Chapter 10: Becoming a Concubine
Xiuzheng Ward, Hua Family.
As evening approached, Hua Minghe and his two brothers returned home from their duties, and the Hua Family Courtyard immediately became lively.
Hearing the commotion outside, Hua Changxi opened her eyes from her cultivation in the side room.
『Realm: Qi Refining Realm 35/1000』
Seeing that her Realm Points had increased again, Hua Changxi was happy.
However, she had new doubts.
What was the use of these Realm Points increasing?
She could feel a power accumulating within her, but how could she use this power?
The sound of Old Madam Hua calling everyone to dinner echoed from outside the courtyard. Hua Changxi suppressed her doubts and walked to the door, peeking through the crack to observe the situation in the courtyard.
Mother and her two aunts brought dishes into the Main Hall, and those playing in the courtyard followed suit, and soon, no one was left in the courtyard.
Hua Changxi rubbed her shriveled stomach, feeling indignant. Every time she did something that went against the wishes of Old Master and Old Madam, she would be confined and punished by not being allowed to eat.
She wondered how many days she would be starved this time?
She absolutely couldn’t let this delay her from registering at the Medical Affairs Department!
Hua Changxi tugged at the bolt, opening and closing it forcefully several times, but she couldn’t break open the iron lock outside.
She could feel her strength growing, but 35 Realm Points were probably still too low to break the iron lock.
Hua Changxi looked around the enclosed side room, especially at the window sealed with mud and stone, and her mouth twitched. Old Master was truly putting in a lot of effort to punish them.
Fortunately, she had an adult soul and wasn’t afraid of the dark or being alone.
If it were a real child, being locked up once or twice would probably have scared them to death, and they would have done whatever the adults told them to do.
The sky gradually darkened, and moonlight shone upon the land.
Hua Changxi saw the moonlight shining in through the crack in the door. She quickly moved her cushion to the doorway, then sat leaning against the door, letting as much moonlight as possible fall on her.
“Hoo~”
Hua Changxi closed her eyes again and began to cultivate under the moonlight. She could clearly feel the warm current flowing within her, growing stronger and faster.
During this time, the courtyard became lively again for a while.
They must have finished dinner and were now enjoying the cool evening air and chatting in the courtyard.
Gradually, the courtyard quieted down again, and the entire Hua Residence slowly fell into silence.
“Jiu Niang~”
In the dead of night, even the slightest sound was enough to wake someone.
Hua Changxi’s eyes snapped open with a “swish,” and peeking through the door crack, she saw Hua Liulang peeking around furtively.
“Sixth Brother.”
Hua Changxi’s expression brightened, and she quickly asked, “Sixth Brother, did you go to the Medical Affairs Department to see Pharmacist Xu?”
Today, she was taken to the Great Clan Elder’s house and couldn’t go to register at the Medical Affairs Department, so Hua Changxi asked Hua Liulang to go for her and explain to Pharmacist Xu why she couldn’t go.
Hua Liulang nodded, “I saw him. Pharmacist Xu told me to tell you to hurry and register if you want to apply to the Medical Affairs Department. He said this additional recruitment is a bit strange, and he’s afraid you might not be able to register if you go too late.”
Hua Changxi’s expression tightened, “Why won’t I be able to register?”
Hua Liulang said, “Because there are too many people registering. I saw many people at the Medical Affairs Department today, all applying to be apprentices at the Medical Affairs Department.”
He paused and then added, “You’re confined now, so don’t worry about registering for now. Here, eat something first.”
Saying this, Hua Liulang held a white steamed bun and tried to push it through the door crack.
Just then, a dark shadow fell over Hua Liulang’s head.
“Ah~”
Hua Liulang was startled and fell to the ground with a “plop,” dropping the steamed bun he was holding.
Hua Changxi was also startled. Upon seeing the dark shadow, she felt both speechless and annoyed, “Grandmother, do you know that scaring people can kill them?”
Old Madam Hua snorted, bent down to pick up the steamed bun from the ground, and said to Hua Liulang, “Your grandfather and I are punishing Jiu Niang to correct her temper and for her own good.”
