Chapter 140: Relying on Oneself
“Jiu Niang, I’m back.”
After Hua Wuniang paid her respects to the Hua family elders in the main hall with Third Master He, she came to find Hua Changxi holding her child, followed by her three younger sisters, Hua Qiniang, Hua Shierniang, and Hua Shisi Niang.
Seeing her sisters arrive, Hua Changxi suppressed the displeasure in her heart and greeted them with a smile.
Hua Liulang, not wanting to linger among his sisters, bid farewell to Hua Wuniang and the others before leaving for the main hall.
Hua Changxi looked at the child in Hua Wuniang’s arms and smiled, saying, “The child has grown so much?”
Hua Wuniang beamed with the smile of a new mother, “Children grow quickly when they’re exposed to the elements. You’ll understand when you have your own children someday.”
Seeing Hua Changxi staring at the child, Hua Wuniang held the baby out towards her, “Do you want to hold him?”
Hua Changxi found the child to be plump and fair, and she liked him. Smiling, she nodded and then carefully took the child into her arms.
“Xiao Man smiled at Jiu Niang.”
After Hua Changxi held the child, his mouth curved into a smile. Hua Qiniang immediately called out to everyone to see.
Hua Wuniang saw this and laughed, “Xiao Man recognizes Jiu Niang as his savior and is being affectionate with her.”
Hua Changxi held the child and walked around the room for a while, playing with him before handing him back to Hua Wuniang. “Fifth Sister, is everything well with you at the He family?”
Hua Wuniang smiled and nodded, “Everything is well with me.”
Hua Shierniang chimed in with a smile, “Third Master He even accompanied Fifth Sister home for the Mid-Autumn Festival. It’s clear how much he values Fifth Sister; you know, even the main wife might not receive such treatment.”
Upon hearing this, Hua Wuniang’s expression faltered. She looked down at her child and said nothing.
Hua Shierniang continued, “Third Master He is a young master of the Marquis’s Mansion. His visit to our home shows his regard for Fifth Sister, and by extension, our family. As long as Third Master protects Fifth Sister at the He family, Fifth Sister will surely have everything she desires.”
Hua Qiniang interjected, “Fifth Sister’s desires are not dependent on Third Master, but on our family. Only when we are strong enough will the He family and Third Master dare not mistreat Fifth Sister and Xiao Man.”
Hua Shierniang: “Yes, the maternal family is a married woman’s support. But for Fifth Sister to live happily, she definitely cannot do without Third Master’s care. At the He family, Fifth Sister ultimately relies on Third Master.”
Listening to their conversation, Hua Changxi realized that her sisters had grown up without her noticing, each developing their own judgments.
Afterward, Hua Qiniang and Hua Shierniang engaged in a debate about whether a married woman should rely on her husband or her maternal family.
Finally, the two who were arguing looked at Hua Changxi and Hua Wuniang.
“Fifth Sister, Jiu Niang, what do you think? After marriage, should one rely on their husband or their maternal family?”
Hua Wuniang gently soothed the child in her arms, without looking up, “Both the maternal family and the husband are important. It’s best if one can rely on both. However, there’s one thing: never be a concubine.”
Hua Qiniang and Hua Shierniang were not entirely satisfied with this answer and looked at Hua Changxi again.
Hua Changxi looked at them, “Why must one rely on their maternal family and husband? Ultimately, the only person one can rely on is oneself.”
The three of them looked at her in unison after hearing this.
Hua Wuniang pondered this.
Hua Qiniang, however, looked astonished, “Jiu Niang, do you feel you cannot rely even on Father and Mother?”
Hua Shierniang added, “Your husband is the person you sleep next to. If you cannot rely on the person you marry, then why marry him?”
Hua Changxi: “Of course, Father and Mother can be relied upon, but they have their own lives, and I can’t trouble them with everything. Moreover, they might not be able to help me with the matters I encounter.”
“As for a husband… I haven’t thought about marriage yet, so I can’t answer you on that.”
Hua Wuniang looked at her, “Jiu Niang, you’ve already had your coming-of-age ceremony. You should start thinking about some things. You absolutely must not be like me, having to obey the family’s arrangements when the time comes.”
