CHAPTER 212: CHAPTER 207: TABLES AND CHAIRS

Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan returned to the county government office and went into the study.

Ting He placed the burning charcoal into a basin and carried it inside, placing it under their couch.

Sitting cross-legged on the couch, Zhao Hanzhang was writing "Thousand Character Classic." She rubbed her legs and then remembered, "Didn’t we say we were going to make tables and chairs? Why haven’t I seen them yet?"

Fu Tinghan replied without looking up, "The carpenters are busy."

"But now it’s already winter, there’s no work outside."

Fu Tinghan realized that was true, raised his eyebrows and looked at her, "Shall we let them try?"

Making tables and chairs isn’t difficult. Carpenters can make wooden couches, Hu stools, and low tables. The tables and chairs Zhao Hanzhang wanted were just taller and larger; the craftsmanship is the same, only the size is different.

Fu Tinghan drew the plans for them, and the carpenters could start building as soon as they got them. Moreover, leftover wood from repairing the city could still be used after some planing.

In only three days, the carpenters delivered the finished tables and chairs.

Zhao Hanzhang was very satisfied and had them placed in the room, even replacing those in front of the county government office.

The low tables and seats in the county government hall were taken away and replaced with tall tables and chairs. A set was placed at the lower seats for welcoming guests and officers to sit and take notes.

During this era, the county government hall served more as a reception room, rather than a place for trials.

Speaking of trials, Zhao Hanzhang remembered, "It seems like I haven’t seen any cases since taking over the county. Is Xiping County so pure?"

Fu Tinghan was even more clueless. Both stared blankly at each other until Chang Ning, who came to watch the excitement, couldn’t stand it and explained, "If it’s not a major case, it doesn’t go to court. Some trivial matters can be resolved by the village chief. Only if someone disagrees with the village chief’s judgment or if the case is too major, will it be reported to the government office."

After Zhao Hanzhang took over Xiping County, she was obsessed with building the county. Everyone in the city was busy, including children as young as five picking up scraps in the fields. Everyone was so busy that even if there were conflicts, they would resolve them locally. Who would cause trouble at the county government?

For a moment, Zhao Hanzhang felt a bit regretful. Even though the citizens’ lack of worry was good, it made her feel less like a County Magistrate.

She wanted to experience the thrill of presiding over a court.

Chang Ning, unaware of her thoughts, looked at the tables and chairs she had placed and frowned, asking, "Why were these Hu stools and Hu tables replaced?"

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "Chief Clerk, don’t you think switching to tall tables and chairs is more convenient? At least we don’t have to wash the mats frequently. Most importantly, it’s more comfortable sitting like this."

Chang Ning’s face became solemn, turning to look at Fu Dalang, "Mr. Fu, try sitting on them?"

Fu Tinghan wore a look of confusion and found a chair nearby to sit on.

Chang Ning’s expression worsened, and he directly shook his head, "Sitting like one is in a scattered posture, it’s improper, improper. Both the lady and Mr. Fu come from noble families. Why act like commoners without regard for proper etiquette?"

Fu Tinghan was baffled, and Zhao Hanzhang’s mouth dropped open.

But Fu Tinghan genuinely didn’t understand, while Zhao Hanzhang quickly caught on and responded helplessly, "Sir, I never thought of this as a breach of etiquette."

Chang Ning’s expression improved slightly, speaking earnestly, "Lady, although the barbarians have some things worth adopting, compared to us Han people, they fall short, especially in matters of etiquette, which you need not emulate."

"Some etiquettes are overly complex and can be discarded. In my view, many things about the barbarians are better suited to the current time, so it’s okay to learn from them and improve upon them."

"Sitting posture may seem minor but can become significant," Chang Ning said. "Lady, why give others leverage at such a time?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang initially thought of returning the tables and chairs to Wu Castle for private use if it was inconvenient to keep them in the front office. But Chang Ning’s words made her immediately decide, "Let’s keep them in the front office!"

Chang Ning: ...

He looked at Zhao Hanzhang, puzzled and shocked.

In his heart, Zhao Hanzhang was not a rebellious person. On the contrary, she adeptly listened to people’s advice. Even if it contradicted her original plan, she would consider other opinions and amend it.

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Xiping County needs only one voice."

Let’s use this small matter of changing tables and chairs to test the voice within Xiping County.

Chang Ning immediately understood and, glancing at the markedly different front office, stopped opposing her.

After he left, Fu Tinghan asked, "Is there an issue with the way I’m sitting?"

"There are three ways to sit: one is the common cross-legged way, relaxed and free, just crossing your legs; another is kneeling, to show respect when facing high-ranking persons or elders; and the last is more casual,"

Zhao Hanzhang sat opposite Fu Tinghan on a chair and swung her leg, saying, "It’s quite similar to sitting in a chair now, lax posture. Scholars think it’s improper, though most people in the world sit like this."

In terms of numbers compared to commoners, which class in the world could surpass them?

After glancing outside, Zhao Hanzhang said, "At the moment, we need to rely on the Zhao Family and the aristocrats of Xiping County, but I don’t want to depend on them excessively. After expanding our strength, there too, within our scope, we’d need only one voice."

Fu Tinghan asked, "Yours?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "Yes, mine!"

Fu Tinghan smiled, nodding in agreement, "Good."

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t intentionally promote the tables and chairs but merely sent a few sets to the old house and her close Fifth Uncle.

Nobody put much thought into these tables and chairs; they were just a gift from a niece to her relatives before the Winter Solstice.

Until the Winter Solstice approached, more people came to Xiping County, some staying in Wu Castle and some settling in Xiping County.

Since winter began, always quiet, Xiping County managed to become somewhat lively.

Someone came with a card to visit Zhao Hanzhang.

Chief Clerk Chang in the county office received the guests and invited them to the front hall. The moment the guests entered, they didn’t react at first, but when they tried to find a seat, they were a bit stunned.

This... how does one sit without a seat?

Chang Ning, who had been receiving such guests for the past few days, cursed Zhao Hanzhang in his mind again, and then smiled, demonstrating how to sit for them.

He sat cross-legged on one of the tall chairs.

That’s right, Chang Ning wasn’t accustomed to sitting with legs spread as is. Although he was of humble origin, since aspiring to be scholarly, he had been learning the rituals of aristocracy, habits ingrained over twenty years, tough to change.

The tall chairs were made wide enough for him to sit cross-legged on them.

Seeing this, other guests sat cross-legged as well, though the seat was a bit high.

After chatting for a while, one guest asked, "Is Lady Zhao not in the office?"

Though Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t been officially acknowledged, everyone assumed she was the County Lord due to He Ci Shi’s oral recognition.

Chang Ning then called over a government official and asked, "Where is the lady now?"

"In the mill, perhaps."

The mill wasn’t far, right next to the county office. Generously, Chang Ning led them to see her.