Chapter 138: No One in My Heart
“Find my place in the Medical Affairs Department.”
Hua Changxi pondered this question on her way back to the courtyard.
As Gu Xing had said, the Medical Affairs Department had a complete organizational structure. The department heads and other officials responsible for its operation were appointed by the Imperial Court. The pharmacists and physicians at the Ninth Street Apothecary Shop were either seasoned veterans with profound medical skills or people with connections.
Even the heads of the Disciple Hall, Apprentice Hall, and Labor Department had backing.
In such a situation, where could she place herself?
She definitely didn’t want to rely on anyone or find herself a master, but if she didn’t follow the rules of the Medical Affairs Department, how could she gain status?
“Gain fame.”
Indeed, Gu Xing’s reminder was most suitable for her.
Gaining fame in the Medical Affairs Department wouldn’t be difficult for her. As long as she recovered the prayer beads bracelet, bound the wooden token to Qihuang Hall, and the true Qihuang Hall revealed itself, with only her being able to lecture in the nine Qihuang Halls of the Labor Department, gaining fame would be as easy as turning her hand.
However, the prayer beads bracelet was lost on Ox Head Mountain, and she would have to go to the Nine Netherworlds to find it. This matter wouldn’t be resolved anytime soon.
Hua Changxi let out a breath. The department head’s two apprentices would be lecturing at Number Six Qihuang Hall, and she couldn’t stop them.
Soon, she returned to the courtyard, tidied up her belongings, and left the Medical Affairs Department, heading directly to the Shennong Apothecary Shop in Feng’an Ward.
The Green Ox Demon had been helping Hua Changxi cultivate the land in the Sumeru Pearl for over a month. She decided to release it to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with A Niu and Pu Cao.
Indeed, the Green Ox Demon was a skilled farmer. It had reclaimed and planted the idle wasteland in the space, making the entire space flourish.
Hua Changxi stayed at the apothecary shop for a night. During this time, she guided Pu Cao in cultivation and alchemy, and also inquired about A Niu’s body refining progress.
Because Pu Cao had to cultivate, refine pills, and manage the apothecary shop, she was still a late Qi Refining cultivator.
A Niu’s body refining progress, however, was much faster. He had already begun cultivating the third chapter of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique—the Bone Refining Chapter.
Hua Changxi tested A Niu’s combat strength and found that his current strength was fully capable of fighting against Core Formation Realm cultivators.
“A Niu, I plan to sell elixirs in a while. I was originally worried about the apothecary shop’s safety, but now that you have such strength, I can rest assured.”
A Niu smiled shyly, happy to be able to help Hua Changxi and the apothecary shop.
After a night passed, as soon as dawn broke, Hua Changxi, Pu Cao, and A Niu ate breakfast and returned to the Hua Family.
“Oh, Jiu Niang is back.”
The Hua Family courtyard was piled with gifts, more than they had received during the New Year. When Hua Changxi returned, Old Madam Hua was with her three daughters-in-law and several granddaughters, organizing them.
“Grandmother, Mother, Second Aunt, Fourth Aunt.”
Upon seeing Hua Changxi return, Madam Yao’s face immediately broke into a smile. Noticing that her daughter hadn’t seen her aunt, she quickly reminded her, “Your Third Aunt’s family is here, hurry and greet them.”
Hua Changxi looked at the woman standing beside Old Madam Hua and greeted her with a smile, “Third Aunt.”
Hua Sangu smiled and appraised Hua Changxi, “Jiu Niang has really blossomed since her coming-of-age ceremony. She’s become even more beautiful now.” She then pulled Madam Yao aside.
“Eldest Sister-in-law, you truly have good fortune to have given birth to such a daughter. I think it won’t be long before suitors will be trampling down the Hua Family’s doorstep.”
Madam Yao quickly smiled humbly, “Jiu Niang’s temperament has given my husband and me quite a headache. As long as I can marry her off smoothly in the future, I’ll be burning incense in thanks.”
Hua Sangu immediately looked disapproving, “I like Jiu Niang’s temperament. If the Shen Family could marry such a daughter-in-law, I would wake up laughing in my dreams.”
At these words, the smile on Madam Yao’s face stiffened, and even Old Madam Hua, who was organizing gifts, stopped her movements.