Hua Changxi smiled, “Fifth Sister, things are different now. I am a cultivator. I can live for several hundred or even over a thousand years, and I will remain youthful. I don’t need to rush into marriage after my coming-of-age ceremony.”
“Furthermore, if I were to marry, it would be to someone I like. Outsiders will never dictate my feelings or my life.”
Hua Wuniang gave a bitter smile, “That’s right. You’ve always had your own mind since you were young, and now you’re so capable. Naturally, you won’t be like me, passively waiting for arrangements.”
Hua Changxi: “Fifth Sister, as long as you don’t want to, you can too.”
Hua Wuniang tugged at the corner of her mouth but said nothing.
She knew very well that she lacked Jiu Niang’s confidence and willingness to take risks. She had too many things she couldn’t let go of.
Hua Changxi did not like to interfere too much in others’ lives. She stopped at a point and didn’t say more, instead asking about Hua Qiniang and Hua Shierniang’s cultivation at the Earl’s Mansion.
Hua Qiniang: “Previously, the master hired by the Earl’s Mansion only guided our cultivation. Later, didn’t you give us the 《Four Arts Beginner》? When the Earl’s Mansion learned we were studying the Four Arts, they had us learn alongside the Heir and the others.”
“The Heir and the others learn much more than us. I, Fourth Brother, and Twelfth, went out for experience with the Heir not long ago.”
Hua Changxi asked curiously, “What did the Heir take you to experience?”
Hua Shierniang said with lingering fear, “The Heir led us to surround and kill a Tiger Demon at the Qi Sea Realm. Seventh Sister was injured by the Tiger Demon while saving me.” She then looked at Hua Changxi.
“Ninth Sister, have you been out for experience? Do you know that being a cultivator is very dangerous?”
Hua Changxi: “I have been out for experience. I’ve been on the brink of death several times.”
Upon hearing this, Hua Wuniang, Hua Qiniang, and Hua Shierniang were shocked.
“Why have you never told the family?”
Hua Changxi’s expression was calm, “What would be the point of telling them? The family couldn’t help me with anything anyway.”
Hua Qiniang and Hua Shierniang exchanged glances and fell silent.
Before, when they learned that Jiu Niang had secretly opened eleven apothecary shops and owned a spirit mine, they had been somewhat displeased that she hadn’t told the family.
The Earl’s Mansion only gave them 100 spirit stones per month for cultivation. For them, who were in urgent need of spirit stones, they even resented Jiu Niang for being able to help the family but choosing not to.
But now, knowing that these were obtained by Jiu Niang at the risk of her life, they could no longer self-righteously feel that she should wholeheartedly help the family.
At this moment, Hua Sangu’s voice called out from the courtyard, “Jiu Niang, dinner will be served soon. Hurry and bring your Fifth Sister and the others to the main hall to sit down.”
Hua Changxi heard this and beckoned Hua Wuniang, Hua Qiniang, and Hua Shierniang out of the room.
As the four of them entered the main hall, Old Master Hua had already taken his seat with the male members of the family and male guests.
“Jiu Niang.”
Third Master He saw Hua Changxi and stood up with a smile, initiating the greeting.
Hua Mingzhe and his two sons looked surprised, and even Hua family members like Old Master Hua were somewhat astonished.
Hua Changxi politely replied to Third Master He, “Third Master He.”
Although initiating the greeting had fulfilled the etiquette, Third Master He continued with a smile, “Calling me Third Master is too distant. I am your Fifth Sister’s husband. From now on, you can call me Fifth Brother-in-law.”
The main hall fell silent upon these words.
In Great Jin, the family of a concubine was not considered true relatives.
By having Hua Changxi call him brother-in-law, Third Master He was essentially telling the Hua family that the Marquis Wu Yi’s Mansion treated the Hua family as legitimate relatives.
Hua Mingzhe and his two sons were very surprised that the Marquis’s Mansion would condescend to acknowledge this kinship with the Hua family.
Hua Hongchen and Hua Hongtao, who had previously felt uncomfortable with their father fawning over Hua Bin’s family, suddenly felt at ease. If even a young master from the Marquis’s Mansion had to lower himself, then it was even more understandable for them to be more humble.
