Chapter 9: Confinement
“Granny Zhou, my Jiu Niang is just a rude girl. I see that Auntie seems to be angry, you must help me explain more to Auntie.”
As Granny Zhou saw Old Madam Hua and her group out, Old Madam Hua held Granny Zhou’s hand and repeatedly expressed her apologies.
Granny Zhou chuckled, “You worry too much. She’s just a young woman, hardly worth the Madam’s anger.”
Neither Old Madam Hua nor Madam Yao and her two sisters-in-law took these words to heart.
If Madam Zhou truly wasn’t angry, it was already noon. She should have at least invited them to stay for a meal, yet not even a polite word was spoken.
As they spoke, the group arrived at the back door.
Granny Zhou smiled and withdrew her hand from Old Madam Hua’s: “Alright, I’ll see you off here.” She paused, then said to Old Madam Hua.
“I know your family is very busy, but if you have free time and think highly enough of our mansion, bring a few more young women over to visit.”
Old Madam Hua’s expression changed, and she quickly said with a smile, “Granny Zhou, what are you saying? We have been eagerly anticipating this day, hoping to come and pay our respects to Auntie.”
Granny Zhou nodded with a smile, “I know your intentions, but intentions need action, don’t they?” Without waiting for Old Madam Hua to say anything, she waved her hand.
“Please take care.”
Seeing this, Old Madam Hua could only lead her daughters-in-law and granddaughters away.
After turning down the alley and getting into the carriage waiting by the street, Old Madam Hua’s face instantly darkened, and her eyes glared at Hua Changxi as if spitting fire.
Old Madam Hua’s gritted teeth and fierce expression silenced everyone else in the carriage.
Hua Changxi frowned, avoided her gaze, and turned her head away.
Had she done something wrong?
She didn’t think so.
If she had truly met the gaze of that Great Ancestor Grandmother, who scrutinized goods like a merchant, and crouched at her feet, she would have despised herself. Her dignity as a person wouldn’t allow it.
The entire journey, no one in the carriage dared to speak. They returned to the Hua Family in complete silence.
As soon as they entered the house, Old Madam Hua erupted, “Madam Yao, lock Hua Jiu Niang in the side room and don’t give her any food for the next few days.”
Hua Changxi broke free from her mother’s pull and retorted loudly, “Why should I be locked up?”
Old Madam Hua grew even angrier, pointing at Hua Changxi, “You dare to ask? We were guests today, and you offended the host. You are truly capable.”
“I’m telling you, if you ruin Wu Niang’s matchmaking, see how I deal with you!”
Hua Changxi gave a sarcastic smile, “Grandmother, I advise you not to have too high expectations for the clan. I think this so-called matchmaking today is very likely not a good thing.”
Madam Zhou seemed to be assessing their etiquette, but in reality, she was selecting young women who could be submissive, humble, and pleasing.
Was this a matchmaking for proper young ladies?
And it was a matchmaking with several families present.
Who would believe there was no trickery involved?
Seeing that she still dared to talk back, Old Madam Hua looked around, then walked quickly to the eaves and picked up a broom, throwing it at Hua Changxi.
“Hua Jiu Niang, you’ve truly gone too far!”
Hua Changxi quickly dodged it.
“What are you all making such a fuss about?”
Old Master Hua, with a stern face, walked out from the main hall. The clan had suddenly approached the family, and he was uneasy. He had stayed home all day, waiting to get news as soon as possible.
Who knew his wife would be throwing a tantrum as soon as she returned.
“What are you arguing about?”
Old Madam Hua quickly recounted what happened at the Great Clan Elder’s house today, pointing at Hua Changxi, “This girl can’t be left unchecked anymore.”
As soon as Old Master Hua heard that Hua Changxi had offended the Great Clan Elder’s family, his anger flared. He looked at Madam Yao and said in a harsh tone, “What, your mother-in-law can’t control you? Is this how you are as a daughter-in-law?”
Seeing the Old Master directing his anger at her mother, Hua Changxi immediately wanted to argue. However, as soon as she opened her mouth, Madam Yao covered it with her hand.
