Blossom In Adversity - Vol. 2

C212. Life is Inherently Selfish.

Chapter 212 Life is Inherently Selfish

After contemplating among several choices for a while, Hua Zhi ordered in a loud voice, "Please call Steward Xu."

Outside, it was unclear which maidservant was waiting, but not long after, Steward Xu knocked on the study room door.

"Miss, you called for me."

Hua Zhi looked up, all words stuck in her throat. She stood up and asked, "Are you feeling unwell? Xu Jie, what's going on? Yesterday, the steward seemed fine."

Supporting his father, Xu Jie also looked worried. "He has been like this since this morning. I asked everyone at home, but no one knows the reason."

After speaking, Xu Jie felt ashamed, "I have neglected my father."

Now was not the time to talk about this. Hua Zhi immediately wanted to invite Physician Chu to the mansion. Steward Xu hurriedly shook his head, as he couldn't afford the physician's fees.

Xu Jie felt grateful in his heart, but he didn't want to take advantage, "I will go and invite the physician. I dare not neglect it."

"Very well, hurry up. Don't delay."

Xu Jie was about to leave with his father when Steward Xu patted his hand and asked in a low voice, "Miss, do you have any instructions for me?"

"It's not urgent. You don't need to rush at this moment. Just go and rest, and have Xu Jie come over later."

Steward Xu knew that Miss was showing concern for him. He tremblingly bowed, let his son support him, and left.

Not long after, Xu Jie returned.

"So soon? Has the physician seen him?"

"After sending my father back to the room, he said not to delay Miss's affairs. The physician hasn't arrived yet, but he should be here soon."

Hua Zhi couldn't send him away anymore, so she had to accept his kind gesture and talk about the matter at hand.

"Arrange for someone to stand guard at the pier. As soon as you find a ship with a strong fishy smell, come back immediately and inform me."

Xu Jie hesitated for a moment and expressed his understanding, "May I ask if you are referring to a ship coming from the south?"

"Yes, it is from the south. Have you seen it?"

"Yes, Fourth Master once had a ship docked at the pier. I was sent by my father to take care of it for a while, so I happened to see that ship." Xu Jie looked embarrassed, "The reason why it left a deep impression on me was because of the smell..."

Untreated seafood does indeed smell bad, but once processed and served, it can be appetizing.

Thinking back to the time she bought some, except for Fu Dong, the other maidservants were initially disgusted, but when it came time to eat, they all ate without holding back.

"Now that you know, it's even better. Describe it well to the person you send, don't miss it."

"Yes."

Hua Zhi calculated the days, "When Steward Xu gets better, you need to prepare to set off."

"Yes, I am ready. I can leave anytime after my father gets better."

Since they were talking about this matter, Hua Zhi decided to mention it as well, "The oranges in Yangzhou will not be ripe yet. You will go to the south first. I see on the map that it is close to the Yan Kingdom, so this time, you need to bring two bodyguards with you. The weather is hot there, and it produces lychee, longan, star fruit, pineapple, and other fruits. These can be used to make canned goods. Put aside a few things, the most important being the lychee. It should be ripe by now. You need to pay more attention to it. The profit from lychee canned goods alone is more than that of longan and other fruits combined, and it will not be inferior to the popular oranges being sold now."

Even better than oranges?

Xu Jie's heart was on fire. "Yes, I understand. I will arrange everything and set off as soon as possible."

"No need to be in such a rush. There will be ripe varieties in the coming months, with the most in July. You don't have to worry about missing out." Thinking about the weather there, Hua Zhi furrowed her brows, "The weather there is hot, so you need to find a way to ensure the freshness of the lychee, especially during the journey."

There were ways to preserve freshness, but it was not easy to bring them out. Hua Zhi felt a bit frustrated, because if she were to ask Yan Xi for help, he would naturally lend a hand, but his men were too capable, and it would be a waste of talent for them to handle such a task.

Fortunately, like transporting oranges back then, traveling by water would be much cooler than by land.

"Same as last year, I will give you some silver at that time, but it definitely won't be enough for you to buy enough lychee. I don't care how much you can bring back, I want all of it. Can you do it?"

There seemed to be a spark in Xu Jie's eyes, and he nodded vigorously, "I will not disappoint Miss's trust."

Hua Zhi was somewhat satisfied with him, "I trust you. Work hard, and I won't let you work hard for nothing."

Watching Xu Jie leave proudly, Hua Zhi checked off the seafood task and began to consider who to involve in this business.

She planned to expand this business, so the people she involved naturally needed to have substantial weight.

After considering various names, she still couldn't make a decision. Thinking that seafood was not urgent anyway, Hua Zhi was not in a hurry. She didn't like the resigned and disappointed attitude of 'the ship comes to the bridge naturally straight,' but preferred another common saying - 'sing the song that fits the mountain.'

With more time to think, she would be able to find the most suitable person for her.

"Sister Hua."

[TN: 姐姐 (Jiějie) is the Chinese term for older sister.]

The sudden voice made Hua Zhi look up, and it was the Sixth Prince standing outside.

Waving to him, Hua Zhi got up from behind her desk and pulled him to sit aside, "Why did you come at this time? Didn't you go to the clan school?"

"I did, but it's break time now."

Hua Zhi looked at him closely, "Do you have doubts in your mind?"

The Sixth Prince shook his head, then hesitantly nodded, lowered his head, and said, "Master Zheng said that those born in prosperity are concerned about when their downfall will happen, and those born in poverty think about how to survive from the beginning. Master Zheng mentioned a regretful event that happened when he was young. He saw people resorting to cannibalism out of desperation, so he bought two children to save them. But more people brought children to him, and if he didn't accept them, they would be eaten. Master Zheng lost all his valuable possessions in this endeavor, but more people kept coming. When he could no longer help, those people cooked and ate the children right in front of him. Master Zheng said this was the biggest mistake of his life. Not because he tried to save people, but because he failed to do so effectively."

The Sixth Prince looked puzzled, "Those were those people's own children, they were heartless toward their children, why did Master Zheng end up being wrong?"

Hua Zhi had always respected the two masters of the clan school and wouldn't restrict what they could teach. She also believed that Zheng Zhi was a prudent person who had reasons for saying such things.

The reason could be inquired about later. For now, she needed to clarify things for the sensitive young prince who was shaping his worldview.

"Ah Jian, you have to believe that humans are inherently selfish."

The Sixth Prince pursed his lips, completely agreeing with this point.

"But humans also want to be excellent individuals, so from birth, they are in a constant struggle with their own nature. Those who win become good and kind people in the eyes of the public. Those who lose unforgivable commit crimes. However, the vast majority of people struggle between good and bad throughout their lives because they can't win, nor can they lose."