Blossom in Adversity

C32. Innocent Heart.

Chapter 32: Innocent Heart

The first rays of dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and gold as Hua Zhi emerged from the house, a soft smile gracing her lips. The courtyard, once a quiet expanse of green, was now transformed into a vibrant tableau. A towering mound of peaches, their skins flushed with the warmth of the sun, dominated the center ground.

People, their faces etched with lines of contentment, arrived in a steady stream, their baskets brimming with the fragrant fruit.

The air was thick with the intoxicating aroma of ripe peaches, a scent that was both sweet and tangy, evoking a sense of abundance and prosperity.

It was as if nature itself had conspired to create a perfect harmony of sights, sounds, and smells, a sensory feast that was both comforting and exhilarating.

"Miss, would you like to try?" Fu Dong held out a small plate with yellow skinned fruits, the flesh looked juicy. She picked up a piece, peeled off the skin, and tasted the sweetness.

"Pick out the good ones to send back, send more."

"Of course."

Hua Zhi surveyed the courtyard she had redesigned, realizing that meticulous work needed to be done inside the house, but the preparatory work had to be done outside. Worried about the unpredictable weather, she had a canopy set up and added a drain in the courtyard to prevent water accumulation.

Twenty female servants were all dressed in jackets and trousers, cuffs and hems tightly tied. Some were busy in the courtyard, fetching water, cleaning, and carrying baskets. They all wore smiles on their faces, the sunlight shining on them and the water, reflecting a vibrant scene.

Hua Zhi liked peace and quiet but also enjoyed watching such lively scenes. After observing silently for a while, she softly instructed, "Peeling cannot be as slow as before. Boil some hot water and soak the peaches in it, then the skin can be peeled off easily after a while. Pay close attention to hygiene, it must be treated like when preparing food for the master in the mansion. If there are any issues due to hygiene, I will not be lenient."

"Understood, I will keep a close eye on it."

With Liu Qi being busy, Hua Zhi had to send Bao Xia out to take charge. She had few people she could trust, and this was the first business deal for the Hua family. There could be no mistakes.

"Have the porcelain jars been prepared?"

"Yes, they have been cleaned and boiled as per your instructions."

"Prepare the rock sugar according to the ratio I mentioned. Do not skimp on it, this is an easy task as long as you are not careless." If time had allowed, she would have preferred to make a batch of high-grade blue and white canned jars, but now she had to make do with the ordinary white-based purple floral porcelain jars. Of course, she had prepared a batch of better jars as well, with significantly different prices.

After making some more arrangements, they heard Liu Juan reporting from outside, "Miss, Miss Shao Yao has arrived."

Ever since she signed the death contract, Liu Juan had started calling Hua Zhi 'Eldest Miss.' For her, calling her 'Eldest Miss' was different from calling her 'Young Lady.' 'Eldest Miss' was a term only used by their own people.

Indeed, that was the case. Hua Zhi herself couldn't recall when the people serving her had started making such distinctions, but as far as she knew, it wasn't the case in other sisters' rooms.

"Hua Zhi, are you planning to start a business selling peaches?" Shao Yao came in tossing a peach, still wearing a veil in the presence of outsiders.

"It's a new way of eating, not just peaches, I've also sent someone to buy tangerines in Jiangnan for you. You have a sweet tooth, you should enjoy them."