Chapter 6: The Feudal Patriarch
『Realm: Qi Refining Realm 1/1000』
『Hundred Herbs Annotation （Great Accomplishment）: Tasting Hundred Herbs 365/1000』
Hua Changxi couldn’t obtain other medicinal herbs for now. The next chapter of 《Hundred Herbs Annotation》 could only be unlocked after she was admitted into the Medical Affairs Department.
She was very curious; after mortal plants and spiritual plants, what would come next?
As for cultivation,
Hua Changxi recalled a scene from her dream where she transformed into a small bird, breathing like one.
She knew her cultivation should be achieved through breathing and exhalation.
Thinking of this, Hua Changxi quickly tried it out, wanting to see if she could cultivate during the day. She intended to sit cross-legged, but remembering the bird was in a prone position, she also lay down on the bed.
Unfortunately, Hua Changxi couldn’t calm her mind at all. Although she imagined the bird breathing, her thoughts were racing, her breathing frequency was chaotic, let alone drawing the airflow around her into her body.
Hua Changxi spent the entire afternoon experimenting, and didn’t succeed even by dinnertime.
In the evening, the Hua Family Courtyard became lively.
Madam Yao and her two sisters-in-law were busy in the kitchen; preparing meals for over twenty Hua Family Members was no easy task.
Old Madam Hua, along with several granddaughters, sat under the eaves outside the Main Hall, spinning thread and doing needlework.
Old Master Hua and the three brothers Hua Minghe, who had returned from their duties, sat in the Main Hall smoking dried tobacco. Hua Sanlang and some other grandchildren sat nearby, chatting about events outside.
When Hua Changxi emerged from her Room, she received everyone’s attention.
Old Madam Hua, without stopping her spinning, glanced up at Hua Changxi and asked, “Are you feeling better?”
Hua Changxi replied with a smile, “Grandmother, I’m already fine.”
Old Madam Hua, who was always stern with her granddaughters, gave a faint “Mm” and then began to lecture, “After this lesson, do you dare to run off again?”
“Among the Young Women of the family, you are the most disobedient.”
“I just don’t understand. You are all Young Women of the Hua Family, yet Wu Niang and the others can stay at home peacefully embroidering and weaving, so why must you insist on going out?”
Hua Changxi was long accustomed to Old Madam Hua’s nagging and, with an unchanged expression, let it go in one ear and out the other.
“Jiu Niang, come and serve the dishes.”
Madam Yao’s voice came from the kitchen, rescuing Hua Changxi from Old Madam Hua’s scolding.
The twenty-plus Hua Family Members ate at two tables: one for the adults and one for the children.
Before the meal, Old Master Hua suddenly beckoned Hua Changxi to his side and asked with a relatively kind expression, “Did you go to the apothecary shop this afternoon?”
Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi immediately looked at Hua Sanlang and Hua Silang.
Hua Sanlang looked somewhat surprised, while Hua Silang dared not meet Hua Changxi’s gaze.
Hua Changxi immediately understood why Old Master Hua knew she had gone to the apothecary shop: “Yes, I went to the apothecary shop to get a few doses of medicine to replenish qi and blood.”
Old Madam Hua’s face immediately lengthened: “You were kidnapped yesterday, and today you dare to sneak out again. You truly have no memory.”
“Hua Jiu Niang, just keep acting out. If you ruin your reputation, how will you get married in the future!”
Old Master Hua let Old Madam Hua scold for a while before speaking again, “Jiu Niang, you are already thirteen and a young woman. It’s not appropriate to continue appearing in public.”
“From now on, you will no longer help at the apothecary shop.”
“Your Sixth Brother and Eighth Brother are no longer attending school, so it’s time for them to gain experience at the apothecary shop. You will stay home and do needlework and weaving with your sisters.”
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the Hua Family Members fluctuated.
Regarding Hua Changxi’s ability to help at the apothecary shop, the Second and Fourth Branches were actually somewhat dissatisfied.
Firstly, since they were all Young Women of the Hua Family, Hua Changxi could learn Medical Skills at the apothecary shop while other Young Women had to learn needlework and weaving at home, which naturally made the people of the Second and Fourth Branches feel it was unfair.
Secondly, the talent Hua Changxi displayed in Medical Skills made the Second and Fourth Branches wary, fearing she would snatch the Resources of their own sons.
Old Master Hua’s words were spoken calmly and gently, yet they were irrefutable.
Hua Minghe seemed to want to say something, but seeing that his second brother and sister-in-law and his fourth brother and sister-in-law all looked in agreement, he ultimately did not speak up for his own daughter.
The First Branch received the most Resources in the family.
Da Lang attended the Martial Arts Academy, which cost a considerable amount of Silver each month.
San Lang began learning medicine at the apothecary shop at the age of eight, managing the procurement affairs of the shop.
Now that Hua Liulang was also going to help at the apothecary shop, if Jiu Niang continued to stay there, the second and fourth brothers would indeed be displeased.
