CHAPTER 282: CHAPTER 279: LYNX

Lin Wanwan said disbelievingly: "Really? Is it really going to rain heavily later?"

She pulled little Qingyu to the porch of the main house, looked up at the ever-changing clouds in the sky, the afterglow of the setting sun, everything was beautiful, how could it suddenly rain heavily?

Little Qingyu looked up at Lin Wanwan: "Mommy, is it really going to rain heavily later?"

Lin Wanwan really found it hard to answer, as she didn’t understand astronomy. Even modern weather forecasts can’t predict the weather of the Tang Dynasty, even if the geographical location is the same.

But she couldn’t lose her omnipotent image in front of little Qingyu, so she could only nod guiltily: "Hmm, your cousin’s right."

Lin Wanwan thought about Xiao Chong’s character; he probably wouldn’t speak without reason, perhaps he truly understood astronomy.

Before the Tang Dynasty, scholars were generally skilled in both culture and martial arts, without a strict separation between civil servants and military generals.

And a veteran would certainly learn some astronomical knowledge to aid in military expeditions. For example, historical figures like Zhuge Liang, Huo Qubing, Zhang Liang, among others. Huo Qubing was not only skilled in astronomy but also in geography, like a human GPS, launching raids across thousands of miles and hitting targets without getting lost.

Similarly, military general Li Guang, who often got lost, couldn’t compare to Huo Qubing.

Xiao Chong, with his muscular physique, was evidently trained in martial arts for many years, always ready to abandon culture for the battlefield as a great general, so it was normal for him to know some astronomy.

"Mommy, should we go home? I haven’t fed my little darlings today!"

Little Qingyu raised a small elephant, a pony, an eastern hawk, a lamb, two big geese, three white-feathered chickens, four Kang Beier ducks, and a fish tank full of fishes—all truly her treasures that she would personally feed every day and lead (except the fishes) in a line to patrol the village roads.

Lin Wanwan tilted her head and asked Xiao Chong: "Cousin, how long will this heavy rain last?"

Xiao Chong smiled slightly: "It won’t stop after one hour and three moments. Ah, little one, your darlings might have to go hungry tonight."

Little Qingyu took it seriously and quickly looked up at Lin Wanwan: "Mommy, Aunt Yun Shang will help me feed them, right?"

Lin Wanwan laughed and said: "Yes."

Little Qingyu pouted: "I can’t understand when you say ’yes’."

The little one’s demand was quite high, so Lin Wanwan squatted down and pinched her little upturned nose, saying: "Yes, of course, Aunt Yun Shang will help take care of them, don’t worry. Besides, aren’t Rongrong and her little followers there? They won’t go hungry no matter what."

Hearing Lin Wanwan say this, little Qingyu was relieved, revealing a row of little millet teeth in her smile.

"It’s so boring here!" After playing with the little wooden sword for a long time, little Qingyu began to miss her playmates at Lin Family Manor because there were none at the County Government.

Xiao Chong laughed: "Your cousin also has treasures, let me show you."

Then he ordered the servant waiting beside them: "Go and bring Fat Tiger."

"As you command."

"What’s Fat Tiger? A little tiger?" Little Qingyu asked, looking up.

Xiao Chong chuckled: "Not a little tiger, you’ll see."

Soon, a super-sized cat was brought over. Little Qingyu exclaimed with joy and rushed toward it: "What a cute big cat!"

It startled the servant next to her: "No, young lady..."

Before he could finish speaking, little Qingyu had already hugged the big cat and started petting it, leaving the servant dumbfounded. Was this still the bad-tempered lynx?

Whenever he fed it, it would even bare its teeth at him, yet the young lady, seeing it for the first time, made it reveal its belly.

This cat, larger and more robust than little Qingyu, showed a very human-like expression of disdain after being hugged, but did not break free.

Both Xiao Chong and the servant familiar with it knew that this was actually its expression of comfort.

Being rather proud, every time its owner brushed its fur or bathed it, it displayed this disdain mixed with smugness.

Xiao Chong said calmly: "The little one is truly liked by the animals."

Lin Wanwan looked at Xiao Chong in surprise, what did this guy mean, did he even observe children so carefully?

Lin Wanwan had long discovered little Qingyu’s special trait in their daily interaction. The little one had a natural affinity with various animals, but she didn’t expect Xiao Chong to notice it too.

This guy’s observation skills were truly sharp, even little Qingyu, who usually didn’t pay much attention to him, was seen through. He was a frightening man.

No wonder he could become a county governor at such a young age; his mind must be filled with hundreds of tricks!

Lin Wanwan frowned, silently warning herself to be more cautious around Xiao Chong, ensuring not to reveal any weaknesses.

Xiao Chong casually said: "Cousin, now thinking of being cautious seems a bit late."

"Ah!" Lin Wanwan was shocked; could he have legendary mind reading skills?! How did he know what she was thinking?

Xiao Chong smiled broadly: "Wanwan, what are you imagining now?"

"I’m not imagining anything," Lin Wanwan replied, then pointed to the big cat playing with little Qingyu in the yard, "This is a lynx, right?"

Xiao Chong smiled: "Correct, it is a lynx. I picked it up in the mountains a few years ago, now it is a great hunting companion for me."

Seeing this lynx, the first thought in Lin Wanwan’s mind was to take it back to the modern world to contribute to the ecological environment there and simultaneously speed up the evolution progress of the Space-Time Gate.

But she also realized this was unrealistic, for this lynx clearly had undergone thorough training.

"The Great Tang nobility really plays daringly, using anything as pets. Lynxes are smart, cunning, and cautious, not easy to tame, right?"

Xiao Chong said with ease: "It’s not that difficult, many people in Chang’an City keep them."

Lin Wanwan sighed: "Ignoring its ferocity, it is indeed quite adorable, I also like it."

Xiao Chong laughed: "That’s easy, next time we return to Chang’an, I’ll catch one for you."

Lin Wanwan smiled: "Then I’ll trouble you, cousin."

These protected animals listed in the penal records were all to Lin Wanwan’s liking, ready to be brought back to the modern era for release.

"Let’s go, cousin. If you’re free now, how about we check out the seafood you brought? It’s a pity you didn’t bring that New Luo Maid today."

Foodie Xiao Chong expressed regret, really missing the culinary skills of Hua Nong.

Lin Wanwan glanced sideways at him: "Cousin, let me show you my skills today."

Xiao Chong chuckled: "That sounds great, I’ll rely on you, cousin."

As they spoke, the two went side by side toward the kitchen. Little Qingyu quickly raised her head from playing: "Mommy, where are you going?"

Lin Wanwan said: "To make dinner, you play here with Fat Tiger and be careful."

Little Qingyu nodded vigorously: "Okay, I know! The big cat is very gentle, not dangerous!"

Xiao Chong laughed heartily: "The little one is the first to say Fat Tiger is gentle."