Chapter 386: A Deal Sealed with a Copper Coin

When Hua Zhi extended his invitation, he’d only mentioned “the seventh day.” No specific time. Just a vague date on the calendar.

Still, nearly everyone who received the invitation decided to err on the side of caution and arrived early. By the time the anticipated hour finally struck, a decent crowd had already gathered outside the Hua family estate.

But here’s the thing—the gates were firmly shut. Nobody knew whether they should knock, shout, or just awkwardly hang around. And so, the group lingered in an indecisive huddle, casting uncertain glances at one another.

Right when the collective hesitation reached its peak, the grand doors creaked open with deliberate slowness. Out came two servants who briskly set up a table at the bottom of the steps. And then, as if on cue, a boy of about ten stepped forward.

The kid was dressed to impress, decked out in scholarly robes with his hair neatly tied in a cloth headband. His expression? Calm, composed, almost unnaturally so for someone his age. If scholars had mascots, he’d be it—pure academic charm radiating from head to toe.

Trailing behind him were twenty other children, all similarly dressed, each holding a basket whose contents were carefully concealed.

“I am Hua Baiyu,” the boy announced, his voice steady but polite. “Thank you all for honoring our agreement and coming today.”

He bowed deeply in the traditional scholar’s greeting. Caught off guard, the gathered students quickly returned the gesture, their surprise thinly veiled.

Relieved by their respectful response, Hua Baiyu allowed himself a small, discreet sigh. The tension in the air eased. Turning to one of the children behind him, he grabbed a basket and placed it on the table.

“With the Autumn Examination fast approaching, I understand your time is precious,” he began, his tone professional and efficient. “My eldest sister has prepared this food, which is designed to last several days without spoiling. It is meant for you to consume during the exam. I wish you all success in your endeavors.”

The crowd exchanged confused glances.

Food? This was not what they’d expected.

But Hua Baiyu wasn’t done yet. “To keep things fair and to avoid any sense of obligation,” he continued, “these items are only available for purchase.”

Now the confusion turned to mild astonishment.

“Each portion costs exactly one copper coin,” he clarified. “No more, no less. If you don’t have one on you, you may settle the payment later.”

A ripple of bewilderment ran through the crowd. Some were too stunned to respond, while others silently questioned what they’d just heard.

Was this it?

Was that the grand reveal?

A heartfelt speech followed by a demand for a single copper coin?

Surely, there had to be more... or was there?

After a brief, telling pause, it became clear to everyone that Hua Baiyu had no intention of adding anything more. This was all the Hua family had to say. Those standing nearby noticed a younger student shifting uncomfortably, a look of confusion crossing his face as he hesitated, seemingly uncertain how to proceed after the lack of a clear answer. Perhaps to break the tension, someone standing close gave a casual pat to their robe, fished out a copper coin, and handed it over.

Hua Baiyu let out a quiet breath, his previously guarded posture softening as a faint dimple flickered on his face—a subtle but rare glimpse of ease. With a calm, almost offhanded gesture, he nudged an empty basket forward and said smoothly, “Just drop it in here.”

The student, still unsure but unwilling to prolong the awkward moment, complied and placed the coin inside. Hua Baiyu then passed the basket to him, and it was only when the student lifted it that he realized its surprising weight. His brow furrowed as his gaze flicked to the coin he'd just contributed. “Wait… did I mess this up?” he asked, hesitant but clearly uneasy.

Hua Baiyu’s response was unhurried, his tone unreadable as he paused, then shook his head lightly. “No, my eldest sister said it’s just a copper coin.”

The student flushed, feeling somewhat foolish for voicing the question. A copper coin might seem like a trivial amount, but it carried its own weight—figuratively, if not literally. Besides, the basket itself was a finely crafted thing, worth far more than the modest contribution it was meant to collect.

The moment one person stepped forward, the others didn’t hesitate to follow. Whether out of genuine respect or mere appearances, no one dared risk seeming disrespectful at an event hosted by the illustrious Hua family. Even if all they offered was a single copper coin, even if the baskets they received in return were empty, they’d rather play along than leave with a tarnished reputation. Had the Hua family demanded ten silver coins instead, most would’ve handed them over without so much as a raised eyebrow.

