Chapter 100: Nobles and Instant Noodles
Shaya glanced at Shi Qi beside him and frowned. “Boss, isn’t this girl one of the humans we captured?”
Chu Feng nodded. “Yep. She can control earth. She’ll help with road construction later.”
Shaya eyed her warily. “Can she be trusted?”
Chu Feng replied, “Just keep that young master in line, and she’ll behave.”
Shaya looked at the slave ring on her hand and nodded. “True. No matter how powerful she is, one tap of the slave ring could end her.
“Too bad those aristocrats are so cunning. They use non-transferable rings—makes sure they keep full control over their people. Definitely more secure that way.”
Shi Qi’s expression was calm, as if she hadn’t taken their words to heart. Chu Feng glanced at the girl and raised his brow. He had casually asked a few questions earlier and sensed that the relationship between this girl and the young master wasn’t an ordinary master-slave dynamic. Even though the young master technically held her life in his hands, he seemed somewhat afraid of her.
The group got into the car, and Chu Feng started the engine. The girl appeared composed on the outside, but inside she was full of shock.
Shi Qi had seen many things while following the chubby young master Lan Hu, but she had never seen a vehicle like this.
When Lan Hu left home, he was full of ambition and wanted to travel the world. But not long after he left, he started to regret it. Many of the villages outside the imperial capital were harsh and poor. Having grown up in luxury, Lan Hu found it hard to adjust, and he didn’t enjoy the local cuisine either.
He had long wanted to return home, but after leaving with such fanfare, slinking back in shame would be too humiliating. So, he just kept wandering. Back in the capital, Lan Hu was highly respected, pampered, and naïve. After flaunting his wealth outside, he ended up being chased by a group of robbers.
After Shi Qi arrived at the construction site, she gave Chu Feng a demonstration of her earth-manipulation ability.
“Amazing!” said Chui Shi, full of admiration.
Shi Qi looked at him and asked, “How many work tickets can I earn per day doing this?”
“I can give you a hundred,” Chu Feng replied generously.
He thought to himself: For someone this capable, paying more is only fair.
Shi Qi asked curiously, “How many packs of instant noodles can I buy with a hundred work tickets?”
“About five work tickets per pack,” said Chu Feng.
Shi Qi lit up with excitement. “That’s great.”
Chu Feng looked at her, thinking: Could she be a huge instant noodle fan, too?
And he was right—Shi Qi was a fan. Previously, Delice had brought two buckets of instant noodles for her and Lan Hu. Lan Hu, starving, was given Shi Qi’s portion after she told him she was already full.
Lan Hu believed her and ate her share.
Although Shi Qi was technically his slave, Lan Hu treated her decently, and the Mercedes family valued her highly. She had enjoyed plenty of fine food—but the taste of instant noodles truly impressed her.
After eating nothing but dry bread and hard biscuits for days, instant noodles tasted like gourmet cuisine.
Lan Hu’s background wasn’t simple. The people of Crescent Moon Village had arranged for someone to keep an eye on him, but he didn’t seem to mind.
By the time Chu Feng finished arranging things for Lan Hu and Shi Qi, several hours had passed.
At the construction site, many workers had already finished for the day. Two beastmen were pushing carts selling meatballs—it looked like business was good.
Although Chu Feng had guaranteed the highland tribe would be well-fed, he couldn’t ensure they’d always eat well.
Now that some of them had work tickets, they began to gather and buy better food.
“Spicy hot pot (mala tang)?” Chu Feng exclaimed, eyes wide.
It wasn’t surprising to see mala tang in the real world, but to see it in the castle construction zone? That was a bit much.
Illya nodded. “It’s Aunt Snow Rabbit who’s selling it.”
“That cart?” Chu Feng frowned. He didn’t remember bringing such a cart here.
Illya smiled. “The dwarves made it.”
“Oh, I see,” said Chu Feng.
“Aunt Snow Rabbit is a great cook. She probably learned to make mala tang after seeing it at the sacrificial festival,” Illya added.
Chu Feng thought: Finding work on your own like this—not bad!
He then glanced at the beastman beside the rabbit and said, “Why does that guy look a bit like Sterling?”
“That’s Sterling’s uncle. He’s a tiger beastman. He and Aunt Snow Rabbit are husband and wife.”
Chu Feng: …A rabbit married a tiger? If it’s true love, race really doesn’t matter.
Just then, his stomach rumbled. “Let’s get a bowl, too.”
Illya nodded. “Okay!”
“Boss!” the rabbit perked her ears up as she saw Chu Feng approach.
Chu Feng handed over ten work tickets. “Two bowls of mala tang, please.”
