Blossom In Adversity - Vol. 2

C390. Everyone Has Their Own Agendas.

Chapter 390: Everyone Has Their Own Agendas

Hua Zhi’s actions sent ripples through the room, splitting authority in a way that caught everyone off guard. It wasn’t just surprising—it was oddly reassuring for the various factions involved. Sure, they knew the Eldest Miss wasn’t scheming anything underhanded, but entrusting their daughters with a share of the business brought a different kind of security. Even if they couldn’t meddle, they felt a bit more at ease knowing they had some skin in the game to protect.

Meanwhile, Hua Zhi feigned ignorance toward the subtle undercurrents brewing in the inner courtyard. Without missing a beat, she summoned Lin Shuang and handed her a letter. “Take this to Old Madam Qin,” she instructed. “If she asks any questions, answer as best as you can.”

“Yes, Miss.”

This wasn’t exactly Hua Zhi’s first choice. Normally, Suyun Mama would have been perfect for such a task, but the woman was bedridden and out of commission. That left Lin Shuang as the next best option. Since the matter concerned the eldest branch, sending someone from the eldest lady’s side seemed both reasonable and tactful.

Wu Shi, who happened to drop by to discuss Hua Ling and her sisters, raised a brow at Hua Zhi’s decision. A sly smile tugged at her lips as she quipped, “I half-expected you to deliver it yourself.”

“For anything else, sure,” Hua Zhi replied, her tone sharp but composed. “But not this. Whether this involves the Qin family or not, if I were to go, it would look like I was interrogating them. That’s inappropriate from every angle.”

Though she didn’t enjoy the web of tangled relationships that came with her position, Hua Zhi wasn’t naive to them either. Years of navigating the business world had left her well-versed in such politics—she simply found them exhausting. It was precisely why she’d happily let Fourth Aunt handle most of the inner courtyard affairs. Less hassle, more peace.

Wu Shi was a little taken aback. She had her suspicions about the situation but had assumed Hua Zhi, being as direct as she usually was, might not have noticed. That’s why she had come today—to offer a subtle reminder. Turns out, she needn’t have bothered.

“So, are you really planning to hand over the canned food business to them?”

“Fourth Aunt doesn’t approve?” Hua Zhi’s tone was calm but carried a subtle edge.

“It’s not that I disapprove,” Wu Shi replied, smoothing out her sleeves with an air of composure. “But judging from your intentions, it doesn’t seem like you plan on keeping them around indefinitely. What if they marry someday? Are you going to take the business back then? And besides,” her voice softened, though her meaning did not, “fairness matters. There are more than just the three sisters in this household.”

“To be honest, I haven’t given these things much thought,” Hua Zhi said, her smile devoid of warmth. “I don’t have the patience for such things. Business is business. Whether I’m dealing with Zhang San or Li Si, it’s my choice. If they think they’re entitled to something just because I’ve been accommodating, well, that’s their problem—not mine.”

For a moment, Wu Shi found herself at a loss for words. She had her own reasons for bringing this up, of course. Advocating for fairness didn’t mean she wasn’t angling for her own sons. But she hadn’t expected Hua Zhi to cut through the pretense so mercilessly.

“I won’t allow any of the men in this family to meddle in these affairs. Not a chance,” Hua Zhi continued, her tone firm as she met Wu Shi’s gaze head-on. “By the family rules, anyone with an official title is forbidden from engaging in business. My brothers will grow up to follow in our ancestors’ footsteps, and I won’t jeopardize their futures by involving them in this. As for the long term… these businesses may be in my hands now, but they ultimately belong to the Hua family. And the Hua family will always belong to them.”