Chapter 211: I’d Even Agree If You Changed Your Surname
In the capital, rumors spread like wildfire.
Although no one believed it, Yang Qi’s words still circulated widely.
However, as the rumors spread, they inexplicably twisted into different versions. Some said Yang Qi was driven out when he went to the Hua family to fetch someone; others claimed Hua Zhi led people to storm the Yang residence and injured Yang Qi. There was even one closer to the truth, asserting that the Yang family had set their sights on the Hua family’s fortune and were thus resorting to every means to tarnish Hua Zhi’s reputation.
In any case, no one believed it.
Even Old Madam Zhu, who usually grew anxious at the slightest stir involving her granddaughter, did not pay a visit this time. Such rumors were utterly absurd!
Moreover, these rumors never reached the inner courtyard of the Hua residence—they dissipated after circulating in the front courtyard. Hua Xian wore an irrepressible smile, happily packing her belongings to move to another courtyard. She walked on tiptoe, exuding a youthful demeanor that starkly contrasted with the timid Madam Yang she had once been.
Now, all the wives of the four branches were at leisure. With Hua Zhi overseeing everything above and maintaining impartiality so that each branch benefited, everyone had set aside their ulterior motives. The relationships among them had become far more harmonious than they had been in the old residence.
Knowing that the young aunt’s divorce had been orchestrated by the eldest young lady, they further suppressed any petty thoughts. Except for the fourth branch, which had no daughters, the second and third branches both had daughters. In the future, their marriages would be decided by the eldest young lady, the head of the household. To put it bluntly, even if a daughter’s married life turned sour, there was still a way out.
And all these decisions lay in the hands of the eldest young lady. Seeing her protective attitude toward her own family, they knew it was in their best interest—especially for their daughters—to be less calculating.
With everyone thinking this way, the atmosphere naturally warmed. They chatted and laughed, helping to carry lightweight items, and each contributed some decent possessions from their own rooms to furnish Hua Xian’s new quarters. Their affectionate demeanor made Hua Xian feel particularly at ease.
Although the courtyard still could not compare to the Yang family’s opulent halls, Hua Xian was genuinely happy—so happy that she hummed a tune and spun around several times when no one was watching.
She was truly overjoyed. Those who had never experienced it would not understand how comforting it felt to have a home to return to.
At that moment, Yang Suian rushed back. The usually composed young man was running with every step. Instead of heading to the rear courtyard to see his mother, he went directly to the front courtyard study, knowing his cousin would most likely be there.
Hua Zhi was not surprised to see him. “You’re sweating. Did you run back?”
Yang Suian licked his dry lips and replied, “I rode a horse back.”
Yet he was still drenched in sweat, a clear sign of how anxious he was about the matter.
Hua Zhi gestured for him to sit. “What have you heard? Why the rush?”
He had heard many things, but he knew none of them were true. If he had to choose, he leaned toward his father’s version of events. For some reason, he felt that his cousin was entirely capable of such actions!
“Cousin, my mother… my mother…”
Hua Zhi had no heart to tease such a filial child and nodded with a smile. “Yes, your mother has divorced. I’ve already given her the divorce papers.”
“What about my father…”
“Everything your father said is true. I did teach him a lesson, and a rather harsh one at that. Do you resent me for it?”Yang Suian shook his head. His cousin had always handled matters with magnanimity—she must have visited the Yang residence earlier. Only when the Yang family refused to release his mother, or worse, made excessive demands, would she resort to such tactics.
Hua Zhi nodded. "Your mother is probably overjoyed right now. Go see her. I've allocated a courtyard for her—have a maid take you there."
"Yes." Yang Suian took a deep breath and bowed deeply.
"No need for such formality. She is originally from the Hua family, so it's only right that I protect her."
Yet this "rightness" was something many families failed to uphold. Yang Suian mentally noted this debt of gratitude once more. While his mother might accept it as her due, as her son, he must remember it in his heart and repay it fully when the opportunity arose.
That day will come, Yang Suian told himself silently.
As he reached the doorway, his cousin added, "Although this matter doesn’t involve you directly, you carry half the Hua family’s bloodline and frequently interact with us. For this reason alone, Yang Qi will inevitably vent his anger on you. Be mentally prepared. Let me be frank with you—life in the Yang household will likely become difficult for you from now on."
Yang Suian turned back. Perhaps freed from the Yang family’s constraints over his mother, his attitude toward them had shifted. "If the Yang family welcomes me, I will naturally fulfill my duties as a member. If not, I trust you won’t turn me away, Cousin."
"The Hua family has your mother. A son seeking his mother’s protection is only natural—who could drive you away? Come whenever you wish. If the Yang family punishes you over this, as long as you don’t mind the Hua family’s current weakened state, I’d even agree to let you take your mother’s surname."
Yang Suian had anticipated this answer, but hearing it from his cousin bolstered his confidence. If the Yang family didn’t stir up trouble, so be it. But if they treated him as an outsider over this, what did it matter if he never returned?
As for the Yang family’s meager assets—he looked down on them!
Yang Suian bowed deeply once more, straightened his back, and headed toward the rear courtyard. He wanted to see what his mother looked like when she was truly happy—in his memory, he had never witnessed her genuinely joyful.
A smile tugged at Hua Zhi’s lips. Witnessing others’ reunions felt wonderfully satisfying.
Yet she wondered when the Hua family’s own true reunion would come. Her smile faded as she lowered her gaze to the open notebook.
This was one of three thread-bound volumes she had brought from the old residence, all filled during the Hua family’s stable years over a decade ago. Written in a cursive script only she could decipher, some entries held practical value in this world, while others remained mere fantasies. Initially meant as mementos, she now combed through them seeking business opportunities.
She needed to move forward.
She had no intention of introducing anything too conspicuous, nor anything that might alter historical progress. Anything shocking enough to pit her against society was out of the question. After careful consideration, she concluded that food-related ventures remained the safest bet.
Food!
Hua Zhi leaned back in her chair, staring blankly at the ceiling. It wasn’t that there were no ideas for food—it was deciding how to execute them.
Hot pot was probably every time-traveling woman’s go-to plan, but its low technical threshold meant imitation would spread rapidly. Worse, ingredients here were far too limited compared to the variety available in later eras.Mutton is still acceptable, but beef is simply unavailable. She could manage to make various types of meatballs, but seafood and other delicacies are rarely encountered, and many foreign dishes are completely out of reach. When winter truly arrives in the northern regions, napa cabbage becomes the staple on the dining table. Surely, she couldn’t just toss napa cabbage alone into a pot.
Thinking about how bleak that would be, Hua Zhi couldn’t help but laugh to herself. Well, it wouldn’t just be napa cabbage—once her mushroom cultivation reaches maturity, there would be something to eat all year round.
After letting her thoughts drift for a while, Hua Zhi finally pulled her mind back to the present and resumed flipping through her notes.
If she didn’t want to focus on hot pot, she would have to find another way to make money.
PS: On a whim, I went back to read Warm Water Boiling Foam and ended up crying like a fool at the part where so many people died abroad. I realized that section was actually quite gripping—I must have been in a good writing state back then.
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