Chapter 14: Leaving Home

Because she stayed in the Menial Hall for a while, it was already late when Hua Changxi left the Medical Department. By the time she returned to the Hua family, the three Hua Minghe brothers had already finished their shifts and returned.

Although Hua Minghe and Lady Yao had found various reasons to appease Old Madam Hua and the family, the Old Madam still held a grudge about Hua Changxi applying for the Medical Department without telling the family.

After waiting for a day, she finally waited for the ninth granddaughter to return. Just as Old Madam Hua was about to make a few sarcastic remarks, she saw the ninth granddaughter slip back to her room and close the door.

Seeing Hua Changxi return without even saying hello, Old Madam Hua was very angry and pointed at Lady Yao: "Look at the good daughter you raised. Does she still have the appearance of a young girl?"

Second Aunt Hua stood on the side and smiled: "Mother, calm your anger. I think Jiuniang probably knows she can't get into the Medical Department and is hiding in her room crying."

Hearing this, Old Madam Hua's expression paused, the anger on her face slowly receding, while Lady Yao showed a look of worry.

Hua Liulang said quickly: "It's almost time for dinner. I'll go call Jiuniang to eat." After speaking, he slipped away to knock on Hua Changxi's door.

"Jiuniang, come out to eat!"

"Clatter~"

The sound of a water basin falling to the ground rang out in the room.

Then, the door opened with a 'creak'.

Looking at the water stains all over the floor, Hua Liulang asked suspiciously: "Jiuniang, what are you doing?"

Hua Changxi crouched down to pick up the water basin: "My hand slipped."

Hua Liulang said "Oh," and then lowered his voice: "Grandfather and Grandmother seem to have strong opinions about you applying for the Medical Department. Be careful when we eat dinner later."

Hua Changxi nodded: "I know. Sixth Brother, you go back to the main hall first. I'll sweep up the water in the room and then go over."

Hua Liulang didn't doubt it and returned to the main hall.

Once Hua Liulang left, Hua Changxi closed the door again, then clenched her fists and jumped excitedly in the room a few times.

After the conditions for the "Purification Technique" to reach the intermediate level were met, Hua Changxi's mind was filled with many methods for cleaning spiritual plants and spiritual beasts.

There were water control methods, wind control methods, fire control methods...

Just now, Hua Changxi put her hand into the water basin and manipulated the water according to the method explained in the "Purification Technique." Soon, the water in the basin immediately began to rotate according to her will.

When a vortex appeared in the center of the water basin, Hua Liulang came to knock on the door, which startled her, causing the water basin to fall.

Hua Changxi looked at the water stains on the ground and pointed her right hand at them. The next moment, a gust of wind blew over the water stains, and in less than a minute, the ground was half-dry.

Hua Changxi wanted to make the ground completely dry, but...

【Realm: Qi Refining Realm 0/1000】

The line of text that jumped out in her vision showed that the power stored in her body had been completely exhausted.

Even though she had to start accumulating from the beginning again, Hua Changxi was still incredibly spirited.

She now knew how to use the power she had cultivated!

This "Purification Technique" could not only be used to clean medicinal herbs but could also be used in other areas of daily life.

When the realm points she cultivated became higher and higher in the future, could she use it for self-protection?

"Jiuniang, come out to eat!"

Lady Yao's voice came in. Hua Changxi hurriedly calmed her mood, opened the door, and walked out.

In the main hall, the food had already been served on the table, and the Hua family members were all seated.

"Jiuniang, sit at the main table tonight."

Hua Changxi was walking toward the table where the juniors were eating, but she was called by Old Master Hua.

Because of Wuniang going to the He family to be a concubine, the atmosphere in the family had been strange these days. The Old Master decided to use the ninth granddaughter's private application to the Medical Department to rectify the family's atmosphere.

Hua Changxi walked to the main table and sat down next to Hua Minghe and Lady Yao.

The main hall became quiet. Everyone didn't pick up their chopsticks and were all looking at Old Master Hua and Hua Changxi.

Hua Changxi looked at Old Madam Hua, who was sitting with a straight face and not speaking, and then looked at Old Master Hua, who was frowning and smoking his dry tobacco pipe. Not wanting to be lectured by them, she decided to strike first: "I'm going to report to the Medical Department tomorrow."

"Ah~"

"What?!"

The silence in the main hall was instantly broken.

Hua Liulang even walked directly to the main table: "Jiuniang, isn't the apprentice hiring list only announced in three days?"

Hua Minghe also spoke, looking at Hua Changxi seriously: "Jiuniang, what exactly is going on?"

Hua Changxi briefly told them about what happened to her at the Medical Department today: "Apothecary Xu told me that the spots for female physician apprentices this time have all been internally decided."

"I was lucky and met Eunuch Jia of the Menial Hall. I helped him with a small favor, and he agreed to let me enter the Menial Hall."

"Menial Hall?!"

Lady Yao exclaimed in surprise, looking at Hua Changxi in disbelief, never expecting her daughter to make such a decision.

"Heh~"

Old Madam Hua sneered, looking at Hua Changxi: "I thought you were so capable. After all this tossing and turning, you just went to be a menial for others!"

"I think your life is too comfortable. You look down on light work like embroidery and weaving, and you insist on going outside to find hardship for yourself. Why don't you go to the wharf and carry heavy bags for people!"

What do menials do?

That is doing hard labor.

Even if it is the Medical Department, once you get in, you do the most tiring and menial work.

