[{"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-33":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},1896807,2531,"Chapter 33: Harmful Power","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-33",33,"\u003Cp>\"Brother Yu, can you still bring in partners?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi thought for a moment; although Yu Gui managed the warehouse and discarded medicinal herbs were countless, embezzling some once or twice was fine, but if it happened too often, they would surely be discovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If such matters went undiscovered, all would be well, but once found out, punishment was certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Yu Gui hurriedly said, \"Sister Changxi, the fewer people who know about this, the better; how could we let others know?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi replied, \"Brother Yu, what I mean is that regarding the embezzlement of discarded medicinal herbs, we had best make it official.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui was speechless: \"Sister Changxi, why are you so naive? How could such a matter ever be made official?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi countered, \"Why not? Didn't you say that many inferior pills outside are refined from discarded medicinal herbs? Since pills for martial artists sell at high prices, the profits within must be substantial; could it be that no one in the warehouse wants to share in this pie?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui said, \"Even if they want to, I've already told you: the merchants who come to collect discarded medicinal herbs are designated by those above, and they all have powerful patrons backing them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Although these are merely discarded herbs, how they are distributed is not decided by the warehouse alone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi pondered for a while before asking again, \"Brother Yu, who holds the greatest authority in this warehouse?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui answered, \"Naturally, it is my godfather, Eunuch Yu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's eyes lit up as she quickly asked, \"What kind of person is Eunuch Yu?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui retorted, \"What do you intend to do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi said, \"I want you to tell Eunuch Yu that I can refine pills using discarded medicinal herbs.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui remained silent, his expression hesitant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Hua Changxi explained carefully, \"Brother Yu, think about it: if the discarded herbs cannot be taken out, and within the Labor Hall only you and I cooperate, the first problem we face is where to refine the pills; can you find a place for me to do so?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui frowned, his lips pressed tightly together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi continued, \"I trust your control over Warehouse No. 5 enough to embezzle herbs without detection, but since you manage only one warehouse, the variety of usable herbs you can find among the discarded ones is limited.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eunuch Yu is different; he manages all warehouses and can mobilize all discarded herbs; with him stepping forward, we will obtain a greater variety of herbs, allowing me to refine more types of pills.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Furthermore, with Eunuch Yu standing in front, even if someone discovers the embezzlement of discarded herbs, I doubt anyone would dare say anything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Yu, what do you think?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of silence, Yu Gui looked at Hua Changxi and said, \"Sister Changxi, if my godfather gets involved in this matter, our fifty-fifty profit split will no longer apply.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his attitude soften, Hua Changxi immediately smiled and said, \"How about this: Eunuch Yu takes forty percent, while you and I each take thirty percent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui looked at the 'naive' Hua Changxi and said, \"Sister Changxi, have you considered that if my godfather refuses such a split and demands the lion's share—say, eighty percent for himself and ten percent each for us—or even takes everything, leaving you only a small fee for your trouble, what will you do then?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi naturally objected: \"Is Eunuch Yu so greedy?\" Seeing Yu Gui remain silent, she immediately added, \"Then forget everything I just said.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui, however, began to explain: \"My godfather once held a modest position within the Inner Court, but unfortunately, he got entangled in struggles between powerful figures, and all his life savings were confiscated by the state.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even though he was later proven innocent, his accumulated wealth was never returned; after being assigned to guard the warehouses, he has been desperately trying to scrape together silver.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As the steward of Warehouse No. 5, I give every single coin of the monthly tribute from my subordinates to him without keeping a penny for myself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Hua Changxi, Yu Gui said, \"The fact that you can refine martial artist pills from discarded herbs will surely tempt my godfather, but I truly have no idea how the profits should be divided.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Hua Changxi also felt uncertain; previously, after obtaining the Yuan Spirit Grass, she had refined it in the canteen of the Sixth Bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although her relationship with the canteen staff was currently decent, if she refined pills too often, it would surely attract attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Yu, I sleep in a communal dormitory; can you find a place for me to refine pills?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This issue was also tricky for Yu Gui; although he lived in a single room, the constant smell of medicine emanating from it would certainly be problematic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him remain silent, Hua Changxi knew he had no solution either; after thinking for a moment, she asked, \"Brother Yu, is Eunuch Yu the type to turn against someone and deny any prior relationship?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui did not quite understand Hua Changxi's meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi clarified, \"I mean, you tell Eunuch Yu that I can refine pills from discarded herbs, and I will negotiate the profit distribution with him directly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I just want to know: if we fail to reach an agreement, will he bear a grudge against me because of it, seek revenge, and drive me out of the Labor Hall?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui hesitated before saying, \"My godfather is somewhat magnanimous and treats his own people quite well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His own people?