CHAPTER 207: CHAPTER 206: MY UNCLE’S FAMILY RETURNED TO CHINA

Because Xiao Chong is present, after Lin Mengbo and the others finished moving things, they all crowded into the kitchen to eat noodles and were reluctant to linger in the main hall.

Xiao Chong and Xiao Ce focused intently on slurping their beef noodles, fully embodying the code of eating in silence.

After finishing a bowl of noodles, Xiao Chong remarked, "The courtyard of my cousin is so lively, full of life and energy."

Lin Wanwan replied with a beaming smile, "Isn’t it just?"

The reason she loves the Great Tang lies in this—to feel that no matter how late she returns, someone is waiting and hoping for her. It makes her feel she is not alone, and that is truly the feeling of home.

After the late-night meal, Sun Chuyao escorted Xiao Chong and the others to the front courtyard’s schoolhouse to rest, while Lin Wanwan turned and went upstairs to wash up.

Entering the room, Lin Wanwan said to Yun Shang, "You should go down and have a bowl of beef noodles too."

Yun Shang smiled and said, "I’m not hungry. Are you going to sleep, ma’am? Shall I help you change?"

"No need, such a small matter doesn’t require your help," Lin Wanwan waved her off, "Hua Nong must have kept some noodles for you, hurry and eat them before they get soggy and lose their flavor."

Only after hearing this did Yun Shang curtsy and say, "Then I’ll be off. I’m on duty for night watch tonight and will come back soon."

Lin Wanwan said, "No hurry, no hurry."

Once Yun Shang left the room, Lin Wanwan lowered the bed curtains, preparing to return to the modern era, as it was exactly eight in the morning there.

Today was the day Xiao Chong’s calligraphy was being auctioned at the Hong Kong auction house. Though she had entrusted everything to Lu Shouyue, Lin Wanwan still waited for the news in the modern world.

She opened the Space-Time Gate, and the modern map refreshed once more, bringing her back to her small villa in Yongcheng.

She hadn’t canceled the apartment she rented in Yu City and had renewed the contract with the landlord for another year. After all, the rent was nothing to her now.

Stretching lazily, Lin Wanwan picked up a spare smartphone to check messages. Her usual smartphone was among the luggage sent back from Yu City, and it should have arrived by yesterday.

Sure enough, her phone displayed a message from the courier company saying her package was placed at the Cainiao Station.

Lin Wanwan changed out of her ancient attire and headed out the door.

Not being home the entire Spring Festival, she opened the door to find quite a bit of dust accumulated in the courtyard. Lin Wanwan arranged for the property management’s housekeeping service to have cleaners come over.

Ah, having grown accustomed to being waited on in the Great Tang, it’s hard to go from luxury to frugality. Just thinking about cleaning the entire villa herself gives her a headache, so she opts for a cleaning service.

Anyway, apart from Gu Yewang’s painting locked in the safe and some ancient outfits, there aren’t many secrets she fears others discovering at home.

Her biggest secret is always worn on her wrist.

At eight in the morning, it is the time for working-class people to rush to work. But in their villa district, it’s mostly either displaced residents or wealthy settlers, and there are few working-class seen. As she walked to the main gate, she didn’t encounter anyone heading to work.

The Cainiao Station was located in a commercial area of the high-rise district, and Lin Wanwan walked over leisurely, not in a rush.

Having just eaten beef noodles, it was a good time for a walk to digest.

Their station was inside the small shop of the community. After providing her phone’s last digits to collect her package, Lin Wanwan opened the box, leaving the cardboard for the shop owner.

The shop owner, an elderly couple who were displaced from the same village as Lin Wanwan’s grandparents, knew her well.

With their rural home torn down and land requisitioned, they received agricultural insurance from the government, and their twilight years should have been comfortable.

However, life’s unpredictability struck, and their farming son, obsessed with entrepreneurship, not only exhausted the family fortune but also incurred significant debts—the houses obtained from displacement under the son’s name were entirely sold or auctioned off.

All that remained was this small shop registered to the elderly couple and a small 80-square-meter apartment. Now four people from two generations squeeze together, and the son’s wife has long divorced him.

Currently, the elderly couple runs the small shop and picked up a cleaning job in the community, as well as collecting unwanted cardboard boxes to sell.

"Wanwan, have you been away from home these past few days? Your uncle came back a few days ago, did you know? They even came to ask about you at the shop, saying they couldn’t reach you," the old man in the shop said to Lin Wanwan while tidying up the cardboard boxes.

Lin Wanwan was surprised, "My uncle? He’s back?"

"Yes, you really didn’t know?"

Lin Wanwan rummaged through her luggage, took out her phone, and indeed saw many missed calls from her uncle and aunt over the past few days.

It’s strange. Didn’t they deal with everything in China last year and vowed never to return again? How come they’re back in less than a year?

Considering her uncle and aunt wouldn’t return to China even once in several years when their grandparents were alive, this was indeed unusual.

Dragging her luggage, Lin Wanwan scanned through her phone messages.

There were several new friend requests on WeChat, including those from her uncle and aunt, which Lin Wanwan ignored.

If something happened, they would surely call again. Honestly, she wasn’t keen on interacting with them at present.

Pushing their return aside, Lin Wanwan started looking at other WeChat messages.

Lu Shouyue had sent her many videos and photos from the auction site. Though Lin Wanwan hadn’t responded, Lu seemed used to Lin Wanwan’s slow pace and wasn’t deterred.

The antique world was abuzz about Xiao Chong’s calligraphy collection, and many attending the auction today were likely there because of it. After all, Xiao Chong’s calligraphy was quite exceptional.

Xiao Chong was unfortunate to have passed away young, otherwise, with his talent, he surely would have his place in history.

Of course, now with Lin Wanwan helping transport these cultural treasures, he has already made a mark in history.

In high spirits, Lin Wanwan sent a few replies to Lu Shouyue, whose call promptly followed: "Wanwan, you’re a mysterious and extremely busy person; it’s hard to reach you."

Lin Wanwan apologized with a laugh, then asked, "Mr. Lu, are you at the Hong Kong site today?"

Lu Shouyue replied, "Indeed, entrusted by you, of course, I must fulfill the task."

Lin Wanwan gratefully said, "Thank you, Mr. Lu."

"No need to thank me, but if you truly want to, treat me to a lavish meal. The other day I planned a French meal with Jie Yuting, but couldn’t get hold of you. Such heartache. Have you forgotten about this?"

Lin Wanwan apologized, "I haven’t forgotten, just got busy and didn’t have a chance to check my phone. Sorry, I’ll arrange with Mr. Jie now, and invite you once you’re back. How does that sound?"

"It’s a deal. Alright, the auction is about to start, we’ll chat later."

"Talk later."

After hanging up with Lu Shouyue, Lin Wanwan was about to reply to Jie Yuting on WeChat when her uncle’s call came through.

Lin Wanwan watched the caller ID in silence for a moment before finally pressing to answer.