Chapter 471: The Sun Family Sends Their Family Assets
Seeing her elder sister's smiling face, Hua Baiyu suddenly believed that she truly trusted him and didn't view him as harboring grand ambitions to seize the Hua family from Sixth Brother like others did.
With this realization, Hua Baiyu felt relieved while also developing an impulse to confide his grievances to this elder who trusted him. "I don't mind what others say, but even my own mother keeps hinting that I should curry favor with you, Elder Sister. Even the brothers at the clan school... once I overheard them discussing who they would support if I competed with Sixth Brother. Hearing that made me..." It broke his heart so much that he, who had never taken sick leave before, requested a day off just to avoid seeing those people.
"This is my oversight in handling the matter. Don't blame them - the fault lies with the adults. They don't understand that you're the one most wronged in this situation. Your thinking is correct: with Berlin away, you're the eldest among the brothers. It's only natural for you to take charge of those matters, and this should continue in the future."
"But..." Hua Baiyu remained reluctant, not wanting to hear such discussions again.
"Pay them no mind. Limited by their environment, they can only see what's immediately before them. They don't know that beyond the Hua family lies the capital, beyond the capital lies the nine provinces, beyond the nine provinces lie foreign nations, and across the ocean live people different from us. The world is vast, and the Hua family is but a drop in the ocean. You should broaden your perspective and take all this to heart. When you do, you'll realize these trivial matters mean nothing. There are many ways to extricate yourself from difficulties - ultimately, you're still too weak now. When you become strong, no one will dare to manipulate you."
"Like you, Elder Sister?"
Hua Zhi smiled. "Yes, just like me."
Hua Baiyu pressed his lips together, vaguely understanding his elder sister's meaning though unable to articulate it clearly. He only knew she was teaching him and truly stood by his side, not using her blood relation to discipline him, her cousin.
"You'll serve as chief officiant during the mourning removal ceremony. Prepare well - you'll need to lead the younger brothers to pay respects at the Hua family ancestral grave. Consult Steward Xu if you have any questions."
Hua Baiyu straightened up energetically, responding crisply.
For a child who had just suffered setbacks and grievances, being assigned an important task was the best way to rebuild confidence. After offering more encouragement, Hua Zhi chuckled watching him strut away like a proud young rooster.
Ying Chun smiled seeing her mistress happy, placing a bowl of fruits beside her. "This servant observes that our family's young masters are better than any other family's."
"Other families view their own the same way you view ours." Hua Zhi took a sip of steaming tea. "Has everyone been quite idle lately?"
"The weather's cold, so each household gathers in one room to save silver charcoal. The benefit is saving fuel, the drawback is increased gossip." Mostly from the masters, Ying Chun sighed helplessly. She could manage the maids, but how could she control the masters?
Hua Zhi immediately thought of playing cards and mahjong. Without the concept of gambling dens, playing a few rounds to pass time would be an excellent choice.
"Go tell Fourth Aunt to visit Third Aunt's quarters and have a good heart-to-heart. Make her understand that her actions are harming Baiyu."
"Yes.""Spread the word that Bai Yu will serve as the chief officiant during the mourning removal, assisted by Steward Xu and Su Momo."
"Yes." Ying Chun covered her mouth with a light laugh. With the young lady being so protective, one might think the seventh young master was her own brother. The third wife was also too easily swayed, jumping around after being egged on by her maternal family, forgetting what the Xia family's attitude had been when the third young lady encountered trouble.
At that moment, Liu Xiang hurried in. "Young lady, Old Madam Sun requests an audience. She has already arrived at the East Corner Gate."
Old Madam Sun? Hua Zhi quickly rose to personally welcome her outside, asking as she went, "Was no visiting card sent beforehand?"
"No."
Hua Zhi asked no further questions and hurried to the East Corner Gate. Upon seeing the visitor, she immediately apologized, "I've been negligent. Why have you come so suddenly? There's no reason for you to enter through the side gate."
Old Madam Sun helped her up. "Those who need to know are aware that the Sun and Hua families are now tied together on the same boat. There's no need to stand on ceremony anymore. Family should visit each other more often."
"You're absolutely right." What else could Hua Zhi say? She guided her guest toward the rear courtyard, but Madam Sun declined. "I've heard you spend most of your time in the front courtyard and usually receive guests there. Let's go there instead."
"Very well."
Meanwhile, Xiao Liu'er had received the news and came forward to greet them with proper courtesy.
If Madam Sun had maintained some formality with Hua Zhi, she instantly softened upon seeing her grandson. Her smile was full of affection and concern. "It hasn't been that long, but you seem to have grown taller?"
"I have grown a bit. Sister Hua had new clothes made for me."
Old Madam Sun patted her grandson's shoulder, sighing inwardly. Given how meticulously Hua Zhi cared for Xiao Liu, how could anyone blame him for being so close to her? Probably even the Sun family ranked lower in Xiao Liu's heart.
After host and guest took their seats, Ying Chun served tea before quietly retreating behind her young lady.
"Between straightforward people, let's not beat around the bush. I've come firstly to express my gratitude to you, young lady. Xiao Liu'er's current standing is due to your excellent teaching and your skillful planning on his behalf." Thinking of all Hua Zhi had done, Old Madam Sun felt thankful more than once that she was on Xiao Liu's side. The fact that she piled all those merits onto Xiao Liu showed a magnanimity most people lacked.
"Madam, you flatter me too much."
"There's no need for modesty. This isn't just my opinion, but my husband's as well." Madam Sun waved her hand. "The second matter - I've come to bring Xiao Liu a gift."
Xiao Liu looked up, already understanding.
Madam Sun took a package from her matron and pushed it toward her grandson. "This contains seventy percent of the Sun family's assets - from property to personnel, all seventy percent."
Hua Zhi raised an eyebrow slightly - more than she had expected. She had thought the Sun family would give half.
"Xiao Liu, this is all your maternal family can provide to help you." Madam Sun's smile turned bitter. "The Sun main lineage has never been numerous, but I never thought it would come to end in this generation. The collateral branches are mostly wolves and tigers - I would never let them have a chance to get close to you. These past days I've selected several distant relatives. Their character and conduct are quite good, and they have capability too. Whether to use them and how to use them is entirely your decision. Don't hesitate. Do you understand?""Little Six understands." He truly understood what it meant to be entrusted with seventy percent of a family's assets. Without male heirs to uphold the household, those so-called relatives watched like hungry tigers. His grandmother must have expended immense effort to secure these for him. Suddenly, he recalled what Sister Hua had said: Grandmother would make plans for the family, but only on the condition that it wouldn't harm him. Only he was their flesh-and-blood relative.
And now, Grandmother's actions precisely confirmed these words.
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