Wang Shi didn’t mind. In her eyes, Fu Tinghan’s manner showed propriety. Though not particularly intimate, it demonstrated great respect.

She focused her attention on her daughter, seeing that she had also grown taller and her appearance was even more radiant than before. Unable to help herself, she beamed with joy, reaching out to grasp her hand. “Good, good, good. It’s cold outside—quickly come inside.”

Only when she grasped it did she discover the calluses on Zhao Hanzhang’s palm. She couldn’t help but lower her head to look, immediately feeling heartache. Her fingertips were somewhat cracked.

Wang Shi’s heart ached terribly. Even she herself had never suffered such hardship. Tears welling in her eyes, she tightly gripped her daughter’s hand. “Quickly come inside, quickly come inside.”

Wang Shi had servants attend to Ji Yuan and Fu Tinghan while she directly pulled Zhao Hanzhang to the rear courtyard. Zhao Erlang followed behind in a daze.

Mother surely had something she wanted to say to them privately.

As soon as they entered the room, Wang Shi issued a flurry of instructions. “Quickly fetch a basin of warm water. Qinggu, bring the honey balm we made ourselves.”

Wang Shi spread open Zhao Hanzhang’s palm to look, unable to help shedding tears. “Even if not for the sake of pleasing others, for your own comfort, you should take better care of yourself. Which other young lady has hands like yours?”

Zhao Hanzhang withdrew her hand with a smile. “You’re right. I’ll apply it later.”

Zhao Erlang leaned in to look, finding the porcelain box Qinggu opened quite fragrant. He immediately squeezed forward, spreading his hands right under his mother’s eyes. “Mother, look at mine!”

Wang Shi couldn’t help but lightly pat his hand. “You’re a young man—what does it matter if they’re a bit rough?”

After saying this, she felt it wasn’t right. If this got out, it would likely invite criticism, and she also feared her son would actually become rough from then on.

She immediately changed her tune. “But a gentleman should still be elegant and proper. I’ll have Qinggu send you a box of honey balm later. This is made with honey—it’s very precious. I even use it on my face, so use it sparingly.”

Zhao Erlang readily agreed.

Having given some to her son, Wang Shi felt she couldn’t play favorites. So she had Qinggu fetch another box and stuffed it all into Zhao Hanzhang’s hands. “This box is for Tinghan. You deliver it to him yourself.”

She sighed. “His family isn’t here. He’s been traveling with you, with only Fu’an by his side, but I see Fu’an isn’t very attentive—he’s not even at his side serving him usually. You should be more considerate.”

Zhao Hanzhang agreed.

Wang Shi continued rambling. “It’s gotten cold. I’ve made new clothes for all of you, and cloaks to keep out the wind. You’re both people who have to walk around outside. In winter the wind is fierce—it’s better to wear cloaks…”

Wang Shi had Qinggu bring out three chests. For Fu Tinghan’s portion, she again had Zhao Hanzhang deliver it herself.

She emphasized repeatedly, “You must deliver it yourself, understand?”

Zhao Hanzhang readily agreed. Glancing at the clothes, shoes, and socks in the chest, she couldn’t help asking Qinggu, “Qinggu, has the front courtyard sent any money in this winter?”

Qinggu was slightly stunned and couldn’t help but look toward Wang Shi.

Wang Shi said to her, “You don’t need to worry about this.”

She touched the somewhat frayed clothes on Zhao Hanzhang’s body, her heart aching terribly. Tears came to her eyes, but she didn’t let them fall. Instead, she said to Zhao Hanzhang, “I know you’re different from other young ladies. Times now are different from before. If you were a man, your rear courtyard would have a wife to manage things for you and run the household. But you’re a young lady.”

“Tinghan is also someone doing great things. I see he’s no less busy than you, so the rear courtyard—let me handle it.” Wang Shi said, “Master Ji spoke to me earlier, saying you don’t have much money left on hand and the household expenses might need to be reduced.”

