Blossom In Adversity - Vol. 2

C211. Second Aunt's New Beginning.

Chapter 211: Second Aunt's New Beginning

Rumors spread like wildfire in the capital.

Although few believed it, Yang Qi's words had been passed around.

However, the story had been distorted in the telling. Some said Yang Qi had gone to the Hua family to pick someone up and had been beaten. Others claimed that Hua Zhi had led a group to attack the Yang family, injuring Yang Qi. The version closest to the truth suggested that the Yang family was coveting the Hua family's remaining assets and was thus slandering Hua Zhi.

In any case, no one believed these tales. Even the usually overprotective Zhu Old Madam, who would fret over her granddaughter at the slightest hint of trouble, did not visit this time.

Such rumors were simply absurd!

These rumors never reached the inner courtyard of the Hua family and vanished after circulating in the outer courtyard. With a smug smile, Hua Xian happily packed her belongings in preparation for moving to her new residence. She tiptoed around, exuding a youthful vitality that stood in stark contrast to the timid Yang Madam she once was.

With all the ladies of the four branches now free, and Hua Zhi keeping them in check, Hua Xian had managed to keep everyone happy by treating them fairly. As a result, the relationships within the family were far more harmonious than they had been at the old residence.

Knowing that their sister-in-law's divorce was the eldest miss's decision, the other ladies suppressed their petty schemes. Both the second and third branches had daughters, and their future marriages would depend on the head of the family, the eldest miss. To put it bluntly, if their daughters were to marry into unhappy families, they would have no one to turn to.

Since all the decisions rested in the eldest miss's hands, and seeing how protective she was of her family, the other ladies decided to be less petty. For the sake of their daughters, they would have to be more considerate.

With everyone thinking this way, the atmosphere was naturally pleasant. They helped each other carry lighter items and contributed some of their belongings to Hua Xian, expressing their affection warmly. Hua Xian felt incredibly at ease.

Although her new courtyard was not as grand and opulent as the Yang family's, Hua Xian was overjoyed. No one who had not experienced it could understand how wonderful it felt to have a home to return to.

At this moment, Yang Sui'an returned. The usually composed young man was running, every step filled with urgency. Instead of going to the back courtyard to see his mother, he went directly to the front courtyard study, knowing that his cousin would most likely be there.

Hua Zhi was not surprised to see him. "You're sweating. Did you run all the way back?"

Yang Sui'an licked his dry lips and replied, "I rode back."

But he was sweating profusely, revealing his inner turmoil.

Hua Zhi gestured for him to sit. "What have you heard? Why are you so anxious?"

He had heard many things, but he knew they were not true. If he had to choose, he would believe his father's version. For some reason, he felt that his cousin might be capable of such a thing.

"Cousin, my mother... my mother..."

Huà Zhǐ didn't want to tease such a filial child, so she nodded with a smile and replied, "Yes, your mother has divorced. I've already given her the divorce papers."

"And my father..."

"Your father told the truth. I did indeed deal with him, and quite harshly. Are you resentful?"

Yáng Suí'an shook his head. His cousin had always handled things generously, so she must have visited the Yang family before, and it was only after they refused to let his mother go or made excessive demands that she resorted to such measures.

Huà Zhǐ nodded. "Your mother is probably overjoyed right now. Go see her. I've allocated a courtyard for her. Ask a maid to take you there."

"Yes." Yáng Suí'an took a deep breath and bowed deeply.

"There's no need for that. She is originally a member of the Huà family, and it's only right for me to protect her."

But many families couldn't do this.

Yáng Suí'an silently added this debt of gratitude to his heart. His mother could accept it as a matter of course, but as a son, he had to remember it and repay it with all his might when he had the ability.

"That day will come," Yáng Suí'an said to himself.

Yáng Suí'an walked to the door when he heard his cousin say again, "Although this has nothing to do with you, you also have half the blood of the Huà family and have frequent interactions with the Huà family. For this reason, Yáng Qí will definitely hold a grudge against you. You should be prepared. I'll also tell you straight, you probably won't have a good time in the Yang family in the future."

Yáng Suí'an turned around. Perhaps it was because the Yang family no longer had control over his mother, his attitude towards the Yang family had changed. "If the Yang family welcomes me, I will naturally do my duty as a member of the Yang family. If they don't welcome me, I don't think my cousin will drive me away."

"With your mother in the Huà family, it's only natural for a son to seek her protection. Who can drive you away? Just come. If the Yang family makes trouble for you because of this, as long as you don't mind the Huà family's current weakness, even if you want to follow your mother's surname, I will agree."

Yáng Suí'an already knew the answer, but hearing his cousin say it, he felt even more confident. If no trouble arose, that would be fine. But if they really treated him as an outsider because of this, what did he care about not returning to the Yang family?

The Yang family's assets were nothing to him!

Yáng Suí'an bowed deeply once more, straightened his back, and walked towards the backyard. He also wanted to see what his happy mother looked like. As far as he could remember, he had never seen his mother truly happy.

A smile curved Huà Zhǐ's lips. It felt good to see others reunited.

It remained uncertain when the Hua family would truly be reunited. Hua Zhi's smile faded as she lowered her head to the open notebook.

This was one of three thread-bound notebooks she had brought from the old mansion, filled with notes jotted down over her peaceful decade in the Hua family. Written in a cursive script only she could decipher, some of the content was practical in this world, while other parts were merely idle musings. She had kept them as mementos back then, but now she was searching for business opportunities within their pages.

She needed to move forward.

She didn't want to introduce anything too eye-catching or disrupt the course of history. Anything too shocking or contrary to societal norms was out of the question. After careful consideration, she realized that food and drink were the safest options.

Food!

Leaning back in her chair, Hua Zhi gazed at the ceiling, lost in thought. It wasn't that she couldn't prepare food, but she was unsure how to present it.

Hot pot was a common idea among time travelers, but the technique was simple and easily replicated. Moreover, the local ingredients were too limited compared to the diverse options available in the future.

Mutton was plentiful, but beef was hard to come by. She could make various types of meatballs, but seafood and exotic foreign dishes were rare finds. In the northern regions, especially during winter, cabbage was the staple food. She couldn't fill a pot with just cabbage.

How unfortunate, she thought, chuckling to herself. And it wasn't just cabbage. Once her mushroom cultivation was successful, she would have something to offer all year round.

After a while, Hua Zhi pulled herself back to reality and returned to her notes.

If hot pot was out of the question, she would have to find another way to make a living.

———
TN:
Hotpot... I want hotpot... right now!