The blacksmith agreed without giving Zhao Hanzhang a receipt.

The Zhao family was the largest clan in Xiping. No one dared cheat them, much less since Zhao Hanzhang was from the senior branch.

When Zhao Song heard about this, he assumed Zhao Hanzhang’s spear head was commissioned for Zhao Erlang, and said: “Erlang isn’t good at studying. If he could learn some martial arts for self-protection that would also be good. Do you have any training masters on your side? If not, pick a master from here to go over.”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled: “Has Fifth Uncle-Grandfather forgotten? Zhao Ju is with me.”

“Oh, right, you have Zhao Ju.” Only then did Zhao Song remember that Zhao Changyu’s two most trusted people, Ji Yuan and Zhao Ju, were both with Zhao Hanzhang.

He couldn’t help but ponder deeply. Could it be that Big Brother’s intention was to value Sanniang more highly?

When Zhao Ming learned of his father’s doubts, he really wanted to shake his shoulders to wake him up, “Father, the current clan leader is from the second branch! If Big Uncle had such intentions, wouldn’t that be dividing the clan? This is a great taboo for the clan. At this time shouldn’t you be thinking about calming the dispute and trying to weaken and distance yourself from Sanniang?”

“Big Brother devoted his entire life to the court, to the people, to the clansmen with utmost dedication. In terms of foresight and knowledge, how many people in the world can compare to him?” Zhao Song said, “He would never harm the Zhao family. If it’s truly as you say, that Ji Yuan and Zhao Ju were intentionally left to Sanniang by him, then it means he believes the second branch cannot shoulder great responsibility, and the clan is better off with Sanniang than with the second branch.”

Zhao Ming: “…What if Ji Yuan and Zhao Ju weren’t given by Big Uncle, but were seized by Sanniang herself?”

Regarding his father’s blind worship of Big Uncle, Zhao Ming decided not to speak or participate, only wanting to harmonize clan relations.

Zhao Song fell silent.

Zhao Ming saw that he was finally willing to consider another possibility and was greatly moved. For his father to develop even a little wariness toward Zhao Sanniang, was it easy for him?

Zhao Hanzhang had already taken the craftsmen they gave her back to Shangcai.

After just a few days absence, Zhao Erlang had darkened by a shade. Holding a large saber while riding a horse, he galloped over joyfully, “Elder Sister, Brother-in-law, I can now withstand five moves from Uncle Qianli while mounted.”

Fu Tinghan nodded in praise, “Very impressive. Have you been reciting your books recently?”

Zhao Hanzhang stared at his dark face, “Erlang, like this you won’t be able to get a wife. Didn’t I tell you not to go out when the sun is strongest?”

He didn’t like hearing either of their words, so he selectively forgot the one he least wanted to hear and only answered one of them, “Then I just won’t get a wife.”

He rubbed his face, “Mother applies makeup to me every day, but I don’t like face powder. When I sweat it gets in my eyes, it’s so uncomfortable.”

He pointed at Fu Tinghan, “Just like Brother-in-law—he never applies powder either.”

“That’s because he doesn’t need to apply powder to be fair,” Zhao Hanzhang looked at her brother and finally sighed, “Forget it, don’t apply it anymore. Even if you did, it would be wasted.”

The wheat on both sides had been harvested, and farmers were plowing the fields to prepare for planting beans. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang walking and looking at both sides, moving extremely slowly, Zhao Erlang became anxious, “Elder Sister, let’s race on horseback and see who’s faster.”

He said, “What’s interesting about watching farming? If you like watching, we have fields by our house too. We can watch there later.”

Zhao Hanzhang: “This concerns whether we’ll be hungry or full-bellied in the coming year. Of course I must watch.”

She instructed: “Even if you don’t like it, you must understand something about it. When you manage your own household later, at the very least you must know how much grain is in your storehouse and whether it’s enough to feed everyone.”

“Just leave it to Master Ji,” Zhao Erlang said, “Mother said everything at home can be left to Master Ji. If I don’t understand, I should ask him.”

Zhao Hanzhang took the opportunity to ask: “Has Master Ji been teaching you to read?”

Zhao Erlang fell silent again.

“I know you don’t like studying. But that’s alright—if characters are hard to recognize, we won’t recognize characters. Fifth Uncle-Grandfather was right, you’re not good at studying, so we’ll take the martial path,” Zhao Hanzhang said, “But taking the martial path doesn’t mean becoming a brute. How about this—from now on I’ll explain military treatises to you daily?”

“You don’t need to use your eyes to read books. Just use your ears to listen and your brain to remember. Knowledge in this world doesn’t only enter through the eyes—using ears to listen works too, as long as you’re willing to use your brain to remember.”

Zhao Erlang half-understood, but knowing he still had to study made his spine stiffen involuntarily. He immediately looked at Fu Tinghan, “I, I, I want Brother-in-law to teach me.”

Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow and looked at Fu Tinghan.

Fu Tinghan: “…I can barely remember ‘The Art of War by Sun Tzu.’ I don’t understand other military treatises.”

Zhao Hanzhang: “No problem. Our family’s collection includes ‘Six Secret Teachings’ and ‘Book of Han: Treatise on Literature.’ Combined with ‘The Art of War by Sun Tzu,’ if he can learn two-tenths of these three books, it will be enough for his lifetime.”

Fu Tinghan had the feeling of being assigned a teaching task by the school.

He rubbed his forehead, “I’ll do my best. However, I don’t have any good insights on military strategy. You might be able to supplement.”

“Sure, I’ll teach together with you. We also need to practice martial arts and exercise together.”

Fu Tinghan had almost forgotten about this. Recalling how in previous days he followed Zhao Hanzhang running and practicing boxing every day, exhausted like a dog, he fell into silence.

Those days at Zhao Family’s fortified estate had been truly blissful.

Fu Tinghan couldn’t help asking, “When will we go to Xiping next time?”

“Depends on the situation. I want to wait until the glass is made before deciding.”

For Fu Tinghan, making glass wasn’t difficult. He knew all the formulas and the steps. As long as the craftsmen cooperated, producing it was only a matter of time.

The time issue existed only because of the limitations of equipment at that time. But what did that matter? Solutions always outnumber difficulties. Working backward step by step to achieve the goal would suffice.

Zhao Hanzhang handed the craftsmen she brought back to Chengbo, having him arrange their families properly, then immediately had the craftsmen begin preparing to fire ceramics.

She decided to first test the kiln’s condition and their mastery of temperature control, then begin producing glass.

Ji Yuan didn’t know her aim was glass and thought she just wanted to fire ceramics. Seeing the ceramics the craftsmen fired, he looked disgusted, “This kind of ceramic can only be used by people in the estate. It can’t be sold. Why did Sanniang waste goodwill with Fifth Great Uncle for such small profit?”

A craftsman nearby felt indignant upon hearing this, “I didn’t fire this kiln well because it’s a new kiln and the environment here is different from before. Once we’re familiar with it, it’ll be fine.”

“That’s right, and this clay isn’t good enough either. If Sanniang wants to fire good ceramics, she still needs good clay and materials.”

Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand generously, “I know. You’ll have everything you need. First get the kiln fired up. The ceramics fired recently will all be used by people in the estate, so make ceramic cups, bowls, plates, dishes—make all of these.”

Ji Yuan couldn’t help pulling Zhao Hanzhang aside, “Sanniang, are you really planning to do ceramics business?”

He said, “While there’s little now, it’s manageable. But when there’s more in the future, we’ll inevitably compete for business with Xiping. With profit disputes, the relationship might not be so harmonious.”

—