Blossom In Adversity - Vol. 2

C391. Madam Sun's Calculated Move.

Chapter 391: Madam Sun's Calculated Move

Lin Shuang dutifully relayed Madam Qin’s words to the Eldest Miss, allowing Hua Zhi to piece together the Qin family’s stance with a clear head.

Strictly speaking, this issue had little to do with the main branch of the Qin family. Still, their subtle message was unmistakable: they preferred to keep the Hua family at arm’s length.

Since the passing of Hua Zhi’s grandmother, interactions between the two families had dwindled significantly. The last notable connection was when Hua Zhi sent an invitation to the grand opening of Shi Zhai, which the Qin family had attended out of courtesy. But beyond that single gesture, they maintained a carefully calibrated distance. It wasn’t outright estrangement, but it certainly wasn’t intimacy either—a deliberate balancing act.

Madam Qin’s response made this even clearer. Not only did she avoid suggesting a time for a follow-up visit, but she didn’t even bother with a token inquiry about the Hua family’s wellbeing. It wasn’t cruel, just pragmatic. This kind of calculated restraint was the hallmark of a family focused on longevity, prioritizing pragmatism over sentiment.

Hua Zhi wasn’t exactly upset, but there wasn’t any warmth left in her heart either. She could tell the other side didn’t see much value in their relationship, so there was no point in forcing a connection. They would simply go their separate ways.

Quietly, she crossed the Qin family off her mental list, though a faint sense of disappointment lingered. She had thought that while the Qin family might not be as dependable as the Zhu family, they’d at least hold their own compared to the others. Yet, in the end, they turned out to be barely distinguishable from strangers.

Her eyes swept the room, but there was no sign of her personal maid. “Ying Chun still isn’t back?” she asked casually.

“Not yet,” Bao Xia replied with a slight pout. “Miss, you only ever think about Ying Chun. Am I not good enough to handle things?”

Hua Zhi chuckled. “Alright, you win. You’re the most capable. Pass the word around to each household—everyone’s dining together tonight.”

Bao Xia perked up instantly, her pout replaced with an eager smile. “Got it, Miss!” she said, hurrying off to carry out the instructions.

Left alone, Hua Zhi shook her head, a faint smile lingering on her lips. In the span of a year, though life hadn’t flipped upside down, the changes were undeniable. The Hua sisters no longer obsessed over appearances and reputation. The usual squabbles within the households still happened, but they no longer tipped the balance. Even the children—who, at their age, had no business being this mature—had taken on responsibilities beyond their years.

And as for the servants? They were no longer hollow, mechanical figures. Efficiency and reliability had seeped into their work, transforming them into a quietly capable force.

*

While Ying Chun was visiting the Sun family, Madam Sun deliberately kept her around. Unlike treating her as a mere guest, Madam Sun behaved as though Ying Chun was one of their own. She sampled two dishes in Ying Chun’s presence, her expression thoughtful yet carefully neutral. After a moment, she broke the silence with a pointed question about the Hua family:

“I’ve heard about the recent turmoil. Is the third Miss doing all right?”

“Thank you for asking,” Ying Chun replied with a polite smile. “The third Miss is well now.”

“Glad to hear it.” Madam Sun didn’t bother mentioning that she had initially been on her way home when the news reached her. Hearing that the situation had stabilized and the Hua family hadn’t taken any losses, she chose to return. It wasn’t because she was indifferent to her own obligations, but rather because she couldn’t bring herself to stand by if the Hua family’s young women were in trouble.