[{"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-138":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},1896912,2531,"Chapter 138: No One in My Heart","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-138",138,"\u003Cp>\"Finding my own place within the Medical Bureau...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On her way back to the courtyard, Hua Changxi kept pondering this question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Gu Xing had said, the Medical Bureau possessed a complete organizational structure; the Director and other officials responsible for its operations were all appointed by the court, while the alchemists and physicians at the Nine Streets pharmacies were either seasoned veterans with profound medical skills or individuals with various backgrounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the heads of the Disciple Hall, Apprentice Hall, and Laborer Hall were all people with powerful patrons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under such circumstances, where could she position herself?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was certainly unwilling to pledge allegiance to anyone or find herself a master, yet if she did not follow the rules of the Medical Bureau, how could she gain status?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Making a name for myself...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come to think of it, Gu Xing's reminder was truly the most suitable path for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Making a name for herself within the Medical Bureau would not be difficult for her. Once she retrieved the prayer bead bracelet, bound the wooden tablet to the Qihuang Hall, and revealed the true Qihuang Hall, ensuring that only she could teach at the nine Qihuang Halls within the Laborer Hall, fame would be easily within her grasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the prayer bead bracelet had been lost at Ox Head Mountain and required a journey to the Nine Netherworlds to retrieve; this was not something that could be accomplished in a short time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi exhaled a sigh; there was nothing she could do to stop the Director's two disciples from teaching at Qihuang Hall Number Six.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, she returned to her courtyard, tidied up her belongings slightly, and then left the Medical Bureau, heading directly to the Shennong Pharmacy in Feng'an Ward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Green Ox Demon had already been farming inside the Sumeru Bead for Hua Changxi for over a month, so she decided it was the perfect time to release it to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with A-Niu and Pucao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, the Green Ox Demon proved to be an expert farmer; it had reclaimed and cultivated the idle wasteland within the spatial realm, instantly making the entire space flourish with vitality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi stayed at the pharmacy for one night, during which she guided Pucao in cultivation and pill refining, and also inquired about A-Niu's progress in body refinement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Pucao had to balance cultivation, pill refining, and managing the pharmacy, she remained at the late Qi Refining stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, A-Niu's progress in body refinement was much faster; he had already begun cultivating the third chapter of the \"Nine Transformations Mystical Art\"—the Bone Refining Chapter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi tested A-Niu's combat capabilities and discovered that his current strength was sufficient to battle a Core Formation stage cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A-Niu, in some time I intend to sell spiritual pills; originally, I was worried about the pharmacy's security, but with your current strength, I can finally rest assured.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A-Niu smiled shyly, delighted that he could be of help to Hua Changxi and to the pharmacy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the night passed and dawn broke, Hua Changxi had breakfast with Pucao and A-Niu before returning to the Hua family home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, Ninth Lady has returned.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hua family courtyard was piled high with many gifts, even more than those received during the New Year; when Hua Changxi arrived, Old Lady Hua was organizing them with her three daughters-in-law and several granddaughters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grandmother, Mother, Second Aunt, Fourth Aunt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Hua Changxi return, Yao's face immediately broke into a smile; noticing that her daughter hadn't acknowledged her younger sister-in-law, she quickly reminded her, \"Your Third Aunt's family has come; hurry and greet them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at the woman standing beside Old Lady Hua and greeted her with a smile, \"Third Aunt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third Aunt Hua smiled as she sized up Hua Changxi, \"Since Ninth Lady underwent her coming-of-age ceremony, she has fully blossomed; nowadays, she is becoming increasingly beautiful.\" Saying this, she pulled Yao closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eldest Sister-in-law, you truly are blessed; having raised such a daughter, I dare say it won't be long before the people coming to propose marriage wear down the threshold of the Hua family.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yao hastily replied with modest laughter, \"This girl Ninth Lady's temperament has given her father and me no end of headaches; if we can successfully marry her off in the future, I will consider it a great blessing worthy of burning high incense for.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third Aunt Hua immediately showed her disagreement, \"I quite like Ninth Lady's temperament; if the Shen family could marry such a daughter-in-law, I would wake up smiling even in my dreams.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, the smile on Yao's face froze, and even Old Lady Hua, who was organizing the gifts, stopped her hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing their reactions, Third Aunt Hua realized she had been too blunt and quickly added a compensating remark, \"Ninth Lady possesses great fortune; she will surely marry into a blessed family in the future.