Chapter 27: Subtext and Sharp Wit

Watching the people from the Marquis's manor depart, the Hua family was still deeply immersed in the sorrow and reluctance of Wuniang's departure, but Madam Zhong suddenly voiced her grievances.

"Brother Bin, if you were unwilling about Wuniang going to the Marquis's manor to be a concubine, you should have told us earlier. Would we have ever forced you?"

"Your Ninth Daughter truly has quite the talent. Even my husband and I wouldn't dare neglect the manor's stewards and nannies, yet she runs out and spews nonsense, directly offending Steward Kong and Nanny Shen."

"Just you wait and see. Ninth Daughter caused such a scene today; she might be fine, but Wuniang, who has entered the Marquis's manor, is going to suffer for it."

Hearing this, the members of the Fourth Branch grew anxious, and Old Master Hua and Old Madam Hua's faces darkened. Just as Madam Yao was about to defend her daughter, Hua Changxi spoke up first.

"Great-Aunt, do you take our entire family for fools in your eyes?"

"You should know better than anyone exactly why my Fifth Sister became a concubine of the Marquis's manor."

"If you play matchmaker for secret profit, you must own up to it. Don't act innocent afterward as if we were the ones begging you."

"Not everyone is foolish enough to help people count their money after being sold by them, but at least we, the Hua family, are not."

"As for why you dare not offend the stewards and nannies of the Marquis's manor, it is because you have something to seek from them, whereas I have nothing."

"I have only one thought: I will not allow the Marquis's manor to look down on my Fifth Sister. I want them to know that my Fifth Sister also has a family to rely on."

As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of the Fourth Branch, who had previously held some resentment toward Hua Changxi, stiffened.

At this point, Hua Changxi suddenly turned her gaze toward Hua Tai, who was standing aside in silence. "Great-Uncle, you must have seen how the people from the Marquis's manor treated my family and my Fifth Sister."

"My Fifth Sister is being formally inducted as a legitimate concubine, not going there to be a servant who cannot fight back or speak up. Even if the gap in social status between our family and the Marquis's manor is large, it does not mean we must act servile and fawning toward two servants of the manor, does it?"

Hua Tai looked at Hua Changxi with interest.

*Acting servile and fawning toward two servants of the Marquis's manor...*

Was she mocking him and Madam Zhong for having no backbone and lacking dignity?

"Hahaha~"

Hua Tai laughed loudly. "So you are Ninth Daughter. No wonder my mother couldn't stop talking about you after meeting you once."

As he spoke, he turned to smile at Old Master Hua and the others.

"There are very few young ladies my mother remembers. Seeing you today, your Ninth Daughter is indeed extraordinary; she truly leaves a deep impression."

Old Master Hua managed a forced smile. He understood the sharp undertones in the exchange between Hua Tai and his ninth granddaughter, but he could not say anything. Regardless, his ninth granddaughter was standing up for the Hua family.

Hua Changxi followed with a smile. "My visit to the Great Clan Elder's house last time was also unforgettable. If it weren't for that trip, I might not have even made it into the Medical Bureau."

Hua Tai assumed the posture of an elder. "Ninth Daughter, you are a young lady, and a young lady should stay at home. Tell me, running off to be a mere laborer in the Medical Bureau—isn't that just causing unnecessary worry for your grandparents and your parents?"

Having said that, Hua Tai looked toward Madam Yao. "Minghe's wife, I have high hopes for your Ninth Daughter. Raise her well, and in the future, I will certainly ask my mother to select a good marriage for her."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi burst into laughter. She then composed herself and looked at Hua Tai indifferently. "Great-Uncle, I suddenly thought of a story."

Hua Tai played along with curiosity. "What story?"

Hua Changxi: "A story about raising pigs. You keep them in a pigsty, fattening them up until they are white and plump, just waiting for them to grow large enough to be sold and slaughtered."

The smile on Hua Tai's face did not fade. "Pigs, once grown, are meant to be sold. Otherwise, why raise them at all?"

Clan members were the resources of the lineage; it had been this way since ancient times. To resist? Ha.

Hua Changxi: "Great-Uncle Hua Tai must have never heard the saying: 'First the pig, second the bear, third the tiger. If you encounter a pig, even the fierce tiger and bear must step aside.'"

Hua Tai continued smilingly, "Is that so? I must be ill-informed; I truly have never heard of that."

