Blossom In Adversity - Vol. 2

C282. The Need to Be Decisive.

Chapter 282: The Need to Be Decisive

Having tidied herself up, Hua Zhi emerged from her private quarters. "Go tell my mother and Bai Lin that I'll be joining them for lunch in the mother's courtyard."

Liu Xiang bowed and withdrew, thoughtfully taking the other servants with her.

Left alone with her two most trusted maids, Hua Zhi found it difficult to voice any reproach. Both looked even more haggard than she did, despite her own busy schedule.

It was only natural that those who could do more would end up doing more. Over the past year, her senior maids had been working twice as hard as they should have. They had earned their rewards, but they had also suffered.

Even if Qiu Shi had managed to escape with the thousand taels of silver, Hua Zhi would not have truly blamed them. Their worth was far greater than that sum of money.

However, as a manager, such mistakes could not be tolerated repeatedly. One had to do the job they were assigned to, and if they couldn't, someone else who could would have to take their place. She would give them generous gifts and find suitable husbands for them, preserving the bond between master and servant.

But she knew these maids well. Years of subtle influence and a year of managing the household had given them a basic understanding of their own worth. If she were to treat them like ordinary maids and have them marry and bear children, spending their days worrying about trivial matters, they would be deeply dissatisfied.

"Get up," she said gently.

Ying Chun and Nian Qiu exchanged glances and rose, supporting each other.

"I'll only say this once. Listen carefully, and you can pass it on to Bao Xia and the others."

Leaning back against the chair, Hua Zhi continued, "I've never treated you as mere managers. The Hua family doesn't lack for managers. If we were to take some of the men who used to serve the masters and groom them properly, they would be quite capable. I've always seen you as managers, and more specifically, as head managers. You're not simply messengers for your master, running errands and doing chores. A head manager oversees the entire operation of a store. If business is slow, they need to find ways to improve it. If there's a problem, they need to find a solution. They need to be thoughtful, farsighted, and have their own ideas. They need to be able to identify shortcomings and make adjustments."

Looking at the two maids whose heads were bowed almost to their chests, Hua Zhi sighed softly. "You have all these qualities. With your skills and knowledge, you should be able to do a better job than ordinary head managers. So what went wrong this time?"

Hua Zhi sighed again. "You've gotten too comfortable. You've become complacent."

Nian Qiu burst into tears. Her mistress was right. They had been complacent. The mistress's favor and the admiration of the servants had made them arrogant.

"If you want to be of help to me, you need to be even more capable. You need to think more and harder. If such a small achievement can make you lose sight of your goals, then I'll say it again: get married. You don't need to serve me today. Go back to your rooms and think carefully."

The two maids bowed and retreated.

Hua Zhi sat quietly for a moment, feeling a deep sense of unease. They were like family, having grown up together. They had always been devoted to her. Sometimes, she truly wanted to find good husbands for them and let them settle down. It wasn't punishment; in this era, marrying into a good family was the best outcome for a woman.

But because they were so close, she couldn't bear to see them live ordinary lives. It was a contradiction.

Bao Xia entered with a tray, pretending to be unaware of what had just happened. "When we were gone for the same amount of time Lan Qiao spent learning from Fu Dong in the Shi Zai kitchen. She hasn't returned yet. Thankfully, she inherited Fu Dong's habit of simmering soups. Today's soup is made with tofu and mushrooms. It smells delicious. You should have some to tide you over."

Hua Zhi went to the table and sat down. "I feel like I could eat a whole vat of something. You should have some too."

"I'll have some in the kitchen later."

Time was running out. After finishing her soup, Hua Zhi went to her mother's courtyard. Bai Lin was already there. Throughout the meal, neither her mother nor Bailin asked about the medicinal scent on her. When she left, she still wasn't sure if they had noticed anything. She decided to put the matter aside.

She planned to stay home for about five days before heading north. She had a lot to do before then. The mushrooms were growing well, the first batch of lychees had arrived, and she needed to visit the canning factory. Oh, and tomorrow was Hua Qin's wedding day. Since she was back, she should go. With so much to do, she was afraid five days wouldn't be enough.

Good news travels slowly, but bad news spreads like wildfire. Within the space of a meal, the story of Hua Zhi sending the concubine from the third master's house to prison had spread throughout the capital.

People had all sorts of opinions, but outsiders seemed to be more understanding of Hua Zhi's actions than the members of the Hua family. They felt that if she hadn't been ruthless, the situation would have spiraled out of control. Most people thought that Hua Zhi was indeed a woman of great courage.

*

In the secluded courtyard south of the city, Bai Mingxia was playing Go with Shen Qi. Since their joint trip to Yingshan Pass, the two had developed a rather unexpected friendship, almost like a mentor-disciple relationship. Their interactions had continued unabated even after their return.

Dismissing the servant who had come to deliver a message, Bai Mingxia threw a piece, disrupting the game which was already heavily in Shen Qi's favor. He looked at Shen Qi, whose expression was distant and troubled, and said, "When a decision needs to be made, one must act decisively. Since the Shen family has agreed to annul this marriage, there's no longer any possibility between you and her. I've interacted with that girl a few times and I can tell that even if Hua Pingyu were to give his word, she would never step foot into your Shen family's door again."

Shen Qi responded with a bitter smile and threw a piece as well. He knew this was true, but the woman had taken root in his heart many years ago. He had cherished her and even fantasized about their married life countless times. How could he simply let her go?

Bai Mingxia shook his head slightly and said no more. In his view, Shen Qi had made a terrible move. Hua family's men had been exiled, and Hua Zhi hadn't been particularly outstanding at the time, but annulling the marriage so hastily in the eyes of the Hua family's supporters was akin to kicking someone when they were down, even if it was the Hua family who had initiated the annulment.

Even if they had waited another six months, by then Hua Zhi's abilities would have become more apparent, and would the Shen family still have been willing to annul this marriage?

When noble families chose wives for their legitimate sons and legitimate grandsons, they placed more emphasis on the woman's intelligence than her family background. A mother's intelligence determined the aptitude of the next generation. Many people were now eyeing Hua Zhi, who possessed such qualities.

However, it was unlikely that the eldest Miss Hua would end up marrying into any family. Based on her actions, she seemed determined not to marry, and the Hua family couldn't afford to lose her at the moment.

Looking at Shen Qi, whose mind seemed far away, Bai Mingxia felt sorry for him. They had already been engaged, yet they were now parting ways. Their fate seemed to be shallow.

He beckoned a servant to come and gave him his name card, "Send this to the Hua family."

Shen Qi came back to his senses, "Uncle Bai, are you going to the Hua family?"

"The Hua family is full of women. Wouldn't it be troublesome for me to visit? The Shi Zai restaurant is already booked for two months. I don't believe the eldest Miss will refuse me a meal there. It's a perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone."

Shen Qi's eyes lit up, "I'll go with you, Uncle Bai."

Bai Mingxia looked at him with a wry smile and agreed.

———TN:
"Shen Qi… Aw, too bad. Hua Zhi’s already found ‘The One.’ It seems your path lies in a different direction…"