Chapter 420 - 414: A Look of Admiration
No wonder Zhao Changyu is as wealthy as a nation; he’s adept at preserving wealth. The treasures inside are stored exceptionally well.
The remaining five large jars were also dug out and, like these five, contained one jar of gold cakes, three jars of silver, and one jar of jewels.
Because they were well sealed, they looked as radiant as if they were just made, bringing joy from the depths of everyone’s heart.
Ji Yuan remained calm, but Yu Sheng and the others who just arrived were dumbfounded.
Uncle Yi was similarly dumbfounded; he’d been guarding this property for many years, never knowing that the back garden hid such things.
After Zhao Hanzhang confirmed there was nothing underneath, she waved her hand, "Fill the earth back; this place is wonderful. We’ll plant some peach trees here and pick peaches to eat in a couple of years."
Uncle Yi replied in a daze.
The jars were brought to the front yard, and Ting He led the servants in spreading a roll of burlap on the ground. The gold cakes and silver ingots from the jars were laid out on the burlap.
Zhao Hanzhang asked Ji Yuan, "Mr. Ji, is this money enough?"
Ji Yuan paused silently before replying, "My side should definitely be sufficient, but I don’t know if Zhao Zinian has enough over there."
Zhao Hanzhang smiled and said, "There will always be a way to make it enough. Now you can spread this news; tell the world that I, Zhao Hanzhang, am not short of money. If anyone has goods, bring them to Yu State!"
Ji Yuan’s eyes glittered, finally understanding what Zhao Hanzhang intended. He bowed and replied, "Yes!"
Zhao Hanzhang delightedly raised the corners of her mouth, waved to everyone, and said, "Find some boxes, pack everything up. We will return to Xiping tomorrow."
She decisively waved her hand and headed to Shangcai Manor with Fu Tinghan.
This place was vibrant, completely different from their first visit, because there was a brick kiln, Glass Workshop, and soap-making workshops. Many merchants traveled here, alongside manor tenant farmers, long-term workers, and retinues; the manor had now cleared a section for a market.
At first, it was an open-air market. Later, Zhao Tong found it shabby and erected a wooden shed as a tea pavilion for passing merchants and market-goers to rest.
By now, a few brick buildings had been constructed there; the tea pavilion remained, but a restaurant, an inn, and the Treasure Pavilion were added.
Indeed, there was also a Treasure Pavilion here, specifically for displaying glass products and soap, so merchants visiting could choose and then place orders.
As Zhao Hanzhang and her horses entered the manor, those working on both sides immediately looked up. Upon seeing Zhao Hanzhang, they were momentarily stunned before throwing down their tools, sprinting toward the manor while shouting loudly, "The lady has returned, the lady has returned—"
Those browsing the market immediately looked up, some were newcomers who hadn’t seen Zhao Hanzhang since their arrival, but they heard her name daily and knew that their current stable lives depended on her. Excited, they dropped what they were doing and ran toward the manor entrance.
Some stall owners even forsaken their stalls and joined the rush.
Seeing the houses approaching, Zhao Hanzhang slowed her horse to avoid hitting anyone.
Before she reached the inner courtyard, a swarm of people ran toward her. Although this was her manor, Zhao Hanzhang still placed a hand on the long sword beside her horse.
Fu Tinghan was also startled, asking, "Has your manor been taken over?"
Why hadn’t she heard about it?
As she hesitated, Hu Zhi, who was closest to the news, ran over first, waving excitedly from afar, "Lady, lady!"
Zhao Hanzhang slightly relaxed; the voice didn’t sound like a threat against her.
The manor residents followed Hu Zhi, running to her horse. Everyone raised their heads, eyes gleaming as they looked at Zhao Hanzhang on horseback; this was their lady, truly gallant!
In excitement, someone directly knelt down, hands raised in worship, "Greetings, lady!"
Once one person knelt, others followed suit, kneeling scatteredly, not in unison, while calling out, "Greetings, lady!"
Zhao Hanzhang, mouth slightly open, watched and calmed her slightly startled horse. She dismounted, went forward to help a few people in front up, smiled, raised her hand, and said, "Please rise quickly, what are you doing?"
Everyone replied in overlapping voices, "I was setting up my stall and heard the lady was back, thought I must come to greet her, so I came over!"
"I was fertilizing, also heard the lady had returned..."
"I was browsing the market; lady, I came in March this year and hadn’t greeted you before. I must bow again to thank the lady for sheltering me and saving my life."
"Lady, lady, I came in October, just under a month ago, fled from my hometown because Xiongnu invaded southward, thanks to the lady for saving my life."
"Me too!"
"I as well..."
Everyone answered in unison, then knelt again in a more orderly fashion, raising their hands in worship toward Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang smiled broadly, though her eyes brimmed with tears she couldn’t shed. She went forward, helping those halfway into their bows, opened her mouth, her throat slightly dry, and paused for a while before speaking, "Great, as you’re here, settle in properly. It’s not easy surviving in this world; since we’ve made it, we must strive to live better!"
The crowd responded, looking at Zhao Hanzhang with admiration.
Seeing they weren’t willing to leave, Zhao Hanzhang casually tossed the reins to Ting He, turned to Fu Tinghan on the horse and smiled, "Shall we stroll the market?"
Fu Tinghan nodded, dismounted, and walked with her.
Only then did the crowd notice Fu Tinghan, and they asked, "Is this Mr. Fu?"
Zhao Hanzhang nodded with a smile.
The crowd clasped their hands in salute, calling, "Young Master!"
Fu Tinghan bowed in return and walked alongside Zhao Hanzhang. The crowd parted a path, surrounding Zhao Hanzhang as she explored the market.
The market had everything for sale, mostly individual items. The trading currency was largely Copper Coins, but bartering was also accepted.
Especially cloth types of things, considered hard currency.
Zhao Hanzhang looked around, surprised to see two large baskets of eggs on a stall, "So many eggs, who’s the stall owner?"
"Me, me, me..." A person forcefully squeezed through the crowd from behind; he was among those who abandoned their stall to see Zhao Hanzhang. Facing her, he asked happily, "Does the lady want eggs? I’ll pick a basket for you."
Saying this, he prepared to take action.
Zhao Hanzhang hurriedly stopped him, laughing, "I don’t eat them; I’m just curious, how many hens do you have?"
Has the manor started large-scale chicken and duck farming?
"These aren’t just mine; they come from seven or eight households in our hamlet," the stall owner explained, "The lady was kind, allowing us to raise chickens in the field, so each household raised many, these eggs are what everyone saved for around ten days. Since they were busy, they asked me to bring them to the market for sale."