Chapter 24: Asking for more after getting an inch
The news of Hua Changxi’s brawl in the storeroom spread throughout the entire Labor Department in less than a day.
Working in the Labor Department involved repetitive, strenuous physical labor every day. The workers had no form of entertainment and were constantly under stress. A fight could easily become the focus of everyone’s attention and a topic of conversation in their monotonous lives.
“Hua Changxi, you didn’t take to heart what I reminded you of before. Not only did you fight in the Sixth Bureau, but you also went to the storeroom to fight.”
Steward Du, upon learning of this, came to find Hua Changxi, her face full of anger.
Hua Changxi didn’t think she had done anything wrong. “Steward Du, I didn’t want to fight either. It was the people in the storeroom who mocked me, and I couldn’t stand it.”
Steward Du was furious and blurted out, “Why didn’t they mock anyone else? It’s because you don’t carry yourself properly!”
Hua Changxi’s face instantly turned cold. “Steward Du, I am the victim. I don’t expect you to have any sympathy for me, but to turn around and blame me, isn’t that going too far?”
“You are an old hand in the Labor Department, and you are a woman. You should know very well the humiliation I suffered. When faced with such a situation, you could choose to let it go. What is wrong with me fighting back?”
Steward Du was rendered speechless. After a moment of silence, she said, “The person you beat, Mao Wei, has a brother who is a Martial Artist and a minor steward at the Medicine Farm. You’d best be careful.”
Hua Changxi heard Steward Du’s words but didn’t take them to heart.
She had already beaten the person and didn’t regret it. As for what might happen later, she would deal with it when it came.
For Hua Changxi now, the most important things were cultivation and obtaining the Medical Skills inheritance; everything else had to take a backseat.
Since she could no longer sleep in, Hua Changxi began using her mornings to wash medicinal herbs, and she dedicated her afternoons and evenings to cultivation.
Thanks to the Spirit Replenishing Powder, her cultivation speed had increased significantly.
Initially, she thought she could only refine and absorb 10 grams of Spirit Replenishing Powder per night, but after a few more attempts, she found she could refine and absorb it once every two hours.
This way, she could refine and absorb 40 grams of Spirit Replenishing Powder per day, and her Realm Points would increase by 80 points daily.
Hua Changxi was immersed in the joy of rapid cultivation, and time flew by until mid-October.
By then, the Spirit Replenishing Powder had been completely consumed, and Hua Changxi had successfully broken through 1000 Realm Points.
Realm: Qi Refining Realm 1055/1000
She didn’t know why, but her Realm did not advance even after her Realm Points surpassed 1000.
Hua Changxi was very puzzled by this, but no one could explain it to her. The Spirit Replenishing Powder was also gone, so she could only continue with slow, steady cultivation.
“Hua Changxi, someone is looking for you.”
A shout came from outside the room. Hua Changxi walked out and saw an unfamiliar woman calling her.
As soon as the woman saw her, she became very enthusiastic. “Young Woman Hua, Pharmacist Xu from Ninth Street is looking for you. He’s waiting right outside the Sixth Bureau.”
“Thank you, Auntie.”
After thanking the woman, Hua Changxi quickly headed to the front courtyard.
“Uncle Xu!”
Pharmacist Xu didn’t enter the Sixth Bureau but waited outside the courtyard. Seeing Hua Changxi emerge, he immediately broke into a smile. As she approached, he examined her carefully for a moment and asked with concern, “Jiu Niang, are you doing well in the Labor Department?”
Hua Changxi smiled. “Uncle Xu, I’m doing very well.”
Seeing that Hua Changxi’s complexion was rosy and she showed no signs of exhaustion, Pharmacist Xu was greatly relieved.
Hua Changxi: “Uncle Xu, what do you need me for?”
Pharmacist Xu: “Your Sixth Brother came to my house last night and asked me to tell you that your Fifth Sister is getting married on the twentieth of October. He wants you to go back and see her off.”
The smile on Hua Changxi’s face froze. “Fifth Sister is getting married so soon?”
Pharmacist Xu knew that Hua Wuniang was going to be a concubine, so he didn’t say much about it. He took out a porcelain bottle from his embrace and handed it to Hua Changxi. “This is the Body Strengthening Pill I usually refine. The work in the Labor Department is hard, and you are still growing. Take one pill every day and take good care of yourself.”