He acted as if he didn't take the threat in her words seriously at all, as if she were merely telling a joke.

Hua Changxi stared back at him without blinking. "Great-Uncle Hua Tai, you have heard it today, and you will certainly see it in the future."

As Hua Tai looked at Hua Changxi, the nonchalant smile on his face finally receded slightly.

Seeing that Hua Changxi was actually threatening their family, Madam Zhong felt immense dissatisfaction. Knowing that Hua Changxi could hold her own, she turned her矛头 (spearhead) toward Old Master Hua and Old Madam Hua.

"Who is actually running this household, you or Ninth Daughter? Are you just going to let a young girl speak such nonsense in front of visiting elders?"

Seeing that even Hua Tai's expression had changed, Old Master Hua knew he could no longer let his ninth granddaughter run wild. He immediately said to Madam Yao, "Take Ninth Daughter back to the room to rest."

Hua Changxi did not resist this time. She had said all she needed to say, so she allowed Madam Yao to lead her back into the Hua family courtyard.

Even though his granddaughter had stripped away the family's veil of dignity, Old Master Hua still offered a conciliatory smile to Hua Tai and his wife. "Ninth Daughter is used to being wild. Please do not take her words to heart, Brother Tai and Sister-in-law."

Madam Zhong snorted, wanting to lecture them further, but was stopped by Hua Tai. "What are you saying? I quite like Ninth Daughter's temperament. It's just a pity..."

"If she were a man, I fear our Hua clan would have produced another great talent."

As he spoke, Hua Tai looked toward Hua Shiyilang. "My family also has a few boys entering the Martial Academy; Shiyilang, you can join them when the time comes."

Upon hearing this, Uncle Four and Aunt Four hurriedly bowed in thanks.

Hua Tai smiled. This was the attitude clan members should have toward them. As for that Hua Ninth Daughter...

"Alright, Wuniang has been taken away, so your sister-in-law and I shall head back. If anything happens, feel free to come to my house; if it is within my power, I will certainly help you."

"Safe travels, Brother Tai and Sister-in-law!"

The Hua family watched as the carriage of Hua Tai and his wife departed.

Inside the carriage, the more Madam Zhong thought about it, the angrier she became. "That Hua Ninth Daughter is completely unruly; she has absolutely no respect for us. Hua Bin's family just stood by without intervening—they have no sense of propriety at all. They deserve to decline further and further."

Hua Tai's expression also turned cold. "...Fortunately, she is only a young lady."

Madam Zhong was stunned. "Why? Do you actually think highly of her?"

Hua Tai looked at his wife. "If she truly were a man, with the courage she showed in directly confronting me and Steward Kong, she would never lead a mediocre life."

Madam Zhong sneered. "Hua Minghe is bold enough, isn't he? And yet, isn't he still just a lowly constable?"

Mentioning this, Hua Tai's expression became serious. "What exactly is the background of Madam Yao's maiden family? Even though she is married, there are still nobles stepping in to suppress her husband's family?"

Madam Zhong looked curious. "Have you found out which noble is suppressing Hua Minghe?"

Hua Tai shook his head. "I don't know."

Madam Zhong's eyes widened. "You couldn't even find out through the Count's manor?"

Hua Tai gave a non-committal "Mhm."

Madam Zhong's expression turned grave. "If even the Count's manor couldn't find out, just how deep must their background be?"

Hua Tai sighed. "Now do you understand why Father and Mother repeatedly instructed us not to be too harsh on Hua Bin's family?"

Madam Zhong was somewhat dismissive. "Even if Madam Yao's maiden family has a great background, that is in the past. She has been married into the Hua family for over twenty years. In all these years, if anyone from her family were around, they wouldn't have left her to fend for herself."

"In my view, there is likely no one left in Madam Yao's maiden family."

"You don't know—Hua Bin's wife doesn't give her much face as the eldest daughter-in-law. Over the years, Madam Yao has endured more grievances than the other two daughters-in-law."

"And why is that?"

"Because she has no family to rely on, and she lacks any leverage herself."

Although Hua Tai felt his wife's words made sense, he had always preferred to keep his options open. He decided to follow his parents' advice: he would not be too harsh on Hua Bin's family, but he would not be too supportive either. He would continue to maintain this distant, lukewarm relationship.