Chapter 39: This is Just the Kind of Woman I Am

Chapter 39: This is Just the Kind of Woman I Am

On her first day helping at the First Bureau, Hua Changxi spent her time processing ironwood roots while simultaneously explaining the processing steps to the apprentices from the Apprentice Hall.

She processed the medicinal materials with great speed and shared her knowledge generously without holding anything back. Eunuch Bao was very satisfied with this. When she requested to return to the Sixth Bureau for dinner and rest at 18:45, he did not stop her and allowed her to leave.

Meanwhile, the other laborers at the First Bureau and the apprentices who had come to help were busy until midnight.

After finishing dinner, Hua Changxi returned to her dormitory, took a mid-grade Essence Spirit Pill, and began her cultivation.

Three hours later, she opened her eyes in surprise.

Previously, it had taken her four hours to absorb and refine a single mid-grade Essence Spirit Pill, but now it only took three.

"My cultivation speed has increased!"

Hua Changxi was somewhat puzzled. The factors affecting cultivation speed were nothing more than cultivation techniques, the concentration of spiritual energy, and one's state of mind.

None of these factors had changed; so why had her speed increased?

Hua Changxi felt helpless. Without a mentor or a systematic understanding of cultivation knowledge, she could only rely on guesswork when encountering problems she didn't understand.

Fortunately, an increase in cultivation speed was a good thing, so she did not dwell on it too deeply. She simply kept the question in mind, waiting to resolve it in the future.

Taking another mid-grade Essence Spirit Pill, Hua Changxi continued her cultivation.

The next day, Hua Changxi did not finish her cultivation until 06:45. By the time she finished breakfast and arrived at the First Bureau, it was nearly 07:00.

At this time, the laborers and apprentices who had stayed later than her the previous night had already arrived and begun processing the medicinal materials.

Hua Changxi originally intended to use the same furnace from yesterday, but she found it was being used by someone else. She had no choice but to select the only remaining unlit furnace to process the ironwood roots.

Just as she had started the fire, Manager Qin approached her: "Changxi, Eunuch Bao said you are capable, so you must process more ironwood roots today. Everyone was busy until midnight last night; you should help everyone out more today."

"Our task today is to finish processing all the ironwood roots in the courtyard. You can go back and rest whenever the work is done."

Following Manager Qin's gaze, Hua Changxi looked toward the courtyard. Several piles, totaling more than twenty baskets of ironwood roots, were stacked there.

He even mentioned how everyone had worked until midnight and that they must finish the work tonight before they could rest. Was he implying something about her leaving the Sixth Bureau early yesterday?

The others combined would process at most seven or eight baskets; the rest would have to be done by her.

This was an attempt to extract the maximum possible value from her.

Hua Changxi disliked these collective tasks where it seemed the more capable one was expected to do more. If it weren't for her desire to quickly upgrade the *Complete Encyclopedia of Processing* to perfection, she would have preferred to slack off.

Not wanting to return too late and delay her cultivation, Hua Changxi simply let loose and accelerated her processing speed.

The apprentices from the Apprentice Hall, upon learning they had to process over twenty baskets of ironwood roots today, turned pale with frustration.

They knew that being assigned such a heavy task was because of Hua Changxi. They harbored great resentment toward her; several apprentices, unable to control their emotions, glared at her with hateful eyes.

However, very soon, the apprentices found themselves unsure of how to feel toward her.

The ironwood roots in the courtyard were being processed by Hua Changxi at an incredible speed. They had thought they might be working through the night, but to their surprise, before 17:00, all twenty-plus baskets of ironwood roots were completely processed.

Manager Qin was just as stunned as the apprentices. When Hua Changxi told him the task was complete and that she was returning to the Sixth Bureau for dinner and rest, he could only nod in a daze.

Thanks to Hua Changxi, the apprentices from the Apprentice Hall spent a day at the First Bureau that was even more relaxed than their studies at the Apprentice Hall.

"Sister, didn't you go to the First Bureau to help? How do you have time to come see me?"

Lu Qingluo looked at Lu Qingling in surprise. She had also gone to help at the First Bureau and knew all too well how heavy the workload had been lately.

Lu Qingling's expression was complex. "Qingluo, I think I finally understand why the people in the Sixth Bureau dislike Hua Changxi."

Lu Qingluo looked surprised. "Sister, did you encounter Changxi at the First Bureau?"

Lu Qingling: "I was in the same group as her; we were both responsible for processing ironwood roots."

Lu Qingluo grew anxious. "Sister, did you have a conflict with Changxi?" Hua Changxi was not someone to be trifled with, and she worried her sister might be bullied.

Lu Qingling shook her head. "How could I have a conflict with her? However, even without any conflict, Hua Changxi is not a person people can easily like."

Lu Qingluo was puzzled. "But did Changxi do something to make you loathe her?"

Lu Qingling shook her head again. "No. Hua Changxi simply does what she is told. It's just... she is too capable. She is so capable that it makes everyone feel frustrated and incompetent."

As she spoke, she looked at Lu Qingluo.

"No one wants to feel incompetent. Being around someone like Hua Changxi serves as a constant reminder that you are inferior in every way. How could such a person be liked?"

Lu Qingluo fell silent. She had experienced that same psychological feeling before.

Lu Qingling continued with a smile, "Hua Changxi leaves early and arrives late every day, while everyone else works themselves to death until midnight. Looking at her leisure and then at their own hardship, it would be strange if the people in the Sixth Bureau liked her."

"Even when helping at the First Bureau, she is equally unpopular."

"The apprentices from the Apprentice Hall have always considered themselves a tier above the laborers of the Laborer Hall. Now that they are being outperformed by a mere laborer like Hua Changxi, they won't think she is amazing; they will only feel humiliated by their own inadequacy. They won't seek her friendship; instead, they will distance themselves and exclude her."

Not quite understanding her sister's meaning, Lu Qingluo asked, "Sister, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Lu Qingling's smile faded, and she said seriously, "Hua Changxi is too sharp and prominent. The people above will not want to see her climb over their heads, and the people below will not want to see her rise.

"The rumors about her are spreading like wildfire in the Laborer Hall. Why do you think that is? Too many people do not want to see her succeed.

"Qingluo, remember this: when living in this world, one must not be too flamboyant. You must learn to hide your brilliance."

Lu Qingluo nodded. "I will, sister."

At the corner of the backyard wall, Hua Changxi had heard everything the sisters said. Only after they had walked far away did she step out and return to her sleeping quarters.

She was too prominent?

Hua Changxi did not believe so. She had merely demonstrated her value at the appropriate time, and when she was being bullied, she had appropriately demonstrated that she was not to be trifled with.

By showing her value, she had made the acquaintance of Yu Gui, which led to her cooperation with Eunuch Yu in refining medicine.

By letting people know she was not to be messed with, others would not dare to act recklessly in front of her.

If that was being "flamboyant," then she was flamboyant.

She always believed that if a person wanted to establish themselves in this world, they had to possess their own value and untouchable boundaries.

Hiding one's brilliance might avoid some trouble, but it also meant living a cowardly life.

If one encounters an opportunity but dares not fight for it, they would likely spend their entire life in mediocrity.

Heaven had given her the chance to cultivate, and her ability to protect herself was stronger than many in this world. Under such circumstances, if she could not live for herself or stand up for herself, she would be struck by lightning.

Not being liked? Hmph. Was she born to please people?

If she was going to do something, she would be the kind of person that everyone else would scramble to please!