Chapter 7

On the seventh day of the ninth month, Hua Changxi ultimately accompanied Old Lady Hua to the main branch's ancestral home.

Did she not wish to resist?

She did.

Yet if she resisted, she would inevitably have to pay a price.

As someone who did not engage in production, she had no source of income; her food, clothing, shelter, and travel all depended on the family.

The family need not impose any extreme punishment; simply withholding food would be enough to control her completely.

In a large family like the Hua clan, with so many descendants, grandsons were not considered treasures, let alone granddaughters; if they said no food would be given, they truly meant it.

Hua Changxi had experienced being starved for three days and three nights; even when she was so hungry she could barely stand, it failed to soften Old Master Hua's heart. He would only relent after she bowed her head, admitted her fault, submitted, and obeyed.

Why was she so determined to apply to the Medical and Pharmaceutical Bureau?

First, upon entering the Medical and Pharmaceutical Bureau, even as an apprentice, she would receive wages.

With money in hand, she would not be constrained by her family in every matter, nor would she be unable to make her own decisions.

Second, by entering the Medical and Pharmaceutical Bureau, she would gain a social status; once she possessed a social status, she would become a member of society.

When a boudoir daughter encountered trouble, she could only rely on her family for help.

But a member of society could build her own circle of acquaintances; when trouble arose, she could seek help from friends, making it difficult for her family to casually manipulate her as they pleased.

The Hua clan's ancestral registration was not in Jingcheng, but because they had produced a Count of Dingyuan, the clansmen had established a foothold in the capital; after generations of development, they were now deeply rooted and flourishing.

The Hua family lived in the Outer City, while the more successful members of the Hua clan resided in Anyi Ward within the Inner City, adjacent to the Dingyuan Count's Manor.

Taking her daughters-in-law and granddaughters to the main branch's ancestral home for the first time, Old Lady Hua rarely acted so generously, hiring an entire carriage and setting out early.

Forced to do what she did not wish to do, Hua Changxi was naturally unhappy; she remained silent throughout the journey, leaning against the carriage window to watch the merchants and pedestrians on the street.

Old Lady Hua glanced sideways at Hua Changxi a few times but was too lazy to bother with this granddaughter who was full of rebellious bones; instead, she tirelessly repeated the details of visiting the clan elders to the other granddaughters.

"When you arrive at the main branch's ancestral home, you must behave yourselves; smile warmly upon meeting people, speak sweetly, maintain a humble demeanor, and know how to win the elders' favor."

"Of course, you need not be overly eager, but you absolutely must not be too rigid, acting like blocks of wood."

Old Lady Hua's initial instructions were quite normal, teaching her granddaughters the rules for visiting as guests, but as she continued, her words grew increasingly severe.

"Do not look around aimlessly, do not make loud noises, and above all, do not be shallow-eyed, unable to tear your gaze away upon seeing something nice."

"When visiting another's home, you must be obedient and well-behaved; do not conflict with anyone, and do not cause trouble for the family."

"Whoever dares to cause trouble outside will receive a beating with a yellow thorn strip immediately upon returning home."

Hearing that they would be beaten, Hua Wuniang and the others instinctively shrank back; already nervous about their first visit to the main branch's ancestral home, they became even more tense.

"Furthermore, you must always remember that your every word and action represents our family's face; before outsiders, you must stand with proper posture and sit with proper decorum."

"If any of you makes a fool of herself before outsiders, I will absolutely not take such a shameful girl out visiting again."

The expressions of Hua Wuniang and the others instantly turned serious; even the youngest, Hua Shisiniang, became stiff with tension.

"Have you all remembered?"

"Grandmother, we have remembered."

Seeing her granddaughters acting obedient and well-behaved, Old Lady Hua's face displayed a look of satisfaction.

Watching this scene, Hua Changxi shifted her gaze back outside the carriage; in her heart, she had always kept her distance from this kind of intimidation-based upbringing.

Before anything even happened, the elders would first frighten you, listing everything you could not do, constantly injecting various rules into your mind like reciting a tight-fillet spell.

Raised under such teachings from childhood, it was easy to imagine that the result would be template people confined by all sorts of rules.

And the adults still expected their children to bring honor outside; but if their words and actions were all boxed in, where would they find the courage and motivation to conquer the outside world?

Hua Changxi could not change the Hua family's mode of upbringing; all she could do was guard herself and prevent being assimilated.

Two quarters of an hour later, the carriage stopped before a residence with four courtyards.

"The main branch's ancestral home is truly magnificent!"

Second Aunt Hua's face showed astonishment, and the eyes of several young ladies sparkled.

