Chapter 50: The Master's Reward

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Boom—

Su Tang was almost startled out of her skin.

She was about to look toward the source of the thunder when she first noticed someone approaching.

The street was bustling with people, yet this man stood out from the crowd. He appeared to be in his forties, his beard neatly trimmed, dressed in a long robe with straight lapels. The wide sleeves were gently gathered at the wrists, and the light blue collar was crisp and simple. The robe itself was tailored from fine cotton and linen. His headwear curved slightly at the corners, and his gentle eyes showed surprise as he watched Li Qingtian skillfully twirl the dragon beard noodles.

“How much for this?” His warm and affable voice was approachable enough, but whether it was her original self or the current Su Tang, she could immediately sense a certain aura about him.

Su Tang smiled, “Do you have a token?”

The servant behind the man handed over two bamboo tokens.

“Seventy-eight.” “Seventy-nine.”

By the next day, these two bamboo tokens would vanish from her hands.

“Very good.” Su Tang accepted them with a broad smile.

“Only dragon beard noodles,” the servant said.

Su Tang acknowledged him, and Li Qingtian was already tossing the delicate noodles into the boiling water.

The noodles emerged, a perfect blend of subtle flavor and rich aroma, silky yet resilient—a dish that drew exclamations of praise.

“Excellent, truly excellent,” the man complimented repeatedly.

The servant, who was enjoying the meal with him, produced a small piece of silver from his sleeve and tossed it over.

“A reward from my master.”

“Many thanks, sir,” Su Tang replied with a smile.

The other diners couldn’t help but glance over—this small piece of silver was worth far more than the price of the noodles.

After finishing their bowl, master and servant departed.

At the delicious food stall, Li Qingtian had disappeared without notice.

After a while, he returned and whispered, “He went to the academy.”

The academy?

That was no concern of hers.

…

At sunset.

Outside the academy.

Liu Hu, a young pupil, munched on a snack as he rolled his eyes with great importance. “The academy was lively today. A high-ranking official came; even the teacher accompanied him.”

“How important?” Su Tang asked in surprise.

“Hmph. Anyone else wouldn’t know, but I do. Fatty Zhao said it was the county magistrate,” Liu Hu replied.

“And who’s Fatty Zhao?” Su Tang asked.

“He’s from Master Zhao’s family—a good friend of mine,” Liu Hu said, thumping his chest.

“Impressive, Brother Liu,” Su Tang praised.

The county magistrate? Was it that man?

As Su Tang pondered this, she glanced up and happened to see her little husband standing outside the academy gate.

He wore a long robe with straight lapels, his features unchanged from before, yet for a fleeting moment, she thought she saw a massive sword strapped to his back, one that could cleave the sky…

Su Tang rubbed her eyes.

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Her little husband was still her little husband, no different from before.

Ding-dong~

The system’s voice rang in her mind.

“Reward has been redeemed.”

Su Tang: “…”

A gentle breeze caressed her, just as it always did when she waited for her little husband outside the academy.

There was nothing around her—no money, no dog droppings.

Nothing fell from above—no pancakes, no bird droppings.

So, what exactly had the system redeemed?

Was the fantasy she just saw part of it?

She was used to silent redemptions turning into silver, which she liked.

But redeeming special effects—what was the point of that?

Just to broaden her horizons?

Su Tang grumbled inwardly but kept smiling. When her little husband approached, she handed him a box, just as usual.

Inside were rice cakes.

Lu Jingyuan glanced at Su Tang and took a piece.

He ate quietly, and though his irritation subsided somewhat, he still felt something was missing.

Su Tang glanced around.

“What are you looking for?” Lu Jingyuan asked.

“Huang, our classmate,” Su Tang replied.

“He left earlier with his family,” Lu Jingyuan said.

“With his family? Was he related to the important guest at the academy today?” Su Tang inquired.

Lu Jingyuan paused, the rice cake halfway to his lips.

Su Tang kept smiling.

Lu Jingyuan looked at her, then ate the rice cake.

“You’re quite well-informed, Junior,” he commented.

So it was true!

What a coincidence.

If the visitor to the academy was indeed the county magistrate, then that meant Master Zhao’s brother-in-law was Huang’s elder?

Su Tang thought of Master Zhao flashing his gold tooth at her and suddenly felt uneasy. Just then, her little husband said, “Tomorrow is a day off. I’ve invited the teacher to dine at our home.”

“Wonderful!” Su Tang agreed cheerfully.

********

Even though the academy was on break, the food stall remained open.

The usually lively stall suddenly quieted for a moment, followed by hushed whispers.

Su Tang kept her smile, but Li Qingtian, beside her, wore a frosty expression.

Master Zhao, draped in silks and brocade, waddled over with his potbelly.

“One bowl,” he said, and his bodyguard tossed down a token.

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Li Qingtian nearly dropped the dough in his hands.

Su Tang stopped him. “A guest is a guest.”

Li Qingtian exhaled and began his work.

As the dough slowly transformed into dragon beard noodles, Master Zhao’s jaw dropped ever wider.

He’d heard about this many times, but seeing it for himself—this was the genuine article.

When the bowl was set before him, the aroma was intoxicating, and with meat and egg, the taste was heavenly—mountain delicacies were nothing in comparison.

“Good, very good,” Master Zhao said after finishing, giving a thumbs-up.

The bodyguard tossed over a piece of silver.

“A reward from my master.”

The surrounding diners gasped at the scene.

Master Zhao was certainly generous.

Su Tang watched this familiar scene unfold and smiled gently. “Thank you, sir.”

Master Zhao grinned at her, the glint of his gold tooth just visible, and let out a snort. “You have real skill, young lady.” With that, he adjusted his robe and swaggered off.

A nearby diner whispered, “Be careful, miss.”

“Thank you,” Su Tang replied.

She had thought that with the village chief and the previous donation, things would quiet down for a while.

But clearly, she had been too optimistic.

After a moment’s thought, Su Tang took out a token and placed it next to the one labeled “Dragon Beard Noodles.”

It was made just the same, and read “Knife-Cut Noodles.”

The new sign instantly caused an uproar.

“What are knife-cut noodles?”

“Not sliced, but shaved?”

…

Su Tang only smiled. “You’ll find out tomorrow.”

*******

With a new novelty to anticipate, fewer people ordered dragon beard noodles that day.

The stall closed earlier than usual.

As the sun sank lower, the kitchen bustled with activity, and the aroma wafted all the way outside the courtyard.

Passersby assumed the preparations were for tomorrow’s “knife-cut noodles,” and their curiosity grew.

When Master Fang stepped into the courtyard, the lingering fragrance nearly drew him straight into the kitchen.

“This scent, it’s wonderful, wonderful.”

He murmured, noting that the aroma outside had been enticing, but within the courtyard it was even richer. Though the ingredients were ordinary, the blend of flavors was indeed remarkable.

But… something was off.

Master Fang looked at Lu Jingyuan, who only shook his head slightly.