CHAPTER 309: CHAPTER 306: GO SEE WHAT HE’S UP TO

Lin Wanwan kept trying to convince herself, but images of Bai Juyi’s bewilderment in the face of locusts and his poem "Hunting Locusts" kept appearing in her mind:

Hunting locusts, hunting locusts, whose children are they? The days are hot and long, hungry to death.

After the Xingyuan soldiers, the harm to yin and yang, harmonious energy transforming into locusts.

From the Two Rivers to the Three Capitals, feeding like silkworms, flying like rain.

Rain flying silkworms eating thousands of miles, no green seedlings, only barren soil.

Henan officials worry about farmers, tasking people to hunt locusts day and night.

At the time, three hundred copper coins for a measure of millet, locust price equal to millet.

Hunting locusts, hunting locusts, what profit is there? Only to make the hungry toil and spend more.

One locust may die, but a hundred more come, how can human effort resolve heavenly disasters?

...

Even the celebrated Bai Juyi believed human effort cannot contend with locusts, a heavenly disaster, placing hope in the ethereal order of yin and yang, saying, "I heard in ancient times good officials had wise governance, using governance to drive locusts away from the territory."

Then why not Xiao Chong?

Lin Wanwan felt a bit overwhelmed; the thought that Xiao Chong would worship the Locust God made his image collapse in her mind!

Collapse terribly!

She sat on her horse, trailing the crowd soullessly forward, unable to believe, unwilling to believe.

At that moment, the Great Tang in her mind became extremely blurred, an unprecedented sense of loss surrounded her.

Never before had she felt so clearly that there was a chasm of a thousand years between her and the characters of the Great Tang!

Is this the feeling of being the sober one among the drunk?

Not pleasant at all!

This is not the splendid era she loved. This era did not meet her expectations! The Great Tang should be open-minded, inclusive, having the vigor to dominate thousands of miles like a tiger!

How can it indulge in such feudal superstitions!

Burdened with doubt and disbelief, Lin Wanwan followed the crowd out of the town area, heading towards the Ta Mountain Platform.

At this time, Ta Mountain Platform was already a sea of people, if not for the guards and disreputable folk blocking them at the mountain gate, the surging crowd might have collapsed the mountain path.

Lin Wanwan rode her horse to the foot of Ta Mountain, looked up through the gauze veil of her hat, toward Xiao Chong on the high platform several hundred meters away.

The distance was too far to clearly see his features, yet his tall and graceful figure was instantly recognizable amidst the dense crowd, his height a head taller than others made him conspicuous.

Today Xiao Chong wore a wide-sleeved white robe, styled his hair in a Daoist bun, partly draped, his robe and black hair fluttered in the wind, as if he might transcend at any moment.

Lin Wanwan approached but was blocked by disreputable men.

Hua Nong beside her pulled out the badge of the Village Lady of Le’an, but as it turned out, these disreputable men guarding the place couldn’t read.

"Go, go! Can’t go further, it’s a heaven sacrifice! Idlers are not allowed near!" The disreputable man brandished a Tang blade, aggressively pushing people.

Had Lin Wanwan and the others not been in elegant attire, they would have been even more fierce.

Hua Nong, seeing they didn’t recognize the value, said angrily, "The Village Lady of Le’an is right before you; not even bowing is one thing, but how dare you push?"

"Village Lady of Le’an?" Everyone looked at each other hesitantly, unsure whether to let them through or whether disturbing the County Magistrate at this moment was appropriate.

Though the Village Lady’s rank was higher than County Magistrate, practically, the Village Lady held no real power, the decision hinged on timing.

Lin Wanwan’s mood was poor, unwilling to waste words, silently took off her money pouch and handed it to Hua Nong, implying she intended to clear a path with money.

Though Hua Nong wasn’t as clever as Yun Shang and Hong Yan, once the money pouch was in her hand, even she understood the meaning, immediately took out a few pearls and handed them over.

These pearls were ones Lin Wanwan bought online in the modern era, 80 bucks could buy 50 grams (about 50 pearls) of roughly 8-9mm slightly flawed freshwater colored loose pearls, not particularly valuable in modern times, yet in the Great Tang even flawed pearls were valuable, suitable for tipping when socializing with noble women.

Since arriving in the Great Tang, Lin Wanwan established her wealthy persona due to pepper, and continued to maintain it.

Due to her wealthy trait, Village Lady status, and connection as cousins with Xiao Chong, Lin Wanwan secured a position for the Lin Family in Mao County’s upper society.

The disreputable men holding the pearls hurriedly bowed and rushed inside to report, shortly after, the call to allow passage came from within.

Though Lin Wanwan’s pearl was quietly handed to one disreputable man, ultimately it would be shared among the group.

If the pearls couldn’t be divided evenly, they would sell them and split the copper coins, that was the custom, hogging it all wasn’t possible.

Passing through layers of guards and government officials, Lin Wanwan arrived at the edge of Ta Mountain Platform, the innermost circle here was still guarded by the Xiao Family’s private guards.

Yet once reaching here, Lin Wanwan didn’t wish to proceed further, from this position she could see everything clearly, indeed this was for worship.

No need to ask further.

No matter how unbelievable, reality was laid bare.

Xiao Chong was indeed conducting a heaven sacrifice and worship.

Just as she was feeling lost, Hua Nong beside her, without understanding subtle expressions, excitedly said, "Lady, look, don’t the two chickens in the cage over there resemble the white feather chickens from our estate?"

Lin Wanwan followed Hua Nong’s pointing finger, indeed seeing two white feather chickens caged beside the busy Xiao Chong.

White feather chicken is recognizable; the Great Tang had black chickens, crowns and feet were all black, only the feathers white; whereas white feather chickens, besides having white feathers, had red crowns and golden feet like ordinary chickens.

Lin Wanwan frowned slightly, what was this, using white feather chickens to sacrifice heaven? But she hadn’t heard of sacrificing gods with live chickens, weren’t they usually cooked as offerings?

At that moment, Xiao Chong suddenly looked her way, made a gesture of courtesy from afar, gave a serene smile, Lin Wanwan silently returned the gesture.

Xiao Ce standing beside Xiao Chong also followed with a salute, but really seemed too busy, didn’t come forward for pleasantries.

Lin Wanwan’s mind stirred, calmly watched Xiao Chong from her spot.

After a series of complex sacrificial rituals, Xiao Chong took a white feather chicken out of the cage, began reciting sacrificial texts in classical Chinese.

For those graduated from modern schools, classical Chinese was mainly about recognizing words, comprehension took time.

In the current scenario, quickly hearing someone recite, even recalling the character structure took effort, no immediate understanding.

Just as Lin Wanwan listened puzzled and confused, someone beside her suddenly whispered, "Le’an, do you believe what Xiao Mingfu says?"

Lin Wanwan turned to look, the person was Mrs. Wang from the Zhang Family eldest grandson’s wife.

Due to her family having a fleet engaging in overseas trade, and her own high emotional intelligence, Lin Wanwan maintained close contacts with her.

Not claiming to be close friends, yet they socialized harmoniously, invited each other to events several times.

Lin Wanwan didn’t answer, quietly asked back, "Mrs. Wang, you came too? I’m somewhat unclear on my cousin’s intentions, do you know?"

Mrs. Wang whispered, "What, Le’an, you didn’t hear it just now? Xiao Mingfu’s heaven sacrifice and divination obtained the Li Hexagram, Li signifies fire, he’s planning to use fire against the locusts!"

Lin Wanwan: "..."