"Miss, we still have a residence for sale..."
That's right, there was still a residence for sale. Although Chen Chong didn't dare exceed regulations and only bought a two-courtyard house, its location was quite good. It should fetch about eight to nine hundred taels. With the Hua family's current much more frugal expenses, this would be enough to sustain them until she could recover her costs.
"Chen Liang, you handle this matter."
Although Chen Liang had guessed the young lady's intention, when actually given the order he couldn't help but ask one more question, "Does the young lady mean to purchase all twenty-five shops?"
"Yes, buy them all."
Having received confirmation, Chen Liang said no more and bowed before leaving.
First there were Xu Jie, Zuo Fei, and Liu Yueming, now Chen Liang - Hua Zhi felt the Hua family actually had quite a number of capable people. This was one manifestation of an aristocratic family's foundation.
Liu Xiang entered with such hurried steps that she nearly collided with Chen Liang if he hadn't quickly moved aside. "Miss, Old Madam Zhu has arrived."
Hua Zhi raised her eyebrows slightly, the slight annoyance in her heart dissipating. "Did she go to my mother's rooms or grandmother's?"
"No, she's coming here. She'll arrive any moment."
Now Hua Zhi was genuinely surprised. She quickly stood up and went out to greet her. Those willing to visit during such times were true family.
Before even leaving the courtyard, she saw Old Madam Zhu entering through the gate, walking with vigorous strides.
"Zhi Er pays respects to grandmother. May grandmother be well."
Old Madam Zhu quickly stepped forward to help her up, examining this child who had never seemed particularly remarkable to her before.
She was indeed different now - her eyes revealed sharpness, her expression was far from the previous unambitious appearance, showing some determination.
Perhaps this was the child's true nature. When the Hua family was secure, she hadn't wanted to reveal this side of herself, but now she had no choice.
Warmly taking her arm, Old Madam Zhu suppressed her sighs as grandmother and granddaughter entered the room together.
Ying Chun served tea before withdrawing with all the maids.
After glancing around the room, Old Madam Zhu asked quietly, "You're handling affairs here?"
Without asking how much her grandmother knew, Hua Zhi nodded in confirmation.
"Your mother can't handle responsibilities. This must be hard on you."
"You needn't feel sorry for me about not having raised mother properly." Hua Zhi smiled faintly. "Everyone has their own destiny. Mother has the good fortune of not needing to worry about trivial matters."
"Yes, her good fortune." Protected by her parents and brothers in her maiden family, cherished by her husband in her marital home without suffering hardships, and now when her husband's support has collapsed, immediately having a capable daughter to shoulder the responsibilities for her - she had obtained everything every woman in the world wanted to have. If this wasn't good fortune, what was?
Old Madam Zhu sighed inwardly again - it was just hard on this granddaughter of hers.
"I came today to deliver a message from your grandfather. He has sent people to invite a teacher. Although this person isn't famous, your grandfather says his skills are genuine, no worse than those with established reputations. However, he travels for studies year-round, so it might take some time to find him. Your grandfather says not to rush about this."
This was truly timely assistance! Hua Zhi sincerely bowed in a solemn gesture. "Zhi Er thanks grandfather for his great kindness on behalf of the entire Hua family.""There's no need for thanks. The bond between the Zhu and Hua families has always been beyond compare with others." Old Madam Zhu helped her up and asked with concern, "Are there any other difficulties? Don't treat your grandmother as an outsider. If there's anything the Zhu family can assist with, we won't hesitate."
Not a single word was mentioned about what her aunt had done, yet the meaning between the lines was crystal clear—the Zhu family wasn't one where a daughter-in-law could call the shots!
Hua Zhi felt as if her chest were steeped in warm water, a comforting warmth that made her entire heart soften.
Kin and kin were different. Some would wish you dead for the sake of gain, while others would worry endlessly, fearing you weren't living well. She had once been unfortunate enough to experience the former, but now, she was fortunate to have gained the latter.
Old Madam Zhu misinterpreted her brief silence as reluctance to speak and softened her tone further. "Zhi Er, don't feel it's hard to say. If there's anything, just speak your mind."
"Zhi Er just feels fortunate to have a birth family like the Hua family and a maternal family like the Zhu family." Hua Zhi looked up, a slow smile spreading across her eyes and lips. "With you as my support, nothing can hold me back."
Her smile was somewhat bold, somewhat proud, yet it brought genuine joy to those who saw it. Old Madam Zhu tried to detect any hint of reluctance in her expression but was ultimately won over by her confidence. The weight that had been pressing on her heart seemed lifted by this smile, leaving her with a sense of ease she hadn't felt in a long time.
Patting her hand, Old Madam Zhu said no more and stood up. "I heard from Lin Shuang that your grandmother is ill. Since I'm here, I should visit her. I've brought some medicinal herbs. If anything is lacking, don't waste money buying it outside—just send Lin Shuang back to the Zhu family."
"Yes, Zhi Er won't stand on ceremony with you."
"It's best if you truly don't. You're busy, no need to accompany me over."
Hua Zhi also hoped her grandmother, who had been holding on for so long, would have someone to share her heartfelt thoughts with. She stopped at the courtyard gate after seeing her guest out, watching the retreating figure in the sunlight. Hua Zhi felt an unprecedented clarity in her heart.
The betrayals from her past life had not left her unaffected, but her grandmother's visit had unexpectedly dispelled those shadows like clouds parting to reveal the sun. It was as if her heart had been carefully tidied, leaving no corner unsettled.
Knowing her grandmother had gone to her mother's courtyard, she didn't join them. Her tearful mother was likely to have a good cry, and if she, as a daughter, were present, her mother would hold back. It was better to avoid the scene and let her cry freely—holding it in for too long might truly make her ill.
She merely had someone wait outside her mother's courtyard and, upon learning her grandmother was about to leave, preemptively placed four jars of chilled canned nectarine into the carriage.
Seeing that her mother had calmed considerably after her grandmother's visit, Hua Zhi set her mind at ease and spent most of her days in the side courtyard. It was only when her younger brother, Hua Bolin, returned from the estate that she realized three days had passed in the blink of an eye.
The half-grown boy was a bit darker but exceptionally spirited. The gloom that had once clouded his expression was gone, replaced by a bright, smiling countenance that Hua Zhi loved to see.
"Did you see the workshop?"
Hua Bolin's radiant expression held a touch of admiration. "I did. I originally thought it was just a small workshop, but it's clearly a large one."
"It's naturally a small workshop." At least, that's how Hua Zhi saw it. "Formal classes start tomorrow. Inform everyone—those who are willing to come may do so; those who aren't, we won't force."
"Has Elder Sister managed to hire a tutor?""With Mr. Mu, and me."
Hua Bolin was so shocked he forgot to blink. His... his elder sister becoming a teacher?
"Can't accept it? Or do you think I'm not qualified enough?"
Hua Bolin shook his head repeatedly. "I know Elder Sister's knowledge isn't inferior to any teacher's, it's just... I've never heard of a female teacher before..."
"There will be soon." Hua Zhi was relatively satisfied with her younger brother's reaction and gave him another task. "You don't need to hide this from our younger brothers. Can you prepare and reassure them in advance?"
Hua Bolin immediately straightened his back, resolute and determined: "Yes!"
PS: Seeking monthly votes.
OpenNovel