[{"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-43":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},151729,261,"Chapter 43: Atavism","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-43",43,"\u003Cp>Hua Changxi had quite a few pills, but selling them to an apothecary would likely result in low prices and might attract unwanted attention. She didn’t know any intermediaries, so after much hesitation, she went to find Pharmacist Xu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pharmacist Xu also ran an apothecary—well, to be more precise, most of the pharmacists and physicians in the Medical Bureau had their own apothecaries outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On ordinary days, these pharmacists and physicians worked their shifts at the Medical Bureau, while their apothecaries were either managed by family members or left in the care of assistants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Common folk valued their reputations and medical skills, so they would visit their apothecaries to buy medicine or see a doctor, and these apothecaries did much better business than ordinary ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi arrived at Xu’s Apothecary and found that Pharmacist Xu wasn't there; only an assistant was watching the shop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Wu Shuang, happy New Year. Is Uncle Xu here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Pharmacist Xu was not on duty, he usually saw patients at the apothecary, so Hua Changxi was a bit surprised not to see him there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assistant Wu Shuang smiled and said, “Ninth Lady, happy New Year. The owner is in the back courtyard.” He lowered his voice, “A-Ling is sick; the owner is taking care of her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing this, Hua Changxi quickly asked, “Is A-Ling seriously ill?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Ling was Pharmacist Xu’s daughter. His wife had passed away not long after giving birth to Xu Ling, and the father and daughter had depended on each other all these years. Hua Changxi knew how much Pharmacist Xu valued Xu Ling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Shuang scratched his head: “I don’t know how serious it is. A-Ling has no other problem except she’s always sleepy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi: “What kind of sleepiness?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Shuang knew that Pharmacist Xu treated Hua Changxi like a family junior, so he didn’t hide anything: “At first, A-Ling just woke up late in the morning. Later, she would sleep until the afternoon before waking up. But now, she only wakes up for a little while at night, and sleeps the rest of the time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi frowned deeply: “How long has this been going on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Shuang thought for a moment: “It started last October. After the snow began falling in the capital, A-Ling became more and more lethargic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Wu Shuang, I’ll go to the back courtyard to see A-Ling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi had been to Xu’s Apothecary before and could go to the back courtyard without being announced, so Wu Shuang didn’t stop her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Xu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi entered the back courtyard. Not seeing Pharmacist Xu in the main hall, she went straight to the east wing, the room where Xu Ling lived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The east wing of Pharmacist Xu’s house had a layout of one clear room and two dark rooms; the middle was the sitting room, and the two ends were the study and the bedroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wing room door was open. Hua Changxi called out to Pharmacist Xu as she walked into the sitting room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pharmacist Xu, who was sitting by Xu Ling’s bed, was clearly startled by the sound. Then, to Hua Changxi’s astonishment, Pharmacist Xu rushed out of the bedroom, pushed her straight out of the sitting room, and quickly closed the wing room door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi stared at Pharmacist Xu in shock, extremely puzzled by his behavior just now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pharmacist Xu’s action had been instinctive. Faced with Hua Changxi’s questioning gaze, he knew he had overreacted, but didn’t know how to explain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After her initial surprise, Hua Changxi tentatively said, “Uncle Xu, what exactly is wrong with A-Ling?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was only one possible reason for Pharmacist Xu’s reaction just now: he was afraid of someone seeing Xu Ling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Pharmacist Xu remained silent, Hua Changxi added, “Uncle Xu, one person’s idea is short, two people’s ideas are long. Even if I can’t help you much, if you tell me about A-Ling’s condition, maybe I can offer some diagnostic insights?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pharmacist Xu looked at Hua Changxi. Over the past few years, Ninth Lady and he had interacted quite a lot, and A-Ling had also grown familiar with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still trusted Hua Changxi’s character. After hesitating for a moment, he turned around and opened the wing room door: “Come in with me and see A-Ling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi followed Pharmacist Xu into Xu Ling’s bedroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Ling slept peacefully, her complexion serene, except… both her cheeks were covered with silvery-white patterns that shimmered with a faint glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi’s pupils contracted. She quickly walked to the bedside and carefully examined the patterns on Xu Ling’s face: “These patterns… they look a bit like snake scales. What do you think, Uncle Xu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pharmacist Xu was surprised that she was so close and analyzing so seriously: “Aren’t you afraid?