Chapter 24: Pushing One's Luck

The news of Hua Changxi causing a scene in the warehouse spread throughout the entire Menial Hall in less than a day.

Working in the Menial Hall meant repeating heavy manual labor every day. With no entertainment and constantly under pressure, a fight became the focus of everyone's attention—a topic of conversation to spice up their dull lives.

"Hua Changxi, you didn't take what I warned you about to heart at all. Not only did you start a fight in the Sixth Bureau, but you even went to the warehouse to do it."

When Du Ruo learned of the incident, she came to find Hua Changxi, looking thoroughly annoyed.

Hua Changxi did not think she had done anything wrong: "Steward Du, I didn't want to fight either, but the people in the warehouse were mocking me, and I couldn't endure it."

Du Ruo was so angry she blurted out: "Why don't they mock others? It's because you don't carry yourself properly!"

Hua Changxi's face turned cold instantly: "Steward Du, I am the victim here. I don't expect you to show me any sympathy, but is it not going too far for you to turn around and blame me?"

"You are a veteran of the Menial Hall and a woman yourself; you should know very well what kind of humiliation I suffered. When faced with such a situation, you might choose to swallow your pride, but what is wrong with me rising up to resist?"

Du Ruo was left speechless. After a moment of silence, she said: "That Mao Wei you beat has a brother who is a martial artist and a minor steward at the Medicine Manor. You had better look out for yourself."

Hua Changxi heard Du Ruo's words, but she didn't take them to heart.

She had already beaten the person, and she didn't regret it. As for what would happen later, she would deal with it when it came.

For Hua Changxi now, the most important things were cultivation and obtaining medical inheritance; everything else had to take a backseat.

Ever since she could no longer sleep in, Hua Changxi began using her mornings to clean medicinal herbs, while her afternoons and evenings were spent on cultivation.

Because she had the Qi-Spirit Powder, her cultivation speed had increased significantly.

At first, she thought she could only refine and absorb 10 grams of Qi-Spirit Powder in one night, but after absorbing it a few more times, she discovered she could refine and absorb a dose every two hours.

In this way, she could refine and absorb 40 grams of Qi-Spirit Powder a day, increasing her realm points by 80 points daily.

Hua Changxi was immersed in the sense of achievement from rapid cultivation, and in the blink of an eye, it was mid-October.

By this time, the Qi-Spirit Powder was exhausted, and Hua Changxi had successfully broken through 1,000 realm points.

【Realm: Qi Refining Stage 1055/1000】

For some reason, after the realm points broke 1,000, her realm did not improve.

Hua Changxi was very confused about this, but there was no one to clarify it for her. Since the Qi-Spirit Powder was gone, she could only continue her slow, step-by-step cultivation.

"Hua Changxi, someone is looking for you."

A shout came from outside the room. Hua Changxi walked out and saw a strange woman calling for her.

As soon as the woman saw her, she became very enthusiastic: "Little Miss Hua, Pharmacist Xu from the Jiujie is looking for you. He is right outside the gate of the Sixth Bureau."

"Thank you, Auntie."

After thanking her, Hua Changxi walked quickly to the front courtyard.

"Uncle Xu!"

Pharmacist Xu did not enter the Sixth Bureau but waited outside the courtyard. Seeing Hua Changxi come out, he immediately beamed. When she walked closer, he looked her over carefully and asked with concern: "Jiuniang, are you doing well in the Menial Hall?"

Hua Changxi smiled: "Uncle Xu, I'm doing just fine."

Seeing that Hua Changxi's complexion was rosy and she didn't look haggard from overwork, Pharmacist Xu felt much more at ease.

Hua Changxi: "Uncle Xu, what did you come to see me for?"

Pharmacist Xu: "Your Sixth Brother came to my house last night and asked me to tell you that your Fifth Sister is getting married on the twentieth of October, and he wants you to go back to see her off."

The smile on Hua Changxi's face stiffened: "Fifth Sister is getting married so soon?"

Pharmacist Xu knew about Hua Wuniang being a concubine and didn't know what to say. He took a porcelain bottle from his bosom and stuffed it into Hua Changxi's hand: "This is the body-strengthening pill I usually refine. The Menial Hall's work is heavy, and you are still growing. Take one every day and take good care of your health."

