Shaoyao smiled, "It's nothing, I'm not sad. My master said having an ugly appearance is much better than having an ugly heart. My companions have always treated me well too. My master hired a teacher for me to learn medicine, and coincidentally I had talent in this area. My teacher said as long as I keep studying hard, in another ten years I'll definitely become the best physician in the world. And now I've even made friends - you have no idea how happy I am."
I know, thought Hua Zhi as she looked at Shaoyao's sparkling eyes and completely unclouded smile. Her master and companions had protected her well. Because of them, she could be so open-minded and sincere.
"As your first friend, and you being mine too, shouldn't first friends have special privileges?"
The first one! Shaoyao nodded so enthusiastically her head nearly fell off. "What do you want? I can get anything for you. My master is really powerful."
"It's not about that." Hua Zhi met her excited, expectant gaze with a gentle smile. "Let me give you a nickname, just for us to use between ourselves."
Shaoyao nodded so vigorously her head seemed ready to detach.
Hua Zhi chuckled, "Do you know what's the toughest, most resilient thing in the world with the strongest vitality?"
Shaoyao could list many tough, resilient things with strong vitality in one breath, but couldn't immediately name something that possessed all three qualities.
"It's the grass that's everywhere - even wildfires can't burn it all, it grows back with the spring breeze. You're just like it - tough, resilient, and full of vitality. From now on, I'll call you Cao Cao. Together we'll be Hua Hua and Cao Cao."
Thrilled with her unique new name, Shaoyao was beyond words with excitement. She ran out and hugged each of the senior maids in turn, then sneaked a few bites from Fu Dong's kitchen before returning to the room.
Hua Zhi let her be, taking a thick ledger from her bedside to browse through.
This was one of the three ledgers she had brought from the Hua family's old residence. Written in simplified characters missing strokes and components, it recorded various things. Some items she would never use in this lifetime, but she had written them down whenever she thought of them. Worried they might fall into the wrong hands, she had deliberately used her wild, sprawling handwriting. Combined with the incomplete characters, it was difficult enough to read accurately, and even if someone managed to decipher it, Hua Zhi could simply deny everything - everyone who had seen her handwriting agreed it was as unruly as she was well-behaved.
She occasionally flipped through it, sometimes adding a note, sometimes deleting one.
Hearing movement and seeing Shaoyao enter with puffed cheeks, she closed the book and poured a cup of tea, pushing it toward her.
After swallowing a large mouthful of meat and downing the entire cup of water, Shaoyao smacked her lips contentedly. "Finally got to eat it! Hua Hua, you don't know how miserable I was recently. During a mission, everyone was tricked and fell into water, all our dry rations were ruined. Luckily we had your Meat Jerky so we didn't starve. By the way, someone will deliver beef tomorrow. You said beef jerky tastes better than pork jerky."
...What a dedicated foodie. But Hua Zhi didn't want to refuse either. In the Daqing Dynasty, cattle couldn't be slaughtered casually - they barely got to eat beef a few times a year. She was craving it too. Besides, if she didn't accept, Shaoyao would definitely be upset.
"Where did you have them deliver it?"
"Thinking you should be back by now, I told them to deliver here. Remember to have someone meet them at the back gate."
"Don't be too conspicuous."
"I know. My master said he'd have people keep it well concealed."Hua Zhi nodded. "Is my grandmother's condition very serious?"
When it came to serious matters, Shaoyao also became earnest. "Very serious. Her foundation was already weak, and coupled with her depression and excessive worrying, even I ten years from now wouldn't be able to save her. I've reviewed the prescription - there's no issue with it. That physician's medical skills are excellent. Even I couldn't come up with a more suitable prescription. Unless there's a better prescription, I wouldn't recommend switching back and forth. It's better to continue with this one for now. I'll return tomorrow to check through the medical books my master left me to see if there are other solutions."
"Then I'll trouble you to make the trip. You know the Hua family's situation - grandmother cannot fall."
"Hua Hua, I won't deceive you. You need to be prepared. Unless she can resolve her inner turmoil herself, the situation will only get worse."
"We must at least try." Hua Zhi felt a bitter taste in her mouth. Her original plan was to support the family from the front - whether earning money or building connections, she could handle it all. However, she hadn't planned to manage the household affairs. As long as grandmother was here, as long as she could earn silver, she could silence those critics. But now, where did she have any choice left?
Grandmother clearly knew her own condition but didn't pressure her, probably knowing she wasn't willing.
"Hua Hua, don't be sad. My master says there's no river that cannot be crossed - it all depends on how determined you are. You're so capable, nothing can defeat you."
Hua Zhi collected her emotions and teased her, "Everything is 'my master says' - does your master talk that much?"
"Not at all! He usually doesn't like to talk, but he's a good person and treats me very well."
Hua Zhi actually regretted her words as soon as she said them. Some people shouldn't appear in jokes, so she changed the subject. "I plan to hire a martial arts instructor. The children in the family shouldn't be so fragile. There are other things I can't promise how far I can take them, but at the very least, not a single child in this family can be lost."
"That's wonderful! Many families do this. Has the Hua family never hired one before? Do they only need to focus on studying?"
"Pretty much. Families of scholars probably have some inherent pride and look down on crude martial arts."
Shaoyao cupped her face and asked, "Have you found someone?"
"I plan to send someone to my maternal grandfather's house tomorrow to ask for his help."
Shaoyao blinked. Her friend was in trouble - it was time for her to help. Without saying anything, she stayed for lunch and then dinner. Using the excuse of taking a walk after meals, she went out and sent the message back. She hadn't used the promise The Heir gave Hua Hua - using such an important promise for such a small matter would truly be counterproductive.
After a good night's sleep, she came out of her room to see Hua Hua neatly dressed, with Liu Xiang following behind carrying a basket. "Hua Hua, where are you going? Aren't you having breakfast with me?"
"I'm going to the clan school to teach the children. I've already had breakfast. You go ahead - Fu Dong made fish noodles."
"You're going to be a teacher?" Shaoyao's eyes lit up. "Can I come find you later?"
"If you don't mind it being boring."
"I don't mind at all!"
Shaoyao really did go. Afraid of scaring people, she wore her Veiled Hat and held the lower hanging part with her hand. Everyone living here was Hua Hua's family - she didn't want to be disliked by Hua Hua's family.Following the sound, she crept closer and listened through the wall for quite some time. Only when the lesson ended and the children's break began did she hurriedly run off. As she walked away, she kept thinking how truly remarkable her friend was!
P.S.: Kongkong really adores Shaoyao! Still requesting monthly votes.
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