Chapter 86: Living for Oneself
The holiday started on the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month, and many people went home on the twenty-eighth. When Hua Changxi returned to her residence, she was surprised to see Du Ruo waiting for her.
“Steward Du, is something the matter?”
Du Ruo looked at her, “After the monthly stipends are distributed, the stewards will go to see Steward Leng together. The other stewards are all waiting for you.”
Hua Changxi understood what it was about and shook her head, “Our group will not pay the tribute fee anymore.”
Du Ruo’s expression changed upon hearing this, “Hua Changxi, don’t be reckless. This is an old rule of the Labor Department. Those who break the rules will not have a good end.”
Hua Changxi remained unmoved but still expressed her gratitude, “Steward Du, thank you for your reminder. I did not collect the tribute fee, nor will I. If Steward Leng blames me, I’ll just resign as the Third Steward.”
Seeing this, Du Ruo was very troubled. She couldn’t understand why Hua Changxi was so unconventional. She patiently said, “Some rules are unreasonable, but the fact that they have persisted means there is a reason for them.”
“If you don’t collect the tribute fee, you will be considered noble, but how will the other stewards manage? How will they face the people under them?”
“By doing this, you will not only offend Steward Leng and Eunuch Lu, but also all the other stewards.”
Hua Changxi knew Du Ruo meant well but did not agree with her words. She looked at her, “Steward Du, when you first joined the Labor Department, you were just a laborer, right? Do you remember how you felt when you knew that nearly half of your monthly stipend, earned through hard work, had to be handed over?”
Du Ruo was stunned by the question and remained silent.
Hua Changxi: “Steward Du, thank you for your kind reminder, but I have my own principles in doing things.”
Du Ruo looked at her, “Hua Changxi, I know you are different from others, but I still have to remind you that offending too many people is not a good thing.”
Hua Changxi: “I haven’t offended many people. Steward Leng, Eunuch Lu, and the nine Third Stewards, that’s only about ten people. And the nine Third Stewards may not all blame me, so how have I offended many people?”
Du Ruo choked, helpless, “You broke the rules, and it’s not just the Sixth Bureau that’s involved, but the entire Labor Department.”
Hua Changxi smiled, “Steward Du, you’re overthinking it, it’s not that serious.” Her smile faded, “But if I can really break these cannibalistic rules of the Labor Department, then my trip to the Labor Department won’t have been in vain.”
Du Ruo looked at Hua Changxi, who seemed to take pride in her defiance, and didn’t know what to say.
“Are you really determined to go your own way?”
Hua Changxi looked at her, feeling quite helpless that she still wanted to persuade her. Dealing with such advice disguised as concern for her well-being was troublesome, and she couldn’t just get angry and chase her away.
“Steward Du, what kind of person do you think I am?”
Du Ruo didn’t spare Hua Changxi’s feelings and said directly, “Arrogant and lawless.”
Hua Changxi chuckled, “I didn’t expect to be so formidable in your eyes.”
Du Ruo was speechless seeing her act as if she had been praised. Was that praise? How could she not understand the difference between good and bad words?
Hua Changxi’s smile disappeared, and she looked at Du Ruo seriously, “When I do something, I either don’t do it at all, or I see it through to the end. Once I’ve made a decision, I’m prepared to pay any price.”
“I’m not afraid of offending people; I’m afraid of living like someone else.”
Du Ruo frowned, “No one is asking you to live like someone else.”
Hua Changxi looked sharply at Du Ruo, “But your ‘kind reminder’ just now was asking me to live like you. You want me to be the same kind of Third Steward as you.”
Du Ruo’s lips trembled. She wanted to retort but didn’t know how.
Hua Changxi: “Steward Du, you are a good person. You care about what others think, consider this and that, and try to be thorough in everything. However, not everyone wants to be a ‘good person’ like you.”
“You dislike conflict and are willing to endure, compromise, and back down to avoid trouble, but these are things I am unwilling to do.”
For some reason, Du Ruo dared not look directly into Hua Changxi’s eyes. She quickly said, “I was being presumptuous,” and left in a hurry.
