Chapter 1204, Laws

Translator: Silavin

 

It was early morning, and Su Bai had risen well before anyone else.

 

He had not asked Yu Ying to come and wake him for breakfast. He had beaten even Yu Ying to it.

 

When Yu Ying got up, she was startled. Someone was already working in the living room.

 

She padded over, curious, and found the Shaman seated at his place, bent over his papers.

 

Yu Ying rubbed her drowsy eyes and shuffled across to him. “Shaman, why are you up so early today? Did you not sleep last night?”

 

It was not an unreasonable guess. Su Bai had been putting a lot of effort into his work lately.

 

Sometimes he stayed up very late, and it was no wonder Yu Ying assumed he had simply not slept.

 

“No, I slept well last night. There is something I need to attend to today, so I got up a little early.” Su Bai shook his head.

 

He had woken naturally just past six, without any trace of drowsiness pulling him back.

 

After getting up, Su Bai checked in with the System as he always did, and claimed his Assistance Package for the day.

 

What came out was nothing remarkable. Just a box of hair dye.

 

“Is there anything I can help with today, Shaman?” Yu Ying’s sleepiness vanished at once.

 

She knew the Shaman did not usually do this. If he had risen this early to work, it had to be something important.

 

“It is important, yes. But there is not much you can help with just now. Go and prepare breakfast first. I’m a little hungry.” Su Bai smiled and patted his stomach lightly.

 

The work he was occupied with today was not something Yu Ying could assist with. He would have to let her go and make food for the time being.

 

“Of course, Shaman. Please wait just a moment. Breakfast will be ready soon.” Yu Ying promptly tied her hair back, turned on her heel, and disappeared into the kitchen.

 

Yu Ying usually rose around half past seven, which was also the time Min came in.

 

Min entered, bowed politely to Su Bai in greeting, and then walked straight into the kitchen to help.

 

Min had been busy with the shop lately and sometimes could not be seen at the Yong’an Building for a whole day.

 

“Why have you come over? You have been so tired these past few days. You should rest properly. Did I not say I was here?” Yu Ying asked softly.

 

She was kneading dough as she spoke, planning to make a bowl of tomato and egg noodles. It was the quickest thing to prepare. Everything else was more involved.

 

“There is nothing important this morning. I arranged everything for the afternoon, so since I had nothing on, I came over.” Min replied quietly.

 

“You still need to rest properly. You have been running yourself ragged lately. What will you do if you wear yourself out?” Yu Ying gave her a gentle nudge and steered her back out of the kitchen. “Just leave this to me. Quickly go back.”

 

She pulled the kitchen door shut after her. Min’s work was genuinely exhausting, and Yu Ying did not want her spending a rare free morning worrying about the Yong’an Building. Besides, Yu Ying had always loved cooking. It was a good opportunity to have the kitchen to herself.

 

“Got yourself chased out, huh? I told you that you did not need to come over. Your main job right now is to manage those shops.” Su Bai said mildly.

 

He had been mildly surprised to see her walk in. He had told her she could rest. But she had refused to hear of it, so Su Bai had let it be. She would find out soon enough once she wandered into the kitchen.

 

“Do not worry, Shaman. I will put everything I have into those shops. But since there was nothing important this morning, I thought I would come and make you breakfast.” Min scratched the back of her head.

 

“Go easy on yourself. The Yong’an Building has Xiao Yu here. Go home, look after your Younger Sister, and get some rest.” Su Bai waved a hand.

 

“Thank you, Shaman. Then I will head back now.” Min bent in a bow and turned to leave.

 

*Step step step…*

 

Ten minutes later, Yu Ying emerged carrying a steaming bowl of tomato and egg noodles.

 

She glanced around. No sign of Min. She murmured to herself, “That girl. She is already working herself to the bone and she still comes over to worry about things here.”

 

“Ha. Is she not just like you? Both of you are terrified I might go hungry.” Su Bai laughed openly.

 

He lifted the bowl and began eating with great enthusiasm. Tomato and egg noodles were simple, but the flavour was a classic. The real effort was in the kneading. Boiling the noodles, frying the egg, cooking down the tomatoes, all of that was straightforward enough.

 

“Eat slowly, Shaman. There is plenty more in the pot.” Yu Ying settled in and started on her own bowl.

 

“Where are Ah’Hua and the others?” Su Bai asked.

 

He had noticed Yan Hua and Sha Lan were up even before he was. From the moment he had risen until now, he had not seen a trace of Yan Hua or the others.

 

At this hour, they could not possibly still be asleep. The only explanation was that they had gone out very early.

 

“They mentioned something about training yesterday, so they got up even earlier than usual.” Yu Ying glanced out of the window.

 

“That explains it. I have not caught sight of those two girls since I woke up.” Su Bai drained the last of the tomato broth in one go.

 

“More, Shaman?” Yu Ying rose to fetch the pot.

 

“No, I’m full. I will eat more at lunch. Let me get back to work.” Su Bai pulled a sheet of paper from the table and wiped his hands.

 

He felt this work was very important. It needed to be properly put together in the shortest time possible.

 

“What are you working on? You have already filled so many sheets.” Yu Ying finished the last of her broth.

 

She rose and wiped down the table, stacking the two bowls together for the maids to take away and wash.

 

“I am writing the laws for Yong’an City. Once the city is established, we will need laws to govern it.” Su Bai said plainly.

 

The reason he had risen so early was that he had suddenly remembered the night before that the matter of laws still had not been dealt with.

 

If a city was to be founded, the most critical thing was a system of governance. Relying on himself and the Chieftain alone would be a true headache.

 

And in time there would be many who would not accept it, wondering why only two people had the authority to manage everything.

 

But with laws, it would be different. Every matter would be set down in writing beforehand, fair and clear. Anyone who committed an offence could be dealt with strictly according to those laws.

 

It would earn the trust of the people. Governance would become far simpler then. Su Bai would not need to exhaust himself over it.

 

“Shaman, what does ‘laws’ mean?” Yu Ying had no familiarity with the word at all.

 

She dabbed at the corners of her mouth with a cloth, her pink eyes wide with curiosity.