

“Twenty pairs—how long will that take her to make? Give us fifty pairs. She’ll take our daughter to do it together, and they’ll finish quickly.”

“That won’t work,” Zhang Dayan said while pushing the cart homeward. “Everyone gets an assigned quota. And the steward is very strict. Dahua’s shoe-making skills aren’t as good as sister-in-law’s. If she makes them and the steward won’t accept them, you’ll have to pay me for the materials.”

The person immediately stopped talking.

Zhang Dayan continued, “Making shoes still can’t compare to making clothes. I heard the county office steward say that tailors and embroiderers with good skills can enter the embroidery workshop. The clothes made there use silk and satin—one set can earn at least fifty wen.”

Zhang Cong clicked his tongue, “That profitable?”

“Exactly,” Zhang Dayan said. “So Brother Cong, don’t always hold Dahua back. I’ve looked around—among all the young women in our village, only Dahua has decent skills. Send her to the embroidery workshop to learn. Who knows, she might learn something.”

“Letting her make shoe soles at home is a waste. Right now there are many refugees outside, and the Governor is kind-hearted, so she’s having us make shoes for relief. But after this wave passes, how many people will still buy shoes?”

“But entering the embroidery workshop is different. Not only will she learn to cut and sew clothes and embroider, I heard they even teach spinning thread and weaving cloth. If she can learn any one of these things, it’ll benefit her for life.”

Zhang Cong was still pondering when Zhang Dayan had already pushed the cart back to his courtyard.

He didn’t need to go out and notify anyone—children who saw him immediately spread the word throughout the village that Zhang Dayan and Bao Sanzhu had returned from the county town.

The villagers immediately sprang into action, everyone running to Zhang Dayan’s house to collect their money.

This was the payment for their families’ weaving cloth, making clothes, making shoes and socks, and similar work for the county office.

At the beginning, the county office required each family to report what they were good at—whether weaving cloth, spinning thread, tailoring, making shoe soles and socks. Each family had to submit one sample.

They did so tremulously, not daring to do poorly, putting in great effort before finishing.

Shortly after the items were submitted, people came from the county office, selecting quite a few households and having each family make what they were good at. There were also about ten households whose skills were too poor and weren’t selected.

Needless to say, at that time those ten or so households were particularly pleased, quite happy about it.

The selected families were as mournful as if attending a funeral, trembling as they received what the county office distributed, making things accordingly and honestly submitting them. Then they received their first payment.

The situation immediately reversed. The unselected ten or so households’ expressions immediately soured. This time they came over again, surrounding Zhang Dayan and saying, “Dayan, did you speak to the steward for us?”

“I did,” Zhang Dayan said as he untied the rope on the cart. “But the steward didn’t agree. Said your skills were too poor.”

Their faces darkened.

Zhang Dayan said, “If you really want to earn money, you don’t have to stick to this. I heard the steward say the county office needs to transport a batch of lumber and bricks, and they’re short on manpower. If you really want to earn money, go ahead.”

“Send it where?”

“To Liang Kingdom.”

“Where’s Liang Kingdom?”

Zhang Dayan said, “Who knows? Anyway, it’s within Yuzhou. I heard Chen County is in Liang Kingdom, and the Governor is in Chen County.”

“How long does a round trip take?”

“For transporting goods, walking there and walking back, probably about ten days,” Zhang Dayan said. “Food and drink are all provided on the road. Just deliver the goods and come back. I heard one trip earns a hundred wen.”

Hearing this, the village’s able-bodied men became interested, restlessly saying, “Dayan, how about taking us to the county town?”

“Sure, we can leave tomorrow. Come on, come on, move aside. Let me distribute wages to the aunties and sisters-in-law first.”

The women who had been pushed to the back immediately shoved past the men and came forward. This was all their wages!

Some young women also squeezed forward to look—they had a share in this too.

Zhang Dayan distributed the wages, then opened his ledger, recording with symbols only he could understand. “Same as before—those who spin thread spin thread, those who weave cloth weave cloth, those who make clothes make clothes. Don’t mix things up.”

He added, “No one is allowed to take work and pass it to someone else. When these items are sent to the county town, the steward will examine each one. If the workmanship isn’t up to standard, they’ll be returned directly. Not only will you not get wages, you’ll have to compensate for the materials.”

The women chorused their agreement, then happily collected the materials and went home. The men followed closely behind, only to be sent away by the women. “What are you standing around for? Hurry home and cook! We want to do more while the sun’s still bright, otherwise once it gets dark we won’t be able to work.”

The dispatched men weren’t upset either, agreeing and diving into the kitchen to work, also calling their sons, “Hurry and tend the fire! Don’t you see your mother and sisters are all busy?”

Meanwhile, in the Zhao family estate in Shangcai County, Runan Commandery, the busiest were a group of men.

They pulled bricks from the brick kiln, setting them aside. Before long, someone came to inspect. After inspection found no problems, they began watering them.

On the open ground to the side, many bricks had already been stacked. Some people came pushing carts, and immediately people loaded the carts with bricks. After loading a full cart, they tied it with rope and pushed it aside.

There were also those who came driving ox carts, mule carts, and donkey carts. After loading, they all piled them aside, ready to form a merchant convoy and depart the next day.

Hu Zhi walked over quickly, shouting, “Faster, faster! There are many merchant convoys waiting to load up behind. It’s almost dark now. If you delay tomorrow’s departure, you’ll be sorry!”

Everyone unconsciously sped up.

Hu Zhi watched as people finished loading the carts. The sky had also darkened. Only then did he ring the bell to end work.

