Chapter 11: Settling One's Fate with Laughter and Talk

As soon as the news broke that the Medical Bureau was recruiting additional apprentices, not only people from the capital but also those from other regions who heard the news flocked to apply.

When Hua Changxi arrived at the Medical Bureau, a long queue still stretched out from the entrance.

Most of those waiting in line were men in their teens or twenties, though there were also some older middle-aged men.

Besides the men, quite a few women had also come to apply.

The Medical Bureau was one of the few government offices that did not restrict women from taking up positions.

According to Apothecary Xu, the Medical Bureau already employed several highly skilled female physicians and female apothecaries.

In the Great Jin Dynasty, although women were free to walk the streets and leave their homes, their level of social participation remained extremely low; achieving economic and personal independence was exceedingly difficult, with most women spending their entire lives dependent on their families and men just to survive.

Therefore, whenever a job opportunity arose that women could fill, it attracted countless women fighting to seize it.

As a person from the modern era, even if Hua Changxi had not fortuitously obtained a chance to cultivate immortality, she would still seek employment and strive her utmost to take control of her own life.

After queuing for most of an hour, Hua Changxi successfully registered, received her admission ticket stamped by the Medical Bureau, and now waited for the examination on the twentieth day of the ninth month.

Afterwards, Hua Changxi did not linger outside but promptly returned to the Hua family home.

By the time she arrived, the rest of the Hua family had already returned.

The moment she entered the courtyard, Hua Changxi sensed that the atmosphere was wrong.

The adults sat silently in the main hall, while the children stood under the eaves; no one spoke.

Not daring to provoke anyone at such a time, Hua Changxi crept quietly back to her room. Just as she was about to nap again, Hua Qiniang and Hua Shier'niang arrived.

Upon entering the room, Hua Qiniang's tears streamed down: "Ninth Sister, Fifth Sister is truly going to become a concubine to an old man."

Hua Changxi was startled: "Has the family already agreed? Have Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt also agreed?"

Hua Shier'niang nodded dejectedly: "This morning, Grandfather, Grandmother, Fourth Uncle, and Fourth Aunt took Fifth Sister to meet that old man. After they returned, they gave their consent."

Hua Changxi fell silent for a moment: "What about Fifth Sister herself? What did she say?"

Hua Shier'niang's tone grew somewhat irritable: "What could Fifth Sister say? Could she possibly defy the entire family?"

Hua Qiniang added: "As soon as Fifth Sister returned, she locked herself in her room weeping; she ignored us no matter how much we called."

Hua Changxi paced twice around the room: "Since Fifth Sister is unwilling, she should go speak to Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt. Surely they wouldn't sacrifice their daughter's entire life just for their son's sake."

Hua Qiniang replied: "But Fifth Sister doesn't want to hinder Eleventh Brother's prospects either."

Hua Changxi snorted coldly: "Can't Eleventh Brother forge his own prospects? Even though Fifth Sister is the elder sister, she isn't obligated to take responsibility for her younger brother's life."

Hua Shier'niang sighed: "Fifth Sister would never disregard Eleventh Brother's interests."

Thinking of Hua Wuniang's nature, Hua Changxi couldn't help but sigh: "Fifth Sister thinks too much of others. If she doesn't change this temperament, endless grievances await her in the future."

Hearing this, Hua Qiniang and Hua Shier'niang both lifted their heads to stare at Hua Changxi.

Hua Changxi, bewildered by their gaze, asked: "Why are you both looking at me like that?"

Hua Shier'niang said: "Fifth Sister often earns praise from our elders; when visiting guests, the elders all favor her. It is you who should change your temperament."

Hua Changxi rolled her eyes: "Then go ahead and emulate Fifth Sister—make sacrificing yourself your duty, use your own blood and flesh to fulfill others, all in exchange for a few hollow words of praise from others that cost them nothing."

As she spoke, she tapped both their foreheads with her index finger.

"You two little fools, use your brains: isn't an obedient and sensible young lady like Fifth Sister the easiest to manipulate?"