“Liulang, do you know that what you’re doing is harming Jiu Niang? If Jiu Niang’s temper doesn’t change, she will cause trouble for the family. Not only will she implicate the family, but she will also harm herself.”
Hua Liulang lowered his head, “I was just worried Jiu Niang would be hungry.”
Old Madam Hua said, “We won’t let her starve. Go back to your room and sleep now. You won’t be allowed to eat for the entire day tomorrow.”
Hua Liulang glanced at Hua Jiuniang through the door crack, gave her a look of helplessness, and then left dejectedly.
As soon as Hua Liulang left, Old Madam Hua looked at Hua Changxi again, “Aren’t you very capable? You even dared to offend Madam Great Clan Elder. What are you eating for?” After saying that, she took the steamed bun and left.
The next moment, Old Madam Hua’s voice rang out in the courtyard.
“Eldest son, Jiu Niang’s temper must be tempered properly. If you are unwilling to discipline her, then let your father and I be the bad guys.”
“If you want her to become an unruly troublemaker in the future and bring disaster to the family, then go ahead and hinder us from behind.”
Hua Changxi listened to these words and was furious.
She just wanted to retain some dignity as a person, how did that become causing trouble for the family?
In the east room of the main house, Hua Minghe and Madam Yao were not asleep.
After hearing Old Madam Hua’s words, Hua Minghe said to Madam Yao, “Let’s not interfere with Jiu Niang’s punishment this time.”
Madam Yao’s brow furrowed, “But with Jiu Niang’s temper, she probably won’t back down. Will we have to see her faint from hunger again?”
Hua Minghe rubbed his head, troubled, “Let’s take it one step at a time. If it really comes to that, I’ll go and beg my parents.”
A night passed, and the Hua Family Courtyard became lively again.
At breakfast, Old Master Hua said to everyone, “I’ll go to the Great Clan Elder’s house later. Jiu Niang offended Aunt Yu’e, so I’ll go and apologize.”
Second Master Hua, Hua Ming’ang, immediately spoke up, “Jiu Niang caused trouble, how can Father go to apologize?”
Hua Minghe frowned slightly, looking at Old Master Hua disapprovingly, “Father, isn’t this making a mountain out of a molehill?”
“Jiu Niang did talk back to Aunt Yu’e, but she didn’t go too far, and she gave a reasonable explanation. Now, if we rush to apologize, it will seem as if we are in the wrong.”
Old Master Hua slammed his dried tobacco pipe onto the table, “What do you mean ‘didn’t go too far’? What kind of scene do you want Jiu Niang to create at someone else’s house?”
Hua Ming’ang quickly handed him tea, “Father, please calm down. Getting angry so early in the morning could be bad for your health.”
Old Master Hua did not drink the tea. After a moment of silence, he spoke again, “Da Lang will graduate from the Martial Arts Academy next year. What is his future? Do you have any prospects for his marriage?”
“And San Lang, Si Lang, they are also of marriageable age.”
“Without the support of the clan, relying only on ourselves, ask yourselves, how many children can you pave the way for?”
As these words were spoken, Hua Minghe, Hua Ming’ang, and Hua Mingcheng all lowered their heads.
Although they all worked in the yamen, their positions were not the only ones they desired; others also wanted them. To arrange for their own family members to join, besides spending a lot of silver for bribes, they also needed strong connections.
Not to mention that the Hua family did not have much silver to spare, their existing connections in the yamen were not enough to casually place people.
Old Madam Hua stepped forward to smooth things over, “Alright, it’s getting late. Everyone, hurry up and eat.”
Hua Minghe thought for a moment and looked at Old Master Hua, “Father, I’ll ask for leave from the Chief Constable later, and after I return, I’ll go with you to the Great Clan Elder’s house this afternoon.”
Clan members also fawn over the powerful and step on the weak. Old Master was old and would certainly have to humble himself when going to apologize. As a son, how could he watch his father bow down to others?
He was, after all, a Fifth-Rank Martial Artist, and the clan would give him some face.
Old Master Hua’s expression clearly brightened when Hua Minghe offered to accompany him to the Great Clan Elder’s house.
His eldest son was also stubborn. He had a falling out with the clan over his marriage back then and had had no contact with the clan for years.