Seeing their reactions, Hua Sangu knew she had spoken too directly and quickly tried to salvage the situation, “Jiu Niang has great fortune and will surely marry into a blessed family in the future.”
Only then did the smile on Madam Yao’s face revive, but she merely nodded in response before quickly changing the subject from finding a husband for Hua Changxi.
Hua Changxi stood to the side, watching her mother’s reaction, and felt like laughing.
Madam Yao glared at her. Her daughter showed no shyness when her marriage was brought up in front of her, and instead looked like she was enjoying the show. She couldn’t help but wonder how she had given birth to such an unusual daughter.
At this moment, Hua Da Lang walked out of the main hall, followed by Hua San Lang, Hua Liu Lang, Hua Sangu’s two cousins, and two young men she didn’t recognize.
“Jiu Niang is back.”
Hua Changxi looked at Hua Da Lang with surprise, “Eldest Brother, didn’t Father say you were on an assignment out of town? When did you return?”
Hua Da Lang replied, “I returned to the capital in July.” He smiled, “Among all the brothers and sisters in the family, you are the busiest. I’ve been back for so long, and this is the first time I’ve seen you come home.”
Hearing this, Hua Changxi chuckled, “Eldest Brother, are you blaming me?”
Seeing Hua Changxi’s reaction, Hua Liu Lang quickly went to her side, “Eldest Brother misses you.” Then, he told her with a smile, “Jiu Niang, Eldest Brother is getting engaged.”
Hua Changxi looked surprised, then smiled happily and asked, “Really? Whose daughter?”
Hua Liu Lang was about to elaborate when Hua Da Lang interrupted, “Jiu Niang hasn’t entered the house to pay respects to Grandfather, Uncle Mingzhe, and Third Uncle yet.” He then looked at the two young men beside him.
“Right, these are Brother Chen from Uncle Mingzhe’s family and Third Brother Tao.”
Hua Changxi smiled and greeted the two, thinking to herself that on the Mid-Autumn reunion day, Hua Tai had sent his eldest son and two grandsons to their home for the festival. The intention to reconcile was too obvious.
It seemed that something she didn’t know had happened in the family during this time.
Hua Changxi entered the main hall, and Hua Da Lang and his group followed.
Old Master Hua sat in the main seat. On his left sat Hua Mingzhe and Uncle Shen, and on his right sat Hua Minghe, Second Uncle Hua, and Fourth Uncle Hua.
Hua Changxi bowed and greeted everyone.
Old Master Hua asked, “Why are you only returning today?”
Hua Changxi glanced at Old Master Hua and smiled, “I had something to attend to.”
Hua Mingzhe observed Hua Changxi and asked with a smile, “I heard from my Wanyue that you are no longer lecturing in the Labor Department. What have you been busy with lately?”
Hua Changxi replied perfunctorily, “Just busy with random things.”
Old Master Hua said, “If you have nothing important to do in the Medical Affairs Department, come home. You like alchemy, and we have an apothecary shop that is doing quite well. We are even preparing to recruit staff.”
Hua Changxi looked surprised, “Really? The family’s apothecary shop is doing so well that you’re recruiting staff?” She then looked at Hua San Lang.
Hua San Lang nodded, “The pills we sell are very popular.”
Hua Changxi replied, “That’s good, but I won’t come back to cause trouble. There are so many people in the family anyway.”
Old Master Hua frowned, “You have nothing to do in the Labor Department, right? Come home, you can help the family and not waste your alchemy skills.”
Hua Changxi felt a bit annoyed, “Grandfather, who told you I have nothing to do in the Labor Department?”
Seeing Old Master Hua’s gaze drift towards Hua Mingzhe, Hua Changxi immediately looked at him.
Hua Mingzhe smiled and explained, “Wanyue said you haven’t been attending classes lately and only wander around the Labor Department each day. Did she misunderstand?”
Hua Changxi looked at him and said impolitely, “Uncle, are you having me monitored?”
Seeing her reaction, Hua Mingzhe’s expression stiffened, and Old Master Hua frowned.
Hua Da Lang said displeasedly, “Jiu Niang, what kind of attitude is that? Apologize to your uncle at once.”
Hua Changxi looked at Hua Da Lang expressionlessly, saying nothing.
Hua Minghe looked at Hua Da Lang and said with dissatisfaction, “Da Lang, speak to Jiu Niang properly.”