However, had Third Master He mistaken his target?
Had Third Master He mistaken his target?
Of course not.
Through the investigation by the Marquis Wu Yi’s Mansion, he knew very well that the person truly worth befriending in the Hua family was the Hua Jiu Niang standing before him.
It was Hua Jiu Niang who had played the decisive role in the Hua family becoming all cultivators.
He also saw that the Hua clan members wanted to achieve their goals by flattering Old Master Hua. If Hua Jiu Niang were an ordinary young woman who always followed her family’s instructions, they might have succeeded. But Hua Jiu Niang was not.
Hua Jiu Niang was rebellious and had her own strong opinions. She did things outside without informing the Hua family, which showed that the Hua family could not influence Hua Jiu Niang’s thoughts or actions.
If the He family wanted to obtain the Hua family’s body refining cultivation method, approaching Old Master Hua would be useless. They needed to find Hua Jiu Niang; she was the true decision-maker.
Hua Wuniang also did not expect Third Master He to make such a move. Her first reaction was not happiness, but nervousness as she looked at Hua Changxi.
Hua Changxi reacted calmly to Third Master He’s direct attempt to build a closer relationship with her, “Third Master He is too kind.”
Seeing that Hua Changxi did not accept the title of brother-in-law, Third Master He felt a bit awkward.
Hua Shierniang saw this, her eyes flickered, and she smiled, calling out, “Fifth Brother-in-law.”
Third Master He’s expression brightened upon hearing this, “Twelfth Sister.”
Hua Changxi ignored their interaction and walked directly towards the table where the juniors were seated.
At this moment, Third Master He, disregarding his previous awkwardness, spoke again, pointing to the main table, “Jiu Niang, there are seats here too.”
Before Hua Changxi could respond, Old Master Hua spoke, “Jiu Niang is a female relative and a junior. She is not qualified to sit at the main table in our home.”
Upon hearing this, Third Master He looked surprised and quickly glanced at Hua Mingzhe. Seeing his expression of it being only right, he chuckled and shook his head.
He had originally thought that with the Dingyuan Earl emerging from the Hua clan, the Hua clan members’ social standing would have improved. He hadn’t expected them to still be so unrefined.
Whose value is greater, who enjoys special treatment at home and has the right to speak – this is a principle among noble families. It is not strictly divided by gender or age. Even when a junior’s power surpasses that of an elder, the elder must proactively defer to the junior.
Take him, for example. Even though he is a son of a concubine, when he can provide value to the Marquis’s Mansion, everyone from the main wife’s lineage must show him some respect.
Yet, the Hua family, for Hua Jiu Niang, who provided the greatest value to the Hua family, does not even grant her the qualification to sit at the main table. This is simply unbelievable.
Hua Changxi looked at Old Master Hua, who was acting as the head of the household, and felt a genuine annoyance. It wasn’t that she wanted to sit at the main table; she was annoyed by the contempt he showed her.
“Jiu Niang, sit down and eat.”
Madam Yao walked over, intending to pull Hua Changxi to her seat.
Hua Changxi stood still, “I don’t want to eat anymore. You all eat yourselves.”
“Jiu Niang.”
Hua Minghe quickly stood up and called out to Hua Changxi, who was turning to leave, “It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival today, a day for family reunion. Your mother made many of your favorite dishes. Come and sit down to eat.”
Hua Changxi turned to look at him, “Father, if there is no basic happiness in a family reunion, then this reunion is unnecessary for me.” She then looked at Madam Yao.
“Mother, if you miss me in the future, come find me at the apothecary shop in Feng’an Ward.”
After speaking, she left the main hall without looking back.
“Disobedient and unfilial wretch!”
His granddaughter showing him such disrespect in front of outsiders truly enraged Old Master Hua. “Hua Jiu Niang, if you leave this courtyard today, don’t ever come back to this home.”
Hua Changxi, who had just descended the steps, heard this and let out a cold laugh. Disregarding Madam Yao and Hua Sanlang and Hua Liulang, who rushed to stop her, she quickly left the Hua family courtyard.
