Chapter 47

The people from the Three-Fork Medicine Manor caused trouble at the warehouse, but it was Hua Changxi who became famous. This female menial once again became the object of everyone's discussion.

Compared to the previous rumors, this time, the focus of everyone's discussion was no longer on what improper relationship existed between Hua Changxi and Yu Gui.

There was no help for it; Yu Gui couldn't handle the people from the medicine manor, but was forced to apologize by Hua Changxi, and everyone was very curious about what she had done.

Is Hua Changxi a martial artist? How high is her martial arts cultivation? Hua Changxi is only thirteen or fourteen years old, and she is still a young lady; how does she practice martial arts? Who is her teacher?

These became the questions everyone cared about most.

Strength is ultimately the foundation for a person to stand on. Because of this incident, people in the Menial Hall no longer thought that Hua Changxi would be a dependent of Yu Gui.

And because it involved people from the medicine manor, Eunuch Yu and many stewards in the Menial Hall also paid attention to this matter.

Eunuch Yu knew that Hua Changxi had dismissed Mao Yong and the others in a few words, and his expression was not good. He needed a menial who would refine medicine for him, make money for him, and listen to his orders, not a partner who wanted to be on equal footing with him.

Eunuch Bao of the First Bureau paid a little more attention to her because of Hua Changxi's excellent processing ability, and thus, he also heard about this matter.

"So she is a martial artist; no wonder she has such confidence!"

"Next time I borrow her to help, it seems I will have to give her a bit more face."

After hearing about this, Xiao Luzi and Steward Leng, like Eunuch Yu, did not have very good expressions.

There was no help for it; subordinates who are too capable are not conducive to management, and Hua Changxi had already shown signs of being unwilling to be disciplined in many aspects.

They needed capable subordinates, but the premise was that these subordinates had to be obedient. If they were disobedient, no matter how capable they were, they were not wanted.

Xiao Luzi looked at Steward Leng: "Didn't you say you arranged for someone to get close to Hua Changxi? How is it going?"

Steward Leng sighed: "Hua Changxi's mouth is too poisonous; it's very difficult to get close to her."

Xiao Luzi was silent for a moment: "Tell your people to keep a close eye on Hua Changxi; you must find out clearly what her relationship is with Eunuch Yu."

Steward Leng was puzzled: "Our Third Bureau and the warehouse are supposed to mind our own business. If we go to investigate this, will we offend Eunuch Yu?"

Xiao Luzi snorted: "Hua Changxi is a person from the Menial Hall; it is only right and proper for me to investigate her."

"Yu Quanquan has always been a person who doesn't do anything without profit, and he doesn't like women. Suddenly calling Hua Changxi to his No. 9 Qihuang Pavilion frequently must have some ulterior motive behind it."

"If Hua Changxi really has any ability, she should have paid tribute to me first. Instead, she actually ran to curry favor with Yu Quanquan. She simply doesn't put me in her eyes!"

"Isn't she capable? Go tell Du Ruo to assign more tasks to Hua Changxi; she must be kept busy from morning till night."

Upon hearing this, Steward Leng smiled and agreed. She also didn't like subordinates who were out of control. Let Eunuch Lu discipline Hua Changxi; she must let her know who her boss is.

Hua Changxi didn't know that the medicine manor people coming to cause trouble would attract the attention of so many people. After leaving the Medical Department, she went straight to a reputable agency to ask where there were houses for sale.

Her goal was very clear; she wanted to buy a house with a shop in front and a courtyard in the back.

Such a house was obviously not cheap, and no one would sell one in a good location. After looking at several storefronts, Hua Changxi finally spent 9,999 taels of silver to buy a house in Feng'an Square in the Outer City that was relatively to her liking.

There were three storefronts, a small courtyard in the back, three main rooms in the courtyard, two wing rooms on the east and west sides, and a well in the courtyard.

Hua Changxi was very satisfied with the layout, but the location was a bit remote, in the very corner of the street at the very back of Feng'an Square.

For doing business, this location was definitely not good, but Hua Changxi didn't want to just do retail. In the future, when she could refine medicinal pills in batches, what she wanted to be was a wholesaler.

