He said excitedly, “Speaking of profitable goods—from gold and silver ornaments, jade seals at the high end, to fine silks and fabrics, unique porcelain at the low end—as long as they suit someone’s taste, they’re beyond what money can measure.”
“Does Seventh Grand-Uncle like glass?”
Zhao Hu: “What kind of glass?”
Zhao Hanzhang: “Glass cups, glass ornaments, and glass mirrors.”
Zhao Hu wrinkled his nose dismissively. “They’d have to be sufficiently transparent to be any good. If it’s mixed glass with mottled quality, it’s not even as good as rough ceramic cups or bronze mirrors.”
He said, “Don’t think that just because something has the word ‘glass’ attached to it, it’s glass. It has to have quality.”
Zhao Hanzhang asked, “How much would a single transparent glass cup be worth?”
“Not expensive—one or two gold pieces could buy one.”
Zhao Hanzhang: “What about a full set of glass cups, plus a glass pitcher?”
Zhao Hu became interested. “There’s also a glass pitcher? Bring it for me to see. If it’s good, I’ll buy it.”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled gently. “Seventh Grand-Uncle, name a price first. If it’s suitable, I’ll bring it next time for you to appreciate.”
Zhao Hu pondered. Items in Sanniang’s possession must have come from Zhao Changyu. He understood this elder brother well—his taste was discerning. Since it was his collection, the quality must be excellent.
So he considered carefully. “If it’s truly a complete set, I can offer you a hundred gold pieces.”
Zhao Ming’s forehead twitched. Zhao Hanzhang now had a good sense of the value. She raised her teacup and clinked it against Zhao Hu’s. “Seventh Grand-Uncle, rest assured. When I have it, I’ll come to you first.”
Zhao Hu: “…So you don’t actually have it now?”
Zhao Hanzhang spread her hands. “As you know, I lost all my luggage. How could I have such fine items? But I already have leads—I’ll definitely be able to find them for Seventh Grand-Uncle.”
Fu Tinghan, sitting to the side, silently drank his tea. The workshop didn’t even have a single stroke written yet, and she was already boasting so grandly.
Zhao Ming looked at Zhao Hu, then at Zhao Hanzhang. His restless heart suddenly calmed down. Fine, let them be.
Perhaps he was overthinking things. Maybe Zhao Hanzhang just wanted to earn more money to make life easier.
Zhao Ming felt he shouldn’t always assume malicious intent when considering people. So he silently drank his tea and didn’t interfere.
Having learned about the market for glass and even pre-sold to several future customers, Zhao Hanzhang finally turned to Zhao Ming. “Cousin, actually, Sanniang has a favor to ask in returning to the fortress this time.”
Zhao Ming calmly set down his teacup and asked, “What is it?”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “I want to open a workshop to fire porcelain, but skilled craftsmen are hard to find, so I’d like to ask Cousin for two craftsmen with good skills.”
Zhao Hu spat out his tea with a “pfft.” “Sanniang, you’re really…”
“Very well,” Zhao Ming agreed directly. “I’ll find some craftsmen to send to you shortly, along with their indenture contracts.”
Zhao Hu immediately choked, his eyes widening as he stared at Zhao Ming. After a long pause, coming back to his senses, he immediately said, “Nephew Zinian, I also want to set up a workshop and need craftsmen too. What do you think…”
Zhao Ming: “Seventh Grand-Uncle, why not discuss this with Father?”
Zhao Hu immediately fell silent. However, he still looked back and forth between Zhao Ming and Zhao Hanzhang with dissatisfaction, not understanding why craftsmen could be given to Zhao Hanzhang but not to him.
Fu Tinghan also didn’t understand. Once they left, he asked Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang said, “Probably because he knows I’m poor and doesn’t want me causing trouble back at the fortress.”
Fu Tinghan: “Then… will you still fight for those fields in Zhao Zhongyu’s hands?”
“Of course I will,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “But the road must be walked step by step, and food must be eaten one bite at a time.”
She continued, “This matter isn’t urgent.”
After all, Zhao Zhongyu wasn’t here. From today’s situation, Tan Zhong clearly couldn’t make decisions. Letters going back and forth would take time too—perfect for letting Zhao Song see how problematic it was to hand businesses over to advisors for management.
Although Zhao Zhongyu was clan leader, he still had to listen to the clan’s suggestions. If Zhao Song strongly opposed handing ancestral and clan properties to advisors, he would have to consider it.
By then, how could she not fight for her share?
When Zhao Song learned that Zhao Ming had given Zhao Hanzhang craftsmen, though surprised, he didn’t object.
To him, it was just two craftsmen. Even if her workshop was in Shangcai rather than Xiping, he wasn’t worried.
His kiln’s production capacity and sales network were established. How could others just take that away?
Moreover, in his heart, Zhao Hanzhang was still a child.
Zhao Ming, however, felt that with Zhao Hanzhang’s intelligence, as long as she worked hard, she would eventually replace his father’s kiln. Then his father would realize how wrong his current assessment of Zhao Hanzhang was.
Seeing his father didn’t object, Zhao Ming had people go to the kiln to select some craftsmen. “Find their and their families’ indenture contracts and send them all to Sanniang.”
The steward looked toward Zhao Song.
Zhao Song waved his hand at him, and the steward left to carry out the order.
Zhao Song held back but couldn’t resist asking, “Why are you suddenly being so generous with Sanniang?”
Zhao Ming glanced at his father. “I’m making a bet. I’m betting that one day Father will suffer a great loss because of Sanniang. In the future, her porcelain workshop will definitely surpass your kiln, and then you’ll know how great her ambitions are.”
Zhao Song: “…So you’re deliberately sabotaging me, making me suffer?”
“As the saying goes, ‘One learns from one’s mistakes and gains wisdom.’ Father, if you don’t suffer losses, how can you gain wisdom?”
Zhao Song was looking around for a stick again. “Just you wait. If you don’t let me beat you today, don’t bother coming home anymore. Shanmin, Shanmin, where are you? Quickly bring me a stick!”
The long-attendant who was about to run heard this and stopped. Seeing the steward running over in a hurry, he helpfully pointed out, “Where would there be sticks in the house? Just go to the garden and break off a branch from the camellia tree.”
The steward looked anxiously at Zhao Song.
Zhao Song stamped his foot angrily. “What are you standing there for? Go! Quickly go break one for me.”
Steward: “…But that’s your favorite camellia tree.”
In the end, the steward did break off a tree branch for him. Zhao Ming stood there and let his father beat him, stripping all the leaves off the branch before he stopped.
But his clothes were thick, and the branch was soft, so the beating didn’t hurt much. In the end, when Zhao Song tiredly released the branch, Zhao Ming wasn’t even breathing hard, standing straight as if completely uninjured.
Zhao Song pointed at his son, speechless.
Zhao Ming: “Father, why be angry? If Sanniang doesn’t end up tricking you, it means you judged her character correctly—that’s worth celebrating. If Sanniang does end up tricking you, it means your son’s concerns were justified. Using just one kiln to test a person’s character is a very small price to pay—still worth celebrating.”
“And it would also prove your son has good judgment. Isn’t that a good thing?”
Zhao Song: “The worst thing in my life was raising you. Go to your room. I don’t want to see you for now. Oh my, Shanmin, my chest hurts.”
The steward hurried forward to support him. “Master, shall we ask Sanniang to return the craftsmen?”
“You’re making me even angrier. Am I worried about the craftsmen? Besides, we’ve already given them away. If we ask for them back, do I still want my face or not?” Zhao Song clutched his chest. “I’m completely angry because of this unfilial son.”