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi was taken aback. She really wasn’t very afraid; in fact, she felt vaguely excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the day she had been able to cultivate, she had known that this was a fantastical world. She just always felt that the fantastical side was rather far from ordinary people and required her to strive to explore it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had never expected to encounter something extraordinary and bizarre so soon, and right within her own circle of life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was excited—excited to have finally touched the fantastical side of this world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this thought could not be shared with outsiders. Therefore, Hua Changxi looked seriously at Pharmacist Xu: “Uncle Xu, the person lying there is A-Ling. What is there to be afraid of?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally having someone who could discuss his daughter’s problem with him, Pharmacist Xu couldn’t help saying, “You don’t understand. Two days ago, when I first saw the snake scales appear on A-Ling’s face, I was scared to death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi comforted him, “Uncle Xu, don’t be afraid. Even if A-Ling turns into a snake, she is still your daughter, isn’t she?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu the Pharmacist: \"...\" That was not comforting at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi grabbed Xu Ling’s hand and began to take her pulse. She was genuinely intensely curious about Xu Ling’s condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could snake-scale patterns appear on a person’s face?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Observation, Auscultation, Inquiry, and Palpation Technique (Beginner): Diagnosis 1\u002F10]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi let out a soft “Oh,” as new data appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu the Pharmacist saw this and quickly asked, “What is it? Have you found something wrong? I examined A-Ling’s body earlier and didn’t find any issues.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi quickly shook her head. The moment the data appeared, a warm current rushed straight to her eyes. After a wave of warmth, she discovered that her eyes could now see things in even finer detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, right now she could see that the glow of the snake scales on Xu Ling’s face was rising and falling in sync with her breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi stood up again and carefully examined Xu Ling’s body, finding that snake-scale patterns had also emerged on her hands and feet, and the light on those patterns also changed with her breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching this, Hua Changxi, for some reason, suddenly thought of the bird breathing and exhaling diagram that appeared in her mind when she cultivated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she cultivated, she could clearly sense that every pore on her body was breathing and exhaling along with her breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How similar this was to Xu Ling’s current situation!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi suddenly felt a lingering fear. She had always cultivated alone and had never seen what she looked like while cultivating. Could it be that she, like Xu Ling, grew bird feathers on her body while cultivating?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, no, no!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi immediately dismissed the thought. She cultivated in the servant dormitory; if there had really been something wrong with her, her roommates would have made a fuss long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So her situation was different from Xu Ling’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but still looked at Xu Ling with confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this Xu Ling... cultivating?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking that her own ability to cultivate was entirely thanks to that demonic priest, Hua Changxi quickly asked Xu the Pharmacist, “Uncle Xu, before A-Ling became so sleepy, did she ever go out or come into contact with any unusual people?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu the Pharmacist shook his head: “A-Ling stays in the pharmacy all day. The people she meets are either patients or those picking up medicine. There’s no one unusual.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi couldn’t figure it out. If she never went out and never met any unusual people, then how could such a strange thing happen to Xu Ling? Could it have been triggered on its own?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Triggered on its own?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at the snake scales on Xu Ling’s face. A flash of inspiration struck her mind, and she recalled a type of spiritual plant recorded in the *Annotated Classic of Herbal Medicine*, called the Atavistic Fruit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Atavistic...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, Hua Changxi thought of that household story and looked at Xu the Pharmacist curiously: “Uncle Xu, is A-Ling’s mother’s surname Bai?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu the Pharmacist didn’t understand why Hua Changxi suddenly brought up his deceased wife, but still said, “A-Ling’s mother’s surname is Zhou. However, there was an ancestor on my Xu family side with the surname Bai.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Changxi immediately clapped her hands together and said excitedly, “Uncle Xu, have you heard the story of the Legend of the White Snake?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course Xu the Pharmacist had heard of the Legend of the White Snake. He asked doubtfully, “Yes, I’ve heard it. What about it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi was a bit agitated: “Uncle Xu, the man whom the White Snake Lady repaid her kindness to was surnamed Xu—exactly the same Xu as you, Uncle Xu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu the Pharmacist’s face darkened: “What exactly are you trying to say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi’s eyes lit up: “Uncle Xu, A-Ling is so lethargic. Don’t you think it resembles a snake hibernating?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu the Pharmacist’s face turned completely black: “Hua Jiu-niang, if you keep talking nonsense, I’ll throw you out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Xu the Pharmacist was angry, Hua Changxi had to suppress her excitement: “I’m just giving you a possible line of thought, Uncle Xu. Think about it, isn’t my reasoning fairly sound?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sound my ass!