"Sure enough, no matter where you are, buying a house will empty your wallet."

After buying the house, Hua Changxi only had a few dozen taels of silver left.

Although her purse was empty, thinking that she could be considered a homeowner in the Great Jin, Hua Changxi was still very happy, but this happiness only lasted until she returned to the Sixth Bureau.

"Steward Du, what do you mean by saying you want to increase my workload starting tomorrow?"

Du Ruo looked at Hua Changxi: "This is Eunuch Lu's intention. Eunuch Lu doesn't like the menials under him causing trouble everywhere."

Hua Changxi laughed in anger: "What trouble have I caused?"

Du Ruo ultimately gave her a hint: "Changxi, I know you are capable, but you can't be too high-profile and ostentatious in life. Not everyone has the capacity to tolerate others."

Hua Changxi frowned: "What if I don't listen?"

Du Ruo looked at her: "For Eunuch Lu to drive away a menial is just a matter of a single sentence. If you don't want to stay in the Menial Hall, you can feel free not to listen to orders." After saying this, she turned and left.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi was very annoyed and returned to the backyard with a long face.

Since entering the Menial Hall, except for being a bit proactive in getting close to Yu Gui and Eunuch Yu, she had been passively counterattacking in everything else.

If trouble didn't find her, she wouldn't go looking for trouble.

Just like that, and it's considered high-profile and ostentatious?

Or is it that one can only be considered low-profile and dutiful if one passively endures and swallows one's anger when encountering things?

"Changxi!"

When Hua Changxi was about to reach the dormitory, Sun Pozi from the canteen beckoned to her.

"Sun Nu."

Hua Changxi walked toward Sun Pozi.

Sun Pozi looked at her with a smile: "Steward Qin made sweet and sour pork ribs today and specifically saved a few for you. Come, follow me to the kitchen to eat."

Sun Pozi had a chronic heart palpitation problem. After being cured by Hua Changxi, she was especially good to Hua Changxi.

Having run around outside all day, Hua Changxi hadn't eaten yet, so she didn't refuse Sun Pozi's kindness and followed her to the kitchen.

"What did you run into? Why do you look a bit unhappy?"

Hua Changxi sighed and talked about Eunuch Lu wanting to increase her chores.

"Sun Nu, Steward Du said I was too high-profile, but I didn't actively provoke any of these things. It seems like her meaning is that when encountering things, only swallowing one's anger is the correct way."

Sun Pozi smiled: "Just listen to Du Ruo's words; don't take them seriously."

Hua Changxi just wanted to vent; she didn't expect Sun Pozi to respond. She didn't expect her to say this at all and couldn't help but look over in surprise.

Sun Pozi handed the ribs to Hua Changxi and said with a smile: "Don't look at Du Ruo as a steward; in reality, she is just an errand runner and doesn't hold real power. When considering things, she only starts from her own perspective, thinking that she did something wrong somewhere, and as long as she changes it, it will be fine."

"But the reality is not like that at all. If the people above want to fix you, everything you do is wrong."

"What you need to think about now is not what Du Ruo said, but why Eunuch Lu wants to do this?"

Hua Changxi: "Isn't it because I'm too high-profile and ostentatious?"

Sun Pozi laughed and shook her head: "That's just Du Ruo's opinion. Whether you are high-profile or ostentatious, does it hinder Eunuch Lu in any way?"

Hua Changxi: "Maybe he just can't stand someone like me?"

Sun Pozi: "Maybe, but Eunuch Lu manages several hundred people and still has to serve beside Eunuch Jia. Why would he pay attention to a small menial like you, and still put in the effort to discipline you?"

"People's time is limited; they will only pay attention to the places they care about. If Eunuch Lu wants to fix you, it must be because you touched something he cares about."

Hearing Sun Pozi say this, Hua Changxi had a feeling of clearing the clouds. She had been influenced by Du Ruo before and hadn't thought of this level.

That's right, how could the people above be so free to specifically come and find trouble with a small pawn.

But where did she offend Eunuch Lu?

Because she went to the First Bureau and earned ten taels of silver without giving him a tribute?

No, it wouldn't be this.

If it were because of this reason, he should have acted out when work started after the New Year.

