Upon hearing the sound of a carriage, little Qingyu dashed out from the warm hall with a burning charcoal stove and ran to the steps of the west side door to look out. As soon as Lin Wanwan got off the carriage, little Qingyu rushed into her arms like a cannonball. Lin Wanwan picked up little Qingyu and spun around twice, making her giggle. Then she held her in her arms, kissed her rosy little face several times, and asked, "Little Qingyu, do you miss your mother? Mother missed you so much." Little Qingyu rested her head on Lin Wanwan’s neck, hugging her softly and saying, "I miss mother too." Embracing little Qingyu happily, Lin Wanwan entered the hall, with Yun Shang hastily stepping forward to help her take off her cloak and hang it up. Hua Nong, hovering nearby, looked at Lin Wanwan and blurted out, "Madam, you got quite a bit of tan after going out." Holding little Qingyu with one hand, Lin Wanwan touched her face with the other and asked, "Oh, did I get a tan?" Yun Shang, after putting away the cloak, brought over a bowl of cherry custard and smiled, "Don’t listen to Hua Nong’s nonsense, Madam. You’re still as white as snow." Hua Nong chuckled sheepishly, "Oh, right, right, a bit tanned, but still very white." Little Qingyu lifted her head to gaze at Lin Wanwan’s face closely, then concluded, "Mother’s white, not tanned." Lin Wanwan smiled and kissed little Qingyu again, "Our little Qingyu has the sweetest mouth. Mother brought you lots of goodies, want to pick some now?" Little Qingyu clapped her hands excitedly, "Yes, yes! What did mother bring me? Chocolate?" Lin Wanwan laughed heartily, "You’re only thinking about chocolate, huh? Let mother see your little teeth; if they’re not bad, I’ll give you chocolate." At this, little Qingyu eagerly opened her mouth wide, showing Lin Wanwan her little rice teeth. After examining and seeing no black spots, Lin Wanwan smiled, "Well done! Looks like you brushed your teeth well even when mother wasn’t around. Today, you get chocolate as a reward. Kun Lun, bring the big box in." Kun Lun understood when he heard "Kun Lun" and promptly placed the wooden box he was carrying in the center of the hall. Lin Wanwan put down little Qingyu, took out a key to open the wooden box, and brought out fruits and a can of unwrapped Lindt chocolate balls. Little Qingyu eagerly grabbed the glass can and asked Lin Wanwan, "Mother, can I go find Big Sister Diya and them?" Lin Wanwan smiled, "Go ahead." The little one dashed out excitedly, and Yun Shang quickly followed, wrapping her in a cloak and sighing, "Little miss, slow down, don’t fall." Watching their figures leave the courtyard, Lin Wanwan then turned and carried the box into the study, instructing Hua Nong and Kun Lun to guard the door and not open it for anyone. Once inside the study, Lin Wanwan opened the Space-Time Gate, returning to the modern small villa. She quickly opened her computer to research information about the Ta Mountain Dam. It took her more than two hours to organize the information about the Ta Mountain Dam, writing down the key points in small script on a blank folded book, before returning to the Tang Dynasty. The hall was already lively with the sounds of children playing, with little Qingyu hosting her little friends for play. Lin Wanwan was not in a rush to send this fold of substantial notes to Xiao Chong, after all, Ta Mountain Dam would take at least three years to build, there was plenty of time. As she opened the study door, little Qingyu looked up at the sound, flashing her a big smile, "Mother, are you done reading? Auntie Huanong said you were busy and didn’t let me disturb you. I was very good and didn’t make any noise." Lin Wanwan praised, "Yes, my little Qingyu is the best." "Mother, mother, can you tell me a story? I still want to hear Sun Wukong’s story." Lin Wanwan thought there was nothing else to do, so she agreed, "Sure, sit down, and I’ll tell you a bit." "Oh, oh! We get to hear Sun Wukong!" Three little children immediately sat in a row on a low couch, swinging their little legs and staring intently at Lin Wanwan. She then began telling the story with expressive tones. She had no impatience with hanging around with the children because they were all so well-behaved. Who wouldn’t love adorable and obedient children! While she was telling the story, the voices of Lin Clan Leader and Lin Mengbo appeared outside the door. Lin Wanwan said, "We’ll stop here for today, more next time." Little Qingyu reluctantly asked, "Mother, then why is Tang Seng not powerful yet he can be Sun Wukong’s master?" Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by novel·fıre·net Lin Wanwan brushed her little head and said, "Mother will tell you when you sleep tonight, now go play with Big Sister Diya and Little Crab." "Wan Niang, telling stories to the kids?" Lin Clan Leader asked with a laugh as he entered the door. Lin Wanwan stood up to greet them, replying, "Just telling little stories to pass the time, Uncle Clan Leader, have a seat. Hua Nong, pour two bowls of tea for Uncle Clan Leader and Brother Mengbo." Lin Clan Leader did not fuss with Lin Wanwan, and after simple pleasantries, directly stated his purpose for coming. The matter was still about Xiao Chong, as everyone would have to take turns with the corvée labor due to the Ta Mountain Dam. The turn for the people of Lin Family Manor to serve was already scheduled for spring, and the Village Chief had to inform the villagers under his management in advance. Those willing to labor would work for twenty days, and those unwilling needed to prepare the money and cloth to offset the corvée at the earliest. Lin Wanwan, being a female household, was exempt from labor service and could pay three feet of silk per day. Lin Wanwan often purchased silk and cloth in the modern light textile city, and she also hoarded a lot in the Great Tang market. These were all hard currency, stocked in the warehouse for emergencies. Upon hearing what Lin Clan Leader said, she naturally had no issues on her part: "Alright, I understand, Clan Leader. What about other people in the village, will they go themselves or pay to offset the labor?" Lin Mengbo replied, "In past years during each slack season, we served the labor ourselves; we don’t have that extra money to offset labor. Each time, even though the labor was supposed to be twenty days, it often lasted thirty to forty, who knows what the new rulings under Xiao Mingfu will be." After speaking, Lin Mengbo looked at Lin Wanwan, clearly expecting she might know some inside news. Lin Wanwan then shared the news she heard from the teahouse in Xiao Creek Town: "This time the County Government has funds, so they won’t extend the labor. I heard from people in Xiao Creek Town that after completing the twenty-day labor set by the court, if one has spare time, they can continue working and receive twenty coins a day from the County Government." Lin Mengbo looked towards Lin Clan Leader, "Uncle Clan Leader, Wan Wan’s news matches what Elder He said, could it be true? Will there really be money for this labor this time?" Lin Clan Leader sipped some tea, savoring it before saying, "Xiao Mingfu doesn’t seem the type to speak carelessly." Despite his words, both men still felt uncertain, their faces heavy. Lin Wanwan vouched for Xiao Chong, "Xiao Chong is a good official, not greedy for money. The construction of Ta Mountain Dam is a long-term benefit for Mao County." Lin Mengbo laughed, "We’re just poor folks relying on the sea for a living, such matters of benefit are not our concern, managing our own lives is hard enough."