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi thought to herself that she was clearly not one of 'his own people' in Eunuch Yu's eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Yu, perhaps we should forget it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Hua Changxi very much wanted to facilitate this cooperation, she deliberately adopted an attitude of wanting to back out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She and Yu Gui were called friends, but this friendship was not particularly solid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Yu Gui, Eunuch Yu was certainly more important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the cooperation truly succeeded and Eunuch Yu became involved, Yu Gui would undoubtedly side with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could not appear too eager now; who knew whether Yu Gui might align with Eunuch Yu to jointly squeeze her profits?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui grew anxious: \"Don't give up!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi said, \"Brother Yu, you know my nature; I will certainly not work for free. Rather than offend Eunuch Yu over a failed profit negotiation, I might as well not start at all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, she turned around and began inspecting the medicinal herbs in the warehouse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her act this way, Yu Gui paced back and forth several times before rushing to Hua Changxi's side: \"I will speak to my godfather; even if it fails, I promise it will not implicate you, sister.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joy flashed in Hua Changxi's eyes, yet verbally she said, \"Brother Yu, perhaps we really should forget it; what if you offend Eunuch Yu because of this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui waved his hand, acting as if to tell Hua Changxi not to worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the third day after discussing the pill-refining cooperation with Yu Gui, Hua Changxi was intercepted by a young eunuch while going to collect medicinal herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eunuch Yu wishes to see you; follow me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young eunuch spoke in an unnegotiable tone and, without waiting for Hua Changxi's response, turned and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi watched the eunuch's retreating figure, remained silent for a moment, and then ultimately quickened her pace to follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crossing more than half of the Labor Hall, Hua Changxi followed the eunuch to a courtyard in the northwest corner of the warehouse area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the steps leading to the main house of the courtyard, a middle-aged eunuch with a pale beard sat in a reclining chair, sipping tea leisurely; standing behind him to his right was Yu Gui, whose face showed signs of nervousness and apprehension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After bringing Hua Changxi into the courtyard, the young eunuch pointed to a pile of discarded medicinal herbs in the yard and said, \"These are some of the discarded herbs from yesterday; pick out the usable ones from among them. Over there are the pill-refining tools; refine a few types of pills for the Eunuch to see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi did not move; she glanced at Eunuch Yu on the steps, who seemed to have no interest in her whatsoever, having only glanced at her when she entered and not looking at her since.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not ask who she was, nor why she knew how to refine pills; there were only commands and orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the gap created by power; regardless of willingness, she had no choice but to obey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi had not forgotten that one of her original intentions for joining the Medical Bureau was to improve her medical skills. Although fate had granted her a head full of medical knowledge, she remained inexperienced in practical application.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She lacked the money to purchase large quantities of medicinal herbs for practice; thus, these discarded herbs had become the most accessible resources available to her at this stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hurry up; the Eunuch is waiting to watch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Hua Changxi standing motionless, the young eunuch impatiently urged her again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanting to secure the cooperation, Hua Changxi lowered her head despite her inner discomfort, estimating that the pile of discarded herbs amounted to at least five or six cartloads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, she had to hide and sneak even when taking a few withered herbs, yet here someone had dragged so many cartloads and placed them openly in the courtyard; this was the difference between having power and having none.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi knew clearly that only by demonstrating corresponding pill-refining skills would that Eunuch Yu deign to speak with her, so she began sorting through the herbs freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the steps, Eunuch Yu appeared casual, yet in reality, he was closely observing Hua Changxi's every move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This little girl dared to openly size him up; indeed, just as Yu Gui had said, she possessed a measure of courage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, he cared nothing for the temperament of a young lady; what concerned him was whether this little girl could truly refine pills suitable for martial artists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Hua Changxi began selecting herbs from the pile of discards, Eunuch Yu started paying close attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, upon seeing the specific herbs Hua Changxi picked out, Eunuch Yu's brows knitted tighter and tighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He himself was a seventh-grade martial artist; though he could not refine pills, he was familiar with the formulas for pills commonly used by martial artists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The herbs the little girl selected clearly did not match any formula he knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Yu glanced at his godson behind him; seeing the man covered in cold sweat, he felt some disdain. This godson had keen eyes, but lacked courage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least one-third of the discarded herbs still retained medicinal efficacy. Hua Changxi did not select much, picking only the herbs needed to refine Qi and Blood Pills, Body-Tempering Pills, and Foundation-Stabilizing Pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, she did not know the specific formulas for the martial artist pills sold on the market, but based on the detailed explanations of medicinal properties in the *Annotations on the Hundred Herbs*, she could formulate corresponding recipes herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Hua Changxi began processing the herbs, Eunuch Yu's expression turned serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's techniques for handling the herbs were too skilled: washing, soaking, grinding, mixing into paste, rolling into pills, and finally baking over a low flame on the stove—every step was performed perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Yu had stayed in the Medical Bureau for several years; he knew many alchemists and had witnessed alchemists refining pills firsthand, yet none had executed the process as smoothly and naturally as this little girl before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly, the variety of medicinal herbs she used to refine the pills was far too small.