"There is also Yang Qi who needs to be dealt with. As long as he is the son-in-law of the Hua family, he will be able to act under the name of the Hua family." Hua Zhi narrowed her eyes slightly, "He beat up someone from my Hua family and still wants to borrow the power of my Hua family. Who would give him the face!"
"I have heard several vague versions of this matter. Tell me what is going on."
"He forced my second aunt to go back to her parents' home to help him make connections. He wanted to get to know some literati through the Hua family to expand his influence and advance himself. My second aunt didn't respond and was beaten."
Zhu Haocheng shook his head. This was too ugly. He was so impatient after the old lady passed away. No wonder Zhier was so aggressive. However, "You still have to be careful about how you act. Don't ruin your reputation. How will you get married in the future as a girl?"
"I've given up on that thought a long time ago." Hua Zhi didn't want to dwell on this issue, and continued what she had said before, "I'll go and test my second aunt some other day to see if there's a chance of a divorce. As long as they get a divorce, Yang Qi will have nothing to do with the Hua family."
"It is better to destroy ten temples than to ruin a marriage. Please don't bring it up on your own initiative, or else you will end up getting stained with the smell of mutton before you can even eat it, or even end up getting blamed for doing it well."
"Yes." Hua Zhi agreed obediently, "As for those people, I don't have a better way. I can only let the Hua family always be in the spotlight so that they will be hesitant and dare not take action."
Zhu Haocheng nodded helplessly. He had talked with his father several times and they both agreed that this was indeed the most suitable method at the moment. As long as someone was keeping an eye on the Hua family, those people would at least have to be cautious and not dare to go too far.
"It's not necessarily that they won't do any small tricks, so you still have to be careful."
"Yes, Zhier knows." This is a society where imperial power is supreme. She has no way of fighting against those people, unless... she chooses a side and then does her best to help him win the position of crown prince.
But she was unwilling.
No one in the Hua family is innocent in the end they have now. It would be fine if she couldn't take revenge, but she still had to help them. She couldn't do that until she had calmed down.
"And Mr. Lu." Zhu Haocheng looked at his niece, "What do you think?"
"I owe him a lot of favors and help. The man behind him even saved my life. Uncle, I know what you are thinking and your concerns, but unless he chooses to leave, I can't drive him away. If he really has something against me, I will admit it."
"Zhier..." Zhu Haocheng looked at her disapprovingly.
Hua Zhi lowered her head and smiled, "No one can gain without giving anything in return. I am mentally prepared."
After knowing that she didn't have to get married, the distinction between men and women was no longer such a big constraint for her. She didn't have much psychological barriers even if she really gave her body away. In her previous world, such a thing was too common.
However, she didn't think that this was what Mr. Lu was after. The price he paid was too high. In her opinion, he was trying to play a game of exchanging sincerity for sincerity.
I just don’t know if Mr. Lu himself knows what he is doing.
Zhu Haocheng still looked disapproving, but didn't say anything more. Zhier was not only his niece now, but also the head of the Hua family. He could no longer simply treat her as a junior.
Gu Yanxi was lying on the roof listening to the conversation in the study, with a slight smile on her lips. Hua Zhi was so smart, how could she not see that he had other intentions, but... she might have been thinking in the wrong direction.
But what does it matter? It at least distinguishes him from others.
The conversation lasted half a day. Before leaving, Zhu Haocheng couldn't help but say a few more words, "If you can't hold on any longer, it's okay to retreat to a corner. There's still a long way to go. Your father and the others may not be able to come back. Don't force yourself to face the difficulties. If you have to sacrifice yourself to save the Hua family, how can we, your grandfather, and the younger generations of the Hua family face you?"
Zhu Haocheng sighed. After a long talk, he finally realized that Zhi'er, who used to be so quiet, turned out to be a hot-tempered person. If pushed to the limit, she would rather suffer losses than suffer any loss.
He couldn't tell whether he felt more proud or worried.
Hua Zhi agreed obediently, her attitude was humble and pleasing, and she looked no different from those girls from wealthy families.
Zhu Haocheng sighed again, climbed onto the horse, gently stepped on the horse's belly and left.
Outside the east corner gate, Hua Zhi watched her uncle leave the alley, and as she walked in, she asked her brother, "Did you understand everything?"
Hua Bolin replied honestly, "I need to think about it more."
"Then think more about it. Besides, you have to study the six arts of a gentleman carefully. That is your appearance." The students of the Daqing Dynasty are not weak at all. They will be ridiculed if they travel in a carriage or a sedan chair without any illness. Even her father, a typical scholar, can draw a bow and perform beautiful sword flowers.
"Eldest sister, the teacher taught me everything."
"Why don't you let me teach you how to use archery?"
Hua Zhi looked up at the man standing in the corridor with his arms folded across his chest. Her brows softened unconsciously. "That's what I really want, but I dare not ask for it."
Gu Yanxi liked Hua Zhi's expression at this moment very much. With a smile in his eyes, he walked closer and said, "Then please be prepared, Sixth Young Master. I am not easier to talk to than Mr. Mu."
Hua Bolin straightened his back and said, "I'm not afraid."
As long as he can satisfy his elder sister, he is not afraid at all!
Hua Zhi looked at Hua Bailin with smiles in her eyes, and that joy seemed to be overflowing. Gu Yanxi watched with the corner of his eye and became more and more aware of how important Hua Bailin was in Hua Zhi's heart. He quietly raised Hua Bailin's importance and thought about treating him better.
The next day after the canned syrup was delivered to Yunlai Restaurant, good news came. A wealthy family sent someone to order 100 jars of peaches and tangerines each. They were loaded into a cart and sent away in front of the restaurant lobby. Many people saw it, and even those who were not interested in it tasted it. In the end, some people bought some and took them back.
Hua Zhi didn't think about whether this scene was arranged by Bai Mingxia. He just sent someone to deliver the improved pastries along with the production method, and then asked someone to send a truck of canned food to Dazhuo Temple to Master Prajna, and also sent some to the Zhu family. Naturally, he did not forget the two gentlemen.
Gu Yanxi relied on the convenience of entering and leaving the palace at any time, wrapped in a cloak and brought two jars into the palace for his grandmother. The empress dowager, who had a bad tooth, liked it very much. She then asked someone to buy some back and gave each concubine in the harem a jar.
Gu Yanxi didn’t know whether his grandmother really didn’t know that this was from the Hua family or was pretending not to know, and he didn’t try to tell her.
In the bleak winter, there were not many fresh fruits to eat even in the palace, so this thing was quickly accepted by everyone.
Under Gu Yanxi's operation, all canned food purchased in the palace were produced by Yunlai Restaurant. With the Bai family blocking the way, those who wanted to cause trouble had to think twice. After the news slowly spread, he had people guide their attention to Hua Zhi's shop. It only took a few days for the shop to go from being deserted to being crowded with people.
PS: My male protagonist is really trying hard to make his presence felt.