“Your daughter-in-law will take Jiu Niang to the side room now.”
Saying this, she pulled Hua Changxi towards the side room without further ado.
Hua Changxi knew that if she didn’t cooperate, the Old Master and Old Madam would surely vent their anger on Madam Yao. So, she complied and entered the side room, watching as the Old Madam brought over a lock and secured the room.
“Grandmother, just you wait and see. If someone offers kindness without reason, they are either thieves or villains. The clan suddenly arranging a matchmaking for Fifth Sister definitely has ill intentions.”
“You and Grandfather earnestly wish to be on good terms with the clan, but the clan only treats you as pawns.”
The pent-up frustration in Old Madam Hua’s chest had mostly dissipated. Hearing Hua Changxi’s words, she responded indifferently, “What do you, a young woman, know?”
“You’ve read a bit and think you know everything, calling us pawns. I tell you, if the clan truly considers us pawns, that would be our family’s good fortune.”
After speaking, she shook the keys and left.
Hua Changxi was exasperated but didn’t dwell on it too much, knowing it was a matter of differing perspectives. She turned and sat on the only cushion in the room.
She was no stranger to this side room; she had lost count of how many times she had been locked in here.
The Hua Family had many members, and their two-courtyard residence didn’t even have enough rooms for one per person. Yet, this side room was kept vacant, specifically for punishing descendants by confinement.
Hua Changxi sat on the cushion, calmed herself for a while, then closed her eyes and began to circulate the Little Bird Breathing and Exhalation Method.
Under the eaves of the main house, Second Aunt Hua, Fourth Aunt Hua, along with Wu Niang, Qi Niang, Shier Niang, and Shisi Niang, all witnessed Hua Changxi being locked into the side room.
Hua Shierniang laughed, “Thank heavens! Fortunately, Eldest Uncle wasn’t here today, otherwise Jiu Niang definitely wouldn’t have been confined.”
Second Aunt Hua said, “Even if your Eldest Uncle were here today, given that Jiu Niang offended the Great Clan Elder’s wife, her confinement is certain. Your grandfather values the clan far more than you know, and your Eldest Uncle understands this much better.”
Hua Qiniang asked with some confusion, “Jiu Niang didn’t do anything too excessive, did she?”
Second Aunt Hua glanced at Fourth Aunt Hua, “The Great Clan Elder’s wife was assessing the young women of the clan today. With Jiu Niang’s stunt, the Great Clan Elder’s wife’s impression of our family’s young women certainly won’t be good, and it might even jeopardize your Fifth Sister’s matchmaking.”
Fourth Aunt Hua did not refute this statement.
It was impossible to say that Fourth Aunt Hua and Fifth Niang felt no resentment towards Hua Changxi for what she did at the Great Clan Elder’s house.
Seeing the displeased expressions on her mother and sister’s faces, Hua Qiniang dared not speak.
“Let’s go, back to our rooms.”
Watching Fourth Aunt Hua leave with Fifth Niang, Qi Niang, and Shisi Niang, Second Aunt Hua felt a sense of schadenfreude.
Among the three daughters-in-law of the Hua family, Fourth Sister-in-law usually preferred to stay with Eldest Sister-in-law, isolating herself. Now, if Jiu Niang truly ruined Fifth Niang’s marriage, how would they continue to get along?
In the main hall, Old Master Hua kept looking at his dried tobacco, discontentedly saying to Old Madam Hua, “What were you doing? You went to the Great Clan Elder’s house, how could you not keep an eye on Jiu Niang?”
Old Madam Hua was displeased, “Could I keep an eye on her? With that rebellious spirit of hers, she doesn’t even listen to your words, let alone mine.”
Old Master Hua’s face darkened, “We need to properly discipline that girl this time. You guard the side room well, and don’t allow anyone from the main branch to bring Jiu Niang food.”
Saying this, Old Master Hua stood up and began pacing the room.
“I need to go to the Great Clan Elder’s house and personally apologize to Auntie.”
Old Madam Hua hesitated, “I’ve already apologized. There’s no need for you to make a trip, is there? I think Auntie quite likes Wu Niang, and she should help with the matchmaking.”
