Chapter 302: Parting Sentiments (1)

Hua Zhi waved off the praise with a calm air of nonchalance, his voice carrying an edge of firm resolve. "The Cai family has always been straightforward and sincere. It's only right that the Hua family keeps its word and honors its commitments."

"Exactly," Hua Yizheng chimed in smoothly, a sharp smile tugging at his lips. "When a daughter marries into another family, it's our duty to ensure she’s set up well. Zhi'er has handled things with finesse, as expected. The Hua family has always operated this way." His tone was both approving and pointed, before he shifted gears abruptly. "Speaking of which, how’s your grandmother?"

"She’s doing fine," Hua Zhi replied coolly, effortlessly steering the conversation toward murkier waters. "Grandmother and the aunts have their hands full with Qin’er’s wedding. Of all the sisters who’ve had marriage agreements, she’s the only one who’s actually tied the knot. Grandmother’s been scouring for suitable matches for the others, but it's incredibly difficult. Marrying into a second-rank official's family is no longer considered a high marriage, but given the Hua family's current situation, even marrying into a fifth or sixth-rank family wouldn't be considered a low marriage. It's a dilemma."

The room plunged into a heavy silence. The older generation, weathered by the years and with most of their lives behind them, sat cloaked in quiet resignation. The younger ones, still flush with potential and a world of possibilities ahead, clung to their sense of promise.

But for women who had crossed the invisible threshold of their prime? Society had all but decided their stories were finished, their futures boxed up and discarded.

The Hua family—once a beacon of matchmaking triumph, effortlessly securing husbands for their daughters—now found themselves entangled in an unsettling decline. Hua Yizheng exhaled deeply, his shoulders weighted with guilt. "This is on me. I've brought this fate upon them," he muttered, his voice heavy with self-reproach.

But Hua Zhi, sharp-tongued and unapologetically pragmatic, cut through his lament with a dry laugh. "Grandfather, blaming yourself changes nothing. This is just the way the world turns. Fair or not, it’s the reality we face." Her tone carried a sharp edge, her smile betraying a sense of inevitability that left the room both stung and oddly comforted. The others exchanged hesitant glances, their unease tempered by a reluctant acceptance. Yes, the highs and lows were theirs to bear, together.

Breaking the thick air of introspection, Hua Zhi added with a pointed finality, "Grandfather, I've brought my second aunt back home."

Hua Yizheng fixed his gaze on her, sharp and unyielding, waiting for her to spill every detail. He wasn’t shocked—not entirely. Jing’er had always been too soft, a fragile flower incapable of standing tall without the Hua family’s shadow shielding her. Without their protection, the Yang family—already cold and increasingly hostile—would have no reason to treat her kindly. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder what had transpired to bring this to the surface.

"Yang Qi tried to exploit my second aunt to dig into the Hua family’s secrets. My aunt, though honest to a fault, is fiercely loyal to our family and refused outright. Yang Qi, in response, resorted to violence. I only uncovered my aunt’s suffering when Sui’an approached me, seeking my intervention. Without hesitation, I brought her back under our protection. Bai Lin took the reins from there, as expected. As the eldest grandson of the Hua family’s main branch and now its senior male figure, it was his rightful duty to handle the situation—and he executed it flawlessly. Oh, and on top of that, he personally escorted Qin’er to her wedding, an act that brought immense prestige to the Hua family."

Fourth Uncle from the fourth branch broke the silence, his voice steady yet laced with a hint of intrigue. "Qin'er’s letter mentioned that Bai Lin stood by her side."

Hua Pingyu gave a measured nod, his expression composed, though his throat tightened imperceptibly. That wild, untamed boy had finally matured into someone reliable—who would’ve thought?

Hua Yizheng, balancing relief with lingering concern for his daughter, chimed in hesitantly, "And what of your second aunt? What’s her situation now?"

"She refuses to return to the Yang family," came the unflinching response. "She’s determined to sever ties, so I had Yang Qi draft a letter of divorce for her."

"A divorce letter, you say? Knowing Yang Qi, I’m sure he’d rather pen a letter of repudiation."

Hua Zhi’s smile curved with deliberate defiance. "I’m not settling for a letter of repudiation—over my dead body."

Hua Yizheng allowed a wry smile to slip across his face. He didn’t bother probing into whatever clever tricks Zhi’er had up her sleeve. As long as the outcome played in their favor, he wasn’t one to waste energy sweating the details. With Zhi’er holding the reins at home, the Hua family would never come out on the losing end—that much he knew for certain.

Hua Zhi knew she couldn't only speak of joy and not mention worry. She talked about new business ventures in the family and how some families had been kind to the Hua family. She also mentioned her aunt's situation, highlighting the unsuccessful marriage proposals for Hua family girls.

