Chapter 42: Family Structure

"Only now do I realize that in Father's heart, a daughter can never compare to a son."

Hua Changxi, her face long with displeasure, returned to her room.

Hua Liulang followed behind; hearing her complain, he immediately retorted, "Ninth Sister, what kind of talk is this? Anyone can see how much Father dotes on you—it even makes me jealous."

Hua Changxi snorted. "Yes, Father does dote on me; I won't deny that. But the way he dotes on me is different from how he dotes on Eldest Brother."

"Father's doting on me merely means buying me things to eat and wear, whereas for Eldest Brother, he cares about his feelings and guards his dignity."

"Just now in the main hall, it was clearly Eldest Brother who started the trouble, yet Father chased me out. He was protecting Eldest Brother's dignity without the slightest regard for whether I could save face."

"In Father's heart, Eldest Brother is far more important than I am."

Hua Liulang felt a headache coming on. "Why must you compare yourself to Eldest Brother?"

Hua Changxi countered, "And why shouldn't I compare myself to him?"

Hua Liulang was at a loss for words.

Hua Changxi said mournfully, "It is tragic to be a daughter of the Hua family. Grandfather and the others either never see my worth, or they see it and choose to look away."

"Apothecary Xu can at best refine pills for third-rank martial artists; whenever Father sees him, isn't he always polite and deferential?"

"As for me, an apothecary capable of refining pills needed by sixth-rank martial artists—Sixth Brother, you just saw how the family treated me in the main hall."

"Especially Eldest Brother; would he dare to boss an apothecary around like that outside? Is it simply because I am his sister that he can order me about as he pleases?"

"Grandfather is even more ridiculous. My efforts were not enough; he also wanted to scrape together my personal savings to support his grandson. In his eyes, I am not his granddaughter, but a tool whose thoughts and feelings need not be considered."

Hua Liulang hurriedly said, "It's not that bad; it can't be that serious."

Hua Changxi replied, "How is it not that bad? The moment I returned, Grandfather and the others didn't ask how I was faring in the Labor Hall; they immediately started asking about pill refining."

Knowing that Sixth Brother could never truly empathize with her, Hua Changxi waved her hand. "Never mind; you wouldn't understand anyway. Sixth Brother, go play; I want to rest."

Hua Liulang knew he could not win an argument with his sister nor persuade her, so he could only leave for now.

Hua Changxi bolted the door, opened the bundle she had brought back, and sorted through the pills inside. Apart from the Body-Strengthening Pills she had specially refined and the pills reserved for Hua Liulang's martial training, she intended to sell the rest.

She had little need for money while in the Labor Hall, but she wanted to buy a house, a courtyard that belonged solely to her.

There were too many people in the Hua family; doing anything at home offered no privacy whatsoever.

In the future, she would only refine pills more and more often; she needed a secret base.

If she refined them within the Hua household, given Old Master Hua and Old Lady Hua's natures, they would surely force her to hand over the results.

Even if she could resist, it would inevitably cause trouble; she might disregard others, but she could not disregard her father and mother.

Hua Changxi packed the pills meant for sale into another bundle; just as she placed it in the cabinet, a knock came at the door. "Who is it?"

"It's me, Third Brother!"

Hua Changxi locked the cabinet, opened the door, and looked at Hua Sanlang in surprise. "Third Brother, do you need something from me?"

Hua Sanlang laughed. "Can't I visit you even if I need nothing?"

Hua Changxi stepped aside to let Hua Sanlang enter. "Have you come to comfort me?"

Hua Sanlang asked with a smile, "Do you need my comfort?"

Hua Changxi shook her head. "No."

Hua Sanlang sat down. "There you have it then; I came for something else."

Hua Changxi looked at him. "What is it?"

Hua Sanlang's expression turned serious. "The Qi-Blood Pills, Body-Tempering Pills, and Foundation-Solidifying Pills you gave Liulang—I studied them and found their efficacy far superior to those sold on the market."

Hua Changxi gave Hua Sanlang a look that said, "You know quality when you see it."

Hua Sanlang said, "Ninth Sister, could you let me see the formulas?"

Hua Changxi neither agreed nor refused, but instead asked, "Does Third Brother also wish to refine pills?"

Hua Sanlang laughed. "Come to think of it, most of my skill in pill refining was guided by you."

