Chapter 85: Tool Person
Steward Leng delivered six cartloads of medicinal herbs that were difficult to wash. Since tomorrow was Lunar New Year’s Eve, the Spring Festival holiday, Hua Changxi had to lead her ten team members to wash the herbs and deliver them to the apothecary shop before it closed today.
Although the team members accepted Hua Changxi as their steward after Zhou Qiuyu’s persuasion, they didn’t truly respect her.
Therefore, after Steward Leng left, someone, upon hearing Hua Changxi tell them not to touch the herbs, deliberately defied her.
“Ah~”
Hua Changxi was counting the types of medicinal herbs when she heard a scream. Following the sound, she saw a female laborer sitting on the ground, her right hand visibly turning red and swelling.
The female laborers in the same group crowded around, and people from other groups also craned their necks to look.
Hua Changxi looked at the female laborer, who was sweating profusely from the pain, but felt no sympathy. Her expression was somewhat indifferent.
She had already warned them not to touch it. If they were so disobedient, they should learn a lesson.
After a glance, Hua Changxi withdrew her gaze and continued with her work.
Zhou Qiuyu looked at her sister in pain and was very angry. “Didn’t Steward Hua tell us not to touch the medicinal herbs carelessly? Why didn’t you listen?”
The female laborer who was burned by the medicinal herbs was named Ye Shiyin. She looked at Zhou Qiuyu with teary eyes. “Qiuyu, save me. I’m in so much pain.”
Zhou Qiuyu looked at Ye Shiyin with disappointment, then glanced back at Hua Changxi, who was ignoring them. She gritted her teeth and walked over. “Steward Hua…”
Hua Changxi knew what she was going to say and interrupted her. “Everyone must take responsibility for their own actions.” After speaking, she looked at the other team members.
“Come over here. I will now assign you the medicinal herbs you will be washing. I will teach you how to wash them. Listen carefully, or Ye Shiyin’s fate will be your warning.”
Seeing everyone looking at Ye Shiyin with concern, Hua Changxi reminded them, “We must deliver the medicinal herbs before the apothecary shop closes. If we delay, do you still want to go home for the New Year tomorrow?”
Ye Shiyin’s sister, Ye Shiqin, said anxiously, “Steward Hua, my sister is injured. She needs treatment.”
“Certainly, you can take her for treatment.”
Hua Changxi ignored Ye Shiqin and began assigning tasks to the others.
Ye Shiqin couldn’t find anyone to treat her sister and was at a loss. She could only look to Zhou Qiuyu for help.
Hua Changxi knew the medicinal herbs were ‘poisonous,’ and Zhou Qiuyu guessed she must have a way to treat Ye Shiyin. However, she didn’t plead for Ye Shiyin again. Instead, she called others to collect their assigned medicinal herbs.
She knew that Hua Changxi likely wanted to establish her authority through this incident. Her pleading would not only be useless but might even backfire.
Seeing that Zhou Qiuyu wasn’t helping, Ye Shiqin was stunned. She could only brace herself and beg Hua Changxi. “Steward Hua, my sister knows she was wrong. Please help her.”
“My sister is very efficient at work. More hands mean more strength. With her help, we will definitely finish washing this batch of medicinal herbs before the apothecary shop closes.”
Hua Changxi looked at her. “Without your sister, the task can still be completed. She is not an indispensable person. Don’t worry too much; she won’t die. At most, she’ll be in unbearable pain.”
She then glanced at Ye Shiyin. “Perhaps this lesson will even be a good thing.”
“If you want to work, quickly collect the medicinal herbs. If you want to take your sister for treatment, help her leave. Don’t obstruct others from working.”
Hua Changxi stopped paying attention to the Ye sisters and began explaining the properties of the medicinal herbs and the precautions for washing them to the others.
With Ye Shiyin’s painful lesson, everyone listened very attentively.
Ye Shiqin saw that no one was helping Ye Shiyin and wanted to help her back to the dormitory, but Ye Shiyin refused.
