With matters weighing on her mind, Hua Zhi temporarily set aside the seafood business. There was still time, after all, and compared to a single business venture, Haoyue’s situation clearly took precedence.
Yet, she couldn’t avoid matters seeking her out.
Early the next morning, as soon as Hua Zhi arrived at the front courtyard, Liu Xiang came to report, "Miss, Miss Qin is here to see you."
"Hua Qin? I’ll head back to the rear courtyard then."
As Hua Zhi made to rise, Liu Xiang unexpectedly said, "Miss Qin didn’t go to the rear courtyard—she’s waiting outside."
"Quickly invite her in."
"Yes."
Shortly after, Hua Qin entered, lifting the hem of her skirt. She was around the same age as Hua Zhi, still in the Age of Green Jade, yet now she carried a certain charm of a young married woman—something a maiden would never possess.
"Cousin."
"You seem to be in good spirits." Hua Zhi gestured for her to sit, and a maid quietly served tea before withdrawing.
"Is there something on your mind?"
Hua Qin smiled. "Just from your tone, I can tell many people come to seek your advice. But today, I do have something to discuss with you."
"Go ahead."
Hua Qin knew well that her famously capable cousin preferred straightforwardness, so she didn’t waste words and got straight to the point. "I’ve come about the marriage prospects of the younger sisters in our family."
This was indeed something Hua Zhi had been pondering and wanted to resolve. After the incident with Hua Yan, she realized she bore responsibility—she had been negligent. In this era, it wasn’t hard to understand why a girl who had been rejected in marriage might take extreme measures. She couldn’t let her other sisters resort to desperate paths.
"What do you propose?"
"I’ve heard about Hua Yan’s situation… probably the whole capital knows by now. Cousin, you showed remarkable courage, deflecting a thousand pounds with four ounces to resolve the matter. You not only preserved the reputation of the Hua family’s daughters but also used the incident to make a statement to everyone. My husband’s grandmother even said that if it were her, she might have had no choice but to offer Hua Yan a white silk ribbon, which wouldn’t have helped the family’s standing in the slightest."
Hua Zhi merely smiled without elaborating. What was done was done; as long as the outcome was favorable, that was enough.
It was only through her husband’s grandmother’s guidance that Hua Qin came to understand: some had intended to use such methods to erode what remained of the Hua family’s fortune, while others with more malicious intentions sought to tarnish the family’s reputation, hoping to reduce them to the same fate as the He family. The thought sent chills down her spine. Had her cousin not acted decisively and swiftly, not only would her sisters’ lives have been ruined, but the entire Hua family would have suffered a devastating blow.
The Hua family had barely managed to stand firm under her cousin’s leadership. If they were to stumble again, no one could say for sure whether they would ever recover.
How vicious their intentions were!
Though she was a married daughter, Hua Qin still wanted to help. Only after consulting with her in-laws and discussing thoroughly with her husband did she make this visit today.
"Let me share my humble opinion." Hua Qin didn’t expect much response from her cousin and continued, "The Hua family’s current situation isn’t too dire. Firstly, thanks to your capability, cousin, you’ve guided everyone to uphold integrity. Over the past year, there hasn’t been a single blemish for others to criticize. From this perspective, the value of our younger sisters hasn’t diminished much—any discerning person can see that."
Hua Zhi nodded, signaling for her to go on.Encouraged, Hua Qin straightened her posture. "Secondly, although the Hua family's male members have been exiled, their crimes are not irreversible. Given the right opportunity, they may very well rise again. Marrying a Hua daughter at this time is akin to making an investment that initially seems unpromising but ultimately yields substantial returns. While established aristocratic families would not take such a risk, those slightly less prominent might."
"Go on."
"Thirdly, the Hua Clan School remains open, meaning the family's scholarly foundation persists. Even if the current generation fails to regain prominence, the younger generation holds promise when they mature. After all, while the Hua family may not have disciples everywhere, they are not without connections in the court."
"Fourthly, with your presence, Cousin, my maternal grandmother often remarks that seeing you gives her hope for the Hua family. You are capable of upholding the household, and others are willing to follow your lead. A united family will not collapse."
At this point, Hua Qin smiled with shared pride. "This is not just my grandmother's opinion. She mentioned that during their social gatherings, many have expressed similar sentiments about the Hua family."
As Hua Zhi listened, she sorted through her thoughts but was abruptly pulled back by the latter remark. "So, the current reputation of the Hua family in the capital isn’t low?"
"Indeed."
That was enough. She did not expect others to lend a hand; as long as they remained indifferent and refrained from adding insult to injury, it would suffice to honor the usual social courtesies.
By now, Hua Zhi understood Hua Qin’s purpose. "Are you here to propose marriages for our younger sisters? Does your husband’s family agree?"
Hua Qin’s smile was open and untroubled, a clear indication that she was well-treated in her marital home. She did not shy away from the truth, saying, "I would not have dared to do this without their consent, to put it bluntly."
Hua Zhi smiled. Honest, indeed. It seemed the Cai Family's Family Style was commendable and worth associating with.
"I recall your husband is still studying at the Imperial College."
Hua Qin was momentarily taken aback but quickly nodded in agreement. "Yes."
"I won’t involve other members of the Cai family. Bring him to see me whenever he’s free. I have a business venture to offer the Cai family a share in, provided we reach an agreement."
Once a woman marries, her priorities shift away from her natal family. Hua Qin knew she stood to gain greatly from this arrangement. Her cousin’s business acumen was no secret in the capital, and securing such an advantage would bolster her standing in her husband’s household.
At most, she reasoned, she could simply offer more support to her natal family in the future. Blushing slightly, she agreed.
Hua Zhi, however, had no such calculations. Although the Cai family’s officials had not reached the top three ranks, they were an old-established aristocratic family with deep roots and a extensive network in the capital, far surpassing that of newly risen nobles. Sacrificing a small share of profits to draw them in was no loss to her.
"Cousin, what requirements do you have for our younger sisters’ marriages?"
"Look for decent families—those with substance, not just appearances. They don’t necessarily have to be prominent households. Once you’ve identified potential matches, inform me first. I’ll have someone investigate their suitability."
"Understood. I know the gravity of this matter and will not handle it carelessly."
"Also, keep this quiet for now. There’s no certainty yet, and I don’t want everyone anxiously questioning me daily. Dealing with them all day would be exhausting enough."Hua Qin covered her mouth with a chuckle. "Before I had any dealings with you, cousin, I thought you must be difficult to get along with. That's why you've kept your distance from us sisters all these years. But after meeting you these two times, I've realized the truth—you simply find us all too troublesome, don't you?"
You've hit the nail on the head, girl, Hua Zhi nodded inwardly, though her expression remained perfectly neutral. "I've never been one who likes to meddle in others' affairs. Being alone and carefree is so much better."
Hua Qin merely smiled, leaving it unclear whether she believed this or not.
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