"You should be like me; having a bit of a temper as a young lady isn't a bad thing—it makes people afraid to bully you."

"Do you think only outsiders bully people? Family members bully too. People naturally pick on the softest persimmons to squeeze."

"If I were the one being made a concubine this time, just watch how I'd turn this household upside down. Do you think the family would remain as quiet and peaceful as it is now?"

Hua Qiniang and Hua Shier'niang listened in astonishment, while confusion also flickered across their faces.

Winning the favor of elders, earning praise from outsiders, repaying family by supporting one's brothers—were these things wrong? These were supposed to be the virtues expected of young ladies in the boudoir!

Yet regarding Fifth Sister becoming a concubine for the sake of Eleventh Brother's prospects, both girls felt something was fundamentally amiss.

The Ninth Sister, whom they once considered troublesome and disobedient, now seemed not so terrible after all?

Looking at the two girls, Hua Changxi thought for a moment before saying: "If Fifth Sister dared to fight for herself, I believe the family wouldn't force her. But if she won't even fight for herself..."

"Since becoming a concubine is now an established fact, the best we can do to ease Fifth Sister's suffering is to persuade her to look on the bright side."

Afterwards, Hua Qiniang and Hua Shier'niang didn't stay long before going to visit Hua Wuniang; after some thought, Hua Changxi followed them.

At dusk, when Hua Minghe returned from his duties and heard Lady Yao say the family had already agreed to let Wuniang become a concubine for the He family, he immediately fell silent.

While folding the sun-dried clothes, Lady Yao sighed with emotion: "Fourth Sister-in-law usually loves her daughter dearly; I never expected she could bring herself to be so heartless."

Becoming a concubine—even if the other party is a noble and powerful household, a concubine is akin to a servant; merely thinking of it fills one with worry for Wuniang's future days.

Since Wuniang was Fourth Brother's daughter and the couple had already made their decision, Hua Minghe didn't wish to say more. Spotting the household registration document lying on the bed, he asked in surprise: "Why have you taken out the household register?"

Then, realizing something, Hua Minghe jumped to his feet with a start: "Did Ninth Sister take the household register to register at the Medical Bureau?"

Without stopping her hands, Lady Yao gave a faint "Mm."

Hua Minghe frowned tightly: "Why didn't you stop her? The Medical Bureau is a government office; matters within such offices are not something a mere young lady like Ninth Sister can handle."

Lady Yao put down her work and looked at Hua Minghe: "Husband, previously I was also unwilling for Ninth Sister to enter the Medical Bureau, but Fifth Sister's matter has changed my mind."

Hua Minghe grew angry: "Fifth Sister is Fifth Sister, and Ninth Sister is Ninth Sister; how could I ever allow Ninth Sister to become someone's concubine?"

Lady Yao replied: "I know you wouldn't, but here in the capital, many things are beyond our control."

"Do you think Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law actually wanted to send Fifth Sister off to be a concubine?"

"It was the clan. The clan used Eleventh Brother's prospects to threaten and bribe Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law. Did they have any choice?"

"I fear that one day, someone will hold your life, or the prospects of Eldest Son and the others, over my head to threaten me. At that point, even if I am utterly unwilling, I might still have to sacrifice Ninth Sister."

"How many matters can the young ladies of our family decide for themselves? Even in major affairs like marriage, they can only obey others' commands."

"Since ultimately none can escape a fate of being manipulated, now that Ninth Sister has something she wishes to do, why shouldn't I let her venture out on her own? Regardless of whether the outcome is good or bad, at least it will be according to her own will."

Hua Minghe's spirit weakened, and he said dejectedly: "It is my fault; I have failed to provide a good life for you and the children."

Lady Yao walked over to Hua Minghe, took his hand, and said: "No, you are not at fault. You have already tried your hardest. Such is the way of the world; we can only drift along with the current."

The Second Branch.

Second Aunt Hua also sighed: "With Fifth Lady's temperament, if she becomes a concubine, I fear she will suffer grievous wrongs."

