Chapter 82: Center of the Storm
The Third Steward’s room was the same as the laborers’, all in the backyard. The only difference was that the Third Steward lived in a room for two, and the room was closer to the kitchen.
Ten Third Stewards were divided into five rooms.
The Steward Zhou, whom Hua Changxi replaced, had fallen ill and gone home to recuperate. Her belongings had not been moved, and she happened to share a room with Du Ruo.
Seeing Hua Changxi waiting outside the room with her luggage, Du Ruo had no choice but to open the door and tidy up Steward Zhou’s belongings, moving them to her side.
The steward’s work was naturally not as arduous as the laborers’. Knowing that Hua Changxi had replaced Steward Zhou, the other stewards were standing by watching the spectacle.
Everyone knew Hua Changxi was someone who could handle herself, so no one made any sarcastic remarks.
Hua Changxi laid out her bedding and put her luggage in the cabinet. After thinking for a moment, she went out to check on the ten team members under her.
Upon reaching the canal, the ten people ignored her, seemingly staging a silent protest against her replacing Steward Zhou.
Hua Changxi memorized the faces of the ten people and left without saying a word.
The other stewards were all watching this unfold. Seeing that she was not supported, they were all waiting to see her make a fool of herself.
“Sister Zhou is truly unlucky. She got sick and lost her steward position. I wonder how sad she’ll be when she returns and finds out she’s been replaced.”
They didn’t dare to complain in front of Hua Changxi, but the stewards had no reservations behind her back.
“This Hua Changxi is truly not simple. To have Eunuch Jia personally order her to be a Third Steward.”
“More than not simple. Think about it, ever since she entered the Labor Department, she first got involved with Eunuch Yu from the storeroom, then Eunuch Lu, and now she’s even more impressive, having a connection with Eunuch Jia. This Young Woman’s methods are truly formidable!”
“Du Ruo, Hua Changxi was under you before. What’s her background?”
“I’m not sure either. Hua Changxi doesn’t talk much and rarely mentions her family. But I suppose she must be from an ordinary family, otherwise, why would she come to be a laborer?”
“I don’t think she’s ordinary at all. Do you know that the reason she was able to return from the Medicine Farm was supposedly a personal order from Eunuch Jia? Can an ordinary person get Eunuch Jia to care so much?”
“Hua Changxi definitely has some connections. It’s best if we don’t provoke her.”
On the other side, Hua Changxi returned to her new living quarters and was tidying up when she heard a knock on the door. She thought it was Du Ruo returning, but to her surprise, the person who entered was a Young Woman of eighteen or nineteen.
“Greetings, Steward Hua. My name is Zhou Qiuyu.”
Hua Changxi looked at the person, recognized her as one of the ten team members under her, and asked with a smile, “Do you need something?”
Zhou Qiuyu was a little nervous. “I just wanted to ask Steward Hua if there’s anything you need me to do.”
Hua Changxi saw that the other person was trying to make amends. She pondered for a moment, saw a stool in the room, and invited her to sit down. “Tell me about our team’s situation.”
Seeing that Hua Changxi was willing to ask her questions, Zhou Qiuyu’s tense heart finally relaxed. She immediately introduced the situations of the other nine members.
“Steward Hua, please rest assured. The people in our team are very efficient workers, they don’t like to cause trouble, and they are all very good people.”
Hua Changxi looked at her. “I see you are quite united. Why did you decide to come and see me?”
Zhou Qiuyu was taken aback for a moment, then straightened her body and said, “I am united with everyone because they are good people. I came to see you because you are the steward. As your subordinate, it is my duty to report the situation to you.”
Hearing this, Hua Changxi thought highly of the person before her. Most people cannot separate personal feelings from their work, and the result of mixing the two is that simple matters become complicated.
“You are also surnamed Zhou. Are you related to the previous Steward Zhou?”
Zhou Qiuyu: “The previous Steward Zhou is my aunt.”
Hua Changxi raised an eyebrow. “I replaced your aunt’s position. You should be the most resistant to me, right?”
Zhou Qiuyu shook her head. “Steward Hua, I have no resistance towards you. I know that the decision to replace my aunt’s position was not made by you, and you were merely following orders.”
