Chapter 357: Three Letters

Having lazed through the day in a haze of sleep, Hua Zhi found himself wide awake as the night stretched on, though Gu Yanxi's brief visit left him with little to show for it.

As Yanxi's silhouette vanished into the thick night, Hua Zhi turned back, catching sight of a small group of maidservants, their faces painted with expressions that screamed judgment. One of them, bolder than the rest, tapped her temple as if to knock some sense into herself, muttering, “You saw this coming, didn’t you? So why the shocked face now?”

Another couldn’t help but chime in, her voice dripping with thinly veiled scorn. “You’ve got some nerve, I’ll give you that. But if this gets out? Forget outsiders—just our own family catching wind of it would be catastrophic.”

Hua Zhi, utterly unfazed, let out a sharp, derisive laugh as he strolled back into the room, every word laced with cutting defiance. “Catastrophic, you say? What’s the worst they can do—strip me of my authority? I’d hand it over in a heartbeat. But here’s the real question: do they dare try and take it from me?” Her tone was light, almost flippant, but the steel beneath it left no room for doubt.

She truly wasn't afraid. She was willing to play along when others tried to provoke her, but that didn't mean she would tolerate anyone trying to surpass her. Over the years in the Hua family, while she may not have stood out, nor been admired by her sisters, she had never been taken advantage of in the slightest. It was just that others had failed to notice.

Not to mention the current situation in the Hua family, which relied heavily on her. Even if they found out about her and Yan Xi, it would just be some gossip. People naturally have a tendency to bully the weak, evident in various aspects of life.

Pressured by societal norms, even dating required hiding and avoiding being seen. Hua Zhi was feeling a bit frustrated.

"And there are some things they may not be unaware of. Let's just lay it all out," Hua Zhi took a sip of tea and looked at Ying Chun, "Has Bai Lin sent any letters?"

"Yes, they were delivered by Mr. Wang." Ying Chun hurried to the bedside and retrieved three letters from the cabinet. Surprisingly, each one was addressed to a different person, written by each other. Hua Zhi couldn't help but chuckle at the secrecy in not putting all the content in one envelope, allowing each person a small secret unknown to the others.

With that thought in mind, Hua Zhi opened the letters one by one, her demeanor softening from earlier sternness.

Three letters, three personalities, and not a single dull moment. Bai Lin, ever the overachiever of enthusiasm, had crammed ten whole pages into his envelope. Ten. Full of vibrant, over-the-top descriptions of every blade of grass he’d encountered and all his wildly unfiltered opinions. The thing practically burst at the seams, as if trying to yell, “Look how much I’ve lived!” through sheer volume alone.

Then there was Sui’an, the quintessential scholar—precise, methodical, and borderline clinical. His letter read more like a well-reasoned essay than anything else, complete with pointed questions that subtly cast Hua Zhi in the role of wise mentor. A bit much, but at least it had some structure.

Xiao Liu was the most serious, shedding his childish demeanor almost instantly and, due to his status as a prince, naturally carried an air of superiority. Viewing things with a condescending attitude, his doubts, confusion, and anger were evident in every word, influenced by what he saw and heard in the capital and what he learned from great scholars—an almost theatrical testament to just how deeply the real world had ruffled his delicate sensibilities.

By the time she set the letters down, Hua Zhi wasn’t sure whether to laugh, cry, or just applaud the sheer range of ridiculousness these three managed to deliver.

Hua Zhi’s response to Bai Lin was measured, almost indulgent, like handing out just enough sugar to sweeten tea without overdoing it. She didn’t stifle his energy or try to cram him into some pre-approved mold. Instead, she offered him a gentle nudge in the form of encouragement. The kid was sharp—she knew he’d figure his way out eventually. After all, he was eleven. Eleven. Time was practically dripping off him like water from an unwrung sponge.