Holding the porcelain bottle, Hua Changxi was moved: "Thank you, Uncle Xu. I will take good care of myself."

Pharmacist Xu: "I have things to do, so I'll be going now. Remember, if you run into trouble, you must come to the Jiujie to find me."

Hua Changxi nodded: "I will. Take care, Uncle Xu."

Watching Pharmacist Xu leave, Hua Changxi didn't turn back to the Sixth Bureau courtyard until he was out of sight.

On the way back to her room, she noticed many people looking at her.

Hua Changxi understood perfectly well that Pharmacist Xu's appearance had solidified the fact that she really had a backer in the Medical Department. With this connection, she would have less trouble in the future.

Lu Qingluo was very puzzled: "Since Hua Changxi knows a pharmacist from the Jiujie, why did she come to the Menial Hall to be a menial servant?"

Wang Yunchu hummed: "Why else? Either Hua Changxi's relationship with that pharmacist isn't that good, or that pharmacist doesn't have much say in the Medical Department."

Because Hua Wuniang was going to be carried into the Marquis's mansion as a concubine in a few days, Hua Changxi's joy over breaking through 1,000 realm points faded.

Regardless of anything else, they were sisters, and she should go back to see her off.

By evening, when Du Ruo had finished her work, Hua Changxi went to find her: "Steward Du, I've been in the Menial Hall for almost a month. I'd like to take a day off on the twentieth of October to go home."

Du Ruo shook her head: "The twentieth of October won't work. In our group, there's no special restriction on the one day of leave per month, but only one person can be off at a time. Usually, whoever has something to do on a certain day takes that day off."

"Shi Yu reported to me a few days ago that she has something to do and needs to go home on the twentieth. To avoid delaying the work, you'll have to pick another day to rest."

Upon hearing this, Hua Changxi became anxious: "Can it be changed? My sister is getting married on the twentieth, and I have to go see her off."

Du Ruo: "You'll have to talk to Shi Yu about that yourself."

Hua Changxi: "Alright, I'll go find Sister Shi right now."

Shi Yu, Lu Qingluo, and the others were still cleaning herbs. They were surprised to see Hua Changxi come over.

Hua Changxi walked up to Shi Yu: "Sister Shi, could you spare a moment? I'd like to talk to you about something."

Shi Yu straightened up, looking curious: "What do you want to talk to me about?"

Hua Changxi: "I want to take my leave on the twentieth, and I was hoping to swap with you."

Shi Yu shook her head directly: "No, I have something to do on the twentieth."

Hua Changxi: "...... I won't swap for nothing. If you agree to swap with me, I'll help you clean herbs for a day. That way, plus your monthly leave, you can take two days off together. How about that?"

Shi Yu was tempted and wanted to agree immediately, but after seeing the woman beside her give her a look, she thought for a moment and raised the price: "One day isn't enough. You have to help me clean herbs for two days."

Hua Changxi was silent for a moment, but still agreed: "Alright, I'll help you clean herbs for two days. Then it's settled: I'll take my leave on the twentieth."

Shi Yu smiled and agreed. With Hua Changxi helping her clean herbs for two days, plus her own one day of monthly leave, she could go home and rest for three days this month.

After Hua Changxi left, Shi Yu was still happy about being able to take two extra days off this month, but at this moment, the Lin-surnamed woman and the Zhao-surnamed woman in the same group felt it was a pity for her.

Sister Lin: "Shi Yu, you are too honest."

Auntie Zhao: "Exactly. Hua Changxi cleans herbs so fast. Now that she needs you, why did you only ask her to help you clean for two days?"

Shi Yu was stunned: "Isn't two days enough?"

Auntie Zhao hummed: "If I were you, I would definitely make Hua Changxi help me clean for three days."

Sister Lin: "Three days? You underestimate Hua Changxi's ability. If you ask me, you should have made her help clean for at least five days."

"Five days!"

Shi Yu exclaimed: "Isn't that too much?"

Auntie Zhao: "For others, it's a bit much, but Hua Changxi can finish cleaning 500 herbs in half a day. Five days' worth of herbs is only 2,500. She can finish that in two and a half days. To her, it's nothing."

