[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin":3,"chapter-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-16":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The First Iron Rice Bowl of Great Jin",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},151702,261,"Chapter 16: Adapting","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-16",16,"\u003Cp>The dwelling for servants was naturally not good; they slept on a heated brick bed, which stretched from one end of the room to the other, with a row of wooden cabinets opposite the bed, and nothing else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi glanced at the shared bed; the inner spots were already taken, leaving only the space by the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quickly spreading out her own bedding and changing into the blue servant uniform, Hua Changxi went out to find Du Ruo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Manager Du, my family doesn't know I'm staying in the Servants' Hall. I'd like to ask for leave to send a message home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ruo looked at Hua Changxi in surprise: \"Who are you going to find? What, do you know someone in the Medical Department?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi saw entering the Servants' Hall as entering the workplace, where having an elder looking after you is friendlier to a newcomer, so she smiled and said: \"I have an elder who is an apothecary on Ninth Street.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Du Ruo indeed regarded Hua Changxi with more seriousness and asked curiously: \"Since you have such connections, why are you still coming to be a servant?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi smiled: \"Elders are usually busy, and I can't trouble them with everything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ruo didn't ask further and nodded: \"Then go quickly and come back quickly. If you can't finish washing two hundred medicinal herbs, you won't be able to sleep tonight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi smiled in acknowledgment and then quickly left the Servants' Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the apothecary at No. 12 Ninth Street, as soon as Apothecary Xu came out, he saw Hua Changxi in a servant's uniform and was utterly astonished: \"Jiuniang, you...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi smiled: \"Uncle Xu, I've entered the Medical Department. Now I'm a servant in the Servants' Hall.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Apothecary Xu was rather distressed: \"Didn't I tell you? If you can't become an apprentice this year, then take the exam again next year. Why did you go and become a servant?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew too well how heavy the daily workload in the Servants' Hall was—how could Jiuniang, a young lady, possibly endure it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi smiled: \"Uncle Xu, I have my own reasons for entering the Servants' Hall. You don't need to worry about me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apothecary Xu looked at Hua Changxi and sighed: \"Your family actually didn't stop you!\" He paused, \"Although the Servants' Hall is a place for rough, heavy work, the interpersonal relationships there are also complicated. If you encounter trouble in the future, be sure to come find me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi smiled and nodded in agreement: \"Uncle Xu, I'm starting my shift today. I didn't know I'd be staying in the Servants' Hall. After your shift ends, could you trouble yourself to go to the Hua family shop and send a message for me? Tell my third brother that I'll go home as soon as I have a day off.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apothecary Xu shook his head: \"I really don't know what you're after, insisting on entering the Servants' Hall to suffer. Don't worry, I'll go talk to your third brother.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi thanked him, listened to a round of Apothecary Xu's instructions, and then returned to the Servants' Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi returned to the Sixth Bureau and went to find Du Ruo to receive her assignment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These two carts of medicinal herbs are what you must wash clean today.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ruo led Hua Changxi to the two carts of herbs, gave her the tools for washing them, and then went about her own business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the third manager, she also had a daily task of washing 400 medicinal herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The layout of each bureau's courtyard in the Servants' Hall was roughly the same, divided in half by a five-meter-wide artificial ditch, with all the servants washing medicinal herbs on both banks of the ditch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many servants, to speed things up, simply rolled up their trouser legs and stood in the ditch to wash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at the herbs she had to wash; they were all herbs used by martial artists. Seeing no special precautions needed, she followed the others' example, rolled up her trouser legs, stood in the water, and started working.