After eating her late breakfast, Hua Zhi presented herself to each household in turn to let everyone have a look at her, then set off for the main kitchen with Hua Ling, who had attached herself to her side like a little tail.
“That scholar sustained some injuries, but nothing vital was struck. Dr. Chu will see to his treatment properly. I already had someone send over a box of pain-relief medicine prepared by Shao Yao to minimize any effect on his performance in the autumn examinations.”
Thinking Hua Ling was asking after the scholar, Hua Zhi gave a thorough account. “I found that scholar to be a man of fine character and moral standing, with an admirably broad outlook as well. It would be no surprise if he passed the examinations. If you wish to thank him in person, wait until after the autumn examinations and I will arrange it for you.”
Hua Ling shook her head. “No need. This is enough.”
Knowing he had not been delayed on her account was sufficient. Gratitude need not be spoken — she carried it in her heart. Yesterday had already stirred up such a commotion; if she were now to go and see an unrelated man, word would get out and the embarrassment would fall not only on her but on her elder sister and on the Hua Family itself.
She did not have her elder sister’s ability to manage every consideration at once, but she could at least ensure that no trouble arose on her account.
Hua Zhi glanced at her and did not press the matter. Ultimately, what a person becomes is determined by themselves. Others can push, others can pull, but no one can overstep and make decisions on another’s behalf. Hua Ling was already beginning to show faint signs of awakening; a little more watchful care on Hua Zhi’s part would be enough.
The main kitchen was a hive of activity inside and out, servants coming and going in orderly fashion, every hand moving nimbly and without wasted motion. Hua Zhi loved this kind of lively domestic energy — when a household had life and warmth in it, it meant everything was well.
Everyone greeted her with a bow.
Nanny Chen, who managed things here when the fourth Madam was away, came forward to meet her. “Eldest young miss.”
“Nanny, you have worked hard. How are things today?”
“All is well.” Nanny Chen’s face was full of smiles. “You look to be in fine spirits yourself.”
“One good sleep and everything passes. Have the baskets not been delivered yet?”
“Not yet. They are due this afternoon.”
Hua Zhi nodded, went into the kitchen, picked up a ball of fried dough, broke off a small piece, chewed it, and spat out the rind. She then tried a small piece of the dried meat, and spat out the rind of that as well. Satisfied, she nodded. “Keep it at this standard — two more days to go, and make as much as possible.”
“Yes, eldest young miss.”
Hua Zhi did not linger. She moved at a steady pace toward the front courtyard, with Hua Ling still following behind, which Hua Zhi made no move to stop. She led her first to personally thank Wang Rong, then boarded the carriage.
“Elder Sister, where are we going?”
“Liyu Lane opens today. I am going to see how things look.”
Hua Ling knew about Liyu Lane. Even though her elder sister rarely spoke to them about business matters, they were still aware of which ventures were underway — Liyu Lane and Lvtai Lane were both food-trade businesses.
She pressed her lips together, gathered her courage, and asked, “Elder Sister — could I… could I learn to do business alongside you?”
Hua Zhi rested against the cushions and looked at her. “Why do you want to learn?”
“If I could learn even a little, I could help with things — maybe even take some of the burden off Elder Sister’s shoulders.” Having said this, Hua Ling felt rather embarrassed. She lowered her head, laughed a little awkwardly, and pressed on. “And besides, besides — since I probably won’t marry in the future, I might as well do more to help the family. Our brothers are all so promising, and the family will depend on them going forward. If I can be of any help, even a little, that would be good.”
“You will not be unable to marry.”
Hua Ling looked up — at her elder sister who, though only two years older, shielded her with all the bearing of a parent.
“Afterward I had people keep watch on the rumors in the capital. Not a single unkind word has been said about you. Everyone knows this misfortune fell on you without reason or fault, and on top of that, you showed your face yesterday — whether they like it or not, people have eyes.”