The Hua family's two-courtyard residence in the Outer City was already a dwelling many dreamed of, yet compared to the main branch's ancestral home in the Inner City, it seemed somewhat unfit for display.

After Old Lady Hua waited for her daughters-in-law and granddaughters to disembark, she did not lead them to knock on the main gate; instead, she walked along the street, turned into an alley, and finally stopped before a small door in the middle of the lane.

"Grandmother, why are we not entering through the main gate?"

Looking at the small door before her, Hua Shier'niang could not help but ask aloud.

As soon as she spoke, Second Aunt Hua hastily grabbed her: "Why are you asking? Just follow your grandmother."

Knowing her granddaughters were young and ignorant of worldly wisdom, Old Lady Hua ultimately explained: "Because our family does not have the status to have them open the main gate for us."

Hua Shier'niang, having been doted upon and raised by Second Aunt Hua, was bold; even after being stopped once by her mother, she dared to continue asking: "Then what does it take to have the status?"

To this question, Old Lady Hua gave no response; on the contrary, her expression darkened somewhat.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi answered for her: "When our family's status and position become higher than that of the main branch's ancestral home, or when our family possesses a scarce value that others do not, only then will we naturally be treated with courtesy."

Old Lady Hua glanced at Hua Changxi, said nothing, and stepped forward to knock on the door.

"Creak~"

A middle-aged woman with a thick waist and broad shoulders, holding a bamboo stick in her left hand to pick her teeth and pulling the door latch with her right, opened the door.

"Who are you looking for?"

The woman continued picking her teeth, glancing sideways to size up Old Lady Hua and her party, her tone lazy.

Old Lady Hua beamed with a full smile: "We are the family of Hua Bin; yesterday, a clansman came to notify us that Aunt Yu'e has summoned us."

The woman let out a realizing "Oh," then immediately fixed her gaze on Hua Changxi and the other young ladies, brazenly inspecting them one by one.

"Fine, wait here."

Having said this, she slammed the door shut with a "Bang."

Seeing this, Old Lady Hua did not mind, though the smile faded from her face.

Hua Changxi, however, felt a sense of foreboding.

That old woman's gaze just now was far too brazen; the behavior of servants reflects the attitude of their masters.

If the servants do not hold them in regard, that Great Ancestress likely looks down on them as well; under such circumstances, she did not believe that being suddenly sought out by that woman would bring anything good.

After waiting about ten minutes, the rear gate opened again.

This time, the person who emerged was an old woman dressed with great refinement.

"I pay my respects to the Old Lady, the several Ladies, and the several Young Ladies."

As soon as the old woman appeared, she bowed deeply to Hua Old Lady and her party.

Before the old woman could even bend her knees, Hua Old Lady grabbed her hand: "Nanny Zhou, you are overwhelming us. Wuniang, why aren't you leading your younger sisters to pay respects to your Grandma Zhou?"

Lady Zhou was the most trusted servant beside Lady Zhou Yu'e, the matriarch of the main branch.

Members of the Hua clan dared not act arrogantly or put on airs when facing this woman.

Called by name, Hua Wuniang reacted quickly; leading her younger sisters, she bowed to Nanny Zhou: "We pay our respects to Grandma Zhou."

Following the sound, Nanny Zhou's gaze landed on Hua Wuniang; seeing that the young ladies were all exceptionally beautiful, her smile deepened. While chatting casually with Hua Old Lady, she led the group into the residence.

"It is quite a coincidence today; several other families from the clan have also called. When you meet them shortly, be sure to chat warmly."

"In these past two years, the Grand Lady has grown increasingly fond of having young ladies gather to entertain her. In the future, whenever you have time, bring more of the young ladies to sit for a while; the Grand Lady will only be delighted."

Hearing that people from other families had arrived, Hua Old Lady's eyes flickered, and she exchanged a glance with her three daughters-in-law.

Soon, the group was led into a flower hall.

Several families were already seated in the flower hall, all composed of elders accompanied by young ladies.

These people clearly knew Hua Old Lady; after sizing up Hua Changxi and the others standing behind her, they all began to talk and laugh together.

Seizing the opportunity, Nanny Zhou said: "The Grand Lady still requires my attendance over there. Please sit here for now; I will come to fetch you shortly."

As soon as Nanny Zhou left, the other families began inquiring about Hua Wuniang and her sisters.

"How old are they?"

"Are they betrothed yet?"

"With such fine young ladies in your family, why haven't you brought them out for us to see before?"