Hua Changxi looked at her deeply. “You are quite perceptive.”
Zhou Qiuyu looked at her. “Steward Hua, please don’t believe what others say. My aunt treated everyone well before, but that doesn’t mean everyone will disobey you because of it. We all cherish our jobs and will work hard, and we won’t cause you any trouble.”
Hua Changxi smiled. This Zhou Qiuyu was truly a smart person. Compared to her, Du Ruo’s previous words to her seemed to have been well-intentioned but ultimately unhelpful.
“Alright, I understand.”
“Go and tell the others in the group that you will do things the same way you did before. As long as you complete the tasks assigned by your superiors, I have no other requirements.”
Hearing Hua Changxi say this, Zhou Qiuyu’s face lit up with joy. “Steward Hua, please rest assured. I will tell the others when I get back, and they will work hard.”
Hua Changxi watched her leave, thinking that there are smart people everywhere. Seeing that the new living quarters were quite spacious, and considering that she would need to cultivate frequently, she decided to go out and find a screen to use as a partition.
She was actually a bit resistant to sharing a room with Du Ruo. Du Ruo was not a bad person, but she was a bit careless in her actions and words. Hua Changxi did not want to have too much interaction with someone like that.
After Hua Changxi left the Sixth Bureau, many people were watching Zhou Qiuyu.
“This Zhou Qiuyu, not only does she not feel wronged for her aunt, but she’s also trying to curry favor with that Hua Changxi. What a thankless wretch.”
Zhou Qiuyu listened to the not-so-quiet gossip, kept her head down washing medicinal herbs, and paid no attention. On the contrary, when others in the group wanted to speak up for her, she would stop them.
“Mouths are on others; this is something we cannot control. However, we can control our own hearts and prevent them from being influenced by others’ words.”
“We know everyone feels wronged for our aunt, but the target is mistaken. Steward Hua has done nothing wrong; she is also just someone following orders.”
“Our jobs are our own. If we become complacent or cause trouble due to dissatisfaction with Steward Hua, and the superiors investigate, we will be the ones to lose our jobs in the end.”
Someone in the same group looked worried. “Qiuyu, what will happen when Steward Zhou returns?”
Zhou Qiuyu paused. “The higher-ups did not intend to dismiss my aunt. When my aunt returns, at most she will be like us and work as a laborer.”
“Steward Zhou is truly unlucky.”
“Alright, stop complaining and get back to work.”
Hua Changxi first went to the Internal Affairs Department to collect her monthly allowance for working at the Medicine Farm. Then, at a shop near the Medical Affairs Department, she used this silver to buy a simple, second-hand screen.
“Sister Changxi, is that really you? I just saw you and didn’t dare to believe it. When did you get back?”
On her way back to her quarters with the screen, Hua Changxi encountered Yu Hui. “I just got back today.”
Yu Hui walked closer, looked Hua Changxi up and down, and smiled. “It seems you are indeed doing as well as the rumors say at the Medicine Farm.”
Hua Changxi raised an eyebrow. “Rumors?”
Yu Hui lowered his voice. “After the laborers returned from the Medicine Farm, my Godfather wanted to continue cooperating with you on alchemy, but found you hadn’t returned. He then inquired, and only then did he learn that you had caught the eye of a Grandmaster.”
Hua Changxi showed a look of realization. Seeing that there was no one around, she took the opportunity to inquire, “Brother Yu, I see the atmosphere in the Labor Department is very tense. Has something happened?”
Yu Hui: “Sister, you are quite perceptive.” He then looked around and lowered his voice. “Someone in the palace has set their sights on the Labor Department, and everyone wants to place their people there.”
“Eunuch Sun of the First Department was killed because he stood in the way.”
Hua Changxi was puzzled. “What is so special about the Labor Department that the palace is interested in it?”
Yu Hui shook his head. “I don’t know about that. Anyway, starting from two months ago, around October, many Nobles have been sending people to the Medical Affairs Department. Even a Prince has deigned to become a disciple of a Pharmacist on Second Street.”
Hua Changxi’s eyes flickered after hearing this.
Gu Jin Fan is in the Medical Affairs Department. Now that Princes and Nobles are also flocking in, judging by this trend, the Medical Affairs Department is about to become the center of attention.
