[{"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-85":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},1896859,2531,"Chapter 85: Tool Character","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-85",85,"\u003Cp>Steward Leng delivered six cartloads of herbs that were difficult to clean; since tomorrow was New Year's Eve, the start of the Spring Festival, Hua Changxi had to lead her ten team members to wash these herbs and deliver them to the apothecary before the Ninth Street pharmacy closed today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the team members had accepted Hua Changxi as their steward under Zhou Qiuyu's persuasion, none of them truly respected her in their hearts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, after Steward Leng left, someone deliberately defied Hua Changxi's order not to touch the herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi was inventorying the types of herbs when she heard a scream; following the sound, she saw a female laborer sitting on the ground, her right hand turning red and swollen at a speed visible to the naked eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female laborers from the same group rushed over, and people from other groups also ran over to watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the female laborer sweating profusely from pain, Hua Changxi felt no sympathy, her expression rather cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had already warned them not to touch the herbs; since they refused to listen, they deserved to learn a hard lesson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After one glance, Hua Changxi withdrew her gaze and continued her work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qiuyu, watching her suffering sister from the same group, became very angry: \"Steward Hua told us not to touch the herbs randomly, so why didn't you listen?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female laborer burned by the herbs, named Ye Shiyin, looked at Zhou Qiuyu with teary eyes: \"Qiuyu, save me, the pain is killing me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qiuyu looked at Ye Shiyin with frustration at her stupidity, then glanced back at Hua Changxi, who was ignoring them; gritting her teeth, she walked over: \"Steward Hua...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi knew what she was about to say and cut her off: \"Everyone must take responsibility for their own actions.\" Having spoken, she looked at the other team members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come here, I am now assigning the herbs for you to wash; I will teach you how to clean them, so listen carefully, otherwise Ye Shiyin's fate will be a warning to you all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing everyone looking worriedly at Ye Shiyin, Hua Changxi reminded them: \"We must deliver the herbs before the apothecary closes; if we delay, do you still want to go home for the New Year tomorrow?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Shiyin's younger sister, Ye Shiqin, said anxiously: \"Steward Hua, my sister is injured and needs treatment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's fine, you can take her to get treated.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi ignored Ye Shiqin and began assigning tasks to the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where could Ye Shiqin find someone to treat her sister? For a moment, she did not know what to do and could only look at Zhou Qiuyu for help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi knew the herbs were 'toxic,' so Zhou Qiuyu guessed she surely had a method to treat Ye Shiyin; however, she did not speak up again to plead for Ye Shiyin, instead directing the others to collect their assigned herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew Hua Changxi likely wanted to use this incident to establish authority; pleading would not only be useless but might even have the opposite effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Zhou Qiuyu would not intervene, Ye Shiqin was stunned and could only steel herself to beg Hua Changxi: \"Steward Hua, my sister knows she was wrong; please help her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My sister works very efficiently; with an extra person, we have extra strength, and with her help, we will definitely finish washing this batch of herbs before the apothecary closes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at her: \"Without your sister, the work can still be completed; she is not indispensable. Also, do not worry too much; she will not die, at most she will just suffer excruciating pain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking thus, she glanced at Ye Shiyin, \"Perhaps this lesson will turn out to be a good thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you want to work, hurry and collect your herbs; if you want to take your sister for treatment, help her leave and do not block the others from working.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi paid no more attention to the Ye sisters and began explaining the medicinal properties of the herbs to the others, along with precautions to take during cleaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Ye Shiyin's painful lesson as an example, everyone listened very attentively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that everyone truly ignored Ye Shiyin, Ye Shiqin wanted to help her sister back to the dormitory, but Ye Shiyin refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Shiyin looked at Hua Changxi, deeply regretting her own rashness, and said while enduring the pain: \"I will stay here and not leave; you go over quickly to listen to Steward Hua's explanation and do not worry about me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her sister's face turn pale from pain, Ye Shiqin could not bear it: \"Sister, should I not take you outside to find a physician for a check-up?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Shiyin shook her head: \"Physicians outside may not be able to cure me, and even if they can, we cannot afford the medical fees. Enough, hurry over and listen to the explanation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Ye Shiqin still hesitating, Ye Shiyin could only whisper: \"Rest assured, Steward Hua will not truly ignore me; she just wants to teach me a lesson.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Shiqin was stunned: \"Really?