The atmosphere in the flower hall felt somewhat strange to Hua Changxi; although the other families were chatting lively with Hua Old Lady and the three Yao sisters-in-law, their words and attitudes subtly carried a hint of rivalry and competition.

Those young ladies were also strange; they did not speak or laugh, but sat obediently beside their own elders.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Nanny Zhou returned and led one family away—a combination of one old lady, two women, and three young ladies.

At this, the families who had arrived earlier showed no surprise.

Hua Old Lady, however, was somewhat puzzled and quietly asked one of the old ladies surnamed Zhao, with whom she was on fairly good terms: "Old sister, why isn't Auntie Yu'e seeing us all together?"

Old Lady Zhao was surprised: "Do you not know the purpose of Auntie Yu'e seeing us today?"

Hua Old Lady shook her head: "Yesterday, a clansman came to our home and only said that Auntie Yu'e wished to see the young ladies of our family."

Lowering her voice, Old Lady Zhao said: "Indeed, she wishes to see the young ladies, but not merely to see them; it is for matchmaking."

Hua Old Lady immediately widened her eyes: "Matchmaking?"

Upon hearing this, the three Yao sisters-in-law were also both surprised and startled.

Seeing such a reaction from the Hua mother-in-law and daughters-in-law, Old Lady Zhao found it somewhat odd: "What is going on? You actually do not even know this; your sources of information are too blocked."

Hua Old Lady gave an embarrassed smile; their family had always been a marginal figure within the clan, fundamentally unable to inquire into any substantial news.

Perceiving Hua Old Lady's embarrassment, Old Lady Zhao quickly added a comforting remark: "Looking at those young ladies of your family, each possesses extraordinary beauty; perhaps this good fortune will fall upon your household."

Hua Old Lady offered a few modest and polite remarks, yet she could not stop herself from shifting her gaze to her several granddaughters, who were whispering among themselves.

Wuniang had already reached the age of fifteen this year; if the clan were truly helping to arrange a match, selecting her would certainly be the best outcome.

However, among all the granddaughters, the most striking was still Jiuniang, who was full of rebellious spirit, though she was still a bit too young.

Looking at Hua Jiuniang, Hua Old Lady's gaze involuntarily shifted to Lady Yao.

Regarding this daughter-in-law, Hua Old Lady still harbored dissatisfaction.

First, Lady Yao was not chosen by her;

Second, Hua Minghe was her most promising son; back then, the Marquis Manor had intended to cultivate him and had arranged an excellent marriage for him, yet to marry Lady Yao, her eldest son had deliberately offended the Marquis Manor. The reason their family had been ostracized by the clan for so many years was largely due to this.

Being disregarded by the clan was one thing, but what angered her most was that Lady Yao had hindered her eldest son's prospects.

Her eldest son was a fifth-grade martial artist, yet to this day, he remained merely a Constable in the Six Doors.

Her old man had spent silver to investigate the reason, and they told him it was because her eldest son had married someone he should not have.

Lady Yao had married into the Hua family for over twenty years; regarding the situation of the Yao family, she and her old man knew nothing beyond a few names.

Her eldest son had married a woman of unknown origin who also affected the Hua family's prospects; how could she not be angry?

Looking at Lady Yao's magnificent face, Hua Old Lady grew angrier the more she thought about it.

Sitting at the back, Hua Changxi was chatting with Hua Wuniang and the other two about the attire and dress of the young ladies from other families; noticing that Hua Old Lady's gaze toward her mother was improper, she picked up the teacup from the table and walked over: "Grandmother, please drink some tea," then used her body to block the old lady's line of sight.

Seeing this, Hua Old Lady snorted.

The several grandsons and granddaughters of the eldest branch truly made her feel both love and hate.

All three grandsons had inherited their father's stubborn temper and protected Lady Yao fiercely.

Of the two granddaughters, she would not even mention Shiniang, who had gone to Qiyun Mountain and was not at home; this Jiuniang was simply a rebellious brat.

Respectful and humble—these words praising the virtuous qualities of young ladies did not fit her in the slightest.

Hua Old Lady glared at Hua Changxi, withdrew her gaze, and seeing yet another family being led out of the flower hall, realizing that the matriarch of the main branch had called them here for matchmaking, she summoned Hua Wuniang, the only one who had reached fifteen, to her side and whispered instructions to her.

Matchmaking?

Standing close by, Hua Changxi heard Hua Old Lady instructing Hua Wuniang, and her heart skipped a beat.

Was the clan going to interfere in their marriages?

If parents might still consider their children's thoughts and feelings regarding marriage, once the clan became involved, the matter of marriage would likely become nothing but a naked transaction.