Chapter 390: Everyone Has Their Own Agendas

Hua Zhi’s actions sent ripples through the room, splitting authority in a way that caught everyone off guard. It wasn’t just surprising—it was oddly reassuring for the various factions involved. Sure, they knew the Eldest Miss wasn’t scheming anything underhanded, but entrusting their daughters with a share of the business brought a different kind of security. Even if they couldn’t meddle, they felt a bit more at ease knowing they had some skin in the game to protect.

Meanwhile, Hua Zhi feigned ignorance toward the subtle undercurrents brewing in the inner courtyard. Without missing a beat, she summoned Lin Shuang and handed her a letter. “Take this to Old Madam Qin,” she instructed. “If she asks any questions, answer as best as you can.”

“Yes, Miss.”

This wasn’t exactly Hua Zhi’s first choice. Normally, Suyun Mama would have been perfect for such a task, but the woman was bedridden and out of commission. That left Lin Shuang as the next best option. Since the matter concerned the eldest branch, sending someone from the eldest lady’s side seemed both reasonable and tactful.

Wu Shi, who happened to drop by to discuss Hua Ling and her sisters, raised a brow at Hua Zhi’s decision. A sly smile tugged at her lips as she quipped, “I half-expected you to deliver it yourself.”

“For anything else, sure,” Hua Zhi replied, her tone sharp but composed. “But not this. Whether this involves the Qin family or not, if I were to go, it would look like I was interrogating them. That’s inappropriate from every angle.”

Though she didn’t enjoy the web of tangled relationships that came with her position, Hua Zhi wasn’t naive to them either. Years of navigating the business world had left her well-versed in such politics—she simply found them exhausting. It was precisely why she’d happily let Fourth Aunt handle most of the inner courtyard affairs. Less hassle, more peace.

Wu Shi was a little taken aback. She had her suspicions about the situation but had assumed Hua Zhi, being as direct as she usually was, might not have noticed. That’s why she had come today—to offer a subtle reminder. Turns out, she needn’t have bothered.

“So, are you really planning to hand over the canned food business to them?”

“Fourth Aunt doesn’t approve?” Hua Zhi’s tone was calm but carried a subtle edge.

“It’s not that I disapprove,” Wu Shi replied, smoothing out her sleeves with an air of composure. “But judging from your intentions, it doesn’t seem like you plan on keeping them around indefinitely. What if they marry someday? Are you going to take the business back then? And besides,” her voice softened, though her meaning did not, “fairness matters. There are more than just the three sisters in this household.”

“To be honest, I haven’t given these things much thought,” Hua Zhi said, her smile devoid of warmth. “I don’t have the patience for such things. Business is business. Whether I’m dealing with Zhang San or Li Si, it’s my choice. If they think they’re entitled to something just because I’ve been accommodating, well, that’s their problem—not mine.”

For a moment, Wu Shi found herself at a loss for words. She had her own reasons for bringing this up, of course. Advocating for fairness didn’t mean she wasn’t angling for her own sons. But she hadn’t expected Hua Zhi to cut through the pretense so mercilessly.

“I won’t allow any of the men in this family to meddle in these affairs. Not a chance,” Hua Zhi continued, her tone firm as she met Wu Shi’s gaze head-on. “By the family rules, anyone with an official title is forbidden from engaging in business. My brothers will grow up to follow in our ancestors’ footsteps, and I won’t jeopardize their futures by involving them in this. As for the long term… these businesses may be in my hands now, but they ultimately belong to the Hua family. And the Hua family will always belong to them.”

Wu Shi lowered her head slightly, a shadow of discomfort crossing her face. For a moment, she had forgotten that rule—conveniently, of course.

While noble families often dabbled in discreet businesses, they never operated under the family head’s official name. Long-established assets, passed down through generations, were kept in such secrecy that they could never become liabilities.

That’s how it worked for all the noble houses, Hua family included.

If she were to use the excuse of "fairness" to tip the scales in favor of her sons, even though the outcome might not necessarily work to their advantage, it could still stir up unnecessary trouble. Risks were inherent in such decisions.

Hua Zhi, seemingly unfazed by the awkwardness of the moment, carried on as though nothing had happened, answering the earlier question. “No one can wrest the Hua family business from us. When they marry, I’ll allocate each of them a share of the profits. A little extra money when starting their households wouldn’t hurt.”