Second Uncle Hua, however, said: "Do not focus only on the negative; consider what status the He family holds. Becoming a concubine to General Wu Yi's son is Fifth Lady's good fortune. Were it not for the Marquis's residence acting as intermediary, such a favorable match would never have come our way."

Second Aunt Hua shot Second Uncle Hua a glare: "You make it sound so easy. Do you think common folk like us can navigate the twists and turns within those high and mighty households?"

"Moreover, Fifth Lady's nature is too soft. If you ask me, it would be better to send Ninth Lady as the concubine; with her temperament, she might truly carve out a world for herself within Hou Fu."

Second Uncle Hua rolled his eyes: "Hold your tongue. They are seeking a concubine, not an ancestor. Have you ever seen a concubine who was not gentle and obedient?"

"Sending Ninth Lady to be a concubine would not forge a marriage alliance; it would forge an enemy!"

"There is no need for us to worry excessively about Fifth Lady. As long as she keeps to her place and behaves properly, for the sake of the Marquis's residence, Third Master He will not make things too difficult for her."

"Third Master He is already thirty this year and still has no son. If Fifth Lady's womb proves fruitful and bears him a son, her true good fortune lies yet ahead."

The second branch buzzed with discussion, while the fourth branch remained utterly silent, save for the sound of suppressed sobbing.

Fourth Aunt Hua and Fourth Uncle Hua both wore grim expressions; though sending their daughter to be a concubine weighed heavily on their hearts, they had no other choice.

Hua Shiyilang lingered outside Fifth Lady Hua's door, wishing to enter, yet in the end, he could not take that step forward.

At the old residence of the main clan.

"How did it go?"

"Is Third Master He satisfied with Fifth Lady Hua?"

Lady Dowager Zhou asked her eldest son, Hua Tai.

Hua Tai beamed: "How could Third Master He find fault with someone Mother selected?" Saying this, he produced three admission tickets to the Martial Academy.

"Third Master He bestowed ten admission tickets to the Martial Academy. The Marquis's residence took six, one was given to Hua Bin, leaving these three for us to distribute."

"Only three..."

Lady Dowager Zhou pondered briefly: "The Marquis's residence has calculated this precisely, ensuring exactly that our family's Third Young Master, Fourth Young Master, and Fifth Young Master may enter the Martial Academy."

Hua Tai raised no objection to the Marquis's residence's allocation; after all, given the He family's status, without the Marquis's residence they could never have climbed so high, and indeed, the entire Hua clan relied upon the Marquis's residence for patronage.

"By the way, Mother, Third Master He intends to bring Fifth Lady Hua into his residence within one month."

Lady Dowager Zhou chuckled: "It seems Third Master He is quite anxious regarding heirs."

Hua Tai lifted his teacup and took a sip, smiling broadly: "How could he not be anxious? Third Master He is a son of a concubine; already thirty, he has only one young daughter under his knee. If he does not produce a son soon, the Marquis's residence's inheritance will have nothing to do with him."

Lady Dowager Zhou remarked: "The lineage of Hua Bin flourishes with descendants. I have also observed Fifth Lady Hua; she appears fertile. Third Master He shall get his wish."

Hua Tai smiled: "That would be excellent indeed. Mother, the matter of Fifth Lady Hua entering the Marquis's residence still requires your personal arrangement."

Lady Dowager Zhou waved her hand: "These are trivial matters; I shall handle them. You should devote more attention to major affairs outside and within the clan."

Hua Tai hastily replied: "Mother, this is no trivial matter. Third Master He stated that if he truly obtains a son, there will be further rewards to follow."

Lady Dowager Zhou considered this: "Then I shall bring Fifth Lady Hua here to instruct her for a few days. Third Master He's wife is not easily dealt with; we must not have her broken before she even bears a son."

Hua Tai rose and bowed: "Mother, you have worked hard. With your instruction, Fifth Lady Hua is certain to become a woman of great fortune."