Chapter 11: Settling Life with Laughter and Conversation

As soon as news broke that the Medical Bureau was recruiting apprentices, people not only from the capital but also from other regions flocked to apply.

When Hua Changxi arrived at the Medical Bureau, a long queue was already forming at the entrance.

Most of those in line were men in their teens or twenties, though there were also some middle-aged men.

In addition to the men, there were quite a few women applying as well.

The Medical Bureau was one of the few government departments that did not restrict women from joining.

According to Physician Xu, there were very formidable female physicians and pharmacists within the Bureau.

In the Great Jin Dynasty, although women were free to walk the streets, their social participation was still very low. It was extremely difficult to achieve economic and personal independence; most women had to depend on their families or men to survive throughout their lives.

Therefore, whenever a job opportunity arose that a woman could fulfill, it would attract countless women fighting for it.

Hua Changxi was a person from the modern era. Even if she hadn't been fortunate enough to obtain a cultivation opportunity, she intended to find a job and do her utmost to take control of her own life.

After queuing for over half an hour, Hua Changxi successfully registered and received her examination permit stamped by the Medical Bureau. She then waited for the exam on the twentieth of September.

Afterward, Hua Changxi did not linger outside and briskly returned to the Hua household.

By the time she arrived home, the rest of the Hua family had already returned.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, Hua Changxi sensed that the atmosphere was off.

The adults were sitting in the main hall, the children were standing under the eaves, and no one was speaking.

Not daring to provoke anyone at a time like this, Hua Changxi tiptoed back to her room. Just as she was about to catch up on some sleep, Hua Qiniang and Hua Ershiniang arrived.

As soon as they entered, Hua Qiniang’s tears began to pour: "Jiu-niang, Fifth Sister is really going to become a concubine for an old man."

Hua Changxi was shaken: "The family has already agreed? Even Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt agreed?"

Hua Ershiniang nodded dejectedly: "This morning, Grandfather, Grandmother, Fourth Uncle, and Fourth Aunt took Fifth Sister to meet that old man. After they returned, they gave their consent."

Hua Changxi fell silent for a moment: "And Fifth Sister? What did she say?"

Hua Ershiniang’s tone was somewhat irritable: "What could she say? She can't go against the family."

Hua Qiniang added: "As soon as Fifth Sister came back, she locked herself in her room to cry. She won't respond no matter how we call her."

Hua Changxi paced the room twice: "Since Fifth Sister is unwilling, then go talk to Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt. They can't sacrifice their daughter's entire life just for the sake of their son."

Hua Qiniang: "But Fifth Sister also doesn't want to delay Eleventh Brother's future."

Hua Changxi snorted coldly: "Eleventh Brother can earn his own future. Even though Fifth Sister is his elder sister, she shouldn't have to be responsible for her brother's life, should she?"

Hua Ershiniang sighed: "Fifth Sister wouldn't disregard Eleventh Brother."

Thinking of Hua Wuniang's temperament, Hua Changxi couldn't help but sigh: "Fifth Sister is too considerate of others. If she doesn't change this temperament, endless grievances will be waiting for her in the future."

Hearing this, Hua Qiniang and Hua Ershiniang both looked up at Hua Changxi.

Hua Changxi found their stares baffling: "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Hua Ershiniang: "Fifth Sister is often praised by the elders, and when we visit others, the elders like her very much. You are the one who needs to change your temperament."

Hua Changxi rolled her eyes: "Then you should go learn from Fifth Sister—taking it as your duty to sacrifice yourself, using your own flesh and blood to fulfill others, all to exchange for a few hollow words of praise from them."

As she spoke, she tapped both of them on their foreheads with her index fingers.

"You two little fools, use your brains. A lady as obedient and sensible as Fifth Sister is the easiest to manipulate, isn't she?"

"You should be like me. It's not a bad thing for a lady to have a bit of a temper; that way, people won't dare to bully you."

"You think only outsiders bully people? Family members do it just as much. People naturally pick the softest persimmons to squeeze."

"If the one being forced to be a concubine were me, would you see me not turning the household upside down? Would the family be this quiet and peaceful?"

Hua Qiniang and Hua Ershiniang were repeatedly astonished, and at the same time, confusion flickered on their faces.

Pleasing the elders, earning praise from outsiders, and repaying the family by supporting a brother—wasn't that right? Weren't these the virtues a lady of the inner chambers should possess?

Yet, regarding the matter of Fifth Sister becoming a concubine for the sake of Eleventh Brother's future, they both felt something was wrong.

The Jiu-niang they once thought was noisy and disobedient... looking at her now, she didn't seem so bad?

Hua Changxi looked at the two of them, thought for a moment, and said: "If Fifth Sister dared to fight for herself, I don't think the family would force her. If she won't even fight for herself..."

"Since becoming a concubine is already a settled fact, to make Fifth Sister feel better, we can only advise her to look on the bright side."

Afterward, Hua Qiniang and Hua Ershiniang didn't stay long before going to see Hua Wuniang. Hua Changxi thought about it and followed them.

In the evening, Hua Minghe returned from his duties. Upon hearing Lady Yao say that the family had agreed to let Wuniang become a concubine for the He family, he fell into silence.

While folding the dried laundry, Lady Yao sighed: "Fourth Sister-in-law usually loves her daughter; I didn't expect her to be so heartless."

Becoming a concubine—even if the other party was from a high-ranking family, a concubine was no different from a servant. Just thinking about it made her worry for Wuniang's future.

Wuniang was Fourth Brother's daughter. Since the couple had already made their decision, Hua Minghe did not want to say much. Seeing the household register lying on the bed, he asked in surprise: "Why did you take out the register?"

