After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Chapter 30: Chapter 24 Family Background

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but laugh out loud, her gaze gentle, "Alright, I’ll leave him a bit."

Mrs. Wang quietly sighed with relief, turning her head to see Zhao Erlang still eating. She couldn’t help but give him a pat, "All you think about is eating. Did you learn the characters I taught you yesterday?"

Zhao Erlang suddenly found the pastry in his hand not so tasty. He looked at his sister guiltily and stood up, "Mother, I’m going to make medicine for Grandfather."

"Does your grandfather need you to make medicine for him? Hurry over here. Today we’re learning new characters. If you can remember just one, I’ll give you two extra pastries tomorrow."

Zhao Erlang didn’t want to, retreating step by step until he reached the door, then turned and ran outside, "I don’t want to learn characters anymore. Grandfather already said he wouldn’t force me."

"You!" Mrs. Wang was exasperated, "Stop right there! Who taught you to run off when speaking to elders?"

Zhao Erlang had already disappeared in a flash.

Zhao Hanzhang held her back, saying, "Mother, since Erlang can’t learn it, don’t force him. Let him practice martial arts. Learning should cater to one’s strengths."

"Practicing martial arts is just for warriors; if you want self-preservation, you still have to study. Which high-ranking person isn’t a strategist but just a mere warrior?"

In Mrs. Wang’s eyes, a warrior was just someone who sells their life.

"Martial arts, like literary arts, if mastered to the extreme, can be sold to the emperor’s family, especially in chaotic times like these. Being able to protect oneself is already a valuable skill," she said. "I think Erlang is fine as he is."

Mrs. Wang sighed and waved her hand, "Enough, he can’t learn even if I force him."

She nudged Zhao Hanzhang, "Go make medicine for your grandfather. Attend to his illness more during this time, don’t just let the second family take all the credit."

It’s a pity she was a daughter-in-law, a widow, otherwise, she would also hang around her father-in-law. How much family inheritance one could get now all depended on one’s ability.

"Your grandfather has a solid foundation, he has many good things in his hands."

Zhao Hanzhang soon saw Zhao Changyu’s foundation. He found an excuse and took Zhao Hanzhang out, directly going to an estate on the edge of the city.

Zhao Hanzhang was very surprised. There was such a place in Luoyang City, fields crisscrossed, with chickens crowing and dogs barking. Farmers carried hoes and passed in front of their carriage, seeming ready to work in the fields.

Zhao Changyu saw her watching outside all the time and said, "At this time, it’s sowing season. Those with land go to the fields, those without can find work in the fields. The strategy for the year lies in spring. If seeds can be sown in full this spring, there will be a harvest by autumn and winter."

Zhao Hanzhang: "I just didn’t expect Luoyang City to have such estates and fields. I thought the city was all shops and residences."

Zhao Changyu said, "Children of your age mostly don’t know. Actually, how many shops and residences are there in Luoyang City? Agriculture and fields are the main things."

He also turned his head to look at the coming and going farmers carrying tools, "In peaceful times, they are good farmers, tenant farmers, slaves; in unstable times, they become dogs of chaos. I have some people arranged here."

He said, "These people were originally raised by your father, not recorded in the family book, only Qianli knows this place."

Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow, "Does Ji Yuan not know either?"

Zhao Changyu: "He didn’t know before; he only knew after it was confirmed that Erlang was foolish."

Zhao Hanzhang: ...

Zhao Changyu spoke candidly, "Originally, I intended to entrust Erlang to him, giving Erlang these manpower, with me overseeing it. Once Erlang married and had children, I would pass it on to the next generation, but..."

Zhao Changyu lowered his eyes and said, "Calculation never beats heaven’s plan. Since my last illness, this body has been unwell... Today’s trip was to let you see them. When you get married, you take them with you."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Is this recorded on the list?"

"No," Zhao Changyu’s gaze slightly intensified, "Their contracts of servitude and the estate’s deeds will be privately handed to you. Apart from you, no one in the family will know of their existence."

He said, "If there’s anything, you can direct them through Qianli."

Zhao Hanzhang understood, this was the foundation Zhao Changyu left for her.

"Uncle Grandfather wouldn’t know either?"

Zhao Changyu calmly said, "He won’t know."

Zhao Hanzhang was wondering why he was so sure when Zhao Changyu suddenly said, "About this stuff here, you can consider letting Fu Changrong know."

"Aren’t you worried about Fu Changrong scheming, Grandfather?"

Zhao Changyu: "Since I dare to choose the Fu Family, then I’m not afraid of their schemes. Moreover..."

His gaze fell on Zhao Hanzhang, "Between the two of you, who might be scheming whom isn’t certain yet."

His mouth slightly curved up, "Third Lady, it’s not always true that men are above women. You’re good. Since you intend to be the head of the Wang Family, then prepare well. You and Fu Changrong will be husband and wife in the future, closest and alienated, work it out yourselves."

Zhao Hanzhang just felt he was a shrewd old fox. If it were the original, that little girl, hearing these words, who knows how much ambition would rise in her heart, she might even strive her whole life to protect the Wang family’s mother and son, to secure the main house.

Although that’s also her plan.

Zhao Hanzhang gave him a slight smile, "I know, I will get along well with Mr. Fu and work together to protect the main house of the Zhao Family."

Zhao Changyu glanced at her and couldn’t help but raise his hand to tap her head: "Crafty and eccentric."

When they reached the place, the carriage stopped. Zhao Hanzhang got off first, then went to support Zhao Changyu.

Zhao Changyu leaned on her hand to get off, Zhao Ju was already waiting in the courtyard, bringing people to the door. Once the people arrived, they immediately stepped forward to kneel in salute.

The people behind followed, kneeling down in a rush.

There were only two rows, one row of seven or eight people, with little age difference, roughly between sixteen to seventeen and thirty-five years old, all young and strong.

The courtyard was an ordinary farmstead with high walls, inside were chickens, wheat, and rice hanging under the eaves, and bundles of cauliflower seeds.

Zhao Hanzhang glanced around the courtyard, then stood beside Zhao Changyu on the steps.

Zhao Changyu pointed to her and said to everyone, "This is my granddaughter, my legacy will be inherited by her in the future."

As soon as he said this, everyone looked up at Zhao Hanzhang, knelt, and saluted, "Greetings to the young lady."

Zhao Hanzhang looked at Zhao Changyu.

Zhao Changyu nodded at her, and Zhao Hanzhang smiled at everyone, "Rise, I will rely on all of you in the future."

Everyone said in unison, "We dare not."

Zhao Changyu then said to Zhao Hanzhang, "Let Qianli take you to meet them."

He lowered his voice, "These people are both servants and not just servants, their families are also here."

Zhao Hanzhang understood, "I will communicate well with them."

Zhao Ju was very obedient to Zhao Changyu. When told to let Zhao Hanzhang understand these people, he introduced everything meticulously, even revealing which couple quarreled last night to Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang: ... She slightly understood why Zhao Changyu trusted Zhao Ju so much.