Seeing that Du Ruo had finally been seen off, Hua Changxi breathed a sigh of relief and began to pack her belongings. Looking at the meager few dozen taels of silver, she felt a bit troubled.
After so many days, she wondered how Pu Cao and A Niu were doing with tidying up the shop.
One hundred taels of silver would definitely not be enough for renovations. She still needed to find a way to get more money.
A pile of elixirs had accumulated in the Shen Nong Cauldron, but she had no channels to sell them.
Hua Changxi realized she had too few channels for monetization. Only Yu Hui could help her sell Martial Artist Pills, which was too limited.
Ultimately, her network of contacts was too narrow.
Hua Changxi took out a portion of the Martial Artist Pills she had refined and went to the storeroom to find Yu Hui again.
Yu Hui was overjoyed to see the pills, “Don’t worry, sister. I’ll sell these pills as quickly as possible.”
Hua Changxi looked at him, “Brother Yu, I want to change the way we cooperate.”
Yu Hui was stunned, “What way?”
Hua Changxi: “I’ve opened an apothecary shop. I can provide you with a batch of pills every month. I’ll give them to you at 80% of the market price, and you can decide how to sell them. How about that?”
She had no one to help her and needed most of her time for cultivation. The best sales method was to find wholesalers.
Yu Hui was surprised, “Sister, you’ve opened an apothecary shop? Have you solved the problem of medicinal herb supply?”
Hua Changxi smiled and nodded.
Yu Hui looked enlightened. No wonder Hua Changxi was unwilling to continue cooperating with her godfather; she had a supply of medicinal herbs.
Yu Hui carefully considered Hua Changxi’s proposal.
A 20% profit was not small, and he didn’t have to put in any effort, just sell the pills. It was practically a risk-free business.
“Sister, thank you for taking care of me. I’ll go with you.”
Hua Changxi smiled, “My apothecary shop is still under renovation. Once it’s done, I’ll bring you over to get acquainted. We’ll need to sign an agreement then.”
Yu Hui readily agreed, “Okay, I’ll do whatever sister says.”
Afterward, Yu Hui tallied the pills Hua Changxi brought this time, totaling three thousand taels of silver. “Sister, I don’t have that much silver right now. I’ll give you five hundred taels first, and the rest after I sell the pills.”
Hua Changxi: “Alright, but this is a one-time thing. Once my apothecary shop officially opens, I’ll give you as many pills as you pay for, Brother Yu.”
Yu Hui’s expression paused, “With our relationship…”
Hua Changxi interrupted him, “It’s precisely because I cherish my relationship with you, Brother Yu, that I’m doing this. Brother Yu, you have more experience than I do, and you should know that when money is involved, even brothers can become enemies if things aren’t handled properly.”
“Doing business according to a contract like this is the least damaging to our feelings, don’t you think?”
Yu Hui couldn’t refute her and gave a wry smile, “Sister is right.”
After receiving the banknotes, Hua Changxi chatted with Yu Hui for a while longer before returning to her dormitory to get her bag and heading directly to the apothecary shop in Feng’an Ward.
Pu Cao and A Niu were both diligent and capable. In just a few days, they had tidied up the three shopfronts and the rooms in the backyard.
Everything that needed to be added to the backyard had been added, but the decorative style for the three shopfronts hadn’t been decided yet. However, Pu Cao and A Niu had already visited apothecary shops in the East and West Markets and drawn up some simple renovation plans, waiting for Hua Changxi’s approval.
When Hua Changxi arrived, she surveyed the front and back of the shop and was pleased. She was somewhat surprised when she saw the renovation plans Pu Cao brought.
After looking at the account book Pu Cao kept, where every expense was clearly recorded, Hua Changxi looked at Pu Cao, “Have you studied?”
Pu Cao shook her head, a look of remembrance appearing on her face, and said in a low voice, “My Sixth Brother attended school for a few years, and he taught me.”
Hua Changxi: “…My condolences.”
Pu Cao smiled, “Sixth Brother wanted me to be well. Now that I’m living so well, he must be happy watching from above. I’m not sad.”
