[{"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-47":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},151733,261,"Chapter 47: Owning a House","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-47",47,"\u003Cp>The people from Trident Herb Manor came looking for trouble at the storehouse, but it was Hua Changxi who became famous—this female laborer once again became the topic of everyone's discussion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the earlier rumors and gossip, this time the focus of discussion was no longer whether Hua Changxi and Yu Gui had some improper relationship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no helping it—Yu Gui couldn't handle the people from Herb Manor, but Hua Changxi forced them to apologize, and everyone was very curious about what she had actually done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was Hua Changxi a martial artist? How high was her martial cultivation? Hua Changxi was only thirteen or fourteen, still a young maiden—how did she train in martial arts? Who was her master?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These became the questions everyone cared about most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strength, after all, is the foundation of one's standing. Because of this incident, the people in the Laborer Hall no longer thought Hua Changxi was someone dependent on Yu Gui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And because it involved the people from Herb Manor, Steward Yu and many of the overseers in the Laborer Hall also took note of this matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steward Yu knew that Hua Changxi had dismissed Mao Yong and the others with just a few words, and his expression was not pleasant. What he needed was a laborer who would help him refine medicine, earn him silver, and do his bidding—not a collaborator who could stand on equal footing with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steward Bao of the First Division, due to Hua Changxi's exceptional processing skills, had taken some notice of her, and thus he also heard about this matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So she's a martial artist. No wonder she has that much confidence!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Next time I borrow her to help, it seems I'll have to give her a bit more face.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Little Luzi and Manager Leng heard about this, their expressions, like Steward Yu's, were not very good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no helping it—when subordinates were too capable, it was detrimental to management, and moreover, Hua Changxi had already shown signs of being ungovernable in many aspects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They needed capable subordinates, but the prerequisite was that those subordinates had to be obedient. If they were disobedient, no matter how capable, they had to go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Luzi looked at Manager Leng: \"Didn't you say you arranged for someone to get close to Hua Changxi? How is it going?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Leng sighed: \"Hua Changxi's mouth is too sharp; it's hard to get close to her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Luzi was silent for a moment: \"Have your people keep a close watch on Hua Changxi. They must find out the exact relationship between her and Steward Yu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manager Leng was puzzled: \"Our Third Division and the storehouse have always kept to ourselves. If we investigate this, won't it offend Steward Yu?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Luzi gave a cold laugh: \"Hua Changxi is a laborer of the Laborer Hall. It is only natural for me to investigate her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yu Zhouquan has never lifted a finger without profit in sight, and he doesn't fancy women. Suddenly and frequently calling Hua Changxi to his Ninth Qihuang Hall—there must be something behind it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If Hua Changxi really has any abilities, she should first offer them to me. Instead, she went and curried favor with Yu Zhouquan—she simply doesn't have me in her eyes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since she's so capable, you go tell Du Ruo to assign her more tasks. She must be kept busy from morning till night.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Manager Leng laughed and agreed directly. She also didn't like subordinates who slipped out of her control. Let Steward Lu straighten Hua Changxi out—she must be made to know who was her boss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi had no idea that the Herb Manor people's disturbance would draw so much attention. After leaving the Medical Department, she went straight to a reputable real estate agency and asked where there were houses for sale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her goal was very clear—she wanted to buy a residence that had a shop in the front and a courtyard in the back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a residence was obviously not cheap, and no one would sell a good location. After looking at several shop-front properties, Hua Changxi finally spent nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine taels of silver to buy a residence in Feng'an Ward of the outer city that was relatively to her liking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had three shop-front rooms, a small courtyard at the back with three main rooms, two east and two west wing rooms, and a well in the yard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi was very satisfied with the layout, except that the location was a bit remote—in the very corner of the innermost street of Feng'an Ward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For doing business, this location would certainly not do, but Hua Changxi did not intend to simply be a retailer. Once she could mass-produce pills in the future, she wanted to be a wholesaler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sure enough, no matter where you are, buying a house empties your purse.