Ye Shiyin looked at Hua Changxi, deeply regretting her impulsiveness, and said through gritted teeth, “I’ll stay here and won’t leave. You go listen to Steward Hua’s explanation quickly and don’t mind me.”
Ye Shiqin saw her face turn pale from the pain and felt reluctant. “Sister, why don’t I take you out to see a doctor?”
Ye Shiyin shook her head. “An outside doctor might not be able to cure me, and even if they could, we couldn’t afford the medical fees. Alright, go and listen to the lecture.”
Seeing Ye Shiqin still hesitating, Ye Shiyin whispered, “Don’t worry, Steward Hua won’t abandon me. She just wants to teach me a lesson.”
Ye Shiqin was stunned. “Really?”
Ye Shiyin nodded. She still remembered the incident last year when people from the Sixth Bureau went to help the First Department and returned poisoned. It was Hua Changxi who saved everyone then.
Today’s incident was her fault. But she was under Hua Changxi’s command, and as long as Hua Changxi wanted to be a good Third Steward, she wouldn’t truly abandon her.
Seeing Ye Shiyin speak with such conviction, Ye Shiqin lingered before returning to the team and listened to Hua Changxi’s explanation of the medicinal herbs with everyone else.
Hua Changxi saw this and ignored it. Being so close, she had heard everything the two sisters said.
That Ye Shiyin reacted quickly and acted decisively.
She didn’t intend to do anything to her. Now that she was a steward, while establishing her authority, she also needed to show her magnanimity.
As Hua Changxi continued to explain the properties of the medicinal herbs, the expressions on everyone’s faces gradually became more serious.
This was because this kind of knowledge and skill transfer was something they had almost never encountered before.
Being in the Medical Affairs Department, even the lowest-level laborers knew that the key to learning medical skills lay in finding a good mentor.
Now that Hua Changxi was teaching them for free, they were truly overjoyed.
“Alright, I’ve told you all the precautions for the medicinal herbs. Let’s start washing. Remember, if you have any uncertainties midway, you can ask me anytime.”
Zhou Qiuyu couldn’t help but ask, “Steward Hua, can I copy down the medicinal herb properties and precautions you just explained?”
Hua Changxi glanced at her, saw the longing in her eyes, and smiled, “Of course. If you don’t understand anything, you can also come and ask me.”
Zhou Qiuyu’s expression brightened. “Thank you, Steward Hua.” She then glanced at Ye Shiyin, who was enduring the pain and standing aside, and said nothing more before joining the others in washing the medicinal herbs.
Hua Changxi watched everyone wash. When she saw someone making a mistake, she would quickly remind them. After confirming that everyone was familiar with the washing process for their assigned herbs, she walked towards Ye Shiyin.
Ye Shiyin saw that Hua Changxi was finally paying attention to her and quickly said, “Steward Hua, I was wrong.”
“The medicinal herb you touched is called Fire Rock Grass. Ordinary people who touch it will get ‘fire poison’ like you. To clear the fire poison, it’s simple: apply Ice Rock Grass to the affected area. Zhou Qiuyu’s medicinal herbs include Ice Rock Grass. Go ask her for a sprig.”
She had expected to be scolded and lectured, but instead, Hua Changxi said nothing and told her how to treat her red and swollen hand. Ye Shiyin was somewhat surprised.
Seeing that Hua Changxi ignored her after speaking, Ye Shiyin bowed her head and reflected for a while before going to find Zhou Qiuyu with a look of regret.
Hua Changxi was responsible for washing the three most difficult carts of medicinal herbs. At her speed, she finished quickly.
Afterward, she didn’t help Zhou Qiuyu and the others but returned to the dormitory.
Following the method taught by Hua Changxi, Zhou Qiuyu and the others finished processing their assigned medicinal herbs at 4:00 PM.
“Steward Hua, we have washed all the medicinal herbs clean.”
Zhou Qiuyu came to the dormitory to call Hua Changxi.
Hua Changxi stopped cultivating and, bringing Zhou Qiuyu and the others, said, “Let’s go. We’ll deliver the washed medicinal herbs to the No. 1 Apothecary Shop on Eighth Street.”