Every word she spoke served a purpose: to ground her family in reality, to prepare them, to reassure them with truth wrapped in a palatable dose of optimism. The capital city was a brutal battlefield, especially for families like theirs—once glittering, now tarnished by time and circumstances. There was no mercy for the fallen.

But she was no fool. She withheld the harshest truths, those dark, gut-punching details that would rip through the fragile hope she worked so hard to cultivate. Not a single syllable passed her lips about the shadows looming over their future. Some burdens were hers to carry alone.

The Hua clan school has managed to secure a new tutor, Zheng Zhi—a man handpicked by none other than Grandfather Zhu, who put significant effort into bringing him onboard. This isn't just any ordinary man; Zheng Zhi is a scholar of unparalleled depth, someone who has devoured countless books and roamed far and wide. His reputation as a fountain of knowledge precedes him, and he’s given Grandfather Zhu his word: three years of dedicated service to the clan school.

"I’ve heard your maternal Grandfather talk about this man before," Hua Yizheng remarked, his tone measured but edged with intrigue. "He had nothing but high praise for him. Honestly, I never expected he'd send this man to our Hua clan instead of keeping him for his own Zhu clan." Yet, there was no gratitude in Hua Yizheng's voice; his bond with Zhu Bowen rendered any words of thanks unnecessary. The Zhu clan's unwavering support during the Hua clan's darkest days had already far outstripped anything a mere 'thank you' could ever convey.

"Grandfather Zhu understands the Hua clan’s need for a tutor," Hua Zhi responded calmly, taking a deliberate sip of the tea Hua Bai Li had thoughtfully prepared. "Before I left, Bailin and Sui'an had already embarked on their journey together."

Hua Pingyu's brow furrowed in mild concern. "Isn't it a bit too soon for them to travel?"

"It was his decision," Hua Zhi replied firmly, his words leaving no room for argument. "And I’ve ensured he has guards to keep him safe."

"That's good. A person's character is shaped by their own choices, far better than being forced into anything." Hua Yizheng asked again, "Does Sui'an still have frequent contact with the Yang family? Does the Yang family agree?"

"He barely visits the Yang family these days," came the reply, cool and measured. "Most of his time is spent here, with the Hua family. When he's not, he's at school. As per our family traditions for young men, I ensure he receives a monthly allowance—no more, no less."

No one in their right mind would dare call this arrangement improper. Hua Zhi had navigated the situation with such finesse and authority that it was impossible to think anyone else could have done it better.

As if completely oblivious to the shock her words had caused, Hua Zhi continued, "Now that everyone's financial situation has improved, they prepared a lot of things when they heard I was coming. With the weather cooperating, I had the family guards organize a caravan and reached out to a trading firm to have them join the northern route. By my calculations, it’ll take about another month to reach its destination."

"There’s no need to go to such extre—" Hua Yizheng’s voice faltered and died mid-sentence. He had only hoped Zhi’er could salvage a shred of dignity for the family name in the capital. Instead, she had obliterated all expectations and delivered something extraordinary.

Zhi’er never once complained about her struggles, but everyone knew just how grueling her path had been. Hua Yizheng felt it more keenly than anyone else. Thanks to her relentless efforts and fierce care for their family, even the disgruntled side branches who once grumbled and muttered behind his back had slowly softened, finding unity in her actions. She hadn’t just carried the family’s pride; she had rebuilt its soul.

Hua Zhi, with her endless chatter, kept the room captive for hours, sipping tea after tea as she indulged their insatiable hunger for family updates. By the time noon rolled around, the dining table transformed into a decadent spread worthy of celebration. Yet, Hua Zhi, using the same excuse she had used to evade her fourth uncle, only ate some vegetarian dishes.

In the afternoon, it was the time for the main branch of the Hua family. Everyone was tactful and no one held Hua Zhi back.

In the study, Hua Zhi, facing her close family, no longer felt as tense as before. She detailed the matter of the caravan, "There are twenty-four carriages in total, half of which are filled with books. I know that everyone here has been trying to find books, but Yingshan Pass is, after all, a barren place, and books are far less abundant than in the capital. I still remember most of the family's former collection, so I collected them according to that. This is the foundation of the Hua family, and I believe that no matter how long we stay here, we cannot neglect this aspect, especially the younger generation of brothers in the family."

Such a grand gesture made Hua Yizheng completely unable to refuse. He was not worried about whether he would die in exile, although there would be regrets, he was no longer worried that the family would become chaotic and scattered. He was only worried that the younger generation exiled here would neglect their studies, which would be a real injury to the foundation of the Hua family. Clearly, Zhi'er had thought of this as well.

"I've also filled two carriages with pens, ink, and paper. There's no need to be frugal. I will send more later, but the quality will certainly not be as good as what the family used to have. Please make do with it for now."