Chapter 90: The Hu Luobo and the Stick

Although the Embroidered Uniform Guards had left, the female servants of the Sixth Bureau were still trembling, as Manager Leng, who had stolen the pills, was their direct superior.

Because Hua Changxi had stopped the Embroidered Uniform Guards from searching them and had saved them when Manager Leng attacked, the people of the Sixth Bureau now regarded her as their backbone.

After Hua Changxi returned to her residence, the managers of each group gathered outside her room. Seeing that Hua Changxi had gone to sleep, Du Ruo was about to step out and tell them to disperse when Eunuch Fu, who was by Eunuch Jia's side, arrived.

"Changxi, Eunuch Fu is here."

Hua Changxi had not fully sunk into cultivation. Hearing Du Ruo's call, she immediately opened her eyes, got up, walked out, and looked at Eunuch Fu.

Eunuch Jia had three god-sons: Fu, Lu, and Shou. Compared to Eunuch Lu's harshness, Eunuch Fu looked quite kind.

Seeing Hua Changxi come out, Eunuch Fu did not put on airs and said with a smile: "Hua Changxi, Godfather said to let you take over Leng Xiangru's position. From today on, you are the Second Manager of the Sixth Bureau."

Hua Changxi was not too surprised that Eunuch Jia had promoted her again.

First, she had exposed her identity as a cultivator today.

Second, she had Shiniang behind her. It was clear that in Eunuch Jia's eyes, she was someone with a backer.

Previously, when Eunuch Jia promoted her to Third Manager, it was with the intention of using her. Now, letting her be Second Manager, there was no need to guess; it was the same intention.

As Second Manager, she would manage more people, which would be more conducive to her teaching pharmacology. This was a good thing for Hua Changxi, so she smiled: "Please convey my thanks to Eunuch Jia for his appreciation. I will work hard and will not let down his trust."

Du Ruo and the other Third Managers present were also very happy.

When Hua Changxi was Third Manager before, many people in the Sixth Bureau had some opinions.

But now, letting Hua Changxi be Second Manager, no one in the Sixth Bureau opposed it; on the contrary, they were eager for her to be it.

Eunuch Fu indicated he would help convey the message, then continued: "Little Xiao Luzi was just taken away by the Embroidered Uniform Guards. With him gone, the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Bureaus he was responsible for have no one to manage them."

"Godfather said he couldn't find a suitable person to take over Little Xiao Luzi's position for the time being, so the Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Bureaus will also be temporarily managed by you."

Hua Changxi was surprised after hearing this.

Taking over the Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Bureaus—this was something she had never thought of.

"Eunuch Fu, does Eunuch Jia really want me to manage the Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Bureaus?"

Eunuch Fu nodded affirmatively: "Yes, that is what Godfather ordered. This order has already been conveyed to the Second and Third Managers of the Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Bureaus."

"Godfather said that if anyone does not listen to your orders, as long as it is within the rules, you are free to deal with them. If there is really something you cannot handle, you can go directly to him."

Hua Changxi did not feel much joy after hearing this; on the contrary, she was quite serious.

Responsibility and power are equal. Taking over the Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Bureaus meant she had to help Eunuch Jia stabilize these three bureaus.

Although Manager Leng had escaped, the matter of her stealing the pills was not over. The Embroidered Uniform Guards were involved, and the Medical Department would definitely investigate.

As the person in charge of the Third Office, Eunuch Jia would definitely be held accountable for such a big loophole under his command.

Before this, some people had been eyeing the Third Office Eunuch Jia was responsible for, wanting to pull him down. Now that Eunuch Jia had run into trouble, it would be strange if those watching him didn't take the opportunity to strike.

Eunuch Lu had been arrested, and the four bureaus he managed were undoubtedly the best breakthrough points.

Eunuch Jia was shrewd enough to let her manage these four bureaus.

She was not afraid of trouble, had strong martial arts, and had someone behind her—wasn't she the best choice for a shield?

Hua Changxi was silent for a while, then said: "Tell Eunuch Jia that I will manage the Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Bureaus well."

If it weren't for the need to teach pharmacology, she definitely wouldn't have agreed.

Four bureaus meant four hundred people; it was worth her taking over.

Seeing that Hua Changxi really agreed as Eunuch Jia had said, Eunuch Fu smiled: "Okay, I will go back and report to Godfather."

"Wait a moment."

Hua Changxi stopped him: "Eunuch Fu, since I have taken over Eunuch Lu's position, does the courtyard where Eunuch Lu lived belong to me now?"

Eunuch Lu's small courtyard had all four corners complete. Once she moved in, she could have a private space, which would allow her to both cultivate and refine pills.

Eunuch Fu looked at Hua Changxi, feeling that she was pushing her luck. Taking over four bureaus at once wasn't enough; she actually dared to covet Little Xiao Luzi's courtyard.

Did she think Little Xiao Luzi wouldn't be coming back?

