As soon as work ended, Foreman Tim Ding rushed off to report Clara's performance to the butler and ensure the reward he had promised her would be carried out.
The butler gave Tim Ding a long, doubtful look, as if trying to gauge whether he was pulling his leg.
"Sixteen trees in a single day?"
Tim Ding nodded vigorously. "Absolutely true."
"Even better than the Bearded Guy?"
"Way better!" Tim said with emphasis. "Bearded Guy pushed himself hard today and still only got six trees done—didn't even prune the branches. Meanwhile, Clara? That's just a fraction of what she did."
The butler took a deep breath and waved Tim off. "Go inform the kitchen—make sure Clara gets meat buns in the morning. Fresh ones. As many as she wants!"
"Got it! On my way!" Tim Ding responded with a loud reply before dashing toward the kitchen.
Meanwhile, the butler lingered in place for a few moments, trying to fully digest the news. Once he had collected his thoughts, he walked toward the study in the rear courtyard.
Master Ding, dressed in wide-sleeved scholar's robes, was tutoring his children in calligraphy. Upon being informed of the butler arrival, he stepped outside so as not to disturb his children and sat down at a stone table in the courtyard.
"What is it?" he asked.
The butler relayed everything Tim Ding had told him, including the additional meals to be prepared for Clara.
With Lady Ding having passed two years prior and the young Miss still a child, all household affairs had since fallen under Master Ding's sole management.
Though the butler had already instructed the kitchen to prepare extra portions, protocol demanded that he inform Master Ding as well.
Master Ding, a former scholar under the previous dynasty, now held the title under the new imperial system, which had retained the old titles and even reformed them to be more humane.
With the empire still in recovery, the Emperor and Empress had agreed to increase the frequency of the imperial examinations—now held annually.
It was an opportunity too good to pass up.
Master Ding hoped to attempt the exams once more himself, and also push his fourteen-year-old son, Felix Ding, to gain experience by participating frequently.
The boy had just passed the county exam and would be heading to the provincial exam in May. That was just half a month away.
Master Ding planned to accompany his son to the provincial city for the exam and then continue on to the capital for his own try at the imperial examination.
Leaving behind only his twelve-year-old daughter made him uneasy, even with members of the Ding clan still around in Willowridge County.
Although one of the main bandit leaders had been slain at the start of the year by an anonymous hero, Master Ding couldn't relax completely.
The thought of it all weighed heavily on him—though he never let his children see.
The butler, a long-serving elder of the household, understood his master's unspoken worries.
That's why he had brought up Clara, suggesting, "Master, once the logging work is complete, why not keep Clara on as your daughter's personal bodyguard?"
He suddenly found himself quite relieved that Clara was a woman.
If she had been a man, he wouldn't have dared suggest leaving her by the young Miss's side.
Master Ding wasn't surprised—he had already been considering the same.
"But this trip will take at least a month. We will not be back until the results of the provincial examination are announced. She might not be willing to stay that long."
The butler scoffed. "That's nothing money can't solve. She's a farm woman—offer her some silver, and she'll be thrilled!"
"This is a chance to become the personal guard to a scholar's daughter. People would kill for that kind of honor. She'll jump at it."
Master Ding raised a hand to cut him off, his expression darkening. "Old Hugh, Clara is not an ordinary woman. Your usual methods won't work."
Old Hugh blinked in surprise. What did that mean? Not ordinary?
But seeing that his words hadn't hit the mark, he cautiously asked, "Then how should we proceed?"
Master Ding's thoughts flashed back to the first time he had seen Clara.
"Old Hugh, did you ever see even a trace of fear, flattery, or pandering in her eyes?"
He didn't wait for a response. "She didn't even bother to take me seriously."
"No way someone like her came from Liew Clan Village. I heard she fled here from elsewhere. If her home was destroyed… she probably wasn't ordinary to begin with."
"People like her—they don't respond to money. Try to buy her, and she'll take it as an insult."
Old Hugh scratched his head. "Then what should we do? She doesn't fear your power, and money doesn't move her…"
Master Ding sighed and looked up at the sky. "Well, let's try offering money first anyway."
Old Hugh: …That's a tough call to evaluate.
The next morning—
Clara arrived at the Ding residence right on time.
The kitchen matron greeted her with a smile and beckoned toward the side room.
On a low table inside, two steaming bamboo steamers sent out waves of delicious aroma. Clara pointed at herself, a little uncertain.
The cook nodded warmly. "Yes, yes—go on in. Eight big meat buns. Eat them while they're hot!"
Even she was envious.
Tim Ding had originally said to make four buns. But that morning, the butler had come again, telling her to double it—just to make sure Clara was full.
Full? Eight of these monster buns could feed four people to bursting, and they still worried Clara might go hungry?
The cook grumbled inwardly but followed the instructions and made two full steamers.
Clara lifted the lid—and was greeted by four plump, snow-white buns. Her eyes lit up like a child's at a festival, nearly bursting out an "Oh wow!" like Deb would.
Meat buns! The first real ones she'd seen since transmigrating!
She took a huge bite—juicy meat and soft, fluffy dough exploded across her tongue. She was wrapped in warmth and bliss, nearly moved to tears by the simple joy.
By the time she had downed three, she suddenly remembered something.
She picked up the fourth and turned to hand it to Sonny, who stood at the door sipping millet porridge and drooling.
"For me, Sister-in-law?" he asked, eyes wide with delight.
Clara nodded, and Sonny grinned from ear to ear as he took the bun. "Following Third Brother, I never even got a taste of white steamed buns. But with you? Just two days, and I'm already eating meat buns!"
Implied: Clara was way better than Lester Liew.
Clara raised a brow. "Then eat up. Work hard today. More meat buns tomorrow."
The cook twitched at that. Meat buns weren't an everyday thing…
But the butler shot her a look: Let her believe what she wants.
The cook nodded slightly. When Clara didn't touch the second steamer, she asked if Clara planned to take them home. Clara eagerly agreed, asking her to keep them aside—she'd take them back after work for the kids.
The cook glanced at the butler's faint grimace and gave a soft "alright," agreeing to keep them warm.
That evening, Clara brought the meat buns home—and the kids nearly lost their minds with excitement.
"They're huge!" Chad said, holding up his little fists for comparison.
Deb stood on tiptoe to peek at the stove, swallowing hard. "Smells amazing~"
Ben paced nervously. "Dad, is it heated yet?"
Adam forced himself to stop staring into the pot and walked over to Clara, who was washing her face.
"Aunt Clara, Dad weeded the garden today and even cleared out three acres behind the house. He said we can plant more vegetables."
So… can he get a bun too? Adam looked at her with hopeful eyes.
Clara rubbed the boy's head and called into the kitchen, "Four buns, divide them into six portions. Everyone gets a share."
Lester Liew's eyes lit up. "Don't worry, my dear! I'll divide them perfectly!"
Adam blushed and ran into the kitchen to help, sneaking one more look back at Clara.
Her eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky, wide and glowing with warmth.
(End of Chapter)
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