Hua Zhi paid no mind to these matters, instead visiting her postpartum Fourth Aunt's room more frequently.
Wu Shi smiled upon seeing her. "If you keep coming here, your eldest aunt might get jealous."
"I just came from her place." Hua Zhi looked down at the sleeping child. In just a few days, the baby's face had filled out, becoming fair and tender, with no trace of the wrinkled appearance at birth.
Instructing the maid to set up the easel, Hua Zhi said, "Go fetch Bo Jun. I'll paint a portrait of you three to ease Fourth Uncle's longing."
Wu Shi's lips moved slightly, but she couldn't bring herself to refuse the suggestion. Nanny Song hurried out without needing further instruction.
"People will say you're playing favorites if they find out."
"Hearts are naturally biased—whose heart grows right in the middle?" Hua Zhi adjusted the easel while speaking. "If I have to consider whether someone might object before painting for someone, then it's not worth managing this household."
Wu Shi felt touched and softened inside, thinking how rightly her husband doted on this niece.
Bo Jun, nearly three years old, called out "Elder Sister" clearly upon seeing Hua Zhi. Having spent more time with his brothers lately, he was less clingy to his mother and appeared more mature.
Indeed, circumstances force one to grow up.
"Let me get out of bed."
"No need, stay lying down. Sitting too long will make you uncomfortable." Hua Zhi had the maid hand the child to Fourth Aunt. "This will take time, find a comfortable position. Bo Jun, lean against your mother. Move closer, relax against her. Yes, just like that. We'll be sitting for a while, understand?"
"Yes, Elder Sister."
Flexing her fingers, Hua Zhi picked up the brush and began sketching carefully, occasionally glancing up at the mother and children.
"Don't be nervous, just be natural." Hua Zhi painted in a relaxed manner, making herself comfortable while chatting. "Grandmother's health isn't good. When I'm not home, please keep an eye on her, Fourth Aunt."
"Serving my mother-in-law is my duty. I'll pay attention, even if Third Sister-in-law objects—I'll simply ignore her."
"She's just a petty clown, not worth your attention."
Wu Shi shot her a reproachful look. "Say that only around me. If she heard, there'd be trouble."
"I only say it here."
Wu Shi's smile grew more genuine at her familiar tone. "She's not a bad person. Her aspirations are common among women in inner households. Trapped in this small world all their lives, they can only compete for limited things."
"Do you want such things too, Fourth Aunt?"
"I thought about it when I was still with my maiden family, but not after being betrothed to your Fourth Uncle. He's the fourth son, the least promising among the brothers. There's no way the household would fall to me, the fourth daughter-in-law. The Hua family upholds proper conduct with little scheming—far better than my maiden family. This is good enough; one shouldn't ask for more."
"Fourth Uncle is the most capable of his generation. Truthfully, he's more suited for officialdom than my father. Pity he's the fourth son—the Hua family can't have another official."
"You're mistaken." Wu Shi spoke leisurely. "Even if your Fourth Uncle were the same age as the eldest uncle, your grandfather wouldn't have chosen him. The Hua family is a family of scholars—the eldest uncle, being more learned, is better suited to carry on the family legacy. As for your Fourth Uncle, he's better off living as he did before. His social connections subtly strengthen ties with certain families. In his own way, he contributes to the Hua family."Hua Zhi paused her brush for a moment before continuing, "I was wrong."
"It was only recently that I've come to see things so clearly. I used to think all his friends were just drinking companions with few genuine ones. But when trouble came, before my maiden family had even taken a stance, they all sent silver one after another. This shows your Fourth Uncle didn't drink all that wine in vain over the years."
Though she hadn't accepted the silver, she remembered every one of them. Those who offer help in times of need can't be bad people.
"Don't mention certain things when you see your Fourth Uncle."
Knowing Fourth Aunt was referring to her near-fatal hemorrhage during childbirth, Hua Zhi nodded in agreement.
Seeing her calm expression, Wu Shi suddenly voiced the gratitude she hadn't expressed. "Thank you for that day."
"It was what should be done. Anyone would do their best in such a situation."
But if you hadn't happened to know a highly skilled female doctor, if you hadn't disregarded those taboos to enter the delivery room, if you hadn't spoken those words to encourage her, she wouldn't have made it. That's a woman's life-or-death moment—countless women don't survive. She was lucky to have fought her way back to life.
But even if she said all this, Zhi Er would probably just brush it off with a light remark. This girl who had suddenly replaced the men to support the Hua family made her forget that she had only just come of age.
"Don't worry about family matters. I'll do everything I can to help. Just have your maids come find me."
"That's what I told them." Hua Zhi gently touched the infant's earlobe—the child looked so much like Fourth Uncle, even having these thick earlobes. "They can handle most things, but after all, they're servants. Some matters they can't manage even with capability. That's when you'll need to step in. If you can't handle it either, have Matron Lin seek help from my maternal grandparents. Of course, we shouldn't do this for anything the Hua family can resolve themselves. Even the closest relationships grow distant with too many requests."
"I understand."
October 18th, an auspicious day.
Early in the morning, Green Moss Alley, which had been closed for many days, shed all its coverings and revealed its new appearance.
Each shop had an awning built outside, connected one after another to form a covered corridor where people needn't worry about getting wet even on rainy days.
Under the awnings, looking up where signs would normally hang, there were no signs but several long wooden plaques with words like 'Hot and Sour Noodles' written on them, prices noted below. Inside were uniform glass counters containing portions of ingredients, red and white, all looking clean and tidy.
The shops contained several sets of tables and chairs, with light blue cotton cloth pasted on the walls, creating an elegantly simple and clean atmosphere.
Hua Zhi walked from one end of the alley to the other, then went out and wandered along the inner riverbank. She took a deep breath and couldn't help smiling at Shaoyao beside her. She had meant to ask her impression, but seeing how her eyes were glued to everything told her exactly how captivating she found it.
"Haven't you eaten all those things at home already?" Whether successful attempts or not, she'd certainly eaten her share. It was puzzling how she never grew tired of them.
"They're delicious." Shaoyao clung to Hua Zhi's arm, swaying. "Hua Hua, I want to go eat more."
Hua Zhi pinched her scar-covered cheek. "Everything bought and sold here needs to be accounted for and paid for. How about going back and having Fu Dong make you something delicious instead?"Shaoyao was momentarily stunned by the touch. No one had ever touched this face except herself. No one liked its uneven texture—not even her. Yet Hua Hua had just touched it so naturally...
Hua Hua must truly like her. Shaoyao grinned foolishly, no longer caring about the food. If Hua Hua said they should eat back home, then they'd eat back home!
PS: Kongkong just found out we got featured on the main recommendation list! Completely unprepared! With period cramps + headache + a muddled brain after a full day of script meetings—I'll push through to write one more chapter. Readers can check back tomorrow. I've seen all your comments—thank you for the support. To new readers: hello and thank you for your kindness. Sorry I can't reply to each comment individually—swamped with work lately.
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