Now that his eldest son was willing to interact with the clan again, he was genuinely happy, as this family would ultimately rely on his eldest son to support it.
Old Master Hua smiled, “Good, we’ll go see the Great Clan Elder together this afternoon, father and son.”
Unfortunately, plans do not always keep pace with changes.
Not long after Hua Minghe and his two brothers left, a steward from the Great Clan Elder’s house arrived and invited both Old Master Hua and Old Madam Hua to go over.
In the side room, because she could cultivate, Hua Changxi felt that being confined this time was not as unbearable as before.
However, because of the commotion last night, Old Madam Hua had used the excuse of acting for her own good. She guessed that her parents would not secretly take care of her as they had in the past.
Hua Changxi was not too worried about starving, as the family would not let her starve to death anyway.
What was making her anxious now was the matter of applying for the Medical Affairs Department apprenticeship.
“Mother~”
“Mother~”
Knowing that Old Master Hua and Old Madam Hua had left, Hua Changxi began to bang on the door, calling out loudly for Madam Yao.
Madam Yao had no choice but to come to the side room.
Hua Changxi said, “Mother, let me out. I need to go to the Medical Affairs Department to register. I promise to be quick and return soon, and I’ll definitely be back before Grandfather and Grandmother return.”
Madam Yao stood still, “I told your father about applying to the Medical Affairs Department, and he disagrees.”
Hua Changxi became anxious, “Why does Father disagree? Besides, this is my business, and his disagreement is useless.”
Madam Yao frowned, “He is your father, of course he has the right to disagree. Alright, be good, I’ll get you something to eat.”
Hua Changxi quickly stopped her, “Mother, you can’t do this. If I miss the opportunity to apply to the Medical Affairs Department, I will hate you.”
Hearing this, Madam Yao stopped, turned to look at Hua Changxi, her expression shocked, “You will hate your father and me if we don’t let you apply to the Medical Affairs Department?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Hua Changxi regretted them.
Her parents in this life were quite good to her.
With her modern values, no matter how she pretended, her words and actions were somewhat out of place for a young woman of this era, but her parents tolerated it all and did not try to excessively restrain her.
For this, she felt quite fortunate and grateful.
However, applying to the Medical Affairs Department was related to cultivation, and she had to fight for it to the end.
Seeing her daughter lowering her head and not speaking, Madam Yao fell silent. After a long while, she spoke, “Your grandmother always says you have a bad temper and always disobey elders. I didn’t take it to heart because I thought you knew where to draw the line.”
“But now, just because something doesn’t go your way, you want to hate your own parents. Jiu Niang, you have truly disappointed me. Your temper really needs to be corrected.”
After saying this, she left without looking back.
Hua Changxi shouted, “It’s not a small matter, it’s a big matter, a very important matter.”
After that, Hua Changxi called out to Madam Yao for a while longer, but she could no longer get her to come over.
“Why is it so difficult to do something independently?”
At the fourth quarter of Weishi （14:00）, Old Master Hua and Old Madam Hua returned.
“Father, Mother, you’re back. I’ll get you some food right away.”
Seeing the elderly couple return, Second Aunt Hua immediately stepped forward solicitously.
Old Madam Hua shook her head, “No need. We’ve already eaten at the Great Clan Elder’s house.”
Hearing this, Madam Yao and her two sisters-in-law couldn’t help but look pleased.
Second Aunt Hua smiled, “The Great Clan Elder’s house kept us for a meal. I suppose they are no longer angry with our family?”
Old Madam Hua didn’t reply to Second Aunt Hua but instead looked up at Fourth Aunt Hua, saying nothing.
Fourth Aunt Hua sensed something unusual and couldn’t help but ask, “Mother, is something wrong?”
As soon as she finished speaking, Old Master Hua stood up, “You tell the children. I’m going out for a walk.” With that, he strode out of the Main Hall.
In the side room, Hua Changxi heard Old Master Hua and Old Madam Hua return and peeked out through the door crack.
“Huh? Why did they go out again right after returning?”
Seeing Old Master Hua leave with his hands behind his back, Hua Changxi found it a bit strange. The next moment, she heard Fourth Aunt Hua’s indignant scream.
“No~”
“I disagree!”