Hua Changxi saw Eunuch Fu's frown but didn't care.

On the surface, it was indeed Eunuch Jia promoting her, but deep down, one could say Eunuch Jia was asking something of her. Of course, she had to take the opportunity to make demands.

"I cannot make the decision about Little Xiao Luzi's courtyard. I will go back and ask Godfather before giving you an answer."

Eunuch Fu left quickly, returned to the courtyard where Eunuch Jia worked, and repeated the entire conversation between him and Hua Changxi.

"Godfather, your judgment of people is truly accurate. Hua Changxi really agreed to take over the Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Bureaus."

Eunuch Jia held a stack of papers in his hand, all recording the situation of the Hua family: "The Hua family has its own pharmacy. Although Hua Changxi said she wanted to take the apprentice exam for the Medical Department, in the end, she would rather be a servant than choose to go home. What does this mean?"

"It means there is no place for her in the Hua family."

"Children who are generally not valued by their families mostly want to gain the recognition of their family members. Such people will not refuse power."

"The higher they climb, the more they can take revenge on their family for not valuing them, proving that their family's neglect of them was wrong."

Eunuch Fu was enlightened after hearing this, then worried: "Male servants are not easy to manage. Hua Changxi is just a young woman; the male servants of the Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Bureaus may not necessarily obey her."

Eunuch Jia looked at him: "Do you and Little Shouzi think that I should have handed the Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Bureaus to you to manage?"

Eunuch Fu did not speak, which was considered a tacit admission.

Eunuch Jia sneered: "Although Little Xiao Luzi was a bit lecherous, in many aspects, he was still much better than you and Little Shouzi."

"How do you think the little power we have in our hands came about?"

Eunuch Fu said timidly: "It was given by the nobles above."

Eunuch Jia shook his head: "That is right, but also wrong. In times of peace, power is indeed given by the nobles above, but in times of change, power is earned by oneself. Whoever has the bigger fist can control others."

"Hua Changxi has stayed in a medicinal herb farm full of male servants for nearly a year and was able to return safe and sound. What do you think she relied on?"

"The servants of the Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Bureaus, if they are obedient, that's fine. If they are not, Hua Changxi will teach them how to behave."

Eunuch Fu did not dare to speak anymore.

Eunuch Jia did not intend to continue, but ordered: "Hua Changxi wants to live in Little Xiao Luzi's courtyard, let her live there."

Hearing this, Eunuch Fu was hesitant to speak.

Eunuch Jia saw this and knew he was thinking of Little Xiao Luzi. After all, he was his god-son, and his expression was a bit sad: "Little Xiao Luzi... won't be coming back."

Eunuch Fu was stunned. Knowing that the brother he grew up with would die, he felt very sad and looked at Eunuch Jia pleadingly: "Godfather, is Little Xiao Luzi really beyond saving?"

Eunuch Jia rubbed his forehead with a headache: "What kind of place is the Embroidered Uniform Guards' Imperial Prison? Even high-ranking court officials cannot intervene, let alone me."

"Leng Xiangru was Little Xiao Luzi's lover. Regardless of whether Little Xiao Luzi was deceived or not, he cannot escape."

Eunuch Fu looked sad after hearing this.

Eunuch Jia sighed: "I reminded him so many times, but he just wouldn't listen. People like us who have lost our roots, what do we need women for? It's just self-deception. Now it's good, he even lost his life."

When Eunuch Fu went to tell Hua Changxi that she could move into Eunuch Lu's courtyard, she went to the Fourth Bureau.

Having lived in the Great Jin Dynasty for nearly fifteen years, she knew that the expectation for women in this era was to stay at home, serve their husbands, and be virtuous wives and mothers.

Now that she, a young woman, was asked to manage male servants, the male servants would definitely not be convinced.

She also knew that in the world of men, the strong are respected.

Entering the Fourth Bureau, facing the male servants who couldn't be bothered to pay attention to her, Hua Changxi didn't talk nonsense, directly releasing her spiritual pressure, shrouding the entire Fourth Bureau.

In an instant, the male servants of the Fourth Bureau collapsed to the ground, unable to get up.

One minute later, the spiritual pressure was withdrawn.

"Continue your duties as you did before. I am a person who fears trouble; don't cause trouble or make a scene."

"Those who have other masters behind them, restrain yourselves. Don't cause trouble for me. If I really want to deal with you, even the Great Luo Immortals won't be able to save you."

"Who can read and write?"

Hua Changxi used force to suppress them as soon as she arrived, which was something the people of the Fourth Bureau hadn't expected. They didn't know what Hua Changxi wanted to do, and they didn't dare to ask, so they could only look at each other in silence.

Finally, a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy stood up: "I can."

Hua Changxi looked at him: "From now on, every morning, I will spend half an hour teaching you how to recognize medicinal herbs and how to clean them quickly. You will be responsible for recording it."

She actually didn't know how to manage people, but she knew the theory of the carrot and the stick.

