Chapter 434: Chapter 434

Zhao Hanzhang saw Fu Tinghan carrying a child over and asked, "Where are her parents and family?"

"They’re probably gone. I didn’t see anyone particularly attached to her in the group."

Just as he finished speaking, a soldier led a couple with a little boy over, saying, "Lord Zhao, Master Ting, these people said they’re here for the child."

Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow and looked at Fu Tinghan.

Fu Tinghan glanced at the couple and the little boy before saying, "They are not her parents. When they came out, they were sixteen people away from the little girl, not together."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang frowned and looked at the couple.

The couple, caught by her gaze, softened at the knees and immediately knelt on the ground, bowing down and saying, "Little... little people are Niuniu’s uncle and aunt. Her parents have passed away; we are her only relatives."

Zhao Hanzhang’s expression softened slightly, and she leaned over to shake the little girl’s hand, asking, "Do you recognize them?"

The little girl, about five or six years old, turned her head to glance at the couple, her big eyes swinging back to Fu Tinghan and Zhao Hanzhang, nodded in their gaze, and pointed at the couple, saying, "Uncle, Aunt."

Then she pointed at the little boy kneeling on the ground, saying, "Brother."

Zhao Hanzhang let the three of them stand up. Fu Tinghan, holding the child, stepped forward and returned her to the man, then reached over to touch her cold feet, straightforwardly wrapping the cloak around her, not intending to take it back.

The couple didn’t expect them to return the child so easily, holding her awkwardly for a while. Seeing the two were about to leave, the man hurriedly knelt on the ground with the child in his arms, gritted his teeth, and handed over the child, saying, "If you wish, please take her. We can no longer afford to raise her."

Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan turned back; despite his apprehension, the man dragged his little boy forward and pushed him and the little girl toward them, bowing and saying, "We are selling these two children; please have mercy and give them a little food."

The woman kneeling beside him shed tears looking at her son but dared not oppose. She knew that the people in front of them were noble, perhaps the most dignified people they would ever meet in their lifetime.

Although the children were young, they had a better chance of survival if they stayed with them.

Zhao Hanzhang was not angry; what was there to be angry about?

In such human tragedy, this world forces parents and children into separation. A person of her status should be ashamed and saddened.

This is the tiny hope they found amidst their dire circumstances.

Zhao Hanzhang said, "I will settle things for you; I am not buying servants now."

The man was unwilling to give up, knelt and said, "Even without money, noble one, just give them enough to avoid starvation; they are old enough to work."

He pointed at his son, about seven years old, saying, "He can light fires, cook, fetch water, and if the noble trust him to herd cattle or sheep, he can do it."

Then he pointed at the little girl, about five years old, saying, "Don’t be fooled by her small frame; she’s actually six years old. She can light fires, cook, do laundry, and clean; she can handle them, just use her as you will."

"Please take them in, noble one."

Many people were looking over. Zhao Hanzhang knew if she accepted the children, many more would bring their children to her.

She sighed and refused heartlessly again, noticed Fu Tinghan was staring at the little girl, and asked, "Do you want to keep her?"

Fu Tinghan thought for a moment and then nodded, "Send her back to Xiping, into the Yushan Hall."

Zhao Hanzhang remembered him saying the couple was sixteen people away from the little girl, clearly not too concerned about her; life’s settlement might not go too well.

She nodded, "Alright, let all orphans go to the Yushan Hall."

Fu Tinghan went forward, picked up the little girl, nodded to the kneeling couple, and said to the girl, "Say farewell to them." ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⚫𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦⚫𝘯𝘦𝘵

The little girl struggled to get down and bowed to the couple. The man hesitated and wanted to sell his son too, but Zhao Hanzhang already signaled for a trusted aide to take them away.

Words are less effective than actions; now they don’t trust her, so promises are useless.

Zhao Hanzhang went to find Zhu Chuan directly.

She looked at the merchant caravan Zhu Chuan brought and praised, "Mr. Zhu has made quite a move, bringing so much grain and cloth, how do you plan to sell it?"

Zhu Chuan squinted and smiled, "Have yet to congratulate Governor Zhao on being promoted to Yu State Governor; Lord Zhao indeed has great fortune. When we last parted, you were only a County Magistrate, and less than a year later, you’ve become the Yu State Governor."

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him, her gaze still resting on his goods.

Zhu Chuan swallowed and felt anxious, worried that Zhao Hanzhang might seize them.

However... he lowered his eyes and thought about it; this could be considered an investment.

Thus, Zhu Chuan only hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Though in the Shu region, I heard about Governor Zhao’s announcement across the land. These grains and cloth were specially gathered, originally intended for Ru Nan County, but meeting Lord Zhao on the way shows our fate."

Since they were so destined, Zhu Chuan generously offered to give these grains and cloth to Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, looked at Zhu Chuan carefully, and smiled, "I’ll buy from you, Mr. Zhu, if you could grant me a discount on the market price."

After proposing to give them away, Zhu Chuan no longer felt regret, seeing that investing in Zhao Hanzhang with this batch of materials wasn’t a loss given her current power.

Others might not have the chance even if they wanted it, so he insisted on giving them to her.

Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t short on money right now and naturally didn’t want to accept, so she kept refusing.

Handing the child over to Fan Ying, Fu Tinghan, who had come over, stopped to listen to their courteous exchange and couldn’t help but pause. After waiting for a while, seeing them go on endlessly, he approached Zhao Hanzhang and said, "Accept it."

Zhao Hanzhang smiled silently.

Fu Tinghan told Zhu Chuan, "I know that Shu land is stable now, not lacking in grain or cloth, but rather in porcelain, glass, books, and paper. Coincidentally, these are our specialties. The favor you extended today will be remembered, and if you need help in the future, feel free to ask."

Zhao Hanzhang and Zhu Chuan both sighed in relief; their endless exchange was tiring. Unfortunately, the place they chose to converse was a bit secluded, and there was no one to smooth things out for them, leaving them to this back-and-forth.

Zhao Hanzhang readily accepted Fu Tinghan’s promise, "Mr. Zhu, if you have any requests, as long as it doesn’t go against morals, Hanzhang will certainly not hesitate."

Zhu Chuan quickly said, "Today’s rescue by Lord Zhao is a lifesaving grace; I’m grateful beyond measure..."

Seeing they were about to begin another round of courteous exchanges, Fu Tinghan quickly turned to Zhao Hanzhang and said, "The count is done; there are one hundred ninety-eight orphans under twelve years old."