Chapter 140: Self-Reliance

"Jiu-niang, I'm back."

Hua Wuniang, after following He Sanshao to the main hall to pay respects to the Hua family elders, came to find Hua Changxi with her child in her arms, followed by her three younger sisters Hua Qiniang, Hua Shierniang, and Hua Shisiniang.

Seeing her sisters approaching, Hua Changxi suppressed the displeasure in her heart and smiled as she went to greet them.

Hua Liulang exchanged a few words with Hua Wuniang and the others, then left for the main hall.

Hua Changxi looked at the child in Hua Wuniang's arms and said with a smile, "The child has grown so much already?"

Hua Wuniang's face was radiant with the joy of being a new mother: "Children grow as fast as the wind. You'll understand once you have your own someday."

Seeing Hua Changxi staring at the child, Hua Wuniang held the baby a little closer to her: "Would you like to hold him?"

Hua Changxi found the baby chubby and fair, and felt fond of him. She smiled and nodded, then carefully took the child into her arms.

"Xiaoman smiled at Jiu-niang!"

As soon as Hua Changxi held the child, the baby's mouth curled into a grin, and Hua Qiniang immediately called everyone over to see.

Hua Wuniang saw this and laughed: "Xiaoman knows Jiu-niang is the one who saved his life, so he's being close to her."

Hua Changxi walked around the room twice with the child, played with him a little, then handed him back to Hua Wuniang: "Fifth Sister, is everything well with you in the He family?"

Hua Wuniang smiled and nodded: "Everything is fine with me."

Hua Shierniang cut in with a smile: "He Sanshao even accompanied Fifth Sister home for the Mid-Autumn Festival. That shows how much he values her. You know, even the principal wife might not get such treatment."

Hearing this, Hua Wuniang's expression faltered for a moment. She lowered her head to look at the child and said nothing.

Hua Shierniang continued: "He Sanshao is a son of a marquis. His coming to our house shows he thinks highly of Fifth Sister and also of our family. As long as Sanshao protects Fifth Sister in the He family, she is sure to have everything go her way."

Hua Qiniang took over: "Fifth Sister's happiness doesn't depend on Sanshao, but on our family. Only when we are strong enough will the He family and Sanshao dare not treat Fifth Sister and Xiaoman poorly."

Hua Shierniang: "True, the natal family is a married woman's backing. But for Fifth Sister to live happily, she certainly can't do without Sanshao's care. In the He family, in the end, Fifth Sister relies on Sanshao."

Listening to their exchange, Hua Changxi realized that, without her noticing, the sisters in the family had grown up and each had their own value judgments.

After that, Hua Qiniang and Hua Shierniang launched into a debate about whether, after marriage, a woman should rely on her husband or her natal family.

Finally, unable to settle their argument, the two looked at Hua Changxi and Hua Wuniang.

"Fifth Sister, Jiu-niang, you tell us—after marriage, should we rely on our husband or our natal family?"

Hua Wuniang gently coaxed the child in her arms without looking up: "Both the natal family and the husband are important. It's best if you can rely on both, but... don't be a concubine."

Hua Qiniang and Hua Shierniang were not satisfied with this answer. They both turned to Hua Changxi.

Hua Changxi looked at them: "Why must you rely on your natal family or your husband? The only person you can ultimately rely on is yourself."

The three of them all looked at her.

Hua Wuniang appeared lost in thought.

Hua Qiniang was completely surprised: "Jiu-niang, are you saying that even Uncle and Aunt can't be relied on?"

Hua Shierniang followed up: "A husband is the one who shares your pillow. If you can't rely on the man you marry, then why marry at all?"

Hua Changxi: "Of course Father and Mother are reliable, but they have their own lives. I can't trouble them with everything, and besides, they might not be able to help me with the things I encounter."

"As for a husband... I haven't even thought about marriage yet. I really can't answer you."

Hua Wuniang looked at her: "Jiu-niang, you've already come of age. You should start thinking about these things in advance. Don't end up like me, having no choice but to obey the family's arrangements when the time comes."

Hua Changxi smiled: "Fifth Sister, things are different now than before. I am a cultivator. I can live for several hundred or even a thousand years and remain youthful forever. I don't need to rush into marriage right after coming of age."

"Besides, if I marry, it will definitely be someone I love. No outsider can interfere with my feelings or my life."

Hua Wuniang smiled bitterly: "That's true. You've always known your own mind, and now you're so formidable. Naturally, you won't have to passively wait for arrangements like I did."

Hua Changxi: "Fifth Sister, as long as you're unwilling, you can do the same."

Hua Wuniang twitched the corner of her mouth but said nothing.

Hua Changxi stopped there and didn't press further. Instead, she asked Hua Qiniang and Hua Shierniang about their cultivation practice at the marquis's manor.

Hua Qiniang: "Before, the master the manor hired only guided us in cultivation. But after you gave us the 'Introduction to the Four Arts,' the manor found out we were studying them and let us learn together with the young lord and the others."

"The young lord and the others study much more than we do. Not long ago, I, Fourth Brother, and Twelve all went on an outing and training trip with the young lord."

Hua Changxi: "What did the Young Master take you to train in?"

Hua Shier Niang said with lingering fear: "We surrounded and killed a Qi Sea realm tiger demon. Seventh Sister got scratched by the demon while saving me." As she spoke, she looked at Hua Changxi.

"Ninth Sister, have you ever been out training? Do you know how dangerous it is to be a cultivator?"

Hua Changxi: "I have trained. I've walked on the edge of life and death many times."

Upon hearing this, Hua Wu Niang, Hua Qi Niang, and Hua Shier Niang's expressions changed to shock.

