Chapter 152: The Sheng Family
After Hua Changxi saw off Great Merchant Zhuo, she returned to the backyard and clearly sensed something was off with her father’s expression. She smiled and asked, “Father, what’s wrong?”
Hua Minghe chuckled, “Father didn’t expect my Jiu Niang to be such a capable businesswoman.”
Hua Changxi smiled, “My management skills aren’t great, and I don’t have time to handle many things.”
Hua Minghe moved his lips, wanting to say that family members could help, but he swallowed the words back. Instead, he started talking about Hua Da Lang’s engagement.
“Your Eldest Brother is engaged to the niece of the Second Madam of the Earl’s Mansion.”
Hua Changxi: “Was Eldest Brother’s engagement facilitated by the Earl’s Mansion?”
Hua Minghe nodded, “The Earl is currently showing great favor to your Eldest Brother. After your brother joined the Demon Suppressing Army, the Earl specifically used some connections to arrange for your brother to serve under Colonel Sheng Pengyun.”
“The Sheng Family is the maternal family of the Second Madam of the Earl’s Mansion. The one engaged to your Eldest Brother is Sheng Pengyun’s sister, Sheng Yuntang.”
Hua Changxi: “To be able to marry into the Earl’s Mansion, the Sheng Family’s status should be quite high, right?”
Hua Minghe: “The current Patriarch of the Sheng Family, who is your future Eldest Sister-in-law’s father, is a Third Rank official, the Left Vice Minister of the Heavenly Department.”
Hua Changxi’s expression shifted, “With the Sheng Family’s prominent status, why would they take a liking to our family?”
Hua Minghe paused, “Your Eldest Brother performed exceptionally in the Demon Suppressing Army, and with the Earl’s Mansion mediating, this engagement was made possible.”
Hua Changxi wasn’t entirely convinced by this reason. She didn’t deny her Eldest Brother’s excellence, but there were certainly no shortage of equally capable individuals in the Demon Suppressing Army. The Sheng Family’s reason for choosing her Eldest Brother was definitely not just this one.
As for the Earl’s Mansion’s mediation, in her opinion, it was essentially an exchange of value behind the scenes. Her Eldest Brother was the intermediary, and there were definitely some transactions he was unaware of.
Although Hua Changxi had these thoughts, she didn’t voice them. She knew very well that apart from the Old Master and Old Madam, her father and mother had the highest expectations for her Eldest Brother.
“Does Eldest Brother like the young lady from the Sheng Family?”
Hua Minghe smiled, “Your Eldest Brother has met the young lady from the Sheng Family a few times, and they get along quite well. Your Eldest Brother is fond of this engagement.”
Hua Changxi nodded, “As long as Eldest Brother likes it, that’s good.”
Hua Minghe looked at his daughter, “What happened during the Mid-Autumn Festival, what your Grandfather said were just angry words and don’t count. Don’t take them to heart. The family has been busy with the engagement banquet these days. If you’re not busy, come home with Father today.”
Hua Changxi lowered her head and fell silent.
Seeing her like this, Hua Minghe couldn’t help but ask, “What, are you still angry with your Grandfather?”
Hua Changxi looked up and directly at Hua Minghe, “Yes, Grandfather’s words are etched in my heart and cannot be erased. In the Hua Family, I cannot live according to my own wishes. I must meet Grandfather and Grandmother’s expectations. If I fail to satisfy them, I will be punished lightly or expelled from the family severely.”
“I don’t want to live like this, nor do I want to be the one who always compromises and makes concessions to maintain superficial harmony after every unpleasant argument with the family.”
Hua Minghe didn’t expect his daughter to have developed such a rift with the family. He said anxiously, “Your Grandfather is old…”
Hua Changxi interrupted directly, “Father, after Grandfather’s body refining, his physique greatly improved. He can easily live for one or two hundred years now, so don’t use his age as an excuse.”
She paused, “Father, you don’t need to persuade me anymore. You can’t change Grandfather, and I won’t obey Grandfather’s arrangements and sacrifice myself to put the Hua Family first in everything. You and Mother should just consider me married. If I return in the future, it will be like visiting relatives.”
Hua Minghe said urgently, “What do you mean ‘consider you married’? You’re a young woman staying in your chambers, saying such things without shame.”
“I’ve already spoken with your Grandfather properly. He won’t demand you do things you don’t want to do anymore. If your Grandfather forces you again in the future, Father will stop him.”
