CHAPTER 100: CHAPTER 94: FATHERLY KINDNESS, FILIAL PIETY

Tan Zhong: ... He also really wants to show his support, but this is no small matter, he must first ask Zhao Zhongyu.

Zhao Song, seeing this, was disappointed and forced a smile, saying, "Let’s go, we’ll visit the next place."

Soon, good news spread throughout the fields; the farmers were as happy as during the New Year. From afar, upon seeing Zhao Song and Zhao Hanzhang, they knelt to kowtow their thanks, while fellow Zhao Family clansmen excitedly waved to them. When they noticed, they raised their hands to offer a deep bow.

Zhao Song mostly sat on the ox cart and accepted the thanks, and also had Zhao Hanzhang accept them, but when encountering some clansmen, he would have Zhao Hanzhang go over and return the gesture solemnly, "They are of a higher generation than you. Even if the family is poor, you must not accept their courtesy, seniority must be observed."

Zhao Hanzhang agreed one by one.

They had quite a lot of land; by the end of the day, they had only walked through a few fields near Wu Castle.

The fields of the two families were close together, and the situation was similar, but when they checked the harvests, the atmosphere differed on both sides.

On one side, the tenant farmers and clansmen cheerfully greeted Zhao Hanzhang, while on the other side, they looked on sullenly, filled with envy.

Tan Zhong felt even more pressure inside. When he came, the lord only said he wanted to reclaim the estate, intending to appoint a manor head and manager then, assuming the Fifth Grandfather wouldn’t oppose. Yet, he didn’t expect things wouldn’t go smoothly.

Tan Zhong had an instinct that something was wrong. Although the Xiping side always had the Fifth Grandfather acting as proxy, he followed the Clan Leader’s instructions. It was not his nature to oppose the Clan Leader.

Tan Zhong couldn’t help but glance at Zhao Hanzhang, who was riding ahead.

Back home, the smile on Zhao Song’s face disappeared. He stopped and looked back, seeing his son walking leisurely, then snorted, "Did you see? If the estate is handed over to these aides, no master would do anything. Now the roads can still communicate, but if there are wars or unexpected events in the future, and communication is cut off, is the clan not going to do anything, just waiting for orders from the Clan Leader?"

Zhao Song said with a stern face, "Losing the support of the people, what a poor move he made?"

Zhao Ming wasn’t thinking about this. He worriedly said, "Father, if Ji Yuan were here today, do you think this issue would still be a problem?"

"The Clan Leader sent Tan Zhong, surely because Tan Zhong is a trusted aide, but he’s intelligent yet lacks decisiveness. It’s worrisome to keep him close by," Zhao Ming furrowed his brows, "and Third Lady managed to snatch Ji Yuan from the Clan Leader. It shows her intelligence and decisiveness. You should be worrying about the conflict between the main and second branches of the family, mediating their differences, rather than siding with Third Lady. Doing so will escalate the conflict between the two branches, and could sow discord between the Clan Leader and the clan."

Zhao Song was shocked, his eyes widened, and pointed at him with trembling fingers, "You, you say I’m sowing discord?"

"Father, perhaps you didn’t do it intentionally, because you couldn’t foresee these things, yet your actions are indeed like this."

Zhao Song was extremely angry, searching for a stick, "You, you are saying I’m stupid?"

Zhao Ming saw his father snatch the ox whip from a servant, and he turned and ran first, turning back to shout after a dozen steps, "Father, honest advice is hard to hear but beneficial, I do this for the clan’s sake, calm down and think about it, and you’ll understand."

"Out of filial piety, I’ll avoid you for now, or else getting angry will harm your health; but if you hurt me, you’ll also feel sad, still bad for your health..."

Zhao Song chased a few steps and seeing him run out of sight, angrily turned in circles, while the butler rushed to calm him down, assisting him back to the main hall.

Zhao Song fuming, "Am I sowing discord? Should I just follow Zhao Zhongyu’s lead? He’s just a few years old, manages the clan for a few years, and dares boss around his father."

"Yes, yes, it’s all the young master’s fault. Master, don’t get angry, it’s not worth affecting your health."

Zhao Ming ran out, not knowing where to go, thought for a moment, and said, "Go to the main residence."

The follower was puzzled, "Master, you just spoke ill of Third Lady, aren’t you afraid of a quarrel when you go to the main residence now?"

"I spoke ill of her at home. No matter how powerful she is, she won’t know now," Zhao Ming said, "Go see her."

The follower was puzzled, "Master seems to really not like Third Lady."

"Wrong, I don’t dislike her," Zhao Ming sighed and said, "She’s too smart, making me uneasy. Her move of exempting rent in the fields today was brilliant, timed perfectly. After today, the clansmen, tenant farmers, and hired hands in Wu Castle will be won over, this skill of winning people’s hearts is comparable to Big Uncle."

Zhao Ming was filled with worry, "Father has worked diligently for twenty years, yet he fears he hasn’t won over as many hearts as her one action."

The follower didn’t believe, "Third Lady is not familiar with the clansmen, how could she compare with the master?"

"In time, the reputation from her action today will naturally diminish, but what if she takes advantage and presses on?" Zhao Ming decided to see Zhao Hanzhang, even if just for a chat, maybe some tea.

As Zhao Ming went to find Zhao Hanzhang, news from the fields had already reached the ears of the major households in Wu Castle.

These were the clansmen who joined Zhao Changyu last year in borrowing two-tenths rent. Upon hearing the commotion outside, many joined in waiving it.

For those who were still hesitant, seeing this, they could only follow suit.

Zhao Hu owned a considerable amount of land, ranking among the top three in tenant numbers within the clan. He cursed and waived the two-tenths rental, then asked, "Where’s Third Lady?"

"At the main residence."

"Have her come see me, no, it’s better I go find her," Zhao Hu stood up, "Otherwise, she’ll find an excuse not to dare come see me. Waiving rent on such a significant matter without consulting the clan is too much."

Thus, Zhao Ming and Zhao Hu met at the main residence entrance.

Zhao Hanzhang, hearing that elders came to visit, cheerfully came out to greet them, and seeing the two, warmly greeted them, "Seventh Ancestor, Cousin, are you here to visit me? Please come in."

Zhao Hu disliked Zhao Ming, preferring the gentle and tolerant Zhao Song. He feared this usually stern nephew, feeling his sharp eyes could see through people’s hearts.

Zhao Ming also disliked his clan uncle Zhao Hu, finding him disrespectful, unkind, and unsettling in his behavior, often testing his patience to the limit, giving him constant headaches.

Thus, the mutual dislike led them to encounter each other at the main residence gate, with both hoping to turn and leave.

Yet Zhao Hanzhang had already come out to invite them, and they had to proceed inside.

Tan Zhong brought quite a few people along. He had people monitoring the main residence’s situation, and upon hearing about this incident, sighed quietly, realizing his mission likely wouldn’t succeed.

He could only write a letter to Zhao Zhongyu to report and seek advice.

However, Zhao Hanzhang didn’t mention Zhao Zhongyu, nor did she discuss the fields. She curiously engaged Zhao Hu, asking what profitable workshops and shops he had.

"These fields are important, but speaking of converting them to cash, grain is just a small part. In my opinion, making money requires luxurious goods, but I don’t know what makes the most money in Ru Nan."

Zhao Hu loved enjoyment, indulgent yet unrestrained. Hearing this, he fully agreed and clapped his hands, saying, "Third Lady and I share the same views."