[{"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-241":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},1897015,2531,"Chapter 241","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-241",241,"\u003Cp>Regarding Hua Changxi, one of only two individuals who obtained a high-grade divine wood from the secret realm, all factions remained highly attentive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon learning she would lecture in the square, reactions from various parties differed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those outside the Medical Bureau were merely surprised; for them, the lecture location mattered little, while the content taught and the skills displayed were what truly concerned them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those within the Medical Bureau reacted differently: most hall masters felt Hua Changxi was being unconventional and seeking novelty, while the physicians and apprentice disciples who wished to attend but could not squeeze into the Qihuang Hall found her gesture exceedingly considerate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the twenty-eighth day of the first lunar month, as dawn barely broke, ten thousand meditation cushions were arranged in orderly arcs radiating outward from the stone tripod at the center of the Medical Bureau's square, facing true north.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around the stone tripod, several rows of herb racks were placed, upon which washed spiritual herbs were laid out to dry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Early in the morning, apprentices, disciples, and laborers eager to secure good seats and learn more about medical arts and pill dao arrived at the square well ahead of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the square's arrangement, these people were initially stunned, then filled with delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone who comes to listen today should be able to find a seat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although these people arrived earliest, they did not take the rows of cushions nearest the stone tripod, but voluntarily chose positions relatively further back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time the eight herb boys from Qihuang Hall No. 13 reached the square, the middle rows of cushions were fully occupied, while the frontmost rows remained untouched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Witnessing this scene, Hua Shuran and the others recalled Hua Changxi's instructions from yesterday and simultaneously looked toward Pharmacist Xu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pharmacist Xu felt utterly helpless; he swallowed hard, steeled his resolve, and strode toward those seated in the middle rows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone, move forward! Hall Master Hua said opportunities are reserved for the prepared; since you arrived first, you have the chance to choose the best seats.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Pharmacist Xu leading the way, Hua Shuran and the other seven gradually joined in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone, move forward! Although Hall Master Hua will use sound transmission techniques during the lecture to ensure everyone can hear, the experience sitting in front will surely be different.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When Hall Master Hua lectures, she will use spiritual herbs to aid everyone's identification; those sitting closer will certainly see more clearly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the mobilization efforts of Pharmacist Xu and the other seven, quite a few people indeed began to stir with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Passerby A: \"Can we really sit anywhere we like?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Sirong: \"As long as a seat is unoccupied, those who arrive first may take it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Passerby B: \"What if we take the first row, and then important figures arrive later and demand we give up our seats? By then, we might not even have a spot in the middle rows left.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pharmacist Xu: \"That is not your concern; just go ahead and sit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although many were eager to move, very few actually dared to step forward and take seats in the front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the commotion in the square, Gu Xing emerged from the old courtyard; gazing at the square's arrangement, his expression briefly turned absent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the lecture scenes of previous hall masters, this one finally resembled a proper venue for transmitting the Dao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After clearly hearing the repeated shouts of Pharmacist Xu and the other seven, a hint of amusement flickered in Gu Xing's eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That girl Hua Changxi, though somewhat reckless in her actions, possessed a solitary courage akin to 'though millions oppose me, I shall go forward'!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let us go and take our seats as well, to hear what that girl intends to teach.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During previous hall masters' lectures, Gu Xing had been too lazy to socialize with various factions, usually arriving just in time; but for Hua Changxi's lecture, he was full of anticipation, eagerly leading Grandmother Sun and several capable assistants to the square.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Xing naturally intended to listen to Hua Changxi's lecture up close; he walked directly to the central seat of the first row of cushions and sat down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grandmother Sun and the others sat beside Gu Xing, filling the first row sequentially to his right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the right section of the first row, two bold cultivators had already taken seats, coincidentally colliding with Grandmother Sun's group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as those two cultivators hesitated over whether to yield their seats, Gu Xing spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You arrived first, so those seats belong to you; sit there peacefully and steadily.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having spoken, Gu Xing instructed his trusted aide to sit on his left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other cultivators were all watching this scene; seeing that the two who occupied the first row were not 'asked to yield,' those who had previously been hesitant began moving forward one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the numbers were still not large, the frontmost rows of cushions were no longer empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time other Qihuang Hall masters and representatives of various factions arrived, they discovered that few good seats remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to Gu Xing's 'encouragement' and 'approachability,' the entire first row was already filled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Prince Shou and others standing outside the square without seats, Pharmacist Xu and the other seven, though inwardly anxious, still summoned the courage to shout loudly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'First come, first choose a seat!