Hua Minghe looked at Hua Changxi: "Jiuniang, tomorrow Dad will go to the Medical Department with you and decline the job in the Menial Hall."

Hua Changxi looked directly at Hua Minghe: "Dad, your daughter is thirteen. I know very well what I am doing. Since I have made this decision, I will be responsible for my own actions. Whether it turns out good or bad in the future, I accept it."

Lady Yao was anxious and hurriedly said: "Jiuniang, have you forgotten why you went to the Medical Department? You went to learn medicine, not to do hard labor. What help does being a menial have for your learning medicine?"

Hua Changxi smiled: "Mom, you can also learn medical skills as a menial. Let me tell you, today I saw many medicinal herbs in the Menial Hall that I haven't seen on the market."

"Dad, Mom, believe me. If I gain nothing in the Menial Hall, I definitely won't go. Your daughter isn't that stupid."

Hua Minghe rubbed his temples with a headache, and Lady Yao also had a helpless expression.

Old Madam Hua's sarcastic voice rang out again: "Hua Jiuniang, just keep on making trouble. You'll know when you look for a marriage partner in the future. Which good family would look for a menial as a daughter-in-law!"

A menial, that's no different from a servant!

Old Master Hua puffed on his dry tobacco pipe, looking at this ninth granddaughter who had been disobedient since childhood, and asked in a deep voice: "Are you determined to go to the Medical Department to be a menial?"

Hua Changxi: "Yes, I must go."

Old Master Hua was silent for a moment and asked again: "Even if you can't marry into a good family in the future, you still want to go?"

Hua Changxi nodded firmly: "Yes."

Old Master Hua puffed on his pipe twice more: "If the family doesn't let you go, what do you plan to do?"

Having lived in the Hua family for thirteen years, Hua Changxi could be considered to understand Old Master Hua's temper.

Hearing him say this, she knew he was already planning to use the authority of the head of the family to forcefully suppress her.

Hua Changxi understood that today was either her convincing the family or the family suppressing her, so she no longer cared: "Grandfather, I want to learn skills, I want to earn money, and I don't want to face Fifth Sister's situation one day in the future."

As soon as these words came out, Old Master Hua's face turned gloomy in a 'swish', and Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt Hua's faces also became very ugly.

No matter how much it was covered up, and no matter how high-sounding the reasons given were, it could not cover up the fact that the Hua family sold their daughter for the sake of their son's future.

Second Uncle and Second Aunt Hua were watching the fun on the side, while the Hua family juniors all had the appearance of "Jiuniang is so bold, she actually dares to go against Grandfather."

Hua Minghe and Lady Yao looked at each other, and their original determination not to let Hua Changxi go to the Medical Department's Menial Hall loosened somewhat.

Wuniang becoming a concubine seemed like the Hua family had a choice, but in reality, they didn't.

The clan seemed very easy to talk to, but the premise was that their family cooperated well. Once they disobeyed the clan's arrangements, what awaited their family might not just be exclusion from the clan.

Hua Changxi continued: "Grandfather, since the family cannot arrange a future for every child and grandchild, perhaps choosing to let go and letting us find our own way out might lead to unexpected gains."

Old Master Hua raised his eyelids to look at Hua Changxi, his face very ugly: "Good, very good. Our family has produced an incredible young girl."

"It's not easy for men to make a living, yet you, a young girl, have a bigger tone than men."

"A menial in the Menial Hall of the Medical Department is an object that can be ordered around by anyone in the entire Medical Department. Do you think you can gain a foothold there by relying on a little medical skill?"

"I'll put my words here today: if you dare to bring disaster to the family or lose the family's face, I will drive you out of the house directly."

Seeing that Old Master Hua no longer stopped her from entering the Menial Hall, Hua Changxi didn't say anything more. As for the intimidation and threats in his mouth, she didn't take them to heart.

Early the next morning, Hua Changxi took the steamed bun handed over by Lady Yao and smiled: "Mom, don't worry about how the world views menials. You have to believe in your daughter. Maybe I can make a name for myself in the Menial Hall."

Lady Yao smiled, noncommittal, and only instructed: "Take good care of yourself. If you aren't used to staying in the Menial Hall, come home."

Hua Changxi smiled and said: "I know, I'm off!"

Other members of the Hua family, either sitting in the main hall or standing in the courtyard, just watched Hua Changxi walk out of the house, and no one spoke.

After walking out of the Hua family gate, Hua Changxi looked back at the Hua residence, her eyes flashing with burning light.

From today on, her world would no longer be just the Hua family courtyard.

Hua Qiniang and Hua Shierniang stood at the door, watching Hua Changxi, who was full of happiness and left with large strides, their expressions somewhat complex.

Hua Shierniang muttered: "Being a menial is bitter and tiring. Grandmother is so right; Ninth Sister is really too capable of making trouble."

Hua Qiniang said: "But... being a menial can also earn money." With money, you can do many things and don't have to listen to the family for everything.

Hua Shierniang was surprised: "Seventh Sister, why do I feel like you seem to support Ninth Sister going to be a menial."

Hua Qiniang was silent for a moment: "If we want to buy something, we have to ask the family for money. Do you think the taste of asking for money is good?"

Hua Shierniang didn't speak.

Hua Qiniang added: "Ninth Sister found a job for herself. I think it's quite good. Just watch, Ninth Sister's confidence in the family will become stronger and stronger in the future." ===== CHAPTER 15 =====