Chapter 156: Repetition
In the Hua Family Courtyard, the Hua Family Members were all busy preparing for tomorrow’s engagement banquet. Hua Changxi, however, felt a bit idle, wanting to help but feeling like she couldn’t quite get involved.
Looking at the festive and lively Hua Family Courtyard, in a daze, Hua Changxi seemed to be back to the Mid-Autumn Festival. That feeling of being on the periphery of the family’s joy reappeared.
Although she was in her own home, and the people she saw were all her family, she still felt a thin membrane separating her from everyone else.
Hua Changxi disliked this detached, floating feeling, but she didn’t force herself to join her family’s busyness. Instead, she quietly returned to her Room and sat by the window, silently watching the preparations in the Hua Family Courtyard.
Looking at the lively atmosphere in the Hua Family Courtyard, Hua Changxi didn’t reject it; in fact, she even felt a desire to participate. She knew clearly that she needed her family.
However, regarding the Hua Family, she also realized that she didn’t actually have a deep sense of belonging.
As a Daughter of the Hua Family, she had irreconcilable conflicts with Old Master Hua, and even with most of the Hua Family Members.
For Old Master Hua, as the Head of the Household, all major and minor matters of the family, and the Development of the Hua Family Members, had to follow his will, and no one was allowed to challenge his authority.
And she, certainly, was unwilling to live according to a mold shaped by others. As long as she insisted on being herself, her conflict with Old Master Hua was unavoidable.
As for the other Hua Family Members, in their eyes, family members should not distinguish between “you” and “me.” She was a part of the Hua Family, and what she possessed should rightfully be handed over to the Hua Family. If she didn’t hand it over, it might be seen as infringing upon their interests.
Hua Changxi sighed. She realized she seemed to be repeating the same problems from her previous life, simultaneously craving the warmth of her family and being annoyed by their demands and emotional blackmail.
“Jiu Niang, what are you thinking about? You’re so lost in thought!”
Hua Liulang leaned on the window, curiously reaching out and waving his hand in front of Hua Changxi.
Hua Changxi looked at Hua Liulang, who was sweating profusely from his efforts. She glanced at the tables and chairs filling the Courtyard, and the Backyard seemed to be full too. She asked in surprise, “Are many people coming tomorrow?”
Hua Liulang nodded. “Grandfather is a Clan Elder now, so some people from the clan will definitely come. When I passed by the Main Hall earlier, I heard Grandfather say that a few Clan Elders are coming.”
“People from the Earl’s Mansion will also be coming. The Hua Family disciples who cultivate with Fourth Brother and the others will all be coming. Oh, and Young Master Qi from the Heir’s family and Miss Shu Ran will be coming too.”
“Then there are people from the Sheng Family. I don’t know exactly who from the Sheng Family will be coming, but we’ll need to prepare at least a few tables for them.”
“Adding in other relatives and friends, the front and back Courtyards combined might just be enough seating.”
Speaking of which, Hua Liulang suddenly sighed. “I used to think our two-courtyard house was quite good in the Capital City, but now, I feel our house is still too small.”
“This is just for Eldest Brother’s engagement. If it’s the wedding, even more people will come. I’m afraid there won’t even be enough space to entertain guests then.”
Hua Changxi looked at him. “Eldest Brother’s wedding is his problem to worry about. Why are you stressing out?”
Hua Liulang smiled. “I’m just thinking about myself. By the time I get married, our house might not even have space to set up my bridal chamber.”
Hua Changxi rolled her eyes. “If I were you, I’d find a way to buy my own residence instead of just staring at this small Courtyard.”
Hua Liulang thought about his post guarding the Fire Spirit Mine. Besides being able to cultivate for free in the mine tunnels, he also received fifty Top-grade Fire Spirit Stones each month. He mentally calculated his accumulated Spirit Stones and realized that compared to his other Brothers and Sisters in the family, he already had a decent fortune. He immediately chuckled, “That’s true.”