Hua Changxi held the porcelain bottle, touched. “Thank you, Uncle Xu. I will take good care of myself.”
Pharmacist Xu: “I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll be going now. Remember, if you encounter any trouble, come to Ninth Street to find me.”
Hua Changxi nodded. “I will, Uncle Xu. Safe travels.”
After watching Pharmacist Xu leave and ensuring he was out of sight, Hua Changxi turned and returned to the Sixth Bureau courtyard.
On the way back to the dormitory, she noticed many people looking at her.
Hua Changxi understood this perfectly. Pharmacist Xu’s appearance confirmed that she indeed had a backer in the Medical Affairs Department, which would help her avoid some trouble in the future.
Lu Qingluo was very puzzled. “Since Hua Changxi knows a pharmacist from Ninth Street, why did she come to the Labor Department as a laborer?”
Wang Yun Chu snorted. “Why else? Either Hua Changxi’s relationship with that pharmacist isn’t that good, or that pharmacist doesn’t have much influence in the Medical Affairs Department.”
The news that Hua Wuniang would be married into the Marquis’s Mansion as a concubine in a few days made Hua Changxi’s joy at breaking through 1000 Realm Points fade.
Regardless, they were sisters, and she should go back to see her off.
When evening came and Steward Du had finished her work, Hua Changxi approached her. “Steward Du, I’ve been in the Labor Department for almost a month. I’d like to take a leave of absence to go home on the twentieth of October.”
Steward Du shook her head. “The twentieth of October won’t work. In our group, the one day of leave per month doesn’t have strict restrictions, but only one person can take leave per day. Generally, whoever has something to do that day takes leave.”
“Shi Yu reported to me a few days ago that she has something to do at home on the twentieth. To avoid delaying work, you’ll have to choose another day to rest.”
Hua Changxi became anxious upon hearing this. “Can I switch? My sister is getting married on the twentieth, and I need to see her off.”
Steward Du: “You’ll have to speak to Shi Yu about this yourself.”
Hua Changxi: “Alright, I’ll go find Sister Shi right away.”
Shi Yu, Lu Qingluo, and others were still washing medicinal herbs. They were somewhat surprised to see Hua Changxi approach.
Hua Changxi walked up to Shi Yu. “Sister-in-law Shi, please spare me a moment. I’d like to talk to you about something.”
Shi Yu straightened up, looking curious. “What do you need me for?”
Hua Changxi: “I want to take leave on the twentieth and would like to switch with you.”
Shi Yu directly shook her head. “No, I have something to do on the twentieth.”
Hua Changxi: “.I won’t switch for nothing. If you agree to switch with me, I’ll help you wash medicinal herbs for a day. That way, along with your monthly leave, you can have two days off together. How about it?”
Shi Yu was tempted and was about to agree, but after seeing the look the woman beside her gave her, she thought for a moment and increased her price. “One day isn’t enough. You’ll have to help me wash medicinal herbs for two days.”
Hua Changxi was silent for a moment, then agreed. “Alright, I’ll help you wash medicinal herbs for two days. Then it’s settled, I’ll take leave on the twentieth.”
Shi Yu happily agreed. With Hua Changxi washing medicinal herbs for her for two days, plus her own one day of monthly leave, she could go home and rest for three days this month.
After Hua Changxi left, Shi Yu was still happy about having two extra days off this month. However, the women surnamed Lin and Zhao in the same group felt it was a pity for her.
Sister Lin: “Shi Yu, you’re too honest.”
Aunt Zhao: “Exactly. Hua Changxi washes medicinal herbs so quickly. Now that she’s asking you for a favor, why are you only asking her to wash medicinal herbs for two days?”
Shi Yu was stunned. “Two days isn’t enough?”
Aunt Zhao snorted. “If I were you, I would definitely make Hua Changxi help me wash medicinal herbs for three days.”
Sister Lin: “Three days? You’re underestimating Hua Changxi’s abilities. If you ask me, she should help wash medicinal herbs for at least five days.”
“Five days!”
Shi Yu exclaimed. “Isn’t that too much?”
Aunt Zhao: “For others, it might be a bit much, but Hua Changxi can wash 500 medicinal herbs in half a day. Five days’ worth of herbs is only 2500 plants, which she can finish in two and a half days. It’s nothing for her.”