Hua Changxi asked again, "Third Brother, do you refine pills for yourself, or for the family?"

Hua Sanlang paused. "Is there any difference?"

Hua Changxi said, "Of course there is a difference; answer me quickly."

Hua Sanlang replied, "With such excellent pill efficacy, if I could refine them too, we could sell them in our family's pharmacy. This would add to the household's income, and provide the pills needed for me and the other brothers to train in martial arts."

Hua Changxi said, "So that means refining pills for the family. In that case, since I am providing the formulas, I must have a share of the silver earned by the family pharmacy."

Hua Sanlang hesitated slightly. "I cannot make decisions regarding the pharmacy."

Hua Changxi smiled. "Then go find someone who can make decisions and discuss this with them." She paused. "Third Brother, asking me for the formulas was not your idea alone, was it?"

Hua Sanlang fell silent for a moment. "Ninth Sister, we are all one family..."

Hua Changxi cut him off directly. "Even among brothers, accounts must be kept clear. Third Brother, this is not up for negotiation."

Hua Sanlang sighed, stood up, and said, "Then I will go speak with Grandfather." As he turned to leave, just as one foot crossed the threshold, he looked back and asked,

"Ninth Sister, what if I were refining pills for myself?"

Hua Changxi smiled. "You are my Third Brother; for a few formulas, I am certainly willing to part with them."

Hua Sanlang's expression shifted slightly; he said nothing more and departed quickly.

"What? Ninth Sister still wants a share of the pharmacy's profits? She is just a young lady; what need does she have for silver!"

First, they had asked Hua Changxi to provide silver to buy medicine for Hua Dalang, which came to nothing; now they wanted her to contribute her formulas for the family's use, and she demanded a share of the profits in return.

Old Master Hua was extremely dissatisfied with this granddaughter; he puffed incessantly on his dry-pipe tobacco, and soon the smell of tobacco smoke filled the main hall.

Second Uncle glanced at Old Master; seeing that the old man was unwilling to speak directly to his eldest brother, and in order for his two sons to practice martial arts, he had to be the one to speak.

"Eldest Brother, if you don't rein in Ninth Sister, she will truly climb over the heads of us all."

Hua Minghe glanced at Second Uncle and said nothing.

If Ninth Sister's skill in pill refining had been cultivated by the family, he would have asked her to hand over the formulas without anyone needing to persuade him.

But the problem was that the family had provided Ninth Sister with no support whatsoever; even as her father, he had no face to demand that his daughter work for the family.

Old Lady Hua, seeing her eldest son remain silent, said angrily, "Only when the whole family works together can life get better. Everyone in our family is commendable, except this Ninth Daughter; whenever she's involved, trouble is sure to follow."

Hua Minghe looked helplessly at Old Lady Hua: "Mother, don't speak about Ninth Daughter like that."

Seeing her eldest son contradict her, Old Lady Hua grew even angrier: "Did I speak wrongly? The family feeds and clothes her, yet now that she has some ability, she doesn't care whether the family is in difficulty or not, constantly demanding silver. Even a dog raised by us would show more gratitude."

Hua Changxi suddenly entered the main hall: "Grandmother, I can give the formulas for the Qi and Blood Pill, the Body-Tempering Pill, and the Foundation-Stabilizing Pill to Third Brother, but from now on, I will owe the Hua family nothing."

Old Lady Hua laughed in anger: "What, do you intend to cut all ties with the Hua family?"

Hua Changxi replied, "I didn't say cut all ties; I just mean that from now on, neither you nor anyone else in the family should ever again spout such clichés about the Hua family feeding and clothing me."

Old Lady Hua snorted: "Three pill formulas and you think you can buy out the Hua family's upbringing of you? You dream too beautifully."

Hua Changxi let out a cold laugh; just as she was about to speak, Hua Minghe opened his mouth.

"Mother, what are you saying?"

Old Lady Hua glanced at her eldest son, turned her head away, and fell silent.

Hua Minghe looked at Hua Changxi: "Ninth Daughter, go to the kitchen and help your mother."

Hua Changxi had no desire to cause too much disturbance during the New Year festivities; she uttered a simple "Mm" and left.