The Hua Family Courtyard remained busy until midnight before slowly quieting down.
In the Backyard, Third Master He couldn’t sleep well on the Hua Family’s bed. He ended up sitting cross-legged on the bed and cultivating. As soon as he entered cultivation, his mind trembled, and he immediately opened his eyes to look at Hua Wuniang, who was still coaxing the child to sleep. “The Spiritual Energy here in your family is so dense.”
Hua Wuniang heard this and smiled. “Qi Niang said that Jiu Niang set up a Spirit Gathering Array in the Hua Family Courtyard. This way, family members with Spiritual Roots can cultivate, and those without can also nourish their bodies.”
Third Master He heard this, his eyes flickered, and he smiled. “I thought Jiu Niang and your family were on very bad terms.”
Hua Wuniang paused. “Jiu Niang is just a bit sharp-tongued. She’s always been very protective of her family.”
Third Master He immediately thought of Hua Jiuniang causing a scene at the Marquis Wu Yi’s Mansion when Hua Wuniang was giving birth. “Yes, she is very protective.”
Hua Wuniang also recalled Hua Changxi standing up for her. She smiled and said no more, continuing to lower her head and coax the child.
Third Master He didn’t ask any more questions, but he carefully sensed the Spiritual Energy in the Hua Family Courtyard. As he absorbed more and more Spiritual Energy, the tremor in his heart grew stronger.
The He Family also had specially arranged cultivation rooms with Spirit Gathering Arrays, but the density of Spiritual Energy was far inferior to the Hua Family’s. As such, the He Family spent over a hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones each month to maintain the operation of the Spirit Gathering Array.
By this calculation, the concentration of Spiritual Energy filling the Hua Family Courtyard suggested that the Spirit Stones the Hua Family spent on the Spirit Gathering Array each month were at least several times that of the He Family.
Hundreds of thousands of Spirit Stones consumed each month – what a grand gesture!
The Hua Family, no, it was Hua Jiuniang, she must have a Spirit Mine. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to supply the Spirit Stones needed for the Spirit Gathering Array.
Spirit Mine.
Third Master He’s breathing quickened. The He Family had used the entire clan’s strength to seize a small Spirit Mine, yet Hua Jiuniang, just a Young Woman, actually possessed a Spirit Mine.
“Wu Niang, what is Jiu Niang’s cultivation level?”
Hua Wuniang looked up at Third Master He and shook her head. “I don’t know.”
Third Master He asked again, “Don’t the other people in the family know either?”
Hua Wuniang shook her head again. “Jiu Niang is a very private person. Let alone the other family members, even Eldest Uncle and Eldest Aunt might not know everything about Jiu Niang.”
Third Master He was puzzled. “Didn’t you say your Eldest Uncle and Eldest Aunt treated Jiu Niang very well? Then why would Jiu Niang still be so wary of them?”
Hearing this, Hua Wuniang’s expression faltered. She hadn’t really considered this question.
Third Master He saw her reaction and smiled. “Perhaps your Eldest Uncle and Eldest Aunt aren’t as good to Jiu Niang as you imagine. Otherwise, Jiu Niang wouldn’t hide everything from them. On important matters, children don’t deliberately hide things from their parents.”
Hua Wuniang fell silent. In her opinion, Eldest Uncle and Eldest Aunt could truly be called loving parents to Jiu Niang. Among the sisters in the family, Jiu Niang had the best food and clothing, and did the least work. Because of this, she and her other sisters were often envious of Jiu Niang.
However, when Jiu Niang was punished by Grandfather and Grandmother, she had also heard Jiu Niang complain about Eldest Uncle and Eldest Aunt, saying they didn’t love her, didn’t protect her, and even helped Grandfather and Grandmother bully her.
Was it for this reason that Jiu Niang developed a rift with Eldest Uncle and Eldest Aunt?