As he spoke, something occurred to him, and Hua Minghe stood up abruptly: "Did Jiu-niang take the register to register at the Medical Bureau?"

Lady Yao's hands did not stop, and she gave a faint "Mhm."

Hua Minghe frowned deeply: "Why didn't you stop her? The Medical Bureau is a government office; the affairs within a government office are not something a young lady like Jiu-niang can handle."

Lady Yao put down her work and looked at Hua Minghe: "He-lang, I was also unwilling to let Jiu-niang join the Medical Bureau before, but Wuniang's matter has changed my mind."

Hua Minghe grew agitated: "Wuniang is Wuniang, and Jiu-niang is Jiu-niang. How could I ever let Jiu-niang become someone's concubine?"

Lady Yao: "I know you wouldn't. But in this capital, many things are not within our control."

"Do you think Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law truly wanted Wuniang to become a concubine?"

"It was the clan. The clan used Eleventh Brother's future to coerce and entice them. Did they have a choice?"

"I fear that one day, someone will use your life, or the futures of Dalang and the others, to threaten me. When that time comes, no matter how unwilling I am, I will likely have to sacrifice Jiu-niang."

"How many things can the young ladies of this house decide for themselves? Even regarding marriage, they can only obey others."

"Since we cannot escape being manipulated in the end, now that Jiu-niang has something she wants to do, why shouldn't I let her try to forge her own path? Regardless of whether the result is good or bad, it is ultimately her own will."

Hua Minghe's momentum weakened, and he said somewhat despondently: "It is my fault. It is my fault for not providing you and the children with a better life."

Lady Yao walked to Hua Minghe's side and took his hand: "No, it is not your fault. You have worked very hard. The world is like this; we can only go with the flow."

***

The Second Branch.

Second Aunt Hua was also sighing: "With Fifth Nương's temperament, she will surely suffer grievances as a concubine."

However, Second Uncle Hua said: "Don't just look at the negative side. Think about the status of the He family. Being a concubine to the son of the Marquis of Wuyi is Fifth Nương's blessing. If it weren't for the Count's estate making the connection, such a good opportunity wouldn't have fallen to our family."

Second Aunt Hua gave Second Uncle Hua a glare: "You make it sound so easy. Can we common folk handle the intricacies within a high-ranking household?"

"Besides, Fifth Nương's temperament is too soft. If you ask me, it would be better to let Jiu-niang be the concubine. With her personality, she might actually carve out a place for herself in the Marquis's manor."

Second Uncle Hua rolled his eyes: "Shut up. They are looking for a concubine, not an ancestor. Look at any household—aren't the concubines all gentle and submissive?"

"If you let Jiu-niang be a concubine, that wouldn't be a marriage alliance; it would be a declaration of war!"

"There is no need to worry about Fifth Nương. As long as she behaves herself, for the sake of the Count's estate, Third Master He won't make things too difficult for her."

"Third Master He is thirty this year and has no children yet. If Fifth Nương's womb is capable and she bears him a son, her blessings will come later."

While the Second Branch continued to debate, the Fourth Branch was very quiet, with only the sound of suppressed sobbing to be heard.

Fourth Aunt and Fourth Uncle both looked unwell. It pained them deeply to send their daughter to be a concubine, but they had no other choice.

Eleventh Brother Hua was pacing outside Fifth Nương's door, wanting to go in, but in the end, he could not bring himself to take a step.

***

The Great Clan Matriarch's House.

"How is it?"

"Is Third Master He satisfied with Hua Wuniang?"

Grand Dowager Lady Zhou asked her eldest son, Hua Tai.

Hua Tai was all smiles: "How could Third Master He look down on someone Mother selected?" As he spoke, he brought out three martial academy enrollment slips.

"Third Master He gave ten enrollment slips. The Count's estate took six, one was given to Hua Bin, and the remaining three are for us to distribute."

"Only three..."

Grand Dowager Lady Zhou pondered for a moment: "The Count's estate calculated it perfectly, just enough to let our San-lang, Si-lang, and Wu-lang enter the martial academy."

Hua Tai had no objection to the Count's estate's distribution. After all, with a family like the He family, they could never reach that height without the Count's estate, and the entire Hua clan relied on the Count's estate's patronage.

"By the way, Mother, Third Master He intends to bring Hua Wuniang into his manor within a month."

Grand Dowager Lady Zhou laughed: "It seems Third Master He is quite anxious about having an heir."

Hua Tai took a sip of tea and said with a smile: "How could he not be anxious? Third Master He is a concubine's son, and he is already thirty. He only has one daughter. If he doesn't bear a son soon, the Marquis's estate's property will have nothing to do with him."

Grand Dowager Lady Zhou: "The lineage of Hua Bin is flourishing. I have also looked at Hua Wuniang; she is a woman capable of bearing children. Third Master He will have his wish."

Hua Tai smiled: "That would be for the best. Mother, the matter of Hua Wuniang entering the Marquis's manor will still require you to make the arrangements."

Grand Dowager Lady Zhou waved her hand: "These are small matters; I will handle them. You should worry more about the major affairs outside and within the clan."

Hua Tai quickly said: "Mother, this is no small matter. Third Master He said that if he truly obtains a son, there will be further thanks to follow."

Grand Dowager Lady Zhou thought for a moment: "Then I shall bring Hua Wuniang over to train her for a few days. Third Master He's wife is not an easy person to deal with. We wouldn't want her to perish before the son is even born."

Hua Tai rose and bowed: "Thank you for your hard work, Mother. With your training, Hua Wuniang will surely be a blessed woman."