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu the Pharmacist was so angry he swore outright: “So you mean to say that my Xu family’s ancestor was a snake, and we’re all descendants of snakes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi: “Don’t be mad, okay? What I said does have a basis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu the Pharmacist was so furious his chest heaved. This Hua Jiu-niang had even revoked their family’s human status, and she still wanted him not to be angry? It infuriated him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hua Jiu-niang, you’d better explain yourself clearly. If you can’t, I’ll break off our friendship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi: “Uncle Xu, have you heard of a fruit called the Atavistic Fruit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Pharmacist snorted coldly: \"I've never heard of that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi said seriously: \"But I've heard of it. They say that after eating this Atavism Fruit, one's bloodline can revert to its ancestral state—it's the most coveted spiritual fruit for the demon race.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Pharmacist laughed in exasperation: \"Now you're bringing in the demon race? Madam Hua, you've read too many storybooks and ruined your brain!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi, unaffected by Xu Pharmacist's mood, continued: \"Humans can also undergo atavism. It's said that in ancient times, humans were blessed by the gods, and back then people all had divine power within them. After atavism, humans can regain that divine power.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Pharmacist couldn't be bothered to listen anymore and directly pushed Hua Changxi out of the room: \"Go back to where you came from. You're not welcome here. Go tell your stories somewhere else.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi hadn't expected Xu Pharmacist to believe her anyway. She looked at him seriously: \"Uncle Xu, Ah Ling should be fine. Don't let anyone else know about her condition. Monk demons and Daoist demons would be most interested in someone like her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Pharmacist said impatiently: \"Just leave!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi didn't say anything more. After reminding Xu Pharmacist a few more times, she left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once she was gone, Xu Pharmacist stood in the courtyard in silence for a while, then returned to the room. He gazed at his daughter for a long time before finally entering the ancestral hall of the Xu family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staring at the Bai family ancestral tablet at the top of the altar, Xu Pharmacist's expression was extremely complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The legend of the White Snake was quite widespread in the Great Jin Dynasty. To avoid being ridiculed, Xu Pharmacist had never taken the initiative to tell anyone that his family really did have a Bai ancestor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Hua Changxi's words had stirred up waves in Xu Pharmacist's heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason he was affected was not only because of the White Snake story, but also because of some things that had happened in the Medical Department over the past two years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary people only knew the Medical Department was a government office, but not many knew it was under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Department, with authority equal to the Six Ministries, was directly led by the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Department had three main divisions. The Medical Department was one of them, another was the Martial Academy, and the third division was rarely known to people—that was the mysterious Demon Suppression Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What demons?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demons and monsters, of course!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the past two years, the workload of the Medical Department had grown heavier and heavier. The pharmacists and physicians of the Nine Streets were required to submit more and more pills. Where did all those submitted pills go?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small portion was distributed to the Martial Academy, but the majority was sent to the Demon Suppression Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging from the amount of pills consumed, the number of casualties in the Demon Suppression Department had increased significantly over the past two years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he had never seen a demon with his own eyes, he could sense that the Demon Suppression Department's opponents were quite formidable—otherwise, they wouldn't need such a large quantity of medicine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If there really are demons in this world...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Pharmacist thought of Xu Ling's condition. At this moment, he himself was uncertain whether he was even human. Could it be that the Xu descendants really were the offspring of snakes?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving Xu's Pharmacy, Hua Changxi's mood was far from calm. There was both excitement at a new world opening up to her and a solemn awareness of an approaching crisis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her social circle, someone like Xu Ling had appeared. What about the others?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If more and more people like Xu Ling emerged, over time, could this world still remain peaceful?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sense of crisis surged in Hua Changxi's heart. She had to speed up her cultivation advancement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since she had obtained the opportunity to cultivate, she no longer wanted to be just a passive wave drifting with the current when the tides of the era surged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unable to have Xu Pharmacist help her sell the pills on hand, Hua Changxi thought of Yu Kuai. Yu Kuai wouldn't be able to use all the pills from his share; the rest would definitely be sold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Backed by Yu Gonggong, he should have channels for selling pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, she didn't know where Yu Kuai lived. She would have to find him when she returned to the Servants' Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi didn't loiter on the streets and went straight back to the Hua residence. