Chapter 194: Membrane
Hua Da Lang: “Jiu Niang, how do you know the Imperial Guards? Are you well acquainted with Commander Pang?”
Hua Minghe: “Jiu Niang, where have you been all this time? Your eldest brother looked for you at the Medical Affairs Department and Feng’an Ward but couldn’t find you. You don’t even say you’ll come home to visit.”
The father and son spoke one after another, their words carrying concern for Hua Changxi, yet Hua Changxi once again felt an invisible barrier separating them.
Descending into the Nine Netherworlds twice, she had hovered on the brink of death each time. Even though she emerged unscathed in the end, it still made Hua Changxi feel the impermanence and uncontrollability of life.
What if she hadn’t been so lucky and had actually died?
The moment she saw her father and brother, this question popped into Hua Changxi’s mind, and she was shocked to realize that every time she faced a life and death crisis, she seemed to have never thought of her family.
Was it because her family couldn’t offer her support, or had she never truly cared about them in her heart?
‘Isn’t there anyone you care about? If you were to do something that would hurt them, what would you do?’ Hua Changxi recalled Tong Yao’s question to her.
What would she do?
If she truly wanted to do something, she was certain she would prioritize herself and not be influenced by anyone.
Anyone, including her family.
Hua Changxi realized the answer in her heart and was jolted awake, realizing she truly didn’t seem to care much about her family.
This answer was difficult for Hua Changxi to accept; unwilling to believe she was a heartless person, she immediately found a suitable justification for herself.
She didn’t care about her family because her family didn’t care about her first. In the Hua Family, she was the one among the grandchildren who faced the most suppression and criticism. She had never received understanding, tolerance, or support from her family, so it was perfectly normal not to care about them.
“Jiu Niang, I’m asking you a question, why aren’t you saying anything?”
Hua Da Lang saw that Hua Changxi had no reaction to his and their father’s questions, and her eyes even showed a hint of scrutiny and judgment towards them. This made him very unhappy, feeling that Hua Changxi was increasingly disregarding her family.
Hua Changxi snapped back to attention and looked at Hua Da Lang, whose face showed blame. This perfectly confirmed her thought that ‘her family didn’t care about her first.’ Since they showed her no tolerance, she instinctively retorted, “Eldest Brother, do I have to answer just because you ask? You’re too self-centered.”
Hua Minghe saw that the siblings were about to argue again and quickly interjected, “Alright, if Jiu Niang doesn’t want to talk about it, then forget it. Both of you, say less.”
Hua Da Lang was very displeased with Hua Minghe’s favoritism towards Hua Changxi: “Father, you’re too biased. Jiu Niang hasn’t been home for over a month, and as her eldest brother, what’s wrong with me asking a few questions?” He then looked at Hua Changxi.
“Jiu Niang, what have you been doing outside? Why can’t it be discussed? Do you still consider us family?”
Hua Changxi looked at him: “There’s nothing that can’t be discussed, but the way you’re putting on a sour face, demanding I answer, as if I owe you something, just makes me angry, and I won’t tell you.”
Hua Da Lang was furious: “Hua Jiu Niang, you… do you still consider me your eldest brother?”
Hua Changxi wasn’t going to indulge him: “Besides using your status as an elder brother to pressure people, what else do you have to show? To gain respect, it’s okay to lack ability, but you must have virtue. Do you have virtue?”
As soon as she said this, it not only made Hua Da Lang’s face turn red with anger, but Hua Minghe was also angered, especially seeing some colleagues looking their way and pointing. He quickly grabbed one by each hand and hurried away, only stopping after turning a street corner.
“What are you two doing, arguing on the street!”
Hua Minghe frowned and looked at Hua Changxi: “Jiu Niang, what you just said was too much. Apologize to your eldest brother.”
Hua Changxi also felt that her emotions had been a bit too intense just now. She didn’t know why, but every time she encountered her family, they would start arguing after only a few words. Reluctantly, she said, “I was wrong, Eldest Brother.”