“This…”
Shi Yu hesitated, but she was also tempted.
Wang Yun Chu, Lu Qingluo, and the other young women nearby listened silently to the three’s conversation and exchanged glances without a word.
When they saw Shi Yu actually leave the ditch and head towards the backyard to find Hua Changxi, Wang Yun Chu muttered softly, “She’s really pushing her luck. Do you think Hua Changxi will agree?”
Lu Qingluo: “.She probably will. Changxi looked really anxious just now. She must have something very important to do on the twentieth.”
Wang Yun Chu shook her head. “I don’t think Hua Changxi will agree.”
In the dormitory, Hua Changxi was looking at the Body Strengthening Pills given to her by Pharmacist Xu.
The small porcelain bottle, about half a palm high, contained ten pills. Hua Changxi poured one out and tasted it, quickly discerning the ingredients used.
The pills had the effects of tonifying qi and blood, and consolidating the foundation and cultivating the origin. They also contained several medicinal herbs used by Martial Artists, making their medicinal efficacy even more pronounced.
If these pills were sold outside, they would cost at least five taels of silver each.
With an immediate gift worth fifty taels of silver, Hua Changxi was touched by Pharmacist Xu’s care for her.
Speaking of which, her acquaintance with Pharmacist Xu was thanks to her Western medicine knowledge from her previous life.
During a chance consultation, Pharmacist Xu, who was buying medicine at the Hua Family Apothecary Shop, overheard Hua Changxi explaining Western medicine theories to the resident doctor.
Some of the theories of Western medicine were eye-opening to Pharmacist Xu, which led him to frequently visit the Hua Family Apothecary Shop to discuss medical skills with Hua Changxi.
Through these interactions, their relationship grew.
Hua Changxi carefully put away the medicine bottle. With Wuniang getting married, she, as her sister, should give a gift. However, she had no money, and her monthly salary as a laborer wouldn’t be paid until the end of October.
The bottle of Body Strengthening Pills from Pharmacist Xu came at the perfect time; it could be used as a gift for Wuniang.
“Changxi…”
Shi Yu walked into the room.
Hua Changxi looked up at her. “Sister-in-law Shi, is something wrong?”
Shi Yu smiled. “Changxi, I’ve thought about it. I have something very important to do at home on the twentieth. If it’s delayed, it will take at least five days to sort it out again. Therefore, if you want to switch your leave with me, you’ll have to wash medicinal herbs for me for five days.”
Seeing Hua Changxi looking at her expressionlessly, Shi Yu quickly added, “I know my request is a bit excessive, but washing 2500 medicinal herbs isn’t difficult for you…”
Hua Changxi was amused to the point of anger by Shi Yu’s audacity. “Sister-in-law Shi, I need to consider this. I’ll let you know once I’ve thought it over.”
Seeing that Hua Changxi didn’t immediately agree, Shi Yu became a little anxious. “Okay, I’ll go back to work then.”
After Shi Yu left, Hua Changxi went out of the room to find Steward Du. “Steward Du, I’ll wake up early on the twentieth to wash medicinal herbs. After I’m done, can I go home?”
Steward Du looked surprised. “Shi Yu is unwilling to switch leave with you?”
Hua Changxi smiled. “Sister-in-law Shi wants me to wash medicinal herbs for her for five days before she’ll switch with me.”
Upon hearing this, Steward Du frowned. After thinking for a moment, she said, “The storeroom opens at the fourth watch of the morning, 6:00 AM. By the time you collect the medicinal herbs and wash them clean, will you still have time to go home?”
Hua Changxi nodded. “I can do it.”
Hearing this, Steward Du said no more. “Alright, on the twentieth, as long as you finish your day’s work, you can go home.”
Hua Changxi smiled. “Thank you, Steward Du.”
Leaving Steward Du’s room, Hua Changxi went to the ditch and said to Shi Yu, “Sister-in-law Shi, I’ve thought about it. I won’t switch leave with you.” With that, she left without looking back.
Shi Yu was stunned and looked at Sister Lin and Aunt Zhao in confusion. “Why isn’t she switching anymore?”
Sister Lin and Aunt Zhao exchanged glances and said nothing.
Wang Yun Chu chuckled. “I told you so. How could someone as difficult to deal with as Hua Changxi agree to Sister Shi’s excessive condition?”
