CHAPTER 210: CHAPTER 205 SCARE

Zhao Hu waved his hand dismissively, "What’s the difference between the county town and home anyway?"

"At worst, I’ll buy a villa in the county town and live there. That way, we’ll be living together again, won’t we?"

Zhao Hu thought for a moment and still looked at Zhao Hanzhang with suspicion, "Did he agree?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and sighed, "I paid quite a lot. It’s really hard to invite Uncle."

Zhao Hu felt both proud and somewhat vexed, "Naturally, not many in the world are like him."

"It’s just that I don’t know how long I can keep Uncle here."

Zhao Hu frowned, "Since you’ve invited him, why not keep him for long?"

"Seventh Ancestor, you know that Xiping County lacks everything now, especially paper and books. I invited Uncle to be a teacher. He’s a man of deep emotions and principles and wouldn’t be troubled by mundane affairs. So, if the school can’t even provide paper and books, naturally, Uncle won’t stay."

Zhao Hu angrily exclaimed, "How come you can’t even provide enough paper and books? Are you still the County Lord?"

Zhao Hanzhang wore a face full of worry, "I’m willing, but powerless. When Xiping County was ruined, the only bookstore was burned, and the whole family was killed by chaotic soldiers. Now, the county government has to buy paper from Shangcai and other counties."

Zhao Hu mused, "I have some paper and idle books at home. I can lend you some later."

Borrow, aha~

Zhao Hanzhang looked touched, "Thank you, Seventh Ancestor."

Never mind, first borrow them.

"Seventh Ancestor, I know you had good relations with the original bookstore owner. Do you know who their cooperating bookseller was?"

Zhao Hu said, "I know, but I’m not familiar with that bookseller. I’m familiar with their family doctor."

Zhao Hanzhang looked confused, "Doctor?"

"Yes, their family doctor makes very good Five Stone Powder, which is renowned in Ru Nan County," Zhao Hu said, "As for that bookseller, I only know his surname is Chen."

Zhao Hanzhang’s expression turned cold, with a flattering look suddenly disappearing. She sat upright, looked Zhao Hu over, and asked, "Does Seventh Ancestor consume Five Stone Powder?"

Zhao Hu asked carelessly, "Yes, why?"

Nothing, just felt like hitting someone.

However, thinking about it, Zhao Hu has violated her taboos more than once, so with a slightly relaxed complexion but cold laughter in her heart, she said, "I just recalled a sentence Grandfather once mentioned: Those who consume Five Stone Powder have short lives."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hu was furious. He slapped the table, preparing to curse Zhao Hanzhang, but she grasped his fingers, grinned at him, and said, "But seeing Seventh Ancestor’s health today—face ruddy, spirit high—you don’t seem short-lived at all. So Grandfather might not be entirely right. See, isn’t this wrong?"

Zhao Hu’s heart thumped with fear.

Among the Zhao Family, who is the most learned?

It must be Zhao Changyu!

Who holds the highest prestige?

That must also be Zhao Changyu!

Originally, Zhao Hu did not believe it, but once Zhao Hanzhang denied Zhao Changyu, he was somewhat convinced. Feeling anxious, he asked, "Did your grandfather really say that?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded.

Zhao Hu swallowed, helplessly looking toward Zhao Song.

Zhao Song was also a bit anxious, seeing Zhao Hu looking over, he scolded: "Serves you right, I told you not to randomly consume things! You just wouldn’t listen, claiming all scholars do it. Am I not a scholar? Why don’t I consume that blasted Five Stone Powder?"

But he was still worried and anxiously asked Zhao Hanzhang on Zhao Hu’s behalf, "Is there a cure?"

"There is, but it requires great determination," Zhao Hanzhang said, with eyes flickering, to Zhao Hu: "Seventh Ancestor, if you trust me, I’ll find a time to detox and treat you? As long as you stay with me for three months and listen to me, I can surely detoxify you."

"Are you saying Five Stone Powder is poisonous?"

"Yes," Zhao Hanzhang replied, "Seventh Ancestor’s experience is vast. You should understand one principle: many of the best things in this world are the most toxic, like mushrooms—the prettier they look, the more toxic they are."

"This Five Stone Powder, after consumption, makes one feel like soaring to the heavens. How does it have such an effect? Because it’s toxic, isn’t it?"

Zhao Hu suspiciously asked, "Then why have no doctors ever warned against it? Moreover, consuming Five Stone Powder does indeed make one mentally alert and physically stronger, like a dragon’s spirit and a tiger’s..."

Zhao Song heard this, began to cough violently, and glared fiercely at Zhao Hu.

Only then did Zhao Hu recall Zhao Hanzhang was a girl, and certain things were indeed inappropriate to speak of in her presence.

Yet Zhao Hanzhang was understanding and even said, "I understand, but Seventh Ancestor, saying this wrongs the world’s doctors. Actually, they’ve advised plenty, but patients just won’t listen."

She sighed, "I’ve heard people say that Five Stone Powder was originally formulated to treat typhoid. But some, after using it, became obsessed with the feeling post-consumption, thinking it made them feel as though they’ve ascended to immortality. Thus, seeing the formula as divine, believing prolonged consumption can lead to everlasting life. But Grandfather privately asked the Ministry of Revenue to compile statistics, finding no one has achieved everlasting life through this formula, while many mysteriously died young. Investigation revealed all deaths were due to poisoning, and the poison always came from Five Stone Powder."

Zhao Hu was frightened but still pretended to be strong: "Is that true? Why have I never heard elder brother mention it?"

Zhao Hanzhang asked, "Did Grandfather know that Seventh Ancestor consumed Five Stone Powder?"

He certainly didn’t know. Zhao Hu thought, if Zhao Changyu knew he was consuming Five Stone Powder, he’d surely write to scold him to death!

Zhao Song at the side remained silent, just glancing at Zhao Hanzhang repeatedly.

So Zhao Changyu actually knew!

Others might not know, but could Zhao Song not relay such a big matter to Zhao Changyu?

Okay, maybe it’s not that big, but Zhao Song was used to mentioning every trivial matter to Zhao Changyu, so he was quite certain he’d told Zhao Changyu.

Either Zhao Changyu didn’t care and forgot,

Or everything Zhao Hanzhang said was fabricated.

Could Zhao Changyu forget things? To Zhao Song, that was impossible, so the only option left was that all these words were Zhao Hanzhang’s concoction.

Zhao Hanzhang not only made up a bunch of stories to make Zhao Hu turn pale with fear but also decided to complete her chain of evidence, planning to gather all the town’s doctors for a talk afterwards.

But the most crucial matter right now was paper and books, "Not sure how much paper and books Seventh Ancestor can donate to me?"

Zhao Hu, caught in his poisoning dilemma, was impatient, "It’s borrowing, not donating. I don’t know how much either. You can ask Sanjin, take whatever paper is at home, but as for books, there are only a few commonly used ones."

Zhao Hanzhang felt it was a pity, "Only a few?"

Zhao Hu retorted unpleasantly, "My home isn’t a bookstore; having prepared a few books for simple enlightenment is already good enough."

After all, he only has one son and one grandson. Why buy so many copies of the same book?