[{"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-349":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},152035,261,"Chapter 349: Probing","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-349",349,"\u003Cp>In the main hall of a guest courtyard within the Dingyuan Earl's Manor, Old Master Hua sat with brows tightly knit, lost in thought; Old Madam Hua heaved sighs; the rest of the Hua family were either anxious and gloomy, or restless and on the verge of speaking but holding back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle Hua was the first to lose his patience: \"It's almost the fifth month now—no matter how serious Ninth Girl's injuries were, she should have recovered by now, shouldn't she?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Minghe frowned: \"Second Brother, what do you mean by that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle Hua looked at him and said bluntly, \"Big Brother, I've wanted to say this for a long time. Ever since Ninth Girl started cultivating, she's been unbearably arrogant, growing more distant from the family, as if she's afraid we'd hold her back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know we've all benefited from her to some extent, and I thank her for that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But she's brought no shortage of trouble to this family either.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won't even mention the time the Danyuan Secret Realm recruited disciples—just this time, she offended the Liangguo Duke's Estate. She's fine, hiding away on Danyuan Peak without showing her face, while we have to bear all the trouble she caused.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When these words came out, both Hua Minghe and Yao Shi changed color. Before they could say anything, Old Master Hua slammed the table with a bang and glared at Second Uncle Hua: \"You're regressing the older you get. Let me ask you—what exactly have you helped bear?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle Hua opened his mouth: \"I... we became the punching bags for the Liangguo Duke's Estate in Ninth Girl's place. If we hadn't been quick-witted enough to dodge the direct attacks from the cultivators the Liangguo Duke's Estate sent, Father, you might have had to see your children die before you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ptoo, ptoo, ptoo~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Madam Hua quickly stopped him: \"Can't you watch your words?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle Hua: \"What's there to be careful about? With Ninth Girl's talent for causing trouble, I think it's only a matter of time before someone in our family meets that end.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him getting more and more worked up, Old Madam Hua sharply said, \"Shut your mouth, damn it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua also gave him a cold look and said in a deep voice, \"Second, if you're afraid of dying, you might as well stop being a cultivator.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle Hua choked. He didn't quite understand why the old master was taking Ninth Girl's side this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua wasn't exactly favoring his ninth granddaughter, but he could see things clearly. This time, when Ninth Girl confronted the Liangguo Duke's Estate, she wasn't completely at a disadvantage, nor had she lost everyone's goodwill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the earl's manor still treated their family with courtesy, and even the Wuyi Marquis's Mansion regularly sent people to visit them, always bringing things from Fifth Girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apart from not being able to leave the earl's manor, their life wasn't as hard as they imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, the Liangguo Duke's Estate didn't seem intent on killing the Hua family outright. Although his three sons and their wives had all been attacked, their injuries weren't too serious. After recuperating for a month or two, they had all recovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He vaguely sensed that the Liangguo Duke's Estate had some reservations about the Hua family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua sighed inwardly—his ninth granddaughter had already grown to the point where she could intimidate a duke's estate!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grandfather, Grandmother, Father, Mother~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Hua Dalang and Hua Liulang entered together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his two grandsons, who had already become capable in their own right, Old Master Hua's tightly knit brows relaxed a little. He asked with concern, \"You two go to the earl's manor every day—haven't the Liangguo Duke's Estate people given you a hard time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Dalang reassured the old master: \"Grandfather, rest assured. Though the Liangguo Duke's Estate has great influence, it's nothing compared to the Demon-Suppression Army and the Artifact Saint Palace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he was now a Captain of a Thousand in the Demon-Suppression Army. Though not a high-ranking officer, if anyone wanted to move against him, they'd have to ask the Demon-Suppression Army first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Hua Liulang, he was a Nascent Soul cultivator himself and a direct disciple of the Artifact Saint Palace. If the Liangguo Duke's Estate wanted to touch him, they'd have far more to weigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yao Shi looked at her eldest and youngest sons and asked urgently, \"Have you heard anything about Ninth Girl?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Liulang shook his head: \"I just went to Danyuan Peak to find Third Brother. He said Ninth Girl's bamboo hut hasn't shown any movement.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yao Shi became even more worried after hearing that: \"Ninth Girl must be badly injured.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Minghe held Yao Shi's hand, his eyes also full of worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This daughter, Ninth Girl, was too independent, too fond of shouldering things alone. Sometimes, even if the family wanted to help her, they had no idea where to start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Liulang took out a storage pouch and handed it to Old Master Hua: \"Grandfather, I drew a batch of spirit stones from the Artifact Saint Palace, and Third Brother also obtained some elixirs from Steward Yu Fu at Danyuan Peak. Find an opportunity to give these to the Earl.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua silently put away the storage pouch. The earl's manor had taken their whole family in—they couldn't give nothing in return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle Hua suddenly looked at Hua Liulang: \"Liulang, that Xuanhuang Fruit the Liangguo Duke's Estate wants—do you have one too?