Chapter Thirty-Three: Su Ziye’s Departure

The machine for making instant noodles was actually much simpler compared to the one used for producing the “Happy Water” beverage. Or perhaps, one could say it was far more complex.

The Happy Water manufacturing machine was essentially a device that mixed syrup ingredients in precise proportions; all it required was a continuous input of raw materials at the top and collection of finished product at the bottom. To be exact, its production process was vertical—feed in from above, output from below.

But the production of instant noodles felt entirely different. It was a horizontal assembly line.

First came the dough mixer.

Yes, don’t laugh. Even mixing dough requires a machine; otherwise, mixing hundreds of pounds of raw ingredients by hand would demand each worker to have the strength of two mighty arms, not to mention that most of the workers here were women.

After the dough mixer came the rolling machine, which flattened the dough into sheets of uniform thickness using a set of rollers of various sizes and lengths.

Following the rolling machine was the forming device, responsible for cutting the dough sheets into wavy strips with sharp blades.

Next was a long tunnel steaming machine. As the sheets moved through it, high-temperature steam surged around, thoroughly cooking the noodles.

After steaming came the cutter, which trimmed and shaped the cooked sheets into circles or simpler square shapes.

The final machine was a large timed fryer, which completed the noodles by fully frying, dehydrating, and setting the dough. At this stage, the instant noodle cakes were officially finished.

Yes, just producing these simple instant noodles required six distinct steps, six different machines. All these machines had been meticulously crafted by the academy’s artisans. Since Su Ziye’s Happy Water machine, those master machinists had greatly expanded their creativity and imagination. The machines they made this time far exceeded Su Ziye’s expectations.

Moreover, they had actually used works of art as standards for these machines, leaving Su Ziye utterly amazed when he first saw the finished products.

As for power, these machines currently ran on precisely cut magical crystals as their primary energy source. In the future, Su Ziye was considering steam engines since they could run on coal—a much simpler resource. Although he had no doubt those machinists could eventually produce internal combustion or electric engines, the fuel for internal combustion engines required an entire chemical production line behind it, and electric motors demanded even more complex electrical infrastructure. These were headaches Su Ziye preferred to avoid for now.

While magical crystals were expensive, their cost was negligible compared to the investment needed to build an entire industry. The steam engine, which boiled water, could serve as a cheaper alternative to magical crystals.

Thus, these six machines formed a complete instant noodle production line. Su Ziye promptly assigned Qiu Rui—the young woman he had previously appointed as team leader—to oversee the workers. She was to ensure everyone was stationed beside each machine, thoroughly learning their operation, logic, and basic troubleshooting techniques.

As for serious mechanical faults, Su Ziye himself could not resolve those and would have to send the machines back to the master machinists for repairs, though such issues were unlikely at this stage.

What truly occupied Su Ziye’s mind, however, was production safety.

Don’t be fooled by these machines’ purpose—they were for making instant noodles, but they were deadly instruments if mishandled. Even the seemingly harmless dough mixer could maim a worker’s arm or worse if caught inside, turning a person into a mangled mess. The rolling machine, tunnel steamer, and forming device were all massive, ruthless killers. Production safety was paramount, and this was the core message Su Ziye stressed to Qiu Rui.

After repeated practice by all workers, on the second day of operation, the first batch of noodles—totaling twenty kilograms—successfully passed through every step. Golden, radiant noodle cakes emerged from the output.

A roar of cheers erupted across the workshop.

Those noodle cakes naturally became the workers’ dinner that evening.

Soon after, Su Ziye’s words to Liu Ru surprised the young girl.

“From now on, this place is in your hands,” Su Ziye said quietly.

“You’re stepping back?” Liu Ru could hardly believe it.

Su Ziye had invested tremendous effort here—fifteen days of near sleepless labor overseeing everything from the initial factory construction to recruiting and training workers, to crafting and deploying machines. Now, seeing the first results realized, Su Ziye was ready to let go.

Did the young man have other matters demanding his attention?

“Yes,” Su Ziye replied simply.

“What if something happens at the factory?” Liu Ru probed cautiously.

This was just the first step of a long journey. Though it was the hardest step, Liu Ru lacked confidence to manage the operation alone.

She was still learning, after all—and still very new at it.

“If problems arise beyond your ability to handle, the Ye Ye Academy will back you up. If even the academy can’t manage it, then it’s beyond my reach as well. At that point, this place must be abandoned,” Su Ziye said calmly. “Besides, I do have other matters to attend to.”

Since Su Ziye had spoken so plainly, Liu Ru nodded and accepted the responsibility. She would ask no more.

“Then this place is yours,” Su Ziye repeated, then slowly vanished before her eyes.

Liu Ru was genuinely stunned.

Because it was clear—

The Third Prince had taken him away.

……

……

Where Su Ziye appeared next was naturally the Sun Tower—the top office of the Student Council.

Carottes had summoned him personally.

“You finally have time, you busy man,” greeted the Student Council President as soon as they met.

“Yes,” Su Ziye nodded simply.

“Looks like what you want isn’t just that million gold leaves after all,” Carottes smiled at him.

“Where did you hear that?” Su Ziye didn’t deny it directly but chose to counter with a question.

“The best way to make money has always been your method with the academy’s Happy Water,” Carottes said quietly. “You provide raw materials and production methods, find reliable partners and backers, bear almost no risk yourself, only some R&D costs. That’s why Happy Water succeeded so brilliantly. I believe the world will be changed by this drink for hundreds of years to come.”

“But your new factory is different,” Carottes looked at Su Ziye.

“How so?” Su Ziye asked.