Chapter 11: Life Decided with Laughter
As soon as the news of the Medical Affairs Department recruiting apprentices was released, not only people in the Capital City but also those who received the news from other places flocked to apply.
When Hua Changxi arrived at the Medical Affairs Department, there was still a long queue at the entrance.
Most of the people in the queue were men in their teens and twenties, though there were also some older middle-aged men.
Besides men, quite a few women were also applying.
The Medical Affairs Department was one of the few government departments in the Imperial Court that did not restrict women from being hired.
According to Pharmacist Xu, there were very capable female physicians and female pharmacists in the Medical Affairs Department.
In the Great Jin Dynasty, although women could go out freely, their social participation was still very low, making it very difficult to achieve economic and personal independence. Most women had to depend on their families and men to survive their entire lives.
Therefore, any job opportunity that women could competently handle would attract countless women vying for it.
Hua Changxi was a modern person. Even if she didn’t get a lucky chance for Cultivation, she still intended to find a job and do her best to control her own life.
After queuing for more than half an hour, Hua Changxi successfully registered and obtained an Admission Ticket stamped by the Medical Affairs Department, and then waited for the exam on the twentieth day of September.
Afterward, Hua Changxi did not linger outside and quickly returned to the Hua Family.
When she returned home, the other members of the Hua Family had already returned.
As soon as she entered the Courtyard, Hua Changxi sensed that the atmosphere in the Courtyard was not right.
The adults were sitting in the Main Hall, and the children were standing under the eaves; no one was speaking.
Hua Changxi dared not court trouble at this time and tiptoed back to her Room. Just as she was about to take a nap, Jiu Niang and Hua Shierniang arrived.
As soon as they entered, Jiu Niang’s tears began to flow: “Young Woman, Fifth Sister is really going to be a concubine to an old man.”
Hua Changxi was shocked: “Has the family agreed? Have Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt also agreed?”
Hua Shierniang nodded dejectedly: “This morning, Grandfather, Grandmother, Fourth Uncle, and Fourth Aunt took Fifth Sister to see that old man. After they returned, they agreed.”
Hua Changxi paused: “What about Fifth Sister? What does she say?”
Hua Shierniang’s tone was somewhat annoyed: “What can Fifth Sister say? Can she go against the family?”
Jiu Niang: “As soon as Fifth Sister came back, she locked herself in her Room and cried. No matter how we called her, she wouldn’t respond.”
Hua Changxi paced back and forth in her Room: “Since Fifth Sister is unwilling, then go and tell Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt. Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt can’t harm their daughter’s life for the sake of their son, can they?”
Jiu Niang: “But Fifth Sister doesn’t want to delay Shiyi Lang’s future.”
Hua Changxi snorted coldly: “Won’t Shiyi Lang forge his own future? Although Fifth Sister is an elder sister, she doesn’t have to be responsible for her younger brother’s life, does she?”
Hua Shierniang sighed: “Fifth Sister will consider Shiyi Lang.”
Hua Changxi thought of Hua Wuniang’s personality and couldn’t help but sigh: “Fifth Sister is too considerate of others. If she doesn’t change this personality, endless grievances will await her in the future.”
Hearing this, Jiu Niang and Hua Shierniang simultaneously looked up at Hua Changxi.
Hua Changxi felt inexplicably looked at: “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Hua Shierniang: “Fifth Sister is often praised by elders, and when we visit others, elders also like her very much. It’s you who should change your personality.”
Hua Changxi rolled her eyes: “Then you go and learn from Fifth Sister, take sacrificing yourself as your duty, use your own blood and flesh to fulfill others, and in exchange for a few indifferent praises.”
Saying this, she tapped their foreheads with her index finger.
“You two little fools, use your brains. Isn’t it easiest to control a Young Woman like Fifth Sister who is so obedient and sensible?”
“You should be like me. Having a bit of a temper as a Young Woman is not a bad thing; people won’t dare to bully you then.”
“Do you think only outsiders bully people? Family members can also bully people. People naturally pick on the weak, like squeezing soft persimmons.”
“If it were me who was going to be a concubine this time, do you think I wouldn’t turn the house upside down? Would the family be as quiet and peaceful as it is now?”
Jiu Niang and Hua Shierniang were astonished by what they heard, and at the same time, a hint of confusion appeared on their faces.
Pleasing elders, gaining praise from outsiders, repaying family support for brothers—aren’t these things right? These are the virtues that a young lady of the inner chambers should possess!
However, regarding Fifth Sister becoming a concubine for Shiyi Lang’s future, they felt something was not right.
The Jiu Niang, whom they used to think was noisy and disobedient, now didn’t seem so bad?
Hua Changxi looked at them and thought for a moment: “If Fifth Sister dares to fight for herself, I don’t think the family will force her. If she doesn’t fight for herself…”
“Since becoming a concubine is already a foregone conclusion, to make Fifth Sister feel better, we can only advise her to think on the bright side.”
After that, Jiu Niang and Hua Shierniang didn’t sit for long before they wanted to go see Hua Wuniang. Hua Changxi thought about it and followed them.
In the evening, Hua Minghe returned from work and heard Madam Yao say that the family had agreed to let Wu Niang become a concubine to the He Family. He fell silent.
Madam Yao sighed while folding the dried clothes: “Fourth Sister-in-law usually loves her daughter, I didn’t expect her to be so heartless.”
Becoming a concubine, even if the other party is from a prominent family, a concubine is no different from a servant. Thinking about it makes one worry about Wu Niang’s future.
Wu Niang is Fourth Brother’s daughter. Since Fourth Brother and his wife have made a decision, Hua Minghe didn’t want to say more. Seeing the Household Register on the bed, he was surprised: “Why did you take out the Household Register?”