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Shiyin nodded; she still remembered the incident when people from the Sixth Bureau went to help the First Office and returned poisoned, and it was Hua Changxi who had saved everyone back then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today's incident was her fault, but since she was under Hua Changxi, as long as Hua Changxi wanted to be a good Third Steward, she would not truly abandon her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Ye Shiyin speak with such conviction, Ye Shiqin quickly returned to the line and joined everyone in listening to Hua Changxi explain the herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi did not respond; being so close, she had heard every word the two sisters exchanged, noting that Ye Shiyin reacted quickly enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Hua Changxi continued explaining the medicinal properties of the herbs, the expressions on everyone's faces gradually became more and more serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no other reason; this kind of transmission of knowledge and skills was something they had almost never encountered before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being in the Medical Bureau, even the lowest laborers knew that the key to learning medicine lay in finding a good master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that Hua Changxi was teaching them for free, it was truly something they had never imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, I have told you all the precautions regarding the herbs; begin washing them, and remember, if you are unsure about anything during the process, you can ask me at any time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qiuyu could not help but ask: \"Steward Hua, can I copy down the medicinal properties and precautions you just explained?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at her, saw the longing in her eyes, and smiled: \"Of course you can; if there is anything you do not understand, you can also come and ask me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qiuyu's face lit up with joy: \"Thank you, Steward Hua.\" Saying this, she glanced at Ye Shiyin, who was standing aside enduring the pain, said nothing more, and went with the others to wash the herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi watched everyone washing; whenever she saw someone make a mistake, she would immediately remind them, and only after ensuring everyone was familiar with the cleaning process for their assigned herbs did she walk over to Ye Shiyin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Hua Changxi was finally attending to her, Ye Shiyin quickly said: \"Steward Hua, I was wrong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The herb you touched is called Fire Rock Grass; if an ordinary person touches it, they will suffer 'Fire Poison' just like you. Clearing the Fire Poison is simple; just apply Ice Rock Grass to the affected area. Zhou Qiuyu has Ice Rock Grass among the herbs she is cleaning, so go ask her for a stalk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Expecting to be scolded and reprimanded, Ye Shiyin was surprised that Hua Changxi said nothing of the sort, instead telling her how to treat her red and swollen hand; feeling astonished, and seeing that Hua Changxi ignored her after speaking, she went to find Zhou Qiuyu with a look of remorse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi went to clean the three most difficult cartloads of herbs herself, while Zhou Qiuyu and the others worked quickly, finishing all the herb processing by the fourth quarter of the Shen hour (16:00).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's go, take the washed herbs to Apothecary Number One on Eighth Street.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Hua Changxi led her team to deliver the herbs to Apothecary Number One on Eighth Street, the people inside were distributing New Year goods, and no one came out to attend to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time was precious to Hua Changxi; unwilling to stand around waiting idly, she entered the apothecary directly, walked up to a young man who looked like a steward, and said: \"Are you the steward? The laborers from the Laborer Hall have finished cleaning the herbs you requested; please send someone to receive them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That person looked at Hua Changxi in confusion: \"Why are herbs from the Laborer Hall being sent here? We get our herbs directly from the Medicine Warehouse.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, someone stepped forward, pulled that person to a corner, and whispered: \"Eldest Senior Brother, this must be something Master arranged.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Zhao Jing looked at Hua Changxi and quickly entered the main room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Hua Changxi walked to the steps below the main room, assuming the posture of someone waiting for orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other people in the courtyard did not stop her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Hua Changxi heard voices coming from the main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master, the people from the Corvée Hall have delivered the medicinal herbs.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So quickly?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master, shouldn't we requisition medicinal herbs directly from the Herb Vault? Why go straight to the Corvée Hall?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your master has received news that after the New Year, the missions for the apothecaries on Ninth Street will change. Previously, Eighth Street and Ninth Street were only responsible for refining pills for low-grade martial artists; from now on, we can also refine pills for high-grade martial artists.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How can this be? If we start refining pills for high-grade martial artists, what will the apothecaries on Second Street, Third Street, Fourth Street, and Fifth Street do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They will devote themselves to researching other categories of pills.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What categories?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your master does not know that either. The pharmacists on Second Street and Third Street are all extremely arrogant; for them to abandon their existing interests, the new category of pills must be extraordinary.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jing was still somewhat confused: \"What does this have to do with us seeking out the Corvée Hall?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pharmacist Feng glanced at his eldest disciple: \"Although the duties originally handled by Second Street, Third Street, Fourth Street, and Fifth Street have been assigned to Sixth Street, Seventh Street, Eighth Street, and Ninth Street, with so many apothecaries, one must pay a certain price to secure better assignments.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zhao Jing about to ask more, Pharmacist Feng raised a hand to stop him, stood up, and said, \"The medicinal herbs used by high-grade martial artists are not so easy to clean. Your master will go out with you to take a look.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the master and disciple emerged, they saw Hua Changxi standing in the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that the visitor was not Eunuch Jia, Pharmacist Feng raised an eyebrow: \"Did Eunuch Jia instruct you to deliver these medicinal herbs?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi replied, \"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pharmacist Feng asked, \"Where are the herbs?