Chapter 301 Goodness

Hua Pingyang’s gaze lingered on her smile, and whatever resistance he still harbored toward Mr. Lu began to dissolve. No matter the true nature of Zhi’er’s connection with the man, one thing was certain—every move she made carried an air of deliberate calculation. She was no fool, and he had to trust her judgment, whether he liked it or not.

The inn wasn’t far, and they reached it swiftly. Gu Yanxi handled everything with ease, from securing the rooms to ordering their meal. The moment the three of them settled in, the food arrived—an impressive spread, including two dishes Hua Pingyang distinctly remembered Zhi’er favoring on their last visit. Balanced and thoughtful, the meal had an even ratio of meat to vegetables, catering to every palate.

Seeing her only eating the vegetarian dishes, Hua Pingyang frowned, "After traveling so far, you should eat something more substantial,” he chided, his tone firm but not without concern.

When he reached out to serve her a portion of meat, she deftly moved her bowl out of reach. “Uncle, please,” she said with a half-laugh, her tone bordering on exasperation. “I stuffed my bag with jerky before leaving home, afraid I’d starve along the way. Now everything tastes like meat, and frankly, I’m sick of it. Let me stick to vegetables for once.”

Hua Pingyang was speechless. Asking her to eat meat seemed as though he was asking her to eat poison. Then again, he shouldn’t have been surprised. She’d always leaned toward vegetarian dishes, even back at home. Some habits, it seemed, were impossible to shake.

Gu Yanxi cast a fleeting glance at Zhi'er, then calmly picked up the communal chopsticks and placed some stewed bamboo shoots onto her plate. He had gone out of his way to ensure the innkeeper left out any trace of meat, even if it dulled the flavor slightly. But what did that matter? Zhi'er liked it, and that was all the reason he needed.

Noticing the subtle shift in her demeanor—a slight softening toward him—Hua Pingyang seized the opportunity to speak. “It must have been quite inconvenient for Mr. Lu to make this journey again.”

Gu Yanxi’s response was swift and unyielding. "I'm happy to do so."

"..."

And that was the end of it. Nothing more needed to be said.

After dinner, Gu Yanxi disappeared briefly, only to return moments later with a large wooden tub brimming with steaming water. He hoisted it with practiced ease, steam curling around him as he carried it upstairs. The sight left both uncle and niece momentarily stunned.

Hua Pingyang, regaining some composure, turned to his niece with a raised brow. “He… you…”

Hua Zhi smiled, "It's nothing, Uncle. You don't have to worry. I know what I'm doing."

Hua Pingyang, who had initially intended to engage in a meaningful conversation, swallowed every word he wanted to say, drawing in a long, heavy sigh before muttering with restrained politeness, "You've had a rough journey. Get some rest."

Hua Zhi gave a small, grateful bow, relieved that her uncle didn’t pry for answers she wasn’t ready to give. Deep down, she prayed that everyone else had the decency to let her breathe, so she wouldn’t have to regurgitate the same explanations to the whole lot of them.

After scrubbing away the day’s grit in a much-needed bath, Hua Zhi sank into a deep, undisturbed sleep, her exhaustion finally giving way to tranquility. When she stirred awake, sunlight was spilling boldly through the window, painting lazy shadows on the floor—a clear sign that morning had long since passed.

By the time she prepared herself and stepped out, Gu Yanxi was already there, poised as though he had timed his arrival to the second, holding a bowl of hot, aromatic noodles.

The dish was humble—nothing flashy to the eye—but carried a flavor that could win wars, a local delicacy from Yingshan Pass. Hua Zhi had once complimented its taste offhandedly, and evidently, Gu Yanxi had remembered every word.

“Eat before we head out,” he said, his voice low but firm, leaving no room for refusal.

Hua Zhi smiled, her lips curving into something gentle and genuine, and nodded in agreement, digging into the noodles without a fuss.

As he watched her eat, Gu Yanxi’s sharp, composed demeanor melted slightly, his eyes softening at the sight of her quiet contentment. “I’ll meet with Wu Yong later,” he added, his tone casual but deliberate.

“The Commander?”

“Yes,” he replied, his words clipped but purposeful. “There’s something I need to settle with him.”

Hua Zhi gave a small nod, her voice crisp and cutting, “No need to scramble for anything on behalf of the Hua family. It’s enough for them to cling to what they’ve got now. Drawing too much attention would only invite trouble. After all, they’re still criminals in the eyes of the world.”

“I’ll handle it the way it needs to be handled,” came the calm, deliberate reply.

Hua Zhi tilted her head, her lips curling into a knowing smile. “So, it was you who pulled the strings to get my uncle into the Commander’s mansion, wasn’t it?”

“I didn’t pull strings—I just made sure he left a good impression on the Commander. If your uncle got reinstated, it’s on his own merit.”

Fair enough.

Out in the open, there was no need to keep fretting over the endless what-ifs. Her uncle had finally gotten a stage to prove his worth.

Gu Yanxi slid the bowl across the table toward her. “How long are you planning to stay here?”

“Three or four days, give or take. Don’t let me keep you if you’ve got things to do. Come back whenever it suits you.”

“That’s more than enough time. Now eat before it goes cold and turns into something you won’t want to touch.”

Hua Pingyang hurried over to the open door and was about to speak when he saw the scene inside – one person eating earnestly, and the other smiling. He swallowed all his words.

