CHAPTER 262: CHAPTER 257: OFFICIALS AND CITIZENS ENJOY TOGETHER

Zhao Hanzhang came to do a demonstration and to encourage the people to participate actively, enjoying together with the officials.

Seeing that Zhu Chuan and the gentry young gentlemen had also come, she expressed her welcome, pulling Fu Tinghan over to join the fun, encouraging them, "Gentlemen, why not have a guess yourselves?"

The young gentlemen glanced at the riddles whose answers could be figured out at first glance, shook their heads, and refused. It’s okay, they decided not to compete with the common people for rewards.

Such simple riddles, winning wouldn’t be worth boasting about, but losing would be embarrassing.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t insist and said to Zhao Kuan, "Brother Kuan, smile a bit more."

Zhao Kuan, under the chilly gaze of Zhao Ming, managed to pull out a smile.

Zhao Hanzhang was satisfied, turning her body slightly, "Uncle, shall we go back to the county government to rest for a while?"

Zhao Ming refused, as he had only come to show Zhao Hanzhang some face, to look through and express the Zhao Family’s stance. Now that he had observed, he ought to leave.

However, before leaving, he turned to Fu Tinghan and said, "You should learn more about Pitch-pot, because it will be handy for banquets in the future."

Fu Tinghan didn’t plan to continue this game he had no talent for, and said, "I will practice archery."

"Archery and Pitch-pot are not the same things."

"Yes," Fu Tinghan agreed, "Archery can be used on the battlefield to kill enemies, but Pitch-pot is just a game."

Zhao Ming was momentarily at a loss for words, then asked, "Do you evaluate whether to learn a skill this way?"

Fu Tinghan nodded, "I’m not interested, and if it’s useless, why should I learn it?"

Zhao Ming was speechless for quite a while, "You... don’t you find happiness in playing Pitch-pot?"

Fu Tinghan shook his head, "I haven’t felt any happiness."

Zhao Hanzhang laughed, "That’s because you haven’t won. Win once, lose again, feel the joy of competition, and you’ll naturally like it."

Fu Tinghan spread his hands, "But I just haven’t won once, it seems that fate doesn’t want me to learn this skill."

He smiled and said, "But I really like watching you play Pitch-pot."

Zhao Hanzhang proudly raised her head and said to him, "In the future, I’ll play it for you to watch, and I can teach you. Your angle is fine, it’s just that you can’t control your strength..."

Zhao Ming looked at the two of them with an expression difficult to describe, shook his head, and said, "You people have fun, I’m going back now."

There’s a festive atmosphere throughout Xiping County, and the county government does not prevent outsiders from participating in the activities, not even setting a limit on the number of times.

Therefore, as long as you line up, you can participate in a game infinitely repeatedly, regardless of whether you are from Xiping County or not.

Chen Fang’s daughter quickly found out about this, so she started cycling through the lineup at the threading-the-needle area. Each time she went up to compete, she got a bit faster, and by the third time, she finally won a reward, a small bag of wheat flour.

She was overjoyed and ran to the end of the line to queue again.

Once again she won, and this time the reward was soybean oil. When they came, they all brought jars with them, so she waved to her mother not far away, who came with the jar to fill it with oil.

Each reward was a bamboo tube of soybean oil, which, when used a little bit while cooking, was much tastier than just using plain water with a pinch of salt as before.

This bamboo tube of soybean oil would be enough for the family to consume for half a month.

Pouring the oil into the previously empty jar made it less empty.

Mrs. Chen was very happy and encouraged her daughter, "Well done, go line up again and compete some more."

Chen Jiaoniang nodded heavily and ran to line up again.

It was different with Yi Gui; she led a group of siblings who swept around everywhere, joining every line, doing what she knew, sometimes winning and sometimes losing.

For things she didn’t know, she’d learn on the spot. She just played everything, and after a round of chaotic playing, she also won quite a few things.

But she was an orphan from Yushan Hall, so having these grains and oils was of no use. Thus, she split these things into two parts, one a bit more and one a bit less.

The lesser part she sent to Chen Si Niang, and the greater part she sent to the county government.

She peeked around in the county government. The large county government compound had only one old government official guarding the gate.

Seeing she was just a young lady, he sauntered over and asked, "What are you doing here? The fun is outside."

The event grounds were set up on the open space outside the county government, which Zhao Hanzhang was pleased to call a plaza.

At this time, it was bustling with people extending to the main street, very lively.

But a short distance away, the county government was very quiet. The officials and constables had all gone out to organize activities and maintain order, so no one dared to come into the county government, leaving only the old official.

Yi Gui, holding a basket of stuff, asked somewhat reservedly, "Is the lady not in the government compound?"

As there was only one person worthy enough to be called "lady" by everyone in Xiping County, the old official directly said, "She’s playing outside, haven’t you seen her?"

Yi Gui shook her head.

The old official waved his hand and said, "Go ahead, go and find her outside."

Yi Gui hesitated for a moment and handed over the basket, "This is the grains and oils I won, could you please pass it on to the lady for me?"

"The lady doesn’t allow us to accept things from you. You better take them back and eat them yourself."

"I’m from Yushan Hall; the food and housing are provided by the lady. These things are useless to take back, so please help me give them to the lady."

Knowing she was from Yushan Hall, the old official hesitated but accepted them, "I’ll pass them on for you, but whether the lady will accept them, I do not know."

Zhao Hanzhang was talking with several village chiefs, including Chen Fang.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t expect that even distant Lower Corner Village could come to the county city to participate in the activities, and she was very gratified by their enthusiasm.

Chen Fang, with a slightly flushed face, said excitedly, "The villagers all wanted to prepare new year goods, and upon hearing there were events in the county, and that they could see the lady if they came, they all showed up."

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t expect herself to become a living attraction, so she asked, "What do they want to see me for?"

Chen Fang chuckled, "It’s nothing specific, just seeing the lady being well makes us feel relieved."

Zhao Hanzhang laughed, nodded, and said, "I’ve been doing quite well. Now that it’s cold, you should take care too, because after spring you’ll need to farm the fields."

The village head and elders of Upper Corner Village quietly squeezed in, being far away, Qian Jin recognized Zhao Hanzhang and pointed her out to the village head.

The village head squeezed over, hesitating but unable to speak in front of everyone. When Zhao Hanzhang finally handled the village chiefs and was about to leave, the village head immediately stepped forward.

Qiu Wu glanced at him, and his hand moved the scabbard as he placed it on the hilt’s handle.

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him, then smilingly greeted the village head, "Which village are you from, elder?"

The village head shyly said, "I’m from Upper Corner Village..."

Zhao Hanzhang immediately said, "Oh, you’re from the neighboring village, did you come to purchase new year goods or to participate in the event?"

The village head hurriedly said, "Both, both..."

He appeared very distressed, so Zhao Hanzhang assumed a listening posture.

The village head then awkwardly asked, "The lady took in refugees before, is that still the case now?"

Zhao Hanzhang saw him with his left face marked "If you take in, I’ll become a refugee upon returning," and his right face saying "Say you will take, say you will take," so her intended words were stuck in her throat.

She had promised Ji Yuan to be cautious and not to intervene in Shangcai County for the time being.