Using force to suppress them, making the male servants fear her, making them not dare to look down on her, and not dare to cause trouble—this was the stick.

Teaching the male servants pharmacological knowledge—this was the carrot.

Men have to earn money to support their families, and the pressure is high. Their desire for skills and knowledge is even higher. With this carrot dangling, it should make them have some scruples.

Sure enough, after hearing this, the people of the Fourth Bureau began to discuss in low voices.

"Manager Hua, are you really going to teach us pharmacological knowledge?"

"As long as you do your jobs well and don't cause trouble for me, as long as I manage the Fourth Bureau for one day, I will teach you for one day."

"Manager Hua, don't worry, we will all listen to you."

Everyone responded one after another. Even those who didn't want to learn or had other motives, under the coercion of the majority's desire to improve their earning ability, didn't dare to say anything more.

Having settled the Fourth Bureau, Hua Changxi went to the Fifth and Seventh Bureaus in the same way, completing her first confrontation with the male servants.

Manager Leng's expression faltered. Looking at Eunuch Lu, who was trembling and struggling to distance himself from her, she couldn't be bothered to pretend anymore. She shoved Eunuch Lu aside and looked at Hua Changxi: "What proof do you have that I am the one who stole the pills?"

Hua Changxi returned to the Sixth Bureau and saw Du Ruo.

"Eunuch Fu just came again and said Eunuch Lu's courtyard belongs to you."

Hua Changxi nodded: "Okay, I know. By the way, you are close to Sister Zhou. Go tell her to go back to her original group and continue to be a manager." After saying this, she went back to her room to pack her things.

After Zhou Ran learned the news from Du Ruo, she laughed happily: "My luck is really good. In just one month, I am a manager again."

As she spoke, she nudged Du Ruo with her elbow.

"Is Manager Hua moving away? Then I will still share a room with you."

Du Ruo also sighed. After going around in circles, her good friend was back.

Thinking of Hua Changxi, who had become Second Manager and taken over the Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Bureaus, her expression was a bit emotional.

This girl was rising too fast; she didn't know if she could handle it.

Hua Changxi didn't have many things left outside, all of which were used for cover. She packed up quickly. Before moving into Eunuch Lu's courtyard, she called Zhou Qiuyu over.

"Qiuyu, I have read the medicinal herb data you recorded. It is very detailed, and the drawings are well done."

"I am now managing four bureaus, and I will go to each bureau to teach pharmacological knowledge. I am giving you a task: from now on, you are responsible for organizing and summarizing the types of medicinal herbs I teach you and recording all their medicinal properties. Are you willing?"

Zhou Qiuyu was overjoyed and agreed immediately: "Manager Hua, I am willing."

Seeing her agree, Hua Changxi also smiled: "In the future, if you have any questions about pharmacology, you can find a fixed time to ask me."

Zhou Qiuyu hurriedly asked Hua Changxi when she was free.

Hua Changxi thought for a moment: "You can come to me on the afternoon of the fifth of every month."

Summarizing the pharmacological knowledge she knew into a book was something Hua Changxi only thought of after going to the Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Bureaus.

Her time was limited after all. Appearing in person to teach pharmacology every time would definitely delay her cultivation, and not many people would hear it.

Summarizing the medicinal herbs into a book for people to read would allow her to help more people without having to repeat herself.

Hua Changxi, feeling she had done a good and great deed, happily carried her bundle and moved into Eunuch Lu's former courtyard.

In the courtyard, Eunuch Lu's things had already been taken away. Hua Changxi used a Cleansing Spell, and the rooms in the courtyard instantly took on a brand-new look.

Hua Changxi chose the east room of the main house to live in, set up a Spirit Gathering Array and an Isolation Array in the room, and then went to the west wing.

Eunuch Lu had originally used the west wing as an alchemy room, and all the alchemy tools were complete.

The pharmacy in Feng'an Square had already been renovated. Now, it was just waiting for Hua Changxi to refine enough complete and sufficient pills before it could open.

The Second Manager's time was freer than the Third Manager's. Mainly, the Second Manager didn't have to do the work herself; she just needed to urge the people under her to do their jobs well.

For the four bureaus, Hua Changxi spent two hours every morning teaching pharmacology, and then returned to the courtyard to refine pills.

With the Isolation Array, the movement and scent of the alchemy wouldn't spread out. With no one to disturb her, her speed and quality of alchemy rose straight up.

Half a month later, she had refined a batch of pills needed for the pharmacy to open.

Hua Changxi brought the pills to the pharmacy and, together with Pucao and Aniu, placed the pills in the medicine cabinet. Soon, the pharmacy counter was filled to the brim.

"Changxi, you still haven't named the pharmacy."

Pucao reminded Hua Changxi.

Hua Changxi thought about it and, thinking that her alchemy inheritance came from the Shennong Cauldron, said: "Shennong Hall." ===== CHAPTER 91 =====