As soon as she departed, Hua Dalang quickly pulled Hua Sanlang aside: "What exactly is going on with Ninth Daughter? Although she used to have a bit of a temper, she was never this arrogant before."

Hua Sanlang hesitated slightly before saying, "Ever since Ninth Daughter entered the Medicine Bureau, her confidence has grown stronger and stronger."

Hua Dalang asked, "Does she think that because she can earn money, she no longer needs to rely on the family?"

Hua Sanlang replied, "That is certainly part of the reason."

Hua Dalang shook his head: "She is still too childish. How could she know how hard life would be for a young lady without her family's protection? Does she truly believe money can solve everything?"

Hua Sanlang smiled: "Ninth Daughter often bickers with Grandmother; their words are just spoken in the heat of the moment and shouldn't be taken seriously. Eldest Brother, I just saw how happy Sixth Brother looked; Ninth Daughter must have given him some pills again. Shall we go take a look?"

Hua Dalang nodded and followed Hua Sanlang to find Hua Liulang.

Sure enough, Hua Liulang was hiding in his room testing the effects of the Bone-Forging Pill. A wooden post stood in his room; after swallowing the pill, he felt strength surging through his entire body, so he took off his upper garment and began striking the wooden post.

When Hua Dalang and Hua Sanlang entered, Hua Liulang was already drenched in sweat from head to toe.

Upon seeing Hua Dalang, Hua Liulang's eyes lit up; he clenched his fist and attacked him.

Seeing this, Hua Dalang raised an eyebrow; after all, it was his own younger brother, so he graciously agreed to spar with him.

This sparring session left Hua Dalang utterly surprised by his sixth brother's abundant energy; they sparred for over two quarter-hours before Hua Liulang finally collapsed on the ground, panting heavily.

"That fight was truly exhilarating!"

"Eldest Brother, let's continue tomorrow!"

Hua Sanlang pulled Hua Liulang up from the ground in one motion: "Did you consume a pill?"

Hua Liulang did not hide anything from his two elder brothers; he took out the pill Hua Changxi had given him as if it were a treasure: "This is a Bone-Forging Pill refined by Ninth Daughter. I just ate one, and the effect is excellent."

"A Bone-Forging Pill sold outside might only temper one bone, but a pill refined by Ninth Daughter could probably temper three bones."

Upon hearing this, Hua Sanlang immediately became interested; he quickly poured one out, smelling and tasting it.

Hua Dalang, however, shook the porcelain bottle: "How many pills are inside here?"

Hua Liulang took the porcelain bottle and then said, "Ninth Daughter gave me fifty pills, saying that if they weren't enough, I could ask her for more."

Hearing this, Hua Dalang became unhappy: "Ninth Daughter is certainly generous to you, so why is she so stingy with me? I even got into an argument with Grandfather over this."

Hua Liulang looked at Hua Dalang: "Eldest Brother, Ninth Daughter dislikes being forced. If you want to ask her for help, just speak to her privately; don't drag the elders into it."

"Furthermore, regarding the pills Ninth Daughter gave me, she certainly still has more in her possession; she gave them to me because she had a surplus."

"But Eldest Brother, she doesn't have the Shackle-Breaking Pill you want. Grandfather actually expects her to use her personal savings for this; isn't that cutting flesh from Ninth Daughter's own body? She would certainly refuse."

Hua Dalang frowned: "But I am her eldest brother; I wouldn't take her things for nothing. I will definitely repay her many times over in the future."

Hua Liulang replied, "Eldest Brother, using Ninth Daughter's words, your argument is just 'painting a large cake.' Seventh Sister and the others might believe it, but Ninth Daughter won't."

Hearing this, Hua Dalang was rendered speechless.

The three brothers hadn't talked long before Old Lady Hua's voice called from the courtyard, summoning them to eat.

Back when she was in the Labor Hall, Hua Changxi had looked forward to returning home, but now all her good mood was gone; the New Year's Eve dinner tasted bland and flavorless, and after eating hastily, she returned to her room to cultivate.

Seeing this, Lady Yao cast a dissatisfied glare at Hua Minghe.

Once the couple returned to their room, Lady Yao began to reproach Hua Minghe: "Why couldn't whatever matter wait until after these two days? Did you have to question Ninth Daughter the moment she returned?"

Hua Minghe looked helpless: "Father and Mother are just anxious for Dalang's sake."