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After buying the house, Hua Changxi had only a few dozen taels of silver left in her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although her purse was empty, thinking that she now owned a house in Great Jin, Hua Changxi was still happy. But that happiness lasted only until she returned to the Sixth Bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Manager Du, what do you mean by saying you're going to increase my workload starting tomorrow?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ruo looked at Hua Changxi: \"This is Steward Lu's order. Steward Lu does not like it when laborers under his command go around making trouble.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi laughed in anger: \"What trouble have I made?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ruo finally gave her a hint: \"Changxi, I know you are capable, but a person cannot be too arrogant and showy. Not everyone has the tolerance to accommodate talent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi frowned: \"What if I refuse to obey?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ruo looked at her: \"For Steward Lu to drive away a laborer is just a matter of a single word. If you don't want to stay in the Laborer Hall, you are free to disregard orders.\" With that, she turned and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Hua Changxi was very annoyed. With a long face, she returned to the backyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After she entered the Laborer Hall, aside from being proactive in matters related to approaching Yu Gui and Steward Yu, everything else had been purely passive counterattack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If trouble doesn't come to her, she won't go looking for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this counts as being high-profile and ostentatious?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or does being low-key and proper only mean passively enduring and swallowing your pride when trouble arises?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Changxi!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Hua Changxi was nearing the dormitory, Granny Sun from the canteen waved to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Granny Sun.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi walked over to Granny Sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Granny Sun smiled at her. \"Manager Qin made vinegar-braised spare ribs today and kept a few aside especially for you. Come, follow me to the back kitchen to eat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Granny Sun had a chronic heart condition, and after Hua Changxi cured her, she became especially kind to Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having been out running errands all day, Hua Changxi hadn't eaten yet, so she didn't refuse Granny Sun's kindness and followed her to the back kitchen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What happened to you? Why do you seem a bit upset?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi sighed and told her about Eunuch Lu wanting to assign her extra duties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Granny Sun, Manager Du said I'm too high-profile, but none of these incidents were started by me. She seems to think the only correct response when trouble comes is to swallow your pride.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Granny Sun laughed. \"Take Du Ruo's words with a grain of salt; don't take them seriously.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi had only wanted to vent and didn't expect a reply from Granny Sun, so she was quite startled and looked at her in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Granny Sun handed the ribs to Hua Changxi and said with a smile, \"Don't be fooled by Du Ruo being a manager. Deep down, she's just an errand runner and messenger, not someone with real power. She considers things only from her own perspective, thinking if she's done something wrong, all she needs to do is correct it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But the truth isn't like that at all. If those above you want to mess with you, everything you do is wrong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What you need to think about now is not what Du Ruo said, but why Eunuch Lu is doing this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi: \"So it's not because I've been too high-profile and ostentatious?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Granny Sun shook her head with a rueful smile. \"That's just Du Ruo's opinion. What does it matter to Eunuch Lu whether you're high-profile or ostentatious?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi: \"Maybe he just can't stand someone like me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Granny Sun: \"Maybe. But Eunuch Lu is in charge of several hundred people and also has to attend to Eunuch Jia. Why would he take notice of a lowly handyman like you, and go to the trouble of dealing with you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A person's time is limited; they only pay attention to what matters to them. If Eunuch Lu wants to deal with you, it must be because you've touched on something he cares about.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Granny Sun's words, Hua Changxi felt as if a fog had lifted. She had been influenced by Du Ruo and hadn't thought of this angle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's right. Those above wouldn't be so idle as to specially come looking for trouble with a small fry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But how had she offended Eunuch Lu?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because she earned ten taels of silver at the First Bureau and didn't offer him a tribute?