After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Mrs. Wang didn’t mind either; in her eyes, Fu Tinghan’s action was polite, not very close, but very respectful.

She focused on looking at her daughter and saw that she had grown a bit taller and looked even more radiant than before. She couldn’t help but smile with joy and reached out to hold her hand, "Good, good, it’s cold outside, quickly come back inside."

As soon as she pulled her, she noticed the calluses on Zhao Hanzhang’s palm. She couldn’t help but look down and felt distressed when she saw that her fingertips were slightly cracked.

Mrs. Wang was heartbroken, realizing that she had never suffered such hardship herself. With tears in her eyes, she held her hand tightly, "Quick, come inside, come inside."

Mrs. Wang had someone entertain Ji Yuan and Fu Tinghan while she pulled Zhao Hanzhang directly to the backyard, and Zhao Erlang followed along in confusion.

Mother must have something to say to them privately.

As soon as they entered the room, Mrs. Wang repeatedly instructed, "Quick, get a basin of warm water, Qing Gu, bring the honey balm we made ourselves."

Mrs. Wang spread open Zhao Hanzhang’s palm and couldn’t help but shed tears, "Even if not for pleasing others, for your own comfort, you should take better care of yourself. Whose daughter has hands like yours?"

Zhao Hanzhang laughed and withdrew her hand, "You’re right, I’ll apply it later."

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Zhao Erlang peeked to take a look and thought the porcelain jar Qing Gu opened had a nice fragrance. He immediately squeezed in, spread out his hand, and placed it under his mother’s eyes, "Mother, look at mine."

Mrs. Wang couldn’t help but lightly tap his hand, "You are a young man, what’s wrong with being a bit rough?"

After saying this, she felt it was inappropriate. If this were to spread, it might cause criticism, and she was also afraid her son would actually become rough.

She immediately changed her tone, "But a gentleman should still be elegant and graceful. I’ll have Qing Gu bring you a jar of honey balm as well. It’s made with honey, very precious; I use it sparingly for my face, so use it sparingly too."

Zhao Erlang agreed readily.

Having given it to her son, Mrs. Wang felt she couldn’t show favoritism, so she had Qing Gu bring another jar and stuffed it into Zhao Hanzhang’s hand, "This jar is for Tinghan, you personally give it to him."

She sighed and said, "His family isn’t here, and he follows you around, with only Fu An by his side. But I don’t see Fu An being very attentive, rarely serving by his side. You should care for him a bit more."

Zhao Hanzhang agreed.

Mrs. Wang continued to chatter, "It’s getting cold, I made new clothes for you all, and windproof cloaks as well. You’re all walking outside, and in winter, the wind is strong; it’s better to wear cloaks..."

Mrs. Wang had Qing Gu bring out three boxes, and she still made Zhao Hanzhang personally deliver Fu Tinghan’s share to him.

She repeatedly emphasized, "You must personally deliver it, understand?"

Zhao Hanzhang agreed immediately, glanced at the clothes, shoes, and socks in the box, and couldn’t help but ask Qing Gu, "Qing Gu, did the front yard send any money in before this winter?"

Qing Gu was slightly stunned and couldn’t help but look at Mrs. Wang.

Mrs. Wang said to her, "You don’t need to worry about this."

She touched Zhao Hanzhang’s slightly worn clothes and was so distressed that her eyes filled with tears, though she didn’t let them fall. She said to Zhao Hanzhang, "I know you’re not like other girls; times have changed. If you were a man, there would be a wife in the backyard managing things for you, but you’re a girl."

"Tinghan is also a man with great responsibilities; he seems busier than you, so here in the backyard, I’ll handle things," Mrs. Wang said, "Earlier, Mr. Ji mentioned to me that the money you’ve left isn’t much, and the spending in the backyard might need to be reduced a bit."

"With both you and Erlang not at home, I don’t spend much in the backyard either. I simply told Mr. Ji to waive that expense; from now on, there’s no need for the front yard to send money to the backyard. I have a source of income and some savings, so I can manage."

Zhao Hanzhang, who wasn’t truly just fifteen, of course knew how complex the expenses in the backyard were. The social activities and interactions between ladies and families were all assigned to the backyard.

Zhao Hanzhang opened her mouth to refuse but, looking up, saw Mrs. Wang’s expression. Many words in her chest were stuck and wouldn’t come out. She leaned into her embrace, saying, "I’ll listen to Mother."

Mrs. Wang was delighted.

Zhao Erlang, who was happily flipping through his new clothes, looked at the two of them with a puzzled expression, and after hesitating, decided not to crowd in.

He considered himself mature and had no desire to cling to his mother and sister.

The three (actually two) chatted for quite a while before heading out to meet Ji Yuan in the hall once more.

Ji Yuan and Fu Tinghan had already had three cups of tea. When he saw Zhao Hanzhang walk out with a smile, he sat up straight and urged Zhao Hanzhang, "We agreed on the times for the transactions with various families. The delivery time is in a few days, and by then, it’s a cash-for-goods exchange."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang immediately turned her head to ask, "Third Lady, are you short on money? How much do you need?"

She frowned and said, "I have some here..."

Zhao Hanzhang quickly said, "Mother, I don’t lack money. I have money."

Seeing Mrs. Wang’s skeptical look, she helplessly said, "Really, I’m not lying to you. It’s from the savings Grandfather left me."

Mrs. Wang immediately turned to a cheerful expression, believing her completely. Her father-in-law? Then there’s no problem.

But while Mrs. Wang believed, Ji Yuan hadn’t fully relaxed.

He knew how large this transaction was; he believed that the old master secretly left money for the young master, but was it this much?

Zhao Hanzhang was already reporting to Mrs. Wang with a smile, "Mother, I left the money at the old house, so I have to go back once."

Mrs. Wang paused and asked, "Should I go back with you?"

"No need," Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand, "I have a task for you, Mother."

She said smilingly, "I, as the new Inspector, haven’t really met people in Chen County nor gotten familiar with the ladies. I’ll need you to help me."

This was exactly what Mrs. Wang wanted to do, and she agreed at once.

Zhao Hanzhang: "It’s getting cold, Mother. Lead them to do some good deeds. Set up a Yushan Hall in Chen County, to shelter the children displaced by the war..."

Mrs. Wang agreed. She was very experienced in this, after all, she often visited Xiping’s Yushan Hall, and among the female officials, she was closest to Chen Si Niang.

After giving instructions, Zhao Hanzhang said to Fu Tinghan, "Come with me; this time we can finally establish pharmacies in Shangcai and Xiping."

Fu Tinghan nodded in agreement, "Alright."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Then we’ll leave tomorrow."

Ji Yuan, eager to act, also said, "Young lady, let me accompany you. The Zhao Family has helped quite a bit this time, and there are some matters that might not be suitable for you to discuss directly."

Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow, heart moved, "But what about here in Chen County?"

Ji Yuan asked, "Where’s Zhao Kuan?"

Zhao Kuan...

As soon as Zhao Kuan entered Chen County, he separated from Zhao Hanzhang. He had previously bought a house in Chen County and settled down, enjoying his comfort.

It wasn’t that he was very wealthy and could casually buy a house in the provincial capital, but the recent chaos had left many residences in Chen County empty, with many families leaving a couple of servants behind, both to guard the property and to facilitate its sale.

Since it wasn’t very expensive, he simply bought it.

Zhao Hanzhang said, "He is indeed a good choice, and he just bought a house here, so he should stay a bit longer."

If Zhao Kuan had known that buying a house had become one of the reasons he’d have to stay, he would definitely have gone back two months and reprimanded his past self for buying that house.