Chapter 45: Separation of Tasks

Chapter 45: Separation of Tasks

After advancing to the Qi Sea Realm, Hua Changxi found that her cultivation speed had increased. Previously, it took her two hours to absorb a single low-grade Essence Spirit Pill; now, it took only one.

With one hundred low-grade Essence Spirit Pills, she could absorb and refine them all in just over ten days.

Yu Hui had previously told her that the people escorting Essence Spirit Grass to the Medical Bureau were laborers from the Three-Forked Herb Valley.

"Three-Forked Herb Valley..."

Hua Changxi wanted to learn more about the valley. When Yu Hui was handing her the banknote for the Body Tempering Pills, she took the opportunity to ask, "Brother Yu, every spring, are the laborers from the Labor Hall sent to various herb estates and valleys to help with harvesting and planting?"

Yu Hui nodded. Thinking she was worried about being sent there herself, he smiled and said, "Don't worry, little sister. Usually, only the male laborers are sent to help."

Hua Changxi tested the waters: "Have female laborers never been sent?"

Yu Hui paused. "There are some. If a female laborer makes a mistake or offends a manager, she might be assigned to work in an herb estate or valley."

Noticing the look of interest on Hua Changxi's face, Yu Hui quickly added, "Little sister, don't tell me you actually want to go to an herb estate or valley?"

Hua Changxi smiled. "I've never seen mountains covered in medicinal herbs before. I wanted to see them."

Yu Hui said anxiously, "You'd better drop that idea immediately. Do you think an herb estate or valley is some kind of paradise? Let me tell you..."

Seeing Yu Hui hesitating as if he found it difficult to speak, Hua Changxi grew curious. "Brother Yu, just say it. I'm listening."

Yu Hui: "Herb estates and valleys are usually in remote locations. The male laborers guarding them can only go home a few times a year. What do you think they would do if they saw a female laborer?"

Hua Changxi blinked, seemingly beginning to understand his meaning.

Yu Hui looked at her. "Little sister, stop thinking about going to those places. If a female laborer goes there, even if she cries to the heavens, no one will hear her."

He lowered his voice. "Several female laborers who were punished and sent to the estates came back after finishing their duties and committed suicide by hanging."

Hua Changxi said nothing. She had the strength to protect herself, so she wasn't afraid.

Assuming she had taken his warning to heart, Yu Hui moved on to another topic. "Little sister, tomorrow my godfather is bringing a batch of discarded medicinal materials to the No. 9 Qihuang Hall. Remember to head over."

Hua Changxi gave an "mm" in response. Realizing there was still time before laborers were sent to the estates, she set the matter aside.

"Brother Yu, are all medicinal materials sent from various places delivered to the warehouse first?"

"Of course not. Materials used by warriors of the seventh rank and above are sent directly to various pharmacies on the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Streets."

"New medicinal materials discovered in various regions are also sent directly to designated pharmacies."

"Furthermore, pharmacists and physicians in the Ninth Street are granted usage rights to certain medicinal fields based on their rank. The produce from those fields goes directly into their hands."

Hua Changxi hadn't expected the pharmacists and physicians of the Medical Bureau to have such benefits. Those medicinal fields were essentially equivalent to the stipends of officials; no wonder doctors from all over wanted to join the Medical Bureau.

"Brother Yu, which streets are the pharmacists who research new materials mainly located on?"

"Most are on the Second and Third Streets. There are some on the Fourth Street as well, but fewer."

Hua Changxi rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought. "It would be nice if I could work in one of those pharmacies."

Hearing this, Yu Hui couldn't help but laugh. Seeing her look at him, he quickly composed himself and explained, "Little sister, I know that with your ability, being a registered disciple under a Ninth Street pharmacist would be more than easy."

"But you must understand, this is the Medical Bureau. The Bureau is a government office. Working in a government office, ability is important, but what's more important is having someone backing you."

"Never mind that you're just a laborer; even the preparatory disciples in the Disciple Hall have to use every trick in the book and fight tooth and nail for a single spot if they want to enter a pharmacy on the Ninth Street without connections."

Hua Changxi frowned. "Can't there be fair competition?"

Yu Hui: "It's not that there isn't."

"Every three years, the Medical Bureau holds a medicinal refining competition. The top three can directly become pharmacist disciples, and others who perform exceptionally well are often taken in as registered disciples by various pharmacists and physicians."

Seeing the light in Hua Changxi's eyes, Yu Hui sighed. "Unfortunately, laborers cannot participate."

Hua Changxi's expression stiffened for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure.

The Medical Bureau recruited apprentices every year. If the Ninth Street pharmacies were truly collecting spiritual plants, she could at most resign from her laborer position and re-apply to the Apprentice Hall. Once she became an apprentice, she could participate in the competition.