Answering Sui'an's questions, along with a few words of approval, was sufficient; what he really lacked wasn’t intelligence or effort—it was guts. Confidence. A backbone sturdy enough to hold his weight, though Hua Zhi wasn’t about to spell it out for him. A hint was all he’d get, like breadcrumbs tossed lazily to a fledgling bird.

The most challenging to reply to was Xiao Liu's letter. That letter of his demanded precision, not just platitudes.

Hua Zhi carefully considered every word, aiming to guide him towards seeing more positive aspects, addressing his doubts and uncertainties, and reminding him of the necessity of tolerance even towards corrupt officials. Her reply took forever—longer than both of the others combined—but it needed to. Xiao Liu was the kind of kid you didn’t half-ass a response for.

Hua Zhi, however, remained patient. These were children who had grown up under her watchful eye.

Different? Oh, they were.

Special? Absolutely.

Worth every ounce of her patience? That, too.

She separated the three letters into individual envelopes, intending to hand them over to Wang Rong the next day. There was no completely secure channel, as even though she didn't write anything incriminating, it was better not to let Xiao Liu's letter fall into the wrong hands.

After sipping her tea, Hua Zhi turned her attention to other matters, "How is the situation on Liyun Lane?"

"As per your instructions, the storefront facing the river has been demolished and renovated, resembling Green Moss Alley. It's been cleaned for about ten days, but since you returned late, it hasn't opened yet."

"Is the craftsmanship up to par?"

"Yes, they have passed the winter challenge."

"Then there should be no issues. There's no need to pick an auspicious date; as long as there are no conflicts, they can open as soon as possible."

"Understood."

*

The next morning, Hua Zhi set out with her maidservants to see the seafood market they had set up firsthand.

The location was not far from the Shi Zai restaurant, just across a street, and taking a shortcut meant it was only a short walk away. Fu Dong had received the message early and was already waiting there to help her alight from the carriage.

Supported by her, Hua Zhi surveyed the bustling street, not a main thoroughfare, yet due to its proximity to the southern city gate, it was lined with shops, mostly inns and taverns, making it a suitable location for the seafood market.

The Shi Zai emphasized sophistication to attract money from influential families. Without a reservation, there was no way to dine there. Sometime in the past, it had become customary for noble families to hold meetings there, indicating its successful positioning.

For the seafood business, Hua Zhi intended to follow a middle-of-the-road approach, targeting affluent clients but not aiming for overly high standards. The chosen location was quite suitable.

Upon entering the shop, the first thing that caught her eye was the fresh and innovative dividers, separating tables with pots of green plants, providing a sense of privacy. Even if one was cracking crabs with their hands, they need not worry about being seen and losing face.

To the left was the counter, still empty for now, with the stairs to the second floor located nearby. The second floor was more open, without the obstructing dividers, divided into private compartments where diners would not be visible to each other unless they stood up. The greenery adorned the space, with several private rooms on the second floor, draped with curtains but lacking tightly closed doors.

The group then proceeded to the kitchen, where many glass cabinets were installed in the courtyard leading to the kitchen, neatly arranged against the wall. Once the shipments arrived, the cabinets would display a variety of seafood samples for guests to choose from.

The kitchen was well-organized, with most items in place. Hua Zhi took a brief look before stepping out, "It feels spacious enough. Leave the second floor as it is. Remove a few tables from the first floor and adjust the seating to create more space; it looks too crowded. Fu Dong, you take care of the kitchen side, add whatever is necessary, and as for other details, you all can think about them further. The ship won't arrive until early September at least, so there's plenty of time."

"Understood." The maidservants exchanged glances, feeling relieved that their mistress was easygoing with her management, though they were anxious about not doing a good job. These days, they couldn't even sleep soundly.

"How is business on the Shi Zai's side?"

It was most appropriate for Fu Dong to handle this question. Although she had taken on many responsibilities, she showed no change in demeanor, remaining shy and quiet, only showing concern for Hua Zhi and the food. She kept her head down as she replied, "Business is booming, and reservations have been booked two months ahead, with most patrons opting for the mushroom feast."