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, that can't be it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were for that reason, he would have made a move when work resumed after the new year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Hua Changxi deep in thought, Granny Sun added another reminder. \"The Medical Department is a government office. In an office, the most taboo thing is to have your heart elsewhere while your body is here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Changxi suddenly understood. \"Because of Eunuch Yu?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Granny Sun smiled. \"A while back, word was spreading among the servants that you had gone over to Eunuch Yu. I heard about it, and I'm sure Eunuch Lu has heard too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Although all the eunuchs came out from the palace, who really knows what their relationships are like?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at Granny Sun. \"Granny, thank you. I think I know the reason now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Granny Sun beamed. \"As long as you find the crux of the matter, everything becomes easier.\" With that, she pushed the ribs closer to Hua Changxi. \"Eat quickly, they're getting cold.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While gnawing on a rib, Hua Changxi looked at Granny Sun. \"Granny, where did you work before?\" A kitchen old woman wouldn't have such insight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Granny Sun smiled faintly. \"The past is done. Me? I'm just a old woman who keeps an eye on the kitchen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Granny Sun didn't want to say more, Hua Changxi didn't press further. After eating, she went back to her room, retrieved a bottle of Strength Pills, and handed them to Granny Sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Granny, thank you for your guidance. These are pills I refined myself—they strengthen the body.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Granny Sun didn't refuse and accepted the pills with a smile. \"Changxi, if you want to realize your ambitions in medicine, staying in the Medical Department is the best choice. When you encounter problems, don't meet force with force. The most important thing is to develop yourself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi was momentarily stunned, feeling that Granny Sun's words carried a hidden meaning. She wanted to ask for clarification, but Granny Sun waved her hand, urging her to go back and rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With no other choice, Hua Changxi had to return to her sleeping quarters. After arriving, she didn't immediately start cultivating but instead thought about how to resolve the issue of Eunuch Lu increasing her workload.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had already absorbed and refined the low-grade Yuanling Pills. To raise her cultivation now, she would have to rely on spending time cultivating herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time, for her, was undoubtedly precious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Lu was targeting her mostly because she had been going to the Qi Huang Hall too often, and he suspected she had defected to Eunuch Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, she spent too long lingering at the Qi Huang Hall. Eunuch Lu probably guessed she was helping Eunuch Yu with something, but for now, he likely couldn't figure out exactly what she was doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had approached Eunuch Yu in the first place because he could provide discarded medicinal herbs, making their cooperation possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's eyes flickered. Since Eunuch Yu, as the keeper of the storeroom, had the authority to repurpose discarded medicinal herbs, could Eunuch Lu, as the head steward of the Third Office, also have similar privileges?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Eunuch Lu could also supply medicinal herbs, then she could cooperate with him too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once this realization struck, the worry on Hua Changxi's face dissipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Partners—one shouldn't have just one; the more, the better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could sense that Eunuch Yu had always been dissatisfied with her taking a forty-percent cut. And she truly shouldn't have put all her eggs in one basket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a solution in hand, Hua Changxi's mind calmed, and she began to focus on her cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, after breakfast, Hua Changxi didn't go to claim her chores but instead went directly to see Eunuch Lu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the head steward of the Third Office, Eunuch Lu lived in his own small courtyard. When Hua Changxi arrived, Steward Leng was attending to Eunuch Lu as he ate breakfast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Hua Changxi, Eunuch Lu was somewhat surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steward Leng, on the other hand, was very angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone from the lower ranks who wanted to see Eunuch Lu had to inform her first, obtain her consent, and then she would bring them to meet Eunuch Lu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone like Hua Changxi, who came straight to see Eunuch Lu, was simply lacking in manners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Steward Leng was about to scold Hua Changxi, Hua Changxi spoke first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eunuch Lu, I'm here to report to you what I've been doing for Eunuch Yu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi knew that when speaking with a superior, it was best to get straight to the point and hit what mattered to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, upon hearing this, Eunuch Lu finally looked up at Hua Changxi, though his tone wasn't very pleasant: \"So you still remember to come and report to me, huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi certainly wasn't going to admit she was wrong: \"I didn't come before, not because I didn't want to, but because you, sir, are so busy that I couldn't get an audience.