[{"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-86":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},1896860,2531,"Chapter 86: Live as Oneself","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-86",86,"\u003Cp>The holiday began on the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month; many had already returned home by the twenty-eighth. When Hua Changxi arrived at her lodging, she found Du Ruo apparently waiting for her, which immediately struck her as strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Steward Du, is something the matter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ruo looked at her and said, \"After the monthly stipends are issued each month, the stewards gather to see Steward Leng. The others are all waiting for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Hua Changxi understood the reason, she shook her head and said, \"Our group will no longer pay tribute fees.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Du Ruo's expression changed. \"Hua Changxi, do not act rashly. This has been the rule in the Corvée Hall for many years. Those who break the rules will not meet a good end.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi remained unmoved but still expressed her gratitude. \"Steward Du, thank you for the warning. I have not collected tribute fees, nor will I. If Steward Leng assigns blame, the worst that can happen is I cease to be a third-grade steward.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Du Ruo felt extremely headache-inducing; she simply could not understand why Hua Changxi insisted on being so unconventional. Restraining her temper, she said, \"Some rules may be unreasonable, yet the fact that they have persisted proves there is reason behind them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you refuse to collect tribute fees, you may appear noble and high-minded, but how will the other stewards conduct themselves? How will they face their subordinates?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By doing this, you will offend not only Steward Leng and Eunuch Lu but also all the other stewards.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi knew Du Ruo meant well but did not agree with her words. Looking at her, she asked, \"When Steward Du first entered the Corvée Hall, you were merely a corvée laborer, were you not? Do you still remember what you felt when you knew that after working yourself to exhaustion for a month, nearly half of your hard-earned stipend had to be handed over?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ruo was stunned by the question and fell silent, saying nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi said, \"Steward Du, thank you for your kind warning, but I have my own principles in how I conduct myself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ruo looked at her and said, \"Hua Changxi, I know you are different from others, but I must still remind you that offending too many people is never a good thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi replied, \"I have not offended many people. Steward Leng, Eunuch Lu, plus nine third-grade stewards—that is only about ten individuals. Moreover, the nine third-grade stewards may not all hold me responsible. So, in what way have I offended many people?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ruo choked up, then said helplessly, \"You have broken the rules; the implications involve not just the Sixth Bureau but the entire Corvée Hall.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi smiled and said, \"Steward Du, you are overthinking it; it is not that serious.\" Her smile then vanished. \"Besides, if I can truly dismantle this man-eating rule of the Corvée Hall, then my time here will not have been in vain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Hua Changxi appear not fearful but rather proud of breaking the rules, Du Ruo truly did not know what to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you truly determined to persist in this stubborn course?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Du Ruo still attempting to dissuade her, Hua Changxi felt quite helpless; it was truly headache-inducing when one could not lose their temper and drive someone away when they claimed to be acting for your own good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Steward Du, what kind of person do you think I am?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ruo, offering Hua Changxi no face-saving, stated directly, \"Unruly and defiant, knowing no laws or heavens.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi laughed aloud. \"I did not expect to be regarded so highly in your eyes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Hua Changxi act as if she had been praised, Du Ruo was utterly speechless. Was that supposed to be praise? How could she fail to distinguish between compliments and insults?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi dropped her smile and looked at Du Ruo seriously. \"When I do something, I either do not do it at all, or I see it through to the very end. Once I have made a decision, I am prepared to pay any price.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I do not fear offending people; what I fear is... living as someone else.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ruo frowned. \"No one is forcing you to become someone else.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at Du Ruo with sharp eyes. \"Yet your earlier 'kind advice' was precisely asking me to live as you do, to become a third-grade steward just like you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Ruo's lips trembled slightly; she wanted to refute this but did not know how.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi said, \"Steward Du, you are a good person. You care about others' opinions, worrying about this and that, striving to be thorough in everything. However, not everyone wishes to become a 'good person' like you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You dislike conflict and, to avoid trouble, are willing to endure, compromise, and yield. But if I were willing to compromise and yield, I would not have come to the Corvée Hall to work as a corvée laborer in the first place.