Yang Sui’an had his ten-day rest today and had just returned from the academy to pay his respects to his mother.

Hua Xian had put on a little more weight these past days. Her smile was gentle and serene, beautiful in a way that seemed untouched by any hardship she had ever endured, making her look considerably younger.

Yang Sui’an was in the middle of a growth spurt, yet somehow appeared even leaner than before. After finishing the bone broth his mother had stewed for him, he said warmly, “Cousin Sister has sent someone new to look after me. Please don’t worry, Mother — she has no other intentions. She’s simply having that person bring me food and drink each day, saying that one mustn’t lack proper nourishment during a growth spurt. Cousin Brother and I each receive the same.”

As he spoke, Yang Sui’an’s eyes and brows were filled with warmth. Not only had food and drink never been lacking for him even by half, but Cousin Sister had even noticed he was going through a growth spurt before he himself had — or even before his own mother had — and immediately arranged for someone to have his clothes re-tailored, with several longer sets made extra, ready to be worn at any time.

Life after leaving the Yang family had turned out far better than he had anticipated. Those ordeals he had once imagined would befall him and his mother had never come to pass.

Hua Xian turned her head away and gently dabbed at the corners of her eyes, then patted the back of her son’s hand. “We must hold all of this firmly in our hearts.”

“Yes, your son understands.”

A maidservant tiptoed in to report, “Second Young Mistress, the First Young Lady has sent someone to invite you to the West Wing Courtyard.”

The West Wing Courtyard? Hua Xian instinctively tightened her grip on her son’s hand. She dreaded invitations that came so suddenly and without warning.

Yang Sui’an gave his mother’s hand a reassuring squeeze and looked up at the maidservant. “Was any reason given?”

“It was not stated, but this servant heard from Chun Xiang, the sister who came to give notice, that it is not only Second Young Mistress who has been invited — the Fourth Branch Madam and the three Elder Aunts have been invited as well.”

“Understood. Go find my mother a proper outer robe and attend to her as she changes.”

“Yes.”

“Sui’an…”

“It’s all right, Mother. This is a good thing. For Cousin Sister to invite so many people, it must be to discuss matters.” Yang Sui’an smiled with ease. Everything Cousin Sister said and did showed that she regarded him and his mother as true members of the Hua family, just as she had genuinely fulfilled her promise from the very beginning. How fortunate were he and his mother.

Hua Xian’s heart gradually settled, though she still felt a little uncertain. “Perhaps it would be better to send word back to the First Young Lady — I am a person with no ideas of my own. It makes little difference whether I hear it or not.”

“Mother, you must go. Cousin Sister has made her stance clear, and you must accept it. You need not offer any ideas. Just sit there and listen — only then will you truly be a member of the Hua family.”

The last words his son spoke moved Hua Xian. She wanted to be a member of the Hua family. When she died someday, she hoped to be buried in the Hua family ancestral grounds — just a small corner would be enough.

“Mother will go.”

Yang Sui’an helped her to her feet. “Change your clothes, and your son will escort you there.”

By the time Hua Xian arrived, most of the others had already gathered. No one had expected her to come as well. Upon seeing her, they were all momentarily surprised. Wu Shi was the first to recover and quickly stepped forward to take her arm. “No wonder you were the last to arrive, Little Aunt. I had forgotten today is the end of the ten-day period — has Sui’an grown even taller?”

Wu Shi’s words helped dispel some of Hua Xian’s flustered feeling. Seeing that her son was not speaking, she quickly replied, “I think he has grown a little too. If the First Young Lady had not been so attentive and arranged for someone to tailor him a few longer sets of clothes, I’m afraid his classmates would have laughed at him.”

Seeing his mother take the conversation in hand exactly as he had anticipated, Yang Sui’an then added, “At night I can practically hear my bones creaking — I’d wager I’ll grow a bit more yet.”

Having said his piece, Yang Sui’an turned to the assembled elders in the room and gave a full, proper bow — neither servile nor arrogant, composed and gracious. Even the few Elder Aunts who had previously felt that Hua Zhi was too generous with the Yang boy found themselves nodding inwardly. He truly was a child who inspired no dislike.

“Everyone is here.” Hua Zhi entered from outside. Catching sight of Yang Sui’an, she let her gaze rest on him. “Sui’an, you’re back.”

