“Miss, we still have a house that hasn’t sold yet…”

That was true — there was still a house on the market. Though Chen Chong had been careful not to exceed what was appropriate and had only purchased a two-courtyard property, the location was quite good. It ought to fetch seven or eight hundred taels. Given the considerably reduced expenses the Hua Family was living under now, that should be enough to hold things together until she began to see a return.

“Chen Liang, see to it.”

Chen Liang had already guessed at the First Young Miss’s intentions, but even when the order was given directly, he could not help asking one more question. “Does the First Young Miss mean to purchase all twenty-five storefronts?”

“Yes, every single one.”

With that confirmed, Chen Liang said no more. He bowed and took his leave.

First Xu Jie, then Zuo Fei, Liu Yueming, and now Chen Liang — Hua Zhi reflected that the Hua Family had no shortage of capable people. That, too, was part of what it meant to be an established family.

Liu Xiang entered with steps a touch too quick, and were it not for Chen Liang sidestepping in time, the two would have collided. “Miss, the Old Madam of the Zhu Family has arrived.”

Hua Zhi’s eyebrow lifted slightly, and the faint trace of weariness that had been sitting with her quietly dissolved. “Has she gone to my mother’s courtyard, or to Grandmother’s?”

“Neither — she is heading this way. She’ll be here any moment.”

This genuinely caught Hua Zhi off guard. She hurried to her feet and went out to receive the guest. In times like these, someone who still chose to come to the door was a true family friend.

She had barely made it out of the courtyard when she caught sight of the Old Madam of the Zhu Family coming in through the gate, walking with vigorous, purposeful strides.

“Zhi’er pays her respects to her maternal grandmother. I hope you are well.”

The Zhu Old Madam stepped forward quickly and helped her to rise, studying this child who had never before seemed particularly remarkable.

She was different now — unmistakably so. There was a sharpness in her eyes, and her bearing had shed the quiet, unassuming quality of before. In its place was something with an edge to it.

Perhaps this was the girl’s true self, all along — a self she had simply chosen not to reveal when the Hua Family was at peace. Now she had no such choice.

Warmly linking her arm through Hua Zhi’s, the Zhu Old Madam pressed her sigh down and let it settle quietly within her, and the two of them walked inside together.

Ying Chun served tea and withdrew with the other maids.

The Zhu Old Madam glanced around the room and asked in a low voice, “Is this where you handle your affairs?”

Hua Zhi did not ask how much her maternal grandmother already knew — she simply nodded.

“Your mother has never had the temperament for hardship. You’ve carried a great deal.”

“You need not feel that you failed in raising her, or that I am owed an apology for it.” Hua Zhi smiled, her tone unhurried. “Everyone has the fate they are born to. Mother has the good fortune of never having to trouble herself with petty worries.”

“Yes — her good fortune.” Protected by her parents and brothers in her family home, doted on by her husband in her married home with little hardship to speak of, and now, with her husband’s pillar collapsed, a capable daughter had risen to take the weight on her own shoulders. Every blessing a woman in the world could want — she had received them all. If that was not good fortune, what was?

The Zhu Old Madam sighed again, quietly, within herself. Her granddaughter was the one bearing the burden.

“I came today to pass along a message from your maternal grandfather. He has sent someone to find a teacher for you — not someone with a great reputation, but your grandfather says the man’s abilities are the real thing, no less than any of the celebrated names. The difficulty is that he spends most of his time traveling and studying, so it may be some time before he is located. Your grandfather says there is no urgency — there is no need to rush.”

This was help arriving precisely when it was most needed. Hua Zhi sank into a deep, sincere bow. “Zhi’er offers her deepest gratitude to Maternal Grandfather on behalf of the Hua Family.”

“There is no need for thanks. The bond between the Zhu and Hua families has always been something apart from ordinary ties.” The Zhu Old Madam drew her upright and asked with genuine concern, “Are there any other difficulties? You need not stand on ceremony with your grandmother — anything within the Zhu Family’s power to help with, we will do without a second word.”

Not a single word was spoken of what her maternal aunt-by-marriage had done. Yet the meaning beneath the surface was perfectly clear: the Zhu Family was not for a daughter-in-law to run.

