Everyone has a love of beauty, and Zhao Hu even more so.

So in the evening, Zhao Hu hurried over to have dinner with Zhao Hanzhang.

Even Zhao Song came running with his son to watch the excitement, so what was originally just an ordinary dinner to welcome Wei Jie and Wang Yu became a small banquet.

Fortunately, Zhao Hu didn’t come empty-handed. He had always despised that Zhao Hanzhang had delicious food but didn’t eat it, practicing frugality all the time, so he brought good wine and food when he came.

Everyone sat down at separate seats. Zhao Hu asked Wei Jie proudly, “You don’t have these dishes in the south, do you?”

Wei Jie glanced over and nodded, “That’s right. The south still mainly uses boiling and roasting, rarely seeing such dishes. I’ve heard that Yu Province has newly produced cooking utensils called iron woks. Cooking food with iron woks has a unique flavor.”

Zhao Hu said, “These are dishes made with iron woks. Sanniang is average at other things, but has some talent in eating. She’s thought up many ways of eating, which I’ve tried one by one. Now they’re very popular in my restaurant. Master Wei, if you find the chef at her house not to your taste, you can come dine at my restaurant.”

If Wei Jie was willing to go, he could definitely steal all the business from the restaurant across the street—no, from all the restaurants on the entire street.

Humph, Yu Sanlang still wants to compete with him. Just look at that bear-like appearance. Is he worthy?

Wei Jie didn’t immediately agree, but looked toward Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled, “Seventh Great-Uncle, we’ll set off to return to Luoyang the day after tomorrow.”

She even asked an extra question, “Do you want to travel with us?”

“No,” Zhao Hu wasn’t stupid. Having been swindled once was enough. Going again to be swindled a second time—what would that mean?

Zhao Hanzhang smiled, “Seventh Great-Uncle, now is the time for planting winter wheat. Before long, this wave of farming work will end, and then the common people will be idle at home with nothing to do—it’s a great time for spinning thread and weaving cloth.”

She said, “You also know that our yamen has limited manpower. Although we can organize everyone with a bit of effort, we’re not as capable as you, Great-Uncle. If you’re willing to go, the Luoyang people will definitely be overjoyed, and you can also earn quite a bit of money.”

Zhao Hu scoffed, “The wages your yamen pays have to be recorded first, and you only pay after the cloth collected is sold. Having to wait that long, naturally they won’t be motivated.”

The settlement cycle was too long, and it was doing business with the yamen. Even though Zhao Hanzhang had high credibility, the common people were still somewhat worried and fearful, feeling like they were doing free labor, so naturally they weren’t enthusiastic enough. But they also didn’t delay progress.

If the efficiency when the yamen asked them to spin thread and weave cloth was one hundred, then when Zhao Hu asked them to spin thread and weave cloth, it would be one hundred twenty.

Although Zhao Hu had many faults and many demands and always wanted to push prices down, he never delayed everyone’s wages. Basically, he could achieve payment upon delivery, so the Luoyang people still very much liked doing business with this Seventh Great-Grandfather who wasn’t very easy to talk to.

Zhao Hanzhang also wanted to continue swindling him to Luoyang to contribute to Luoyang’s economic development.

But Zhao Hu didn’t like hardship and even less liked being taken advantage of, so he directly raised his hand to refuse to discuss this issue further with Zhao Hanzhang. He still smiled at Wei Jie and dug at Zhao Hanzhang’s wall right in front of her, “Master Wei, Luoyang is no longer what it once was. Half the city has been burned, full of ruins and broken walls. Going there would be suffering. You might as well stay in Chenxian. This is now the seat of Yu Province, the most peaceful and prosperous place aside from Xiping.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Seventh Great-Uncle, only a portion of northern Luoyang was burned. Where did half the city get burned?”

Wei Jie frowned slightly and asked, “Was it burned during the Battle of Luoyang?”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, “Yes, it was the fire Liu Cong set when escaping from Luoyang.”

Wei Jie quickly asked, “What about the common people?”

He said, “We fled Luoyang after Prince Donghai. Afterward, we were constantly wandering, and communication on the road was poor. The news was half true and half false, difficult to distinguish.”

Zhao Hanzhang then briefly introduced the current situation in Luoyang.

Wei Jie listened attentively and sighed, “Luoyang is a great city. Even if the Governor can only restore it to half its former prosperity, holding Luoyang’s strategic advantage would be enough to block the southward advance of the Xiongnu. From then on, Yu Province would have no troubles.”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and nodded, “Exactly so. It’s just that this matter is difficult and still requires the help of all the worthy and talented.”

Wei Jie took the opportunity to ask, “What can I help you with?”

Zhao Hanzhang immediately said, “I would like to ask you to be my Washma. I wonder if you would be willing?”

Washma was an official position in charge of books and records, observing government and providing political opinions, and also an official who arranged and inspected matters before the chief official traveled. So in the past, Washma was also called Xianma.

At least from the Qin dynasty and earlier, it was called Xianma. She didn’t know if later generations remembered it wrong, but starting from the Han dynasty it changed to Washma.

This official position wasn’t low either—fifth rank, on par with a provincial governor.

Wei Jie agreed immediately.

Wang Yu, sitting to the side, was extremely envious, but he knew this couldn’t be envied. Wei Jie was not only good-looking but also had real talent and learning.

He had much more learning in his belly than Wang Yu did. On the path of scholarship, Wang Yu was the same as his father Wang Ji—neither was very proficient. So he lowered his head to drink wine, concealing his envy.

Seeing them start talking about government affairs, Zhao Hu lost interest and looked away, listening listlessly.

Wei Jie and Zhao Hanzhang, however, became more and more engrossed in their conversation. If it weren’t for the late hour, with Zhao Song and Zhao Hu and others taking their leave, and the fact that Zhao Hanzhang was a woman, Wei Jie would definitely have pulled her into an all-night discussion.

Wei Jie reluctantly stood to take his leave. Zhao Hanzhang escorted him to the main hall entrance, smiling, “Maternal uncle’s health isn’t good. You should rest early. Don’t stay up late when your interest in conversation is piqued—it’s very harmful to your vital energy.”

Wei Jie smiled and agreed, but couldn’t suppress his aroused interest in conversation. He turned to Wang Yu and said, “Zhao Hanzhang is truly a great talent. She has the bearing of a hegemon.”

Wang Yu looked shocked and confused, “Ah?”

Wei Jie then calmed down, his interest in conversation slightly diminishing, “Never mind, let’s go to sleep. Tomorrow we’ll go look around Chenxian.”

But after washing up and lying in bed, Wei Jie couldn’t fall asleep no matter what. After lying there for two quarters of an hour, he finally gave up on sleeping and directly put on his clothes and walked out.

He didn’t do anything in particular, just walked slowly around the courtyard, looking up at the bright moon in the sky, his thoughts numerous.

Thinking and thinking, when he came back to his senses, he had already walked out of his guest quarters and was approaching the main courtyard.

Wei Jie looked at his location, smiled bitterly, and shook his head. He turned to go back when he saw a courtyard nearby still had its lights on.

This was very close to the main courtyard. The person living here…

Wei Jie couldn’t help but walk in, asking softly, “Is this Master Fu’s residence?”

Fu’an, dozing by the door, suddenly woke up, quickly wiped the corner of his mouth, and after confirming there was no drool, immediately climbed up, “Yes, how did Master Wei walk here?”

Fu Tinghan in the study also heard the sound and curiously opened the door to come out, “Master Wei hasn’t gone to sleep yet?”

Seeing him wearing only an outer garment and running around everywhere, he turned sideways and said, “Please come in to talk.”