Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 459 - 457: A Wonderful Morning

In the schoolhouse, Xiao Chong was already washed, attended by the attendant student.

Xiao Chong had only used Lin Wanwan’s washing items once but already found them irresistible; now, he preferred her "hand-mixed" toothpaste over tooth powder at the county government, and naturally today was no different.

Although Xiao Chong did not often stay overnight at Lin Family Manor, he did so several times a year, so items for his washing were naturally prepared.

Among Lin Wanwan’s "relatives" in the Great Tang, she was most closely connected with Xiao Chong. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Lying in bed, Xiao Chong gazed out the open window at the lovely scenes, dawn winds, and waning moon, and he could hear sounds of laughter coming from the beach.

This was the kind of life he dreamed of leading the local people to have: simple and happy.

Who would have thought that such a secluded seaside village hidden among towering mountains would have a phoenix-attracting sycamore tree?

Xiao Chong had met quite a number of women in his lifetime, including offspring of notable figures, yet this was the first time he met a woman as unique as Lin Wanwan, feeling irresistibly drawn to her.

Her allure lay not just in her appearance but also in her mind. Maybe she wasn’t the most talented lady, but she was definitely the one with the most distinctive thoughts, often resonating with Xiao Chong intellectually.

Despite Xiao Chong being of a traditionally proper royal lineage, with father and grandfather known for their forthright and steady characters, he was unexpectedly rebellious and unrestrained.

This tendency, though somewhat concealed as he matured, was still discernible in some of his actions.

For instance, his boldness, his "dominating" policies, and the large projects like the Salt Field and Ta Mountain Dam in Mao County, were not the deeds of a county magistrate seeking stability and gradual progress.

At dawn the next day, Lin Family Manor was enveloped in wisps of cooking smoke, bustling with people.

The fishing boats at the pier had disappeared long ago, having already set out to sea.

After practicing his sword, Xiao Chong tossed it to the attendant student, then emerged from the back door of the schoolhouse, walked through the narrow alley, arriving at the gate of Lin Mansion.

The gatekeeper, upon recognizing Xiao Chong, naturally let him in without question. Inside Lin Mansion, maids and servants were already up, cleaning the courtyard, feeding livestock, or preparing breakfast, each attending to their tasks.

"Good morning, Xiao Mingfu!"

Responding to the greetings, Xiao Chong nodded gently all the way, entered the main room of the great hall, where maids had already wiped the floor mats and tables.

Before long after Xiao Chong sat down, Lin Wanwan came down the stairs yawning.

"Cousin, you are quite early!"

This hour was earlier than Lin Wanwan’s usual waking time, but it wasn’t just because Cousin Xiao Chong was there, rather it was because today was the retreating tide of the first day, perfect for tide-pooling.

Xiao Chong saluted from afar: "Cousin sister, morning!"

Lin Wanwan gently pulled Qingyu: "Little Yuer, say hello."

Only then did Qingyu finally say awkwardly: "Good morning, Cousin uncle."

Xiao Chong teased Qingyu with a smile; the latter broke free from Lin Wanwan, went off to feed her animal team, uninterested in dealing with the adults.

Young though she was, she no longer wanted to be treated as an ignorant child, unwilling to converse with them.

The little one, with big concerns in a little heart, went storming off to the backyard.

For convenience in playing, Qingyu often dressed in clean and functional Hu clothing, as she did today.

She personally fed her animal team every morning; the big white elephant and little red horse had the most delicate and ample feed; the lynx and white fox frowned at each other, typically not kept in the backyard, lived with her curled up in corners of the second floor rooms.

The black muntjac had its own little room, fed daily with tender grass cut by the family’s young servants at the foot of the mountain.

The ten attendant students of Qingyu not only accompanied her studies, but also helped care for her animal team.

Compared to their former days of begging and pilfering at Qiongzhou Pier, their lives at Lin Mansion were akin to those of celestial beings.

The children’s language abilities flourished; they already mastered the Mao County dialect fluently, and now were proficient in the official language, communicating seamlessly with household members, especially the little master Qingyu.

Qingyu disliked practicing calligraphy; the child named Lin Yi among them even practiced mimicking Qingyu’s handwriting to conveniently help her transcribe texts.

Lin Wanwan hadn’t noticed yet that Qingyu’s attendant students were capable enough, since she didn’t exert strict control over Qingyu’s academic tasks.

As for Teacher Chen, he naturally paid them no mind; he deemed the attendant students as insignificant, caring little about what they learned.

Thus allowing Qingyu to flourish in the schoolhouse like a fish in water.

After feeding the big white elephant and little red horse, then the black muntjac, followed by the "quacking" big white goose, and lastly the little goat.

Qingyu often scolded the mischievous little goat; the creature grew increasingly unruly, barged through obstacles and munched anything in sight, frequently devastating the manor’s crops. It refused to queue properly and was on the verge of being expelled from the team, now mostly confined to the sheepfold.

The last to be fed were the cutest ones.

A few days ago, Qingyu’s white-feathered chicken and Kang Beier’s duck were poisoned to death, now two chicks and ducklings filled the ranks, nurtured in separate little wooden boxes she had built, temporarily unable to join the main group.

Yet these juveniles were always charming, Qingyu couldn’t resist squatting to watch them for a long time each time she fed them, akin to modern people watching a mukbang out of the same heart.

While Qingyu busily fed her animal team, her own breakfast was served in the great hall, Hua Nong was already calling out "Little lady", "Little lady".

"Hey, I’m coming!" Qingyu responded, clapped her hands, and said to Rongrong and Song Sulan, "Let’s go and have breakfast! Lanlan, go and fetch my big cousin sister and little crab, I want to eat with them."

"Yes, I’ll go right away." Song Sulan replied and dashed toward the side door.

Qingyu returned to the great hall, washed her hands with Rongrong’s help, inside Lin Wanwan and Xiao Chong were already seated for their meal.

Today’s breakfast staple was a bowl of braised beef vermicelli, alongside a few fruits and vegetables; Qingyu also had specially prepared milk powder to drink.

"Little Yuer, come sit and eat, it’s the vermicelli you love." Lin Wanwan invited her.

Qingyu replied crisply: "Mother, I’m not eating with you; I want to eat with big cousin sister and brother little crab."

They’d made this arrangement during last night’s playtime.

"Alright, suit yourself." Lin Wanwan said with a smile, "Anyway, we’ll head to the tide-pooling after breakfast; you handle it yourself, no leaving until your food’s done, okay."

"Ah, no, no, mother must wait for me!"

Qingyu ran to the door, seeing the two little fellows brought by Song Sulan hastily called out: "Quickly, quickly, we need to eat and go tide-pooling!"

Xiao Yixun, quietly eating his breakfast nearby, raised his eyes to look at Lin Wanwan: "You’re leaving me at home again."

Lin Wanwan took out a veil from the side: "If you want to go, wear this sunshade, and we’ll go together."

"I’m not going!" The proud Xiao Yixun refused.

Xiao Chong, smiling and observing others, glanced at Xiao Yixun and lifted the corner of his mouth upon hearing their words.

Such a lively yet ordinary morning, with the feeling of an idyllic escape from worldly struggles, was indeed the life Xiao Chong aspired to.

He couldn’t help but feel a bit envious of the leisurely Lin Wanwan.