Chapter 20: There Are Always More Solutions Than Difficulties

The next day, Hua Changxi woke up late as usual. Finding no steamed buns by her bedside, her brow furrowed involuntarily.

Had Lu Qingluo stopped bringing her buns because she was frightened by her actions last night?

Soon, Hua Changxi discovered that she was being isolated by the others in her dormitory.

Previously, everyone would at least offer a greeting when they met, but now, they acted as if she were invisible.

While carrying medicinal herbs back to the Sixth Bureau for cleaning, Hua Changxi saw Wang Yunchu crouching beside Du Ruo, speaking with an indignant expression. Whenever Hua Changxi returned, Wang Yunchu would steal glances at her.

Hua Changxi knew Wang Yunchu was complaining, but she wasn't worried in the slightest.

As long as it didn't affect her own interests, would the leadership care about conflicts between subordinates?

The answer was, of course not!

Just as she expected, even after finishing her duties in the afternoon, Du Ruo showed no intention of calling her for a talk.

"Hello, aunts."

Hua Changxi was once again the first person to arrive at the dining hall. Most of the women serving food there recognized her.

"Changxi, you work so briskly!"

"It's all thanks to my parents giving me such good strength."

After getting her food, Hua Changxi did not leave immediately. Instead, she stood to the side and chatted with several of the women.

"Auntie Qin, has your hand been injured before?"

The woman surnamed Qin was the kitchen manager. Hearing this, she asked in surprise, "How did you know my hand was injured?"

Hua Changxi smiled. "I noticed your hand trembles when you serve the food."

Auntie Qin sighed. "I fell in the kitchen a few years ago, and that's when I injured my wrist. It never fully healed after all these years, and as I get older, the trembling has only gotten worse."

Hua Changxi said, "Auntie Qin, my family runs a pharmacy. I know how to perform massage. Let me give you a massage; it can help relieve the tremors."

Auntie Qin's face lit up. "Really?"

Smiling, Hua Changxi took Auntie Qin's right hand and began to massage her, focusing on several specific acupoints.

After a short while, Auntie Qin showed a look of amazement. "I feel like my wrist really isn't as stiff anymore." As she spoke, she picked up a spoon and scooped a full serving of vegetables without her hand shaking at all.

Hua Changxi said, "Auntie, I'll come to massage you more often in the future. It will work even better."

Auntie Qin put down the spoon. "But how could I possibly accept that?"

Hua Changxi laughed. "All you aunts take such good care of me, always giving me extra servings every time I come. I must return the favor."

She then looked at the other women. "Aunts, don't let my age fool you; my medical skills have been recognized by Pharmacist Xu of the Ninth Street. If you ever feel unwell in the future, feel free to ask me."

Hearing that Hua Changxi knew a pharmacist from the Ninth Street, Auntie Qin and the other women were astonished.

Auntie Qin said, "Changxi, you mustn't lie to us."

Hua Changxi smiled. "Aunts, what benefit would I get from lying to you?"

Auntie Qin and the other women exchanged glances. Soon, a woman in her thirties looked at Hua Changxi sheepishly.

"Changxi, my body has always felt a bit unwell. Could you take a look at me?"

Hua Changxi performed the traditional diagnosis—looking, listening, questioning, and feeling the pulse—and said with certainty, "Auntie, you are suffering from a gynecological ailment. Do you have any writing materials? I will write a prescription for you."

Auntie Qin naturally knew the health conditions of her staff. Seeing Hua Changxi pinpoint the illness after just a few questions, she was surprised. "Changxi, you are just a young lady; how do you know how to treat women's ailments?"

Hua Changxi chuckled. "Auntie, you shouldn't see me as a young lady right now; you should see me as a doctor. In front of a doctor, there is no status and no age—there is only the patient."

She then looked at the woman with the gynecological issue.

"Auntie, if you don't trust me, once I write the prescription, take it to a doctor you trust. If they say there is no problem, then take the medicine. After three doses, you will know the effect."

Seeing her speak so confidently, Auntie Qin gave the woman a look, and the woman immediately went to fetch writing materials.

By the time Hua Changxi finished writing the prescription, more people had begun to arrive in the dining hall.

"Aunts, please carry on with your work. I'm going to eat."

Just as Hua Changxi picked up her bowl to leave, Auntie Qin grabbed her.

"Changxi, wait a moment. I have something to ask. Why have I never seen you come for breakfast in the morning?"

Hua Changxi said somewhat sheepishly, "I wake up late in the morning, so I don't even have time to eat."

Auntie Qin immediately showed disapproval. "You're a young girl, and you're at the age where you need to grow. How can you not eat breakfast? Tell you what, from now on, I'll have someone save breakfast for you. Just come and eat when you wake up."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi instantly turned into a fangirl. "Auntie Qin, you are too kind! I am truly lucky to have met such benefactors."

With breakfast settled, Hua Changxi happily went to eat her meal. After eating, she returned to her room to wash up and began her cultivation.