"Brother Yu, when was the last medicinal refining competition held?"

Yu Hui: "July of last year. The next one won't be until the year after next."

Hua Changxi gave an "oh" and kept the information in mind. After chatting about other things, she returned to the Sixth Bureau.

When she returned to her dormitory, it was just lunchtime. Wang Yunchu and the others were there. As soon as Hua Changxi entered, she saw an unfamiliar young woman.

Thinking she was just a sister or friend of one of her roommates, Hua Changxi didn't pay it much mind. She was about to get into bed to cultivate when she saw the young woman walking toward her bed with a smile.

"You must be Changxi. My name is Su Ruoli, I'm a new laborer. I heard Sister Yunchu and the others say you are exceptionally skilled at cleaning medicinal materials. If I don't understand something, may I come to ask you for guidance?"

Hua Changxi glanced at the newcomer but didn't respond. Instead, she turned to Wang Yunchu, Lu Qingluo, and the others. "Isn't a dormitory only supposed to hold ten people?" Their group was already at full capacity.

Wang Yunchu looked at Su Ruoli. "Sister Shi, don't get transferred to another group."

Upon hearing this, Su Ruoli immediately looked lost. "I didn't know about this. Manager Leng told me to follow Manager Du."

Hua Changxi said nothing more. She lay on her bed and closed her eyes to cultivate.

Seeing this, Su Ruoli wanted to say something more, but Wang Yunchu pulled her away.

"Changxi is sleeping. Don't disturb her."

Su Ruoli looked surprised. "Sleeping at noon? Will she be able to sleep at night?"

At the thought of Hua Changxi's excellent sleep quality, the others in the dormitory gave strange looks. Wang Yunchu said vaguely, "Changxi likes to sleep."

Seeing that the others didn't want to say more, Su Ruoli stopped asking. Once everyone had rested, she followed them to work.

At the hour of the Rooster (around 6:00 PM), Hua Changxi finished her cultivation and went to the dining hall. Shortly after she sat down, someone took the seat opposite her.

"Changxi, what a coincidence."

After sitting down, Su Ruoli waved to Wang Yunchu and Lu Qingluo nearby. "Sister Yunchu, Qingluo, there's still space here with Changxi."

Wang Yunchu and Lu Qingluo exchanged a glance. After a moment of hesitation, they carried their bowls over.

Seeing them sit down, Su Ruoli happily began to eat. "The food in the Labor Hall is so good."

Wang Yunchu: "There's no meat at all. What's so good about it?"

Su Ruoli looked bitter. "It's already very good to me. In my whole life, I've never been full at home." She smiled. "Being able to eat my fill now makes me very satisfied."

Seeing her like this, Wang Yunchu and Lu Qingluo both felt sympathy.

Wang Yunchu: "The food in the dining hall is unlimited. You can eat as much as you want, but don't overstuff yourself."

Su Ruoli smiled touched. "Sister Yunchu, you are so kind. I'll be careful." As she spoke, she shot a quick glance at the unresponsive Hua Changxi.

Hua Changxi felt that this new female laborer was strange. Although she presented herself as someone trying to quickly integrate into the group, she was far too enthusiastic.

Hua Changxi had always been somewhat resistant to people who were overly enthusiastic.

Having no interest in the gossip between Wang Yunchu and the others, Hua Changxi quickly finished her meal. "I'm done. Take your time." With that, she stood up and left.

Seeing her leave, Su Ruoli looked at Wang Yunchu and Lu Qingluo. "Is Changxi going back to sleep again?"

Lu Qingluo gave an "mm."

Su Ruoli looked worried. "Is it really okay for Changxi to sleep so much every day?"

Wang Yunchu: "Of course it's fine. Changxi is a physician herself."

Su Ruoli looked astonished. "Changxi is a physician? Then why did she come to be a laborer?"

Wang Yunchu looked at Su Ruoli. "You seem particularly interested in Changxi?"

Su Ruoli did not deny it. "Aren't you all interested in someone like Changxi?"

Wang Yunchu fell silent.

Lu Qingluo: "Let's just eat."

On the other side, after returning to her room, Hua Changxi washed up and continued her cultivation. She woke up as usual at the end of the hour of the Rabbit (around 5:00 AM) and saw a steamed bun placed by her bedside.

Looking at the bun, Hua Changxi was somewhat surprised. Seeing that Wang Yunchu and the others had not yet left, she immediately asked, "Who brought me this bun?"

Su Ruoli smiled. "It was me. I heard Sister Yunchu and the others say you wake up late, so I brought a bun for you while getting breakfast."

Since one shouldn't strike a smiling face, Hua Changxi couldn't say anything harsh. She simply said, "Don't bring me buns in the future."