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smelling the fragrance of medicine drifting through the courtyard, Eunuch Yu had already guessed that the three types of pills Hua Changxi was refining were Qi and Blood Pills, Body-Tempering Pills, and Foundation-Stabilizing Pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He happened to know the formulas for all three types of pills, and what he knew were the standard formulas used by the Medical Bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the Qi and Blood Pills used by first-grade martial artists to enhance their vitality, the Medical Bureau's formula required twelve kinds of herbs, yet the girl before him used only three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the Body-Tempering Pills, for martial artists below the third grade, the more body tempering the better; the Medical Bureau's formula required over fifty kinds of herbs, yet the little girl used only eight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the Foundation-Stabilizing Pills, which healed injuries and benefited all martial artists, the Medical Bureau's formula required over twenty kinds of herbs, yet the little girl used only five.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unable to contain his impatience, Eunuch Yu walked to the stove; disregarding that the pills were not yet finished refining, he reached out, took a Qi and Blood Pill, and put it in his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The effect of the pill far exceeded Eunuch Yu's expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Yu suddenly turned his head to look at Hua Changxi, his eyes shining with golden light; at this moment, in his eyes, Hua Changxi was a glittering gold ingot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Regarding the matter Yu Gui mentioned, this old one agrees, but I will give you only one share of the profits.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked him straight in the eye: \"Forty percent is my bottom line.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuch Yu burst into loud laughter, then his smile vanished instantly as he looked at Hua Changxi with a gloomy expression: \"Do you have the qualification to bargain with this old one?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's expression remained unchanged: \"Then find someone else to refine pills for you.\" Saying this, she turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Yu Gui's face changed drastically; he trotted over to grab Hua Changxi, but just as his hand touched her arm, he fell to his knees with a thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled by the sight, Hua Changxi said, \"Big Brother Yu, even if the deal falls through, goodwill remains; there is no need for you to kneel to me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did Yu Gui want to kneel? No. At this moment, Yu Gui felt as though a force like a great mountain was pressing down on him; he had no choice but to kneel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui knew that his godfather had activated his internal energy, intending to force Sister Changxi to agree, but the range of the energy radiation was too wide, affecting him as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What baffled him was that since he had already knelt, why did Sister Changxi show no reaction at all?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing bean-sized beads of sweat visibly seeping from Yu Gui's forehead, gathering into streams that flowed down his cheeks, Hua Changxi immediately sensed something amiss and involuntarily looked up at Eunuch Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did she realize that the young eunuch who had led her here was also kneeling prostrate on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the way Eunuch Yu was looking at her was truly peculiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi blinked her eyes; she and Eunuch Yu stared at each other wide-eyed for a moment, and she seemed to understand something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Eunuch Yu moved, suddenly launching an attack against Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Yu Gui and the young eunuch, Eunuch Yu's thrown fist was fast and fierce, but in Hua Changxi's eyes, his fist approached her as slowly as a snail crawling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi raised her right hand, using only her thumb, index finger, and middle finger; lightly, as if holding a writing brush, she effortlessly seized Eunuch Yu's wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After learning the Wave-Walking Micro-Step, she had spent considerable time studying the *Five Finger Mountain*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The *Five Finger Mountain* technique was extremely powerful, integrating offensive methods of the palm, fist, finger, and claw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Eunuch Yu's hand could not move even an inch between her three fingers, Hua Changxi curled the corners of her mouth, very satisfied with the power displayed by the Five Finger Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Hua Changxi was secretly delighted, a stormy wave surged in Eunuch Yu's heart, and simultaneously, a look of terror appeared in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You... you are a martial artist?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, her martial cultivation was even higher than his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi flicked Eunuch Yu's wrist away; only after he retreated several steps and regained his footing did she say, \"If we cannot cooperate, so be it; why would Eunuch Yu want to attack and injure someone?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing his shock, Eunuch Yu forced a smile: \"Young Lady Hua misunderstands. Yu Gui is my godson, and you are his friend. Even for his sake, this old one would not make things difficult for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It shall be as you say. Henceforth, this old one will provide the discarded herbs and this courtyard for pill refining. You will be responsible for refining the pills. Of the refined pills, you and I will split them forty-sixty... no, you and I will split them forty-forty, and the remaining twenty percent will go to Yu Gui.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi felt excited in her heart; she was actually getting one share more than she had anticipated!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she had stated forty percent earlier, she had been expecting Eunuch Yu to bargain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing her secret joy, Hua Changxi smiled at Eunuch Yu: \"Very well, let us proceed as Eunuch Yu says. I hope our future cooperation will be pleasant.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, possessing skill alone is not enough; one must also have powerful martial strength.\u003C\u002Fp>",2914,"2026-06-12T02:51:22.172Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","e9b58b3890609904c429f09e71d30223866873e463e817b29fc1d29ce2f2e366","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-34","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-32",558,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-cover.jpg"]