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Purification Technique (Mastery): Wash herbs 256\u002F1000]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Purification Technique (Mastery): Wash herbs 257\u002F1000]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>┊\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the numbers change continuously, the corners of Hua Changxi's mouth began to lift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far away, Du Ruo occasionally glanced at Hua Changxi. Seeing that she worked efficiently, washing the herbs quickly and cleanly, she finally felt relieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a manager, she certainly didn't want to take in a burden who couldn't work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two hundred medicinal herbs—at Hua Changxi's speed, she could finish washing them in one or two hours. However, she knew she had just entered the Servants' Hall and shouldn't stand out too much. Although she really wanted to elevate the Purification Technique to Perfection, she deliberately slowed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this time, Hua Changxi secretly tasted each type of herb she washed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Classic of Herbs Annotated (Mastery): Taste a hundred herbs 565\u002F1000]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around noon, while Hua Changxi was still buried in washing herbs, someone passed by her and called out to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's time to eat. Go eat first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi straightened up and looked at the speaker. Just as she was about to thank him, the person quickly walked away with a few others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi got out of the water, put on her shoes, and followed those people to the dining hall at the back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After lunch, everyone hurried back to the ditch and continued washing herbs, not resting for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much she dawdled, Hua Changxi still finished washing the two hundred medicinal herbs. Seeing that everyone else was still buried in their work, she didn't go to Du Ruo to ask for more tasks. Instead, she placed her hands in the water and secretly practiced the water control technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Changxi, are you done washing your herbs?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ruo suddenly arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi stood up: \"Supervisor Du, I've finished washing all the herbs you assigned to me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ruo inspected the herbs Hua Changxi had washed—every single one was clean, with nothing to criticize: \"Since you're done, come with me to deliver the herbs to the Second Bureau.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi was surprised to see Du Ruo pulling the cart herself, but she quickly walked over to her two carts and pulled one of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a bit strenuous when she first started pulling, but it got a little easier once the cart was moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only then that Hua Changxi truly understood how exhausting the chores in the Chores Hall were. Fortunately, she had started cultivating; if she had still been at her old physical level, she definitely wouldn't have been able to pull the cart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Hua Changxi hurried to keep up with Du Ruo, she didn't notice that the other female laborers around her were all staring at her in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female laborers had little strength, so when delivering herbs, they only sent small amounts at a time. Someone like Hua Changxi, who could pull a cart fully loaded, could be counted on one hand among all the female laborers—less than ten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ruo was also startled by Hua Changxi, stammering a little: \"Changxi, you're quite strong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Hua Changxi notice that the cart Du Ruo was pulling wasn't piled high with herbs, and she couldn't help but give an embarrassed smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ruo looked at her with envy: \"It's good to be strong! With more strength, you work faster; with faster work, you can sleep early at night. Now I finally understand why your family sent you here as a laborer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi smiled sheepishly and asked: \"Supervisor Du, why do we need to send the cleaned herbs to the Second Bureau?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ruo explained: \"Our Chores Hall is responsible for the initial processing of herbs sent in from various places. After the herbs are cleaned, they still need to be processed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The First Bureau and Second Bureau are in charge of processing the herbs. Only after the herbs are processed are they sent to the Herb Depot for storage.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi listened carefully. Before long, the two of them arrived at the Second Bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Second Bureau, someone was responsible for receiving the herbs. When receiving, they had to record the types and quantities of the herbs. After the recording was done, and after Hua Changxi and Du Ruo signed, only then was it considered complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Remember, next time you come alone to deliver herbs, you must watch the people from the Second Bureau as they count the herbs. Don't let them make mistakes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If they record fewer than there are, and you fail to complete your assigned daily tasks, your monthly pay will be deducted at the end of the month.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi: \"Thank you for the advice, Supervisor Du. I'll keep that in mind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, Hua Changxi made three more trips to the Second Bureau. Not only did she bring all her own herbs, but she also helped Du Ruo with two trips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once all the herbs she and Du Ruo were responsible for processing had been handed over, only then was her first day's task at the Chores Hall considered complete.\u003C\u002Fp>",1542,"2026-05-29T04:10:26.746Z","2026-06-01T04:29:08.487Z",1,"deepseek-v4-flash","d00965b2757dbd61c34ebeb3e138a291107373dfdec97876ad788c242b817e3f","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-17","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-15",547,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-cover.jpg"]