Chapter 24: Give an Inch, Take a Mile

The news of Hua Changxi causing a big fight in the storeroom spread throughout the entire Chores Hall in less than a day.

Working in the Chores Hall, everyone had to repeat heavy manual labor every day, with no entertainment, and were constantly on edge. Even a fight could become the focus of attention and a topic of conversation in their boring lives.

"Hua Changxi, you didn't take my previous warnings to heart at all. Not only did you start a fight in the Sixth Bureau, but you also went to the storeroom to fight."

After learning about this, Du Ruo came to find Hua Changxi with a face full of anger.

Hua Changxi didn't think she had done anything wrong: "Manager Du, I didn't want to fight either, but the people in the storeroom were mocking me, and I couldn't stand it."

Du Ruo was extremely angry and blurted out: "Why didn't they mock someone else? It's because you yourself are not upright!"

Hua Changxi's face instantly turned cold: "Manager Du, I am the victim. I don't demand your sympathy, but isn't it too much for you to turn around and blame me?"

"You are a veteran of the Chores Hall, and a woman as well. You should know very well what kind of humiliation I suffered. In such a situation, you can choose to smooth things over, but what's wrong with me fighting back?"

Du Ruo was left speechless. After a moment of silence, she said, "That Mao Wei you beat up has a brother who is a martial artist and a minor manager in the Herb Garden. You'd better take care of yourself."

Hua Changxi heard Du Ruo's words but didn't take them to heart.

She had already hit the person, and she didn't regret it. As for what came after, she would deal with it when it happened.

Now, for Hua Changxi, the most important things were cultivation and obtaining the medical inheritance; everything else could wait.

Since she could no longer wake up late, Hua Changxi began using the morning to wash medicinal herbs, and the afternoon and evening were spent on cultivation.

Because she had the Yuanling Powder, her cultivation speed increased significantly.

At first, she thought she could only refine and absorb 10 grams of Yuanling Powder per night, but after several attempts, she found that she could refine and absorb it once every two hours (shichen).

In this way, in one day she could refine and absorb 40 grams of Yuanling Powder, and her realm points increased by 80 each day.

Hua Changxi was immersed in the achievement of rapid cultivation, and before she knew it, it was mid-October.

By then, the Yuanling Powder had been used up, and Hua Changxi had successfully broken through 1,000 realm points.

[Realm: Qi Refinement 1055/1000]

For some unknown reason, after breaking through 1,000 realm points, her realm did not advance.

Hua Changxi was very puzzled by this, but there was no one to explain it to her, and the Yuanling Powder was exhausted, so she could only cultivate slowly step by step.

"Hua Changxi, someone's looking for you."

A shout came from outside the house. Hua Changxi walked out and saw an unfamiliar woman calling her.

As soon as the woman saw her, she became very warm: "Miss Hua, Pharmacist Xu from Ninth Street is looking for you. He's right outside the Sixth Bureau gate."

"Thank you, Auntie."

After thanking her, Hua Changxi quickly went to the front yard.

"Uncle Xu!"

Pharmacist Xu did not enter the Sixth Bureau, but waited outside the yard. Seeing Hua Changxi come out, he immediately broke into a smile. When she got closer, he carefully looked her over and asked with concern, "Jiuniang, are you doing okay in the Chores Hall?"

Hua Changxi smiled: "Uncle Xu, I'm doing great."

Seeing that Hua Changxi's complexion was rosy and she showed no signs of exhaustion or haggardness, Pharmacist Xu felt much relieved.

Hua Changxi: "Uncle Xu, what business do you have with me?"

Pharmacist Xu: "Last night, your sixth brother came to my house and asked me to tell you that on the twentieth of October, your fifth sister is getting married, and you should go back to see her off."

The smile on Hua Changxi's face froze: "Fifth Sister is getting married so soon?"

Pharmacist Xu knew about Fifth Sister becoming a concubine and didn't feel comfortable saying much about it. He took a porcelain bottle from his bosom and pressed it into Hua Changxi's hand: "These are the body-strengthening pills I usually make. The work in the Chores Hall is heavy, and you're still growing. Take one pill every day and take good care of yourself."