The rabbit looked slightly embarrassed. “No need, no need. Crescent Moon Village already owes you too much.”
Chu Feng smiled. “Business is business—you still need to take the tickets.”
Illya chimed in, “Aunt Snow Rabbit, just accept it. Work tickets mean little to Chu Feng.”
Hearing that, the rabbit nodded. “Alright then.”
Chu Feng tasted a few meatballs and was impressed. “This is really good!” The flavor even surpassed that of many mala tang shops back in the modern world.
Illya smiled. “I told you Aunt Snow Rabbit was an amazing cook.”
Just then, Chui Shi walked over. “Boss, the meeting room has been set up. Would you like to check it out?”
Chu Feng nodded. “Sure!”
He headed over to the meeting room. It was nicely furnished with tables, chairs, and benches—everything in place. They even installed a fireplace, which looked quite beautiful.
“This is really nice!” he praised.
Chui Shi grinned. “Glad you think so. Everyone worked overtime to finish it.”
Chu Feng felt great seeing how well it was set up.
Illya asked, “Can we bring in some chandeliers?”
“Of course,” Chu Feng nodded.
Illya clapped his hands. “That’s fantastic! I heard the dwarves are making good progress and have even started figuring out how to make lights glow. At this rate, it might not be long before the villagers have electricity.”
Though making fancy chandeliers wouldn’t be easy, Chu Feng nodded. “The progress is impressive.”
With a reference point to guide them, their progress naturally became faster. “Didn’t you also buy them books?”
Chu Feng: “…”
Indeed, he had brought some books on circuitry, but the words in them likely wouldn’t be understood by the dwarves. That they’d made it this far just from the illustrations alone was already impressive.
*
Early the next morning, Chu Feng drove to the shaman’s residence.
Shaman Qiu Luo looked at the vehicle approaching and commented with interest, “That’s a nice car you’ve got!”
Chu Feng smiled. “It’s alright.”
He thought to himself: The shaman really seems to like cars. Well, it’s no surprise—what man doesn’t like cars? Even masters like luxury vehicles. Maybe someday, if the chance comes, I’ll bring him one as a gift. A foreign-world agricultural master like him deserves it.
Shaman Qiu Luo handed him two jars of Hundred-Fruit Brew. “These are the last two. Take them.”
Chu Feng was pleased. “Thank you, shaman.”
“Is that human boy behaving himself?” he asked.
Qiu Luo nodded. “He’s fine.”
Chu Feng nodded. “That’s good.”
“I think your suggestion was great—kids in the village should read more.” Qiu Luo had always supported education, but the kids lacked discipline, and he had no time or teacher, so it had been shelved. The chubby boy came from a noble background—too dangerous to let roam free, but locking him up wasn’t ideal either. Putting him to work teaching literacy was a good use of his skills.
*
In the room, the chubby boy, Lan Hu, was slurping noodles noisily. “So delicious! I’ve never eaten anything this good, even at home.”
Shi Qi looked at him and said, “Please slow down.”
Lan Hu glanced up. “My brother said the non-humans in the forest are all starving and desperate every day. Turns out, he lied.”
Shi Qi thought: Young Master wasn’t exactly lying… maybe this village is just a strange exception.
Lan Hu slurped more noodles and muttered, “He also said bardic poets are loved by girls, traveling and sleeping along the way… that was a lie too.”
Shi Qi thought: So that’s why he wanted to be a bard?
Lan Hu took another bite. “These non-humans eat better than I do.”
Shi Qi: …
After finishing the last bite of instant noodles, Lan Hu patted his belly in satisfaction. “If I could eat like this every day, staying here a few more years wouldn’t be a problem.”
Shi Qi eyed him warily. Is the Young Master planning to run away? He’s a slave now—not so easy to escape.
She glanced out the window and spotted a night eagle perched on a tree, staring in. She figured it was someone from Crescent Village keeping watch.
Lan Hu said, “I taught all day today and got a 10-workpoint voucher.”
Shi Qi blinked. Ten? I earned 100 today. That’s ten times more than him.
Lan Hu glanced at her. “How much did you earn?”
Shi Qi hesitated. “One hundred.”
Lan Hu’s eyes widened. “That much?!”
Shiqi replied, “Maybe because of my ability. Highland Tribe workers earn about 10 workpoints a day too.”
Apparently, she had the highest pay in the village—only rivaled by a skilled dwarf master.
Lan Hu slumped. “I’m the third young master of the Merdes family, and I earn the same as those simple-minded Highlanders.”
Shi Qi: “…People here don’t really care about noble status. In fact, nobles get less respect. The Highlanders do heavy labor—if you can earn the same, you’re already doing pretty well.”
