Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 492 - 490: Another Commendation

The Yu family and Yu Shinan are related within four generations, not yet reaching five, so they are not particularly close. Moreover, Yu Shinan’s family left their ancestral home in Yu Yao long ago and has been living in Chang’an, so the interaction between them is limited.

Miss Yu has grown up seeing her famous older cousin only a few times, always during clan rituals.

Nonetheless, this does not affect Miss Yu’s current decision. The calligraphy of her older cousin, inheriting the traditions of Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi, is famous for his formal script. Many people seek his writings, not just Lin Wanwan.

However, the one who not only asked her but also gave such heavy gifts, that’s only Lin Wanwan.

Miss Yu holds Lin Wanwan in high regard and is willing to have a deep friendship with her.

Although Lin Wanwan was born in the countryside and the Lin family has long declined, Lin Wanwan herself was raised by a reclusive master, acquiring many skills, and she has a capable senior brother. Moreover, she saved a cousin from the Xiao family’s Qi Liang branch, obtained high-yield crops, and was granted the Secondary Fifth Rank title of Village Lady of Le’an by the Saint. Her family’s rise is only a matter of time.

Miss Yu believes Lin Wanwan is worth her efforts to build a relationship, and she also has the intention to showcase her own talents.

In seeking renowned artists for calligraphy and paintings, Lin Wanwan didn’t approach Xiao Chong, even though Xiao Chong would have been a better choice.

After all, Xiao Chong’s study hangs many calligraphies and paintings, obviously none of ordinary quality. But for some reason, Lin Wanwan instinctively didn’t consider bothering Xiao Chong.

When acquiring from others, she just needs to provide enough money. If it were Xiao Chong, Lin Wanwan somehow finds it hard to resell what he gives.

Clearly, a year ago, she eagerly sold an Ancient Zither Score personally written by Xiao Chong, but today she’s unwilling to deceive him for the calligraphies and paintings he owns, whether due to a newfound conscience or for some other reason.

This time, the gift Lin Wanwan prepared for Yu Shinan is indeed substantial. That bottle of wine is a 2005 Roman Dikoni, priced at 280,000 RMB.

Modern high-quality wine, whether in terms of alcohol content or taste, cannot be compared to the inferior brewing techniques of the Great Tang; gifting it will surely leave a lasting impression.

The set of White Jade Nightlight Cups is not from modern industrial products but rather a fine piece Lin Wanwan found at the Treasure Pavilion in Small Stream Town.

The essence of white jade, bright enough to illuminate the night, is exceptionally delicate. In the modern world, it would naturally be worth much more than in the Great Tang. Yet, Lin Wanwan ultimately decided to gift a Great Tang luxury item to a Tang bigwig, making the value easier to understand.

To Lin Wanwan, a set of White Jade Nightlight Cups is just as valuable as pepper which costs a few dozen pieces per pound; she can always buy more if given the chance later.

Yu Shinan’s calligraphy works are profitable and never a loss whenever acquired, so Lin Wanwan is in no hurry. If Miss Yu can secure it quickly for her, she will use it as a return gift for Lu Shouyue. If she doesn’t get it before Lu Shouyue’s birthday, that’s fine; she can keep it for herself.

She also wants calligraphy and paintings from Chu Suiliang and Ouyang Xun, which are national treasures, and must find a way to get one during her visit to the Great Tang.

Actually, Xiao Chong has calligraphy by Ouyang Xun. Last time, he expressed willingness to gift it to Lin Wanwan, but later she opted to make him write one for her instead.

"A gentleman does not take away what others treasure," Lin Wanwan understands Xiao Chong also loves calligraphy, so why seize it? She will find another way to get what she wants.

With such thoughts, Lin Wanwan was moved by her own righteousness. Often, Xiao Chong, this seemingly sincere yet secretly cunning fellow, openly schemes against her, yet she never considers seeking revenge; she has such integrity!

