Chapter 291: Travels

The canned lychees, a future sensation loved by everyone, had already captivated these people with ease. Xu Jie, gripping the frosty bowl in his hands, was practically on fire with excitement. "This is just a small batch. There are three more ships on the way. I was worried it might be too much, but now... I’m not worried at all."

"I'm expanding this business," Hua Zhi declared, her voice cutting through the air. "Three ships? Not nearly enough. We need to order more. The same goes for the citrus and peaches."

She thought for a moment, calculating the scale, before issuing her command with sharp precision. "Order three times as much as last year. And add three more ships of lychees."

Xu Jie didn't hesitate to respond. "Got it!"

"Now, Liu Qi," she continued, her tone commanding. "We need to hire more people for the workshop. I'll ask the branches for staff, but you and Liu Jiang need to handle the outer courtyard. Don't hire just anyone. We need to prioritize the tenants on the estate. If that's not enough, then recruit from outside—but make sure they’re clean and have no family issues. It’s best if we don’t need outsiders at all."

"Understood."

With the massive order, it became clear the existing ice cellars wouldn’t cut it. Hua Zhi’s mind raced, already overloaded with tasks, but she knew she couldn’t let this slip. She turned to Yingchun. "Go find Wu Da and the others. We need more cellars. Let them decide where on the estate, but make sure they’re safe. I don’t want any more collapses."

Yingchun responded quickly, her newfound calm from previous incidents making her even more reliable.

Since she was already there, Hua Zhi took the opportunity to fine-tune the workshop’s operations. Her thoughts weren’t just on the business—her beloved grandmother had been a pillar for her, but now she was gone.

The Empress Dowager hadn’t shown any real support for the Hua family in the last six months, and Hua Zhi knew that protection would likely end soon.

The canned food business may not have the highest volume, but the margins were fat, and anyone with half a brain could see how much money was to be made. She wasn’t about to let her guard down—she needed to stay cautious.

More guards were necessary, and soon.

Meanwhile, Hua Bailin and the other two had returned early. Seeing the chaos and the stewards running around, they were more determined than ever to leave. The journey ahead was calling, and they wouldn’t be held back.

Xiao Liu couldn't help but feel the weight of it all. Sister Hua had been riding non-stop for six days, and since her return, she hadn't had a moment to herself. She was always working, always on the go, never showing signs of slowing down.

But was she really not exhausted?

As he watched her rub her forehead in exhaustion, Xiao Liu's voice was low but filled with conviction. "Bailin, if the Hua family ever dares to mistreat Sister Hua, I swear I won’t let them off the hook."

Bailin's eyes flashed with a cold fire. "You don't have to. I’ll be the first to make them pay."

Without their eldest sister, the Hua family would fall apart, scattered like grains of sand—vulnerable and defenseless. But if the eldest sister could break free from the suffocating chains of the Hua family, she’d finally be able to breathe easy.

Who knew how much better off she'd be.

Yang Sui'an stood silently, his hands clenched behind his back, fighting to keep his fury in check.

Finally, after taking care of everything, Hua Zhi looked up and noticed the three of them standing by the door. Glancing at the time, she realized it was time to leave. She stood, pushed open the door, and stepped outside.

The harsh sun hit her face, and she instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes. "So, who won?"

Xiao Liu grinned, raising his hand high, his voice full of pride. "I won! Sui'an brother was half a horse length behind me."

Yang Sui'an, unbothered, walked over to stand beside his sister and shield her from the sun. "If it wasn’t for Bailin causing trouble, I wouldn’t have lost."

Bailin laughed, draping an arm over Xiao Liu's shoulder with a playful smirk. "Lost is lost, no matter how many excuses you make."

Though they were rivals in their little contests, when it came to facing the world, they always had each other's backs.

Shao Yao came sprinting over, grinning from ear to ear, with a basket piled high with lychees. Even before she’d gotten close, she yelled out, "Huahua, are you leaving already?!"

"Leaving," Hua Zhi responded, glancing at Shao Yao’s overflowing basket of lychees, her expression a mix of amusement and mild annoyance. "You’ve been munching on those all afternoon, and you still want more? Aren’t you scared you'll end up with a nosebleed?"