Hua Da Lang did not respond. Only after receiving a look from Hua Minghe did he look at Hua Changxi: “Jiu Niang, am I this worthless in your heart?”
Hua Changxi, facing her eldest brother who had received the most training from the Hua Family and was dedicated to making everyone in the family willing to sacrifice and contribute, really didn’t want to say anything against her conscience: “…What kind of person Eldest Brother is isn’t up to me to say, my opinion doesn’t matter.”
This answer made Hua Da Lang’s face turn completely cold: “So, you look down on me this much. No wonder you’ve never given me a good look. Hua Jiu Niang, I was overestimating myself. I won’t meddle in your affairs anymore.”
With that, he stormed off angrily.
Watching his eldest son leave, Hua Minghe was very troubled. He looked at his daughter and said helplessly, “Jiu Niang, you’re too sharp-tongued now. Your eldest brother was concerned about you.”
Hua Changxi lowered her head and looked at the ground, kicking a stone with her foot: “I didn’t feel it.” She then looked up at Hua Minghe, “Eldest Brother looking for me definitely wasn’t out of concern for my well-being, but because he needed something from me, right?”
“Let me guess, I previously handed over the Fire Spirit Mine to Sixth Brother for full responsibility, and I also agreed that the Hua Family members could participate. Did something happen at the Fire Spirit Mine?”
Elder You and the others were seasoned veterans and had been involved in the management of the Fire Spirit Mine before the Hua Family. If they could deceive themselves, they would certainly deceive the Hua Family even more. Over time, conflict would inevitably erupt between the Hua Family and Elder You’s group.
“If it’s not about the Fire Spirit Mine, then it must be about Body Refining. Is there not enough medicinal herbs for the medicinal bath, or does someone want the next stage of the Body Refining Technique?”
Hua Changxi looked at Hua Minghe: “Father, of these matters, which one is truly about caring for me? Aren’t they all for your own sake?”
Hua Minghe’s brow furrowed: “Jiu Niang, must you be so calculating between relatives?”
Hua Changxi smiled: “Father, you were the one who first said Eldest Brother cared about me, and I was just giving examples to refute you. I presented evidence, and then you said I was being too calculating.” Her smile vanished as she continued, “Who exactly is being too calculating?”
At this moment, she finally understood what that thin film separating her from the Hua Family members was.
The so-called family had never truly cared for or understood her. They had never seen her needs or emotions; they were all thinking of themselves. Even the occasional hint of concern was merely superficial appeasement.
“Father, do you know what I just went through? I almost died in the Nine Netherworlds. I almost didn’t come back.”
“When you saw me, you either wanted to pry information from me or demand that I should go home.”
“Why don’t I like going home?”
“Because I know that once I go back, I’ll have to face your endless, taken-for-granted demands. Everything I have, I earned with my life, not by falling from the sky.”
Hua Minghe listened to his daughter’s complaints, feeling both heartache and annoyance: “Jiu Niang, ever since you joined the Medical Affairs Department, you haven’t told us who you’ve met or what you’ve been doing. If you don’t tell us, how can we know and how can we help you?”
Hua Changxi didn’t want to continue: “Father, I will walk my own path in life. You don’t need to help me. It would be enough if you had fewer expectations and demands of me. I’m tired and want to go back and rest. You should also hurry back to your duties.”
Before leaving, she still relayed Pang Shaoyu’s warning to him, telling him and Hua Da Lang to be careful.
Hua Minghe hadn’t expected this meeting to be so unpleasant. He could only say dryly, “Your mother is hoping you’ll come back to see her.”
Hua Changxi heard this and twitched the corner of her mouth. They truly weren’t listening to her at all. If they really cared about her, couldn’t her mother come to Feng’an Ward to see her?
After watching Hua Minghe return to the Six Doors team, Hua Changxi turned and left without hesitation.
Just moments ago, when she realized she was someone who didn’t care about her family, her mood had been heavy. However, after talking with her father and brother, her mood had become much lighter.
She didn’t care about her family, but had her family ever truly cared about her?
It was a case of six of one, half a dozen of the other!
