Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 523 - 522: The Second New Year in the Great Tang

Chapter 523: Chapter 522: The Second New Year in the Great Tang

Shuqi wanted to take on the task, but Lin Wanwan sent him away.

She instructed him to teach the male servants in the manor martial arts, claiming that the family’s defensive capabilities needed to be increased.

But the techniques had already been taught to these servants long ago; now, it was just a matter of daily practice. Why did he need to supervise their training again?

But in this matter, Lin Wanwan had the final say, and even Lord Xiao Chong didn’t oppose her. What could a mere guard say?

The Great Tang didn’t have the custom of pasting couplets; they usually hung peachwood charms.

The so-called peachwood charms were pictures of the two door gods "Shentu" and "Yu Lei" drawn on wood boards, or their names written on peachwood, hung over the door to ward off evil.

But Lin Wanwan liked to paste "Fu" characters and Spring Festival couplets. When she was little, her grandparents used to paste them with her every year—full of New Year spirit.

Now that she’s lonely in modern times, she doesn’t have the heart for these things, but in the Great Tang, she has a big family!

Apart from putting them up in her own house, Lin Wanwan also gave a bunch to little Qingyu, telling her to distribute them like a tycoon.

Actually, those couplets and "Fu" characters could sell for a lot of money in modern times! With Xiao Chong’s calligraphy gaining fame from previous works, they would definitely sell well.

But during the New Year, Lin Wanwan couldn’t just think of money; it’s better for everyone to paste them on their doors for a festive touch!

In Lin Family Manor, many people now recognize the "Fu" character since almost every household has children who attend school.

So, Xiao Chong’s "Fu" characters are a huge hit. Even people who can’t read want to have one—as paper and ink are treasures, who wouldn’t take a bargain?

For children, of course, the "Fu" character isn’t as attractive as snacks; those who get snacks are happier than those who get the "Fu" character.

But when a child brought a "Fu" character home and received surprise praise from the adults, those who didn’t get one but had snacks suffered—getting spanked and chased by their families to quickly try their luck with little Qingyu again.

As the children clamored, New Year’s Eve arrived.

Every household in Lin Family Manor lit a bonfire in their courtyards, preparing for the festive ritual to drive away evil spirits (drive away plagues).

This New Year’s Eve, more people than ever were staying up at Lin Wanwan’s house, including some relatives like Xiao Chong and several permanent residents.

For Lin Wanwan, little Qingyu was definitely family, and the awkward Xiao Yixun now counted as well.

As for Yun Shang, Hua Nong, Hong Yan, Rongrong, Sun Chuyao, and others, they were far more important to Lin Wanwan than ordinary servants.

As first-class maids and servants, their food, clothing, and expenses were no different from Lin Wanwan and the other masters, as Lin Wanwan was particularly generous with them and considered them family.

As for those purchased later and those recruited from the docks, Lin Wanwan didn’t trust them as much as the initial group that followed her.

Xiao Yixun also brought in a new batch of servants last time, though most were left at the Lin Mansion in Xiaoxi Town to guard the property.

Only Hong Xiu, who was good at distinguishing herbs and had a birthmark on her face, Fu Ling with vitiligo who excelled in eavesdropping, oh no, Sharp-Hearing Ear, and the low-intelligence Ah Bao were brought to Lin Family Manor.

Among them, Hong Xiu now managed the mansion’s pharmacy, while Fu Ling and Ah Bao still served Xiao Yixun—one as his personal maid, the other as a guard like a burly-bearded man.

Ah Bao even took on cleaning duties because he simply couldn’t stop, with hands and eyes constantly busy, making the other idle people in Lin Wanwan’s residence want to cough up blood.

Why can’t everyone just mind the door, nibble on peanuts, sip some wine, and play a little game?

Ah Bao insisted on cleaning the backrooms thoroughly, working while others worked, and still working while others played—never stopping for a moment.

Though Ah Bao was low on intelligence, in tasks like sweeping, mopping, and chopping wood—which required no thinking—he excelled beyond those with normal intelligence. After all, he had divine power!

Even though Xiao Yixun’s batch of servants all had various defects, they were competitively selected from a large family, unlike those casually recruited into Lin Wanwan’s residence.

Suddenly, with Ah Bao—the disruptive "black fish" stirring the group—the atmosphere among the servants lifted significantly.

While Lin Wanwan and others were still drinking, outside, people had already donned masks and started singing and dancing.

Little Qingyu, having finished her meal early, eagerly dragged Rongrong, Song Sulan, and ten study companions, plus the animal crew, into the lively troop for driving away evil spirits.

Now, little Qingyu wasn’t the little bean clinging to Lin Wanwan all the time; she thrived in her social circle.

Still following behind little Qingyu, carrying snacks and toys, was only Rongrong. Su Sulan also wanted to help, but Rongrong would rather die of exhaustion than give this job up.

She had a strong sense of crisis, afraid of losing the status of little Qingyu’s number one maid.

Moreover, because Rongrong managed the toys and snacks, she was also in high demand by other children, enjoying the feeling as much as her master did.

Today, little Qingyu wore a red-and-white stitched brocade robe, embroidered with lively white rabbits on the skirt hem and sleeve cuffs, a rabbit mask on her face, and rabbit ornaments in her hair (reconstructed from modern hairpins by Lin Wanwan), looking just like a bunny.

She danced while grabbing firecrackers from Rongrong’s hand, throwing them into the bonfire.

Tang era firecrackers were simply bamboo burned in a bonfire, making explosive sounds.

In another twenty years, the Great Tang would have real firecrackers, and later, fireworks, too; but for now, they didn’t exist—unless Lin Wanwan bought them from modern times, though she didn’t want to bother with that today.

However, when Dugu Di heard the sound of firecrackers in the courtyard, he casually remarked, "On New Year’s Eve, why doesn’t Lin Le’an come up with a string of thundering gunpowder?"

This guy remembered that incident after all this time!

Lin Wanwan smiled and said, "They were all used up during the opening ceremony, given by my senior brother long ago, to drive away wild beasts in the mountains. As you all know, I grew up in the mountains with my master and senior brother, where insects and plants abound."

Anyway, the master and ranger senior brother don’t exist; you can look for them yourselves~

As for the gunpowder formula? Not yet. If I were to give it, I’d do so in Chang’an for Li Shimin when the time comes!

"What a pity," Dugu Di said plainly.

Regarding gunpowder, he and Xiao Chong hadn’t given up; they were still experimenting in secret, though progress was slow.

However, they could replicate the effect of the initial few Lin Wanwan had shown, yet using it to break the city and kill the enemy was far from possible.

Dugu Di always felt Lin Wanwan had an advanced version she hadn’t revealed, but Xiao Chong was unwilling to ask her.

So today, seeing the firecrackers, he just mentioned it in passing.

Xiao Chong downed his cup of the Great Tang’s characteristic Sichuan pepper wine, then glanced at Dugu Di with sharp eyes and smiled, "Brother Xiwen, tonight is New Year’s Eve; let’s just drink and talk of nothing else."

Dugu Di also gulped down his wine and leisurely replied, "Alright! Then we won’t leave until we’re drunk! Zifang, Brother Shi Heng, raise your cups again!"