Hua Changxi clutched the porcelain bottle, moved: "Thank you, Uncle Xu. I will take good care of myself."

Pharmacist Xu: "I have things to do, so I'll be off. Remember, if you run into trouble, be sure to come find me on Ninth Street."

Hua Changxi nodded: "I will. Take care, Uncle Xu."

She watched Pharmacist Xu leave, and only after his figure disappeared did Hua Changxi turn around and go back into the Sixth Bureau courtyard.

On the way back to her dormitory, she noticed many people looking at her.

Hua Changxi understood this very well. Pharmacist Xu's appearance today confirmed that she indeed had a backing in the Medical Department. With this connection, she would have fewer troubles in the future.

Lu Qingluo was very puzzled: "Since Hua Changxi knows the pharmacist from Ninth Street, why would she come to work as a servant in the Miscellaneous Servant Hall?"

Wang Yunchu snorted: "What else could it be? Either Hua Changxi's relationship with that pharmacist isn't that good, or that pharmacist doesn't have much say in the Medical Department."

Because of the matter that Hua Wuniang would be carried into the marquis's mansion as a concubine in a few days, Hua Changxi's joy over breaking through 1,000 realm points had faded.

No matter what, they were sisters after all—she had to go back and see her off.

When evening came and Du Ruo had finished her work, Hua Changxi went over to her: "Manager Du, I've been at the Miscellaneous Servant Hall for almost a month now. I'd like to take a day off on October 20th to go home."

Du Ruo shook her head: "October 20th won't work. Our group has no special restrictions on taking one day off per month, but only one person can take leave per day. Usually, whoever has something to do takes that day off."

"Shiyu reported to me a few days ago that she has business to attend to at home on the 20th. To avoid delaying the work, you'll have to choose another day."

Hua Changxi grew anxious when she heard this: "Is it possible to swap? On the 20th, my elder sister is getting married, and I need to see her off."

Du Ruo said: "You'll have to discuss that with Shiyu yourself."

Hua Changxi: "Alright, I'll go find Sister Shi right now."

Shiyu, Lu Qingluo, and the others were still washing medicinal herbs. When they saw Hua Changxi coming over, they were all somewhat surprised.

Hua Changxi walked up to Shiyu: "Sister Shi, could I trouble you for a moment? I'd like to talk to you about something."

Shiyu straightened up and asked curiously: "What do you want to talk to me about?"

Hua Changxi: "I want to take leave on the 20th, and I'd like to swap with you."

Shiyu shook her head directly: "No, I have things to do on the 20th."

Hua Changxi: "...I'm not asking for a free swap. If you agree to swap with me, I'll wash medicinal herbs for you for one day. That way, plus your monthly leave, you can have two consecutive days off. How about it?"

Shiyu was tempted and wanted to agree immediately, but after seeing the look the woman beside her gave her, she thought it over and raised the price: "One day won't do. You'll have to wash medicinal herbs for me for two days."

Hua Changxi was silent for a moment, then agreed: "Alright, I'll wash medicinal herbs for you for two days. Then it's settled—on the 20th, I'll take the leave instead."

Shiyu agreed with a smile. With Hua Changxi washing herbs for her for two days plus her own one day of monthly leave, she would be able to go home and rest for three days this month.

After Hua Changxi left, Shiyu was still happy about getting two extra days off this month, but at that moment, the women from her group, surnamed Lin and Zhao, felt sorry for her.

Sister Lin: "Shiyu, you're too honest."

Aunt Zhao: "Exactly. Hua Changxi washes medicinal herbs so fast, and since she's asking you for a favor, why did you only ask her to wash herbs for two days?"

Shiyu was taken aback: "Two days isn't enough?"

Aunt Zhao snorted: "If I were you, I'd definitely make Hua Changxi wash herbs for me for three days."

Sister Lin: "Three days? You're underestimating Hua Changxi's ability. If you ask me, you should at least have her wash herbs for five days."

"Five days!"

Shiyu exclaimed: "Isn't that too much?"

Aunt Zhao: "For someone else, it might be a bit much, but Hua Changxi can wash 500 herbs in half a day. Five days' worth of herbs is only 2,500 plants. She could finish that in two and a half days. It's nothing to her."

