Blossom In Adversity - Vol. 2

C216. Protecting One's Own.

Chapter 216: Protecting One's Own

Xu Jie didn't return until a long while had passed. After bowing to Wu shi, he reported to the eldest young miss, "I've inquired and found out that Yang Qi feasted with eldest master Wu at Yunlai Restaurant yesterday."

Hua Zhi looked at Wu shi, and Wu shi looked back at her. Bitterness filled their eyes, their mouths, and their hearts. These were her own kin, the people who had once doted on her. It was as if all that affection had been a dream, a figment of her imagination. Now, as she thought of them, she found them utterly despicable.

“I understand. Let it be. From now on, the Wu family will walk their prosperous path, and I, as the daughter-in-law of the Hua family, will cross my solitary bridge.” Wu Shi stood up, her expression surprisingly calm, as if all the resentment and hatred in her heart were false, as if the Wu family she mentioned had nothing to do with her at this moment.

Hua Zhi got up to see her off, only to hear her fourth aunt say again, “Zhi’er, do whatever you want with the Wu family. You don’t need to tell me about these things anymore in the future.”

“……Yes.”

Standing at the door and watching her fourth aunt leave, Hua Zhi quietly hid the little guilt in her heart where no one could see it. Turning around, she looked at Xu Jie who was standing aside with his head lowered, and slowly walked back to sit behind the desk, saying softly, “There's something I've been meaning to tell you.”

“Yes, I’m listening to your orders.”

“The other day when Steward Xu fell ill, I remembered that he was several years older than my grandfather, and it was time for him to retire.”

Xu Jie hesitated, then immediately replied, “I understand. I’ll take my father to the Zhuangzi Manor later…”

“Where did that thought come from? Do you think I would just discard someone I’ve used?” Hua Zhi scolded, then softened her tone again, “Steward Xu has been in the mansion all his life. I only regret that I can’t let him retire in the old house, so how could I let him leave the manor? It’s just that we need to find a suitable new steward to take over, and Steward Xu will have to give him a good training.”

Xu Jie felt relieved, then immediately felt that he had been too suspicious, so he lowered his head even further.

“You have to manage the outside affairs, and Xu Ying is still too young. The replacement can only be chosen from among the others. I hope you won’t have any objections to this.”

Xu Jie immediately knelt down, "We dare not have any objections, miss. It's never been reasonable for servants to have opinions about their masters."

"Now that everything is clear, everyone's minds are at ease. I won't treat any of you poorly." Hua Zhi helped him up, "Get up. Go back and tell Xu Ying that he'll be reporting to me from tomorrow. You're about to leave, and I need someone else to run errands."

"Yes, I'll thank the young miss for promoting my brother on his behalf."

"I hope I'm well, and you're all well too." Hua Zhi said meaningfully. She placed people in positions she thought were suitable and tried her best to relieve their worries. She only hoped that they would be more sincere towards her as their master. Even if they couldn't reciprocate her feelings, she hoped they could at least remain loyal.

*

Gu Yanxi had become so accustomed to coming over for dinner that everyone in the courtyard had grown used to it. It wasn't that no one noticed the unusual relationship between the two, but no one dared to say anything.