The next day, after waking up late, Hua Changxi indeed went to the dining hall. The aunts there were quite warm toward her; not only did they save her buns, vegetables, and porridge, but they also provided pickles and preserved vegetables.

The breakfast she ate at the Hua family home was nothing like this.

Just as Hua Changxi finished breakfast and stepped out of the dining hall, she saw Lu Qingluo leading an unfamiliar young lady into their dormitory.

"Does Lu Qingluo know someone from the Apprentice Hall?"

That young lady was wearing the uniform of the Apprentice Hall.

Hua Changxi glanced at the two of them before withdrawing her gaze, walking quickly toward the warehouse to collect the medicinal herbs that needed cleaning today.

"What is Changxi doing at the dining hall at this hour?"

Lu Qingluo had also seen Hua Changxi.

Lu Qingling replied, "She's obviously going to the dining hall to eat."

Lu Qingluo laughed. "Sister, look at the time. There's no food left in the dining hall."

Lu Qingling looked at her sister. "There might not be for you, but that doesn't mean there isn't for others." She had seen clearly that the young lady leaving the dining hall had patted her stomach with satisfaction.

Lu Qingluo let out an "Ah."

Lu Qingling continued, "If you can build good relations with the people in the dining hall, you can have food whenever you want." Such things happened in the Apprentice Hall as well.

"A person with ability will never lack food, no matter where they are."

"Is she the Hua Changxi you mentioned—the one who taught Wang Yunchu a lesson?"

Lu Qingluo nodded.

As Lu Qingling listened to her sister recount the full details of how Hua Changxi had handled the situation, she felt the girl was not simple. Now that she had seen her in person, that feeling was even more pronounced.

"She has a temper, she isn't afraid of trouble, and she can sleep soundly even after hitting someone. This Hua Changxi is definitely a tough one. Stay away from her in the future."

Lu Qingluo looked puzzled. "Sister, I thought you wanted me to befriend her?"

Lu Qingling sighed. "Being near someone capable can bring convenience, but it also brings great danger. It's easy to become their stepping stone."

Hearing this, Lu Qingluo immediately looked worried. "Sister, is life very difficult for you at the Apprentice Hall?"

Lu Qingling shook her head. "Don't worry, I can manage." She frowned, her expression turning displeased. "The new apprentices recruited this time all have some background, which has made the Apprentice Hall even more chaotic."

"Those people have little ability but huge tempers. They were recruited to handle the increasing workload, but instead, the burden on the Apprentice Hall hasn't lightened—it's actually gotten heavier."

Seeing the growing worry on her sister's face, Lu Qingling quickly stopped herself. "Alright, let's not talk about unhappy things." Having said that, she took out a small notebook she used for recording.

"This is what the Apprentice Hall taught last month. Study it well; it's best if you can memorize everything in it."

Lu Qingluo accepted it solemnly. "Don't worry, sister, I will study it hard."

Meanwhile, Hua Changxi arrived at the warehouse, but she didn't see Yu Hui, nor did the other gatekeepers.

After waiting a while, she finally saw Yu Hui emerging from the warehouse, drenched in sweat and covered in grime.

"Brother Yu, what happened to you?"

Yu Hui was already quite familiar with Hua Changxi and didn't hide it. "A batch of medicinal herbs arrived last night. The escorts placed them haphazardly, so we have to go back and reorganize everything."

Hua Changxi asked, "Is the organizing finished?"

Yu Hui took a large gulp of water and said resentfully, "Not even close. If the herbs are stored improperly, they'll spoil, and then it'll be the warehouse's responsibility."

Hua Changxi asked, "Brother Yu, do you need help?"

Yu Hui waved his hand, about to say no, but then he thought of Hua Changxi's strength. Thinking that having her assist would make things much easier, he feigned hesitation. "You still have your own work to do; how can you help me?"

Hua Changxi smiled. "I work very fast. How about this: I'll finish my duties first, and then I'll come find you."

After a moment of hesitation, Yu Hui agreed. "Alright then, Sister Changxi. Since we're already so well-acquainted, I won't stand on ceremony with you."

Hua Changxi smiled. "Brother Yu has helped me so much; I'm more than happy to have the chance to repay you."

"By the way, Brother Yu, since you're so tired, let me handle the transport of the herbs today."

Yu Hui didn't refuse. "Fine, do it yourself then."

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Hua Changxi focused on transporting herbs she had never encountered before.

Seeing that Hua Changxi was still taking a little bit of every kind of herb, Yu Hui said nothing.

Hua Changxi had wanted to look inside the warehouse for a long time.

The warehouse contained a vast variety of medicinal herbs. As long as she could get in and sample every kind, she could fully inherit all the knowledge from the *Commentary on the Classic of Hundred Herbs* much sooner.

Opportunities to enter the warehouse were rare, so Hua Changxi did not intentionally slow down as she had done before. She delayed her lunch slightly and finished cleaning all 500 medicinal herbs.

By the time Lu Qingluo and the others finished lunch and returned to work, Hua Changxi had already delivered the cleaned herbs to the Second Bureau.

(End of Chapter)