"Why have you never told the family about this?"

Hua Changxi's expression was indifferent: "Even if I told them, what's the use? The family can't help me with anything."

Hua Qi Niang and Hua Shier Niang exchanged a look and both fell silent.

Earlier, when they learned that Ninth Sister had opened eleven medicine shops behind the family's back and even owned a spirit mine, they had been somewhat displeased that she hadn't told the family.

The Earl's mansion only gave them a hundred spirit stones per month for cultivation. For them, who were in dire need of spirit stones, they even resented Ninth Sister for clearly being able to help the family yet choosing not to.

But now, knowing that she had obtained all this by risking her life, they could no longer feel justified in thinking she should give her all to help the family.

At this moment, Hua San Gu's voice came from the courtyard: "Ninth Girl, we're about to serve the meal. Quickly take your Fifth Sister and the others to the main hall and have them sit down."

Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi called for Hua Wu Niang, Hua Qi Niang, and Hua Shier Niang to leave the room.

When the four entered the main hall, Old Master Hua was already seated with the men of the family and the male guests.

"Ninth Girl."

Upon seeing Hua Changxi, Third Master He stood up with a smile and took the initiative to greet her.

When Hua Mingzhe and his two sons saw this, their expressions changed slightly. Even Old Master Hua and the other Hua family members were somewhat surprised.

Hua Changxi saw this and politely replied, "Third Master He."

It would have been enough to have greeted her, but Third Master He continued with a smile: "Calling me Third Master is too distant. I am your Fifth Sister's husband. In the future, just call me Fifth Brother-in-Law."

As soon as these words were spoken, the main hall fell silent.

In Great Jin, the family of a concubine was not actually considered true relatives.

Third Master He telling Hua Changxi to call him brother-in-law was equivalent to telling the Hua family that the Wuyi Marquis's Mansion regarded the Hua family as legitimate relatives.

The Marquis's mansion condescended to acknowledge the Hua family as relatives, and Hua Mingzhe and his two sons were extremely surprised.

Hua Hongchen and Hua Hongtao, who had previously felt uncomfortable with their father fawning over Hua Bin's family, suddenly felt relieved. Even the Marquis's son had to lower his status, so it was even more understandable for them to be humble.

However, had Third Master He flattered the wrong person?

Had Third Master He gotten the wrong person?

Of course not.

Through the Wuyi Marquis's investigation, he knew very well that the person in the Hua family truly worth befriending was this Hua Jiu Niang before him.

As for why the present Hua family was all cultivators, the decisive person was Hua Jiu Niang.

He also saw that the Hua clansmen wanted to achieve their goals by flattering Old Master Hua. If Hua Jiu Niang were an ordinary young lady who obeyed the family in everything, they might have succeeded. But Hua Jiu Niang was not like that.

Hua Jiu Niang was defiant and rebellious, with a very strong will of her own. She never told the Hua family about what she did outside. It was clear that the Hua family could not control Hua Jiu Niang's thoughts or actions.

If the He family wanted to obtain the Hua family's body tempering technique, going to Old Master Hua was useless. They had to approach Hua Jiu Niang; she was the true decision-maker.

Hua Wu Niang also hadn't expected Third Master He to act this way. Her first reaction was not joy but to nervously look at Hua Changxi.

Hua Changxi's reaction to Third Master He's straightforward attempt to get closer to her was very flat: "You are too kind, Third Master He."

Seeing that Hua Changxi didn't accept the "brother-in-law" title, Third Master He was a bit embarrassed.

Hua Shier Niang saw this, her eyes moved, and she called out with a smile: "Fifth Brother-in-Law."

Third Master He heard this and looked delighted: "Twelfth Sister."

Hua Changxi ignored their interaction and walked straight to the table where the younger generation was seated.

At this moment, Third Master He spoke again: "Ninth Girl, come sit at this table."

Before Hua Changxi could respond, Old Master Hua spoke: "Ninth Girl is a female and a junior. In our family, she is not qualified to sit at the main table."

Upon hearing this, Third Master He looked stunned, quickly glanced at Hua Mingzhe, and seeing his expression of "of course it's so," he shook his head with a wry smile.

He had originally thought that with the Hua clan producing a Dingyuan Earl, the clan's conduct would have improved, but unexpectedly, they were still so unrefined.

Distributing power and status according to merit is a principle of great noble clans; it does not differentiate between men and women, and even when a junior surpasses an elder in influence, the elder should proactively defer to the junior.

Hua Changxi looked at Old Master Hua, who was putting on the airs of the head of the family, and felt truly annoyed. It wasn't that she wanted to sit at the main table; she was annoyed by the contempt he showed toward her.

"Jiuniang, 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. You go ahead."

"Jiuniang."

Hua Minghe quickly stood up and called out to Hua Changxi: "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, a day for family reunion. Your mother has made many dishes you like. Please sit down and eat."

Hua Changxi looked at him: "Father, if a family reunion lacks even the most basic happiness, then this reunion is unnecessary for me." As she spoke, she looked at Madam Yao.

"Mother, if you miss me in the future, come find me at the Feng'an Lane pharmacy."

Having said that, she walked out of the main hall without looking back.

"Unfilial wretch!"

With his granddaughter showing him no face in front of outsiders, Old Master Hua was truly furious: "Hua Jiuniang, if you leave this courtyard today, don't ever come back home."

Hua Changxi, who had just stepped down the stairs, heard this and let out a snicker. Ignoring Madam Yao and the pursuing Sanlang and Liulang who wanted to stop her, she quickly left the Hua family courtyard.