Looking at her anxious father, Hua Changxi couldn’t say anything too definitive and fell silent for a moment.
Hua Minghe looked at her, “If you have something to do, then go back on the twenty-third. After all, it’s your Eldest Brother’s engagement. If you’re not there, he’ll surely be disappointed.”
Hua Changxi: “…Alright.”
Seeing that his daughter was willing to go home, Hua Minghe finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then, as if remembering something, he said apologetically, “Jiu Niang, Father needs to apologize to you.”
Hua Changxi looked at him in surprise, “Apologize for what?”
Hua Minghe looked uncomfortable, “The Qi Huang Body Refining Technique you gave the family, I made a copy and gave it to the Six Doors. I intended to tell you beforehand, but I couldn’t find you.”
When Hua Changxi heard it was about this, she appeared unconcerned. In her understanding, the items in Qi Huang Hall were meant to be taught to everyone. Moreover, the body refining technique revealed by Qi Huang Hall Number Eight was only the first chapter, the Skin Refining Chapter. So, it was fine if it was given away.
“Father, you can give the Qi Huang Body Refining Technique to anyone you wish.”
Seeing that his daughter didn’t mind, Hua Minghe felt relieved. Then, as if remembering something, he hesitated for a moment and tentatively asked, “What about the Skin Refining Chapter of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique?”
Hua Changxi looked at him, “The Skin Refining Chapter of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique is considered a gratuitous gift from me as a daughter of the Hua Family to the Hua Family members. However, I will not provide subsequent chapters. If family members wish to continue cultivating, they can, but besides taking a Heart Demon Oath to never leak it, they must also pay a certain fee.”
Upon hearing this, Hua Minghe opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn’t.
Hua Changxi thought for a moment, “Of course, if you and Mother want to practice, you don’t need to give anything, and I will prepare medicinal baths for you. My three elder brothers don’t need to either, but they must prepare their own medicinal baths, as cultivation is something one cannot rely on others for.”
After hearing this, Hua Minghe sighed, “It seems you are truly estranged from your Grandfather and Grandmother.”
Hua Changxi saw that he only mentioned the Old Master and Old Madam and knew what he meant. She smiled, “Father, the further one progresses in the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique, the harder it becomes to cultivate. Grandfather and Grandmother’s bodies cannot withstand it. It’s better for them to cultivate the Qi Huang Body Refining Technique.”
When Hua Minghe heard this, his expression immediately relaxed considerably, “You’re right. Your Grandfather and Grandmother had some trouble enduring the Skin Refining Chapter of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique. For subsequent cultivation, they will have to switch to the Qi Huang Body Refining Technique.”
As for the Earl’s Mansion wanting the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique, Hua Minghe didn’t mention it at all. In his opinion, it was already generous enough for their family to share the Qi Huang Body Refining Technique with the clan.
Afterward, the father and daughter chatted about some family matters. As it was getting dark, Hua Minghe left.
After Hua Minghe left, Hua Changxi went to the Alchemy Room to refine pills.
Hua Family Courtyard.
The Hua Family members saw Hua Minghe return alone, and their expressions were varied.
Madam Yao frowned with worry, “This time, you still didn’t see Jiu Niang?”
Hua Minghe shook his head, “I did.”
Upon hearing this, Old Master Hua suddenly looked up, his face grim, “Jiu Niang is unwilling to come back?”
Hua Minghe: “That’s not true, she has something to do.”
Old Master Hua felt his eldest son was making excuses to dismiss him, “She’s just a young woman, what could she be so busy with?”
Hearing this, Hua Minghe thought of what he saw at the apothecary shop that day and retorted without thinking, “Jiu Niang has many things to be busy with. She has to refine pills, receive guests, and manage eleven apothecary shops. How could it not be a difficult task?”
He said, looking solemnly at Old Master Hua, “Father, regarding Jiu Niang’s affairs, the family should not interfere anymore. Da Lang is her own brother. When he gets engaged, she will definitely come back.”
“Don’t think about the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique anymore. Explain it clearly to the Earl’s Mansion as soon as possible to avoid future misunderstandings.”
After speaking, Hua Minghe turned and went back to his room. This was the first time he had so openly defied Old Master Hua. His attitude stunned everyone in the Hua Family.
To all book friends, Happy New Year. Tomorrow is the first day of the Lunar New Year, so there will be no update as we rest for a day.
Here, Brushstroke wishes everyone a blessed new year, peace in all matters, and great fortune in the Year of the Snake!