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw many gifts laid out there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ninth girl is back! Come over quick and see if there's anything you like.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Dalang saw Hua Changxi and immediately waved with a smile, beckoning her over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Madam Hua had been happily going through the gifts Hua Dalang had brought back from outside. When she saw him calling Hua Changxi over, her smile faded. However, she didn't voice any objection in the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi walked over and asked, \"Big brother, who gave all these?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Madam Hua immediately showed off: \"The Earl's residence and the senior clan elder regard your big brother as a sixth-rank martial artist, so they specially bestowed this many things on him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmph, you, his own sister, are not as generous as outsiders.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi ignored Old Madam Hua, glanced at the cloth and jewelry in the courtyard without much interest, and said, \"I'm going back to my room to rest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What kind of attitude is that!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Madam Hua was furious. The Earl's Mansion thought highly of Eldest Brother, and everyone in the family was happy for him—except this Ninth Girl, who hadn't offered a single word of congratulations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Dalang merely thought that Hua Changxi was still upset about New Year's Eve. He casually picked out a few bolts of cloth and pieces of jewelry that a young lady might like, then went to find Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning to her room, Hua Changxi had just put away the unsold pills when she saw Hua Dalang walk in. She immediately said, displeased, \"Elder Brother, from now on, when you come into my room, remember to knock.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Dalang smiled dismissively. \"What, are you really going to become estranged from your elder brother?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi said, \"It's not about estrangement. It's that we need to have boundaries. I'm a grown young lady now. I have my privacy. If you want to enter my room, you have to ask for my permission beforehand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Dalang replied, \"Fine, fine, fine. I'll knock next time, alright?\" As he spoke, he put down the cloth and jewelry he was carrying. \"These are all things your big brother picked out for you. See if you like them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Hua Dalang was trying to mend their relationship, Hua Changxi didn't want to refuse him outright. She glanced over the cloth and jewelry and said reluctantly, \"They're okay, I guess.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Dalang chuckled. \"Since you joined the Medical Bureau, your tastes have gotten more refined. Our family couldn't afford materials like these for jewelry before.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at him. \"Elder Brother, it's not that my tastes have gotten more refined since joining the Medical Bureau. It's that I believe I deserve better.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Dalang knew his sister had always liked to spout crooked reasoning and didn't want to argue with her. He smiled and asked, \"Ninth Girl, is life hard in the Chores Hall?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at Hua Dalang suspiciously, now that he was suddenly showing concern for her. \"It's fine. I can handle it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Hua Dalang's face showed disapproval. \"Ninth Girl, come home. Soon enough, your big brother will be able to get an official post. I can't bear to see my own little sister working as a servant.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Changxi couldn't be bothered to consider whether Hua Dalang meant well. She said directly, \"Elder Brother, I am not coming home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Medical Bureau, even though she was just a chore servant, she was still participating in social production and entering the social sphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was the point of going home? To go back to being an appendage of the family?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Dalang frowned and said patiently, \"Big brother knows you don't want to stay cooped up at home all day. I've already talked it over with Grandmother. After you leave the Medical Bureau, the pill refining for our family's pharmacy will be put under your charge...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Changxi completely understood what Hua Dalang was up to. She sneered, \"Elder Brother, you don't need to say any more. No matter how hard or tiring the Chores Hall is, I'm willing to endure it. I'm not coming back to work for the family.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Chores Hall, everything she obtained belonged to her personally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she worked at the Hua family pharmacy, everything she did would belong to the Hua family. She would produce value but then have to wait for the family to distribute it. She'd have to be crazy to come back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Dalang grew a bit angry. \"Ninth Girl, your temperament really gives people a headache.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi sneered, \"Yes, I'm nothing like Fifth Sister. A young lady like Fifth Sister is the kind you all like. And because of your liking, she became someone else's concubine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Hua Dalang glare at her, Hua Changxi glared right back. \"Elder Brother, now that I've already walked out of this house, there's no reason for me to come back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Dalang shot to his feet and said coldly, \"Grandmother was right. You really do have a naturally rebellious bone—ungovernable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi shrugged and spread her hands. \"That's just how I am.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",3439,"2026-05-29T04:10:26.746Z","2026-06-01T04:29:08.487Z",1,"deepseek-v4-flash","74c572785320d6cf1d6a0c510ede002d18fe864a3a2ed08f1a80a34a3c84e4f2","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-44","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-42",547,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-cover.jpg"]