Hua Zhi always kept her word. After returning home, she brought Hua Ling to her side. There was no time for hands-on teaching—her schedule was too packed. Instead, she simply retrieved the detailed ledger for the canned goods business and handed it over for Hua Ling to study.
Hua Ling, however, clutched the ledger hesitantly, unsure whether she should examine it.
"I’m not afraid of you stealing trade secrets. If you can truly grasp the ins and outs of this business, I wouldn’t mind letting you manage it," Hua Zhi teased. "Just don’t shortchange me on the earnings."
Hua Ling held the ledger tightly, her nose tingling with emotion, and nodded earnestly. "I’ll study hard."
Hua Zhi smiled and gestured for her to make herself comfortable before turning to Ying Chun to discuss the seafood venture.
By her calculations, the ship should have arrived by now, yet there was still no news. Hua Zhi grew uneasy. Had it rained again in the south, causing floods? If the shipment was delayed en route, the losses would be significant. The seafood shop’s opening would have to be postponed as well. For a new business, the quality of raw materials had to be impeccable—a poor start could ruin their reputation from day one.
"I’ve sent someone to the docks to inquire," Ying Chun reassured. "Ships from the south have been arriving recently, so the waterways are clear. Our vessel should be here soon."
"Let’s hope so. Ensure the seafood operation is ready to receive the goods at a moment’s notice."
"Rest assured, I’ve made all the arrangements."
Hua Ling stole a glance at Ying Chun. Though all four senior maids were still registered as servants, no one in the Hua family treated them as ordinary subordinates. No typical servant held the authority to purchase shops or manage ventures on their mistress’s behalf—and certainly, none possessed their level of capability.
The saying went, "A scholar dies for one who understands him." They were not scholars, yet they repaid Elder Sister’s trust with utmost sincerity.
A twinge of envy stirred in Hua Ling’s heart. Lowering her gaze to the dense columns of numbers in the ledger, she reconsidered and felt at ease. Surely, no one could help but admire them.
As the last rays of sunlight faded, Chen Liang and the guards hurriedly delivered the day’s earnings from Oriole Cloud Alley. After weighing, calculating, and tallying, the maids could barely contain their excitement.
Nian Qiu handed the account book to her mistress. "It’s more than double what Green Moss Alley earned on its opening day."
Hua Zhi was taken aback. She had expected Oriole Cloud Alley to perform better, but not by such a margin. The profits were staggering—almost too hot to handle. Yet, sharing them…
She flipped through the ledger, mentally reviewing the prominent families of the capital. This goose that laid golden eggs would attract countless covetous eyes. Finding partners to share the risks wouldn’t be difficult, but was it truly necessary?
This particular venture was the one she least feared interference in. The two alleys combined housed forty-eight shops, each selling thousands of items daily to customers ranging from commoners and wealthy households to noble ladies and young masters from influential families. As long as she maintained strict quality control and prevented internal corruption, no one could rally all these customers to falsely accuse her products of being subpar.
Moreover, her maternal grandfather was currently at the height of his influence, and she had launched this business under the Zhu family’s banner. While many might covet the enterprise, few would dare confront the Zhu family directly. Upon reflection, the situation seemed stable enough—there was no need to share the profits.
"This month, everyone’s monthly pay will be doubled. Those working in Green Moss Alley and Oriole Cloud Alley will receive triple."The senior maids were all beaming with joy. Although they handled large sums of silver, with Ying Chun and Nian Qiu jointly managing the young lady's entire fortune, they had always clearly distinguished between the young lady's money and their own. Only what passed through the young lady's hands to them truly belonged to them.
Closing the account book, Hua Zhi frowned at the piles of silver scattered on the floor. This business venture was excellent in every aspect except for one—all transactions involved small amounts, resulting in fragmented silver each time settlements were made. To avoid drawing attention, she had to entrust her maternal grandmother to exchange most of the silver every ten days or half a month. The remainder she would deposit in the money bank. Although the sums were still substantial, outsiders generally believed the Zhu Family held the majority stake in this business, so less attention fell upon her.
Nevertheless, this process remained troublesome. If only she could melt it down herself... She would ask Yan Xi when he returned.
He had been away for several days now. Had he uncovered anything? He ought to be returning soon.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the seventh day of the lunar month. What should have been an ordinary day felt strangely charged with undercurrents of tension in the capital.
The reason became apparent when observing the well-dressed scholars heading in a particular direction—today was the day the eldest daughter of the Hua family had appointed for her gathering.
Hua Zhi stood beneath the corridor, watching maids and servants form a continuous line as they carried baskets through the second gate and along the covered walkways to the front courtyard. They arranged the baskets side by side before returning to the inner quarters to repeat the process.
Bao Xia hurried over. "Young Lady, some people are already waiting."
Hua Zhi nodded and walked toward her younger brothers standing neatly in formation. Zheng Zhi and Mu Qing reacted differently upon her approach—the former wore an expression of mischievous anticipation, while the latter looked concerned, perfectly reflecting their contrasting personalities.
All the children wore Confucian robes that day. The little ones stood straight-backed with solemn expressions, appearing adorable yet entirely appropriate. Children born into the Hua family were destined to become scholars from birth.
The Hua family produced only scholars.
Indeed, from the very beginning, Hua Zhi had never intended to stand out defiantly in this world that showed little favor to women. Since scholars were coming today, she would let scholars receive them.
"Is everyone ready?"
The children appeared nervous but nodded firmly. "Yes, Elder Sister."
Hua Zhi offered a reassuring smile and turned to Bai Yu at the front of the line. With Berlin absent, he was the eldest present.
"What about you, Bai Yu? Are you ready?"
Hua Bai Yu glanced back at his younger brothers watching him, then met his elder sister's gaze before him. In that moment, he seemed to mature suddenly, his heart settling with determination. "Yes, Elder Sister. I am ready."
"Then go. Remember—from the moment the gates open, you represent not only yourselves but also your grandfather, your uncles and fathers, your mothers, and all your siblings."
Looking at the children listening so attentively, Hua Zhi found herself unable to continue. The oldest was merely ten, while the youngest, Xiao Han, was only four. They should be living carefree lives of sweetness, yet here they stood like soldiers marching to battle, heading toward a battlefield where they could not afford defeat.
She would have willingly taken their place a thousand times over, but she could not.
For they were the future of the Hua family. While a woman might temporarily shoulder the responsibilities of the premier scholarly family, its honor and disgrace ultimately rested upon its men—even if they were still only children.
She understood this reality, and she could not change it.She could not change an era; she could only adapt to it.
Forcing down the lump in her throat, Hua Zhi softened her tone. "Just as you protected me that day at the Wei Family's gate, you must guard the Hua family's honor in the same way. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Elder Sister."
"Go ahead. Your elder sister stands behind you." Hua Zhi turned to look at her younger sisters who had quietly gathered behind her, along with the children who had not yet entered the clan school. "We are all here."
PS: Writing this brought a sting to my nose.
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