[{"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-140":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},1896914,2531,"Chapter 140: Rely on Oneself","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-140",140,"\u003Cp>\"Ninth Sister, I'm back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Hua Wuniang followed Third Master He to the main hall to pay respects to the Hua elders, she came to find Hua Changxi holding her child, with her three younger sisters—Hua Qiniang, Hua Shier-niang, and Hua Shisi-niang—following behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her sisters approach, Hua Changxi suppressed the unease in her heart and smiled as she went to meet them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Liulang and Hua Wuniang exchanged greetings with a few others before departing for the main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the child in Hua Wuniang's arms, Hua Changxi smiled and said, \"The child has grown so big already?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A smile of new motherhood radiated from Hua Wuniang's face: \"Children grow as soon as the wind touches them; you'll understand once you have your own someday.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing Hua Changxi staring at the baby, Hua Wuniang held the child out slightly closer: \"Would you like to hold him?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the child was plump and fair-skinned, Hua Changxi felt fondness rise in her heart; she smiled, nodded, and carefully took the baby into her arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xiaoman is smiling at Ninth Sister.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Hua Changxi held the child, his mouth curved into a grin, prompting Hua Qiniang to immediately call out cheerfully for everyone to look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Hua Wuniang laughed: \"Xiaoman knows Ninth Sister is his savior; that's why he's being so affectionate with her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi walked around the room twice while holding the child, played with him for a while longer, then handed him back to Hua Wuniang: \"Fifth Sister, is everything going well for you at the He family?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Wuniang smiled and nodded: \"Everything is fine with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Shier-niang chimed in with a laugh: \"Third Master He even accompanied Fifth Sister home for the Mid-Autumn Festival; anyone can see how much he values her. Even a principal wife might not receive such treatment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Wuniang paused briefly, lowered her gaze to the child, and said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Shier-niang continued: \"Third Master He is a Young Master of the Marquis's household; his visiting our home shows his regard for Fifth Sister and for our entire family. As long as Third Master protects Fifth Sister within the He family, she will surely have everything go smoothly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Qiniang interjected: \"Fifth Sister's smooth life depends not on Third Master, but on our family. Only if we are strong enough will the He family and Third Master dare not treat Fifth Sister and Xiaoman poorly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Shier-niang replied: \"True, a maiden's natal family is her backbone, but for Fifth Sister to live happily, she certainly cannot do without Third Master's protection. In the end, within the He family, Fifth Sister still relies on Third Master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to their conversation, Hua Changxi realized that, unknowingly, her sisters had all grown up and developed their own judgments of value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterwards, Hua Qiniang and Hua Shier-niang launched into a debate over whether a married woman should ultimately rely on her husband or her natal family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the two, still locked in disagreement, turned to look at Hua Changxi and Hua Wuniang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fifth Sister, Ninth Sister, tell us: after marriage, should one rely on her husband or her natal family?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gently soothing the child in her arms without lifting her head, Hua Wuniang said: \"Both the natal family and the husband are important; ideally, one could rely on both. However, one must never become a concubine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This answer satisfied neither Hua Qiniang nor Hua Shier-niang, so they both turned their gaze to Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at them and said: \"Why must one rely on either the natal family or the husband? In the end, the only person one can truly rely on is oneself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, all three turned to stare at her simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Wuniang appeared thoughtful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Qiniang, however, looked utterly astonished: \"Ninth Sister, do you mean that not even Eldest Uncle and Eldest Aunt can be relied upon?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Shier-niang added: \"A husband is the person beside your pillow; if you cannot rely on the one you marry, then why marry at all?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi replied: \"Of course Father and Mother can be relied upon, but they have their own lives too; I cannot trouble them with every matter. Moreover, the things I encounter, they may not even be able to help me with.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for a husband... I haven't even thought about marriage yet, so I cannot answer you on that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at her, Hua Wuniang said: \"Ninth Sister, you have already reached adulthood; it's time you started thinking about certain matters. Please don't end up like me, forced to obey the family's arrangements when the time comes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi smiled: \"Fifth Sister, things are different now than before. I am a cultivator; I can live for several hundred or even a thousand years while remaining eternally youthful. There is no need for me to rush into marriage just because I've reached adulthood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Furthermore, if I do marry, it will be someone I truly love. No outsider shall ever dictate my feelings or my life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Wuniang gave a bitter smile: \"Indeed, you've always had your own mind since childhood, and now that you are so powerful, naturally you won't be like me, passively waiting for arrangements to be made.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi said: \"Fifth Sister, as long as you are unwilling, you can change that too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Wuniang twitched the corners of her mouth but said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi stopped there, saying no more, and instead asked Hua Qiniang and Hua Shier-niang about their cultivation progress at the Earl's manor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Qiniang replied: \"Previously, the masters hired by the Earl's manor only guided our cultivation. But after you gave us the 'Introduction to the Four Arts,' once the Earl's manor learned we were studying the Four Arts, they allowed us to study alongside the Heir Apparent and the others.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Heir Apparent and the others learn far more than we do. Some time ago, Fourth Brother, Shier, and I even went out on a trial expedition with the Heir Apparent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi asked: \"What did the Heir Apparent take you out to experience?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With lingering fear, Hua Shier-niang said: \"We surrounded and killed a Qi Sea Realm tiger demon. Seventh Sister was clawed by the tiger demon while saving me.\" She then looked toward Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ninth Sister, have you ever gone out on a trial expedition? Do you know how dangerous it is to be a cultivator?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi replied: \"I have gone on expeditions; several times I've walked the edge between life and death.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Wuniang, Hua Qiniang, and Hua Shier-niang were all startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why have you never told the family about this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a calm expression, Hua Changxi said: \"What difference would it make if I did? The family couldn't help me anyway.