Hua Zhi felt as though her chest had been submerged in warm water — a gentle heat spreading until her whole heart softened with it.

Family and family were not the same. Some would sooner see you dead for the sake of what they stood to gain, while others ached on your behalf and feared constantly that your life was harder than it should be. She had once, wretchedly, known the former. But now, by some grace, she had been given the latter.

The Zhu Old Madam mistook her brief silence for reluctance to speak, and softened her voice another degree. “Zhi’er, there is nothing you need feel ashamed to say. Whatever it is, just tell me.”

“Zhi’er only feels that her fortune is good — to have a family like the Huas at her back, and an extended family like the Zhus as well.” Hua Zhi lifted her gaze, and the smile spread slowly across her eyes and the corners of her mouth. “With you as my foundation, there is nothing in this world that could stop me.”

The smile was a little bold, a little proud — and yet it brought a pure and genuine warmth to all who saw it. The Zhu Old Madam searched her expression for any trace of performance, but found only confidence. The weight that had been pressing against her heart all this time felt, at last, as though it had been lifted by that smile. A lightness settled over her that she had not felt in days.

She patted Hua Zhi’s hand and said nothing more, then rose. “I heard from Lin Shuang that your grandmother has been unwell. Now that I’m here, I should go and look in on her. I’ve brought some medicinal herbs — if there’s anything else needed, don’t waste money buying it from outside. Just have Lin Shuang come back to the Zhu household and fetch it.”

“Yes. Zhi’er will not stand on ceremony with you.”

“Better that you don’t. Go on with your affairs — there’s no need to see me over.”

Hua Zhi was glad, too, for the thought of her grandmother — always holding herself together — having someone she could speak her heart to. She saw her guest to the edge of the courtyard and stopped, watching until the figure walking in the sunlight grew small in the distance, a feeling of extraordinary brightness opening up inside her.

The betrayals of a past life had left their mark on her — she knew that. The arrival of her maternal grandmother had, unexpectedly, cleared those shadows away. Something inside her felt as though it had been gently and carefully set in order, every part of it settled into place.

Knowing that her maternal grandmother had gone to her mother’s courtyard, Hua Zhi made no move to join them. That weeping mother of hers no doubt had a good long cry ahead of her, and if her daughter showed up, she would only have to hold it all back. Better to stay away and let her cry it out properly — keeping it bottled up for too long was sure to make her ill.

She merely sent someone to wait outside her mother’s courtyard, with instructions to let her know when her maternal grandmother was about to leave, at which point Hua Zhi had four crocks of chilled peach preserves brought out in advance and loaded onto the carriage.

Once it became clear that her mother’s spirits had steadied considerably after the visit, Hua Zhi set her mind at ease. She spent the greater part of the following days in the side courtyard, and it was only when her younger brother Hua Bailin returned from the manor that she realized three days had slipped by.

The boy was a little sun-darkened, but there was a sharpness to him — something lively and alert. The shadow that had hung over him was gone. The open, bright look on his face, unhurried and at ease, was exactly how Hua Zhi loved to see him.

“Did you get a look at the workshop?”

A gleam of admiration showed through Hua Bailin’s glowing expression. “I did. I thought it would be a small operation, but this is a full-scale workshop.”

“It is a small operation.” At least, by Hua Zhi’s estimation. “School formally opens tomorrow. Let everyone know — those who wish to come are welcome, and no one will be pressured who does not.”

“Elder Sister has found a teacher?”

“There is Master Mu, and there is me.”

Hua Bailin blinked, then forgot to blink again entirely. Elder — eldest — eldest sister was going to be a teacher?

“Can you not accept it? Or do you think I’m not qualified?”

Hua Bailin shook his head repeatedly. “I know how much Elder Sister knows — it’s no less than any teacher’s. It’s just… I’ve never heard of a woman teacher before…”

“There will be one soon enough.” Hua Zhi was reasonably satisfied with her brother’s reaction and gave him one more task. “You don’t need to keep it from the younger brothers — go and set their minds at ease beforehand. Can you do that?”

Hua Bailin immediately drew himself up straight, his answer firm and without hesitation: “I can!”