Su Ruoli's smile remained unchanged. "Changxi, don't be so polite. It was just a convenience. We share a room; we should help each other out."

Hua Changxi hated people who couldn't take a hint. She looked at her. "Do I look like I'm being polite?"

Su Ruoli's smile froze, and she looked somewhat lost.

Seeing this, Lu Qingluo stepped forward. "Changxi, Ruoli meant well."

Hua Changxi: "But I don't need this kind of kindness. Although I wake up a bit later than you, I am not so late that I miss breakfast at the dining hall."

She looked at Su Ruoli. "I will go to the dining hall for breakfast myself. Don't bring it to me again."

Su Ruoli quickly apologized. "Okay, I understand. I was wrong today."

Seeing her act this way, many in the dormitory felt that Hua Changxi was being a bit too aggressive.

Hua Changxi said no more and took her washbasin and went out.

As soon as she left, Su Ruoli let out a long sigh of relief and patted her chest. "That scared me to death."

Wang Yunchu frowned at her. "I warned you this morning when you brought the bun. Changxi didn't need it, but you brought it anyway. You deserve to be scolded."

Hearing this, Lu Qingluo quickly pulled at Wang Yunchu's sleeve.

Sister Lin and the others also looked at Wang Yunchu with disapproval. "Yunchu, stop lecturing Ruoli. Changxi is being a bit cold-hearted. Someone was kind enough to bring her food, and she won't even accept it."

Wang Yunchu snorted and said sarcastically, "Can kindness that isn't wanted even be called kindness?"

Su Ruoli's eyes welled up with tears. "Sister Yunchu, I was wrong. I shouldn't have ignored you."

Unable to watch any longer, Sister Lin looked at Wang Yunchu. "Yunchu, you were the one most dissatisfied with Hua Changxi in the beginning. Why are you defending her in every way now?"

Wang Yunchu: "Before, I didn't understand Changxi. Now that I know her character, of course I won't misunderstand her again."

Sister Lin scoffed. "You hardly interact with Hua Changxi on a regular basis. How could you possibly understand her?"

Seeing Wang Yunchu and Sister Lin starting to argue, Lu Qingluo could only step in to mediate.

Su Ruoli also stood to the side, repeatedly saying she was wrong.

Seeing everyone siding with Su Ruoli, Wang Yunchu snorted and left the dormitory.

Seeing Su Ruoli crying in distress, Lu Qingluo could only comfort her. "You just arrived and don't know everyone well yet. It'll be fine once time passes. Both Changxi and Yunchu are people with sharp tongues but kind hearts; they are actually quite good people."

Su Ruoli wiped her tears. "I know. You are all good people."

Hua Changxi was unaware of what had happened in the dormitory. After breakfast, she went straight to the warehouse to collect medicinal materials. As she was pulling a cart of materials toward the ditch, Su Ruoli appeared again.

"Changxi, let me help you."

As she spoke, Su Ruoli began lifting the materials from the cart. "I was wrong this morning. Don't be angry with me. I won't bring you buns anymore."

Hua Changxi looked at her, her brow furrowed. She truly disliked people who acted overly familiar.

However, since the other person wanted to help, she had no reason to refuse. She simply stood there with her arms crossed, watching Su Ruoli move the materials.

After moving them for a while, Su Ruoli felt awkward when she saw no reaction from Hua Changxi.

Hua Changxi: "Weren't you going to help me? Keep going, don't stop."

Su Ruoli asked uneasily, "Changxi, did I make you angry again?"

Hua Changxi gave a half-smile. "What do you think?"

"I..."

Just as Su Ruoli was about to speak, Du Ruo walked over.

Seeing Du Ruo, Su Ruoli looked as if she had seen a savior. She quickly said, "Manager Du, I wanted to help Changxi, but I think I've only made things worse."

Remembering Manager Leng's specific instruction to look after Su Ruoli, Du Ruo sighed inwardly and said to Su Ruoli, "Changxi doesn't need your help. Go do your own work."

Looking like she had done something wrong, Su Ruoli looked at Du Ruo, then at Hua Changxi, and left hesitantly.

Once she was gone, Hua Changxi began moving the materials from the cart, placing them into the ditch in just a few motions.

"See that?"

A few meters away, Wang Yunchu suddenly called out to Su Ruoli.

Su Ruoli was stunned. "See what?"

Wang Yunchu nodded her chin toward Hua Changxi. "You saw how much strength Changxi has, didn't you? Do you really think she needs your help?"

"With your meager strength, you won't help her; you'll only slow her down. I really don't know what you were thinking, insisting on running over to help her."

Seeing Su Ruoli about to cry again, Lu Qingluo quickly stopped Wang Yunchu. "Yunchu, say a little less."