Lady Yao grew even more dissatisfied: "How could the matter be so urgent that it couldn't wait a little while?"

"Ninth Daughter has never been a stingy person. If she refines pills and thinks of you and Sixth Brother, there is no reason she wouldn't think of Dalang."

"If the matter concerning Dalang had been left for the siblings to discuss privately, how could they possibly have started arguing?"

"With Grandfather and Grandmother interfering, the problem wasn't solved; instead, it damaged the sibling bond between Dalang and Ninth Daughter."

"No wonder Ninth Daughter is unwilling to tell the family about her ability to refine pills. Just look at this household; nothing much has even happened yet, and they are already eager to strip Ninth Daughter bare."

Hua Minghe looked disagreeing: "How could it be as serious as you say? We are all one family."

Lady Yao snorted: "You know your daughter's temperament. After something like this happened today, I fear that if anything comes up in the future, she won't tell the family anymore."

Hua Minghe rubbed his hair in distress: "This isn't entirely Father and Mother's fault; they are simply too concerned about their descendants' futures. Knowing that Ninth Daughter can refine pills means the young men in the family can all practice martial arts in the future. Don't blame them; even I feel somewhat restless."

Lady Yao lowered her eyes: "No matter how much one cares for one's children and grandchildren, one cannot ignore a granddaughter's feelings."

Hua Minghe fell silent for a moment: "I will remind Father and Mother to be more mindful in the future."

Lady Yao said nothing more; that girl Ninth Daughter places great importance on herself. If her family continues to ignore her thoughts and feelings, they will only push her further and further away.

On the first day of the first lunar month, after paying New Year respects to the family elders, Hua Changxi did not go out to play with Hua Qiniang and the others; instead, she remained in her room cultivating.

Lady Yao came to call her several times but failed to coax her out of the room.

By the second day of the New Year, when married daughters return to their natal homes, Third Aunt Hua and Second Sister Hua both returned accompanied by their husbands, yet Fifth Sister Hua was nowhere to be seen; the Marquis's Residence sent only a maid to deliver some New Year gifts.

After Fifth Sister Hua was carried into the Marquis's Residence, she had not communicated with her family at all. Fourth Aunt Hua was very worried; upon seeing the visitor from the Marquis's Residence, she couldn't help but ask urgently, "Chunyu, is Fifth Sister faring well in the Marquis's Residence?"

The visitor was none other than Chunyu, the maid given to Hua Wuniang by Old Lady Zhou from the eldest branch of the clan.

Chunyu smiled and said, "Rest assured, Madam. Concubine Hua is highly favored by the Third Young Master and the Third Lady in the Hou Fu."

The Hua family hardly believed these words.

If Fifth Lady were truly faring well in the Hou Fu, how could she have gone so long without contacting her family?

Recalling that the Third Lady had ordered her to return within two double-hours before she left, Chunyu said, "The Hou Fu is rather busy these days; this servant must return."

Hua Changxi placed a body-strengthening pill she had refined into a pouch and handed it to Chunyu: "This is my New Year's gift for Fifth Sister; please deliver it to her on my behalf."

After taking it, Chunyu departed in haste.

Later, when Third Aunt Hua and Second Lady Hua departed, Hua Changxi also gave each of them a bottle of body-strengthening pills.

Starting from the third day of the Lunar New Year, Hua Changxi no longer stayed at home; after breakfast, she went out to stroll the streets, and even when Sixth Brother Hua tried to follow, she sent him away.

She intended to sell pills, and once she obtained silver, she would buy a house; she did not want anyone in her family to know about this.

She had long understood the Hua family's power structure: Old Master Hua was the head of the household, followed by her father and her two uncles, then her eldest brother and the other grandsons.

Old Madam Hua shared Old Master Hua's authority, while her mother and her two aunts all fell under Old Madam Hua's governance.

As for herself and Seventh Lady Hua and the others, they were the lowest existence in the household; anyone could manage them, and anyone could lecture them.

In the Hua family, she possessed no voice; even if she demonstrated value, that value served only the Hua men.

Not only would she receive no recognition, but she would instead face suppression; whenever she failed to meet their expectations, she would be met with all manner of accusations and moral coercion.

She could not sever all emotions and completely cut ties with the Hua family, but she could leap out of this family structure!