She had also prepared contingency measures in advance: if anyone attempted to throw mud at Hua Ling, she would have people guide the conversation and redirect all of that mud squarely onto the Wei Family. She had not anticipated having no need for any of it.
Resting her head on her hand, Hua Zhi’s tone was slow and unhurried — yet somehow reassuring. “I had already asked the Zhu Family and the Cai Family some time ago to keep an eye out for suitable matches for the lot of you. The family standing certainly cannot compare to what it once was, but the person must first pass my assessment. Do not worry — I will not marry any of you off carelessly. And if you want to learn the trade, I won’t stop you. Knowing more things is never a bad thing.”
Hua Ling unconsciously picked at a corner of the cushion. “Elder Sister — I do not want to marry.”
“Are you still frightened from yesterday?”
“Not entirely.” Hua Ling shook her head. “What they say about being neither high enough nor low enough — that is exactly our situation now. The great households are beyond our reach, yet marrying downward is something we cannot quite bring ourselves to do. It is not that I am snobbish and look down on such families — it is just… too difficult.”
Hua Ling smiled bitterly. “How to get along with the husband’s family is impossible to calibrate. Being too reserved won’t do; letting your guard down won’t do either. Speaking up displeases them; abasing yourself is something this person cannot do. If the Hua Family needed me to marry for its stability I would grit my teeth and go through with it. But right now there is no such need — with Elder Sister here, everything is fine. I believe Elder Sister will choose carefully for each of us, but rather than marrying out and placing my fate in someone else’s hands, I would rather stay home and be an old maid.”
Hua Ling raised her eyes to look at her elder sister, and there was a light in them. “After all — Elder Sister will always protect me. Won’t you?”
She already had her own thoughts on the matter now — quite a change indeed. Yet Hua Zhi could not simply give her word outright, and only said, “I will not force you, and you need not force yourself into any particular path either. Daqing dynasty is not kind to women. But if someone truly suitable comes along, there is no need to let that pass you by.”
Hua Ling bit her lip and, in the end, said nothing more.
The noise outside grew steadily louder. Hua Zhi lifted the carriage curtain and peered out — and her brow arched upward.
She had originally planned to carry out some promotional efforts on the opening day, but after what had happened yesterday she had set all those plans aside. The Hua Family was already the talk of the town; stirring up further attention was unwise. Even if business were a little slow, it would not matter — with Lvtai Lane already established, it would not take long before Liyu Lane’s business found its footing.
Yet from the looks of things, she had underestimated the allure of food. The foot traffic was far beyond what she had anticipated.
The carriage drew to a stop, and Li De announced from outside, “Eldest young miss — I’m afraid the carriage cannot go any further.”
Hua Zhi looked at Hua Ling. “Does Third Sister wish to wait in the carriage, or shall she come along with me?”
The noise from outside made Hua Ling a little apprehensive, but she steeled herself all the same. “I will go with Elder Sister.”
Hua Zhi said nothing more and was the first to step out of the carriage.
Both banks of the inner river were already lined with parked carriages. One could see maids and matrons stepping in and out one after another — clearly no small number of ladies and young misses from wealthy households had sent people to purchase food.
“This servant greets the eldest young miss.” Hua Zhi glanced toward the voice — the face was somewhat familiar.
Ying Chun quietly identified her. “She is the personal maid of the cousin young miss.”
Zhu Shan? Hua Zhi gave a small nod. “Did your young miss send you to buy food?”
“Yes.” The maid shot a glance at a carriage a little way back, then turned to Hua Zhi with an expression that was plainly a silent plea for rescue.
Hua Zhi’s heart gave a small lurch at once, and she turned and walked toward that carriage.
The maid visibly sagged with relief. Her young miss had brought only her along, and had even sent her off on an errand — leaving herself alone in the carriage to wait. Heaven knew she had been at her wit’s end this whole time. Before they left, the young miss had clearly said they were going to buy rouge!