CHAPTER 115: CHAPTER 109: A GENTLEMAN’S REVENGE IS NOT TOO LATE EVEN AFTER 3 MONTHS

Zhao Ming, upon learning of the matter, was neither surprised nor upset. Compared to before, he was already much more composed.

After all, he was supposed to take Zhao Hanzhang to meet the iron essence seller tomorrow, so what did it matter if Zhao Hu bought four thousand stones of grain from her?

Zhao Ming snorted internally, unable to suppress a hint of anger. When next year’s shortage hits and more refugees appear, driving up grain prices, Seventh Uncle will surely regret it.

If you don’t listen to the wise, you’ll face losses soon enough.

Introduced by Zhao Song and Zhao Ming, Zhao Hanzhang met the person selling iron essence—just a manager, surnamed He.

Currently, the Ru Nan County Governor also carries the surname He.

Zhao Hanzhang placed an order and purchased two baskets of iron essence on the spot before withdrawing with Zhao Song and Zhao Ming. "Fifth Uncle, this He Family and Governor He..."

"They are one family," Zhao Ming said. "Governor He has been in Ru Nan County for ten years. Otherwise, who would dare privately sell iron ore?"

Zhao Hanzhang asked, "Does Grandfather know about his undermining the court?"

"Yes," Zhao Ming replied. "My eldest uncle impeached him and then ordered him to turn over forty percent of the profits to the court annually. It was during this time that our family established relations with them."

"Thanks to my eldest uncle, we get iron essence at a thirty percent discount compared to others," Zhao Ming continued. "Even after his passing, Clan Leader’s recent promotion to Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat ensured they didn’t adjust the price."

Zhao Hanzhang murmured, "No wonder I found the price so low..."

It was through the back door.

"Is the iron mine in Xiping?"

"No," Zhao Ming glanced at her and replied. "If it were in Xiping, would Governor He dare make a move?"

Before Governor He, local powerful families were the ones undermining the court, and they would never turn over their profits.

Ever since Emperor Hui ascended the throne and Empress Jia ruled, chaos gradually rose throughout the land, making instances of local factions taking over iron mines and saltworks commonplace.

If it weren’t for Zhao Changyu keeping them in check, people like Zhao Hu would have already stormed out of Xiping to seize valuable territories first.

After all, the Zhao Family was a notable powerful family in all of Ru Nan.

This is why Zhao Changyu had Governor He open the iron mine on his behalf, with forty percent of the proceeds submitted to the national treasury annually.

This wasn’t only because Zhao Changyu was the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat at the time but also because he was the Clan Leader of the Zhao Family.

Within Ru Nan, he had to consider the Zhao Family.

Zhao Ming looked at Zhao Hanzhang with deep meaning and said, "Thus, within Ru Nan, the Zhao Family members enjoy many privileges, all thanks to our ancestors’ protection. Benefiting from their grace, we must repay our ancestors and, at the very least, avoid actions that would bring them disgrace. Only then can we maintain the prestige of the Zhao Family."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded repeatedly, "Uncle is right, so we must pay even more attention to clan members like Seventh Ancestor, and Third Sister will also reflect to ensure no disgrace to our ancestors."

Zhao Ming said, "...I will convey your thoughts to Seventh Uncle."

Zhao Song had already boarded the carriage and, seeing the two still whispering, urged, "Hurry and get on the carriage; if we don’t return soon, it will be dark."

Zhao Hanzhang cheerfully responded and boarded the carriage.

Having acquired iron essence, opened a trade route, and secured an iron essence supplier, Zhao Hanzhang could be said to have returned fully satisfied.

She truly returned well-supplied; when she returned to Shangcai, she brought a convoy to transport grain for her.

Zhao Hu didn’t much mind the grain he exchanged. In his view, the four sets of glass cups he obtained were more profitable.

He planned to keep two sets for himself, one for collection and one for personal use. The other two sets he intended to sell.

Zhao Hanzhang, that fool, sold them to him for ten gold coins, and he aimed to sell them for one hundred gold coins.

Although glass cups were beautiful and rare, few were willing to pay one hundred gold coins for them. Even as they admired them with exclamations and seemed eager to buy, few actually placed an offer.

Zhao Hu struggled greatly to sell one set—if it weren’t for the constant praise each time he displayed the glass cups, he wouldn’t have bothered to earn this money.

Zhao Hu lay back on the couch, exhaling, "This money is so hard to earn."

The maid beside him slowly fanned him while silently mocking him—turning ninety gold in mere moments, how is that hard?

They might never earn so much in ten lifetimes; look at how many long-term laborers and tenants Zhao Hu has. After a year of toil, their grain offerings barely purchase four sets of glass cups.

And the profit from selling one set equaled their two years’ labor earnings.

The maid’s heart grew more sour as she thought, and her fanning gradually slowed.

"Master," the steward ran in, sweating profusely, "something major has happened."

The maid sped up her fanning and perked her ears to listen.

Zhao Hu, still lying down, said dismissively, "What could be so alarming?"

"Grandmaster Yu’s people returned the glass cups, smashed, saying they want to sever ties with you."

Zhao Hu sat up, "What does he mean? Could my glass cups be fake?"

"Not fake, but suddenly lots of glass cups and bowls appeared on the market, dropping prices significantly. They say someone in Ru Nan County managed to produce glass."

Zhao Hu widened his eyes, "What’s that got to do with me?"

"The glass cup prices have fallen, with similar quality glass cups selling for twelve to fifteen gold outside. Yours were priced eight to nine times higher..."

Zhao Hu retorted, "There were none on the market when I sold them; at the time, that was their value. It’s not my fault more appeared later! That’s unfair reasoning!"

After ranting, he asked, "By the way, who managed to make glass? Did Third Sister get her glass from them?"

"Master, that’s precisely why Grandmaster Yu broke ties—the one who produced the glass is Third Sister."

Zhao Hu: ...

He glared at the steward, who quietly returned his gaze, "Master, what are we to do? Grandmaster Yu is convinced you intentionally fooled him."

Zhao Hu stomped, "Third Sister Zhao! She intentionally tricked me!"

Zhao Hu stormed outside in wooden clogs, ready to confront Zhao Hanzhang.

The steward quickly attempted to restrain him, "Master, Master, you can’t make a scene—Third Sister only priced the glass cups she sold you at ten gold."

Zhao Hu halted in the courtyard, the blazing sun glaring down. It was unclear whether it was the sunburn or his anger making his face smolder.

"Did all the glass cups come from Shangcai?"

"No, only a portion came from Shangcai County Magistrate; most flowed out from our Wu Castle," the steward whispered. "Rumor has it they came from Fifth Grandfather’s home, and the glass-making technique was also from Fifth Grandfather’s house."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hu needed no further explanation. He stomped angrily, "Third Sister Zhao and Zhao Zinian conspired against me!"

Otherwise, despite Zhao Hanzhang’s secrecy, Zhao Ming should’ve revealed something by now.

Yet they waited until he sold high-priced glass cups before releasing the remaining cups and bowls and spreading those rumors...

The steward urged, "Master, what should we do? Grandmaster Yu is not easily appeased."