CHAPTER 196: CHAPTER 191 GUILT

Looking at Mr. Fu, who was rumored to be detained, standing freely in the county government and highly respected.

It is clear that rumors are just rumors, and these rumors are quite far-fetched.

Of course, a group of people can’t stand chatting at the entrance of the county government, so Chang Ning suggested everyone come into the county government to talk.

Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan walked side by side at the front, inviting the esteemed guest who came from afar to sit in the main hall, while she used an excuse to change clothes and pulled Fu Tinghan aside to gather intelligence.

Fu Tinghan said, "Chief Clerk Chang mentioned that Zhu Chuan’s business is a significant firm in Shu, primarily dealing in fabrics. They definitely have plenty of cotton, and if we can establish a good relationship with him, it will make it easier for us to purchase fabrics in the future."

He paused and continued, "Moreover, who knows, we might even need to sell them in the future?"

Zhao Hanzhang asked, "I forgot to ask earlier, what’s his name?"

"Zhu Chuan," Fu Tinghan replied. "Chief Clerk Chang had a brief discussion with him; the price he’s offering for his goods is not low. He heard what you said outside the county government just now, knowing we lack cotton; I’m afraid the prices might rise further."

Zhao Hanzhang felt slightly regretful, "Had I known, I wouldn’t have reassured the public at the county government entrance, drawing so much attention. Why didn’t any of you remind me?"

Fu Tinghan said, "The stability of the city and the people’s sentiments are more important than that."

"Indeed," Zhao Hanzhang replied, "Let’s discuss later, if the price is right, we’ll buy, as we do lack cotton right now."

Fu Tinghan wanted to say something else but his gaze moved beyond her, landing on Fan Ying not far away, and he swallowed his words.

Zhao Hanzhang followed his gaze and looked back, seeing Fan Ying standing at a distance, she smiled and waved warmly at her.

Fan Ying immediately stepped forward, her eyes red, and curtsied, "Miss, I did something wrong."

Zhao Hanzhang asked amusedly, "What did you do wrong?"

"I shouldn’t have brought them to the county government to inquire about clothing and winter garments," Fan Ying’s fist slightly clenched, she said with pursed lips, "Miss, am I being used as a tool by someone?"

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t expect her to be so sensitive and think of this, she didn’t answer the question but instead asked, "Are you getting used to living in the county?"

Occupying the county government, Fan Ying, as the daughter of the former County Magistrate, with a family of loyalty, Zhao Hanzhang certainly couldn’t treat her poorly, so knowing she didn’t want to stay at Zhao’s Fortress, she arranged a house for her in the town.

It was a dowry exchanged from Zhao Zhongyu, and she directly had the name on the house contract changed to Fan Ying’s and established a household in her name.

The residents in that area are not poor; all are gentry, and it’s not far from the county government, making the living environment and safety quite good in Xiping County.

However, Zhao Hanzhang was very busy, so these matters were handled by her servants, she hadn’t seen her personally.

Fan Ying said, "With the care of the Zhao Family, I’m living well."

Zhao Hanzhang not only gave her a house but also two honest servants, and distributed to her quite a bit of farmland, which the servants cultivated, plus some money she sent over, and Fan Ying was not living badly.

When the county government was occupied, the Fan Family members either died or fled, and their assets were naturally swept clean.

Zhao Hanzhang picked out an item with a mark from them to return to her, and then also gave this young girl something out of her own pocket.

Though it wasn’t much, as long as she didn’t overspend, it was enough for her to live comfortably for a lifetime.

So Fan Ying had nothing to do, seeing the citizens of the entire city busy, she also wanted to do something within her capability, after all, this city was defended by her father and brother at the cost of their lives.

She could not do work like farming or building houses, so when she knew the county government was recruiting people to make winter clothes and bedding, she came out with her maid to claim some fabric to make them.

Due to a manpower shortage, she even encouraged the neighbors on her street to join in and help.

They didn’t lack the money and food, but having received Zhao Hanzhang’s kindness, they also wanted Xiping County to get better, so they claimed fabric together to make.

On usual days, they gathered together to make clothes and talk, which was rather fun.

In the beginning, the county government provided fabric first, and after a while would give out cotton to fill, and based on the fabric they claimed, they could receive corresponding weights of cotton to fill.

It was good at first, indeed it was cotton, but two days ago when they came to claim again, they received a pile of light willow and reed fluff.

Initially, Fan Ying didn’t think anything was amiss, happily filled them and sewed up the edges; it was later when someone said, reed and willow fluff don’t keep warm, and wearing clothes made with them in winter would freeze you; only then did Fan Ying realize that reed and willow fluff were not the same as cotton.

With her head lowered, she said somewhat sadly, "Everyone gathered together got angrier the more we talked, thinking the Miss was kept in the dark, so in a fit of anger, I led everyone to the county government to demand an explanation. I thought this kind of thing should absolutely be known to the Miss, otherwise spreading such rumors would be a great blow to her reputation."

Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t expected it to be like this, "You did nothing wrong, this time I lacked foresight." She smiled, "Originally, I planned to explain while distributing the finished clothes and bedding, but making it earlier works too, giving everyone time to accept."

Fan Ying shook her head, "No, it’s better to explain to them one by one when distributing, if it weren’t for me, this matter wouldn’t have gotten out now. I couldn’t think of all this at first, and right now, I can’t even recall who said wearing reed fluff would freeze a person, upon reflection I know I’ve been used as a tool."

Being used as a tool is one thing, but to stab Zhao Hanzhang deeply angers Fan Ying, angry at herself.

Seeing her so upset, Zhao Hanzhang thought for a while and asked, "Miss Fan, can you read?"

Fan Ying froze, raising her head to look at her and nodded, "I read a few books with my brother."

"Then that’s good," Zhao Hanzhang laughed, "I already said, you did nothing wrong; if the people have doubts, they should openly ask the government, and the government should frankly respond, with mutual honesty between officials and citizens, misunderstandings will be eliminated."

"But since you feel guilty, why not help me and make up for what you perceive as a deficiency?"

Fan Ying widened her eyes, "Me?"

"Yes, you."

Fan Ying anxiously said, "But what can I do?"

"There’s plenty to do," Zhao Hanzhang said, "Although the county has many people now, few can read, so the county government is short-handed; if you are willing to help me, the clerks will be much less burdened."

She was just a young girl, how much work could she truly help with? Fan Ying felt Zhao Hanzhang was comforting her, making her even more guilty, but she still asked, "What can I do?"

"Help me with the statistics of distributed fabric and collected winter clothes and bedding; also, there needs to be a table set up tomorrow to buy cotton, records of daily transactions need to be kept, some clerks cannot read, or only recognize words but cannot write, so..."

Fan Ying immediately said, "I am willing to do it."