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did the smile return to Yao's face, but she merely nodded in response and quickly steered the conversation away from the topic of finding a husband for Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing aside, Hua Changxi watched her mother's reaction and felt like laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Yao glared at her; being confronted with the topic of marriage right to her face, her daughter showed not a trace of shyness but instead looked as if she were enjoying a spectacle, leaving Yao baffled as to how she had given birth to such an unconventional daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Hua Dalang walked out from the main hall, followed by Hua Sanlang, Hua Liulang, two male cousins from Third Aunt Hua's family, and two young men she did not recognize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ninth Lady has returned.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Hua Dalang, Hua Changxi looked surprised, \"Eldest Brother, didn't Father say you went to handle official business out of town? When did you return?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Dalang replied, \"I returned to the capital in the seventh month.\" Then he smiled, \"Among so many brothers and sisters in this family, you are the busiest; I have been back for so long, yet this is the first time I have seen you come home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Changxi chuckled, \"Is Eldest Brother blaming me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Hua Changxi's reaction, Hua Liulang quickly walked to her side, \"Eldest Brother just misses you.\" Then, with a beaming smile, he told her, \"Ninth Lady, Eldest Brother is getting engaged.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi looked surprised, then happily asked with a smile, \"Really? Which family's young lady?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Hua Liulang was about to elaborate, Hua Dalang interrupted him, \"Ninth Lady has not yet entered the room to pay respects to Grandfather, Uncle Mingzhe, and Third Uncle-in-law.\" He then looked at the two young men beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, these are Eldest Brother Chen and Third Brother Tao from Uncle Mingzhe's family.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi smiled and greeted the two, yet in her heart she thought that on this Mid-Autumn reunion day, Hua Tai had actually sent his eldest son and two grandsons to spend the festival at their home; this gesture of goodwill was far too obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed that something must have happened within the family recently that she knew nothing about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi entered the main hall, and Hua Dalang and the others followed her in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua sat in the seat of honor; to his left sat Hua Mingzhe and Brother-in-law Shen, while to his right sat Hua Minghe, Second Uncle Hua, and Fourth Uncle Hua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi bowed and offered greetings to each of them in turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua asked, \"Why have you only returned today?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi glanced at the old master and smiled, \"I had matters to attend to.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Mingzhe sized up Hua Changxi and asked with a smile, \"I heard from my Wan Yue that you are no longer teaching in the Laborer Hall; what do you usually busy yourself with then?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi dismissed it vaguely, \"Just busying myself with random things.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Old Master Hua said, \"If you have no proper duties at the Medical Bureau, just come home; you enjoy pill refining, and the family already operates a pharmacy which is doing quite well business-wise; we are actually preparing to hire people now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked surprised, \"Is that so? Is the family pharmacy's business so good that you are preparing to hire staff?\" Saying this, she looked toward Hua Sanlang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Sanlang nodded, \"The pills our family sells are very popular.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi replied, \"That is good to hear; however, I will not return home to cause trouble, especially since there are so many people in the family already.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua frowned, \"Do you not have nothing to do in the Laborer Hall? Coming home would both help the family and prevent your pill refining talents from going to waste.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi felt somewhat annoyed, \"Grandfather, who told you that I have nothing to do in the Laborer Hall?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Old Master Hua's gaze flick toward Hua Mingzhe, Hua Changxi immediately looked over at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Hua Mingzhe smiled and explained, \"Wanyue said you haven't been attending classes lately, only wandering around the Miscellaneous Duties Hall every day. Could she have been mistaken?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at him and bluntly asked, \"Is Uncle sending people to surveil me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her reaction, Hua Mingzhe's face stiffened, while Old Master Hua frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Dalang said displeasedly, \"Ninth Sister, what kind of attitude is this? Hurry up and apologize to Uncle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at Hua Dalang expressionlessly and said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Minghe looked at Hua Dalang, his tone filled with dissatisfaction, \"Dalang, if you have something to say, speak properly to Ninth Sister.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Mingzhe had long learned about Hua Changxi's temperament from his parents, so he actively smiled to smooth things over: \"It was my rudeness. However, Ninth Sister, I must explain that Wanyue did not intend to surveil you; she simply admires you greatly and thus couldn't help but pay you extra attention.