Blossom in Adversity

C68. Making Preparations.

Chapter 68: Making Preparations

"As expected, with Second Aunt's temperament, without the support of her maiden family, she can only be bullied." The maiden family is the backbone of a married woman, but it seems that few of them seeks support as much as Second Aunt.

"But Second Aunt still remembers her maiden family. She sent back some money, part of it to Old Master's Concubine, but she also brought a portion for the Old Lady."

As Hua Zhi listened, she thought of her strong and competitive eldest aunt, who even the unimportant illegitimate daughter was aware of the difficulties faced by their maiden family. Given all the favoritism she received, was she planning to completely distance herself from the Hua family?

The majority of the money ended up with Hua Zhi. She instructed Nian Qiu to separately record the portion for Old Master's Concubine. She wasn't concerned about the amount of money but valued the sentiment behind it, which she would definitely repay multiple times in the future.

The child unexpectedly arrived early, prompting Hua Zhi to advance her trip to the northern region. The weather was getting colder as time passed, and she didn’t want to endure any more hardship.

"Bai Xia, please go find Physician Chu for me, ask him to prepare more medicine, and collect it in ten days."

"Yes."

"Fu Dong, how are those people doing? Are they ready to leave?"

"Most of them are ready, but a few servants feel they still need some more time."

"Regardless of the outcome eight days later, the food street will open." Hua Zhi looked at the most reserved senior maid, "Fu Dong, although the food street is under Chen Liang's management, you must understand that anything related to food will be your responsibility. You are the one pulling the strings behind the scenes. Do you understand?"

Fu Dong bit her lower lip until it turned red and said softly, "This servant will do her best, but this servant is not good at managing…"

"You don't need to manage all that. Your job is to train enough apprentices, understand their needs, and not be clueless about matters other than food. I know you wish to spend all your time in the kitchen. I will make that happen for you in the future, but for now, this is the only task you can handle."

"Yes, this servant will work hard."

"Bai Xia."

"Yes, Miss."

"I have rented a shop from my maternal grandmother on Beiyang Street. Take some people and arrange it properly. The storefront must be well presented, elegant in every way. If you are unsure, seek advice from Fourth Aunt, she is good at this. Once the weather gets colder, the canned goods from the estate can be sold."

Bai Xia knelt down with a crisp sound, "Miss, please take this servant along."

Ying Chun also knelt down, "Miss, please take at least one of us along. Bai Xia is the strongest, taking her along will ease your mind."

All the maids inside and outside the room knelt down in unison, creating a solemn atmosphere.

Hua Zhi felt a headache coming on, unsure how to convince these maids that bringing them along would be a burden. No matter how good their physical endurance, they wouldn't be able to withstand long horseback journeys.

"Why is Bai Xia considered the strongest when it's clearly me?"

The room fell silent, as if even the breathing had stopped for a moment. Then everyone's eyes sparkled as they looked at Shao Yao, who was feeding herself pastries while balancing a plate.

Hua Zhi's heart skipped a beat but then shook her head, "If it's just a few days, you can come along. But this time, the round trip will take at least twenty days. What will you do if your master needs you and can't find you?"

Easy enough, Shao Yao dashed outside, "I'll go ask him."

Shao Yao found Gu Yanxi sitting under a tree, bored, playing with leaves. Not far from him, six Hua family servants were crouching in a horse stance and swaying.

Shao Yao pitied them with a glance, the desserts falling into the hands of the Shizi, truly pitiful!

"What are you here for?" Taking a piece of dessert from her plate, he slowly ate it in a leisurely manner, as if he hadn't noticed Shao Yao discreetly hiding the plate behind her back.

Thinking that she was no match for the Shizi and that the desserts would definitely not be hidden, Shao Yao decided to take a bite of the last two pieces of dessert before speaking confidently, "Will there be something happening soon?"

"What?"

Shao Yao confessed, "Hua Hua is going on a long journey, and I want to go with her."

"To the Northern lands? Isn't it supposed to be in November?" After speaking, Gu Yanxi muttered to himself, "Of course, the child has already been born, so it wouldn't hurt to go earlier."

"Yan Ge, I want to go."

"No one is stopping you."

Shao Yao jumped for joy, saying, "Then I will go tell Hua Hua."

"Wait."

Shao Yao looked at him warily, "You can't go back on your word."

"When are you leaving?"

"In about ten days to half a month. Hua Hua said she will go get the medicine in ten days...wait, I can also make medicine, why didn't Hua Hua ask me?" Shao Yao ran off in a hurry.

Gu Yanxi raised an eyebrow, once again feeling that Hua Zhi was truly kind to Shao Yao.

Unaware that Hua Zhi, who had been swayed by the "good person card", had made Shao Yao, who was not happy, feel better by talking about Physician Chu's expertise in treating frostbite. "The medicine he makes for frostbite is very effective, and when I ordered the medicine I didn't know you yet!"

"Well, you can ask me to make it for you now."

"These medicines don't need your help." Hua Zhi handed her a handkerchief to wipe off the pastry crumbs on her hands. "If you have time, you can make some nourishing medicines. My grandfather is old, and the Northern lands are not a good place. I'm always worried he won't be able to handle it."

Only then did Shao Yao brighten up, happily agreeing without hesitation.

"Ying Chun, go and check what medicinal herbs are available at home, make a list for Caocao, and make medicines based on these herbs. For now, we don't have the money to buy precious herbs."

"Yes."

Shao Yao also smiled and agreed, but in her heart, she thought, I have a garden full of medicinal herbs, and there are plenty in the warehouse as well. If it's not enough, I can ask the Shizi. We won't run out.

After confirming the date of departure, Hua Zhi went to find her grandmother.

The old lady looked at her, "You've truly decided to go yourself? Are you prepared?"

"Yes."

In the old lady's heart, her husband and son still held the upper hand, so she nodded and said, "Very well, the earlier you go, the earlier you can return. Maybe you can even avoid the snowstorm. How many people are you planning to bring?"

"Six, and Shao Yao will also accompany me. Please inform the branches of the various families as well, and prepare the things to bring along. Not too much, we are only a few people and can't carry too many things."

"Understood, I will take care of it."

Knowing that Hua Zhi was going to the Northern lands, everyone in the Hua family started to act. Although they still couldn't believe that a girl who grew up in the inner courtyard could go so far, the events that had happened recently had gradually built some trust among the various branches of the Hua family towards Hua Zhi. If they couldn't find anything, they would naturally come back, but what if they did find something?

Because everyone thought this way, the preparations far exceeded what Hua Zhi could take with her. With the old lady's instruction to only take one-tenth of the prepared items, the families had to rearrange everything once again.