Chapter 53: A Simple Question

Village Chief Fang had always prided himself on his long years and the many people he had encountered in his life, but never had he come across a young lady quite like the one before him now.

If, at first, the recipe for spicy hot pot was shared out of necessity, the later donation to the House for the Elderly spoke only of a heart filled with compassion.

It was not just the countless small traders who would never consider such a thing—even he, as the proprietor of a tavern, contributed to the House for the Elderly from time to time. Back then, he’d thought his donations were generous, but if he were to nitpick, they paled in comparison to the magnanimity of this young woman.

Now she was not only donating but even prepared to share her family’s recipe!

One must understand that a recipe such as this was a family's lifeblood, the very foundation of their livelihood!

Suppressing the discomfort that rose within him, Village Chief Fang asked, “Young lady, your openness and generosity do you great credit, but surely this recipe isn’t yours alone. Shouldn’t you first inform your elders before making such a decision?”

Su Tang’s eyes reddened slightly. “This recipe was passed down in my father’s family. Now, I am the only one who has learned it. What I pass on is what my family would have wished.”

Village Chief Fang paused, his heart growing tender with pity for Su Tang.

“And your mother’s family?” he pressed gently.

“My mother’s side has no say in this matter,” Su Tang replied, her voice catching.

Village Chief Fang shot to his feet, his face clouded with anger. “Then you’re not alone and helpless at all!”

Eh?

The lump in Su Tang’s throat almost choked her.

Wait, wasn’t this supposed to be about the recipe?

Village Chief Fang could barely contain his agitation. “That night, you and the young master of the Lu family acted in haste and had no choice but to do as you did. Now that things have settled, it’s only right for you to return home and inform your family.”

“Lu Dashan is a rough man. For years, he was the only one at home, muddling through life, content as long as he wasn’t hungry. But I see you as a junior of my own family and can’t let a young woman like you be ignorant of propriety. The matter of the recipe is one thing, but you must go home and inform your family, else you’ll only make them worry.”

As he spoke, Lu Dashan entered from outside.

“What’s the matter?” Lu Dashan asked.

“What’s the matter? It’s your doing, of course!” Village Chief Fang seized Lu Dashan and pulled him aside to speak in a low, urgent voice.

Village Chief Fang alternated between anger and suppressed frustration, while Lu Dashan stood there, gaping or scratching his head in confusion.

Su Tang bowed her head in silence.

She could feel Village Chief Fang’s concern for her.

But was the recipe really of such little importance?

Here was a path to shared prosperity, laid out at their very door!

If this were her former life, wouldn’t everyone have been hoping she would share it?

Nine hundred and ninety-eight, perhaps all would have gladly accepted.

…

Village Chief Fang left.

He didn’t mention the recipe again.

As the time for the academy to let out drew near, Lu Dashan volunteered to fetch the children.

Su Tang could guess with her heel that Lu Dashan had gone to discuss matters with her son.

Li Qingtian quietly began tidying up, only glancing at her now and then.

He said nothing, but Su Tang understood everything.

What mattered most to Li Qingtian was for her to return home.

But she truly did not wish to go back.

She was just one of the millions of working people in the Great Hua nation—not exactly double-faced, but with enough sense to get by. She couldn’t rely on her family; only her own efforts mattered. As long as she was content, nothing else was important. Aside from herself and her cat, everyone else was “other.” Kindness was for show; her heart was selfish, and only money gave her a sense of security.

What was the original owner’s status? In her former life, at the very least, she would have been the granddaughter of a state-level elder. If someone dared impersonate her, just how bold would they have to be?

She could hardly imagine.

She was just an ordinary ant, never having witnessed such grandeur.

Thankfully, she had watched enough dramas over the years.

Blades flashing, life-and-death struggles were the least of it.

The most terrifying thing was the twisting of hearts—one moment you thought someone was close, the next, they’d stab you in the back.

Wasn’t it better to live cautiously?

Here, in this quiet little town, she’d been open for seventeen days and netted a profit of one hundred and twelve taels.

That was an outrageous profit!

Though there were those who coveted her success, if she gave out the recipe, wouldn’t the trouble disappear?

Su Tang’s mind flashed to that slowly departing carriage, but she shook the thought away.

Spicy hot pot, dragon’s beard noodles, knife-cut noodles—once her system upgraded, there would be even more. Once everyone knew the recipes, even the magistrate or the emperor himself could have them made in their own kitchens; who would need her then?

Her system had given her a way to make money, but wasn’t the whole point of making money to live well?

If she died, she’d have nothing.

As long as she lived, she had everything.

She wasn’t wrong, was she?

*****

Night fell. A big black dog wagged its tail as it lay in the yard.

By candlelight, Lu Jingyuan, rarely idle, was reading rather than writing.

Su Tang, as always, was carefully gathering up her silver.

Yet she could clearly feel that her young husband’s gaze, half-absorbed in his book, lingered often on her.

…She wondered what “father-in-law” had said to her husband.

Su Tang put away her money, sat across the desk, and smiled gently at her young husband.

Is there something you wish to say?

If you don’t speak now, you’ll lose your chance.

Lu Jingyuan understood.

He set down his book. “I heard that while you were traveling to visit relatives, you were waylaid by bandits and lost all your possessions, and then fell ill on the road…”

“Yes,” Su Tang nodded.

“I thought, since you were visiting relatives, there must be family to visit. Now that you’ve recovered, yet speak nothing of returning, it seems you do not wish to go back.”

Su Tang nodded again, her eyes shining faintly.

How wonderful—not a word of explanation needed from her.

Lu Jingyuan watched Su Tang, whose composure seemed tinged with excitement, suspicion deepening in his heart. He shifted the conversation. “Yet, in all this time, your family has sent no one to look for you. Why is that?”

Su Tang thought: Let me make something up.

Lu Jingyuan continued, “There are only two possibilities. One, your family regards you as unimportant. Two, your family is too burdened to care for you. With all the secrets you carry, it cannot be the former. It must be the latter. If your family is in such straits, are you not worried?”

Su Tang forced a smile. “I worry, but as a young woman, there’s little I can do. Besides, there’s surely someone strong in the family to support them. Maybe they have come, but just haven’t found me yet.”

Lu Jingyuan thought: Had he not already known who she was, he might almost have believed her.

Displaced by another, and not returning after recovering—perhaps she was simply frightened.

He had not concerned himself with her before.

Now, having received news from Nanwu City, he could no longer let it go.

“Very well. Where is your family? I can have my father send a message,” Lu Jingyuan said.

Su Tang stared, then stood. “Aren’t you afraid I’m a highborn lady? If, after I return, my family disavows this matter, you and I will have no further ties?”

“Aren’t you afraid?” he replied.

By the lamplight, the young woman’s beautiful eyes were wide, and her cheeks, flushed with anger, glowed like fine porcelain. Her eyes blazed, as if with hidden flames.

Lu Jingyuan’s pupils contracted; his gaze wavered and drifted away.

Seeing this, Su Tang raised her voice.

“Or is there already someone else outside?”

…

A suspicious thud echoed from the courtyard.