Sun Pozi looked at Hua Changxi, who was lost in thought, and reminded her again: "The Medical Department is a government office. The most taboo thing in a government office is to be in the Cao camp but have one's heart in Han."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi suddenly realized: "Because of Eunuch Yu?"

Sun Pozi smiled: "Some time ago, the Menial Hall was spreading rumors that you had defected to Eunuch Yu. I heard about this, and Eunuch Lu must have known about it too."

"Although the several eunuchs all came out of the palace, who knows what their relationship is really like?"

Hua Changxi looked at Sun Pozi: "Grandma, thank you. I think I know the reason."

Sun Pozi smiled: "As long as you find the crux of the matter, it's easy to handle." As she spoke, she pushed the ribs toward Hua Changxi, "Eat quickly; it's about to get cold."

Hua Changxi gnawed on the ribs while looking at Sun Pozi: "Grandma, where did you work before?" A kitchen maid wouldn't have such insight.

Sun Pozi smiled faintly: "The past is in the past. I am just an old woman guarding the kitchen."

Seeing that Sun Pozi didn't want to say more, Hua Changxi didn't continue to pursue the question. After eating, she went back to the dormitory to get a bottle of Body-Strengthening Pills and handed them to Sun Pozi.

"Grandma, thank you for your guidance. This is the medicinal pill I refined; it's for strengthening the body."

Sun Pozi didn't refuse either and smiled as she took the medicinal pill: "Changxi, if you want to realize your ambitions in medicine, staying in the Medical Department is the best choice. When encountering things, don't go head-to-head; developing yourself is the most important thing."

Hua Changxi was stunned, feeling that Sun Pozi's words had a hidden meaning. She wanted to ask clearly, but Sun Pozi waved her hand and told her to go back and rest quickly.

There was no help for it, so Hua Changxi had to return to the dormitory. After returning, she didn't immediately devote herself to cultivation, but thought about how to solve the matter of Eunuch Lu increasing her chores.

She had already absorbed and refined the Low-Grade Yuan Spirit Pill. Now, to improve her cultivation, she had to rely on spending time cultivating.

Time was undoubtedly precious to her.

Eunuch Lu was fixing her, mostly because she went to the Qihuang Pavilion too many times, thinking she had defected to Eunuch Yu.

Moreover, she stayed at the Qihuang Pavilion for too long. Eunuch Lu should be able to guess that she was doing things for Eunuch Yu. Now, he probably just couldn't guess what she was doing.

She approached Eunuch Yu because Eunuch Yu could provide discarded medicinal materials, which led to their cooperation.

Hua Changxi's eyes flickered. Eunuch Yu had the authority to misappropriate discarded medicinal materials because he managed the warehouse. As the Great Steward of the Third Bureau, did Eunuch Lu also have corresponding power?

If Eunuch Lu could also provide medicinal materials, then she could also cooperate with him.

Thinking this through, the worry on Hua Changxi's face dissipated.

A partner shouldn't be the only one; the more the better.

Eunuch Yu had always been dissatisfied with her taking forty percent of the profit; she could feel this. She really shouldn't put all her eggs in one basket.

Having found a way to solve the problem, Hua Changxi's mood calmed down, and she began to devote herself to cultivation.

After waking up the next day, Hua Changxi ate breakfast and didn't go to receive chores, but went straight to find Eunuch Lu.

As the Great Steward of the Third Bureau, Eunuch Lu lived in a separate small courtyard. When Hua Changxi went over, Steward Leng was serving Eunuch Lu breakfast.

Seeing Hua Changxi, Eunuch Lu was a bit surprised.

Steward Leng was very angry.

People below who wanted to find Eunuch Lu had to tell her first, and after getting her consent, she would bring them to see Eunuch Lu.

Someone like Hua Changxi, who came to see Eunuch Lu directly, was simply without rules.

Steward Leng was just about to speak out and reprimand Hua Changxi, but was preempted by Hua Changxi.

"Eunuch Lu, I am here to report to you what I am doing to help Eunuch Yu."

Hua Changxi knew that when talking to a leader, it was best to be straightforward and hit the point the other party cared about.

