Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 367 - 364: Han Gua’s Troubles

To say that Xiao Chong worries about the future of his grandfather and the entire Xiao Family? Absolutely not.

Even Xiao Ce doesn’t understand where Xiao Chong’s composure comes from; the leader of the Xiao Family has been dismissed as prime minister, yet he goes about his political affairs as if nothing has happened.

Xiao Chong doesn’t bother to explain, as there’s really no need to say much; everything is understood implicitly.

He knows very well that with his grandfather’s upright and unyielding character, ups and downs are quite normal. It’s not the first time he’s been dismissed as prime minister; back in the year the current emperor took power, his grandfather was dismissed for arguing with Chen Shuda during a court meeting.

But what does it matter being dismissed? The first dismissal resulted in his uncle becoming the son-in-law of the current emperor, and the two families became even closer, making the Li Tang’s Imperial Family and the Xiao Family inseparable.

This time, Xiao Chong is almost certain that the dismissal won’t last long, because he has long observed that his grandfather has done something that struck a chord with the current emperor, so there must be a place for his grandfather in the court.

However, his own time is very tight; there are still too many things left unfinished. The local gentry are always trying to trip him up whenever they get the chance, making it truly exhausting.

Regarding Xiao Chong’s grandfather’s dismissal, Lin Wanwan heard several voices of discussion in Little Creek Town as well.

But she was even more composed than Xiao Chong, not even considering putting on a pretense to comfort him as a cousin should.

The history books have long written that Xiao Yu would be dismissed six times in his life. Why worry? This is only the second time. Anyway, before long, Li Shimin will regret it and reinstate him.

With Xiao Yu’s absolutely noble background, coupled with the influence of their Xiao Family among the old aristocratic Gate Valve families, and factoring in Empress Xiao, even his extremely stubborn temper doesn’t matter; Li Shimin will forgive him out of anger and remember his virtues again.

Besides, matters of the Chang’an court are a bit too far from Mao County; if it weren’t for Lin Wanwan’s close connection to Xiao Chong, she couldn’t care less about court affairs.

Originally, she was somewhat anxious due to rumors that Xiao Chong might soon be promoted.

For other historical figures, she has cheat sheets with reference answers, but Xiao Chong is the one person changed by her butterfly wings; his actions and future are unpredictable.

If Xiao Chong were really transferred away, leaving her alone in Mao County, wouldn’t she become a fat sheep easily targeted by those coveting aristocratic forces? It’s quite unnerving.

Now that Xiao Chong’s grandfather, Xiao Yu, is dismissed and Xiao Chong can’t ascend in rank, staying in Mao County is the best thing ever.

July brought not only the court-related dismissal of Xiao Chong’s grandfather but also a big event for Lin Family Manor—the cold melons Lin Wanwan loaned to the clan brothers earlier have begun to mature!

A single melon seedling costs ten gold; now seeing it grow larger and soon to ripen is exciting for every household involved in Lin Family Manor!

They don’t even dare to sleep peacefully in their rooms at night, instead setting up simple wooden frameworks by the melon patch, sleeping beside the melons to guard against theft.

In their eyes, each cold melon is like a fresh young bride, and those who borrowed seedlings to go big are mostly single older bachelors in the clan, ready to earn a handsome sum to marry a wife.

Families in the city who initially bought seedlings from Lin Wanwan have already started holding cold melon feasts, taking good care of their plants. Lin Wanwan even brought Qingyu and Xiao Yixun to attend a few of them.

With Great Tang’s planting conditions, a single seedling should yield one quality melon, requiring the pruning of excess young melons to concentrate nutrients on retaining one.

Lin Wanwan had written these instructions when selling the seedlings.

Families growing melons in Lin Family Manor naturally received her reminders and guidance, so any household that planted melons now has big, round, high-quality fruits.

Nowadays, Mao County in the Yangtze River Delta is famous for the presence of cold melons.

People from other counties have already started requesting to buy cold melons from Mao County’s market, with prices reaching thirteen to fifteen gold per melon, depending on size and quality.

Goodness! Just for a bite, they are willing to shell out such exorbitant prices!

If not for fear of attracting trouble, Lin Wanwan would have long considered buying modern watermelons for resale.

When Lin Wanwan initially sold cold melon seedlings, she set the sky-high price of ten gold per seedling; this was just the price for the seedlings. It’s now proven she wasn’t asking too much, as they’re over thirty percent higher at maturity!

In Mao County, cold melons could fetch this price; transported to Chang’an, they would hit even more astonishing heights!

You clever ones have already reached out to families who grew melons in Lin Family Manor, offering to buy at eleven or even twelve gold.

They targeted Lin Family Manor simply because those who bought seedlings from Lin Wanwan were mainly nobles, who preferred using their meticulously grown melons for feasts and favors—they wouldn’t sell them at market!

Current market-sold cold melons come from families seeking cash, rarely present in the upper class.

Hence, businessmen naturally focus on Lin Family Manor. Apart from Le’an Village Lady’s family, others are surely selling at market prices—it just depends on who bids higher.

Of course, selling cold melons at a high price in Lin Family Manor isn’t easy.

After all, cold melons are food and can’t be stored long, plus their sales channels are limited. Selling directly in town is futile as most commoners can’t afford them, nor can they reach wealthy nobles.

Nobles they can connect with, like Xiao Chong and Lin Wanwan, have grown their own cold melons and don’t need to buy any. They’re left with selling to servants and merchants; naturally, merchants will attempt to lower the purchase price to secure their profits.

Lin Wanwan can’t go all out with kindness and manage their sales path; cold melons aren’t like her mainstay cotton. Being unreasonable to buy cold melons at over ten gold from her clansmen is madness!

She’s grown the most cold melons in her own courtyard ground, so buying more is unnecessary; if she were to buy, she’d secretly buy from modern sources.

Regarding selling cold melons, Lin Wanwan plans not to intervene, letting the market decide.

Lin Mengli’s family was one of those brave enough to borrow seedlings from Lin Wanwan; now they are the first selling melons as he can connect easily with nobility.

Currently in Little Creek Town, Lin Mengli, who watches over Lin Wanwan’s beauty shop, meets wealthy ladies and major merchants daily.