Chapter 204: A Big Game

Unless the Hua family could offer a substantial dowry, the Yang family would not easily agree to a divorce. Hua Zhi was prepared for this, but she could only accept a divorce, a written document of mutual separation, not a letter of dismissal.

After comforting her anxious and regretful Second Aunt, Hua Zhi went to find her Fourth Aunt, hoping to discuss this matter with her.

"Is she really determined and will not regret it?"

"I think so. It should be Sui'an giving her courage." Looking at the small child in the arms of the Fourth Aunt, Hua Zhi reached out to play with him and said, "I only know that divorce is allowed in Daqing Law but I don't know what to do. Does the Fourth Aunt know?"

Wu shi frowned slightly, "I know some, but the initiative is still in the hands of the man. The Yang family may not readily agree to the divorce."

"That's what I'm worried about, but we have to try."

"Do you need me to go to the Yang family?"

"In theory, it should be my mother who goes, but if she really goes, she might flood the Yang family, so it's better to trouble the Fourth Aunt to go."

Wu shi chuckled, "You can't say that about your own mother."

"I'm just telling the truth. At that time, let Suyun Mama accompany you."

Suyun Mama represented the old lady, even though the old lady was no longer here, she had her pride, especially since she had relied on the Hua family before, she had to give some face, and if the other party didn't even want to save face, then she would have no choice but to do so.

So what if they were shameless?

Who would be afraid of whom?

Hua Zhi calmly outlined a few strategies in her mind to deal with shameless people, but she didn't show any sign of it on her face. She then asked about another matter, "How is the relationship between the Fourth Aunt and your maternal family now?"

Wu shi paused, "Why do you ask this? Is there something that the Wu family can help with?"

"It's not really asking for help, just mutual benefit. I remember that Matriarch Wu was intentionally trying to distance herself from the Hua family before, what is her attitude now?"

Wu shi remained silent and did not speak, she had some understanding of Zhi'er and knew that if she said mutual benefit, then it must be genuine, but when she thought of the attitude of her family, she couldn't help but feel a chill, remembering the endless love and care she received in her family was like a dream.

But, after all, she was surnamed Wu!

Wu shi smiled bitterly, "What do you want to inform me of? I can send someone to tell them."

Hua Zhi's fingers slid along the edge of the cup, she didn't really appreciate the Wu family from the bottom of her heart. To put it nicely, they were avoiding trouble but in reality, they had abandoned the Hua family when they were in difficulty, and also abandoned her daughter who was in the Hua family.

But she couldn't be too drastic, after all, compared to the maternal family who drew a clear line from the beginning, the Wu family hadn't cut off all ties. When the fourth aunt gave birth, Matriarch Wu personally came over. The Wu family only cut off contact after realizing that the Hua family had no hope left.

Just for that bit of initial sentiment, she needed to show some difference, rather than directly excluding them.

"I confide in you, Fourth Aunt, that all the money I earn now is secondary. What's important is the network of relationships I've built. I give up immediate gains to soften them up, so that when the time comes, they will be willing to help the Hua family. Whether it's ten thousand taels or a hundred thousand taels, as long as I can earn back enough money for them, my plans may just succeed."

Wu shi looked at her in astonishment, whispering, "Zhi'er..."

Hua Zhi looked up at her and smiled, "I have thought of many ways, and this one seems to be the most feasible."

Once this mutual beneficial community grows, it naturally becomes an alliance. She is the key to this alliance. As long as she remains, so does the alliance. If she withdraws, this community based on mutual benefit will disband, and they will realize how important she is.

The allies she seeks will naturally be those who have no conflicting interests with the Hua family. Whether Grandfather and the others return or not, it's of no consequence to them. All they need to do is speak a few words on behalf of Grandfather and they will be rewarded handsomely.

Why wouldn't they do it?

She has already planned to outlast the current emperor. After all, she won't live much longer, and when the new emperor ascends, whether it's the Sixth Prince or not, as long as her network is established, the people of the Hua family will inevitably return.

The move made by Yan Xi to crown the Sixth Prince is not a necessity for her, but it's another pathway. She certainly won't block it. If the Sixth Prince ascends, it's a great advantage for the Hua family.

She has just made her move in this game, and she cannot predict how the game will progress in the future, but one thing she is sure of is that she will not be the loser.

People in the game will also realize that as long as they are in this game, everyone wins. Once they leave, they are automatically eliminated.

Among the four arts, she mastered only one aspect of the game of chess, and her greatest skill lies in luring others to the trap.

Wu shi opened and closed her mouth several times before finally speaking in a dry tone, "I thought you were doing business just to make more money to move up and down..."

Who would have thought that's how you were moving!

But following Zhi'er's train of thought, Wu shi's heart almost jumped out of her throat. She was in charge of the inner courtyard, and Zhi'er didn't hide many things from her. She knew better than anyone in the family how lucrative the deals Zhi'er had been involved in were. With such significant benefits at stake, she didn't believe anyone could resist.

However, "Won't this draw too much attention?"

"It won't. At their level, everyone understands the importance of keeping a low profile while making a fortune."

Wu shi couldn't help but pat her chest. She needed time to digest what Zhi'er had just told her.

"I'll think about it more on the Wu family side." Though she said she would think about it more, both Wu shi and Hua Zhi understood that the Wu family had been excluded from this network of relationships. Wu shi felt bitter but unwavering. If the matter wasn't of such great significance, she wouldn't have thought about her natal family, even though they abandoned her in her time of need, she couldn't now.

She wasn't just a daughter abandoned by the Wu family. She was a daughter-in-law of the Hua family, the wife of Pingyang, the mother of two children. She wanted her husband to come back; her children needed their father!

“Don’t worry too much. The worst is behind us. It’s really nothing. If you absolutely can’t bear to part with it, the Hua family is willing to make some concessions.”

Wu shi merely shook her head.

Hua Zhi didn’t press the matter further. Deep down, she wasn’t entirely convinced.

After leaving her fourth aunt, Hua Zhi visited her mother. Zhu shi had been missing her terribly and was overjoyed to see her daughter.

Knowing that Zhi’er was busy, she didn’t want to burden her. But with her daughter there, she couldn’t help but chat. Hua Zhi stayed for dinner and helped her mother to bed.

Gazing at her peacefully sleeping mother, Hua Zhi couldn’t help but think of her Second Aunt. Divorce would be a difficult ordeal.

——— TNote:

[1] Dowry (咬下一大块肉): In ancient Chinese society, a dowry was a significant part of a marriage. It was seen as a contribution from the bride's family to the groom's family.

[2] 放妻书 vs. 休书:

• 放妻书 (literally, "document of releasing a wife/divorce decree") was a mutual agreement between a husband and wife to end their marriage. It was considered more equitable and less humiliating for the woman.

• 休书 (literally, "letter of dismissal") was a document initiated by the husband to dismiss his wife. It carried a strong stigma and could significantly impact a woman's social standing.