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, Du Ruo dared not meet Hua Changxi's gaze directly. She hastily muttered, \"I was being presumptuous,\" and quickly departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that she had finally managed to send Du Ruo away, Hua Changxi breathed a sigh of relief and began packing her belongings. Looking at the mere few dozen taels of silver she possessed, she felt somewhat troubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been several days; she wondered how Pu Cao and A Niu were faring with preparing the shop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One hundred taels of silver would certainly not be enough for renovation; she would need to find a way to acquire more funds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Shennong Cauldron had accumulated a pile of spirit pills, yet there was no channel to sell them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi realized her channels for converting assets into cash were too limited; with only Yu Gui able to help her sell martial artist pills, her options were too few.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ultimately, the root cause was that her network of contacts was too narrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi took out a portion of the martial artist pills she had previously refined and went once again to the warehouse to find Yu Gui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing the pills, Yu Gui was overjoyed. \"Sister, rest assured; I will sell these pills as quickly as possible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at him and said, \"Brother Yu, I wish to change our method of cooperation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui was stunned. \"What method?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi said, \"I have opened a medicine shop. Every month, I can provide you with a batch of pills. I will give them to you at eighty percent of the market price. How you sell them afterward is entirely up to you. How does that sound?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She lacked personnel, and most of her time needed to be devoted to cultivation; the best sales method was to find a wholesaler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui asked in surprise, \"Sister, you have opened a medicine shop? Have you resolved the issue of medicinal ingredient supply?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi smiled and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realization dawned on Yu Gui's face; no wonder Hua Changxi was unwilling to continue cooperating with his godfather. He carefully considered Hua Changxi's proposal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A twenty percent profit margin was substantial; moreover, it required no investment from him other than selling the pills. It could be described as a business with no capital outlay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sister, thank you for looking out for me; I will follow your lead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi smiled and said, \"My medicine shop is still under renovation. Once it is finished, I will take Brother Yu there to familiarize yourself with the location. At that time, we will need to sign an agreement.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui agreed readily. \"Very well; I will do whatever Sister says.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Subsequently, Yu Gui tallied the pills Hua Changxi had brought this time, totaling three thousand taels worth. \"Sister, I do not have that much silver on hand right now. I will give you five hundred taels first, and the remainder once I have sold the pills.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi said, \"Very well, but this will be the only time. Once my medicine shop officially opens for business, Brother Yu, however much silver you bring, that is how many pills I will give you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui's expression paused. \"Given our relationship...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi interrupted him. \"Precisely because I cherish my relationship with you, Brother Yu, am I doing this. Brother Yu, your experience is broader than mine; you should know that whenever money is involved, if things are not handled properly, even biological brothers can become enemies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Handling matters according to a contract is the least damaging to our feelings, do you not agree?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Gui could not refute this; he offered an embarrassed smile and said, \"Sister is right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After receiving the banknotes, Hua Changxi chatted with Yu Gui for a while longer, then returned to her dormitory to fetch her bundle and headed directly to the Feng'an Fang medicine shop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both Pu Cao and A Niu were diligent and capable; within a few days, they had already cleaned out the three shopfronts and the rooms in the rear courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything necessary for the rear courtyard had been procured. Regarding the decoration style for the three shopfronts, Pu Cao and A Niu had visited all the medicine shops in both the East Market and West Market, drawn several simple renovation sketches, and were now merely awaiting Hua Changxi's instructions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Hua Changxi arrived and inspected the front shops and rear courtyard, she looked satisfied. Upon seeing the renovation sketches Pu Cao presented, she felt somewhat surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reviewing the ledger of the Pucao Record, where every expense was recorded clearly and meticulously, Hua Changxi looked at Pucao and asked, \"Have you studied?