Yang Sui’an hurried to greet her. “Yes, Cousin Sister, I only just returned.”

“If you are not occupied, you are welcome to stay and listen as well.”

Yang Sui’an glanced around the room full of female relatives and gave a slight shake of his head. “Is Cousin Brother still in his lesson? I thought I’d go have a look.”

“That works too. If you are willing, you may give him a break — you are older than he is, and your foundations are solid. Think of it as reviewing what you have already learned. You are also welcome to sit in on Teacher Mu’s class; he is no lesser than those teachers of yours at the academy.”

“Yes.” Yang Sui’an gave his mother one last reassuring look before stepping out the door.

Hua Zhi found the way he tended to his mother as though she were the child rather amusing, yet felt more than anything a deep sense of admiration. Had Sui’an not been so filial a person, she would never have acknowledged him as a member of the Hua family.

After paying her respects to the elders, Hua Zhi took her seat at the head and wasted no time getting to the point. “I have called everyone here for a business matter.”

Word that Hua Zhi had purchased a small building on Champions’ Street had long since spread through the Hua household. Hearing her mention it, everyone perked up with attention — especially the three Elder Aunts, whose eyes all shone brightly as they looked at Hua Zhi, each privately wondering whether the First Young Lady intended to share a slice of the pie with the branch families.

“I believe everyone is aware that the Hua family has an estate on the eastern outskirts of the city.”

Everyone exchanged looks of surprise. The Third Elder Aunt could not help but voice her confusion aloud. “Is it not Champions’ Street…”

Having said it, she flushed red and hurried to explain. “I am not covetous of that place — I did not mean — it is just…”

The more she tried to explain, the more muddled it became. The Third Elder Aunt could have sorely used a crack in the floor to swallow her whole.

Hua Zhi gave a faint smile. “That shop can only be managed by me alone. If I say too much now you may not believe it, but you will come to understand in time. What I wish to speak of is another estate outside the city. After the New Year, I already sent people there to begin preparations. Now that the weather is gradually warming, the time has come to start getting things underway.”

The Fourth Elder Aunt, speaking on behalf of all three branch families, asked, “Does the First Young Lady’s new venture intend to bring all of our families along?”

“Precisely. You cannot write two Hua characters with a single stroke of the brush. We are one family — we share in good fortune together, and we endure hardship together. Now that our branch is gradually finding its footing, there is naturally no reason to forget the rest of you.”

The Fourth Elder Aunt’s eyes grew faintly red. “The First Young Lady handles matters in a way that commands this old woman’s full admiration. Whatever you need us to do, First Young Lady, you have only to give the word.”

“I would never dare give orders to elders who are two generations my senior. I simply hope that all of our families can pull in the same direction — to twist ourselves into a single rope so that anyone who tries to tear a piece off of the Hua family will snap their own teeth, and not manage to bully us by even half a measure.”

“If that can be accomplished, I would willingly have this old bag of bones broken apart.” The Third Elder Aunt’s hands gripped the armrests so tightly the veins rose along the backs of them. “The First Young Lady may not know this — of the four young ladies from our three families who were already engaged, three have had their betrothals broken.”

“And the remaining one — does that family simply not intend to break theirs yet, or is it something else?”

“That one is betrothed to the eldest grandson of my own maternal brother. He sent word through someone asking that my family’s girl settle her heart and prepare to be a bride, and that the wedding will proceed when the time comes.” The Fourth Elder Aunt spoke with a smile as she said it. Among the sisters-in-law, only her own natal family had taken such a clear and open stance — she had every right to feel a measure of pride.

Hua Zhi agreed readily. “You may rest easy. Cousin Sister’s dowry will certainly not be shabby.”

The Fourth Elder Aunt’s eyes lit up at once. The First Young Lady of the Hua family had one means of making money after another — with her support, she would not need to scrape the family’s reserves bare to cobble together a dowry!

It was not as though she had never thought of asking the main branch to lend a hand. But one could relieve an emergency, not cure poverty — and Hua Zhi still had to consider what she would do if she helped one family and the others came knocking in turn. She had not been confident Hua Zhi would extend a hand. Looking at things now, it seemed she had underestimated Hua Zhi.