Born and bred in the Hua family, Pingyang had seen it all: the best and worst in people, the highs and lows of human nature. He had witnessed grand gestures of love—lovers willing to sacrifice everything, even their lives, for one another. Yet, nothing in his memory compared to the raw, unnameable beauty unfolding before him now. It wasn't just beautiful; it was transcendent, a fleeting perfection that words could never do justice.

But he was also worried.

He knew all too well how rare it was for love to withstand the relentless march of time. For every immortal bond, there were a hundred love stories soured by disillusionment. He had seen couples begin with a passion so pure it seemed unshakable, only for one partner to outgrow the other. Stagnation turned to resentment; fidelity fractured under the weight of desire for something—or someone—new.

Too often, love’s dazzling beginning gave way to a bitter, tragic end. And now, a dread took root in his heart: Zhi'er might one day find herself ensnared in the same inevitable cycle.

ChatGPT

Gu Yanxi had been fully aware of his arrival. Yet, as the silence lingered, he finally glanced up, his voice cutting through the quiet. “Fourth Master Hua.”

At the sound, Hua Zhi lifted her head, setting her chopsticks aside with a deliberate grace. “Fourth Uncle,” she acknowledged, her tone cool and measured.

“You can finish your meal. There’s no rush.”

“I’m done.” Hua Zhi, ever brisk and efficient, dabbed her lips with a napkin, grabbed the hefty package resting on the bed, and rose smoothly to her feet. “Let’s go. I’m sure they’re all waiting anxiously by now.”

Eager they may have been, but clearly not impatient enough to come fetch them. The journey from the capital had been grueling, and though their horses had shaved time off the distance, the road had exacted its own toll on their endurance.

"Yanxi, go and attend to your business. I'll be at the house over there, not going anywhere."

"Alright."

With the package securely in hand, Hua Pingyang stepped over the threshold, pausing briefly to add with a flicker of intent, “There’s some light wine waiting at home. Mr. Lu, should you find yourself free, feel welcome to join me for a drink.”

Gu Yanxi exchanged a knowing glance with Hua Zhi before promptly replying, his tone sharp yet deferential. “I’ll come by in the evening to pick up Ah Zhi and will gladly share a drink with the elders.”

Hua Pingyang, unimpressed but satisfied, snorted lightly and then left.

Hua Zhi smiled at Gu Yanxi, winked at him with one eye, and quickly followed Hua Pingyang.

Gu Yanxi stood there for a while before finally letting out a long breath.

*

The entire Hua family, spanning generations from the youngest to the eldest, crammed into a single room, creating an atmosphere so tight and suffocating that some of the younger ones were forced to loiter just outside the door.

"Eldest sister is here!" Hua Baili's voice trembled with excitement as he darted toward the doorway, his eagerness barely contained.

Heads turned in unison, and all eyes locked onto Hua Zhi, who stood there with a soft, confident smile. A far cry from her disheveled state the previous day, she now radiated a glow that demanded attention, exuding an air of calm yet undeniable dominance.

"Zhi’er is here? Don’t linger—come in," someone called out.

Walking through the aisle that everyone had cleared, Hua Zhi took a glance and couldn't help but admire the thriving population of the Hua family.

With poised grace, she stopped and lowered her head slightly. "Zhi’er greets Grandfather, Father, and all the esteemed uncles and elders."

Hua Yizheng, the family's pillar, stroked his beard thoughtfully, a flicker of approval in his eyes. “Good. Sit down, and let’s hear what you have to say.”

Hua Zhi took the only empty chair at the bottom and felt a softness in her heart when she saw the expectant eyes of everyone. This was a family unlike the venomous nest she’d once called her own—a past life where betrayal was the currency, and the only thing thicker than blood was the malice coursing through it. But here, even in the face of hardship, they stood firm, bound by a loyalty that wasn’t forced but chosen, a love that burned bright despite the shadows.

So, let's start with good news.

"Has Fourth Uncle from the fourth branch of the family received Qin'er's letter yet? She tied the knot just a few days before I left, and I had the chance to meet her husband—a remarkable man, truly exceptional in every sense."

The smile on Hua Yichen's face, a proud representative of the fourth branch of the Hua family, stretched wider as he nodded affirmatively. "Yes, I've read the letter," he said smoothly. "Qin'er also mentioned your efforts—how you've gone out of your way, sparing no expense, to ensure her marriage was carried out with the dignity and honor she deserved. She specifically noted how you took great care of everyone and how your generosity uplifted her status. For that, Uncle owes you his gratitude."

But the thick stack of words in Qin'er's letter carried much more than just thanks. She painted vivid scenes of home: the brothers attending clan school daily with unyielding determination, their spirits burning brighter despite the family's misfortunes. They weren't weighed down by decline but instead surged forward with unshakable enthusiasm.

She mentioned how Hua Zhi had shared profits from a business deal with several families, improving their living conditions and removing the initial hardships.

The letter detailed Hua Zhi’s relentless pace—recently traveling south to seal another deal, taking only four or five days to breathe before heading north to chase another opportunity. It was relentless ambition, tireless effort, and a refusal to let the weight of life slow anyone down.

She went on to say much more, each word laced with profound admiration for her cousin, laying bare her unshakable respect. It was this sincerity, this raw and unfiltered honesty, that pushed Hua Yichen’s feelings for the eldest granddaughter of the main branch far past the realm of mere surface-level affection. True character isn’t in what people claim to be, but in how seamlessly their actions align with their words—and Hua Zhi didn’t just walk that line; she owned it.

———TN: I broke down to tears translating this... Hua Qin’s letter fills me with a raw, burning pride for Hua Zhi, a pride so fierce it shakes me to my core.