Chapter Seventeen: Such a Fragrant Scent

No, that's not right!

A sudden thought flashed through Su Tang's mind, and she quickly called out, "Husband, wait a moment." She turned back into the kitchen, took out the three books she had bought earlier from the bamboo basket, and turned again, only to find her young husband had followed her inside.

He had indeed come for the books.

"These three volumes were recommended by the shopkeeper. He said they're essential reading for anyone entering the academy," Su Tang offered, handing over the books.

The young husband didn't take them; his gaze lingered on the bamboo basket Su Tang had used for her purchases.

On the basket lay all sorts of trinkets she'd bought that day.

"Very skillfully made, aren't they?" Su Tang commented.

The young gentleman neither confirmed nor denied, but his eyes lingered on the trinkets.

Su Tang's gaze flickered; she raised the books before him.

He looked at her.

Su Tang pouted, "I'm so tired."

He pressed his lips, finally accepting the books.

Su Tang released them and reached into the basket, bringing out a few toys: a bamboo lantern, a rattle, a miniature waterwheel, and a little bird woven from bamboo.

"Studying must be exhausting. These are for you to amuse yourself with during your leisure," she said, offering them.

He glanced at the toys, his eyes drifting to the little duckling still in the basket.

"Except for the duckling," Su Tang added.

He looked at her, then at the duckling.

Su Tang said, "The duckling is out of the question."

He frowned, "Why?"

"It was a gift from Nannan, a kindness from another. I dare not pass it on," Su Tang replied solemnly, placing the toys into his arms alongside the books.

He lowered his gaze and said nothing more.

Su Tang bit her molars ever so slightly.

Because the system hadn't changed.

The prompt "Donate a sum of silver" remained stubbornly unmoved.

How was this not a donation?

The books aside—she'd already promised to give them—but these toys were given freely!

Including the bamboo lantern, that totaled one hundred and fifty coins.

"...If you like them that much, I'll sell them to you for two hundred coins. How about it?" Su Tang smiled.

He looked again at the duckling.

Su Tang nodded.

"You give them to me, but sell them to me?" he said softly.

Su Tang replied earnestly, "If you truly desire them."

"A gentleman does not take what others cherish," he said.

Su Tang: "..."

How many books has he read to already spout 'gentleman'?

...

The sun was dipping low, and there were few people left on the streets of Ping'an Town. Most vendors had packed up and gone home, shop doors were shuttered, save for a handful still entertaining customers.

Li Qingtian had bought noodles, and as he passed his own doorway, he kept walking, as if merely passing by.

Lu Dashan, rounding the corner, saw Li Qingtian walking past his house and paused, then followed.

Soon, he too passed the courtyard gate.

...

In the courtyard, the big black dog stared at the entrance, wagged its tail, then let it drop.

In the kitchen, the little gentleman refused to play along.

Su Tang could only grumble inwardly.

But then, his gaze shifted to the chopping board.

The dough Su Tang had just prepared lay there.

"A secret recipe?" he asked.

Su Tang nodded slightly, "Yes."

He looked at her.

She looked back.

He spoke quietly, "What is it?"

Su Tang smiled, "Dragon Beard Noodles."

His eyebrows lifted.

Dragon beard—noodles?

"It's a kind of noodle, extremely fine, resembling dragon's beard. That's why it's called Dragon Beard Noodles," Su Tang explained.

He looked at the dough, then at her.

"It's my own invention," she added.

He continued to watch her.

Her eyes sparkled, lips curving to reveal pearly teeth, "If you like, I'll make the first bowl especially for you~"

He said nothing, only turned and left the kitchen.

The big black dog, seeing its young master emerge, wagged its tail and followed.

Su Tang watched the departing pair in silence.

If he wouldn't even eat her noodles, then as Sister Li said, he was truly on guard.

...

The dough needed to rest for a quarter hour.

Su Tang took it out, placing it on a flour-dusted board, rolled it out again, stretching it.

Li Qingtian returned through the back door, just in time to see the noodles gradually lengthen in Su Tang’s hands, her movements light as knitting yarn, and at last they cascaded down like a waterfall.

He paused for a moment, then began to heat water.

When the water boiled, the ultra-fine Dragon Beard noodles were ready.

Su Tang was about to put them in the pot when Li Qingtian spoke quietly: "I just realized someone was following me."

"From the Zhao family?" Su Tang asked.

Li Qingtian shook his head, "Doesn't seem like it."

Su Tang's brow twitched, lips pressed tight as she stared at the steaming pot. "Do you have any suggestions, Sister Li?"

"I'll follow your instructions," Li Qingtian replied.

Her instructions?

They'd already driven the original owner to her death, and still they wouldn't relent~

If only she had a revenge system—but she’d come with "cuisine" instead.

Should she use her "culinary skills" to crush them?

At that moment, the courtyard gate opened.

The big black dog, previously at the house door, shook its head and wagged its tail as Lu Dashan entered, grinning as he patted the dog's head and went inside.

...

Inside.

With the door closed, the simple, foolish look on Lu Dashan’s face vanished. His brows were cold, his demeanor transformed.

"I just saw someone tailing that girl," Lu Dashan said. "He had some skill, but I took care of him."

The young husband nodded, still absorbed in his book.

Lu Dashan glanced at him, then pulled a yellow paper from his sleeve.

"This is a prophecy from Master Xuanji," he said.

The young husband took it. Written on the yellow paper were a few lines of verse, given to Su Tang after Master Xuanji's divination.

"...Death and rebirth, three years..."

"Not very long," the young husband murmured, a faint crimson glimmer surfacing deep beneath his lowered lashes.

"Young master, patience is needed," Lu Dashan advised.

He looked up, the red fading, his expression calm and clear. "I know."

Lu Dashan acknowledged, then breathed in deeply.

"What smells so good?"

The young husband: "..."

Knock, knock. The door was rapped.

Lu Dashan opened it.

Outside, Li Qingtian smiled, "My sister has prepared something new—perhaps you'd like to try it, Uncle?"

"Oh, my new daughter-in-law's cooking? Of course I must taste it," Lu Dashan laughed heartily.

Li Qingtian's smile stiffened slightly.

Lu Dashan continued to grin, oblivious.

Li Qingtian's eyes shifted toward the room, "Perhaps the previous dishes were a bit spicy, but this one is mild. If the young master doesn't mind..."

Sounds stirred from within.

Lu Dashan turned.

Just in time to see his young master emerge.

Even Lu Dashan was momentarily surprised.

Was the young master coming to try it as well?

...

In the kitchen, the fragrance was rich and pervasive.

On the modest dark table sat four bowls of noodles, dishes of red, yellow, and green—eggs, vegetables, tender morsels of meat, all blending with the robust aroma and the light hint of pepper. The silky Dragon Beard noodles seemed to hide among the clouds, elusive yet tantalizing, and with a single glance, one’s appetite was stirred.

These noodles must be truly delicious.

The scent had been tempting outside; now inside, it felt as if the whole person floated amid clouds, and seeing the noodles, Lu Dashan's eyes nearly popped.

So fine? And so round?

"What are these?" Lu Dashan asked.

Su Tang looked past him to the young husband following behind, "Dragon Beard Noodles."

"Dragon Beard, that's quite something," Lu Dashan said, reaching for the nearest bowl, but Su Tang was quicker, picking it up first.

Lu Dashan: "?"