[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl":3,"chapter-the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-111":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Great Jin's Most Iron Rice Bowl",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1896885,2531,"Chapter 111: Whetstone","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-111",111,"\u003Cp>In the delivery room, Hua Changxi looked at Hua Wuniang, who had already fallen into a coma with breathing so faint it was barely there; understanding exactly what the He family meant by \"saving the child,\" her disgust for the He family reached its peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she examined Hua Wuniang's body and discovered that drugs causing massive hemorrhage had been administered to her, she could no longer suppress the spreading intent to kill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, a clamor erupted in the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What thief dares to break into Marquis Wuyi's residence?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi had flown into Marquis Wuyi's residence on clouds, alarming the guards of the Marquis's household; seeing the direction where Hua Changxi landed, the guards immediately gave chase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon entering the courtyard and seeing maids and older female servants lying unconscious all over the ground, the guards immediately drew their sabers and stood ready for battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Third Master He hurriedly said, \"They are not thieves; it is the younger sister of Concubine Hua who has arrived. This concerns none of you; withdraw quickly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Third Master He signal them to leave, the guards glanced toward the eastern wing, sheathed their sabers, and prepared to return to report to the heir apparent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Third Mistress He spoke up at that moment: \"Having this crowd of maids and servants lying around is too obstructive; take them away.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guards looked at Third Master He; seeing he did not stop them, they prepared to carry away the unconscious people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, when the guards carried the people to the courtyard gate, they found they could not exit; an invisible force blocked their path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Third Master!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guards' expressions changed drastically as they all looked toward Third Master He.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third Master He frowned, walked over quickly, and being a cultivator, reached out to touch the spiritual energy barrier shrouding the courtyard gate, causing his eyelid to twitch instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Hua Changxi; she would not allow anyone in the courtyard to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third Master He felt somewhat annoyed by Hua Changxi's conduct; this was Marquis Wuyi's residence, not the Hua family home, so how could she arbitrarily set up a spiritual energy barrier to restrict others' entry and exit?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing that sufficient spiritual power could break through a spiritual energy barrier, Third Master He unleashed his full strength to attack the barrier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the spiritual energy barrier remained completely unresponsive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third Master He's attack was like a splash of water thrown into a river, failing to raise even the slightest ripple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Third Master He's heart trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relying on cultivation resources provided by the Marquis's household and the Martial Academy, he was now a late-stage Qi Condensation cultivator, yet he had failed to shake Hua Changxi's spiritual energy barrier in the slightest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What exactly was Hua Changxi's cultivation level?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third Master He recalled again the look Hua Changxi had given him before entering the delivery room, sharp as an arrow shooting toward him; just thinking about it now sent a chill running down his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third Master He's expression grew grave; if Concubine Hua truly died, judging by the attitude Hua Changxi had displayed, he and the Hua family would become deadly enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, he would certainly not have taken a small family like the Huas seriously, but now the situation was turbulent, cultivators were rising powerfully, and how the future would unfold was hard to predict.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hua family had produced Hua Changxin, and today this Hua Changxi had shown such dominance, while several younger generations of the Hua family had also become cultivators; this was a force that could not be underestimated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This should have been an asset to him, yet now it was turning into an enemy; Third Master He felt extremely angry and turned to look coldly at Third Mistress He.