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Lu gave a scoffing laugh and didn't want to dwell on the matter: \"Go ahead, I'm listening.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi didn't answer right away but instead glanced at Steward Leng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Steward Leng's face immediately turned cold, and she sneered, \"Oh? Is there something I can't hear?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Lu gave her a look and waved for Steward Leng to step out first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steward Leng shot a glare at Hua Changxi and left, flicking her handkerchief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once she was gone, Eunuch Lu looked at Hua Changxi: \"You can speak now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi: \"I've been helping Eunuch Yu concoct medicine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Lu's eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't show much reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi continued: \"I take a fifty-percent cut, and in three months, I saved enough money to buy a house in the outer city.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Eunuch Lu finally couldn't stay composed: \"How much silver have you saved?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi held up a 'one' finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Lu's breathing quickened. He knew the property prices in the capital—three months to save ten thousand taels...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew it—without enough profit, why would Yu Zhouquan have given a female menial worker special treatment?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi didn't want to passively wait for Eunuch Lu to make arrangements, so she took the initiative: \"Steward, if you can supply medicinal herbs, we could also cooperate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Lu didn't agree immediately. Instead, he studied Hua Changxi and said, \"You've got quite the nerve. This is the reason you entered the Menial Workers' Hall, isn't it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, training an apothecary wasn't easy. Besides having a master, one also needed enough medicinal herbs to practice on—ordinary families simply couldn't afford it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in the Medical Department, even if one entered the Miscellaneous Servants Hall, they could still access enough medicinal materials. With a bit of wits, they might even get free herbs to practice on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi did not deny it, only saying: \"Eunuch, the Medical Department is a sacred place that all healers aspire to. Naturally, I am no exception.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Lu was silent for a moment. \"Twenty percent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi feigned ignorance: \"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Lu: \"I can provide you with medicinal materials, but you can only take twenty percent of the profit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi frowned: \"Eunuch Yu gave me fifty percent of the profit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Lu let out a scoff: \"Enough, don't play tricks in front of me. I know Yu Zhouquan's character better than you do. With how stingy he is, how could he possibly give you fifty percent?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi was not flustered: \"That's because Eunuch hasn't seen the elixirs I refine.\" As she spoke, she handed over the Meridian Unblocking Pill she had prepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The elixirs I refine are more effective than those on the market and require fewer medicinal ingredients.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Lu was a fourth-rank martial artist. He took the Meridian Unblocking Pill, examined it, and after confirming it was fine, swallowed it directly. Then, his expression shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thirty percent. Thirty percent is the highest I'll give you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked somewhat reluctant: \"Forty percent. I can't go lower. Eunuch, you won't find another alchemist like me out there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Lu also felt that giving Hua Changxi forty percent was too much and was reluctant to agree, but the elixirs Hua Changxi refined were indeed superior to those on the market—no, they were even better than the apothecaries in the Medical Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been stuck at the fourth rank for many years. No matter how many Meridian Unblocking Pills he had taken before, he could not break through to the fifth rank. But just now, after taking the pill Hua Changxi gave him, he sensed a sign of breakthrough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine, forty percent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would break through to the fifth rank first. Once he became a fifth-rank martial artist, he would go find Yu Zhouquan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't believe Yu Zhouquan was willing to share profits with Hua Changxi. At that time, the two of them could join forces to suppress Hua Changxi, ideally making her obediently refine pills for them while they only had to give her a small monthly allowance.\u003C\u002Fp>",3088,"2026-05-29T04:10:26.746Z","2026-06-01T04:29:08.487Z",1,"deepseek-v4-flash","67af12627adb772e53f43a85a0145b104c64e6b5dbd09594b0d0dc9cb4eed805","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-48","the-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-chapter-46",547,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-first-iron-rice-bowl-of-great-jin-cover.jpg"]