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After returning home, Wanyue constantly told our family how superb your medical skills are and how profound your knowledge is, saying that every time she attended your lectures, she benefited immensely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi did not wish to spoil everyone's mood during the holiday, so she offered a slight smile in response to Hua Mingzhe but did not take up his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Hua Mingzhe said nothing more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua, however, spoke up: \"If you have the leisure to teach outsiders in the Miscellaneous Duties Hall, why can't you return home to help the family?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Changxi truly became somewhat impatient: \"Grandfather, by teaching others at the Medical Bureau, I achieve myself; by helping at home, I achieve the Hua family. Naturally, I choose to achieve myself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing these words, Hua Dalang could not help but speak out again: \"Ninth Sister, how can you think this way? The Hua family gave you life and raised you; is it not too selfish of you to show no thought of repayment?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi laughed in anger: \"Have I not repaid the family?\" She then looked at Old Master Hua and Hua Minghe. \"Grandfather, Father, have I not contributed to the family?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Old Master Hua was seething with rage, annoyed that Hua Changxi was causing a scene directly in front of his son-in-law and outsiders: \"How can a family haggle over every single matter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi wished to say nothing more; she turned and walked out of the main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her act this way, Old Master Hua was furious and said to Hua Minghe, \"So this is the good daughter you raised.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Minghe replied helplessly, \"Father, let Ninth Sister do whatever she wishes; she has not hindered the family in any way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua retorted, \"But she is a member of the Hua family; our entire household should work together with one heart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Dalang followed her out of the room, caught up with Hua Changxi, and entered her room with her: \"Ninth Sister, has the family treated you unfairly in any way? Even if Grandfather and Grandmother were slightly strict in disciplining you, it shouldn't make you bear a grudge against the family, should it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi frowned: \"What are you talking about? When have I ever borne a grudge against the family?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Dalang said, \"But you would rather trust outsiders than your own family members; that is a fact, isn't it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi replied, \"I do not distrust my family members.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Dalang countered, \"Is that so? Then why did you not tell the family when you opened an apothecary outside? Why did you not inform the family about the Fire Spirit Mine you possess outside? You would rather cooperate with outsiders than let family members take charge; is this trusting your family?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at him: \"You investigated me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Dalang said, \"I never expected my own sister to be so formidable, actually ending up on the Embroidered Uniform Guard's surveillance list. If I hadn't been handling affairs at the Embroidered Uniform Guard, we would not know how much longer you intended to keep us in the dark.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ninth Sister, do you truly consider us family? Are we really so unworthy of your trust?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi said, \"I have stated that I do not distrust you; I simply do not wish to have too many entanglements of interest with you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Dalang laughed in anger: \"If there are no entanglements between family members, are they still family?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at Hua Dalang: \"Big Brother, I have never inquired about your affairs outside, and I ask that you respect me as well; this is my principle of conduct.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Dalang snorted: \"You are just afraid the family will take advantage of you, aren't you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at the storage bag hanging at Hua Dalang's waist, which she had given to her father on her birthday: \"...You indeed have taken advantage.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Dalang was choked with anger, looking deeply at Hua Changxi: \"Ninth Sister, only today have I discovered that you are such a cold and heartless person. Putting aside gains and losses, do you have no affection whatsoever for your family?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The family lacks cultivation resources, and while you could clearly help us, you turn a blind eye.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Our family lacks foundation; in cultivation, one step behind means falling behind in every step. You simply do not care about us in your heart, which is why you can so calmly watch us fall behind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you know what being left behind means?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It means our family clearly had an opportunity to flourish yet missed it by a hair's breadth; it means that amidst these shifting winds and clouds, we will likely be controlled by others, or even lose our lives.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you had ever placed us in your heart, you would not stand idly by and watch us sink into danger and passivity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",2495,"2026-06-12T02:51:22.172Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","e66a39ea0480dab7f0d88b13fae7d20f6ad3c3f8ee39e6ff46ad27942db6fbb0","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-139","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-137",558,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-cover.jpg"]