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi immediately directed Zhou Qiuyu and the others to wheel the medicinal herbs into the apothecary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pharmacist Feng personally stepped forward to inspect the herbs. Knowing these herbs possessed potent properties, he did not touch them with his bare hands. Seeing that every single stalk had been cleaned thoroughly, an expression of undisguised surprise appeared on his face: \"Did you clean all these medicinal herbs?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi said, \"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pharmacist Feng's probing gaze swept over Hua Changxi and her group: \"Do you understand pharmacology?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi gave a vague answer: \"We know a little.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at her, Pharmacist Feng said meaningfully, \"It seems the Corvée Hall truly hides tigers and coiled dragons.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This batch of medicinal herbs was intended for refining pills commissioned by the Heaven Division; the demand was urgent. He had ordered Eunuch Jia to clean them, hoping to use this opportunity to bring him down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had not expected that Eunuch Jia actually had capable people under him, managing to clean the herbs thoroughly in just one day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi said, \"Everyone is just trying to earn a mouthful of rice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Hua Changxi, who was neither humble nor arrogant, Pharmacist Feng asked, \"Are you a corvée laborer under Eunuch Jia?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi replied, \"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing he could not find fault with Eunuch Jia this time, Pharmacist Feng said, \"Everyone says Eunuch Jia has good eyesight; I thought it was an exaggeration, but it turns out to be true. Very well, I have received the herbs; you may leave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi did not move; smiling at Pharmacist Feng, she said, \"Eunuch Jia instructed me to ask you, Pharmacist, to write a note confirming receipt of the herbs.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After overhearing the conversation between the master and disciple, she guessed that this pharmacist intended to act against Eunuch Jia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She did not wish to become cannon fodder in their struggle; it was better to act cautiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Hua Changxi, Pharmacist Feng said, \"What, do you fear that this pharmacist will renege after accepting the herbs?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi said, \"The pharmacist misunderstands. I am merely following Eunuch Jia's instructions. If the pharmacist finds this difficult, I will go fetch Eunuch Jia immediately and let him explain it to you personally?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Pharmacist Feng very much wanted to bring Eunuch Jia down, he could not afford to tear off the mask of civility on the surface. Snorting, he ordered Zhao Jing to write the note for her, then turned and returned to the upper room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After receiving the note, Hua Changxi led Zhou Qiuyu and the others away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once out of the apothecary, Hua Changxi told Zhou Qiuyu and the others to return to the Sixth Bureau on their own, while she went to the warehouse to find Yu Gui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Yu, I heard people say that behind every Number One Apothecary on the nine streets of the Medical Bureau stands a noble patron. Is this true?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui looked at Hua Changxi in surprise: \"Why are you asking this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi recounted the matter of Eunuch Jia sending her to deliver medicinal herbs to the Number One Apothecary on Eighth Street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Yu Gui frowned: \"Why would Eunuch Jia send you to deliver them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi asked, \"What is wrong with him sending me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui lowered his voice: \"People from the palace have set their sights on the Corvée Hall. Pharmacist Feng of the Number One Apothecary on Eighth Street is a clansman of Consort Feng.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eunuch Sun of the First Department originally served Beauty Lu. Consort Feng likely wants to arrange for her own people to replace Eunuch Jia, which is why she had Pharmacist Feng devise a way to deal with him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eunuch Jia actually sent you as the vanguard, pitting a mere corvée laborer like you against nobles from the palace. What was he thinking?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Changxi narrowed her eyes. Just as she had suspected, no wonder Eunuch Jia had suddenly remembered her and promoted her to supervisor; he originally intended to use her as a tool to charge into battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But why her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was just a small corvée laborer; compared to others, she was only slightly more skilled in medicine, slightly bolder, and slightly more willing to throw caution to the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that her reputation for capability had become so deeply entrenched that Eunuch Jia believed she would not even fear the nobles of the palace?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After learning why Eunuch Jia had promoted her, Hua Changxi returned to the Sixth Bureau. When Zhou Qiuyu presented her with the tribute money collected for the month, she stated directly, \"As long as I remain the supervisor, our group will not hand over any tribute money.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Zhou Qiuyu and the others all looked at her in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qiuyu said, \"...Supervisor Hua, this is the rule of the Corvée Hall.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi said, \"Rules are made by people. Since I am the one forbidding you from handing it over, if those above assign blame, I will bear it all alone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Eunuch Jia thought giving her the title of supervisor would make her a tool, then she would certainly perform the role of supervisor well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By infringing upon the interests of Supervisor Leng and Eunuch Lu, they would surely file secret reports; this would be a perfect opportunity to test the extent of Eunuch Jia's tolerance toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>",2800,"2026-06-12T02:51:22.172Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","d28c201b2091355cbce63ae022f4199090f438d252e6eb8c3e34e45e1043abb6","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-86","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-84",558,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-cover.jpg"]