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pucao shook her head, a look of reminiscence appearing on her face, her voice somewhat low: \"My Sixth Brother attended school for a few years; he taught me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi said, \"...Please accept my condolences.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pucao smiled: \"Sixth Brother only wished for me to live well. Now that I am doing so well, if he is watching from heaven, he must be happy. I am not sad.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi did not continue the topic, picking up the renovation blueprint to examine it and making several alterations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the meantime, Pucao went to the kitchen to cook, while Ah Niu helped by fetching water and chopping firewood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both were very satisfied with their current life; Pucao no longer lived in fear of harassment from men, her entire demeanor radiant, and Ah Niu, now able to eat his fill and dress warmly, had even his once-worried face relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Hua Changxi had finished revising the renovation blueprint, Pucao and Ah Niu had also completed the meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Pucao place the dishes on the table and turn to return to the kitchen, Hua Changxi called out to her, \"Eat with us, and bring Ah Niu over as well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pucao looked at her, breaking into a bright smile: \"Very well, I will go fetch Ah Niu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah Niu approached holding his rice bowl, looking somewhat ill at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi made no special remarks; after dinner, she handed Pucao a banknote for five hundred taels of silver from the sale of pills, saying, \"After the New Year, we must hasten the renovation of the three medicine shops.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pucao took the banknote: \"Rest assured, Changxi, I have not forgotten this matter. Ah Niu and I have already met with several craftsmen; those men are accepting work even during the New Year.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi nodded, then addressed both of them: \"When you have leisure, read more medical texts. In the future, the medicine shops will be entrusted to your care; you cannot remain entirely ignorant of pharmacology.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pucao and Ah Niu nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, Hua Changxi did not leave but stayed there directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the rear courtyard, there were three main rooms: the west room served as the pill-refining chamber, the central room as the reception hall, and the east room as Hua Changxi's quarters, while two side rooms were reserved for storing medicinal herbs in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the two east wing rooms, Pucao and Ah Niu each occupied one; Ah Niu, unbothered by the Green Bull Demon, allowed it to share his room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the west wing, one room functioned as the kitchen, and the other was used for processing medicinal herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rooms in the rear courtyard were just sufficient for their needs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That very night, Pucao, Ah Niu, and the Green Bull Demon all smelled the fragrance of pills; they knew Hua Changxi was refining them. By the time they woke the next morning, they discovered that the west wing and both side rooms were piled high with various medicinal herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After I leave, go purchase some New Year goods to celebrate a good festival; I am returning home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving the medicine shop, Hua Changxi went straight back to the Hua family residence, buying some New Year goods along the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Hua Changxi entered the Xiuzheng Ward, someone recognized her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ninth Lady has returned! Hurry home; your family has honored guests.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi was somewhat surprised; what honored guests could the Hua family possibly have?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Filled with doubt, Hua Changxi quickened her pace toward the Hua residence, and from a distance, she spotted two imposing carriages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guests had indeed arrived!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gate to the Hua family courtyard stood wide open; before she even stepped inside, she heard lively chatter and laughter emanating from within. Upon entering, she saw several servants seated in the courtyard, while Hua Sanlang and Hua Liulang were attending to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Liulang, sharp-eyed, spotted Hua Changxi first: \"Ninth Lady, you are back.\" Speaking thus, he hurried over to take the bundle from her shoulder and the New Year goods from her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I originally intended to fetch you from the Medical Bureau, but who could have known guests would arrive at home, leaving me unable to depart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi asked, \"Who has come?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Liulang replied, \"The steward from Marquis Wu Yi's residence, and Great-Uncle Hua Tai.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's face showed surprise: \"What have they come for?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Liulang said, \"To pay New Year respects and deliver New Year gifts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's eyes flashed slightly: \"Last year, neither the Marquis's residence nor the main branch of the great clan sent us New Year gifts; this year it is quite unusual that they have come in person.