Blossom in Adversity

C38. Carriage Against Carriage, Cannon Against Cannon.

Chapter 38: Carriage Against Carriage, Cannon Against Cannon

Hua Zhi watched quietly as Liu Cui continued to struggle, "Are you hoping I'll let you go?"

Liu Cui, with eyes full of hope, nodded vigorously and made muffled sounds of pleading.

"When my mother was being bullied, did you think about letting her go? Did you feel guilty when she cried under the covers? Let you go? Are you kidding?" Hua Zhi walked past her towards the door, "Tidy her up and make sure Third Aunt doesn't think we're mistreating her people."

Liu Xiang smiled faintly, "Miss, rest assured, your servant will take care of her properly."

The old madam was getting ready to take a nap when she heard that Hua Zhi had come. Her eyelids couldn't help but twitch. That child was someone with uncompromising ways, and coming at this time, it was likely not a trivial matter.

Hua Zhi first apologized upon entering, "Apologies for disturbing grandmother's rest. It's just that this matter is extremely uncomfortable and makes me feel uneasy. If it's not resolved immediately, I won't be able to feel at ease in my heart."

The old madam and Suyun Mama exchanged a glance. Ever since Hua Zhi took charge, they had only seen her handling things with ease. It was the first time she had shown such weakness.

The old madam couldn't rest any longer and sat up, ready to get out of bed.

Hua Zhi quickly stopped her, "Please don't get up. It will only make your granddaughter seem more foolish."

The old madam patted her hand, put on her shoes with Hua Zhi's help, and stood up with her assistance, "It's uncomfortable lying down all the time. Speak up, what has angered you."

Hua Zhi glanced back, and Ying Chun understood, pushing Liu Cui to kneel on the side.

"Isn't this the main maid beside your mother? What did she do?"

"She is indeed the main maid beside my mother, but unfortunately, she's physically here but her heart is with someone else."

The old madam frowned. Nobody likes disloyal servants. Upon further thought, she already had an idea who this 'someone else' was. "The third daughter-in-law?"

"Grandmother, why not invite Third Aunt over? Let's have a face-off and clear things up, so we don't misunderstand each other."

The old madam instinctively wanted to defuse the situation. In families like theirs, even matters known to everyone would be covered up with a fig leaf. No matter how big the disagreement, it would always be smoothed over. This was the norm for affluent families. She had never seen someone like Hua Zhi openly confront the servants in such a manner.

However, the words of dissuasion were stuck in her throat. The one in charge now was Hua Zhi. It wasn't good for her to hold onto resentment, and she also did not approve of the Third Daughter-in-Law's actions. The Hua family was already in such a state. Instead of working together to hold the family together, they were resorting to underhanded tactics to compete.

What was there to fight about?

"Cui Xiang, you go."

Suyun Mama responded with a bow, her gaze lingering on the Eldest Miss for a moment.

Xia Shi arrived quickly, already bringing a smile on her face before she even reached them, "Mother, what urgent matter is this that even interrupts your nap... and the Eldest Miss is here too?"

Coming through the door and seeing Hua Zhi, Xia Shi's heart, which had been beating rapidly all the way, quickened even more. And seeing Liu Cui, pale-faced and kneeling on the side, there was no room for misunderstanding.

She knew things were going to end badly when Liu Cui was taken away, but she didn't expect things to escalate so quickly. She thought her mother-in-law would suppress the issue, even if she wanted to reprimand her, it would be done in private.

"It's not Grandmother who called Third Aunt, it's me." Hua Zhi made a proper greeting, "If Third Aunt wants to know about the affairs in my mother's courtyard, you can ask me. I will speak the truth about anything I know."

"What are you talking about, Eldest Miss?" Xia Shi forced a smile, "Why would I go and inquire about my sister-in-law's affairs for no reason?"

"What if there is a reason? For example... the power in Hua Family. If my mother is persuaded by Third Aunt to make me give up this power, in order to ensure that I can still marry in the future without any disgrace, should I hand over this power as a dutiful daughter? And if I do, who should this power ultimately be passed on to?"

Hua Zhi's calm analysis, word by word, struck Xia Shi's heart, "Grandmother needs to recuperate, my mother cannot be relied upon, Second Aunt has a bad reputation, Fourth Aunt is pregnant... who do you think this power will end up with in the end?"

Xia Shi almost awkwardly avoided eye contact, "I just had a casual conversation with your mother, showing concern for your marriage. But I had no ulterior motives. You've misunderstood."

"We all know whether there are ulterior motives or not. Since Liu Cui belongs to Third Aunt, please take her back. I believe you must be more compassionate than my mother, and wouldn't want to create another scandal at a time like this. I will even overlook the breach of etiquette and give Third Aunt a few reminders."

Hua Zhi, looking directly at Xia Shi, said firmly, "Although a broken ship still has three thousand nails, relying solely on these nails cannot support the hundreds of people in the Hua family. Previously, the Hua family's annual expenses were over ten thousand taels, excluding the valuable items that my grandfather and father bought. But now, we only have two or three thousand taels in hand. Have you thought about how to use this money to ensure that the Hua family doesn't run out of food? Can you make money out of money?"

Each word she spoke seemed to strike Xia Shi's nerves, and she burst out, "If I can't, can you?"

"I can." Her resolute and decisive answer left everyone in the room stunned. "Not only can I, but I can also ensure the well-being of the Hua family, where those who need to study can study, those who need to embroider can embroider, where we can laugh and cry freely, without living in constant fear and uncertainty. Third Aunt, you may not believe in me, you may watch from the sidelines to see what I can achieve, but please refrain from any further manipulations. We are family, and our goal is to bring our family back together. Even if there are conflicting interests, they should come after this matter. What do you say?"

Xia Shi stood there, white-faced and silent.

The old madam turned away, and after Hua Zhi's powerful words, the silent room became even more pin-drop quiet.

After a while, the old madam broke the silence, "Let's consider this matter closed. No one should bring it up again. Third Daughter-in-Law, take Liu Cui back with you. You need not come to pay respects for the next few days. Think carefully about how to benefit the Hua family. Don't forget one thing – you are a part of the Hua family. It's only when the Hua family flourishes that you can thrive, and so can your children."

Although it seemed like the matter was resolved and put to rest lightly, everyone could tell that the old madam had clearly taken a stance in support of Hua Zhi. Xia Shi could only wish for a crack in the ground to swallow her up as she hastily made a bow and left, looking disheveled.

Liu Cui, trembling on the ground, didn't want to go to Third Aunt because no good would come of it if she did.

Without needing the old madam's instructions, Suyun Mama gestured, and two strong maids almost lifted Liu Cui up and took her away.

The old madam then turned around, her eyes reddened but carrying a smile, "You, always silent but when you're angry, you're just like your father – loves a direct punch to the face. Wherever the punch lands, that's where it hits. I truly didn't like it when your father caused a scene back then, but now, I find it quite refreshing."

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Author's Note:
Written super satisfyingly!!!
Readers, did you find it satisfying or not?!?!

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TNote:
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