Madam Yao wanted to advocate for her daughter, but since her father-in-law had spoken, as a daughter-in-law, she had no right to object.
The couple could only look at their daughter with guilt.
Hua Changxi had already decided to apply to the Medical Affairs Department, so she naturally wouldn’t cling to the Hua Family Apothecary Shop. However, she was still very unhappy about the family’s practice of allocating all Resources to the men.
“Grandfather, I helped at the apothecary shop for three years, and my brothers all received wages, but I never received any. Since I won’t be going anymore, shouldn’t you settle my accounts?”
Old Master Hua looked at Hua Changxi, his expression indifferent: “Where did the food and clothing you eat and wear come from?”
Old Madam Hua also chimed in, irritably, “We haven’t even asked you for tuition fees for learning medicine, and you’re asking for wages.”
Knowing that the old couple didn’t value their granddaughter, Hua Changxi never expected them to negate her Value so completely. She felt indignant and wanted to argue, but was held back tightly by Madam Yao.
Madam Yao had already noticed her father-in-law was angry. When her father-in-law got angry, he would truly punish his daughter.
Seeing that Hua Changxi looked upset, Hua Liulang couldn’t help but say to Old Master Hua, “Grandfather, I don’t like helping at the apothecary shop, so let Jiu Niang go in my place.”
Old Master Hua was no longer as kind to his grandson. He slammed his hand onto the table beside him and sternly said, “If you don’t learn a trade at the apothecary shop, what do you intend to do?”
“You are fifteen this year, and you’ll be looking for a marriage in a couple of years. You have no education and no trade. Do you think any good girl will marry you?”
Hua Liulang flinched, but still mustered the courage to say, “Grandfather, I don’t want to learn medicine, I want to practice martial arts.”
First, his ninth granddaughter inappropriately asked the family for wages, and now his sixth grandson was contradicting him. Old Master Hua’s expression turned grim.
“You’ve gone too far! Do you want to be in charge of this household?”
“I’ve lived my whole life and can’t do as I please, where do you, a mere child, get the right to choose?”
Seeing that the Old Master was angry, Hua Sanlang quickly stood up and stood in front of Hua Liulang: “Grandfather, Sixth Brother knows he was wrong. I will guide him to work at the apothecary shop properly.”
Old Master Hua glanced at the family members in the room with their varied expressions, then looked at Hua Changxi, who was still defiant. Finally, he said to Hua Liulang, “Go to the Courtyard and kneel for an hour to reflect properly.”
Seeing Old Master Hua punish Hua Liulang, Hua Changxi wanted to say something, but Hua Sanlang pulled her out of the room.
Hua Changxi didn’t go to dinner afterward. Looking at Hua Liulang kneeling in the Courtyard, she felt somewhat agitated: “Sixth Brother, take a break. Everyone is eating, and no one is watching you.”
Hua Liulang shook his head: “Grandfather is angry. I shouldn’t have talked back to him. If he knows I’m not reflecting properly, he’ll add to the punishment.”
Hua Changxi: “How was that talking back just now? We were just reasonably expressing our demands. It’s Grandfather who is narrow-minded.”
Seeing his sister’s voice getting louder, Hua Liulang quickly tugged at her: “Speak softly. If Grandfather hears you, be careful he punishes you too.”
“It’s fine, it’s just an hour of kneeling. I did anger Grandfather just now. You don’t need to worry about me, go eat quickly.”
Old Master Hua’s authority was like a golden fillet embedded in the minds of the Hua Family Members; no one dared to challenge it. The family members executed his punishments almost meticulously. Hua Changxi felt powerless about this and could only return to her Room dejectedly.
Back in her Room, Hua Changxi’s mood was still unsettled. She simply lay down on the bed and once again simulated the scene of the little bird breathing in her dream, trying to calm herself down.
Slowly, the sounds in the Courtyard gradually diminished, and Hua Changxi, without realizing it, entered a state where only she existed in the World.
“Hoo~”
A hot breath exhaled from her nose. Hua Changxi felt as if she had become a little bird. With each inhale and exhale, her Body began to feel warm.
When Madam Yao finished cleaning the Kitchen and came over to comfort Hua Changxi, she found her daughter already asleep and couldn’t help but chuckle.
She had thought the girl would sulk, but instead, she fell asleep.
The next day, as the dawn broke, Hua Changxi opened her eyes, feeling refreshed.
『Realm: Qi Refining Realm 2/1000』
Seeing the words in her vision, Hua Changxi smiled with satisfaction and confirmed that as long as she could immerse herself in breathing in sync with the little bird, she could cultivate.
Noticing some impurities flowing out of her Body again, Hua Changxi didn’t alert her family this time and went to the Courtyard herself to fetch water to bathe in her Room.
After one night, her injuries had healed considerably, and many wounds had begun to scab over.
No wonder everyone wanted to cultivate immortality; setting aside other things, it truly strengthened the Body.
Unable to help at the apothecary shop anymore, Hua Changxi spent the next half month in her Room ‘nursing her injuries,’ dedicating all her time to practicing entering the state of the little bird’s breathing quickly and immersively.