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Liulang nodded in full agreement: \"I also find it strange.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi glanced toward the main hall and saw that Hua Silang, Hua Shiyilang, Hua Qiniang, and Hua Shierlang were all seated inside. She immediately turned to Hua Sanlang, who was attending to the servants, and frowned, asking, \"Sixth Brother, why haven't you and Third Brother gone inside to keep them company?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Liulang pursed his lips: \"They simply do not deem us worthy. Fourth Brother and the others were personally summoned inside by Great-Uncle Hua Tai.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, movement came from the main hall; the steward from the Marquis's residence and Hua Tai were about to depart, and Old Master Hua, Hua Minghe, and others smiled as they escorted them out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the group emerged from the house, they saw Hua Changxi standing in the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regarding Hua Changxi, both the steward from the Marquis's residence and Hua Tai retained vivid memories; they now regarded her with deliberate scrutiny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Hua Changxi made no move to greet the guests upon spotting them, Old Master Hua became somewhat displeased: \"Ninth Lady, why do you not quickly come forward to pay your respects to your Great-Uncle Hua Tai and Steward Kong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi walked over, performing a junior's bow to Hua Tai, but merely gave Steward Kong a slight nod of the head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Hua Tai raised an eyebrow, while Steward Kong's smile remained unchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua, however, felt her attitude lacked proper respect and was just about to reprimand her when Hua Tai spoke first: \"Ninth Lady, how are you faring in the Labor Hall of the Medical Bureau?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi replied, \"Quite well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Tai smiled and said, \"The Fifth Lady of the Count's residence and your elder sister Wan Yue have recently entered the Disciple Hall of the Medical Bureau; should you encounter any difficulties, you may seek them out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprise flickered in Hua Changxi's eyes; Yu Gui had mentioned that over the past two months, many nobles had inserted people into the Medical Bureau, but she had not expected the Hua Count's residence to be involved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Hua Changxi did not respond, Hua Tai felt somewhat annoyed; he had intended to offer her an opportunity since she had not yet participated in the Spirit Testing, but witnessing such arrogance, he abandoned the idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Tai paid Hua Changxi no further attention, gesturing for Steward Kong to proceed, and the two walked outward while conversing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Hua glared at Hua Changxi before hastily following to see them off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ninth Lady, just now Steward Kong mentioned that Fifth Sister is pregnant.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Qiniang happily approached Hua Jiuniang to share this joyful news: \"Originally, Fifth Sister intended to return personally, but her condition makes travel difficult. Steward Kong said that when Fifth Sister gives birth, family members may go to accompany her during childbirth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the faces of everyone from the fourth branch filled with joy, Hua Changxi smiled and said, \"That is truly wonderful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Qiniang clasped her hands together and prayed, \"Thank heaven and earth; with a child, Fifth Sister can finally hold her head high in the Marquis's residence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi did not know how to respond to this when Hua Shierlang walked over, lifting her chin proudly as she declared, \"Ninth Lady, after the New Year, Fourth Brother, Seventh Sister, and I will be going to the Count's residence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi asked, puzzled, \"What will you be doing at the Count's residence?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Shierlang replied, \"Great-Uncle Hua Tai said that the Count's residence has invited cultivators to guide clan members who have detected spiritual roots in their cultivation, and they will even distribute spirit stones to us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you know what a spirit stone is?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh, this is it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing it, Hua Changxi reached out to take a look, but Hua Shierniang pulled her hand back: \"You aren't a cultivator; you'd better not look.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Qiniang shot Hua Shierniang a glare and handed her own spirit stone to Hua Changxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi took it and saw it was a low-grade spirit stone: \"Did the Count's Manor give these out?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Qiniang nodded: \"My Fourth Brother and I, along with two others, have already drawn Qi into our bodies, so each of us received one hundred stones.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's eyes flickered. The Count's Manor was quite capable; distributing spirit stones to the clan's cultivators meant they definitely possessed a spirit mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These nobles truly knew far more than ordinary people.\u003C\u002Fp>",3158,"2026-06-12T02:51:22.172Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","a4f52b7d25440a7e2356380e854ddb4ed7d125141d5ef2406b0dcc65e3d3edaf","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-87","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-85",558,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-cover.jpg"]