Chapter 95 - Return to Wu Castle

Chapter 95: Chapter 89: Return to Wu CastleThe kind of blue bricks we’re talking about aren’t something the average family can afford. Such items are only in demand for those who are relatively well-off and are planning to build a house soon.

Of course, Ru Nan is a large region with many people, so there are still those who are constructing houses.

Zhao Hanzhang thought they should slightly lower the price so that more people building homes could afford the bricks.

After all, the cost of making bricks for them isn’t very high. As long as they have mud and workers, they could produce bricks continuously.

However, Zhao Hanzhang still wanted to conduct more profitable business and went to Fu Tinghan for advice.

"It’s not difficult to make glass. I’ll start by creating a thermometer."

Zhao Hanzhang: "The furnace and labor..."

Fu Tinghan smiled and said, "You can use the kilns for porcelain, and the craftsmen should ideally also be skilled in porcelain making."

In Fu Tinghan’s view, porcelain and glass share similarities, except for the different raw materials used and slight differences in techniques.

For him, assembling the raw materials for glassmaking wasn’t difficult.

"What sort of glass products do you intend to make?"

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "Beautiful glass cups, beautiful mirrors, beautiful glass crafts."

Fu Tinghan: "We don’t have molds."

This was the real challenge.

Zhao Hanzhang laughed and said, "As long as you can make glass, molds aren’t an issue."

The craftsmen will have ways to make it beautiful. If all else fails, ask Mrs. Wang to draw some attractive designs.

Fu Tinghan took out the estate map, asking, "Where do you suggest we build the glass workshop?"

Zhao Hanzhang examined it carefully. Considering the need for water, she pointed to a plot by the canal: "How about here?"

"There’s water, it’s dry land, and it’s close to the western camp, so if anything happens, the western camp can quickly respond and provide daily protection."

Fu Tinghan: "I’ll oversee the kiln construction, but we need the craftsmen."

Zhao Hanzhang: "I’ll think of a way."

The solution must come from Xiping.

The craftsmen for porcelain are unlike other trades; they are more valuable and rare.

There are just a few in Shangcai County, and those few aren’t free—they work in the government’s official kilns. Unless you bribe the County Magistrate to erase records as if they were dead, you can’t even buy them.

Zhao Song likes porcelain, and he seems to own a kiln, which is his private property, not family-owned. Zhao Hanzhang would have to seek Zhao Song’s help to get people.

This is different from borrowing masons and brickmakers before; Zhao Hanzhang decided to personally visit Xiping.

It was just as well with the summer harvest nearly over; she was planning to check the fields in Xiping anyway.

Zhao Hanzhang changed into simpler hemp clothing and, with Ting He, prepared to head to Xiping.

Fu Tinghan heard and quickly came over with Fu An. "I’ll go with you."

Curious, Zhao Hanzhang asked, "What for?"

Fu Tinghan: "Didn’t you say there’d be chaos in the Central Plains in a few years? I plan to map out the surrounding mountains and roads so if things get messy here too, we won’t lose our way while fleeing."

Hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang held out her hand, "Hop on."

Fu Tinghan paused before taking her hand, easily getting on the carriage.

The two sat on opposite sides of the carriage while Fu An squeezed on with Ting He at the helm.

Zhao Hanzhang: "It’s a pity we’re in mourning and can’t visit friends. The quickest way would be to borrow the county chronicles from the county government."

Fu Tinghan: "No worries, we have time. With such big moves in the manor, the county government surely knows. They might come to visit even if you don’t."

Zhao Hanzhang thought so too and nodded, deciding to wait for favorable news.

Zhao Changyu had assets in the Wu Castle beyond the old house and some shops, and including farmland.

The ancestral farmland deeds were with Zhao Zhongyu, while some fields were bought or reclaimed by him over the years—not much, perhaps around twenty acres near Zhao’s Fortress.

These lands were to be left for Zhao Erlang.

Besides these, Zhao Changyu also bought land in other parts of Xiping County. Zhao Zhongyu knew land must be left for descendants, so he wouldn’t exchange it all with Zhao Hanzhang.

What Zhao Hanzhang exchanged for was mostly land and shops far from the fortress.

Some fields were managed by a manor head, with tenant farmers working them, while some were left barren as former tenants and workers had already fled.

Zhao Hanzhang estimated that another batch of them would leave after the summer harvest.

She mused, "Do you think it’s too much if I write to Zhao Zhongyu suggesting he let me manage the properties in Ru Nan?"

Fu Tinghan: "Would the profits go to him or to you?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "If the profits went to him, why would I bother?"

Fu Tinghan: "Do you have land and shops in other regions not yet exchanged with him?"

"Yes, but unfortunately, those places are now war zones. Do you think he’d suffer this loss now?"

This was a simple question, and Zhao Hanzhang looked at Fu Tinghan with anticipation.

Fu Tinghan answered directly, "No, he’s not foolish."

"If he agreed, it would likely stem from guilt, but..." Fu Tinghan pondered and said, "Even if your uncle was guilty, he wouldn’t be so generous. With the entire court scattered and in urgent need of money and resources now."

"During the escape, they lost so much luggage. They’re probably quite desperate now. He won’t be asking you for money, much less freely give you things."

At this, Zhao Hanzhang sighed ruefully, "It’s a pity. If I had known Luoyang would become so chaotic so quickly, I should’ve talked about this when we first exchanged lands and finalize it then."

Neither knew that Zhao Zhongyu’s messenger was currently at Zhao’s Fortress, also to discuss money and land matters.

The land and shops there were managed by Zhao Zhongyu’s family staff, although Zhao Changyu sent his people to handle things, major decisions and oversight were entrusted to Zhao Song.

For years, the family had the habit of Zhao Song collecting the earnings and sending them to Zhao Changyu or receiving allocations directly via letters to utilize the money and food.

Zhao Zhongyu sent a messenger now to take over the lands and shops Zhao Changyu had given to the second branch.

As Zhao Song reviewed the list and saw many items crossed off, he frowned, "What’s the reason for this?"

The messenger quickly replied, "These are the lands and shops returned to Third Lady and Second Son, with deeds already given to them."

Zhao Song examined it and found that ancestral assets were untouched, though most other lands and shops were crossed off. Despite the thinning of assets, he nodded in satisfaction, "The Clan Leader cherishes the younger generation. Third Lady and Second Son should indeed have more assets for security."

Just then, the butler joyfully reported, "Sir, Third Lady and her future husband from the first branch have returned to the fortress."