Chapter 22: It Doesn't Matter

“Could it be that my sister was mistaken?” Su Tang covered her lips and hurriedly bowed to Chief Fang. “Please forgive me, Uncle Chief. It was a slip of the tongue from a young woman.”

“You see, she said it herself! She’s falsely accusing me,” Master Zhao called out anxiously.

Chief Fang glared fiercely at Master Zhao, then turned to Su Tang with a gentle smile. “No need to apologize. If anything, it’s because he’s always acted improperly in the past.”

“That’s right,” Lu Dashan said loudly.

Master Zhao’s eyes bulged and his mouth twisted, revealing his large golden teeth.

Lu Dashan’s eyes widened too, and the muscles in his arms tensed. Master Zhao’s gaze flickered, and he turned away, muttering, “I won’t stoop to the level of brutes…”

Su Tang lowered her head in silence, her manner calm and elegant.

Chief Fang rubbed his forehead and said to Su Tang, “It’s settled then. The contract is complete, and all matters are resolved. If you have other pursuits, feel free to attend to them. You needn’t concern yourself with him. If you need anything, come find me.”

“Thank you, Uncle Chief.” Su Tang replied with another bow.

“Didn’t I tell you? From now on, just call me Uncle, not Chief. How could you forget again!” Chief Fang scolded lightly, then called out to Lu Dashan. “Dashan, you too. Let your new wife be less restrained in the future.”

“She’s just very proper,” Lu Dashan chuckled sheepishly.

Chief Fang’s intent to see them off was clear. He didn’t linger in further pleasantries, and Lu Dashan and Su Tang took their leave.

As soon as the private room door closed, Master Zhao’s pleading voice drifted out.

“Brother-in-law, I was wrong! Don’t, don’t, it hurts!”

“Still arguing? Who else could it be but you…”

Su Tang’s expression remained unchanged as she descended the stairs.

Lu Dashan glanced at the young lady beside him, trying to probe, “Did you really see someone watching us?”

Su Tang replied, “No.”

“Huh?”

Su Tang’s lips curved into a smile as bright as spring. “Only by saying so will Uncle Chief take it to heart. Only then will your efforts in study not be in vain.” Nor her investment of two thousand four hundred taels of silver.

Lu Dashan found her words a bit odd, but he understood well how the young lady cared for their little master.

“Yes, Jingyuan is fortunate to have a new wife,” Lu Dashan said.

…But it wasn’t just Lu Dashan who knew Jingyuan was blessed. The whole town knew the Lu family’s little fool—no, young master—was lucky.

“The Lu family’s young master has actually become a student of Master Fang!”

“Master Fang has been in this town for six years, and he’s only taken three students. The Lu family is the fourth.”

“I thought he was silly, but he seems to have some ability after all~”

“Master Fang’s students are always scholars.”

“Does this mean Old Lu won’t have to pay taxes anymore?”

As Lu Dashan and Su Tang left the inn, people along the road congratulated them. Su Tang’s gentle, respectful demeanor was dignified and courteous, and even dressed plainly with a simple hairpin, she caught many glances.

Previously, people thought she was just a merchant’s daughter, down on her luck and taken in by the Lu family. But today, seeing her in the sunshine, she was radiant and charming.

How could a butcher’s Lu family deserve such fortune?

“Thank you, thank you~”

“If my son achieves anything in the future, I, Lu Dashan, will surely repay everyone!” Lu Dashan’s booming voice was like a mountain, and his towering figure made even the street dogs tuck their tails and run.

Li Qingtian, at his spicy soup stall, witnessed the scene.

His own young lady walked closely behind her father-in-law, carefully shielded.

Su Tang also saw Li Qingtian and signaled to her. Li Qingtian’s pitch immediately changed, “To celebrate our young master entering the academy, today is the last day of spicy soup sales! Every customer gets a bamboo token. When the new stall opens in three days, those with a token will get an extra serving of ‘Splendid Gold and Jade’!”

Everyone hearing this turned their heads in curiosity, and the spicy aroma wafted through the air. Even those just drawn by the excitement wanted to try it, and those who’d tasted it were salivating.

“What’s ‘Splendid Gold and Jade’?” a customer asked.

“That’s a secret,” Li Qingtian replied with a smile.

“Then give me one.”

Su Tang took advantage of the distraction to slip behind the stall, gathering her sleeves to help Li Qingtian with her work.

“You should rest, young lady,” Li Qingtian whispered.

“No need. I had some snacks at the inn and watched part of a play…”

“A play?” Li Qingtian was puzzled.

“Yes, Master Zhao was there too. I just repeated what my sister saw yesterday…” Su Tang blinked.

Li Qingtian understood, muttering, “He got off easy.”

“Don’t rush, everyone will get one, and there are plenty of tokens,” a booming voice suddenly interjected, quieting the noisy crowd. The deep, resonant sound seemed to linger in the air.

Su Tang smiled brightly.

Li Qingtian pursed her lips.

He was used as a door guardian.

After a while, Li Qingtian noticed that her father-in-law kept watching her from time to time.

She looked back: What are you looking at?

Lu Dashan wasn’t surprised she looked back. Seeing Li Qingtian’s gaze, he smacked his lips and said, “Yesterday I saw you pass by the house. What were you up to?”

Li Qingtian’s heart skipped a beat but her expression didn’t change. “Just business.”

Lu Dashan’s brow twitched as he grinned, “All done?”

Li Qingtian replied, “Done.”

“Oh~” Lu Dashan gave her a meaningful look. “In the future, just say what’s needed. We’re all family.”

“Of course.”

Li Qingtian continued working, but as she recalled it, she still felt something odd about this door guardian’s words.

******

Upstairs in the inn.

Master Zhao bared his large golden teeth. “Isn’t it just giving that silly kid a teacher’s inkstone? Our family’s children have one too! There are so many inkstones; it’s probably just fooling people. Otherwise, who’d pay so much for tuition?”

“What do you know, always with your mind on money,” Chief Fang rebuked. “Cong’er’s inkstone is new, but that boy’s is used.”

“Maybe it’s just Master Fang’s own inkstone,” Master Zhao retorted.

Chief Fang was so frustrated he almost punched him again.

But this fellow was thick-skinned, and in the end, it was Chief Fang who hurt.

Chief Fang had to restrain himself. “Do you know, Master Fang has taken four students, but only this one received a name as soon as he entered. If he didn’t have high hopes, why would he settle it so quickly?”

“I don’t care what you do. My Fang family’s ancestors were the Grand Imperial Librarians at the founding of the Great Qian dynasty. Though we’ve long ceased to hold such titles, and I’m just the chief of Peaceful Town, I still want to run a good academy. If more students become recommended scholars, or even officials, Peaceful Town will truly be a place of talent—”

“I get it!” Master Zhao interrupted, his eyes shining. “More people will come to Peaceful Town to study, you won’t just be chief, and I’ll make more money!”

“At least you have ambition and vision, Brother-in-law. Don’t worry, I, Zhao De, absolutely won’t get in the way.”

Chief Fang: “……”

He wasn’t entirely wrong, but Chief Fang still felt like beating his brother-in-law until he reincarnated.