Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 717 - 712: The Center of Attention

After traveling for more than half a month, the sweltering autumn heat has quietly retreated. Although the daytime temperature remains somewhat high, a cloak is needed in the mornings and evenings.

Lin Wanwan and her four young cousins from the Xiao Mansion squeezed into two carriages, heading toward the back courtyard of the County Government.

Since the marriage dates of the three young ladies from the Xiao Mansion’s main branch were set, their social activities have sharply decreased, with elders keeping them mostly at home to either embroider bridal attire or learn household financial management.

Only Xiao Ronghua from the second branch, who hasn’t yet been betrothed, continues to engage in social events in Qiantang.

However, due to Xiao Ronghua’s inherent shyness and the absence of her sisters’ companionship, she now seldom goes out. And even if she does, she often ends up as a wallflower, rarely daring to start conversations.

Receiving an invitation like today, explicitly naming them to attend the banquet together as siblings, was indeed a rarity.

It was as if they were golden canaries who’ve been caged for too long, suddenly feeling a momentary freedom, so on the way to the County Government, the young girls chattered non-stop.

From time to time, they lifted the carriage curtains to secretly peek at the pedestrians on the street.

If the Great Tang had modern stores lining the streets, rather than centralized in east and west workshops, the girls would surely stroll and shop along the way.

By the time they reached the entrance of the County Government, attendants were already waiting there.

The cousins dismounted and turned back to help their sisters into the venue.

Madam Lu had meticulously arranged a display of flowers to welcome guests, vibrant and colorful, with clusters of flowers in full bloom, creating a lively scene.

Lin Wanwan spent her days in the cabin diligently reading medical books, practicing acupuncture, and occasionally enhancing her herbal knowledge with Chinese medicinal herbs collected in Chang’an.

It could be said that during her twenty-plus days on the ship, she had become thoroughly infused with the scent of herbs.

Even now, standing in the fragrant garden, Lin Wanwan’s first reaction was to consider what medicinal herbs the flowers and plants before her could be processed into and their effects—a fitting reflex for a qualified traditional Chinese doctor.

"I’ve heard that you are favored by the aunt, and she gifted you a set of Mutton Fat Jade jewelry bestowed by Empress Dugu in her time?" After a few words of praise from those gathered around her, Madam Lu steered the conversation toward Lin Wanwan.

"Yes, I was fortunate enough to receive Aunt’s undeserved favor." Lin Wanwan calmly replied without elaborating.

On this day, Lin Wanwan didn’t even bring her small Qingyu, fully prepared for interrogation. She had some understanding of Madam Lu’s temperament.

Although Xiao Family wasn’t in Chang’an, they communicated frequently with various families in Chang’an City, keeping well-informed and having numerous questions for Lin Wanwan.

Questions regarding her betrothal, about Empress Zhangsun, about the popular soaps, alcoholic drinks, and fans in Chang’an City—the Xiao Family had many inquiries for Lin Wanwan.

Lin Wanwan gracefully returned Madam Lu’s questions without arrogance or subservience.

Today’s dinner party, Madam Lu from the Xiao Family had invited only the members of the Xiao Family, which was evidently clear that the main guest was her nephew’s fiancée Lin Wanwan, so the conversation naturally shifted toward Lin Wanwan’s travel tales from Chang’an, which wasn’t surprising at all.

Compared to before her visit to Chang’an, Lin Wanwan’s ability to navigate social graces had become even more skilled, adept at avoiding sensitive topics without revealing personal matters in conversations.

Thus, despite Madam Lu’s repeated questioning, she received no substantial answers from Lin Wanwan, who mostly offered vague replies or, at times, simply volleyed the question back.

While Lin Wanwan took this approach, the proud Madam Lu, far from getting angry, secretly nodded approvingly, believing she had finally learned some aristocratic wisdom about superficial social interactions.

Compared to her previous rebellious and rustic demeanor, her current elegant finesse and willingness to adapt showed more of a great lady’s leadership presence.

"Lin, I’ve heard you raised some Western white pigs in Chang’an City and personally guided a veterinarian on postpartum care for sows?" Suddenly, Lu Ying’er, who had been silent with a stern face, started to speak.

(⊙o⊙) Sister, is there no one left here you care about?

Lin Wanwan quietly commented to herself, considering how a noble lady, confined by the feudal system, mentioned "pigs" twice in one sentence, along with "postpartum care," "veterinarian," and "white skin," clearly showing considerable resentment.

"Ying’er!" Madam Lu shouted, giving her daughter a tug to stop her rude words.

She knew her daughter harbored jealousy toward Lin Wanwan, but under no circumstances could they lose the dignity of a noble lady!

For Lu Ying’er, there truly was no one here she cared about; she spoke her mind freely. Making Lin Wanwan lose face was her priority.

As for herself, she was about to marry far away and wouldn’t have to care about these people she’d unlikely ever meet again!

Jealousy transforms one’s demeanor, and imagining Lin Wanwan being able to live side by side, share meals, and live with a brother-in-law akin to an Immortal, Lu Ying’er felt like she could crush a silver tooth.

What comparison did a suitor from the Langya Wang clan have against a brother-in-law like Zijia?

Lin Wanwan smiled slightly and did not respond to Lu Ying’er.

Seeing the shock on the faces of the young women upon Lu Ying’er’s mention of pigs, Lin Wanwan knew that reciting poetry, appreciating flowers, and cultivating romance would never be appropriate in such settings. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Although Lin Wanwan was entirely unfazed by raising Western white pigs, she even considered herself quite adept and admirable in this regard.

Yet she wasn’t lacking emotional intelligence; she knew the right moments for certain topics.

These high-ranking aristocrats wouldn’t genuinely care about the affairs of the lower class, like farming or pig breeding, which held no relevance to them.

The so-called aristocrats inherently looked down on the laborers at the bottom. Every year during spring plowing, when Li Shimin personally led officials to ceremonially plant some fields and turn some soil by Chang’an outskirts, they claimed to understand the hardships of common people—that was all for show.

Those gentlemen calling for peaceful rural life, calmly viewing southern hills are essentially like the fanciful Lord Ye who loved dragons in name only.

In truth, if you explained farming and pig-rearing to them, none would genuinely care to listen.

Facing agricultural matters, most aristocrats shared Lu Ying’er’s disdainful attitude.

The difference only lay in whether they hid it well.

Aside from Lu Ying’er flipping over a jar of jealousy, the activities at this banquet were quite intriguing.

Besides engaging in refined drinking challenges, everyone gathered to inquire Lin Wanwan about fabrics, ready-made garments, and jewelry from Chang’an City, asking about the attire and fashion makeup of palace nobles, and more.

Lin Wanwan seemed like someone fresh from the fashion capital, visited by small-town folks curious about everything.