When Hua Changxi and her subordinates transported the medicinal herbs to the No. 1 Apothecary Shop on Eighth Street, the people in the shop were distributing New Year Goods and no one came out to attend to them.
Time was precious to Hua Changxi, and she didn’t want to stand around waiting. She directly entered the apothecary shop and approached a young man who looked like a steward. “Are you the steward? The laborers from the Labor Department have finished washing the medicinal herbs you requested. Please send someone to receive them.”
The man looked at Hua Changxi in confusion. “Why are the medicinal herbs from the Labor Department being sent here? We get the medicinal herbs we need directly from the medical supply storeroom.”
At this moment, someone stepped forward, pulled the man aside to a corner, and whispered, “Senior Disciple Brother, Master probably instructed this.”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Jing looked at Hua Changxi and quickly entered the main room.
Seeing this, Hua Changxi walked to the steps of the main room and stood there, appearing ready to be dispatched.
The others in the courtyard didn’t stop her when they saw her like this.
Soon, Hua Changxi heard voices from the main house.
“Master, someone from the Labor Department has delivered medicinal herbs.”
“So quickly?”
“Master, don’t we get the medicinal herbs we need directly from the medical supply storeroom? Why are we looking for them from the Labor Department?”
“I received news that after the New Year, the tasks for the apothecary shops on Ninth Street will change. Previously, Eighth Street and Ninth Street were only responsible for refining pills for low-grade martial artists. From now on, we will also be able to refine pills for high-grade martial artists.”
“How can that be? If we start refining pills for high-grade martial artists, then what will the apothecary shops on Second Street, Third Street, Fourth Street, and Fifth Street do?”
“They will specialize in researching other types of pills.”
“What types?”
“I don’t know about that. The pharmacists on Second Street and Third Street are all very arrogant. For them to give up their existing interests, the new pills must be extraordinary.”
Zhao Jing was still a bit confused. “What does this have to do with us looking for the Labor Department?”
Pharmacist Feng glanced at his eldest disciple. “Although the tasks originally handled by Second Street, Third Street, Fourth Street, and Fifth Street have been reassigned to Sixth Street, Seventh Street, Eighth Street, and Ninth Street, with so many apothecary shops, to compete for better tasks, one must pay a certain price.”
Because it involved the distribution of benefits, the competition among the apothecary shops on Ninth Street was actually quite intense.
Seeing that Zhao Jing still wanted to ask, Pharmacist Feng raised his hand to stop him, stood up, and said, “The medicinal herbs used by high-grade martial artists are not easy to wash. I’ll go out with you to take a look.”
As soon as the master and disciple came out, they saw Hua Changxi standing in the courtyard.
Pharmacist Feng raised an eyebrow when he saw that it wasn’t Eunuch Jia. “Did Eunuch Jia order you to deliver the medicinal herbs?”
Hua Changxi replied, “Yes.”
Pharmacist Feng: “Where are the medicinal herbs?”
Hua Changxi quickly asked Zhou Qiuyu and the others to push the medicinal herbs into the apothecary shop.
Pharmacist Feng personally stepped forward to inspect the medicinal herbs. He knew these herbs had strong properties and didn’t touch them. He just saw that each one was washed clean, and his face showed undisguised surprise. “Did you all wash these medicinal herbs?”
Hua Changxi: “Yes.”
Pharmacist Feng’s probing gaze swept over Hua Changxi and her group. “Do you understand pharmacology?”
Hua Changxi gave a vague answer. “We understand some.”
Pharmacist Feng looked at her meaningfully and said, “It seems the Labor Department truly has hidden talents.”
This batch of medicinal herbs was to be used for refining pills as instructed by the Heavenly Department. They were needed urgently. He had asked Eunuch Jia to wash them, intending to take him down.
He hadn’t expected that Eunuch Jia would have such capable people under him, who managed to wash the medicinal herbs in just one day.
Hua Changxi also gave a meaningful reply. “We are all just trying to earn a living.”