Sure enough, after Eunuch Lu heard this, he finally raised his eyes to look at Hua Changxi, but his tone was not very good: "You still know you need to come and report to me?"

Hua Changxi naturally didn't admit she was wrong: "I didn't come before, not because I didn't want to, but because you were busy, and I couldn't see you."

Eunuch Lu snorted and didn't want to dwell on this issue: "Go ahead, I'm listening."

Hua Changxi didn't answer, but glanced at Steward Leng.

Seeing this, Steward Leng immediately darkened her face and sarcastically said: "Yo, what is it that I can't listen to?"

Eunuch Lu glanced at her and waved his hand, telling Steward Leng to go out first.

Steward Leng glared at Hua Changxi and left, swinging her handkerchief.

Once she was gone, Eunuch Lu looked at Hua Changxi: "You can speak now."

Hua Changxi: "I am helping Eunuch Yu refine medicine."

Eunuch Lu's eyes flickered, and he didn't have much of a reaction.

Hua Changxi added: "I take five percent of the profit, and in three months, I saved enough money to buy a house in the Outer City."

Hearing this, Eunuch Lu finally couldn't hold steady: "How much silver did you save?"

Hua Changxi held up a finger.

Eunuch Lu's breathing was rapid. He knew the house prices in the capital. Saving ten thousand taels in three months...

He knew it; without enough profit, how could Yu Quanquan treat a female menial differently.

Hua Changxi didn't want to passively wait for Eunuch Lu to arrange things and took the initiative to say: "Eunuch, if you can provide medicinal materials, we can also cooperate."

Eunuch Lu didn't agree immediately, but looked at Hua Changxi with scrutiny: "You have quite a lot of nerve. Is this the reason you entered the Menial Hall?"

Outside, cultivating a pharmacist is not easy. In addition to having a teacher, one also needs enough medicinal materials to practice with. These are not things that ordinary families can support.

And in the Medical Department, even if you enter the Menial Hall, you can come into contact with enough medicinal materials. If your brain is a little more flexible, you can also have free medicinal materials to practice with.

Hua Changxi didn't deny it, but just said: "Eunuch, the Medical Department is a holy land that all medical practitioners yearn for. Naturally, I am no exception."

Eunuch Lu was silent for a while: "Two percent."

Hua Changxi pretended not to understand: "What?"

Eunuch Lu: "I can provide you with medicinal materials, but you can only take two percent of the profit."

Hua Changxi frowned: "Eunuch Yu gave me five percent of the profit."

Eunuch Lu sneered: "Alright, don't play tricks in front of me. I know what kind of person Yu Quanquan is better than you do. With his stingy nature, how could he possibly give you five percent of the profit."

Hua Changxi was not panicked: "That's because you haven't seen the medicinal pills I refined yet." As she spoke, she handed over the Pulse-Clearing Pill she had prepared in advance.

"The medicinal pills I refine have better efficacy than those on the market, and require fewer medicinal materials."

Eunuch Lu was a Fourth-Grade martial artist. After taking the Pulse-Clearing Pill and checking it to make sure there were no problems, he took the pill directly. Then, his expression changed.

"Three percent, at most I will give you three percent of the profit."

Hua Changxi was somewhat reluctant: "Four percent, no less. Eunuch, you won't be able to find a pharmacist like me outside."

Eunuch Lu also felt that giving Hua Changxi four percent of the profit was too much and didn't really want to agree. But the medicinal pills Hua Changxi refined were indeed stronger than those on the market—no, it should be said that they were stronger than any pharmacist in the Medical Department.

He had been stuck at the Fourth Grade for many years. Before, no matter how many Pulse-Clearing Pills he took, he couldn't break through to the Fifth Grade. But just now, after taking the Pulse-Clearing Pill Hua Changxi gave him, he felt signs of a breakthrough.

"Good, four percent."

First, break through to the Fifth Grade. After he becomes a Fifth-Grade martial artist, he will go find Yu Quanquan.

He didn't believe Yu Quanquan was willing to share the profit with Hua Changxi. At that time, the two of them would join forces to suppress Hua Changxi. It would be best if they could make her obediently refine medicine for them, while they only needed to give her a little monthly allowance.