After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 669 - 663: So Valuable

Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow, and sure enough, Zhao Song became furious, pointing at Zhao Ming and said, "I entrusted you with managing family affairs, and this is how you handle it? Your Seventh Uncle’s family is at odds, and it is your duty to mediate..."

Zhao Hanzhang listened with a slightly vacant gaze as Zhao Song reprimanded Zhao Ming, while Zhao Hu watched with keen interest. Compared to his son and fifth brother, he disliked his nephew Zhao Ming even more; as long as Zhao Ming was unhappy, Zhao Hu was pleased.

On the other hand, Zhao Ming remained completely unaffected, drinking his own wine, and even casually picking up a teapot next to him to pour a bowl of tea for his father, offering it to him to wet his mouth.

Zhao Song took a sip and continued to reprimand him, wanting him to mediate between Zhao Hu and Zhao Cheng.

Aside from the late Zhao Zhi, Zhao Cheng and Zhao Ming were closest; if Zhao Ming earnestly persuaded, Zhao Cheng might be convinced.

Zhao Song said a lot, but in the end, no one really listened, though he did drink two bowls of tea poured by Zhao Ming.

Finally, after he had nagged enough, he felt much better, and everyone dispersed.

Zhao Song, however, held onto Zhao Ming, not letting him go, "Don’t you think there’s a change between father and son? I see Zitu treating your Seventh Uncle much more gently. Is it because the old seventh went to Luoyang for him, or did the Third Lady persuade Zitu?"

Zhao Ming, being much sharper than his father, did not think Zhao Cheng’s feelings towards Zhao Hu had changed; it was just his demeanor that had softened a bit.

Thinking about the current establishment of schools everywhere, the Zhao Family’s younger generation were all scattered in schools, teaching and studying while waiting for recruitment examinations.

Compared to others, the Zhao Family’s younger generation now had several paths to enter officialdom, not only by participating directly in recruitment exams or being recommended by someone to Zhao Hanzhang, but also by initially teaching in various schools while participating in county-level foundational construction. As long as they achieved something, they could be promoted.

If they performed exceptionally well, they would be summoned directly by Zhao Hanzhang and appointed without the need for recommendations from elders.

Zhao Kuan was the most outstanding example among them; everyone knew he entered the advanced school and was subsequently recruited by Zhao Hanzhang. Now, he was one of her trusted confidants.

The younger members of the family all aspired to be the second Zhao Kuan.

However, if they wanted to go far, they couldn’t just focus on the immediate opportunity to enter officialdom; they also needed to maintain a good reputation.

Zhao Cheng was their teacher, and even if some younger members didn’t travel with him like Zhao Kuan and others, they still studied under him. After all, which family member over twelve years old hadn’t attended Zhao Cheng’s classes after their initiation?

Not for his own sake, but for these children, he couldn’t afford to have any appearance of filial impiety.

Previously, it was only some members of the family who questioned his actions; but as more Zhao Family members entered officialdom, and as his reputation as a teacher grew, outsiders would start to scrutinize his personal integrity and behavior.

If he continued to speak coldly to Zhao Hu, the impact would not just be on him; even his students could be criticized because of it.

This was merely Zhao Cheng’s reluctant compromise.

Zhao Ming sneered; Zhao Cheng had lived freely for half his life, following his heart for so many years, only to find that he was ultimately entangled by societal norms.

It’s unclear whether society became more pressing or if Zhao Hanzhang was too persuasive.

Zhao Ming replied to his father, "Some matters, once he figures them out, will naturally lead to change. You advised for over a decade with no effect, proving your persuasion was useless."

"So it’s better to let go, let him figure it out himself, or let someone capable persuade him, and you shouldn’t be involved any longer."

Zhao Song wasn’t one to ignore good advice. He thought it over and, despite his son’s words being unpleasant, recognized their correctness and nodded in reluctant agreement.