If she wanted to exploit Xiao Chong, it would be too easy; the simplest way would be to make him write and paint, which would translate into money in the modern world.

Just as she was thinking about Cao Cao, Cao Cao arrived, along with a group of people whose presence looked rather eerie, the Heavenly Defects and Earthly Defects.

Lin Wanwan cast a questioning glance at Xiao Chong, but he didn’t answer her. Instead, he smiled slightly and first spoke of something else, "Cousin, the Saint has granted you rewards in recognition of you and your distinguished senior brother bringing back cotton seeds and white-feathered chickens. Please accept them."

The Saint Xiao Chong referred to is the Emperor. Tang Dynasty people habitually called the Emperor the Saint or Great One, rather than the titles often seen in TV dramas such as "Your Majesty" or "Long Live."

The reward this time was not solely for Lin Wanwan because the matter of white-feathered chickens was tied to locust plague control, with major credit accounted to Xiao Chong, the County Magistrate of Mao County, hence the commendation was combined with Xiao Chong’s.

This time, no new titles were conferred, but tangible financial gifts were given, including tribute-level silk, gold ornaments by the Imperial Goldsmith, and a hundred acres of fertile land.

However, fertile land in Mao County is extremely scarce!

Before the Ta Mountain Dam is completed, in Mao County, nine out of ten mu of land are saline-alkali over-standard, and Mao County has many mountains and few plains. The fertile land has long been divided by nobles and commoners; there’s nothing left to reward anymore.

But Lin Wanwan didn’t mind; she directly told Xiao Chong not to worry about the fertile land and just convert it to mountain land for her.

She only wanted the mountain behind Lin Family Manor. It could be used for hunting or cultivation in the future, anyway it would be her own concern.

In the early Great Tang, land buying and selling weren’t quite popular due to the equal field system imposing limitations. So without fertile land currently, Lin Wanwan immediately changed her plan to obtain the mountain where her secret crossing base was located.

A small mountain averages more than 120 acres. The mountain range behind Lin Family Manor has three mountains, totaling over 360 acres. Although it sounds like a lot, fertile land capable of cultivation is extremely scarce, and it doesn’t seem like a bargain. She proposes an exchange, which naturally is not a problem.

Xiao Chong even managed to squeeze out twenty acres of saline-alkali land to merge into her Permanent Land.

This means that Lin Wanwan used Li Shimin’s simple oral promise of a hundred acres of fertile land to exchange for three mountains and twenty acres of saline-alkali land. With modern sea rice seeds available, Lin Wanwan doesn’t fear saline-alkali land. Since Xiao Chong gives it to her, why shouldn’t she take it!

After dealing with the reward matter, Xiao Chong pointed to the group of Heavenly Defects and Earthly Defects standing silently behind him and informed Lin Wanwan that these were Xiao family’s servants sent south following the decree, specifically former servants of Xiao Yixun.

Lin Wanwan felt a bit toothache; the Xiao family is so absurd to really send some disabled people who used to serve Xiao Yixun, a whole group of Heavenly Defects and Earthly Defects, it’s unsettling just to look at them.

Originally, she made this request hoping they’d understand the elegance through the melody, sending some impressive household servants. Who knew they’d pretend not to understand.

Even if Xiao Yixun had some mental issues before, preferring to be served by Heavenly Defects and Earthly Defects, she has changed now. Lin Wanwan clearly wrote in the letter, but they still didn’t care.

This shows that Xiao Yixun isn’t valued by her family, rather it’s a let-her-decay attitude. And she is still a legal daughter!

Just an albino, yet discriminated to such an extent, Lin Wanwan felt indignant for Xiao Yixun.

Forget it, from now on Xiao Yixun should just follow her. Anyway, in the Great Tang, having a few more people or less doesn’t matter to her.

Possessing a modern warehouse, being a modern person with wealth rivaling nations, Lin Wanwan can be so extravagant in the Great Tang.