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Concubine Hua was merely a concubine giving birth, yet this jealous woman could not even tolerate her; if not for her reckless actions, how would such troublesome matters have arisen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third Mistress He, née Shen, who had managed to marry into Marquis Wuyi's residence, came from a family with some power and influence; apart from the initial panic caused by Hua Changxi's aggressive arrival, she had now calmed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was Third Master He's principal wife, the daughter-in-law brought into Marquis Wuyi's residence in an eight-carrier sedan chair; even if Concubine Hua died today, the Hua family could do nothing to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even to protect the face of the Marquis's household, the He family would not allow the natal family of a concubine to humiliate her, the principal wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Third Master He's icy gaze still made Third Mistress He feel somewhat afraid; she was not afraid to fight Concubine Hua, whose family background was inferior and could not match hers, but she feared completely losing her husband's affection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the delivery room, Hua Changxi, anxious to save Hua Wuniang, had no time to deal with Third Master He and the others; after setting up the spiritual energy barrier to prevent anyone in the courtyard from leaving, she ignored them entirely and focused on saving Hua Wuniang, whose life hung by a thread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wuniang~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steward Kong proved capable; in less than an hour, he had summoned the natal family of Concubine Hua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the anxious shouts and hurried footsteps outside the courtyard, Third Master He relaxed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As an instructor at the Martial Academy, he knew that young people were prone to impulsiveness, easily resorting to violence at the slightest dissatisfaction and acting without considering consequences; it was easier to reason with elders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With elders present to oversee matters, the situation would not spiral out of control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wuniang!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first to rush into the courtyard was Fourth Aunt Hua, followed closely by Old Lady Hua, Lady Yao, and Second Aunt Hua; behind them came the younger generation of the Hua family—all the Hua family members who had been at home had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Fourth Young Master Hua, Seventh Miss Hua, and Twelfth Miss Hua, who had been cultivating at the Earl's residence, upon hearing the news when Steward Kong visited the Earl's residence, had followed along as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing such a massive procession of Hua family members arrive, Third Master He's eyelid twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people, looking at him, were all coming to cause trouble; only when he saw Lord Hua Tai and his wife, who could make decisions, and Hua Zhong, the chief steward of the Dingyuan Earl's residence, at the end of the line, did he breathe a sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Third Master, where is our Wuniang? Didn't you say this pregnancy was very stable? Then how did she end up with difficult labor?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fourth Aunt Hua grabbed Third Master He's arm the moment she arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Third Master He frowning from being pulled by Fourth Aunt Hua, Lady Zhong quickly stepped forward to pull Fourth Aunt Hua away: \"Now is not the time to ask these questions; let us first check on Wuniang's condition.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Third Master, how is Wuniang?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third Master He glanced at the delivery room: \"Ninth Miss has arrived; as soon as she came, she drove everyone out; I am not clear on the current situation myself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Fourth Aunt Hua immediately ran into the delivery room, with Lady Yao following closely behind, while Seventh Miss Hua and Twelfth Miss Hua followed in without a second thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Lady Hua took a few steps forward but finally stopped, her eyes red and her expression anxious as she stared at the delivery room, seeming afraid to enter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the old lady in this state, Second Aunt Hua stayed by her side and did not enter either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixth Young Master Hua stood together with Fourth Young Master Hua, Eighth Young Master Hua, and Thirteenth Young Master Hua, asking anxiously, \"Why can't we hear Fifth Sister's voice? Isn't giving birth always accompanied by loud screaming? Why is Fifth Sister making no sound?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Lady Zhong looked gravely at Lord Hua Tai and the major steward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lord Hua Tai frowned, walked over to Third Master He, and asked in a low voice, \"Third Master, what exactly is going on here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third Master He naturally would not reveal that Third Mistress He had tampered with things, so he simply said, \"Yesterday, while Concubine Hua was taking a walk, she accidentally fell.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yesterday!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixth Young Master Hua, having sharp ears, heard Third Master He's words and immediately shouted, \"My Fifth Sister fell yesterday; doesn't that mean she has been in labor all night? Why didn't you notify us during this time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third Master He was somewhat displeased with Sixth Young Master Hua's attitude but ultimately offered an explanation: \"We truly did not expect Wuniang to have difficult labor; we intended to report the good news to everyone directly after she gave birth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixth Young Master Hua did not believe these words: \"I think you never intended to notify us at all; if something happened to my Fifth Sister, with none of us present, you could freely decide her life or death.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sixth Lang!