CHAPTER 213: CHAPTER 208 CHENZHOU

Zhao Hanzhang was watching people extract oil.

This was just an experiment, so it was conducted in the mill, which had ample space at the county government.

This space was prepared for offenders, but unfortunately, Xiping County had been too peaceful recently; no one committed crimes, not even minor transgressions.

So the mill was vacant, except for occasional soldiers or laborers coming to grind flour, grind bean powder, etc.

At this time, the mill was bustling, with soldiers both pushing the stone mill to grind beans and craning their necks to watch what the ladies were doing.

Zhao Hanzhang grabbed a handful of roasted beans from the pot, shook them to let off some heat, handed a few to Fu Tinghan, and tossed two into her mouth, crunching loudly, "They’re quite tasty, try them."

Fu Tinghan tasted one, nodded, it was good for grinding teeth.

Zhao Hanzhang also found the beans suitable for teeth grinding. After finishing, she clapped her hands and said, "Alright, give it a try."

The laborer took a small cloth bag, filled it with roasted beans, and tied it; then stuffed it into the oil press they had prepared.

They had made it by cutting down a few large trees, using camphor wood, which the lady said was the best.

So they went to considerable lengths to find camphor wood.

Though puzzled as to why beans were used to extract oil.

The beans were so good that not only horses and other livestock could eat them, people could eat them too; using them for oil extraction seemed too wasteful.

Wealthy families were indeed different, they even used bean oil.

At this time, the laborers didn’t yet know the bean oil was meant for consumption.

Once the press was fixed, the laborers followed instructions, started fastening the wooden impact; initially, the press had no reaction, but after a long time, liquid began to drip from the opening.

Seeing this, Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan’s eyes lit up, they rushed forward eagerly to watch. Smelling the familiar bean scent, Zhao Hanzhang immediately said: "Quick, quick, keep going, we can have stir-fried tonight."

She had already asked someone to make the iron pan.

Although using mutton and beef oil was possible, Zhao Hanzhang still wanted vegetable oil.

Under the laborers’ constant impacts, more oil seeped from the beans, until finally, it flowed continuously like a small stream.

Zhao Hanzhang watched joyfully, nodding repeatedly, "Seems my memory is indeed good; I didn’t remember wrong at all."

Fu Tinghan couldn’t help but say: "This press is the fifth one we’ve made."

They had failed five times before this.

Zhao Hanzhang pretended not to hear, after all, failing five times wasn’t much; it wasn’t fifty times. She thought these five times could be rounded off; ah, no, five could be omitted, turning into one success.

The two squatted on the side watching the flowing oil when Chang Ning brought guests in, seeing the busy people in the mill.

Chang Ning called: "Miss, Miss Zhao!"

Zhao Hanzhang turned her head, seeing the large group Chang Ning brought, she immediately stood up, tidied her clothes before walking forward with a smiling demeanor.

Fu Tinghan watched as she transformed from squatting messily into an elegant and regal lady, glanced at the people Chang Ning brought in, quickly determined he was uninterested, and turned back to watch the oil extraction, acting just like a laborer.

Chang Ning glanced at Fu Tinghan, seeing he didn’t intend to rise and greet, pretended not to recognize him, instead smiling while introducing the guests to Zhao Hanzhang.

Chang Ning leaned in close to Zhao Hanzhang and whispered: "This is the Chen Family from Ancheng County, they run a bookshop and are well-regarded booksellers in Ru Nan County."

Zhao Hanzhang immediately understood; when she looked at the guests again, her smile deepened slightly, "Is Mr. Chen staying in Wu Castle or in town?"

Chen Zhou said, "I am not so fortunate as to stay in Wu Castle; so currently, I’m lodging in a town inn."

"Oh? Which inn are you staying at?"

Chen Zhou, seeing Zhao Hanzhang didn’t mention inviting him to reside in Wu Castle, felt slightly disappointed, lightly smiled and replied: "Ping’an Inn."

"That’s a nice inn, they make good lamb," Zhao Hanzhang smiled, "When I have time, I’ll treat Mr. Chen to lamb."

Chen Zhou, though not expecting that meal from Zhao Hanzhang, looked around curiously and asked: "Does Xiping County have that many new offenders?"

Among penalties, there was a type called pounding punishment—it was to punish offenders who committed minor offenses by having them pound rice and flour.

The mill was generally arranged next to the county government, Chen Zhou, fairly experienced, still saw such a lively mill at the county government for the first time.

Zhao Hanzhang naturally couldn’t let anyone think Xiping County’s safety was poor, she laughed, "These are my family’s laborers and soldiers from the barracks."

She said: "There are no offenders in Xiping County, leaving this place vacant; I thought it was too wasteful, so I had soldiers come to pound rice and grind flour, and the populace can come to grind things."

Chen Zhou: "Miss Zhao is indeed kind-hearted, Xiping County being able to have you as County Lord is truly a blessing for the people."

Zhao Hanzhang modestly replied, "Oh, not at all," then accepted this compliment.

Chen Zhou, wanting a few more rounds with Zhao Hanzhang, paused.

Zhao Hanzhang had already gone straight to her most interesting topic, "Is Mr. Chen’s family in the bookshop business?"

Chen Zhou: "How could books be considered business? Contaminated by that coppery smell seems too vulgar."

Zhao Hanzhang paused in disbelief, then rejoiced, "Mr. Chen is right, then why don’t we talk about elegant matters like pen, ink, paper, inkstone, and books."

Squatting behind, Fu Tinghan couldn’t help but chuckle upon hearing this, watching Zhao Hanzhang energetically lead the group out of the mill towards the county government.

He shook his head, silently mourning for Mr. Chen.

Discussing business—oh no, discussing elegant matters—naturally needed a quiet place.

So Zhao Hanzhang led the guests back to the main hall.

She invited the guests to sit, and herself plopped into a chair, only to lift her head and see everyone below sitting cross-legged on chairs.

Zhao Hanzhang:...

She silently looked at Chang Ning, and indeed, it was he who led.

She felt a headache for a moment, hesitating between comfortable legs or a comfortable purse, ultimately deciding to make the purse more comfortable.

So she nonchalantly shifted her seat back, raised her legs, and sat cross-legged like the guests.

Chang Ning noticed, his eye twitched, their lord indeed knew how to adapt; before, no matter how he advised, she wouldn’t sit cross-legged.

Zhao Hanzhang tidied her skirt before smilingly facing Chen Zhou, "Such elegant stationery like pen, ink, paper, inkstone, does the Chen Family make them themselves, or are they purchased?"

Chen Zhou unhesitatingly replied, "Naturally, it’s made by ourselves."

He said: "Our Chen Family has its own workshops, we can make pens, paper, carve inkstones, and burn ink."

Though, except for paper and pens having some merit, other things were mostly bought externally.

"What about books?" Zhao Hanzhang asked, "Are the books at the Chen Family bookshop purchased from others, or printed by yourselves?"

"Of course, printed by ourselves, but we buy them too. However, due to the Luoyang unrest this year, the books in the bookshop are all printed by ourselves."