Su Ruoli quickly said, "I was being impetuous." With that, she buried her head in washing the herbs, occasionally wiping away tears.

The members of the group looked at Wang Yunchu with disapproval.

Wang Yunchu felt a surge of anger. She had only spoken the truth; she hadn't done anything to Su Ruoli. Thus, she shouted in a bad mood, "What are you crying for?"

Su Ruoli was startled, and her tears fell even more heavily.

"Yunchu, what is wrong with you?"

"Exactly, Ruoli didn't do anything to you. Why are you being so mean to her?"

"If you're angry, don't take it out on others!"

Hua Changxi had noticed the commotion long ago. She glanced at the condemned Wang Yunchu, said nothing, and did nothing. She quickly finished her tasks and went to the Qihuang Hall to refine medicine.

Time flew by, and it was soon the last day of the first lunar month.

"Sister."

When Lu Qingluo returned with her monthly stipend, she saw Lu Qingling waiting outside the Sixth Bureau.

Lu Qingling glanced at Su Ruoli beside Lu Qingluo and asked in surprise, "Where is Yunchu? She didn't come with you?"

A flash of embarrassment crossed Lu Qingluo's face. After sending Su Ruoli back, she told Lu Qingling about what had happened during this period.

"Ruoli wants to get along with everyone. Seeing that Changxi has a misunderstanding with her, she often tries to explain herself to Changxi, but her actions are inevitably too eager. Yunchu can't stand it and is constantly clashing with her."

Hearing this, Lu Qingling was surprised. "Doesn't Yunchu dislike Hua Changxi?"

Lu Qingluo lowered her voice. "Sister, don't forget. Last time we went to help at the First Bureau, it was Changxi's prescription that saved everyone from the poison. Because of that, Yunchu is very grateful to her."

"Later, during the New Year, Yunchu gave Changxi some handmade knot charms, and Changxi returned two Strengthening Pills—the kind I gave you last time, the ones you said were good."

"Yunchu's younger brother has been sickly since childhood. After taking the Strengthening Pills, his health improved significantly, making Yunchu even more grateful to Changxi."

"Since Ruoli keeps pestering Changxi, Yunchu wants to stand up for her."

Lu Qingling asked, "How does Hua Changxi react?"

Lu Qingluo: "Changxi's words are quite hurtful; she often makes things difficult for Ruoli."

Lu Qingling shook her head. "I meant, how does Hua Changxi treat Yunchu?"

Lu Qingluo was stunned. "Changxi treats Yunchu the same way she always has; nothing has changed."

Lu Qingling let out a cold laugh. "I knew it. Someone like Hua Changxi is hard to move. Even if Yunchu offends the entire dormitory for her sake, she probably won't even care."

Seeing her sister's confusion, she explained.

"Yunchu likely wants to be friends with Hua Changxi, but since she has nothing of value to offer, she can only play the villain to drive away the flies circling around her."

"Don't you dare follow Yunchu's example. I admit Hua Changxi is capable, and capable people naturally attract others, but look at Yunchu now—she is a cautionary tale."

"Yunchu used to be the spokesperson for your dormitory, but because she stood up for Hua Changxi, everyone is now dissatisfied with her."

"I told you long ago, there is no benefit in getting close to someone like Hua Changxi. Even if there is benefit, it's hard to obtain, and if you aren't careful, you'll end up being used as a stepping stone."

"By the way, stay away from that Su Ruoli as well. The fact that she can make you all distance yourselves from Yunchu to get closer to her shows she is not simple."

"Sister, aren't you overthinking this..."

Hua Changxi had informed Du Ruo in advance that she would take the last day of the month off. After receiving her monthly stipend, she prepared to return to her room to get the banknote from the pills and go look at houses. Who would have thought she would run into the Lu sisters having a private conversation?

It wasn't that she was intentionally eavesdropping; it was simply that her hearing was now too strong. As long as she concentrated, she could hear clearly even from dozens of meters away.

She certainly knew about the conflict between Wang Yunchu and Su Ruoli.

Whether Wang Yunchu was defending her out of gratitude or simply because she couldn't stand Su Ruoli, their discord was entirely their own business. She didn't feel it had anything to do with her.

But according to Lu Qingluo's sister, it seemed as though she was supposed to be responsible for Wang Yunchu.

She had never asked Wang Yunchu to do anything; every action was Wang Yunchu's own. Therefore, Wang Yunchu should bear all the consequences herself.

She didn't interfere because she knew it wasn't a problem she had caused. She wouldn't impose others' problems on herself; to do so would be foolish.

Besides, Su Ruoli could resolve her own issues. There was no need for Wang Yunchu to do anything. Everything Wang Yunchu did was entirely because she chose to do so.

Just because someone's motive involved her, did she have to pay the price for their actions?

What kind of twisted logic was that!