As he spoke, he thought of something and stood up abruptly: “Did Jiu Niang take the Household Register to register at the Medical Affairs Department?”
Madam Yao continued her work and replied faintly, “Mm.”
Hua Minghe frowned deeply: “Why didn’t you stop her? The Medical Affairs Department is also a government office. Things in a government office are not something a Young Woman like Jiu Niang can handle.”
Madam Yao put down her work and looked at Hua Minghe: “He Lang, I was also unwilling for Jiu Niang to join the Medical Affairs Department before, but Wu Niang’s matter has changed my mind.”
Hua Minghe was furious: “Wu Niang is Wu Niang, and Jiu Niang is Jiu Niang. How could I possibly let Jiu Niang become a concubine to someone?”
Madam Yao: “I know you wouldn’t, but living in this Capital City, many things are beyond our control.”
“Do Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law really want to let Wu Niang become a concubine?”
“It’s the clan. The clan is using Shiyi Lang’s future to coerce and entice Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law. Do they have a choice?”
“I’m afraid that one day, someone will use your life, or the future of Da Lang and the others, to threaten me. At that time, no matter how unwilling I am, I will probably sacrifice Jiu Niang.”
“How many things can the Young Women in the family decide for themselves? Even for major matters like marriage, they can only obey others.”
“Since in the end, they can’t escape the fate of being manipulated, now that Jiu Niang has something she wants to do, why shouldn’t I let her try her best? Regardless of the outcome, it will be her own will.”
Hua Minghe’s imposing manner weakened, and he said dejectedly: “It’s my fault. I haven’t given you and the children a good life.”
Madam Yao walked to Hua Minghe’s side, took his hand: “No, you are not wrong. You have already tried your best. This is the world we live in, and we can only go with the flow.”
Second Branch.
Second Aunt Hua was also sighing: “With Wu Niang’s personality, she’s likely to suffer grievances if she becomes a concubine.”
Second Uncle Hua, however, said: “Don’t just look at the negative side. Think about the status of the He Family. Becoming a concubine to the son of Marquis Wu Yi is Wu Niang’s good fortune. If it weren’t for the Earl’s Mansion acting as a go-between, such a good opportunity wouldn’t have come to our family.”
Second Aunt Hua gave Second Uncle Hua a glare: “You say it so easily. Can we common folk handle the complexities within a prominent family?”
“Moreover, Wu Niang’s personality is a bit too soft. If you ask me, it would be better to let Jiu Niang be the concubine. With her personality, she might actually carve out a niche in the Marquis’s Mansion.”
Second Uncle Hua rolled his eyes: “Shut up. They are looking for a concubine, not an ancestor. Do you see any concubines who aren’t gentle and obedient?”
“Letting Jiu Niang be a concubine is not forming a marriage alliance, it’s forming an enmity!”
“We don’t need to worry about Wu Niang either. As long as Wu Niang is well-behaved and keeps to herself, given the Earl’s Mansion’s face, Third Master He won’t make things too difficult for her.”
“Third Master He is thirty this year and still has no son. If Wu Niang can be fortunate enough to give Third Master He a son, her good fortune will continue.”
The Second Branch continued to discuss, while the Fourth Branch was very quiet, with only the sound of suppressed sobs.
Fourth Aunt Hua and Fourth Uncle Hua looked unwell. They were also very upset about letting their daughter become a concubine, but they had no other choice.
Hua Shiyi Lang was lingering outside Hua Wuniang’s Room, wanting to go in, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
Great Clan Elder’s residence.
“How is it?”
“Is Third Master He satisfied with Hua Wuniang?”
Madam Zhou asked her eldest son, Hua Tai.
Hua Tai smiled broadly: “How could Third Master He not be pleased with the person my Mother chose?” As he spoke, he took out three Martial Arts Academy Admission Tickets.
“Third Master He gave ten Martial Arts Academy Admission Tickets. The Earl’s Mansion took six, one was given to Hua Bin, and the remaining three are for us to distribute.”
“Only three…”
Madam Zhou pondered for a moment: “The Earl’s Mansion calculated it well. It’s just enough for our Third Lang, Fourth Lang, and Fifth Lang to enter the Martial Arts Academy.”
Hua Tai had no objections to the Earl’s Mansion’s distribution. After all, with the He Family’s status, they wouldn’t have been able to reach them without the Earl’s Mansion. Moreover, the entire Hua clan depended on the Earl’s Mansion for support.
“By the way, Mother, Third Master He’s intention is to bring Hua Wuniang into the mansion within a month.”
Madam Zhou chuckled: “It seems Third Master He is very anxious about having an heir.”
Hua Tai picked up his tea and took a sip, smiling: “Why wouldn’t he be anxious? Third Master He is a Son of a Concubine. He’s thirty years old and only has one Young Woman. If he doesn’t have a son soon, the Marquis’s Mansion’s inheritance won’t be his.”
Madam Zhou: “Hua Bin’s lineage is prosperous, and I’ve also seen Hua Wuniang; she’s fertile. Third Master He will get his wish.”
Hua Tai smiled: “That would be for the best. Mother, regarding Hua Wuniang entering the Marquis’s Mansion, we still need you to make arrangements.”
Madam Zhou waved her hand: “These are minor matters. I’ll handle them. You should focus more on important matters outside and within the clan.”
Hua Tai quickly said: “Mother, this is not a minor matter. Third Master He said that if he truly has a son, there will be further thanks later.”
Madam Zhou thought for a moment: “Then I’ll bring Hua Wuniang over to train her for a few days. Third Master He’s wife is not someone to be trifled with. It would be a shame if she were to fall before giving birth to a son.”
Hua Tai stood up and bowed: “Thank you for your trouble, Mother. With your guidance, Hua Wuniang will surely be a blessed person.”