After seeing his father off, Zhao Ming called for the steward, instructing, "In the future, mix wheat bran into all the steamed buns at home, except for those for my father, and practice frugality all around."

The steward bowed in acknowledgment.

The news reached the kitchen, and the kitchen staff felt both happy and worried.

The head chef put away the white flour buns steamed this afternoon and took out the leftovers from lunch to distribute.

The kitchen servants immediately grabbed two each; they usually ate buns mixed with wheat bran or bean cakes made with bean flour. At times past, because grinding wheat required significant labor, the servants often ate wheat rice, as it was impossible to grind wheat into flour.

Not everyone could afford to eat coarse buns mixed with wheat bran, let alone white flour buns.

Since the masters intended to practice frugality, the leftover white flour buns from lunch became a treat for the staff.

But regrettably, this treat could only be enjoyed once, as in the future, fewer white flour items would be made, even noodles would be mixed with wheat bran or bean flour, combining three into one to knead into dough.

"In the future, except for the two Grandfathers, the rest of the masters will be provided with staple foods made from mixed grains."

The kitchen referred to food mixed with two or more types of grains as mixed grains.

Everyone agreed, and the steward expressed no objection to the kitchen’s reported expenses.

But Zhao Hu did!

Zhao Hanzhang was walking happily with an official document in hand, and upon seeing Zhao Hu causing trouble for the servant, she was about to take a different path to find Zhao Ming, but then heard Zhao Hu say, "Fifth Brother is lenient, so you mess with him. But I’m not so easy to deal with. If you ever serve those inferior things to Zheng’er again, I’ll have you all sold to the mines to dig!"

Zhao Hanzhang paused halfway into turning around, thought for a moment, and decided to follow Zhao Hu.

Zhao Hu didn’t pay any attention to Zhao Hanzhang. After reprimanding the servant, he turned around and walked away with bold, determined strides, looking as if nothing could stop him.

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at his back and turned to ask the servant standing nearby, head lowered, "Why did Seventh Grandfather scold you?"

The servant murmured, "Today, the kitchen served mixed grains to the young master."

Zhao Hanzhang asked, "Who else in the residence eats mixed grains?"

"Except for Grandfather and Seventh Grandfather, the other masters use mixed grains. Even our lord uses mixed grain buns."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and waved a hand, "Since this is Uncle Ming’s residence, follow Uncle Ming’s instructions. You may leave; I will discuss this with Uncle Ming."

The servant heaved a sigh of relief, gave Zhao Hanzhang a grateful look, bowed deeply, and agreed, "Yes."

With that, he bowed and withdrew.

Zhao Hanzhang then walked in the direction Zhao Hu had left, hands clasped behind her back. It wasn’t long before she caught up with him.

Zhao Hu lived in the guest courtyard of the Governor Mansion; he actually wanted to move into another courtyard he purchased, but when he went to Luoyang, the house had just been bought and hadn’t been renovated yet. Moreover, it lacked various essentials, and moving in would lower his quality of life.

Additionally, since Zhao Cheng and Zhao Zheng were both staying in the Governor Mansion, he decided to stay there as well.

At the moment, instead of returning to his courtyard, he was standing in Zhao Cheng’s courtyard, directing servants to move various items inside.

"Place this in Zheng’er’s bedroom. How can my grandson use an ordinary chamber pot? He deserves the best," Zhao Hu was referring to a celadon chamber pot. Zhao Hanzhang followed his gaze and noticed the bright glaze, evenly thick and thin walls—a well-made porcelain, and it was celadon, no less.

But that wasn’t all; servants also brought over a celadon vase with birds and beasts vividly depicted on it, evidently valuable at a glance.

Zhao Hu instructed, "Put this by Zheng’er’s desk and have flowers replaced every day. If we’re going to use good things, we must use them properly!"

Zhao Hanzhang stepped forward in astonishment, unable to resist reaching out to touch the large celadon vase, exclaiming, "Seventh Ancestor, this must be valuable?"