Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 473 - 471: Birthday Gift

The clouded leopard is an endangered protected animal! There are three here, they must be taken to the modern era!

Since discovering the conditions for the Space-Time Gate upgrade, Lin Wanwan has been very concerned about rare animals, and immediately recognized the clouded leopard.

Lin Wanwan instantly decided in her heart to take them to the modern era, although little Qingyu might be reluctant, but the little guy’s animal army is already quite impressive, there’s no need to add clouded leopards.

Besides, the clouded leopard is a fierce beast, even fiercer than a lynx; Lin Wanwan wouldn’t dare let little Qingyu keep them because if the leopard attacks someone, what then?

Dugu Di heard Xiao Chong’s remarks and a slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

What leisure? The autumn harvest has just ended, and the County Government has to start tax registration and labor drafting; Xiao Chong is so busy that his feet don’t touch the ground, sleeping later than a dog, doing more than an ox, and waking up earlier than a rooster.

He made time to go autumn hunting only to prepare a birthday gift for Lin Wanwan amidst his hectic schedule.

But now Xiao Chong seems to casually downplay it, making Dugu Di feel a bit disheartened after the surprise.

He probably understands Xiao Chong’s intention, with such a large gap in status between them, it’s probably best to interact with the tacit understanding of being cousins.

Rashly taking it further might ruin everything; more haste less speed.

Without enough confidence, Xiao Chong definitely wouldn’t mention it to his family.

Alas! Poor cousin, no matter how noble the status, he still can’t act on his own in certain matters.

Dugu Di couldn’t help but think of himself, making his expression even colder.

Both he and Xiao Chong left Chang’an for freedom, didn’t they?

Once Xiao Chong arrived, all the guests were present, and Lin Wanwan led everyone to the side hall where the meals were prepared.

The Great Tang is naturally more open than other dynasties. In strict families, men and women are separated into different halls, but there are open-minded families that only separate seats, not halls.

The Lin Family isn’t so strict; the banquet was set in the side hall. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

There were several large dining tables in the hall; today’s banquet was a communal meal where everyone shared a table but not the meal.

The chef was Hua Nong, assisted by several cook ladies.

There were quite a few young ladies at the banquet interested in Xiao Chong. After all, even without considering lineage, just based on looks, Xiao Chong could sweep them all off their feet!

Whether there was hope or not, being able to drink a few cups with someone as outstanding as Xiao Chong is a joy in life.

To not be wild in one’s youth is to have come to this world in vain.

Rarely was there a banquet without elders present; with young people less than ten years apart in age, they could really let loose! Drinking games and guessing poems were just the basics; singing and dancing were a must!

Silk and bamboo music played together, and no one held back. They openly performed and shared with everyone.

Even the two emperors, Li Shimin and Li Yuan, would play pipa and dance at banquets, so what could ordinary people possibly hold back for!

Different from the habit of solitary appreciation in later generations, people of the Great Tang loved to compete and communicate in music.

In such a setting, Xiao Chong and Dugu Di, who excelled in poetry, painting, calligraphy, and music, naturally stood out. Even if they did not intend to show off, their talent was so outstanding it was unavoidable.

An ensemble of qin and flute performance left everyone entranced as if in a dream. Such celestial music is rarely heard in the world.

Everyone couldn’t help but secretly sigh, truly the direct descendants of the Lanling Xiao Family and Dugu Family are not empty in reputation, far beyond anyone else present today!

Of course, this also owed to Lin Wanwan’s modesty today.

Without her transcribing poems, Xiao Chong and Dugu Di naturally stood out.

If Lin Wanwan had transcribed poetry, haha, not to brag, but with hundreds of Tang and Song poems memorized, and the protection of the Poetry Immortal and Poetry Saint, no one present would stand a chance!

This birthday, Lin Wanwan had a wonderful time!

Without smartphones at the banquet, conversations were more sincere. The elegant pursuits of composing poetry and playing music were endlessly memorable.

Choosing to celebrate this birthday in the Great Tang was truly the wisest decision.

Today Lin Wanwan felt very satisfied and happy, sitting among those so eloquent, she too felt uplifted in elegance.

Even a soul once dulled by rote learning came alive.

Even if she couldn’t create timeless verses, after spending time with this group, she learned quite a few poetry writing techniques, more than enough for drinking games.

Even Xiao Chong was surprised, Lin Wanwan’s poetry skills had sharply declined recently, she claimed that the poems she spoke of were actually written by her master, which seemed true.

When the banquet ended, the guests said their goodbyes.

Sister-in-law Yuan came with a task, naturally anxious to return to Qiantang to report after the feast. So this time, even Xiao Xianghua didn’t linger.

Today, Sister-in-law Yuan and Zhang, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Wang Family, had an understanding, both needing to inform their family elders.

In the evening, Xiao Chong and Dugu Di still came to dine—if Lin Wanwan was in Xiaoxi Town, foodie Xiao Chong would never miss a chance to join a meal.

After all, Hua Nong’s cooking, learned from modern recipes provided by Lin Wanwan and crafted meticulously, stood out uniquely in the Great Tang, too enticing for food enthusiasts.

In the daytime, Xiao Chong had already gifted three rare clouded leopards as a birthday present, but in the evening, he also prepared a small gift box for Lin Wanwan.

Lin Wanwan curiously accepted it, and upon opening, found a pair of gold-thread filigree pearl earrings with a unique design.

"Are these... made from the two pearl oysters?" Lin Wanwan tilted her head to ask Xiao Chong.

Xiao Chong smiled calmly, "Yes, exactly. Seeing that my cousin liked them, I had the goldsmith rush to make them. Are you satisfied, cousin?"

Lin Wanwan felt a slight stir in her heart, unsure how to describe her current feelings, and took a while before she smiled, "Thank you, cousin, I really like them."

Xiao Chong laughed freely, as if he didn’t care at all.

Lin Wanwan secretly glanced at Xiao Chong, but his perfect profile revealed nothing deeper.

Once Xiao Chong and Dugu Di left, and little Qingyu fell asleep, Lin Wanwan sat at her dressing table, opened the jewelry box again under candlelight, and stared at the gold-threaded pearl earrings.

"What does Xiao Chong mean by this? Could he be interested in me?" Lin Wanwan frowned, "No, no, while these pearl oysters are rare, for someone as affluent as a member of the Lanling Xiao Family, they aren’t much, not particularly special as a birthday gift!"

She closed the box, stuffed it into the bottom of her jewelry case, and stopped thinking about it.

She picked up the gift list recorded by Heng Wu today, and carefully went through it, as she would have to reciprocate the gifts later.

There were too few literate servants at home; the children she taught were too young to be of help, leaving only Yun Shang.

But today Yun Shang had many tasks, it would be a waste to only have her record gifts, so Lin Wanwan urgently brought Heng Wu from the Lin Family Manor to help.

Heng Wu typically doesn’t come to Xiaoxi Town, as she is a teacher at the school; Lin Wanwan doesn’t regard her as merely a performer, and naturally doesn’t have her serve.