Pharmacist Feng looked at the neither servile nor overbearing Hua Changxi. “Are you a laborer under Eunuch Jia?”
Hua Changxi: “Yes.”
Pharmacist Feng knew he couldn’t find fault with Eunuch Jia this time and said in a displeased tone, “Everyone says Eunuch Jia has a good eye, and I thought it was an exaggeration, but I didn’t expect it to be true. Alright, I’ve received the medicinal herbs. You can leave now.”
Hua Changxi didn’t move and smiled at Pharmacist Feng. “Eunuch Jia instructed me to ask you, Pharmacist, to write a receipt stating that you have received the medicinal herbs.”
After listening to the conversation between the master and disciple, she guessed that this pharmacist intended to deal with Eunuch Jia.
She didn’t want to become cannon fodder in their conflict, so it was better to act cautiously.
Pharmacist Feng looked at Hua Changxi and sneered, “What, are you afraid I’ll renege on receiving the medicinal herbs?”
Hua Changxi: “Pharmacist, you misunderstand. I am merely following Eunuch Jia’s instructions. If you are troubled, I will go and ask Eunuch Jia to come over and explain it to you personally?”
Although Pharmacist Feng really wanted to bring down Eunuch Jia, he couldn’t openly break ties. He ‘humphed’ and asked Zhao Jing to write a receipt for her, then turned and went back inside.
After receiving the receipt, Hua Changxi left with Zhou Qiuyu and the others.
Upon leaving the apothecary shop, Hua Changxi told Zhou Qiuyu and the others to return to the Sixth Bureau on their own, while she went to the storeroom to find Yu Hui.
“Brother Yu, I heard that the No. 1 apothecary shops on each street of the Medical Affairs Department have benefactors backing them. Is this true?”
Yu Hui looked at Hua Changxi in surprise. “Why are you asking this?”
Hua Changxi explained that Eunuch Jia had sent her to deliver medicinal herbs to the No. 1 Apothecary Shop on Eighth Street.
After hearing this, Yu Hui frowned. “Why would Eunuch Jia send you?”
Hua Changxi: “What’s wrong with him sending me?”
Yu Hui lowered his voice. “People from the palace have their eyes on the Labor Department. Pharmacist Feng of the No. 1 Apothecary Shop on Eighth Street is a relative of Consort Feng.”
“Eunuch Sun of the First Department used to serve Beauty Lu. Consort Feng probably wants to arrange for her own people to take over Eunuch Jia’s position, so she asked Pharmacist Feng to find a way to deal with Eunuch Jia.”
“Eunuch Jia actually sent you as the vanguard, making a mere laborer like you confront a noble from the palace. What was he thinking?”
Hua Changxi’s eyes narrowed after hearing this. She knew it. Why else would Eunuch Jia suddenly think of her and even promote her to steward? It turned out he wanted to use her as a tool for his schemes.
But why her?
She was just a small laborer. Compared to others, she was only better at medical skills, braver, and more daring.
Had her reputation for being difficult to mess with become so deeply ingrained that Eunuch Jia thought she wasn’t afraid of even the nobles from the palace?
Knowing why Eunuch Jia had promoted her, Hua Changxi returned to the Sixth Bureau with a grim expression. When Zhou Qiuyu gave her the monthly tribute money, she directly said, “As long as I am the steward, our group doesn’t need to pay tribute money.”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Qiuyu and the others looked at her in unison.
Zhou Qiuyu: “…Steward Hua, this is the rule of the Labor Department.” It might not be good to change it.
Hua Changxi saw the troubled expressions on everyone’s faces and said calmly, “Rules are made by people. Since I’m telling you not to pay, I will bear all the blame if the higher-ups hold us accountable.”
Although she didn’t know what Eunuch Jia was thinking, giving her the title of steward was definitely for his own use.
Since that was the case, it would be a waste if she didn’t take this opportunity to do something.
If she interfered with the interests of Steward Leng, Eunuch Lu, and others, they would definitely report her. She could use this to test the extent of Eunuch Jia’s tolerance for her.
