CHAPTER 205: CHAPTER 200: CREDITOR

Zhao Cheng also saw it and turned his head in surprise to look at Zhao Ming.

Zhao Ming gave him a slight smile and coughed softly.

Everyone turned around and saw the two standing at the door. The young men hurriedly saluted, first to Zhao Cheng, addressing him as sir, and then to Zhao Ming.

It was clear that Zhao Cheng had a lot of prestige among them.

Zhao Cheng slightly nodded to everyone, first saluting Zhao Song, then his father, with a cold "Father," and he looked at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang had already raised her hand, ready to salute when Zhao Cheng asked her, "What are you relying on?"

Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow, paused for a moment, then continued to salute, bowing deeply, and said with a smile, "Probably relying on my status as a creditor."

Zhao Cheng frowned, "Creditor?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and looked at Zhao Hu, "Seventh Uncle, it is now winter, and everyone is idle. Why don’t we find some time to tally up the grain taxes owed over the years?"

Zhao Cheng looked at his father, whose face was flushed, then turned back to ask Zhao Hanzhang, "How much is owed?"

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "The government calculated it at 3,860 shi."

"Let them come and take it; there’s no need to calculate," Zhao Cheng called over a servant directly, "Go back and tell Sanjin to open the grain storehouse and let the government people take it."

"You, you, you," Zhao Hu’s finger trembled as he pointed at Zhao Cheng, "You rebellious son..."

Zhao Cheng said to Zhao Hanzhang, "Just take a round number, take 4,000 shi, the extra counts as a donation from the Zhao Family."

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at Zhao Hu and loudly said, "Uncle is truly benevolent and righteous, Hanzhang thanks uncle on behalf of the people of Xiping County."

Fu Tinghan’s eyes flashed with amusement, helplessly watching her cheerful demeanor.

Zhao Cheng felt something and vaguely understood what she relied on.

Ordinarily, debt collectors are somewhat embarrassed to speak of collecting debts, especially when the other party is a relative, and Zhao Hu is not only Zhao Hanzhang’s relative, he’s an elder.

But she was able to speak without changing her expression, even subtly mocking Zhao Hu, something rarely seen in families that value propriety.

His gaze moved from Zhao Hanzhang to the young man beside her.

Zhao Ming smiled and introduced, "This is Hanzhang’s fiancé, Changrong from the Fu Family of Northern Land County."

Zhao Cheng’s expression softened a bit, and he nodded slightly to ask, "Is your grandfather Fu Zhongshu?"

Fu Tinghan saluted and responded, "Yes."

No one paid attention to him, and Zhao Hu, feeling heart-strained, even more heartbroken and indignant, flung his sleeves to leave, Zhao Hanzhang worried he’d get so angry he’d fall ill, hurriedly went forward with a playful smile to coax him, "Seventh Uncle, a few days ago Mr. Ji sent some spices to me, I’ve had them ground into powder, today I’ll have someone roast a sheep, no, two sheep, with the spices, it’s especially delicious. Seventh Uncle, will you join me?"

Zhao Hu snorted, fortunately didn’t continue walking away, "Would you really be so kind as to invite me?"

"Seventh Uncle, those words are too hurtful, I thought after all these experiences, we not only have a grandparent-grandchild relationship but also are intergenerational friends, Hanzhang inviting you to eat good things should be expected, no?"

Zhao Hu’s expression softened a bit, then he asked, "What are these spices that make you boast so much?"

"Just things like pepper, quite a lot, if you ask me to report them, I honestly can’t remember them all at once."

Zhao Hu looked odd, "You’re using pepper to roast meat?"

"Oh, what does it matter? If Seventh Uncle likes it, I can use it to stew soup."

She invited Zhao Hu, so she certainly had to invite Zhao Song too.

Zhao Hanzhang ran to Zhao Song’s side, intimately saying, "Fifth Uncle, others can choose not to come, but you must. I’ve had someone stew lamb soup, it’s perfect for warding off cold in this season."

Zhao Song agreed with a cheerful smile.

Of course, she also invited Zhao Ming and Zhao Cheng. Although she had decided on the lamb feast earlier, the additional sheep was because of Zhao Cheng.

She invited all the young people in the house, the outside being so chaotic, isn’t studying at home much better? Why run out?

Since they were studying at home, they could contribute to the hometown’s development, helping their sister or sister-in-law to share some burden.

The young men all looked toward Zhao Cheng.

Zhao Hanzhang said to Zhao Cheng, "Uncle, you haven’t met Erlang yet, have you? He’s grown up now, and Mother says he’s becoming more like Father."

Zhao Cheng, who was about to refuse, paused, glanced at her, and said, "I met him yesterday." He didn’t see how Zhao Erlang resembled Zhao Zhi.

"Oh, that was just a brief encounter, only seeing the face and not hearing the voice," Zhao Hanzhang said, "Erlang wants to pay respects to Uncle, and Mother wants Uncle to test Erlang."

Zhao Cheng just thought for a moment then nodded in agreement.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and said, "Bring Zheng along too, he’s about the same age as Erlang, the two might end up playing together."

The other young people didn’t think the same, although they only briefly saw Zhao Erlang yesterday, with him on horseback looking not as dim-witted as rumored, but after returning home and hearing from their parents, they found out Zhao Erlang couldn’t recognize more than ten characters by now, which is why the main branch has to depend on Zhao Hanzhang.

They had recognized more than ten characters by the age of four or five, meaning Zhao Erlang was even less knowledgeable than a five-year-old child, and coincidentally, Zhao Zheng was a precocious youngster, although only eight, was steady and about as capable as the rest of them.

They secretly looked at the dignified Zhao Cheng, and saw Zhao Cheng nodded, saying "Okay."

Zhao Hanzhang warmly invited everyone, and so they moved from Fifth Uncle’s house to Zhao Hanzhang’s house.

With so many guests suddenly arriving, Mrs. Wang was momentarily bewildered, especially since these were all men, unlike the female guests she was used to hosting.

She paused, and quickly instructed the servants to invite Uncle Cheng, "There are esteemed guests at home, ask him to come back quickly."

Uncle Cheng had gone to pick out sheep.

In Wu Castle, many families raised sheep, the wealthier the family, the more sheep they raised, such as Zhao Song and Zhao Hu’s families.

After careful selection, Uncle Cheng thought the sheep at Seventh Grandfather’s house were the most delicious, not too fat, not too lean, fresh and tender, of the best quality among the many families he had considered.

He bought two sheep, deciding to slaughter one today on Third Lady’s instructions, and another tomorrow for Third Lady to take to the county to eat.

Winter was here, a perfect time to eat lamb.

He casually led the two sheep back, and before he reached the door, a guard ran out, "Uncle Cheng, Madam and the young lady are looking for you, Fifth Grandfather and Seventh Grandfather have come to visit."

Uncle Cheng nodded calmly, "I know, the young lady mentioned it yesterday, it’s still early, I’ll have someone slaughter the sheep now."

"The young lady said to add two more, quite a few people came today."

Uncle Cheng was surprised, glanced at the two sheep in his hands, "Then I need to buy two more, the young lady needs to take one to the county tomorrow."

Zhao Hanzhang had already led Zhao Song and others to the garden, the young people obediently following the elders, Mrs. Wang knew Zhao Song and several elders didn’t think much of her, so she merely made a brief appearance before retreating, instructing the kitchen to serve them wine and snacks.