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, the room fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Liulang: \"...Mm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle Hua's eyes lit up. He quickly sat down beside Hua Liulang: \"Liulang, our family can't stay trapped in the earl's manor forever. Surely you can't bear to see Fourth Brother and the others never go out to train?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In Uncle's opinion, it'd be best for us to reconcile with the Liangguo Duke's Estate. How about... you give them the Xuanhuang Fruit they want, on behalf of Ninth Girl?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Hua Dalang frowned directly and instinctively wanted to defuse the situation for his younger brother, but swallowed the words before they left his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly wondered, what choice would Sixlang make? Would he value his family more, or would he value external things more?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Sixlang, on the other hand, thought of the nascent soul cultivator sent by the Liang State Duke Manor to spy outside the Dingyuan Earl Manor. As long as that cultivator was there, the moment any Hua family member left the earl manor, the Liang State Duke Manor would know immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people from the Liang State Duke Manor could not easily make a move inside the capital, but what about outside the capital? The Hua family couldn't stay inside the capital forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle is right, the matter of the Liang State Duke Manor really does need to be resolved as soon as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Hua Sixlang wasn't speaking, Hua Ershu thought he disagreed and couldn't help growing anxious: \"Sixlang, can you really bear to ignore your Fourth Brother and the others?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Sixlang looked at him, then glanced at the other Hua family members: \"If I gave the Liang State Duke Manor the Xuanhuang Fruit, even just one, once Jiuniang found out, I'm afraid she would never again acknowledge me as her Sixth Brother.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Ershu felt this was just an excuse from Hua Sixlang and shouted: \"How could that be? You helped Jiuniang; she would be grateful to you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Sixlang shook his head and said with a wry smile: \"Second Uncle, you don't understand Jiuniang at all.\" He paused, then continued, \"Second Uncle, regarding the matter between Jiuniang and the Liang State Duke, do you truly think Jiuniang was wrong to fight back?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Ershu fell silent. Only after a long pause did he mutter gruffly: \"The Liang State Duke Manor has great power and influence; we have no choice but to bow our heads.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The earl manor is willing to take in our family for now, but what about the future? Will the earl manor keep sheltering us forever?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if the earl manor is willing, our family can't take even a single step outside the manor. That's no different from being in prison.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You, and your eldest brother and third brother, all have good places to go and strong backers, so you're unaffected. But what about your fourth brother and the others? They can only be trapped in the earl manor, birds in a cage for the rest of their lives.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, neither Old Master Hua nor Old Madam Hua scolded Hua Ershu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Minghe and Yao also did not dare say much. After all, it was because of their Jiuniang that the whole family could not return home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not knowing how to respond to Hua Ershu, Hua Sixlang looked to Hua Dalang for help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Dalang looked at his sixth brother and somewhat understood why Jiuniang had a better relationship with him. His unwavering defense of Jiuniang was indeed something none of the other siblings could match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Second Uncle, rest assured. Our family won't be trapped in the earl manor forever.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main courtyard of the earl manor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing that Hua Dalang and Hua Sixlang had come to visit the Hua family again, the Hua heir directly ended his cultivation and went to Earl Hua's courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Father, nearly three months have passed, and Hua Changxi still hasn't appeared. Do you think she's gone into hiding, or is she really recuperating?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earl Hua hadn't expected Hua Changxi to stay absent for so long either: \"Hua Changxi is not one to flee before battle. The Liang State Duke is a Lingtai realm cultivator after all; he must have gravely wounded her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hua heir frowned: \"When cultivators go into seclusion, they can stay closed up for years or even decades. Do we have to keep supporting the Hua family all that time? And then there's the Liang State Duke Manor...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earl Hua cut him off: \"The Liang State Duke Manor is nothing to fear. Hua Dalang is a chiliarch of the Demon Suppression Army, and Hua Sixlang is a direct disciple of the Artifact Saint Palace. Both are highly valued.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for how the Liang State Duke Manor bullied the Hua family, I believe the Demon Suppression Army and the Artifact Saint Palace have both heard about it. Why do you think neither of them stepped in to stop it or mediate?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hua heir was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earl Hua sighed: \"Someone wants to test Hua Changxi's limits.\" He gave a contemptuous laugh. \"Good thing the Liang State Duke wasn't stupid enough to actually harm the Hua family. Otherwise, it would have been an irreconcilable war between the Liang State Duke Manor and Hua Changxi.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hua heir didn't understand: \"Is she really worth so much attention?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earl Hua looked at his son: \"Of course she is. Someone who can make the Xuan Mansion reappear is definitely carrying the great human race's fortune. As long as Hua Changxi doesn't die halfway, she will surely become a great power of humanity in the future.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Liang State Duke Manor doesn't dare to offend someone like that to the death.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Treat Hua Bin's family well. Don't forget, besides Hua Changxi, the Hua family also has Hua Changxin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1896,"2026-05-29T04:10:48.594Z","2026-06-01T04:29:08.487Z",1,"deepseek-v4-flash","75f693ac7fff266e73c7458a96b94260eb91e051842e7c4903929625a1cfd6ce","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-350","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-348",547,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-cover.jpg"]