The Hua family’s legacy, dating back to the peak of the Daqing Dynasty, was nothing short of legendary. Their influence was so pervasive that even their staunchest political enemies had no choice but to concede their prominence. Among the nation’s scholars and elite, the Hua family stood unchallenged—a dynasty within a dynasty. Rival factions schemed endlessly to topple them, but no one could deny their authority or the sheer weight of their name.

It wasn’t just power; it was reputation. Word of the Hua family’s status reached far and wide, drawing deference from scholars and bureaucrats alike. Even those who could offer only the smallest token of respect felt compelled to show up, as if their presence itself honored the occasion.

As the rhythmic clink of copper coins filled the air, a seamless operation unfolded. Children darted through the crowd, taking up baskets and returning them to be refilled, never missing a beat. The entire process hummed with precision, almost as if it had been rehearsed.

At the center of it all stood Hua Baiyu, composed and unruffled. Each time a coin dropped onto the table before him, he handed over a basket without a flicker of hesitation. But when someone tried to present silver instead, he shut it down with a firm, unwavering gaze that brooked no argument. Those who couldn’t produce a copper coin on the spot either scrambled to borrow one or sheepishly promised to come back later.

The line of participants stretched endlessly, showing no sign of thinning. In fact, it seemed to grow longer with every passing moment—a clear testament to the Hua family’s careful foresight. Basket after basket was handed out, proof that their planning had accounted for far more than just the official guest list. The scale of their preparations spoke volumes, a quiet reminder of just how deeply the Hua family understood the art of influence and obligation.

Among those waiting in the line was Zhu Ziwen, a familiar figure with an easy air of confidence. When his turn came, he stepped forward, a knowing smile playing on his lips. “So, Little Baiyu’s all grown up now,” he teased lightly, his tone caught somewhere between affection and mischief.

Hua Baiyu’s face immediately turned a deep shade of red, his voice lowering as he stammered, “Eldest Sister already sent these to Cousin earlier.”

Zhu Ziwen didn’t miss a beat. “Well, I’ll take one for myself too,” he replied, setting down a coin with deliberate precision. Picking up the neatly wrapped basket, he added with mock solemnity, “I am still just a humble student, after all.”

The casual remark somehow struck Hua Baiyu deeply. His eyes began to glisten as the truth behind his sister’s intricate schemes hit him in full force. It wasn’t just about making the Wei family see the distance between their social standings and the Hua family’s—she was teaching him and his brothers something far greater. She wanted them to feel the weight of their name, to carry the pride of the Hua family in their every step.

Zhu Ziwen, meanwhile, cast a glance toward the gate. The faint rustle of skirts hinted at someone lingering just out of sight—his cousin, no doubt. She was always there, orchestrating everything from the background. It must have crossed her mind that her methods might cause more harm than good. Yet she kept going, stubbornly driven by her own sense of justice or perhaps an unyielding determination to remind the world of the Hua family’s legacy and its contributions to the Daqing Dynasty.

Most people wouldn’t understand her intentions, of course. But then again, her plans weren’t meant for everyone. They were for those who mattered—those who could see the bigger picture.

A sharp tap on his shoulder pulled Zhu Ziwen out of his thoughts. “The line’s not getting any shorter, you know,” someone muttered, their tone brimming with impatience. Turning around, Zhu Ziwen felt a flicker of annoyance, which only grew as he noticed that many in the crowd weren’t here out of loyalty to the Hua family. At least half of them were simply there for the food. He couldn’t help but recall the last time his cousin handed him one of these baskets—it hadn’t even lasted long enough for him to savor more than a few bites before the rest was snatched away by eager hands.

And yet, he couldn’t bring himself to hold a grudge. This wasn’t just a random group of students—they were the heirs of prominent families, each one representing not just their own ambitions but the weight of their family legacies. Their presence here, whether loyal or opportunistic, was a quiet testament to how their families viewed the Hua name. In that, at least, there was a small, bittersweet triumph.

Unnoticed by most, the student in front of Zhu Ziwen suddenly stepped out of line. A quick, deliberate glance around later, he slipped away toward a carriage parked discreetly to the side.

The carriage wasn’t flashy, but its subtle refinement spoke of wealth and status. What stood out, though, was the coachman—unusually muscular and unnervingly alert, as though expecting trouble at any moment.

As the student reached the carriage and opened his mouth to speak, a low, gravelly voice from inside cut him off. “Get in. Talk here.”

Without hesitation, the student dipped his head and replied, “Understood.” Then he climbed inside.