Chapter 302: Reunion and Parting (1)
Hua Zhi, however, did not claim credit. "The Cai Family are people of their word, so I naturally must ensure the Hua family lives up to their commitment."
"That's the way it should be. When a girl marries into another family alone, we must do our best to plan for her. Zhi Er did right—this is how the Hua family has always done things." Hua Yizheng took over the conversation with a smile. "How is your grandmother's health?"
"Yes, Grandmother is well. She and several grandaunts arranged Qin Mei's marriage." Hua Zhi spoke without changing expression, steering the conversation away with another less pleasant matter. "Of the sisters with engagements, all except Qin Mei have had theirs broken off. Grandmother is looking for matches for them, but it's quite difficult. Marrying into a second-rank official's family wouldn't be considered marrying up, yet given the Hua family's current situation, marrying into a fifth or sixth-rank family can't be considered marrying down either. It's challenging either way."
The room fell silent instantly. Among those present, the elders were already halfway into the grave—their lives, though with regrets, had been worthwhile. The younger ones still had more possibilities ahead; with the right opportunity, restoration could happen overnight. But for women past their prime marrying years, their lives would be wasted.
For Hua family daughters, who never used to worry about marriage, to fall to such a state... Hua Yizheng smiled bitterly. "I've burdened them."
"When glory is shared, so is disgrace—that's what family means. What burden is there between family members, Grandfather? That thinking of yours isn't quite right." Hua Zhi chuckled lightly, her expression of natural acceptance easing everyone's hearts. Indeed, there was no reason to only share wealth and honor but fly separately when disaster struck.
"Grandfather, I've brought Aunt home."
Hua Yizheng gazed steadily at her, waiting for her detailed account, though he wasn't particularly surprised. Xian'er was too weak—without the Hua family's protection, the Yang family, already much changed, might not treat her as before. He just didn't know how far things had gone.
"Yang Qi tried to use Aunt to extract the Hua family's fortune. Though Aunt is simple, she cares for her natal family and naturally refused. Yang Qi then resorted to violence. I only learned how Aunt was being treated when Sui'an came to beg for my help, so I brought her back." Hua Zhi looked at her father. "Berlin handled this matter. As the legitimate eldest grandson of the Hua family's main branch and now the eldest male in the household, he was the most suitable to intervene—and he performed very well. By the way, he also led his younger brothers in escorting Qin Mei at her wedding, bringing much honor to the Hua family."
Fourth Granduncle added, "Qin'er wrote in her letter that Berlin stood up for her."
Hua Pingyu nodded reservedly, though his throat tightened with emotion. That unruly boy had finally matured.
While pleased, Hua Yizheng was more concerned about his daughter. "And your aunt now..."
"She doesn't wish to return to the Yang family and wants a separation, so I found a way to make Yang Qi write divorce papers."
"Divorce papers? Yang Qi would probably prefer to write a letter of repudiation."
Hua Zhi smiled. "I don't accept letters of repudiation."
Hua Yizheng also laughed. Though he didn't know what method Zhi Er had used, the outcome was good—that was what mattered. Why should he concern himself with the details? With Zhi Er in the family, their loved ones would never suffer losses.Hua Zhi knew she couldn't only speak of joys without mentioning sorrows. While telling them about new family businesses and which families had shown the Hua family particular care, she also spoke of her aunt and the difficulties Hua family daughters were having in finding suitable marriages. This was to reassure her family—if she only spoke of how well everything was going in the capital, they wouldn't believe her. The capital was a place that devoured people, especially families who had once enjoyed great prestige before falling from grace.
Yet she never uttered a single word about what would truly break their hearts.
"The clan school has gained a new teacher, someone Grandfather spent considerable time inviting. His name is Zheng Zhi, a man of remarkable learning who has read countless books and traveled thousands of miles. He promised Grandfather he would remain at the clan school for three years."
"I recall your grandfather mentioning him with high praise," Hua Yizheng remarked. "I never expected him to send the man to the Hua family's clan school instead of keeping him for the Zhu family's own." No thanks were exchanged between them—given his relationship with Zhu Bowen, such formalities were unnecessary. The Zhu family's actions after the Hua family's misfortune couldn't be repaid with mere words of gratitude.
"Indeed, Grandfather knew our family lacked qualified teachers." Hua Zhi accepted the tea handed to her by Hua Bolin and took several sips. "When I left, Berlin had embarked on a journey with Sui'an."
Hua Pingyu frowned. "Isn't that too early for him?"
"It was his own decision. I've assigned people to protect them."
"That's good," Hua Yizheng nodded. "What a person becomes should be determined by themselves—far better than being forced by others." He then asked, "Does Sui'an still maintain close ties with his maternal family? Does the Yang family approve?"
"He rarely visits the Yang family, spending most of his time with us. He continues attending the academy regularly, and I provide him with the same monthly allowance that our family members used to receive."
No one could find fault with this arrangement, nor could anyone suggest Hua Zhi had handled it poorly. They couldn't imagine anyone who could have done better.
As if completely unaware of how her words had stirred everyone, Hua Zhi continued, "Now that everyone has more financial flexibility, they prepared numerous gifts when they learned I was coming. Seeing the fine weather, I organized our family guards into a caravan and arranged with a trading company to travel north with their merchant group. By my estimation, it should take about another month for everything to arrive."
"There was no need for all this..." Hua Yizheng's voice suddenly grew hoarse. He had only hoped that Zhi Er could prevent their family in the capital from suffering too much disgrace, yet clearly, she had accomplished far more than that.
Maintaining the dignity of a fallen family—though Zhi Er never spoke of her hardships, they all knew how difficult it must be. Hua Yizheng understood this particularly well. The branch families who had previously complained had gradually resolved their grievances because Zhi Er had taken such good care of the household, leading to their current unity.
Hua Zhi spoke almost without pause for half a day, drinking several cups of tea before finally satisfying everyone's longing for news of their family. At the noon banquet, she used the same excuse she had given Fourth Uncle to decline the feast, consuming only vegetarian dishes.
The afternoon belonged solely to the main family branch. Everyone understood this implicitly, and no one detained Hua Zhi any longer.In the study, Hua Zhi no longer maintained the same tension as before in front of her close family members. She elaborated on the convoy's details: "There are twenty-four carts in total, half of which are loaded with books. I know everyone here has been trying to acquire books, but Yinshan Pass is impoverished after all, and the collection is far less comprehensive than in the capital. I have a good memory of our family's former library and collected books accordingly. This is the foundation of the Hua family's standing. I believe that no matter how long we must stay here, we cannot slack in this regard, especially for the younger male members of the family."
Such a grand gesture left Hua Yizheng completely unable to refuse. He wasn't worried about whether he might die in a foreign land—though there would inevitably be regrets—nor was he still concerned about the family falling into chaos or dissolution. His only fear was that the younger generation exiled here would neglect their studies, which would truly damage the Hua family's foundation. Clearly, Zhi Er had also considered this.
"Two carts are filled with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. There's no need to use them sparingly. I will send more supplies gradually, though the quality certainly won't match what we used to have at home. For now, make do with these."
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