Hua Changxi thought something must have happened and tried to listen to the conversation in the Main Hall by pressing her ear to the door crack, but unfortunately, her voice was drowned out by Old Madam Hua.
However, it wasn’t long before someone came to enlighten Hua Changxi.
“Jiu Niang, the Great Clan Elder’s family really has no good intentions. They want Fifth Sister to be a concubine to an old man in his thirties.”
Hua Qiniang rushed to the side room, her eyes red and her voice choked with sobs.
Hua Changxi listened, falling into a thoughtful silence.
Her previous guess had come true!
“Don’t worry for now. As long as Grandfather, Grandmother, Fourth Uncle, and Fourth Aunt disagree, the clan won’t dare to force Fifth Sister to be a concubine.”
Hua Qiniang’s eyes became redder, “But Grandfather and Grandmother agreed.”
Hua Changxi looked surprised. Although Old Master Hua and Old Madam Hua favored men over women, she didn’t believe they were the type to sell their daughters for profit.
“But the clan threatened Grandfather and Grandmother?”
Hua Qiniang shook her head, “I don’t know, but the clan promised benefits, saying they would provide a spot to study at a Martial Arts Academy, and cover the cultivation resources for the first three years.”
“Grandmother said that if Fifth Sister agrees to be a concubine, this spot will be given to Shiyi Lang.”
Hearing this, Hua Changxi didn’t know what to say. The conditions offered by the clan, let alone Old Master Hua and Old Madam Hua, would likely tempt Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt as well.
The fourth branch had five children, from oldest to youngest: Hua Wuniang, Hua Qiniang, Hua Shiyi Lang, Hua Shisan Lang, and Hua Shisi Niang.
Shiyi Lang was the eldest son of the fourth branch. With the resources of the first and second branches already largely taken, he had to find another way.
Entering a Martial Arts Academy, with all cultivation resources covered for the first three years, was undoubtedly a very good path for Shiyi Lang.
“What did Fourth Aunt say?”
Hua Qiniang’s voice became more choked with sobs, “Mother disagreed at first, but… after Grandmother persuaded her for a while, she hesitated and said she would discuss it after Father returned.”
Hua Changxi sighed. She could already foresee the fate that Hua Wuniang was about to face. “Go and keep Fifth Sister company.”
Hua Qiniang could no longer hold back and squatted down, crying.
A moment later, Hua Shierniang was called over by Old Madam Hua and asked to take Hua Qiniang back to her room.
Hua Changxi felt a sense of sorrow for Hua Wuniang. This was the fate of women who depended on their families; if the family decided to trade her, she had no power to resist.
The Main Hall was not quiet all day. After Second Uncle and Fourth Uncle returned from their duties, a fierce argument erupted. It wasn’t until after Hai Shi that the courtyard slowly quieted down.
Having been hungry for two days, Hua Changxi no longer had the energy to eavesdrop on the Main Hall’s situation. She could only lean against the door and cultivate under the moonlight.
Sunlight once again shone upon the land, and a new day began.
When Hua Changxi woke up from her cultivation, the sun was already high in the sky. Turning her head, she saw a paper-wrapped package at the door crack. Her expression immediately brightened, and she quickly picked up the package.
Looking at the few pieces of mung bean cake in the paper package, Hua Changxi smiled with delight.
She knew that Father, Mother, Third Brother, and Sixth Brother would not abandon her.
After eating the mung bean cake, Hua Changxi stood up and began to bang on the door again, intending to call her mother over. However, as soon as she pulled the bolt, the door opened.
“Huh?”
Hua Changxi stared at the open door, stunned for half a second, then erupted in joy and quickly walked out of the side room.
The courtyard was quiet; there was no one there.
Hua Changxi looked up at the sun in the sky. Cultivating in the morning sun was so comfortable that she became too engrossed and didn’t even know when her family had left.
Not bothering to care where her family had gone, Hua Changxi quickly went to her father and mother’s room. She needed to take the Household Register to register at the Medical Affairs Department.
Madam Yao rarely packed things without Hua Changxi knowing, so Hua Changxi quickly found the Household Register in the wardrobe.
After getting the Household Register, Hua Changxi returned to her room, changed into clean clothes, and headed straight to the Medical Affairs Department to register.