After half a month of practice, Hua Changxi had indeed found a way. Now, she could cultivate whether sitting, standing, or lying down, as long as she could calm herself down, though not necessarily anytime, anywhere.
Of course, her cultivation speed was fastest when lying down.
She also discovered that cultivating under moonlight and dawn would also accelerate her cultivation speed.
『Realm: Qi Refining Realm 33/1000』
In these past half a month, she had dedicated all her time to cultivation and had only reached level 33.
“I wonder if there are other ways to increase cultivation speed?”
Although she had luckily obtained an opportunity for cultivation, she knew nothing about the matter of cultivating immortality.
Fortunately, the news of the Medical Affairs Department’s additional recruitment of apprentices had already been posted.
As long as she was admitted into the Medical Affairs Department and advanced through the Medical Skills Inheritance, she would eventually be able to lift the veil of the cultivation World bit by bit.
The examination for the Medical Affairs Department’s additional apprentice recruitment was scheduled for September 20th. Those who wished to apply had to register at the Medical Affairs Department before the 15th.
A couple of days ago, Pharmacist Xu went to the Hua Family Apothecary Shop to find Hua Changxi but didn’t see her. He asked Hua Liulang to deliver a message back.
Pharmacist Xu asked Hua Changxi to find him at the Medical Affairs Department on September 7th, saying he would personally take her to register and explain the examination’s important points.
Today is September 6th, and tomorrow is September 7th.
Hua Changxi had a headache for the past two days because she knew her Father did not support her applying to the Medical Affairs Department. If he disagreed, her Mother likely wouldn’t give her the Household Register.
Just as Hua Changxi was thinking of what reason to use to persuade her parents, an uninvited guest arrived.
“What? Tomorrow we’re going to the Great Clan Elder’s house?”
A Hua Clan Member visited the family. After the clan member left, Old Madam Hua called her granddaughters to the Main Hall and instructed them to wake up early the next morning and accompany her on a visit.
Going out to visit relatives made Hua Wu Niang and the others happy, but Hua Changxi, thinking about registering for the Medical Affairs Department, was reluctant to go: “Grandmother, I won’t go.”
Old Madam Hua glanced at her sideways: “Normally, you love to run around for any reason. Now that you’re allowed to go out, you refuse. Tell me, do you have a rebellious bone in your body?”
At this moment, Old Master Hua spoke, decisively ending the discussion: “Everyone must go. The Great Clan Elder seeking us out means he values our family; we cannot disrespect him.”
Saying this, he walked out of the Main Hall with his hands behind his back, his face grim.
Having lived in the Hua Family for thirteen years, Hua Changxi knew that no one could object once Old Master Hua spoke. Her resistance only grew.
What is a feudal patriarch?
This is it. The Hua Family is Old Master Hua’s domain.
As long as Old Master Hua spoke, regardless of whether others had other matters, his affairs took precedence.
Madam Yao saw her daughter’s unhappy expression and quickly pulled her out of the Main Hall: “It’s just a visit to the Clan Elder’s house, why are you so unwilling?”
Hua Changxi said with a stiff face, “I have something to do tomorrow.”
Madam Yao chuckled: “What could you possibly have to do?”
Hua Changxi could no longer bother finding an excuse and directly said, “Mother, I’m going to register at the Medical Affairs Department.”
Madam Yao was stunned, then fell silent. After a while, she said, “This matter must be discussed with your Father first.”
Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi looked directly at Madam Yao, her face serious: “Mother, this is my matter, and I will decide for myself.”
Madam Yao said irritably, “You Young Woman have such a strong will. Your Grandfather has already spoken, and we must go to the Clan Elder’s house tomorrow.”
Seeing Hua Changxi about to retort, she added, “Don’t make trouble for yourself. If your Grandfather gets angry and punishes you, even your Father can’t plead for you.”
Hua Changxi recalled the times she had contradicted Old Master Hua and was punished by not being allowed to eat, feeling annoyed: “Mother, if it’s always like this, I’ll be suffocated.”
Madam Yao’s expression was calm: “Suffocated? This is nothing. You are in your own home now. Even if the elders are a bit strict, they won’t truly do anything to you.”
“When you get married in the future, and you have to deal with your sisters-in-law and parents-in-law, you will then know what true suffocation is.”
Hearing this, Hua Changxi fell silent.
The Hua Family had many members, so conflicts were inevitable.
Although her mother was the eldest daughter-in-law of the Hua Family, she was not favored by Old Madam Hua. The Old Madam favored her second aunt the most, as the second aunt was her maternal niece.
Normally, the second aunt often competed with her mother, and sometimes when things escalated, Old Madam Hua would always side with the second aunt, causing her mother to endure much hardship.
Since her mother was using her own difficult situation to advise her, Hua Changxi felt it was inappropriate to argue further.
Madam Yao saw her daughter’s head droop and said, “Alright, go back to your Room and see what clothes you’ll wear tomorrow.”