"They're too good! Even the tribute fruits don’t taste as good as these."

At the mention of tribute fruits, Yang Sui'an couldn’t help but look Shao Yao over again. He’d never really known where Shao Yao came from, but there was a hunch in his gut that told him that Shao Yao background wasn’t exactly humble.

A family that could raise someone like her—so carefree and at ease—was probably the kind of family that dealt with tribute fruits.

On the ride back, Yang Sui'an was next to the carriage, opening his mouth a dozen times to speak but never finding the right moment to bring up what was on his mind. His eldest sister was heading north, and he was unsure if talking about his desire to travel would only make her worry even more.

When they got home, Hua Zhi called him over. "Come to the study."

Yang Sui'an swore inwardly. He knew his sister had figured him out already—he’d been too obvious.

Hua Zhi didn’t press him for anything, though. She just kept working, acting like she hadn’t even called him in. The silence dragged on for what felt like forever, until Yang Sui'an finally couldn’t hold it in anymore.

"Eldest sister, I’ve taken a long leave from the academy. I want to go on a trip."

"So, that’s what you’ve been holding back?" Hua Zhi asked, her voice calm but sharp.

"Yes. I was thinking I should wait until you come back from the north before mentioning it, so you wouldn’t worry about me while you’re gone."

"Whenever family travels far, I’ll always worry," Hua Zhi said, relief flooding through her. She’d been anxious for nothing. "Where do you plan to go?"

"I’m thinking of going to Yangzhou."

"Not a bad idea. Are you going alone?"

"I’ll go too," Hua Bailin suddenly piped up from where he’d been listening outside. He rushed in, eager to be part of the conversation. "Eldest sister, I want to go with cousin Sui'an!"

Hua Zhi's first instinct was to shoot down the idea immediately, but as the words nearly slipped from her mouth, she bit her tongue and stopped herself.

Hua Bailin wasn't just any younger brother—he was her own flesh and blood, the one she had raised. Their bond ran deeper than most, but that didn't mean she could let it show now.

The reality was harsh.

In this era, boys could be married off by thirteen, considered grown by eleven. She couldn’t wrap Bailin in bubble wrap forever, sheltering him from the world. He needed to grow, to experience life beyond the safe, controlled environment she'd created. Keeping him confined like that would only stunt his growth.

When she didn't immediately shut him down, Hua Bailin saw his opening. He latched onto her, tugging at her sleeve with a look that mixed innocence with desperation.

Hua Zhi looked up, steel in her voice. "Sui'an, I’ll agree to your request. But you go talk to your mother first."

"Okay," Yang Sui'an replied, offering his cousin an apologetic glance before leaving.

Just as he was about to head out, he noticed Xiao Liu standing by the door. After a brief hesitation, Xiao Liu subtly shook his head, signaling for him to stay quiet. Sui'an nodded, understanding, and the two of them silently huddled in a corner to listen in on what was happening.

Hua Zhi watched her younger brother, knowing she'd ultimately give in, but she needed to be certain. "Why do you want to leave? You should know, given your age and everything you’ve learned, it’s not the right time for you to be out there."

"With cousin Sui'an there, you don’t have to worry," Hua Bailin responded quickly. "He’ll take care of me."

"Of course, I know Sui'an will protect you," Hua Zhi said. "But I need to know why you’re really doing this."

Bailin dropped his gaze, his voice barely above a whisper. "After Xiao Liu went on his trip, he came back... different. These past few days, I’ve felt like I’m talking to an adult. I was thinking, maybe if I go out on my own adventure, I’ll grow up, too. Like he did."

Hua Zhi’s mind clicked into place. She understood exactly what Bailin was saying, but Xiao Liu had been her responsibility, under her watch. And now her younger brother wanted to follow Sui'an, a fifteen-year-old, into the unknown?

She couldn’t stop him. She couldn’t hold him back from the natural pull to grow stronger, to test his limits. She didn’t like it, but she couldn't deny it. If he was set on this, so be it. She’d send a few more people along for the ride to keep an eye on them, but she'd let him go.

———TN: Alright, here’s another chapter for all of you. Hope you're ready to dive in and get hooked—it's about to get intense.

Enjoy!