Chapter 27: She Knew It

“Reward has been redeemed.”

As the small piece of silver landed in her palm, a chime rang softly in her ear.

Su Tang’s lips twitched.

A reward?

This little chunk of silver?

She had asked for it, after all.

Su Tang tucked it away, folded her hands over her chest, and offered a respectful bow, her eyes bright: “Father-in-law truly treats his new daughter-in-law well.”

With those words, she turned to leave.

Behind her, Lu Dashan was left gaping, unable to close his mouth.

Wait, what about the money?

That piece of silver of his was nearly a tael!

****

Dusk gradually settled.

The oil lamp was lit at the dinner table.

There were vegetables and meat, steamed buns and porridge. Though plain fare, compared to many households, it was already quite good.

Except for the absence of dragon’s beard noodles, it was much like last night’s supper.

Yet if last night’s table had been lively at the start, tonight’s was downright solemn.

The four of them ate in silence, each tending to their own food.

No one fought over dishes, nor did anyone gulp their meal.

Lu Dashan’s mouth seemed half its usual size.

Li Qingtian, too, ate much more slowly.

Apart from the clinking of chopsticks against bowls and plates, there was hardly any other sound.

“Woo-woo-woo~”

The big black dog whimpered a few times outside the door, each cry sounding especially piercing.

Su Tang and Jingyuan both looked over at the same moment.

The dog’s tail gave a sharp tremble, then it retreated a few steps, and obediently sat down on the ground.

Su Tang glanced back, meeting Jingyuan’s gaze as he turned as well.

Their eyes met.

Su Tang smiled.

Jingyuan glanced at her coolly, then lowered his head to eat.

Su Tang’s lips quirked as she resumed her meal.

…For the sake of that little piece of silver.

*

Night deepened.

By candlelight, the figure at the desk was still bent over, writing stroke after stroke.

Leaning against the bed, Su Tang counted her money, occasionally casting a casual glance at him.

Bathed in the warm glow, the scent of ink drifting through the air, his handsome features radiated determination; he wrote without pause, so absorbed that ink stains now marked his sleeves—though he seemed not to notice, intent on his task.

The pages her young husband had written were set aside. Su Tang could tell at a glance that each sheet was different.

Each page looked better than the last.

With every page, his calligraphy grew more forceful, weighty as a thousand pounds.

She’d never seen her little husband write before; this was the first time.

Clearly, he had some foundation, but after just a dozen or so pages, his writing was already worlds apart from when he first began.

He could recite texts, write with such skill, and was even adept at arguing.

Could it be that one day he would truly become a magistrate?

Su Tang couldn’t help but furrow her brows, resting her chin in her hand.

So young, yet his teachers had given him such a mature name.

Jingyuan, Jingyuan.

No matter how she looked at it, the name didn’t quite suit her little husband.

Yet in just one day, his father called him so naturally, as if this name had always belonged to him.

Wasn’t that aging him before his time?

“Husband, it’s time to rest,” Su Tang called gently.

Jingyuan, still writing by the candle, uttered a brief “Mm,” and continued.

Su Tang’s voice softened further: “I know you are ambitious, but you must remember: ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step; a mighty river is formed by gathering small streams.’ Nothing in this world is accomplished in one leap. If you wear yourself out, wasting a little candle is nothing, but if you fall ill and miss your teacher’s instruction, the loss outweighs any gain.”

Jingyuan’s hand tightened on the brush, nearly dropping a blot of ink onto the paper.

He listened as the rustling behind him began.

Jingyuan set down his brush and turned.

Su Tang, already in bed, was lifting the covers, preparing to sleep.

…

Su Tang didn’t care whether others rested or not.

She closed her eyes, letting her mind drift to her Food Tree.

The branches of the Food Tree sparkled brightly, looking far more splendid than before.

She’d long suspected the “Daily” reward wouldn’t be anything extravagant—after all, “Daily” was just that, every day—but if she could gain a small piece of silver each day, over time that would add up to a tidy sum.

The adage said three years, which meant that even without doing business, she could live comfortably every day just idling about?

But the system said nothing, showed not a hint.

There was no guarantee that every day from now on would bring money as a reward.

Still, if there was something to be had for free each day, she must not miss it.

Absolutely not!!!

**********

The crisp morning light grew brighter as the sun rose higher, the chill of dawn and dusk fading with the day’s warmth. The streets and alleys no longer carried the familiar spicy fragrance, and even the elders who emerged with the sunrise felt that something was missing.

“Huh, what’s going on here?”

“…”

With a few cries of surprise, people saw that in the spot where the spicy food stall used to be, a frame had been erected, and several carpenters—regulars in the town—were busy at work, apparently building something.

“What are they doing?” someone asked.

“A shelter,” one of the carpenters replied.

“What for?”

“No idea.”

Realizing they’d get nothing from the carpenters, they turned to Li Qingtian, who was keeping watch outside.

“What sort of business are you setting up here?”

“Food,” Li Qingtian answered.

“Of course it’s food, but what kind?”

Li Qingtian’s tone was meaningful: “Delicious food.”

*

“As fine as dragon’s whiskers, vivid in color, with a rich, fragrant broth that lingers on the lips and teeth; it looks like clouds and mist swirling together—thus, it is called Dragon’s Beard Noodles.”

Elsewhere in Ping’an Town, at the fortune-teller’s stall, Su Tang sat serenely, a gentle smile on her lips. It was as if she were speaking of a trivial matter, not a dish that made mouths water.

Master Xuanji stroked his beard, maintaining his calm demeanor, though his throat moved with a subtle swallow.

He’d heard of the spicy soup before, and tasted it himself just yesterday.

Even now, the spicy aroma seemed to linger on his palate.

But these Dragon’s Beard Noodles—just hearing about them made his appetite stir even more.

“Benefactor, I know your purpose for coming. I shall certainly come to support your business,” Xuanji said.

Su Tang shook her head with a smile. “No, I’ve come for another important matter today.”

Xuanji lowered his head in acknowledgment.

The yellow paper still lay on the table, ink and brushes ready.

Su Tang shook her head again: “Master, do you recall last night’s donation?”

“What of it?”

Su Tang sighed softly. “Three copper coins hardly suffice to express my gratitude for your kindness, Master. Therefore, I intend to donate one coin from every bowl of Dragon’s Beard Noodles I sell in the future to the Three Pure Ones.”

Xuanji looked slightly surprised. His clear eyes studied her, as if searching her heart.

Su Tang met his gaze openly, without the slightest hint of evasion.

After a moment, Xuanji’s lips curved in a gentle smile, his laughter light as drifting clouds, soothing to the soul.

“That won’t be necessary,” Xuanji said.

Su Tang: “?”

From the way this master had collected money, she’d thought they were kindred spirits.

Xuanji saw her confusion and explained, “I have heard that your spicy soup sells at least fifty bowls a day. If your business flourishes in the future, it will be even more. With daily accumulation, it would not take many years to build a golden statue. If I truly had a temple here, I’d be overjoyed, but the true gods reside in my heart, not in donations. All I can do is thank you for your generosity.”

Su Tang smiled faintly.

Now she understood why the Daoist tradition had fallen into decline.

“In that case…” she could only think of another way.

“But since you are sincere, I can help you find a solution,” Xuanji said.

Su Tang’s eyes lit up.

She knew it—