[{"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-349":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},1897123,2531,"Chapter 349: Probing","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-349",349,"\u003Cp>In the main hall of a guest courtyard within the Dingyuan Count's Manor, Old Master Hua sat with furrowed brows, lost in thought, while Old Mistress Hua sighed heavily; the rest of the Hua family either wore faces clouded with worry and despair or fidgeted restlessly, words caught in their throats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle Hua was the first to lose his composure: \"May is almost here; even if Ninth Lady suffered severe injuries, shouldn't she have recovered by now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Minghe frowned: \"Second Brother, what do you mean by that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle Hua looked at him and spoke bluntly: \"Eldest Brother, I've wanted to say this for a long time. Ever since Ninth Lady began cultivating, she has become arrogantly insufferable, growing increasingly distant from the family as if afraid we would become a burden to her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know we have all benefited from her to some extent; for that, I thank her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, she has also brought no small amount of trouble upon this family.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won't even mention the incident when the Danyuan Secret Realm was recruiting apprentices; just this time, she offended the Liang Duke Prefecture. She herself is fine, hiding away on Danyuan Peak and refusing to show her face, while leaving us to bear all the resulting troubles.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, both Hua Minghe and Lady Yao changed color; before either could speak, Old Master Hua slammed his hand on the table with a loud bang, glaring at Second Uncle Hua: \"You are regressing with age! Let me ask you, what exactly have you borne?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle Hua opened his mouth, stammering: \"I... we became the punching bags for the Liang Duke Prefecture in Ninth Lady's stead. If not for our quick wits in avoiding the direct attacks from the cultivators sent by the Liang Duke Prefecture, Father, you might have had to bury your own child.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ptui, ptui, ptui!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Mistress Hua quickly intervened to stop him: \"Speak without such taboo words!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle Hua retorted: \"What is there to be taboo about? Given Ninth Lady's talent for causing trouble, I fear that day will inevitably come for someone in our family sooner or later.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him grow more agitated with every word, Old Mistress Hua snapped sternly: \"Shut your mouth!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua also looked at him with cold eyes, stating gravely: \"Second Son, if you fear death, you had best stop being a cultivator.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle Hua choked on his words, unable to understand why the Old Master was siding with Ninth Lady this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not that Old Master Hua was biased in favor of his ninth granddaughter; rather, he saw the situation clearly: in this confrontation between Ninth Lady and the Liang Duke Prefecture, she was not entirely at a disadvantage, nor had she completely lost the support of the people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Firstly, the Count's Manor had treated their family with considerable courtesy; even the Wuyi Marquis Manor frequently sent people to visit them, each time bringing items entrusted by Fifth Lady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apart from being unable to leave the Count's Manor, their lives were not as difficult as they had imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Secondly, the Liang Duke Prefecture did not seem intent on killing the Hua family; although all three sons and their wives had been attacked, their injuries were not severe, and after one or two months of recuperation, they had all fully recovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He vaguely sensed that the Liang Duke Prefecture had certain scruples regarding the Hua family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua sighed inwardly; his ninth granddaughter had already grown powerful enough to deter a Duke Prefecture!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grandfather, Grandmother, Father, Mother!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Eldest Hua and Sixth Hua entered together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing these two grandsons who could now stand on their own, Old Master Hua's furrowed brows relaxed slightly as he asked with concern: \"You two run to the Count's Manor every day; have the people from the Liang Duke Prefecture given you any trouble?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eldest Hua reassured the Old Master: \"Grandfather, rest assured. Although the Liang Duke Prefecture is powerful, it holds no weight when facing the Demon-Suppressing Army and the Artifact Sage Palace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he was now a Battalion Commander in the Demon-Suppressing Army; though not a high-ranking general, anyone wishing to move against him would first have to consider whether the Demon-Suppressing Army would agree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Sixth Hua, he was himself a Nascent Soul cultivator and a direct disciple of the Artifact Sage Palace; for the Liang Duke Prefecture to act against him, there were far more factors they would need to weigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Yao looked at her eldest and youngest sons, asking anxiously: \"Have you received any news about Ninth Lady?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixth Hua shook his head: \"I just went to Danyuan Peak to find Third Brother; he said there has been no movement from Ninth Lady's bamboo hut.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Lady Yao grew even more worried: \"Ninth Lady must be severely injured.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Minghe took Lady Yao's hand, his eyes also filled with deep concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This daughter of theirs, Ninth Lady, had a nature that was too solitary; she loved shouldering burdens alone, so that even when the family wished to help her, they often did not know where to begin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixth Hua took out a storage bag, stood up, and handed it to Old Master Hua: \"Grandfather, I withdrew a sum of spirit stones from the Artifact Sage Palace, and Third Brother obtained a batch of pills from Steward Yu Fu at Danyuan Peak; please find an opportunity to present these to the Marquis.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua silently put away the storage bag; since the Count's Manor had voluntarily taken their entire family in, they could not show no gratitude in return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle Hua suddenly turned to Sixth Hua: \"Sixth Lang, do you also possess that so-called Xuanhuang Fruit which the Liang Duke Prefecture is demanding?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, the room instantly fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixth Hua: \"...Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle Hua's eyes lit up; he quickly moved to sit beside Sixth Hua: \"Sixth Lang, our family cannot remain trapped within the Count's Manor forever. Your Second Uncle thinks you surely cannot bear to watch your Fourth Brother and the others remain unable to go out and temper themselves, correct?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In your Second Uncle's opinion, we had best reconcile with the Liang Duke Prefecture; so... why don't you provide the Xuanhuang Fruit that the Liang Duke Prefecture demands on behalf of Ninth Lady?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Eldest Hua immediately furrowed his brows; he instinctively wanted to intervene and relieve his younger brother of this dilemma, but the words died on his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly wanted to know what choice Sixth Lang would make: would he value his family more, or material possessions?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixth Hua, however, thought of the Nascent Soul cultivator sent by the Liang Duke Prefecture to keep watch outside the Dingyuan Count's Manor; with that cultivator present, the Liang Duke Prefecture would know the moment any member of the Hua family left the manor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people of the Liang Duke Prefecture might find it difficult to act within the capital, but what about outside the capital? The Hua family could not remain within the capital forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle was right; the matter with the Liang Duke Prefecture indeed needed to be resolved as soon as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Sixth Hua remain silent, Second Uncle Hua assumed he disagreed and grew anxious: \"Sixth Lang, can you truly bear to ignore your Fourth Brother and the others?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixth Hua looked at him, then glanced at the other members of the Hua family: \"If I were to give the Xuanhuang Fruit to the Liang Duke Prefecture, even just one, I fear that once Ninth Lady learns of it, she will never acknowledge me as her Sixth Brother again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle Hua felt these were merely excuses from Sixth Hua and protested loudly: \"How could that be? You would be helping Ninth Lady; she would be grateful to you before she could even thank you properly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Sixth Hua shook his head with a wry smile: \"Second Uncle, you do not understand Ninth Lady in the slightest.\" He paused, then continued, \"Second Uncle, do you truly believe Ninth Lady was wrong to strike back against the Liang Duke?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Uncle Hua fell silent; after a long pause, he finally grumbled in a muffled voice: \"The Liang Duke Prefecture wields immense power and influence; we have no choice but to bow our heads.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Count's Manor may be willing to shelter our family now, but what about the future? Will the Count's Manor continue to shelter us forever?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if the Count's Manor is willing, our family members cannot step one foot outside the manor; this is no different from being imprisoned.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You, along with your Eldest Brother and Third Brother, have all found good positions and powerful backers, so naturally you are unaffected; but what about your Fourth Brother and the others? They can only remain trapped in the Count's Manor, becoming caged birds for the rest of their lives.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, neither Old Master Hua nor Old Mistress Hua rebuked Second Uncle Hua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Minghe and Lady Yao also found it difficult to speak further; regardless of the circumstances, it was ultimately because of their Ninth Lady that the entire family could not return home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixth Hua did not know how to respond to Second Uncle Hua and looked helplessly toward Eldest Hua for rescue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eldest Hua glanced at his Sixth Brother, beginning to understand why Ninth Lady had a closer relationship with him; Sixth Lang's unwavering and determined protection of Ninth Lady was indeed something their other siblings could hardly match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Second Uncle, rest assured; our family will not remain trapped in the Count's Manor for a lifetime.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the main courtyard of the Count's Manor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heir of the Hua family learned that Eldest Hua and Sixth Hua had come again to visit the Hua family, so he immediately ended his cultivation and went to the courtyard of Lord Hua, the Marquis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Father, nearly three months have passed, yet Hua Changxi has still not appeared; do you think she is hiding, or is she truly recovering from her injuries?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Hua hadn't expected Hua Changxi to remain absent for so long: \"Hua Changxi is not the type to flee at the critical moment. The Duke of Liang is, after all, a Spirit Platform realm cultivator; he must have severely injured her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young Master Hua frowned: \"Cultivators often enter seclusion for years or even decades. Are we to support the Hua family indefinitely? And what about the Duke of Liang's residence...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Hua cut him off: \"The Duke of Liang's residence is nothing to fear. Eldest Son Hua is a Battalion Commander in the Demon-Suppressing Army, and Sixth Son Hua is a direct disciple of the Artifact Sage Palace; both are highly valued.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Regarding the Duke of Liang's residence oppressing the Hua family, I believe both the Demon-Suppressing Army and the Artifact Sage Palace have heard of it. Why do you think neither has stepped in to stop it or mediate?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young Master Hua was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Hua sighed: \"Someone wants to test Hua Changxi's limits.\" He let out a scoffing laugh. \"Fortunately, the Duke of Liang wasn't utterly foolish; he didn't actually harm the Hua family members. Otherwise, the Duke of Liang's residence and Hua Changxi would truly be locked in a fight to the death.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young Master Hua was puzzled: \"Is Hua Changxi really worth such high regard?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Hua looked at his son: \"Of course she is. The person capable of making the Xuanyuan Residence reappear absolutely possesses great fortune for the human race. As long as Hua Changxi does not die prematurely, she will undoubtedly become a great expert of the human race in the future.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Duke of Liang's residence dares not utterly offend such a person.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Treat Hua Bin and his family well. Do not forget that besides Hua Changxi, the Hua family also has Hua Changxin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1996,"2026-06-12T02:51:23.636Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","1722914280cd4ba19299400f63b9f42da9e72439d8053ff7147a38d652555c1f","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-350","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-348",558,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-cover.jpg"]