"This..."

Shiyu hesitated, but she was also tempted.

Wang Yunchu, Lu Qingluo, and the other young women nearby silently listened to the three of them talking and exchanged a wordless glance.

When they saw Shiyu actually leave the ditch and head to the backyard to find Hua Changxi, Wang Yunchu muttered quietly: "Talk about pushing it. Do you think Hua Changxi will agree?"

Lu Qingluo: "...She probably will. Just now, Changxi really seemed anxious. She must have something very important to do on the 20th."

Wang Yunchu shook her head: "I think Hua Changxi won't agree."

In the dormitory, Hua Changxi was looking at the strength and health pills Pharmacist Xu had given her.

The small porcelain bottle, half a palm high, contained ten pills. Hua Changxi poured one out, put it in her mouth to taste, and quickly identified which ingredients were used.

The pills had the effects of supplementing qi and nourishing blood, as well as strengthening the foundation and supporting the origin. Moreover, several medicinal herbs used by martial artists were included, making the effects more pronounced.

If such pills were sold on the market, each could go for at least five taels of silver.

With a single gesture worth fifty taels of silver, Hua Changxi was moved by how much Pharmacist Xu cared for her.

Speaking of it, the reason she and Pharmacist Xu had come to know each other was thanks to her knowledge of Western medicine from her previous life.

During a chance consultation, Hua Changxi was explaining Western medical theories to the physician in charge of the Hua family pharmacy when she was overheard by Xu Yaoshi, who had come to buy medicine.

Some of the Western medical theories were refreshing to Xu Yaoshi, which led him to frequently visit the Hua family pharmacy to discuss medical techniques with Hua Changxi.

As they interacted back and forth, their relationship improved.

Hua Changxi carefully put away the medicine bottle. Wuniang was getting married, and as her younger sister, she ought to give her a gift, but she had no silver—her monthly wages as a handmaiden wouldn't be paid until the end of October.

This bottle of body-strengthening pills that Xu Yaoshi had sent came just in time; it could be given to Wuniang as a gift.

"Changxi..."

Shiyu walked into the room.

Hua Changxi looked up at her: "Sister Shi, is something the matter?"

Shiyu said with a smile, "Changxi, I've been thinking. I have something very important to do when I go home on the twentieth. If it gets delayed, it'll take at least five days to set it up again. So if you want to swap our days off with me, you'll have to help me wash medicinal herbs for five days."

Seeing Hua Changxi staring at her expressionlessly, Shiyu quickly added, "I know my request is a bit excessive, but washing 2,500 medicinal herbs isn't that hard for you..."

Hua Changxi was angered into a laugh by Shiyu's relentless demands: "Sister Shi, I'll need to think about this. Once I've made my decision, I'll come and tell you."

Seeing that Hua Changxi hadn't agreed outright, Shiyu felt a little uneasy: "Alright, I'll go get back to work then."

As soon as she left, Hua Changxi went out to find Duruo: "Manager Du, if I get up early on the twentieth to wash the herbs, can I go home after I finish washing them?"

Duruo was surprised: "Shiyu isn't willing to swap days off with you?"

Hua Changxi smiled: "Sister Shi wants me to wash herbs for five days before she'll swap with me."

Upon hearing this, Duruo frowned and thought for a moment: "The storeroom opens at six o'clock each morning. After you collect the herbs and wash them clean, will you still have time to go home?"

Hua Changxi nodded: "I can manage."

Hearing this, Duruo said no more: "Alright. On the twentieth, as long as you finish your tasks for the day, you can go home."

Hua Changxi smiled: "Thank you, Manager Du."

After leaving Manager Du's quarters, Hua Changxi went to the ditch area and said to Shiyu, "Sister Shi, I've made up my mind—I won't swap days off with you." With that, she left without looking back.

Shiyu was dumbfounded. She looked at Sister Lin and Aunt Zhao in confusion: "Why did she change her mind?"

Sister Lin and Aunt Zhao exchanged a glance but said nothing.

Wang Yunchu chuckled softly: "I told you so. Hua Changxi is not someone to mess with—how could she possibly agree to such an unreasonable condition from Sister Shi?"