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Take your seats in order; do not seize others' positions!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only were Pharmacist Xu and the eight others uneasy, but the laborers, apprentices, and disciples seated in the front rows also felt somewhat restless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Director Gu arrived with several disciples, he saw Prince Shou and his entourage looking displeased; after glancing at the 'chaotic and disordered' seating arrangement in the square, he paused briefly, then urgently exclaimed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you still standing there for? Quick, take your seats, or soon there won't even be any spots left in the second row!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, Prince Shou and the others watched in astonishment as Director Gu truly rushed off in a panic to 'snatch good seats' alongside everyone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Junhao took a deep breath: \"Imperial Uncle, let us also hurry and take our seats.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Shou glared at Chu Junhao; holding himself as a prince, he could not bring himself to snatch seats from others in public, so he could only walk toward the second row of cushions with a grim face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that even Prince Shou had compromised, the other hall masters found it difficult to continue standing idly and gradually followed suit, taking their seats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Jinfan watched this scene, her eyes flashing constantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi... seemed always capable of doing things beyond her expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, after Director Gu sat in the second row and saw Prince Shou and others forced to sit among the crowd, his expression became quite emotional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To stir the bottomless dead water of the capital, the Minister had launched several 'stone-throwing to test the depths' maneuvers, yet not a single ripple appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the emergence of the Dao-Protecting Families had stirred some undercurrents, this dead water remained as 'calm' as ever, its internal order from top to bottom completely unshaken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regarding the Dao-Protecting Families, the Minister had actually held great expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, the appearance of the Dao-Protecting Families not only failed to revitalize the dead water, but instead joined as another powerful faction, making this dead water even deeper and more stagnant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention the Minister; even he felt utterly disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never did he expect Hua Changxi to descend from the heavens!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi was like a meteor falling from the sky, shaking the dead water all by herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Prince Shou and others scattered among the crowd, Director Gu's eyes shone brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lofty imperial house has been relegated to the rear!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant that certain things had begun to shift!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pity the Minister did not come today; if he knew that the \"new atmosphere\" he had long schemed for was achieved merely through a slight rearrangement of seats, he would be utterly vexed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Director Gu suddenly felt a surge of anticipation, hoping Hua Changxi's future path would be long and enduring; moreover, her head must be hard as iron, that she might walk this road without ever giving up halfway!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other attendees, seeing that Prince Shou and the others had not asked those already seated to yield their places, hesitated no longer and hurried forward to take seats in the front rows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time the Dao-protecting families led by the Xia clan, along with the Meng and Dongfang clans centered around Meng Qingyao, arrived at the square, only a few empty cushions remained in the back rows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did Hua Changxi not arrange seats for us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ziyang and the others were dumbfounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wherever the Dao-protecting families went, they were treated as honored guests; they never expected that coming to support Hua Changxi, she would not even arrange seats for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does Hua Changxi truly have no intention of joining the Lingjing Pavilion? She shows us far too little face!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dongfang Hao scanned the square; upon seeing that the seating for Prince Shou and other dignitaries was scattered, with many seats quite remote and far to the rear, his expression trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She is not slighting us; she is treating us the same as everyone else.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Dongfang Hao suddenly felt a trace of admiration for Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Admiration for her boldness and courage!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether the Medical Bureau or the Dao-protecting families, the rules they followed were inherited generation after generation; though solid and reliable, they lacked vitality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The resurgence of spiritual energy undoubtedly marked the beginning of a new era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a new era, the old customs clearly no longer applied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At such a time, someone must step forward to break the old rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi... seemed to be precisely such a person!\u003C\u002Fp>",1642,"2026-06-12T02:51:23.636Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","40c25893b1aae9b1093b6829507f0903ee2c7b011b358bc7b811f3a56d816c3d","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-242","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-240",558,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-cover.jpg"]