“You and Erlang are both away from home. I don’t spend much in the rear courtyard anyway. I simply told Master Ji to eliminate this expense. From now on, the front courtyard doesn’t need to give money to the rear courtyard. I have my own estate and some savings as well, which can still sustain things for now.”

Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t really just fifteen years old. Of course she knew how complex rear courtyard expenses were. Some interactions between ladies and families were all categorized under rear courtyard expenses.

Zhao Hanzhang opened her mouth to refuse, but when she looked up and saw Wang Shi’s gaze, the many words in her chest were choked back. She moved closer to her embrace. “I’ll listen to Mother in everything.”

Wang Shi became happy.

Zhao Erlang, who had been happily examining the new clothes, looked at the two of them with a puzzled expression. After hesitating, he still didn’t move closer.

He considered himself already an adult and didn’t want to cuddle with his mother and elder sister.

The mother and her two children (actually just two) talked for quite a while before going out to meet Ji Yuan again in the main hall.

Ji Yuan and Fu Tinghan had already drunk three cups of tea. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang walk out with a smile, he sat up properly and urged her, “We’ve agreed on transaction times with each family. There are only a few days left until delivery. At that time, it will need to be simultaneous exchange of money and goods.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Shi immediately turned to ask, “Sanniang, you’re short of money? How much do you need?”

She frowned. “I still have some on hand…”

Zhao Hanzhang quickly said, “Mother, I’m not short of money. I have money.”

Seeing Wang Shi look at her with skepticism, she said helplessly, “It’s true—I’m not lying to you. Grandfather left it for me.”

Wang Shi’s expression immediately cleared, and she believed her. Her father-in-law—well, that was no problem then.

But while this satisfied Wang Shi, Ji Yuan wasn’t completely reassured.

Because he knew how enormous the quantity for this transaction was. He also believed the old master had secretly left money for the young master, but was this sum really that much?

Zhao Hanzhang was already smiling as she reported to Wang Shi, “Mother, I left that money at the old residence, so I need to go back.”

Wang Shi paused before asking, “Should I go back with you?”

“No need,” Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand. “I have something else I need to entrust to Mother.”

She said with a smile, “As this new Governor, I haven’t really met with the people of Chen County, and I’m not familiar with the ladies of each family either. So I still need Mother’s help.”

This was exactly what Wang Shi wanted to do! She agreed readily.

Zhao Hanzhang said, “It’s gotten cold. Mother, please lead them in doing some good works. Let’s also establish a Charitable Hall in Chen County to shelter young children who’ve been displaced by the war…”

Wang Shi agreed. She had plenty of experience with this, after all she had frequently visited the Charitable Hall in Xiping before. Among the several female officials, she was most familiar with Chen Siniang.

After giving instructions, Zhao Hanzhang said to Fu Tinghan, “You come with me. When we go back this time, we can establish the pharmacies in Shangcai and Xiping.”

Fu Tinghan nodded in agreement. “Alright.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Then we’ll leave tomorrow.”

Ji Yuan was restless and also said, “Young lady, let me accompany you as well. This time the Zhao family has helped considerably. There are some matters it wouldn’t be appropriate for you to discuss directly.”

Zhao Hanzhang raised her eyebrows slightly, quite tempted. “But what about Chen County?”

Ji Yuan asked, “What about Zhao Kuan?”

Zhao Kuan…

Zhao Kuan had separated from Zhao Hanzhang upon entering Chen County. He had previously bought a residence in Chen County and went directly home, comfortable as could be.

It wasn’t that he was very wealthy and could casually buy property in the provincial capital. It was just that the area had recently experienced war, and many people had fled Chen County. There were particularly many vacant houses. Many families left behind one or two servants, first to watch the house, and second to sell it.

He felt it wasn’t very expensive and simply bought it.

Zhao Hanzhang said, “He’s indeed a good candidate. Besides, he also bought a house here, so he should stay for a while anyway.”

If Zhao Kuan knew that buying a house had become one of the reasons for him to stay behind, he would definitely go back two months and give that house-buying version of himself a good beating.