Wu Shi, ever the sharp observer, caught the thread and picked it up. “The workshop is at its busiest right now. It might be necessary for them to visit the farmstead a few times for added security…”

“Then assign more guards to accompany them,” Hua Zhi responded firmly. “We can’t just lock them up at home because of one incident.” She paused, her tone shifting slightly. “I’ll speak with Mr. Wang and see if he can personally oversee their safety.”

“That would be ideal,” Wu Shi said with a quick nod before rising from her seat. “Second Sister-in-law and Third Sister-in-law are waiting for an update from me. I’ll go let them know.”

“Thank you, Fourth Aunt.”

Wu Shi shook her head, turned, and made her way out of the room. As she walked down the corridor, a deep sigh escaped her lips. She had let her own self-interest cloud her judgment today, acting impulsively despite knowing exactly what kind of person Hua Zhi was. She could only hope Hua Zhi wouldn’t hold it against her.

Back inside, Hua Zhi let out a long breath of her own, her frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. “Have I been too accommodating lately? Do they think they can take advantage of me because I’ve softened?”

Catching her glance, Ying Chun subtly signaled to Nian Qiu, who promptly stepped out to stand guard at the door.

Ying Chun then handed Hua Zhi a cup of hot tea, her voice calm and soothing. “It’s not that simple, Miss. Not everyone shares your confidence in the Hua family. Without a clear path forward, it’s natural for people to cling to material security. Even the wealthy think about how to pad their pockets.”

“I thought I had made myself clear,” Hua Zhi murmured, her tone tinged with weariness and a faint sense of disappointment she couldn’t quite articulate. She had gone to such lengths—resuming the clan school’s operations as quickly as possible—to ensure the Hua boys grew into men of honor and capability.

And yet, money still held such sway over people’s hearts.

Rubbing her temples, Hua Zhi decided not to dwell on it further. She waved off Ying Chun’s attempts at consolation and turned her attention to something more practical. “Take the leftover cured meat and fried noodles and divide them among the households. Let everyone try something new.”

“Yes, Miss.”

After a brief moment of hesitation, Hua Zhi added, “Send a bit more to Madam Sun’s family. There’s no need to explain anything.”

“Yes, I’ll deliver it myself,” Ying Chun replied with quiet efficiency.

*

On the other side of town, Lin Shuang was led into the grand yet understated main hall of the Qin family estate by a senior maid who carried an air of equal parts respect and detachment. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Lin finally came face-to-face with the slender, graceful figure of Madam Qin, whose years were etched into her composed demeanor.

"My apologies for keeping you waiting," Madam Qin said, her tone polite but laced with the weight of her own frailty. "I haven’t been feeling well." Despite the clear divide in status, the older woman maintained a sense of measured courtesy.

Still, there was a flicker of doubt in Madam Qin’s eyes. The sudden visit from someone tied to the Hua family stirred her suspicions. Even at their lowest point, the Hua family had never sought help from the Qins. For them to now approach so unexpectedly... something didn’t sit right.

"Eldest Miss sends her regards to Madam," Lin Shuang began, executing a bow that was respectful yet firm in its restraint. She handed over a sealed letter. "Unfortunately, she couldn’t come herself, but she asked me to deliver this letter on her behalf."

The letter itself was brief, concise to the point of coldness. Its clarity left no room for misinterpretation, which, ironically, only unsettled Madam Qin further.

Understanding the implications almost immediately, Madam Qin’s face remained calm, but her voice carried a steel edge. "Please inform Eldest Miss that while there are those with the Qin surname involved, they do not represent the Qin family. My presence here is solely to support my niece, and I have no intention of making life difficult for the young ladies of the Hua family. Eldest Miss should act as she sees fit without concern for us."

Lin Shuang bowed again, the movement precise and practiced. "I will deliver your message word for word to Eldest Miss."

As Lin Shuang excused herself, Madam Qin watched her retreating figure in silence, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of her teacup. After a long moment, she set the cup down with deliberate care.

"Find out what’s going on," she ordered, her gaze sharp and unyielding. "And figure out who thought it wise to invoke the Qin family name without so much as consulting us first."

"Understood," came the quiet reply, and with that, the room fell into a heavy stillness.