Chapter One: The Noble Hua Family
In the height of summer, even with the sun hanging obliquely in the sky, the heat was so intense that the slightest movement would drench one in sweat.
The Hua family, occupying half of Hualin Lane, was as quiet as usual. Maids and serving women moved about with light swaying skirts, not making a sound. Young male servants busied themselves going in and out, and no matter how urgent their tasks, they only dared to walk quickly, never daring to run.
The Hua family, a century-old noble lineage, had strict rules and was famously demanding of its servants. Yet, precisely because of the Hua family’s esteemed reputation, countless people each year still hoped to be taken into their service. Compared to other prominent households, where unsavory incidents were all too common, the Hua family’s strict rules were hardly a drawback. Moreover, servants in the Hua family even had the chance to learn to read—unfortunately, the family seldom brought new people into the household.
As the sun gradually rose higher, the cicadas’ chirping intensified, adding an inexplicable restlessness to the oppressive heat.
In a courtyard to the south, the eldest young lady of the Hua family, Hua Zhi, grew tired from reading. She set down her book and gently rubbed her eyes, then turned to the maid fanning her. "Sitting still isn’t so hot. You should take a break."
The maid smiled faintly. "This maid isn’t tired."
Another maid, who had been doing embroidery nearby, hurriedly washed her hands and brought over a bowl of chilled mung bean soup. After watching her young lady sip it slowly, she moved behind her to massage her neck.
The door curtain rustled softly as a maid in peach-red clothes lifted it, allowing another maid dressed in emerald green to enter carrying water. Together, they helped Hua Zhi wash her hands and then brought out various jars and bottles to care for their young lady’s hands.
Her fingers were slender and delicate, with rounded tips and barely visible knuckles. Her skin was luminous and fair—just a glance at these hands would tell anyone that she was a young lady from a wealthy family, one who had never needed to do a single chore.
Hua Zhi’s lips curved upward slightly as she broke the tranquil silence. "Well? Have any of you four found someone you like?"
The four maids continued with their tasks, none of them speaking.
"Ying Chun, you go first."
The massaging hands paused for a moment before resuming with just the right pressure. "This maid will listen to you, young lady. Whoever you say this maid should marry, this maid will marry."
This answer was no surprise to Hua Zhi. "What about you, Bao Xia?"
The maid massaging her fingers looked up briefly before lowering her head again to continue her work. "This maid has said she won’t marry. She will follow and serve you for a lifetime."
Nian Qiu, who was tending to her other hand, chimed in without needing to be asked. "This maid feels the same as Bao Xia."
That left only Fu Dong, who didn’t even need to be questioned. Timid and obedient, she always followed the lead of her three older sisters.
Hua Zhi sighed in mild frustration. "Whether a couple can live harmoniously is something only you yourselves can know. It’s not as simple as me saying who is suitable. It’s better for you to choose someone you approve of now than to end up in an unhappy marriage later."
"You’re still an unmarried young lady yourself, yet you talk as if you’ve been through it all," Bao Xia muttered. "Anyway, this maid won’t marry. And don’t think you can leave us behind in the Hua family—wherever you go, this maid will follow."
"What’s so good about following me into marriage? No matter how fine the Shen Family is, can it compare to the familiar Hua family? If I had a choice, I’d rather stay in the Hua family as an old maid."
Nian Qiu scooped a dollop of fragrant cream and smoothed it over Hua Zhi’s hand, laughing as she did. "If the Madam heard you say that, she’d surely weep."It's truly said that women are made of water, and this saying finds its fullest expression in her mother. Her tears could flow at any moment, and her delicate, fragile demeanor made Hua Zhi speak with extreme caution whenever she was around her mother, afraid that a poorly chosen word might pierce her mother's heart, leaving her to spend a long time comforting her again.
This was also the reason she had never expressed the slightest unwillingness about marriage—she simply couldn't get past her mother's emotional barrier.
"If you want to follow me to the Shen Family, I'll take whoever has found a partner for themselves. But if you go as my maids in the wedding procession, what will you do if my future husband takes a fancy to any of you? Will you half-heartedly yield and become my sisters?"
The four immediately stopped what they were doing and knelt in a row before Hua Zhi. The most steady-headed, Ying Chun, spoke on behalf of her sisters, expressing their intentions: "We would never dare entertain such thoughts, even if it cost us our lives. It's just that all these years, you've only had the few of us to serve you. If we all marry and go off to live our own lives, you'll have no one to talk to when you arrive at the Shen Family. Please don't say you'll take us only after we're married. We don't trust ourselves—once married and with children, we fear all our efforts would go toward our own families. How could we still serve you wholeheartedly? We've all decided: when you marry, we will dress as married women, so the Shen Family knows we have no such intentions. Surely their household won't lack a few more servants. Please grant us this, Miss."
"Anyway, whether you agree or not, we're going to do this," Bao Xia said, her eyes reddening. They had entered the household at just four or five years old, understanding nothing and speaking only their local dialects. It was the young miss who had taken them under her wing, given them names, taught them to read and calculate, and guided them in conduct and social interactions. What maids had a fate as fortunate as theirs? They wouldn't even blink at giving their lives for the young miss—leaving her was absolutely out of the question.
"The Shen Family isn't exactly a dragon's den or a tiger's lair..." Hua Zhi suddenly broke off. "Bao Xia, go outside and see what's happening."
Bao Xia rose and hurried out, but Hua Zhi called her back. "Don't let anyone see you."
"Yes."
The intermittent sounds from outside made Hua Zhi uneasy. The Hua family was accustomed to quiet, and in such a prominent family, abnormality could hardly be a good sign.
Seeing the three still kneeling, Hua Zhi gestured for them to rise and walked toward the door herself.
Before she reached it, Bao Xia came running in—literally running—and seeing her breathless state, Ying Chun swallowed the reprimand she was about to utter.
"Miss, there are officials... many officials have come..."
Hua Zhi's heart sank. Given her grandfather's rank of second-grade official, what ordinary official would dare come to their Hua residence? It must be...
Listening to the commotion outside, Hua Zhi made a swift decision. "Bao Xia, keep watch at the entrance, but stay out of sight. Ying Chun, gather half of my banknotes and take all the gold bars. Leave the visible items untouched. Nian Qiu, Fu Dong, you two move that chest aside, lift the bricks, and hide the things inside. Quickly."
"Yes." The three had been trembling with fear, but seeing their young miss so composed, they steadied themselves and set about their tasks.Hua Zhi was immensely grateful that even after being reborn, she hadn't lost her sense of crisis. She had long ago created a hidden compartment in the most inconspicuous spot. Though the space wasn't large—just enough to store some gold and silver items—once the brick was put back in place, there was no visible indication that it could be moved.
The group quickly tidied up the disturbed area and then turned to look at their mistress, awaiting her next instructions.
Hua Zhi sat back down on the soft couch and extended her hand. "Continue."
The three returned to their original positions, though their hands trembled slightly, having never experienced such a situation before.
PS: As promised, here's the new book! Isn't Kongkong trustworthy? Mwah, hope everyone likes it!
—Content from [Migu Read] book recommendation.
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