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Tai scolded Hua Liulang: \"How could Third Master stand by and watch Fifth Lady come to harm? She is still carrying the child he has long awaited. You do not know the full story, so do not speak recklessly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua had not come; without him overseeing things, Hua Liulang had no intention of showing Hua Tai any respect. He looked furiously at Third Master He: \"Third Master He, if my fifth sister is unharmed, then fine. But if anything happens to her, we will not let this rest with you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, both Third Master He and Hua Tai furrowed their brows in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Lady Zhong quickly interjected: \"Stop arguing! Be careful not to let Fifth Lady hear you; it might affect her delivery. I will go in now to check on Fifth Lady. Everyone, please do not worry.\" With that, she also stepped into the delivery room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, everyone in the courtyard stared anxiously at the delivery room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that everyone's attention was fixed on the delivery room, Third Mistress He immediately signaled with her eyes to the two maids beside her. Upon receiving the signal, the maids lifted up a fainting older female servant, intending to slip away amidst the chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, they still could not leave; the invisible force shrouding the courtyard gate had not been withdrawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Third Mistress He's expression tightened slightly. It seemed the Hua family had no intention of letting this matter go easily this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of her father-in-law, Marquis Wu Yi, who cared most about face, Third Mistress He's expression relaxed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was Third Master's principal wife; her father-in-law would not allow a concubine's family to undermine her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the delivery room, Hua Changxi was doing her utmost to treat Hua Wuniang. When Fourth Aunt Hua and the others entered, she had no time to attend to them; she simply flung a spiritual energy shield over them, restricting them to a corner so they would not interfere with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Hua Wuniang, whose body was covered in silver needles, and the bedding on the bed soaked through with blood, Fourth Aunt Hua and the others clamped their hands tightly over their mouths, forcing themselves not to cry out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Zhong, who entered shortly after, saw Hua Wuniang's condition; her face also turned ugly, and she somewhat regretted having come in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unknown how long passed before a sudden \"Wah!\"—the cry of a newborn baby—broke the silence of the delivery room and the small courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this cry, everyone breathed a sigh of relief at that moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi removed the spiritual energy shield from Fourth Aunt Hua and the others, allowing them to take the baby away. She then instructed Seventh Lady Hua to decoct medicine, as she needed to continue administering acupuncture to Hua Wuniang to ensure she would not suffer massive hemorrhaging again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Twelfth Lady, come here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi called Twelfth Lady Hua to her side: \"Fifth Sister has suffered so greatly. Go ask Fourth Uncle, Fourth Aunt, and Grandfather and Grandmother what their plans are.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twelfth Lady Hua replied: \"Grandfather did not come, and Fourth Uncle and the others are still on duty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that Old Master Hua had not come, Hua Changxi let out a cold laugh: \"Tell Sixth Brother and the others to go fetch them. Fifth Sister nearly died; Hou Fu must give our family an explanation. It will not do for them to be absent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twelfth Lady Hua was also frightened by Hua Wuniang's appearance. She nodded, turned, and went out to find Hua Liulang and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that his son had been born safely and Concubine Hua was out of danger, Third Master He thought that offering apologies afterward would settle the matter. Who could have expected that the Hua family would linger in the small courtyard with no intention of leaving? Hua Liulang and the others had even gone to fetch Hua Mingcheng and the others, who were still on duty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not wishing to provoke further trouble, Third Master He could only look toward Hua Tai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helpless, Hua Tai then looked toward Lady Zhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Lady Zhong could only steel herself and approach Old Lady Hua: \"Fifth Lady is fine now. The people of Hou Fu will take good care of her. We should return home first; staying here will only cause more trouble.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventh Lady Hua heard this, and the anger suppressed in her heart erupted: \"Grandmother Zhong, did you not see my sister's condition just now? Have the people of Hou Fu taken good care of her?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You want us to leave now? Are you trying to plunge my sister back into loneliness and helplessness, to make her die a second time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Zhong became somewhat annoyed: \"I only meant well...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Meant well?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventh Lady Hua cut her off directly: \"It was you back then; it was you who said Hou Fu was a nest of blessings and urged my fifth sister to become Third Master He's concubine. But is this a nest of blessings? This is clearly a den of tigers and wolves that eats people without spitting out bones.