Hua Changxi didn’t dwell on the topic and picked up the renovation plans to look at, making some changes.
During this time, Pu Cao went to the kitchen to cook, and A Niu helped with fetching water and chopping wood.
Both of them were very satisfied with their current lives. Pu Cao was no longer living in fear of harassment from men and looked radiant. A Niu’s worried face had also relaxed due to having enough to eat and wear.
Hua Changxi finished modifying the renovation plans, and Pu Cao and A Niu had also finished cooking.
Seeing Pu Cao bring the dishes to the table and then head back to the kitchen, Hua Changxi called out to her, “Eat with us. Call A Niu over too.”
Pu Cao, who had planned to eat with A Niu in the kitchen, immediately smiled brightly upon hearing this, “Okay, I’ll go get A Niu.”
A Niu came over with his rice bowl, looking a bit uncomfortable.
Hua Changxi didn’t say anything deliberately. After dinner, she handed the five hundred tael banknote from selling pills to Pu Cao, “After the New Year, the three apothecary shops need to be renovated quickly.”
Pu Cao took the banknote, “Changxi, don’t worry. I’ve noted this. A Niu and I have already met several craftsmen. Those people are also working during the New Year.”
Hua Changxi nodded and then said to them, “When you have free time, you can read more medical books. The apothecary shops will be handed over to you to manage in the future, so you can’t be ignorant of pharmacology.”
Pu Cao and A Niu nodded in agreement.
Hua Changxi did not leave that night and stayed there directly.
In the backyard rooms, there were three main rooms. The west room was the alchemy room, the middle room was the living room, and the east room was Hua Changxi’s residence. Two side rooms would be used to store medicinal herbs in the future.
In the two east wing rooms, Pu Cao and A Niu each lived in one. A Niu didn’t mind the Green Ox Demon and let it live in the same room with him.
In the west wing rooms, one was the kitchen, and the other was for processing medicinal herbs.
The rooms in the backyard were just enough.
That night, Pu Cao, A Niu, and the Green Ox Demon all smelled the incense of pills. They knew Hua Changxi was refining pills. The next morning, they woke up to find that the west wing room and the two side rooms were piled high with various medicinal herbs.
“After I leave, go buy some New Year goods and have a good year. I’m going home.”
After leaving the apothecary shop, Hua Changxi went directly back to the Hua Family, buying some New Year goods along the way.
As soon as Hua Changxi entered Xiuzheng Ward, someone recognized her.
“Ninth Miss is back! Hurry home, you have distinguished guests at your house.”
Hua Changxi was a little surprised. Who were the distinguished guests at the Hua Family?
With doubts, Hua Changxi hurried towards the Hua Family. From a distance, she saw two magnificent carriages.
There really were guests!
The courtyard gate of the Hua Family was wide open. Before she even entered, she could hear lively laughter from inside. Upon entering, she saw several servants sitting in the courtyard, with Hua Sanlang entertaining them alongside Hua Liulang.
Hua Liulang, with sharp eyes, was the first to see Hua Changxi, “Ninth Miss, you’re back.” As he spoke, he quickly walked over and took the bag from her shoulder and the New Year goods from her hand.
“I was going to pick you up from the Medical Affairs Department, but guests arrived at home, and I couldn’t leave.”
Hua Changxi: “Who came?”
Hua Liulang: “Steward Kong from the Marquis Wu Yi’s Mansion, and Grand Uncle Hua Tai and Uncle Mingzhe.”
Hua Changxi looked surprised, “What are they here for?”
Hua Liulang: “To offer New Year greetings and give New Year gifts.”
Hua Changxi’s eyes flickered, “The Marquis’s Mansion and the Great Clan Elder’s family didn’t send New Year gifts to our family last year. It’s strange that they’ve come in person this year.”
Hua Liulang agreed, “I find it strange too.”
Hua Changxi glanced at the main hall and saw Hua Silang, Hua Shiyilang, Hua Qiniang, and Hua Shierniang all sitting inside. She immediately looked at Hua Sanlang, who was entertaining the servants, and frowned, “Sixth Brother, why aren’t you inside accompanying them?”