Hua Mingzhe, having learned about Hua Changxi’s temperament from his parents, took the initiative to smooth things over with a smile, “It was my mistake. However, Jiu Niang, I must explain that Wanyue didn’t intend to monitor you. She simply admires you greatly and couldn’t help but pay more attention to you.”
“When Wanyue returns home, she always tells us how skilled your medical skills are and how knowledgeable you are. Every time she attends your lectures, she benefits greatly.”
Hua Changxi didn’t want to spoil the festive mood, so she smiled as a response to Hua Mingzhe but didn’t elaborate.
Seeing this, Hua Mingzhe said no more.
Old Master Hua, however, spoke, “You have the leisure to teach outsiders in the Labor Department, so why can’t you come home to help the family?”
Hearing this, Hua Changxi became truly impatient, “Grandfather, teaching others in the Medical Affairs Department allows me to achieve my own goals, while helping the family benefits the Hua Family. Of course, I choose to achieve my own goals.”
Hua Da Lang couldn’t help but speak up again, “Jiu Niang, how can you think like that? The Hua Family raised you. Is it not too selfish of you not to repay them?”
Hua Changxi laughed in exasperation, “Haven’t I repaid the family?” She then looked at Old Master Hua and Hua Minghe, “Grandfather, Father, haven’t I repaid the family?”
Old Master Hua was very angry at this moment, annoyed that Hua Changxi was causing a scene in front of his son-in-law and outsiders, “A family shouldn’t quibble over every little thing.”
Hearing this, Hua Changxi had nothing more to say. She turned and left the main hall.
Seeing her like this, Old Master Hua was furious and said to Hua Minghe, “This is the good daughter you’ve raised.”
Hua Minghe replied helplessly, “Father, let Jiu Niang do what she wants. She hasn’t caused any trouble for the family.”
Old Master Hua retorted, “But she is a member of the Hua Family. We should all work together.”
Hua Da Lang followed her out of the room and caught up with Hua Changxi, entering her room with her, “Jiu Niang, has the family done anything to wrong you? Even if Grandfather and Grandmother were a bit strict with you, it shouldn’t make you resent the family, should it?”
Hua Changxi frowned, “What are you talking about? When have I ever resented the family?”
Hua Da Lang continued, “But you’d rather believe outsiders than your own family. That’s a fact, isn’t it?”
Hua Changxi replied, “I don’t not believe my family.”
Hua Da Lang pressed on, “Is that so? Then why didn’t you tell the family when you opened an apothecary shop outside? Why didn’t you tell us about the Fire Spirit Mine you have outside? You’d rather cooperate with outsiders than let our family take over. Do you trust your family?”
Hua Changxi looked at him, “Are you investigating me?”
Hua Da Lang explained, “I never expected my own sister to be so formidable that she’d end up on the Imperial Guards’ surveillance list. If I hadn’t been on duty with the Imperial Guards, who knows how long you would have kept this from us.”
“Jiu Niang, do you even consider us family? Are we not worthy of your trust?”
Hua Changxi stated, “I’ve said it before, it’s not that I don’t trust you, I just don’t want to have too much entanglement of interests with you.”
Hua Da Lang laughed in exasperation, “If there are no entanglements between family members, are they still family?”
Hua Changxi looked at Hua Da Lang, “Eldest Brother, I never inquire about your affairs outside, and I ask you to respect me. This is my principle of conduct.”
Hua Da Lang snorted, “You’re afraid the family will take advantage of you, aren’t you?”
Hua Changxi looked at the storage bag Hua Da Lang wore at his waist, which she had given to her father for her birthday, “You have indeed taken advantage.”
Hua Da Lang was speechless with anger and looked deeply at Hua Changxi, “Jiu Niang, today I’ve discovered you are such a heartless person. Setting aside gains and losses, do you have no feelings for your family?”
“The family lacks cultivation resources, and you, who could clearly help us, turn a blind eye.”
“Our family has no foundation. In cultivation, falling behind at one step means falling behind at every step. You simply don’t have us in your heart, which is why you can watch us fall behind so calmly.”
“What does falling behind mean?”
“It means our family misses out on an opportunity for prosperity; it means that in this ever-changing situation, we are likely to be controlled by others, or even lose our lives.”
“If you had us in your heart even a little, you wouldn’t stand by and watch us be in danger and a passive position.”