"This......"

Shi Yu hesitated, but she was tempted.

Wang Yunchu, Lu Qingluo, and the other young ladies on the side listened silently to the three women's conversation and exchanged silent glances.

When they saw Shi Yu actually leave the ditch and head to the backyard to find Hua Changxi, Wang Yunchu muttered in a low voice: "They are really pushing their luck. Do you think Hua Changxi will agree?"

Lu Qingluo: "...... She probably will. Changxi looked really anxious just now. She must have something very important on the twentieth."

Wang Yunchu, however, shook her head: "I don't think Hua Changxi will agree."

In the dormitory, Hua Changxi was looking at the body-strengthening pills Pharmacist Xu had given her.

The small porcelain bottle, half a palm high, contained ten pills. Hua Changxi poured one out, put it in her mouth to taste, and quickly identified which herbs were used inside.

The pills had the effect of nourishing Qi and blood and consolidating the foundation. Moreover, they contained several herbs used by martial artists, making the efficacy even more significant.

If these pills were sold outside, they could fetch at least five taels of silver each.

Fifty taels of silver at once—Hua Changxi was moved by Pharmacist Xu's care for her.

Speaking of which, the reason she and Pharmacist Xu were able to get to know each other was thanks to her Western medical knowledge from her previous life.

During a chance consultation, Hua Changxi was explaining Western medical theories to the resident physician at the Hua family's pharmacy when Pharmacist Xu, who had come to buy medicine, overheard her.

Some of the Western medical theories were refreshing to Pharmacist Xu, which led him to often come to the Hua family's pharmacy to discuss medicine with Hua Changxi.

After going back and forth, their relationship grew close.

Hua Changxi carefully put away the medicine bottle. With Fifth Sister getting married, she, as a younger sister, should present a gift, but she had no money, and her monthly allowance as a menial servant wouldn't be available until the end of October.

The bottle of body-strengthening pills sent by Pharmacist Xu was truly timely; it could be used as a gift for Fifth Sister.

"Changxi......"

Shi Yu walked into the room.

Hua Changxi looked up at her: "Sister Shi, is something the matter?"

Shi Yu smiled and said: "Changxi, I've thought about it. I have something very important to do when I go home on the twentieth. If I delay it, it will take at least five days to get it sorted out again. So, if you want to swap leave time with me, you have to help me clean herbs for five days."

Seeing Hua Changxi looking at her expressionlessly, Shi Yu quickly added: "I know my request is a bit excessive, but cleaning 2,500 herbs isn't difficult for you......"

Hua Changxi was so amused by Shi Yu's greed that she laughed: "Sister Shi, I need to consider this. I'll tell you when I've made up my mind."

Seeing that Hua Changxi didn't agree immediately, Shi Yu felt a bit uneasy: "Alright, then I'll go back to work."

As soon as she left, Hua Changxi went out to find Du Ruo: "Steward Du, I'll get up early on the twentieth to clean the herbs. Can I go home after I finish?"

Du Ruo was surprised: "Shi Yu doesn't want to swap leave with you?"

Hua Changxi smiled: "Sister Shi wants me to help her clean herbs for five days before she's willing to swap with me."

Hearing this, Du Ruo frowned and thought for a moment: "The warehouse opens at 6:00 AM. After you finish collecting the herbs and cleaning them, will you still have time to go home?"

Hua Changxi nodded: "I can."

Hearing this, Du Ruo said no more: "Alright, as long as you finish your work for the day on the twentieth, you can go home."

Hua Changxi smiled: "Thank you, Steward Du."

Leaving Steward Du's room, Hua Changxi went to the ditch and said to Shi Yu: "Sister Shi, I've thought about it. I'm not swapping leave with you." After saying this, she left without looking back.

Shi Yu was dumbfounded, looking at Sister Lin and Auntie Zhao in confusion: "Why did she change her mind?"

Sister Lin and Auntie Zhao exchanged glances and said nothing.

Wang Yunchu chuckled softly: "I told you, Hua Changxi is not someone to be trifled with. How could she possibly agree to Sister Shi's excessive conditions?" ===== CHAPTER 25 =====