Zhao Hu directly waved his hand, “Frugality and such doesn’t suit me—don’t mention it again. Life in this world is but a few short decades—why should I wrong myself? If I had no money, that would be one thing. But I have lots of money, and earning it is meant for spending. Otherwise, what’s the point of keeping it?”

He said, “Look at your grandfather—frugal his whole life, and the money he saved ended up benefiting you and Zhao Zhongyu.”

“If you spent the money on yourself and Erlang, his money would have been worth saving. But you took it to raise soldiers and rescue refugees—all people you don’t even know. Bite by bite, they ate up all the money he saved. If he knew, he’d probably be furious.”

Zhao Hanzhang: “…I think Grandfather would be happy if he knew?”

That money was originally saved for the Zhao clan. She used it to raise soldiers also for the Zhao clan!

But Zhao Hu didn’t think so. He judged others by himself and snorted heavily, “Happy my foot! After I die, if Zhao Cheng dares give my money to unrelated people, I’ll definitely be so angry I’ll jump out of my coffin to settle accounts with him!”

Zhao Hu paused, then said, “Though he really might do just that. So I can’t leave him too much money—I need to spend it, spend as much as possible. That way there’ll be less left over.”

Zhao Hanzhang was left speechless.

After a good while, she harbored some unspeakable emotions as she enticed him, “Then spend it, preferably right in front of Uncle Cheng.”

Zhao Hu also wanted to spend money to spite his son a bit. He had just up and left, even taking his grandson to such a dangerous frontline. He couldn’t easily forgive him no matter what.

He asked Zhao Hanzhang, “What can I spend money on in Luoyang?”

Zhao Hanzhang felt secretly pleased but kept her face steady, seriously suggesting in a solemn manner, “Mansions and shops?”

Zhao Hu frowned. He didn’t really want to invest in property in Luoyang. If it were the stable times of before, he would naturally love to. But now Luoyang was desolate, and even the Emperor wasn’t here. They could go to war with the Xiongnu at any time. He didn’t want to invest in property here.

Zhao Hanzhang looked completely accommodating, smiling, “If Seventh Great Uncle doesn’t like it, never mind. I was thinking that since His Majesty moved the capital to Yuncheng, everyone’s eyes are on Yuncheng. Luoyang is desolate now, but in a few years, when our great Jin launches a counteroffensive, if we can regain control of all under heaven, His Majesty will surely move the capital back. After all, Luoyang is the center of the realm and has natural barriers—it’s more suitable as a capital than anywhere else.”

Zhao Hu pondered, feeling somewhat tempted. He asked, “Are mansions and shops expensive in Luoyang now?”

Zhao Hanzhang said forthrightly, “Not expensive—they’re like cabbages.”

Zhao Hu looked at her skeptically.

“Really, I don’t even know the specific prices myself. If Seventh Great Uncle is interested, I’ll have brokers come over later,” Zhao Hanzhang said very generously, “Regardless of which mansions and shops Seventh Great Uncle fancies, I’ll reduce the set price by ten percent.”

“Ten percent? That’s too stingy.” Zhao Hu directly counter-offered, “Thirty percent!”

Zhao Hanzhang: “…Seventh Great Uncle, you should ask about Luoyang’s current property prices versus the past. With a thirty percent reduction, the houses are practically being given away free.”

“You can’t sell them anyway, and which of those shops are even yours?” Zhao Hu said, “Aren’t they all forcibly occupied by you? You make a profit on every set sold. Otherwise they’ll just sit there deteriorating—a bunch of mud lumps that not only won’t make money but will spoil if left alone.”

After both sides haggled back and forth, they finally settled on a twenty percent discount.

Zhao Hu won with difficulty but was very happy—even happier than when Zhao Hanzhang had agreed in one breath to his old-coin-to-new-coin exchange ratio. He felt he’d gotten a great bargain.

Zhao Hanzhang watched him happy and silently shook her head.

If it weren’t to make him happy, actually thirty percent would have been fine too.

What Zhao Hanzhang lacked now wasn’t the bit of money from selling shops and mansions.

No, what she lacked were people who could open the shops, and also the goods to stock the shops with.

Zhao Hu first negotiated the price. Whether to actually buy was another matter to decide later.

With major matters settled, Zhao Hu served tea to see off his guest, “Where is your main kitchen? Have someone show my servants where to fetch hot water.”

Zhao Hanzhang immediately stood to take her leave, “I’ll arrange it right away. Seventh Great Uncle, you’ve traveled far and must be tired. Rest first. When Uncle Cheng and the others return, we’ll all have dinner together.”

Zhao Hu hummed in acknowledgment.

Once Zhao Hanzhang left, he bathed and washed his hair, had a maid trim his beard, then reclined on the couch to nap for a while. When he woke and heard his son and grandson had returned, he carefully selected which clothes to wear, applied fragrant powder, looking both handsome and fragrant, then lifted his foot to head out.

Just as he stepped through the doorway, his brow furrowed involuntarily. He remembered Zhao Hanzhang’s coarse cloth clothing and the disdain flashed in his eyes. He called over his attendant, “Open the trunks and find a few bolts of brightly colored cloth. Sanniang is out of mourning now, right?”

The attendant counted on his fingers and quickly said, “This servant calculated—she’s out of mourning.”

“Then send the cloth to her. Also find two bolts suitable for men and send one each to Tinghan and Erlang. Such a fine youth—not dressing up is simply wasteful, especially wasting their faces.”

The attendant smiled in acknowledgment and turned to search for cloth.

Zhao Hu had brought some things from Xiping after all, especially since he was coming to see his son and grandson. He had brought quite a few good things. So the attendant soon emerged carrying an armful of cloth.

Zhao Hu lifted his chin and went off dashingly to see his son and grandson.

Many people sat in the reception hall. Zhao Hanzhang was listening to Zhao Kuan report on matters. Zhao Cheng sat to one side occasionally interjecting. Even young Zhao Zheng could offer some suggestions. As soon as Zhao Hu arrived, the conversation immediately changed course.

Zhao Kuan and the other cousins bowed to Zhao Hu, “Seventh Great Uncle\Great Grand Uncle.”

Zhao Hu’s gaze first swept over his son and grandson, then settled on Zhao Hanzhang, seeing she had changed clothes but still wore only fine hemp.

He frowned and had his attendant bring up the cloth, saying, “Use these to make clothes. Sanniang, you are after all a noble lady. Even if you advocate frugality, you cannot be too crude.”

He said seriously, “This is improper deportment—a breach of propriety.”

Zhao Hanzhang: …How had she breached propriety?

Who knew that Zhao Cheng, who usually opposed Zhao Hu, actually nodded in agreement.

Zhao Hanzhang felt exhausted and explained, “Seventh Great Uncle, I wear coarse hemp because I train troops. I had planned to inspect the water mill construction today and might even need to help manually. Those clothes are light, dirt-resistant, and even if they’re damaged, I won’t feel bad—just mend them and they’re wearable again.”

Zhao Hu’s eyes widened. His carefully maintained immortal demeanor before his son instantly vanished. “You actually plan to wear mended coarse hemp?”

Zhao Hanzhang also looked at him with heartache, “Seventh Great Uncle, please don’t be like Emperor Hui asking ‘why not eat meat.’ Though it’s coarse cloth, the clothes are really very good!”

Zhao Hanzhang expressed again, “I have no money!”

“Your grandfather left you so much money…”

Zhao Hanzhang: “Spent! All of it!”