Chapter 394: Sharing Good News
Liu Ruyi's eyes lit up, and he immediately asked, "Might I ask if you still have any of that dried meat, Miss? The flavor has truly lingered in my memory. If you have some, could you sell me a portion?"
"..." Hua Zhi had the urge to massage her forehead. Wasn't this shift in demeanor a bit too abrupt? But when she saw Peng Runze and Qi Hongdong looking equally expectant, she couldn't help but laugh. These three were truly cut from the same cloth, no wonder they were such close friends.
Hua Zhi's intuition was spot on—the trio's friendship indeed stemmed from shared inclinations. They were frequent visitors to Green Moss Alley and Oriole Cloud Alley. Though they hadn't tasted the dried meat Liu mentioned, his vivid descriptions had long whetted their appetites. With the opportunity right before them, how could their eyes not gleam?
"I haven't planned to sell the dried meat commercially yet." Watching their synchronized expressions of disappointment, Hua Zhi couldn't hold back another laugh. As a food enthusiast herself—hence her extensive knowledge of delicacies—she felt a natural affinity for like-minded people. She added, "However, there's still some left at home. Tomorrow, I'll have someone deliver it to the food studio. You can pick it up there."
"Why not today—"
"Excellent, we'll collect it at the food studio tomorrow," Liu Ruyi interjected, cutting off Peng Runze. "How much will it cost, Miss?"
"It's not worth much, and I truly have no plans to sell it." Hua Zhi didn't elaborate further. With a slight bow, she stepped into the carriage.
Liu Ruyi's voice carried from outside, "Then we thank you, Miss."
Without lifting the curtain, Hua Zhi leaned against the carriage wall and replied, "It's nothing. Farewell."
As the carriage slowly departed, Wu Zheng and Xia Jiang, unaware of the trio's status but intimidated by their imposing presence, offered hasty bows and retreated to a distance.
The three men took the reins from their servants, mounted their horses, and set off at a leisurely pace.
"Miss Hua doesn't want to give anyone grounds for gossip. She wouldn't hand us anything directly."
"The moment you stopped me, I understood," Peng Runze said, twisting his neck with a sigh. "It can't be easy for her, having to consider every possible consequence."
Indeed, it wasn't easy. When everyone assumed the Hua family would collapse like the He family, she, a woman, single-handedly steadied the Hua family's footing in the capital. She never begged for mercy from anyone, never sacrificed her sisters for political marriages, and not even her reputation was tarnished. She ensured every member of the Hua family remained in their rightful place—those meant to marry did so, those meant to study pursued their education. Even those who married into unfavorable situations were not abandoned. No one's dignity was compromised. Yet, none of this came without a price. The hardships were hers alone to bear.
It was rare for them to feel such reverence for a woman, but whenever Miss Hua was mentioned, no one ever spoke of her disparagingly. She had earned her respect through her actions.
"I heard something," Qi Hongdong said, drawing the others' attention.
He urged his horse closer and lowered his voice. "My third cousin, Jiang Huanran, once sought to marry Miss Hua."
Both men reined in their horses abruptly. "When was this?" Liu Ruyi asked.
"Not long ago. I tried to pry details out of him afterward, but Third Cousin is tight-lipped. He didn't reveal a single word he shouldn't have."
"Miss Hua didn't agree, did she?"
Qi Hongdong nodded. "Correct. She refused him outright—left no room for negotiation.""As expected, the Hua family cannot do without her, and no family would be willing to marry a daughter who brings an entire clan as her dowry." Liu Ruyi shook his head. "Moreover, Jiang Huanran is only the second son. If the eldest young lady were to enter their household, how would the first daughter-in-law maintain her position? While Jiang Huanran may not see this, Lord Jiang certainly does. Still, I admire his courage."
And courageous he was indeed. Many shared similar thoughts, but Jiang Huanran was the only one so far who dared to act on them. The eldest young lady was too capable—men felt utterly inadequate in her presence. Marrying such a wife would likely mean never being able to assert themselves for the rest of their lives.
The three men exchanged glances and smiled wryly. Those from families like theirs appeared to have everything, yet in reality, they had no control over their own lives. In contrast, the eldest young lady, though burdened with managing the household, had gained the freedom to decide her own fate. Truly, gains and losses went hand in hand.
The rain finally began to fall, a dense curtain whipped by the wind, instantly chilling the already autumn air.
Hua Zhi stood under the eaves, lost in thought. In such heavy rain, she wondered where Yan Xi was, whether he had found shelter, and if he was safe.
A weight settled on her shoulders as a cloak shielded her from the cold wind, warming her chilled body.
"Young lady, please return inside. You mustn’t catch a cold." Nian Qiu’s voice was as gentle and unassuming as her demeanor, though a year of trials had instilled something new in her—confidence. She was no longer the timid maid who would tremble at a mere glare. In fact, she had been the one to finalize the purchase of the seafood shop.
"It’s comfortable outside." Hua Zhi tightened the cloak around her. Though she cherished this moment of tranquility, she had no desire—nor dared—to fall ill. "How are things at the seafood shop?"
"Only a small portion remains to be unloaded. Steward Xu halted operations as soon as he saw the weather turning."
"Your judgment in selecting people keeps improving."
Praised, Nian Qiu lowered her head in modest embarrassment. She had never been one for many words, and even now, though she wanted to say it was only because of her lady’s trust that they dared to act decisively, the words stuck in her throat.
"Is that Hua Qin’s maid?"
Nian Qiu quickly looked up and confirmed with a glance. "Yes, it’s Miss Qin’s maid, Qingxiang."
Qingxiang seemed impatient to navigate the winding corridors. Holding an umbrella, she hurried across the courtyard through the puddles. Hua Zhi’s heart tightened at the sight, her body tensing.
"This humble maid Qingxiang pays respects to the eldest young lady."
"Rise. Has something happened to Qin Mei?"
"This maid comes bearing joyful news." Qingxiang couldn’t suppress her smile. "Our young lady is with child."
Hua Zhi’s heart settled back into place, her pulse calming. She smiled at once. "She’s only been married for a short while, and she’s already with child? This is truly happy news indeed."
"Yes, the Cai family is overjoyed. They say our young lady is blessed."
Calculating the time, Hua Qin had been married for barely two months at most. She truly deserved to be called fortunate. Hua Zhi turned to go back inside, and Nian Qiu signaled for Qingxiang to follow.
"Have you informed Fourth Aunt’s household yet?"
"Yes, this maid went there first before coming here. Our young lady said it’s still early, so she only wishes to share the news with the madam and you for now. Once the pregnancy is more stable, we will distribute red eggs to all the families." Qingxiang accepted the dry towel handed to her by Nian Qiu and softly expressed her thanks.
Nian Qiu shook her head and turned to prepare a cup of tea for her lady. Having stayed outside for so long, it was essential to ward off the chill."Tell her not to overthink anything and to focus on resting well during her pregnancy. If she needs anything, just send someone to let me know."
"Yes." Qingxiang quickly glanced up at the young lady, looking as if she had more to say but was hesitating.
Hua Zhi raised an eyebrow slightly. "Speak."
Qingxiang lowered her head even further, her voice soft. "The young lady is feeling unsettled and would like to ask you to visit her."
Was there something wrong with the Cai Family? Was Hua Qin worried she might not be able to maintain the pregnancy? At this thought, Hua Zhi could no longer sit still. Without concern that it was already mid-afternoon, she ordered a carriage prepared and headed out. It seemed she was destined for a life of constant worry—while others fretted over marrying off their daughters, in her case, she was the one anxious about her cousin.
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