Chapter 57: Taken

The sun was gradually setting.

As the sound of the bell and zither echoed through the academy’s courtyard, the students began to make their way home.

“Sir, I’ll be heading back now,” Lu Jingyuan said with a bow.

“What are you going home for? There’s no one there anyway. Stay and have dinner with me before you leave,” Master Fang replied.

“I’d best go home first,” Lu Jingyuan insisted.

Master Fang was taken aback. “She’s returned?”

“Yes,” replied Lu Jingyuan.

“How do you know?” Master Fang asked.

Lu Jingyuan remained silent, bowed again, and departed.

Watching Lu Jingyuan’s retreating figure, Master Fang gave a quiet laugh. “That boy...”

******

“Woof, woof!”

Before he even approached, he could hear Dahei barking from behind the courtyard gate.

He opened the gate, and the rich aroma of food immediately greeted him.

In the kitchen, Li Qingtian poked his head out. “Young master, you’re back? Your father-in-law stayed in the county, and the young mistress is in the house.”

“I’ll go and talk with her for a bit.”

Inside, Su Tang was leafing through the household register when she heard “my wife” from the young master outside. Her hand trembled, and she nearly dropped the book.

Just a few days ago, he couldn’t stand calling her “wife,” and now the words rolled so smoothly off his tongue.

The door opened, and the young master entered.

Bathed in the bright lamplight, he strode in like a sturdy green pine.

Su Tang broke into a smile. “Husband.”

Lu Jingyuan’s gaze lingered momentarily. The young woman at the table was still dressed in her usual loose cotton clothes, but something in her eyes and expression was strikingly different—she seemed more radiant than ever.

“Was everything smooth?” Lu Jingyuan asked.

Su Tang’s eyes curved into a smile. “Yes, with Father-in-law and Uncle Village Chief present, everything went well. The county magistrate has already agreed.”

“The magistrate is a good man,” Lu Jingyuan responded, his handsome features earnest, as if there was nothing ambiguous about his words.

Su Tang hesitated. “Does Master Fang truly see you as his own son or nephew?”

Lu Jingyuan said nothing, only looked at her quietly.

Su Tang understood.

He was asking her—what else would it be?

Carefully, Su Tang continued, “Today I asked the magistrate to inscribe a plaque. He said that Master Fang’s calligraphy was also excellent, and, since he’s your teacher, perhaps Master Fang should do it. I replied that since it’s within the magistrate’s jurisdiction, he should write it. The magistrate was very pleased and even praised my discernment.”

Lu Jingyuan remained silent.

Su Tang glanced at her young husband and went on, “Of course I have good judgment—otherwise, I wouldn’t have chosen to be with you. But you must have noticed I was flattering him. The magistrate, however, accepted it calmly, as if it were only right. It would be best to let Master Fang know about this.”

“I just have a feeling the magistrate doesn’t treat Master Fang well.”

Su Tang’s gaze was clear and still as a tranquil lake.

Lu Jingyuan pressed his lips together, silent.

If the magistrate did not treat Master Fang well, it meant it was best to keep a distance. And keeping a distance meant the magistrate was not a good person.

She was warning him to be wary of the magistrate.

Indeed, someone who could devise such intricate plans could not be the naive and sheltered noblewoman others believed her to be.

But if she was so capable, how had she ended up in her previous predicament?

“Alright,” Lu Jingyuan replied.

Su Tang smiled.

Perhaps Master Fang already knew what kind of man Magistrate Liu was, but she still needed to warn him. She also knew it would not cause trouble.

Su Tang was about to return her attention to the register when her young husband said, “I have another classmate who’s come as well.”

Su Tang was surprised. Only the day before yesterday, she had invited a classmate for noodles at the academy, and now another was coming to their home? She was starting to suspect her young husband was not as reserved as he seemed—he made friends too quickly and decisively.

“I’ll go greet him,” Su Tang said, setting the register aside.

Lu Jingyuan caught her sleeve. She turned back to him.

“He came because he was ‘summoned,’” Lu Jingyuan said.

Su Tang took a moment to process his words, then smiled broadly. “That’s wonderful.”

With that, she hurried out, though her face was flushed as she turned away from Lu Jingyuan.

Summoned? Why was that her first thought?

...

There was no one in the main room. When Su Tang checked the kitchen, she found the student there, helping Li Qingtian cook.

Li Qingtian quickly explained, “It wasn’t my idea—this scholar Liu insisted on helping, said he was used to it at home.”

“Yes, yes,” the thin scholar Liu echoed, “I really am used to it.”

Seeing Lu Jingyuan enter behind Su Tang, he quickly added, “Our teacher instructs us in manners. I came in a hurry today and may have neglected proper etiquette. Please forgive me, sister-in-law.” He bowed again.

Su Tang was momentarily taken aback. A calm voice sounded beside her: “You’re too polite.”

Scholar Liu immediately straightened with a sheepish grin. “It’s just habit, from home.”

Su Tang looked meaningfully at her young husband.

He met her gaze, his eyes still clear and deep.

“Invite him to eat with us,” he said.

“Of course.” Su Tang turned to Scholar Liu. “Please join us for dinner.”

“Then I’ll gladly accept your hospitality,” Liu replied.

“May I ask how I should address you, Scholar?”

“My surname is Liu, given name Ziyu. You may call me Liu Erlang, sister-in-law.”

...

The dishes on the table were a mix of meat and vegetables, and some snacks brought back from the county.

According to Li Qingtian, it was a chance to sample the skill of future competitors. The outcome was obvious.

“Not good. Not as tasty as ours,” he declared.

Lu Jingyuan silently agreed.

Su Tang herself took one bite of each and stopped. They had their own flavor, but compared to the ingredients provided by her system, these were still lacking.

It was clear what a vast market lay ahead.

Su Tang looked at Scholar Liu with a smile. “Knife-cut noodles and dragon’s beard noodles both require great strength—not just wrist, but back and arm as well. Though all applicants today seemed robust, those who were first must be particularly strong. Since you are my husband’s classmate and friend, I’ll give you some leeway. But may I ask, Liu Erlang, for whom did you apply?”

Liu Ziyu glanced at Lu Jingyuan, then gritted his teeth. “For myself.”

Lu Jingyuan shot him a look.

Su Tang mused, “Are you worried you’ll fail the exams? Looking for a backup plan?”

Caught out, Liu Ziyu’s pale cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Yes, but I know I’m not strong enough for the job. I was hoping for something related to accounts. I’m the best at bookkeeping in the academy, truly.”

Su Tang’s eyes lit up. “A merchant transports tea from Jiangyin to the capital, purchasing premium tea cakes at eighty coins each. During river transit, two-tenths are lost to storms. In the capital, the remaining tea cakes are sold at one hundred thirty coins each, for a total profit of thirty percent. How many tea cakes did he originally purchase?”

Li Qingtian’s eyes sparkled.

Lu Jingyuan was a bit stunned.

Liu Ziyu fell silent, calculating quickly. Within seconds, he blurted out, “At least ten.”

Su Tang slapped the table. “Excellent, you’re hired.”

What?

Everyone was speechless.

Su Tang coughed lightly. “I mean, you’re accepted.”