Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 255 - 1: Extra Story 1 (Bonus)

In the government office on the west side of the main hall in Xiaoxi Town, Xiao Chong was in a heated discussion with County Magistrate Zhang Heng, staff member Xiao Ce, and Clerk Wang Lang over a drawing of a farm tool.

This was conceived by Xiao Chong during his inspection of the rural farmlands under his jurisdiction. When he saw the farmers plowing the fields, inspiration struck him, and after discussing it with Wang Lang, he modified it based on the original tool.

Wang Lang was not a native of Mao County; rather, he was one of the Xiao Family’s retainers that Xiao Chong brought with him upon taking office, and he hailed from the Mo Family.

At this moment, a messenger came in and reported, "My lord, the Village Lady of Le’an has arrived at Qinshenqing Hall."

Xiao Chong lifted his eyes from the drawing and said, "Good, prepare the tea set, I will be over shortly."

"Understood."

Xiao Chong then told everyone, "Let’s end this discussion here. Wang Lang, please ask the blacksmith to forge a farm tool according to the drawing, and we’ll reconsider once we see the actual results."

Clerk Wang Lang bowed and said, "Understood!"

After Xiao Chong finished giving instructions, he stood up and headed towards the third hall. Although he appeared calm, his steps were three times faster than usual.

Upon entering the hall, he saw Lin Wanwan, dressed in a crescent skirt, looking up at the couplets in the room. Beside her skirt was a bamboo cage covered with a cloth, and from the sounds coming from it, there seemed to be a... chicken?

"Cousin, it’s been a while since we’ve met. How have you been?" Xiao Chong crossed his hands in front of his chest and performed the traditional hand salute to Lin Wanwan.

Lin Wanwan turned and returned the salute, "Thanks to you, cousin, I’ve been well."

Xiao Chong guided Lin Wanwan to sit on the cushion in front of the tea table. As he gracefully brewed tea, he asked with a smile, "Cousin, would you like some sweet tea?"

Lin Wanwan knelt opposite Xiao Chong and leisurely replied, "Sweet tea is too cloying. Could you give me some plain tea without any oil, salt, or spices?"

Xiao Chong gladly said, "Certainly."

Lin Wanwan turned her head and gestured to Hua Nong, who was kneeling not far behind her, "Bring me the white-feathered chicken."

"Understood." Hua Nong stood up, took the cage, and placed it beside Lin Wanwan. She lifted the cloth, revealing a white-feathered chicken with its legs tied, and pushed it forward with a smile, looking at Xiao Chong silently.

"A white chicken?" Xiao Chong stared in surprise for a moment and then looked directly at Lin Wanwan, "Cousin, you’re always full of surprises. Where did this one come from?"

Lin Wanwan evasively replied, "Do you think this counts as an auspicious sign, something that can be presented to the Saint?"

Xiao Chong withdrew his gaze, continued brewing tea, and said calmly and assertively, "Naturally, it counts."

Lin Wanwan was delighted, "That’s good."

Then she lifted her bright eyes to Xiao Chong and said, "Brother, there are more than a hundred such auspicious white-feathered chickens at Lin Family Manor, and they can be ready for market in just a month and a half. Since I’ve discovered such a good breed of chicken, brother, how do you intend to reward me?"

Xiao Chong shifted his gaze to the white-feathered chicken for a moment and then locked eyes with Lin Wanwan, "Cousin, the value of auspicious signs lies in their rarity. Having too many may not be a good thing. If this chicken is indeed market-ready as quickly as you claim, while others may see it as a boon, for you, it might not be."

Lin Wanwan’s proud expression froze, seeing that Xiao Chong didn’t seem to be speaking off the cuff, she couldn’t help but ask, "A meat chicken that can be marketed in a month and a half, surely brother understands what this means for the Great Tang’s food shortages. Why wouldn’t it be a good thing?"

Xiao Chong said nothing. After finishing the tea froth, he poured a cup of the plain tea she requested into the small porcelain cup in front of Lin Wanwan and slowly said, "Cousin, please enjoy the tea.

Those that are abnormal are considered to be of demonic nature, how can they be auspicious?

Ordinary domestic chickens take a year to mature, and when this white chicken grows in just over a month, if the news spreads, people might not dare to eat it. Not only dare not, but it could also create panic, with people mistakenly thinking it’s the work of monsters.

And you, having discovered such a monster, could imagine the criticism you’ll endure."

"How could this be a monster? It’s obviously auspicious! Who would think so irrationally?" Lin Wanwan’s face changed, as she silently thought ’Oh no,’ her mouth voiced doubts, yet her heart knew well that Xiao Chong’s words were not mere scares.

Not to mention the Tang Dynasty a millennium ago, even in modern times, with compulsory education rapidly widespread, superstitious rumors about white-feathered chickens still persist.

Rumors of "six-winged chickens," "hormone chickens," "toxic chickens," "medicated chickens," and so on are still very much alive.

In truth, the quick growth is not due to eating hormones; it’s entirely because the breed is developed with this characteristic. Feeding it hormones not only won’t speed up growth but could actually have harmful effects.

As for six wings and such, it’s baseless nonsense. People are simply deeply ingrained with the concept that free-range chickens take a year to market and can’t comprehend that a chicken could be ready in just a month and a half.

The per capita annual consumption of white-feathered chickens in the United States is 47 kilograms, while in Huaxia, it’s just 5.7 kilograms.

Despite the clear advantages of white-feathered chickens, being nutritious, having short breeding cycles, and high feed conversion, skepticism has never ceased.

The widespread acceptance of white-feathered chickens on Huaxia tables occurred only after prolonged education and countering rumors.

The more intelligent a nation is, the more they’ll question unusual things, which is why rulers favor ignorance among the populace.

The breakdown of rumors in later generations was aided by the spread of education and the development of the internet, but the Tang Dynasty a thousand years ago lacked these conditions.

Yet rumors would surely have an audience, for history has a remarkable way of repeating itself. Characteristics like being white and growing fast are enough for all sorts of fantastical rumors to spread.

Lin Wanwan recalled the confused and shocked expressions of her clansfolk and suddenly felt somewhat deflated.

Such things that are too ahead of their time indeed should not be randomly revealed.

If people follow the trail of the "magical" white-feathered chicken to discover the "magical" herself, what then? Wouldn’t they burn her at the stake as a witch?

Her clan would defer to her and protect her due to their interlinked interests, even if internally doubtful, but outsiders certainly might not, and would likely target her.

"Alas!" Thinking this, Lin Wanwan suddenly felt like a deflated balloon, and without regard for propriety, she propped her elbows on the tea table, rested her chin in her hands, and asked Xiao Chong, "Brother, do you believe me?"

Xiao Chong smiled softly at her, his eyes gleaming with light, "I believe you, but..."

"It’s enough that brother believes me." Lin Wanwan interrupted Xiao Chong, "No need to say more. I’ve figured it out. I acted rashly here, so I ask brother to keep it secret. Whether or not to present this white-feathered chicken to the Emperor is up to you, just leave me out of it. Oh, if brother wishes to eat chicken, I could still send a few more over."

Seeing Lin Wanwan’s forlorn little face, Xiao Chong was suddenly struck by the strong sense that she was moving far away, and he blurted out, "Thank you, cousin, for thinking of me. What reward would you like? I will not refuse anything I can do."

Lin Wanwan, hearing this, raised her eyes in surprise to look at Xiao Chong. His clear and profound gaze was unwavering, calm, and composed.

How strange, this doesn’t sound like something the usually cunning Xiao Chong would say at all.