Old Master Hua shook his head, “Fifth Niang’s matter is secondary. What I’m worried about is Da Lang and the others.”
“Even though Ming He and the other two are working in the yamen, their positions are too low. Now that the grandsons are all grown, without the clan’s support, what good future can they find?”
“Our family and the clan are already distant. We cannot afford to create further rifts because of this matter.”
Old Madam Hua said, “Then when will you go? I can prepare some gifts.”
Old Master Hua glanced at the sky, “Tomorrow.”
Great Clan Elder’s house.
Hua Tai, the eldest son of the Great Clan Elder, was concerned about the clan’s young women matchmaking today. As soon as he finished his duties in the afternoon, he went directly to Madam Zhou’s room, “Mother, how did the matchmaking go today?”
Hua Tai’s wife, Zhong Shi, was also present and immediately said, “Mother worked so hard today, she was too tired to eat much at noon.”
Madam Zhou waved her hand, “It’s not that I’m tired, I just don’t have much appetite.”
Hua Tai quickly said, “Mother, you must take good care of yourself. I still have medicinal herbs gifted by the Earl’s Mansion. I’ll have a maid send them to you later. Your health is my greatest concern.”
Seeing her eldest son’s concern, Madam Zhou was very pleased.
Zhong Shi smiled and served a cup of freshly brewed tea, “If you ask me, it’s because Mother is too good to the clan members that she was angered by a young woman.”
Hua Tai’s expression immediately changed, “Who dared to anger my mother?”
Madam Zhou glanced at Zhong Shi indifferently and shook her head, “She’s just a young woman, how could she anger me?”
“It’s just that seeing those young women today, looking at them all like blooming flowers, about to blossom, yet being sent off to be concubines, I felt disheartened.”
Upon hearing this, Hua Tai quickly stood up and bowed deeply to Madam Zhou, “I have made Mother worry for me.”
Madam Zhou sighed, “Alas, this sinful act of selecting young women from the clan to be concubines, it must be done by this old woman. If the clan members curse me in the future, let them curse this old woman.”
Hua Tai and Zhong Shi exchanged a glance and quickly said, “How is this sinful? Being chosen by Mother and entering a noble family as a concubine is the good fortune of the clan’s young women.”
Madam Zhou remained silent.
Hua Tai tentatively asked, “Which family’s young woman did Mother take a liking to?”
Madam Zhou looked at her son, “What do you mean ‘I took a liking to’? I merely selected according to the standards you set.”
“She must be fertile, have good looks, and a docile temperament, not prone to jealousy with the main wife. After much deliberation, only one or two are suitable.”
Seeing her son looking at her intently, Madam Zhou stated the person she had chosen, “Hua Bin’s Wu Niang is the most suitable, and she is of age.”
Upon hearing this, Hua Tai thought about Hua Bin’s situation and knew that Hua Bin was always pragmatic. He immediately smiled, “Indeed, with Mother’s intervention, there is nothing that cannot be accomplished.”
Madam Zhou looked at her son, “They are giving up a young woman, you shouldn’t be too stingy on your end.”
Hua Tai smiled, “Mother, don’t worry. With so many clan members watching, I won’t be petty and disappoint the clan. Hua Bin has many grandsons, and nowadays, no young man dislikes practicing martial arts. I will give them an admission ticket to the Martial Arts Academy.”
“To exchange one young woman for a young man to enter the Martial Arts Academy to practice martial arts, they are not at a loss!”
Madam Zhou nodded, “Be polite in your attitude. Hua Bin’s lineage still has some backbone.” Speaking of which, she couldn’t help but think of that Hua Jiu Niang who dared to meet her gaze.
Madam Zhou suddenly smiled, “Speaking of which, Hua Bin’s young women are all quite attractive. Once they mature in a couple of years, they will definitely be top-tier beauties.”
Upon hearing this, Hua Tai smiled in agreement, “If they catch Mother’s eye, those young women are fortunate. When they reach their coming-of-age ceremony, Mother can help them select suitable families.”
Mother and son exchanged a glance and smiled in tacit understanding.
