CHAPTER 101: CHAPTER 95: BETTING

He excitedly said, "If you’re talking about things that make money, from gold and silver ornaments, jade seals, to exquisite silk fabrics and unique porcelain, these things, once they capture one’s heart, cannot be measured by money."

"Does Seventh Ancestor like glazed objects?"

Zhao Hu: "What kind of glazed objects?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "Glazed cups, glazed ornaments, and glazed mirrors."

Zhao Hu curled his lips disdainfully and said, "They must be transparent enough to look good. If they’re mixed glass, with mottled texture, then they’re not as good as coarse porcelain cups and bronze mirrors."

He said, "Not everything with the word ’glazed’ is truly glazed; it must have quality."

Zhao Hanzhang asked, "What is the price of a transparent glazed cup?"

"Not expensive; one or two gold coins could buy it."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Then what if it’s a set of glazed cups plus a glazed pot?"

Zhao Hu became interested, "There’s also a glazed pot? Bring it for me to see; if it’s good, I’ll buy it."

Zhao Hanzhang smiled slightly, "Seventh Ancestor, please name a price. If it’s appropriate, I will bring it for your inspection next time."

Zhao Hu pondered. The items in Third Lady’s hands must be given by Zhao Changyu; he knows his older brother well, who has a sharp eye. Since it’s his collection, it must not be poor quality.

So he pondered and said, "If it’s truly a complete set, I could offer you a hundred gold coins."

Zhao Ming’s forehead twitched, and Zhao Hanzhang had an idea. Raising her teacup, she clinked it with Zhao Hu and said, "Seventh Ancestor, just wait patiently. Once I have it, I’ll come to you first."

Zhao Hu: "...You don’t have it now?"

Zhao Hanzhang spread her hands, "You know I’ve lost all my luggage; how could I have such good things? But I already have some clues; I will definitely find some for Seventh Ancestor."

Beside them, Fu Tinghan sipped his tea quietly; the workshop hasn’t even started, and they’re boasting too much.

Zhao Ming glanced at Zhao Hu and then at Zhao Hanzhang, calming his restless heart. Forget it; let them be.

Maybe he’s overthinking; perhaps Zhao Hanzhang just wants to earn a bit more money to live better?

Zhao Ming decided he shouldn’t always think maliciously of people, so he sipped his tea quietly without getting involved.

Zhao Hanzhang found a market for the glazed items and even reserved several future customers. Then she turned to Zhao Ming and said, "Uncle, actually, Third Lady has something to ask for during this return to Wu Castle."

Zhao Ming calmly put down his teacup and asked, "What is it?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "I want to set up a workshop to make porcelain, but good craftsmen are hard to find. So I want to ask Uncle for a couple of skilled craftsmen."

Zhao Hu spewed tea with a "pfft", "Third Lady, this too..."

"Alright," Zhao Ming immediately agreed, "I’ll find a few craftsmen and send them to you with their contracts."

Zhao Hu choked instantly, staring wide-eyed at Zhao Ming, paused for a while, and then immediately said, "Nephew Zi Nian, I also want to set up a workshop and lack craftsmen; can you..."

Zhao Ming: "Why don’t Seventh Uncle discuss it with Father?"

Zhao Hu stopped talking immediately but still looked back and forth between Zhao Ming and Zhao Hanzhang, baffled why craftsmen could be given to Zhao Hanzhang but not to him?

Fu Tinghan also didn’t understand and asked Zhao Hanzhang once they left.

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Maybe because they know I’m poor and don’t want me causing trouble back at Wu Castle."

Fu Tinghan: "Then... do you still fight for the land Zhao Zhongyu holds?"

"Of course," Zhao Hanzhang said, "But the path must be taken step by step, and meals eaten bite by bite."

She said, "This is not urgent."

After all, Zhao Zhongyu is not here; from today’s situation, Tan Zhong is completely unable to call the shots. Correspondence takes time, which is just enough for Zhao Song to see the shortcomings of entrusting the management of his estate to staff.

Though Zhao Zhongyu is the clan leader, he has to listen to the family’s advice. If Zhao Song strongly opposes giving the ancestral and family assets to staff, he must consider it.

How can she know she won’t fight for it then?

Once Zhao Song knew Zhao Ming gave craftsmen to Zhao Hanzhang, he was surprised but didn’t object.

To him, just two craftsmen; whether her workshop is opened in Shangcai or even Xiping, he isn’t afraid.

His kiln’s output and market are solid; no one can just snatch them away.

Besides, in his mind, Zhao Hanzhang is still a child.

However, Zhao Ming felt that with Zhao Hanzhang’s intelligence, as long as she works hard, one day she will replace her father’s kiln, and then her father will realize how wrong his understanding of Zhao Hanzhang was today.

Once Zhao Ming saw his father didn’t object, he had someone select a few craftsmen from the kiln, "Gather their and their family’s contracts and send them all to Third Lady."

The steward looked at Zhao Song.

Zhao Song waved him off, so the steward went forth to do so.

Zhao Song endured but couldn’t help opening his mouth, "Why do you suddenly become generous to Third Lady?"

Zhao Ming glanced at his father and said, "I’m betting; I’m betting one day Father will suffer a great loss because of Third Lady. Her porcelain workshop will certainly surpass your kiln, and then you’ll realize how ambitious she is."

Zhao Song: "...So you’re intentionally setting me up to suffer?"

"As the saying goes, suffering a loss teaches wisdom. Father, how can you grow wise without suffering a loss?"

Zhao Song searched around for a stick again, "Hold on, if I don’t beat you today, don’t return home in the future. Servants, servants, bring me a stick quickly!"

As Zhao Ming was about to run, he stopped hearing this, seeing the steward rushing over. He even kindly pointed out, "Where’s a stick at home? Just break a camellia flower branch in the garden."

The steward anxiously looked at Zhao Song.

Zhao Song stomped angrily, "What are you standing for? Go on, break one for me quickly."

The steward: "...But that’s your favorite camellia."

In the end, the steward did break a branch, and Zhao Ming stood there allowing his father to beat him until the branch was stripped bare.

But his clothes were thick, and the branch soft, the beating wasn’t very painful. At last, Zhao Song let go exhausted, while Zhao Ming was still standing straight, without a trace of breathlessness, as if unscathed.

Zhao Song pointed at his son speechless.

Zhao Ming: "Father, why be angry? If Third Lady doesn’t betray you in the end, it means you’ve judged people correctly, which is a great thing. If Third Lady ends up betraying you, it shows your son’s concerns were justified. Testing a person’s character with just one kiln is a very small price, and still a reason for joy."

"Besides, it would show your son’s good judgment, isn’t that a good thing?"

Zhao Song: "The worst thing in my life is raising you. Go back to your room; I don’t want to see you right now. Oh dear, servants, my heart hurts."

The steward rushed to help him, "Master, should we ask Third Lady to return the people?"

"You’re making me angrier. Am I heartbroken over craftsmen? Besides, they’ve already been sent away; asking them back, what face would I have left?" Zhao Song, clutching his chest, said, "I’m entirely angered by this ungrateful child."