The servants looked on in confusion as Lin Wanwan busied herself, while little Qingyu followed along excitedly, playing together. They crushed charcoal and carefully poured the solution into a glass pot, asking endless questions. "Mother, what is activated carbon?" "Mother, is our water delicious because we put activated carbon in it?" "Mother, how long do we have to wait until it’s ready?" Lin Wanwan answered all her questions one by one, but little Qingyu was just like the courtyard full of servants, probably hearing without understanding. Yun Shang reminded Lin Wanwan several times while she was explaining to little Qingyu, hoping her lady would protect the secret formula, since it was something that could be passed down for generations and not everyone in the courtyard was from the Lin Family. But Lin Wanwan clearly didn’t have such intentions. Mainly because even if someone memorized all her steps, it would be difficult to achieve without calcium chloride. Even she herself found it troublesome, preferring to buy it directly from the modern world. Someone with a Space-Time Gate doesn’t need to work so hard! This is a technological barrier; it’s not something you can understand just by watching. After Lin Wanwan finished her busy work, her cousin-in-law Xiao Yuan sent a maid to inform her they were going out. Today is the fifth day of the lunar month, a day to welcome the God of Wealth. This custom exists not only in Jiangnan but throughout the Great Tang Territory, having originated in the Great Tang. Qiantang and Mao County, due to convenient waterways, have frequent interactions and thus similar customs. Every year on this day, ordinary people drum and burn incense and candles in front of the God of Wealth picture at home, while wealthy families with means enter the mountains to visit Daoist Temples or Temples, personally worshipping the God of Wealth, praying for peace and prosperity in the coming year. Yes, there is a God of Wealth in Temples too, even if the God of Wealth is a Taoist deity, it doesn’t prevent enjoying offerings in the Temples; this might be a unique feature in the Jiangnan area. Actually, this situation is normal. Any deity worshipped by Huaxia’s devout people must be a deity capable of practical deeds. To seek children they worship Guanyin, to seek healing they worship Lao Jun, to seek learning they worship the Confucius Temple, to seek rain they worship the Dragon King, and naturally, to seek wealth they worship the God of Wealth. Moreover, a deity that doesn’t manifest will quickly be abandoned by devout people. For instance, when praying, Huaxia’s people must first offer a promissory note to the deities, promising to fulfill the vow with a golden body if desires are granted, otherwise, there’s no follow-up. Some local officials pray to the Dragon King for rain, and if it doesn’t rain in three days, it’s no longer a plea but whipping the dragon’s statue. Huaxia’s people are that bold. Unlike those from the Western Regions who are always repenting before the gods, feeling inherently guilty. This is also why foreign religions cannot take root in the Great Tang. Offering nothing and expecting me to give to you first? No way. So it’s not surprising that the God of Wealth appears in Temples – ordinary people, who doesn’t want wealth? Where there’s demand, there’s a market. Originally, they planned to go to the Feilai Peak God of Wealth Temple today, but yesterday Lin Wanwan’s uncle Xiao Yan got news from County Magistrate Lu that a master might appear at Ge Xian Temple, so they decided to change their destination to Ge Xian Temple. Arriving at the gate, Lin Wanwan found the young ladies dressed in foreign attire, donned veils, rode horses, and appeared strikingly valiant. Because Lin Wanwan couldn’t ride, she took little Qingyu with three cousins-in-law in separate carriages, while the maids either followed their mistresses or crowded into the last large carriage. Thıs text ıs hosted at novel•fire.net Xiao Xianghua rode up to the carriage where Lin Wanwan was, asking brightly: "Cousin Wanwan, did you bring foreign attire?" Lin Wanwan opened the curtain, replying with a smile: "I brought it." "That’s good, once we reach Ge Xian Temple, I’ll teach you horseback riding; there’s a great place there for playing polo." "Sounds good, thank you." "No need for thanks, Cousin Wanwan. I’ll head up front first." Little Qingyu lay by the window, enviously watching her little cousin being held by his father on horseback. She turned to Lin Wanwan, whining: "Mother, I want to ride a horse too." Lin Wanwan laughed and said: "Sure, didn’t you have a pony? You can learn when we get back." Little Qingyu looked longingly outside at the spirited children on horseback, sighing: "If only I brought my Little Red to Qiantang, I could ride now." Her juvenile sighing amused Lin Wanwan greatly, who laughed heartily, drawing attention from those outside the carriage. Two cousins-in-law sat together in one carriage, hearing faint laughter from behind. They exchanged glances, and He Shi remarked: "Wanwan seems in good spirits." Little Yuan Shi nodded with a smile: "Our cousin truly lives happily. Just earlier, when I sent someone to invite her, guess what she was doing?" He Shi asked: "What was she doing?" Little Yuan Shi covered her mouth, laughing: "She was playing with charcoal and mud with the child." He Shi remarked in surprise: "She does dote on the adopted child." "It’s her own family’s little girl, a good companion, also affectionate." The cousins chatted about Lin Wanwan, while the first aunt, pleading with the God of Wealth, also spoke of Lin Wanwan in the household. As Xiao’s mother aged and stopped managing affairs, the first aunt naturally took charge. She arranged those in Lin Wanwan’s courtyard, naturally placing her own eyes and ears there. At this moment, a sweeping old woman reported Lin Wanwan’s strange behavior from the morning to Yuan Shi. "You say Lady Lin uses charcoal and mud to purify water?" Yuan Shi asked with a frown. The old woman grinned and replied: "Yes, madam, that’s what the little one kept asking Lady Lin; I heard Lady Lin say it herself, disliking the mansion’s water taste." "Alright, I understand. You may leave now, serve well, do not neglect your duties." "Yes, madam, I understand." The old woman bowed and retreated. Yuan Shi glanced at her maid Fu Yinan, smiling: "See, I told you this niece is not your typical country girl. Disliking the well water here indicates she lives pretty well, someone who carries her own water when out is definitely not from a struggling poor family." Fu Yinan nodded: "She indeed appears to be living delicately, never facing hardships. However, Lady Lin’s behavior doesn’t follow conventions, nor does it resemble that of one raised in an elite family; it seems her claim of being raised by a hermit in the mountains is true." Yuan Shi glanced at the platter of fresh, juicy red cherries, murmuring: "She is quite well-off, treat her well, from now on let the water seller deliver an extra barrel of spring water to the guest courtyard daily. We can’t have her drinking good water at home and none here at the Xiao Mansion."