Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 540: Reveling in Song and Dance

Lin Wanwan sat in a carriage, going out with her servants.

She originally wanted to blend in with the crowd and feel the enthusiasm of the Great Tang people.

However, as soon as she stepped out, she was frightened by the throngs of people on the streets—imagine a tourist spot during the holidays, packed with heads.

The level of crowding was even more exaggerated than the Lantern Festival Night Banquet painting by Zhan Ziqian that she had received.

So, she readily followed Hong Yan’s advice and switched to traveling by carriage; this was the manner of an aristocratic lady.

Even though the traffic was gridlocked, moving step by step, it didn’t stop Lin Wanwan from lifting the curtain to admire the lanterns and enjoy the night scene from the carriage.

Moreover, because they moved slowly, she could spot street snacks on the roadside and have her servant buy them in, which was very convenient.

Ordinarily, night food stalls were not allowed to operate, and they were under the jurisdiction of the Market Bureau and its officials, the Market Commissioner and Deputy, with fixed locations and various taxes to be paid.

But it’s different on Lantern Festival night; anyone with skills who wants to set up a stall is free to do so.

As long as they can squeeze through the crowd, they can set up anywhere, even in front of the Market Bureau or County Government, like roadside night stalls in modern small towns.

Lin Wanwan sat on the carriage, slowly moving toward the central lantern tower.

This lantern tower was funded by the County Government and numerous local gentry and nobles in Mao County, standing a hundred feet high, adorned with pearls and jade, resonating with a charming melody as the spring breeze passed.

Mao County had never been so lavish in previous years, but wasn’t this because Xiao Chong came and established the Salt Field?

Due to the advanced sun-drying salt method and the backing and sales channels of the government, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the Salt Field was raking in money daily.

Moreover, because Xiao Chong from the Lanling Xiao Family had a strong background, and he’s the one who published this salt-making method, and since the current salt fields in the Great Tang were primarily privately operated, controlled by major families, the Governor of Yue couldn’t outdo the current County Magistrate of Mao County and could only watch helplessly.

Otherwise, who knows what family name the Salt Field might have now!

Of course, a lantern tower that symbolizes local economic prosperity and serves as entertainment wouldn’t be entirely funded by the government.

According to the County Government, it’s all for the dignity of the local gentry. How could they remain indifferent and not sponsor it?

Now, in Mao County’s upper society, it is widely believed that even a rooster passing by the County Government office would have ten feathers plucked by Xiao Chong!

But Xiao Chong wasn’t someone who monopolized everything. The Salt Field’s income was divided into a 1-2-7 split: seven parts into the court’s public account, two parts shared among officials with ranks in Yuezhou and Mao County (including Lin Wanwan as one of the ranked officials), and one part belonged to the Lanling Xiao Family.

Everyone benefited, everyone was happy, maintaining balance.

Initially, Xiao Chong could have completely operated the Salt Field privately under the Xiao Family’s name. Their Xiao Family had the power to control the Salt Field and fit the Great Tang’s overall salt field environment.

But he didn’t; he chose the current, more complex yet selfless plan.

Because of this, Xiao Chong had the funds to build this and that in Mao County, like constructing Ta Mountain Dam, digging Sun Lake, and building the lantern tower.

Moreover, because he was squeezing the gentry, other officials remained silent, all well-fed by the Salt Field!

The local officials and even gentry of Yuezhou and Mao County (since officials were generally from gentry families) felt both love and hate for Xiao Chong, wishing to send him away but also fearing his departure.

If he didn’t leave, Xiao Chong would keep stirring things up, disregarding anyone’s opinions, making significant construction efforts, and spending public funds lavishly without any concern.

But if Xiao Chong left Mao County, who could guarantee the Salt Field would remain as it is without his strong County Magistrate’s control? Many were eyeing it eagerly!

Yuezhou officials wanted to bypass Mao County directly to control the Salt Field, the Ministry of Revenue at the central level was itching to get involved, the Lanling Xiao Family wanted more shares, and the local gentry wanted to take a bite out of it... In short, it wouldn’t be peaceful.

This is a digression; let’s not delve into it now.

At this moment, Lin Wanwan’s carriage was already moving near the lantern tower.

She had just finished a skewer of grilled lamb and was leaning on the carriage window, watching with interest as people young and old, male and female, sang and danced around the lantern tower until dawn.

These Tang people, their personalities were all so outgoing. Look at that pot-bellied old man, his beard white, yet twisting his waist in the crowd.

And that old woman with flower-patterned cloth wrapped around her head, who usually must be a rigid grandmotherly type, now swaying like a young girl.

Not to mention the young men and women, dancing with one person here, facing off with another there; beneath the masks were hearts eager to indulge!

Moving around the shadow tower was a lantern carriage filled with lanterns, on which a dozen young men and women stood, singing and dancing.

The lead dancer, a red-clad girl, revealed a slender waist, half her face covered with gauze, with eyes like autumn water, full of charm and graceful dance movements.

As soon as Lin Wanwan saw her, three words came to her mind, "Pusa Man."

Perhaps she wasn’t a "Pusa Man," but the "Oiran" of a local entertainment house.

In any case, someone with such alluring and seductive manners could never be a lady of good family.

Never mind the men; even Lin Wanwan, as a woman, couldn’t take her eyes off her once she saw her. Her dance was just too captivating! 360 degrees without a single angle missed, fully displaying her charm!

No wonder Bai Juyi said, "With slow songs and dances, lingering silk and bamboo music, even the emperor couldn’t see enough all day long"!

It was just too beautiful! In Chang’an City, everything was naturally more beautiful!

"Madam, go down and join the singing and dancing too!" Hong Yan and Hua Nong, squeezed next to Lin Wanwan, excitedly urged her.

On this occasion, there was no distinction between high or low status; one could tell from the clothes of those singing and dancing.

There were youths in linen competing with girls in fine clothes, and noble sons dancing closely with girls in coarse clothing.

On this night, there were no classes, no distinctions, everyone partying together, like a carnival of dancing demons; otherwise, why call it a "night of revelry"?

But Lin Wanwan felt restrained; she couldn’t dance and was very hesitant.

Just then, a figure dressed in white suddenly appeared in front of the carriage window.

Lin Wanwan was about to look up to see who it was when the person suddenly reached in and "pulled" her directly out of the window!

"Ah!"

"Ah ah!"

Lin Wanwan and the Maid screamed in unison; the former bumped into the person’s arms. Though initially startled, she wasn’t angry because she knew who the person was, even if he wore a fanged mask.

With that towering height, who else could it be but Xiao Chong!

Xiao Chong took Lin Wanwan’s hand and began to sway with her. Lin Wanwan, like a fool, stepped on him a few times before finding her rhythm and started to dance.

At this moment, Hong Yan and Hua Nong had also realized who it was, exchanging glances while covering their chests and laughing together.

"Madam got off the carriage, let’s go singing and dancing too!" Hong Yan suggested.

"Alright!" Hua Nong readily agreed; they had been envious for a long time.

Both were girls under twenty, how could they not be drawn to the lively scene before them?