Hua Liulang pouted, “They don’t think much of us. Fourth Brother and the others were personally invited in by Grand Uncle Hua Tai.”
At this moment, there was movement from the main hall. Steward Kong and Hua Tai’s son were leaving. Old Master Hua and Hua Minghe and others smiled and saw them out.
As everyone came out of the room, they saw Hua Changxi standing in the courtyard.
Steward Kong and Hua Tai remembered Hua Changxi vividly and were leisurely appraising her.
Old Master Hua, seeing that Hua Changxi didn’t step forward to greet the guests, was displeased, “Ninth Miss, why aren’t you coming to pay your respects to the elders?”
Hua Changxi walked over, performed a junior’s salute to Hua Tai and his eldest son Hua Mingzhe, and merely nodded slightly to Steward Kong.
Seeing this, Hua Tai raised an eyebrow, Hua Mingzhe was surprised, while Steward Kong’s smile remained undiminished, appearing unconcerned.
Old Master Hua felt her attitude was not respectful enough and was about to scold her when Hua Tai spoke first, “Ninth Miss, how is your work in the Labor Department of the Medical Affairs Department?”
Hua Changxi: “It’s quite good.”
Hua Tai smiled, “The Fifth Young Lady of the Earl’s Mansion and your sister Wanyue have also entered the Disciple Hall of the Medical Affairs Department. If you encounter any trouble, you can look for them.”
A look of surprise flashed in Hua Changxi’s eyes. Yu Hui had said that nobles had been inserting many people into the Medical Affairs Department in the past two months. She hadn’t expected the Hua Earl’s Mansion to be involved.
Seeing that Hua Changxi didn’t respond, Hua Tai was somewhat annoyed. He had intended to give her an opportunity, thinking she hadn’t undergone spirit testing yet, but seeing her arrogance, he abandoned the idea.
Hua Tai ignored Hua Changxi and gestured for Steward Kong to proceed. They walked out while talking.
Old Master Hua glared at Hua Changxi and quickly followed to see them off.
“Ninth Miss, Steward Kong just said that Fifth Sister is pregnant.”
Hua Qiniang happily stepped forward to share the good news with Hua Jiuniang, “Fifth Sister was supposed to come back in person, but she’s not feeling well. Steward Kong said that when Fifth Sister gives birth, our family can send someone to accompany her.”
Seeing that everyone from the fourth branch was beaming, Hua Changxi smiled, “That’s wonderful news.”
Hua Qiniang clasped her hands together and prayed, “Thank heavens. With a child, Fifth Sister can finally stand tall in the Marquis’s Mansion.”
At this moment, Hua Shierniang walked over, tilting her chin up proudly, “Ninth Miss, after the New Year, Fourth Brother, Seventh Sister, and I will be going to the Earl’s Mansion.”
Hua Changxi was confused, “Why are you going to the Earl’s Mansion?”
Hua Shierniang: “Grand Uncle Hua Tai said that the Earl’s Mansion has invited cultivators to guide the cultivation of clan members who have detected spiritual meridians. They will also give us spirit stones every month.”
“Do you know what spirit stones are?”
“Here, it’s this.”
Hua Changxi saw it and wanted to reach out to take a look, but Hua Shierniang withdrew her hand, “You’re not a cultivator, so don’t look.”
Hua Qiniang glared at Hua Shierniang and handed her own spirit stone to Hua Changxi.
Hua Changxi took it and saw it was a low-grade spirit stone, “Did the Earl’s Mansion give it to you?”
Hua Qiniang nodded, “My Fourth Brother and I, along with two others, have already achieved Qi Induction, so each of us received a hundred spirit stones.”
Hua Changxi’s eyes flickered. The Earl’s Mansion was quite capable. Distributing spirit stones to cultivators in the clan meant they must have spirit mines.
Indeed, wealthy and powerful families knew more information than ordinary people and could seize various resources in advance.
If she hadn’t gotten the news from Elder You and the others, she wouldn’t have even had the chance to participate in the struggle for Five Finger Mountain.