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What exactly are your intentions? Do you think we are all fools and know nothing? Yet you still stand here shamelessly claiming good intentions. If this place were truly a nest of blessings, why did you not send your own granddaughter to be a concubine?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enough!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Tai shouted furiously, looking at Old Lady Hua: \"We did not force you back then; you volunteered willingly. How has it now become our fault?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Old Lady Hua quickly glared at Seventh Lady Hua, signaling her to stop speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Seventh Lady Hua did not obey Old Lady Hua. She looked coldly at Hua Tai: \"You did not openly force us, but you constantly used the clan's authority to pressure us. It seemed as though you gave us a choice, but in reality, there was none, because you were certain our family dared not resist the clan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Tai was furious. Just as he prepared to scold Seventh Lady Hua, he heard a commotion coming from outside the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately after, He Dalang appeared at the courtyard gate leading a group of guards. They tried to enter the courtyard but were blocked outside by the spiritual energy shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Third Uncle, what is going on?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third Master He walked to the courtyard gate: \"Concubine Hua had a difficult delivery, and the Hua family seems intent on holding me accountable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Dalang widened his eyes: \"The natal family of a mere concubine dares to be so arrogant, daring to come to Wu Yi Marquis Manor to cause trouble? Do they have any regard for Hou Fu at all?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third Master He also felt deeply ashamed and blamed himself: \"Ninth Lady Hua's cultivation is above mine; I cannot break through this spiritual energy shield.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, He Dalang immediately gathered his spiritual energy and attacked the shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spiritual energy shield remained completely unresponsive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Third Master He's heart kept sinking. Dalang possessed excellent talent for cultivation; his cultivation base was even higher than his own. Just last month, he had advanced to the late stage of the Qi Sea Realm, yet he still could not break through Hua Changxi's spiritual energy shield!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you doing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Liulang arrived at Hou Fu with Fourth Uncle Hua. Seeing a crowd surrounding the small courtyard, he rushed over without delay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Hua Liulang, He Dalang recognized him as a member of the Hua family and, without a word, launched an attack against him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Hua Liulang could not dodge in time and could only counterattack directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, the two began fighting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is Liulang also a cultivator?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Hua Liulang fight He Dalang to a standstill, Hua Zhong, the chief steward of the Count's Manor who had remained silent until now, finally spoke, looking at Hua Tai in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Tai's face was also full of astonishment; he had no idea that Hua Liulang was also a cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the registered cultivators of the Hua Bin branch, there were only six: Hua Dalang, Tenth Lady Hua, Fourth Lord Hua, Twelfth Lady Hua, Seventh Lady Hua, and Eleventh Lord Hua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, when Steward Kong informed them that Ninth Lady Hua was a cultivator, it was already surprising enough. Who would have expected that Hua Liulang was also a cultivator?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that the Hua family had yet another cultivator, Third Master He's temples throbbed painfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spiritual meridians shaped by the Creation Elixir were comparable to innate spiritual meridians. Hua Liulang possessed a single Fire spiritual root, cultivated the superior-grade technique \"Burning Flame Technique,\" and lacked neither pills nor spirit stones; he was now a cultivator at the late stage of the Qi Sea Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although his cultivation base was equivalent to He Dalang's, he lacked combat experience and was occasionally suppressed and beaten by He Dalang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unknown when Hua Changxi had emerged from the delivery room; she watched the two fighting and smiled lightly: \"Sixth Brother, if you defeat this man, I will give you a storage ring.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Liulang's expression lit up: \"Really?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately after, Hua Liulang fought as if injected with chicken blood, exerting every ounce of his strength to attack He Dalang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, He Dalang managed to cope with ease, but gradually he found his strength failing, while Hua Liulang fought with increasing ferocity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Hua Changxi curled her lips; since the He family treated Fifth Sister as a breeding tool, she would make the He family's eldest grandson serve as a whetstone for her Sixth Brother.\u003C\u002Fp>",3128,"2026-06-12T02:51:22.172Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","fe02cf97ee8ad8fd62a7cdea0ec6a747c2cbf03a910f3020a811b5781da9d32d","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-112","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-110",558,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-cover.jpg"]