CHAPTER 259: CHAPTER 254 YOUNGER BROTHER (SUPPLEMENT 2)

Since we want to establish tiered education, we need quite a few skilled artisans to teach in classes at the school.

No, actually, the students need to go to various places to learn these crafts.

Zhao Hanzhang pondered, workshops like the paper mill, bookstore, and oil press can be arranged at her discretion, and sending apprentices to Lu Tiejiang’s place is not difficult, but as for other skills...

It seems she will need to set up some other industries.

After the bountiful feast, Zhao Hanzhang thought that rather than collaborating with others and being constrained, it would be better to do it herself.

After all, she was not short of money.

Zhao Hanzhang immediately called the idle Uncle Cheng at Wu Castle.

Uncle Cheng was astonished, "Miss wants to set up weaving and embroidery workshops and also open a medical clinic?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "Is there any problem with that?"

Uncle Cheng: "... There’s no major issue, but has Miss considered that opening these workshops at present might not be profitable."

Zhao Hanzhang: "My goal is not to make money, at least not initially, but to provide places for students to learn crafts in school while saving on costs."

"Some things must be established, even if they incur losses, because in the long run, it is the right thing to do," she said. "Besides, I will allocate funds from my private account to set up a Ministry of Agriculture in the county."

"What is the purpose of setting this up?"

"For farming," Zhao Hanzhang said, "Farming is the foundation of the nation, and having set up so many handicraft workshops, it is natural to also establish a Ministry of Agriculture."

She said, "I will issue a public notice to recruit experienced farmers and those with research and ideas in cultivation, paying them slightly more than other officials. Rewards will be given for any achievements. There is no such expenditure from the county government, so everything will come from my private account."

Uncle Cheng obediently assented.

Zhao Hanzhang then said: "Go and prepare, these workshops and shops need to open after the New Year, and I need to send students into them."

"Yes."

Zhao Hanzhang went to the bookstore to visit Hu Jin, coincidentally, Fu Tinghan and Zhao Erlang were also there.

Fu Tinghan was there to see and learn the woodblock printing technique, while Zhao Erlang, on the other hand...

Zhao Hanzhang went over to see that he was meticulously carving on a wooden board with a knife, and surprisingly... he carved quite well.

Zhao Hanzhang was astonished.

Seeing her, Fu Tinghan stood up, walked over, and glanced at Zhao Erlang, "Surprised, aren’t you?"

Concentrated on his work, Zhao Erlang then realized his sister was standing behind him. He jumped up happily, showing her the wooden board, "Sister, look at my carving, how does it look?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "It looks good. Erlang, how did you learn to carve?"

"It’s not that hard, it’s similar to carving wooden horses and people."

Zhao Hanzhang smiled broadly and picked up the wooden board almost entirely covered in carvings, asking, "Do you recognize the characters on it?"

"No, I don’t recognize a single word," Zhao Erlang said gleefully, "I’ve asked Lv Hu, and he doesn’t recognize a word either."

"He said there’s no need to recognize the words in carving, just carve according to the imprints."

Though it was true, his sense of pride still left her unsure what to say.

So Zhao Hanzhang changed the topic, "Why did you come to the bookstore? Aren’t there drills at the barracks today?"

Zhao Erlang’s skin tightened, he quickly said, "No drills, Uncle Qianli said since it’s almost New Year, except for the daily practices, everyone can rest, and some need to go home to see their wives."

"I don’t have a wife, so I came to the bookstore to play with Lv Hu."

Zhao Hanzhang tapped his forehead, smiling, "So, are you thinking about getting a wife?"

Zhao Erlang immediately shook his head, "No, not at all."

Zhao Hanzhang looked thoughtfully at Lv Hu and Zhao Erlang, "Indeed, getting a wife is not urgent. You’re still young, but you do need a companion."

She scrutinized Lv Hu.

Lv Hu straightened his spine, secretly standing up straighter and puffing out his chest.

Zhao Hanzhang found it amusing, then asked, "Lv Hu, would you be willing to stay by Erlang’s side?"

Lv Hu immediately knelt down, "I’m willing! I’m willing to take care of and protect Erlang, to give my all for him, and, um..."

Zhao Hanzhang burst into laughter, "What’s ’and, um’? There’s no need for you to exhaust yourself for him, just take good care of him."

Lv Hu nodded repeatedly, complying.

Having stayed in the bookstore for over a decade, he was certain he wouldn’t be able to master the printing technique. Previously, he had no salary at Chen’s Bookstore, and though he received pay after coming to Xiping, who knew if he would continue to earn it if he couldn’t master the printing technique?

Therefore, he still wanted to seek another path.

In the past few days, while spending time with Zhao Erlang, although he spoke and acted somewhat differently from ordinary people, he never made things difficult on purpose. Following him naturally seemed better than idling around in the bookstore.

Lv Hu was pleased to be able to go with Zhao Erlang.

Zhao Erlang was also pleased, he had taken Lv Hu as a kindred spirit—he couldn’t read, and neither could Lv Hu;

He never managed to learn anything, and neither did Lv Hu;

Having grown up, it was the first time he had met someone like him, so Zhao Erlang was very welcoming to this friend and would take him everywhere he went.

Zhao Hanzhang, unaware of his thoughts, said to Lv Hu, "Since you are now Erlang’s personal guard, you need to learn to read."

Zhao Erlang immediately defended him, "Sister, if he can’t read, then so be it. Didn’t you say before that knowledge is not just conveyed through words, don’t force him to learn if he can’t."

"He hasn’t tried, how do you know he can’t?"

Zhao Erlang paused, clearly not having considered this question, and turned his head to look at Lv Hu.

Lv Hu bowed and said, "Miss, I truly can’t learn the characters, I’ve been carving for years and still haven’t learned them."

Zhao Hanzhang looked at him, then at the inexplicably happy Zhao Erlang, thought it over, and nodded, "Then forget it."

Zhao Erlang happily pulled Lv Hu along, saying he was going to introduce him to his mother.

Watching them walk away, Fu Tinghan slightly frowned, "Why place such a person beside him?"

"What’s wrong?"

"Lv Hu isn’t honest, he’s trying to please Erlang."

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and said, "There’s nothing wrong with trying to please Erlang; seeking benefits and avoiding harm is human nature. Knowing that he can only stay by Erlang’s side with his support but disregarding Erlang’s feelings would not only be dishonest but also foolish."

Zhao Hanzhang added, "What kind of person he is needs to be observed further. If, in the future, this mindset of his turns against Erlang, we can replace him."

Fu Tinghan couldn’t help glancing at Hu Jin, who was not far away, concentrating on his carving.

Indeed, they hadn’t avoided speaking openly in front of Hu Jin, seemingly not caring if he would pass these words to Lv Hu.

Hu Jin, carving on the wooden board, thought perhaps they genuinely wanted him to relay these words to Lv Hu.

Carving in relief is delicate work, and currently, Hu Jin was the only one in the bookstore who could do it, and naturally, the progress was slow.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t mind and, after checking his carved boards, said, "After the New Year, I will send a batch of apprentices here, you will teach them the printing method, no matter if they succeed or not, you will be their master."