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Qiniang and Hua Shier-niang exchanged a glance and fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, upon learning that Ninth Sister had secretly opened eleven medicinal shops and owned a spiritual mine without telling the family, they had felt somewhat dissatisfied that she hadn't informed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Earl's manor only gave them one hundred spirit stones per month for cultivation; for them, who urgently needed spirit stones, there had even been some resentment toward Ninth Sister, who clearly could have helped the family but chose not to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, knowing that these achievements were gained by Ninth Sister at the risk of her life, they could no longer righteously insist that she ought to devote everything to helping the family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Third Aunt Hua's voice called from the courtyard: \"Ninth Sister, dinner is about to be served; hurry and bring Fifth Sister and the others to sit in the main hall.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Changxi beckoned Hua Wuniang, Hua Qiniang, and Hua Shier-niang to leave the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the four entered the main hall, Old Master Hua had already seated himself with the family's male members and male guests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ninth Sister.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Hua Changxi, Third Master He smiled, stood up, and initiated the greeting himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon witnessing this, the expressions of Hua Mingzhe and his two sons shifted slightly, and even Old Master Hua and the other Hua family members looked somewhat surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi responded politely: \"Third Master He.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although initiating the greeting had already fulfilled the proprieties, Third Master He continued smiling and said: \"Calling me 'Third Master' is too formal. I am your Fifth Sister's husband; from now on, just call me 'Fifth Brother-in-law'.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, the main hall fell utterly silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The families of concubines in the Great Jin are not truly considered relatives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Third Master He asked Hua Changxi to call him brother-in-law, it was tantamount to telling the Hua family that the Marquis Wu Yi's household regarded them as proper kin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That the Marquis's household would condescend to acknowledge the Hua family as relatives came as a great surprise to Hua Mingzhe and his two sons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Hongchen and Hua Hongtao, who had previously felt uneasy about their father flattering the Hua Bin family, suddenly felt relieved; if even the Young Master of the Marquis's household had to lower himself, then their own humility was certainly understandable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, had Third Master He mistaken his target for flattery?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Third Master He chosen the wrong person?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the investigation conducted by the Marquis Wu Yi's household, he knew all too well that the only person in the Hua family worth befriending was the woman standing before him: Ninth Lady Hua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason the entire Hua family consisted of cultivators today was due entirely to the decisive influence of Ninth Lady Hua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also perceived that the Hua clansmen hoped to achieve their goals by flattering Old Master Hua; if Ninth Lady Hua were an ordinary young lady who obeyed her family's every command, they might have succeeded, but she was not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ninth Lady Hua was rebellious and headstrong, possessing her own firm convictions; she never informed the Hua family of her affairs outside, proving they could not sway her thoughts or actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the He family wished to obtain the Hua family's body-refining technique, approaching Old Master Hua would be futile; they had to approach Ninth Lady Hua, for she was the true decision-maker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifth Lady Hua had not anticipated such a move from Third Master He; her first reaction was not joy, but anxiety as she looked toward Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi responded with indifference to Third Master He's blunt attempt to draw closer to her: \"Third Master He is too polite.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Hua Changxi did not accept the title of brother-in-law, Third Master He felt somewhat awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon witnessing this, Twelfth Lady Hua's eyes shifted, and she smiled as she called out, \"Fifth Brother-in-law.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Third Master He's expression brightened with delight: \"Twelfth Sister.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi paid no heed to their interaction and walked straight to the table where the younger generation was seated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Third Master He spoke again: \"Ninth Lady, come sit at this table.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Hua Changxi could respond, Old Master Hua interjected: \"Ninth Lady is a woman and a junior; in our family, she has no qualification to sit at the main table.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Third Master He looked astonished, quickly glancing at Hua Mingzhe; seeing him act as if this were only proper, he shook his head with an amused smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had originally thought that the emergence of a Count within the Hua clan would have elevated the social conduct of its members, yet he had not expected them to remain so incapable of behaving with dignity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Allocating power and status according to merit is a fundamental principle of noble families; it does not distinguish between men and women, and indeed, when a junior's power surpasses that of an elder, the elder must willingly bow to the junior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at Old Master Hua, who was posturing as the head of the household, and truly felt a surge of annoyance; it was not that she desired to sit at the main table, but rather that she detested the contempt he displayed toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ninth Lady, sit down and eat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Yao walked over, intending to pull Hua Changxi to her seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi remained standing: \"I do not wish to eat; you may eat among yourselves.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ninth Lady.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Minghe rose quickly and called out to stop Hua Changxi: \"Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, a day for family reunion; your mother has prepared many dishes you like, so please sit and eat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at him: \"Father, if a family reunion lacks even the most basic happiness, then such a reunion is unnecessary for me.\" Speaking thus, she turned her gaze to Lady Yao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mother, if you miss me in the future, come find me at the medicine shop in Fang'an Ward.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having spoken, she left the main hall without looking back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You unfilial and rebellious creature!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his granddaughter causing him such loss of face before outsiders, Old Master Hua was furious: \"Hua Ninth Lady, if you step out of this courtyard today, do not ever return to this home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi, having just stepped down from the platform, let out a scoffing laugh; disregarding Lady Yao and Third Brother Hua and Sixth Brother Hua, who rushed up to block her, she swiftly departed the Hua family compound.\u003C\u002Fp>",2226,"2026-06-12T02:51:22.172Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","274a8c623cd9d7d7df5be892256f39b875c4b1dde89733acb089ff69f2dc6d39","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-141","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-139",558,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-cover.jpg"]