Everyone finally stopped their work, tidied up a bit, then dragged their weary bodies home. However, their faces weren’t numb—instead they gathered in twos and threes, inviting each other, “Come eat at my place tonight. Bring some vegetables and we can make a whole table.”

Those who said this were mostly bachelors, because the non-bachelors had already hurried home.

Hu Zhi also hurried toward the estate. He entered a brightly lit residence where many chests were placed in the courtyard. Long-term workers were securing the goods, creating a constant clanging sound.

Zhao Tong was checking the chests while instructing, “Be careful with everything. All the glassware packed in these chests must be inspected. These are items for noble people—there must be no flaws.”

“Secure them well, don’t let them come loose. The journey is long and bumpy. If anything breaks on the road and delays the young lady’s business…” Seeing Hu Zhi, Zhao Tong stopped and asked, “Have you tallied your goods?”

Hu Zhi said, “All tallied. We can depart at first light.”

Zhao Tong nodded with satisfaction, saying, “Have the night watch pay attention.”

Although Hu Zhi didn’t think anyone would dare cause trouble at the Zhao family estate, he still agreed.

He glanced at the goods in the courtyard and, without further disturbing Zhao Tong, bowed and withdrew.

At the same time, many people in neighboring Xiping County also hadn’t rested—they hadn’t even eaten their evening meal.

Hu Jin watched as apprentices wrapped books in oil paper, then had them pack the books into chests. “Be careful with everything. These are being sent to the northern territories. You might encounter snow and rain on the road.”

The apprentices agreed and became even more careful in their wrapping.

Far from the book bureau, the county office was also brightly lit. The commandery seat of Runan Commandery was still in Xiping. Whether truly short on funds or because Zhao Ming had grown accustomed to working in Xiping County’s office, he hadn’t built a new commandery office. Now the commandery office and county office were both crammed into Xiping County’s office.

This put tremendous pressure on Changning, especially when facing Zhao Ming.

At this moment, he was kneeling across from Zhao Ming, head lowered as he reported matters.

Zhao Ming casually picked up a wine pot and poured himself a drink, asking leisurely, “So Gou Xi hasn’t returned to Yanzhou yet, and your Governor is already planning to do business with him?”

Changning thought inwardly: That’s not just our Governor—she’s your Governor too.

But his face showed only seriousness as he nodded. “Yes. The Governor says that this year Yuzhou has especially many refugees and is desperately short of grain and cloth. Yanzhou was fortunate not to be drawn into the war. With the New Year approaching, the young masters all appreciate elegant things. If we send these there, perhaps we can exchange them for some things Yuzhou urgently needs.”

Zhao Ming sneered. “With just those books and glassware, how much grain and cloth can she exchange? People aren’t all fools. One or two items might work, but once there are too many, who will still exchange with her? In chaotic times, gold and silver are still most practical.”

Changning sighed. “But this subordinate doesn’t know how much wealth the Governor still has. From what this subordinate knows, whether the Yuzhou Governor’s Office or the Runan Commandery Office, neither seems to have any surplus funds.”

Zhao Ming said nothing, similarly lowering his eyes in thought.

However, he wasn’t anxious. Based on his understanding of Zhao Hanzhang, she couldn’t possibly have no contingency plan.

However, she probably didn’t have much money left. No matter how wealthy Great Uncle was, he couldn’t possibly have left her this much gold and silver. The money she’d spent during this period was mostly earned from her own enterprises.

Zhao Ming lightly tapped his knee, suddenly laughing. “Fine. Tell her I’ll contact the friends and former associates I can reach. As long as she can produce gold and silver, I’ll have them price things cheaper for her.”

Changning breathed a sigh of relief, bowing and saying, “Yes.”

He was so exhausted. Obviously the young lady was surnamed Zhao—they were all family—yet he had to act as this intermediary.

But he still had to say, “The Governor said that no matter how many people the Commandery Governor can convince or how much they can produce, she can buy it all.”

Zhao Ming asked with a half-smile, “With gold and silver?”

Though Changning felt guilty, he still affirmed, “Gold and silver!”

This wasn’t something he said—the young lady said it. He was just passing it along.

Zhao Ming couldn’t help but wonder where Zhao Hanzhang got so much money.

Though she always acted carefree and seemed thick-skinned and bold, she was actually very cautious. Without confidence, she wouldn’t dare make such a promise.

But…

“Now all the families are almost ready, and she still hasn’t brought it up. Clearly she doesn’t have this intention. This money—she must have another source.”

Zhao Song said irritably, “Can she conjure money out of thin air? The biggest support behind her is our Zhao family, isn’t it?”

“Don’t be so stubborn either. Hanzhang is young after all, thin-skinned. Many things are hard for her to say outright. Why don’t you give her a way out? Right now, the most capable person in our Zhao family is her. If she does well, our Zhao family can also have more security…”

The previously leisurely Zhao Ming, who had been drinking alone, suddenly sat up straight, his expression gradually becoming serious.

Zhao Song’s words halted as he asked, “What’s wrong?”

Zhao Ming gripped his wine cup. “Father, you said—seeing that Zhao Ji was useless and the clan head was getting on in years, with only Hanzhang among the grandchildren most resembling him, might Great Uncle have privately given her a huge fortune?”

Meaning that Zhao Changyu very likely gave Zhao Hanzhang assets that originally should have gone to the clan or the clan head’s line.

Zhao Song instinctively denied it. “Don’t talk nonsense. Your great uncle isn’t that kind of person.”

After saying this, Zhao Song also seemed to feel guilty, pausing slightly before saying, “Even if he privately left something for Hanzhang, it’s because Hanzhang is exceptionally outstanding.”

Zhao Ming quietly looked at his father.

—