CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32: DESCENDANTS OF THE GREAT XIAO TONG

EDITOR: ENDLESSFANTASY TRANSLATION

Xiao Chong and his companions were in the fields, they chatted a few words with the busy Lin Clan members, but were directly dismissed. So, they climbed up the field ridge and stood in front of Lin Wanwan, once again performed a hands-crossed greeting, and said: "Lady, may I inquire if these rice seeds can be sold to me?"

However, Lin Wanwan’s eyes rolled as she responded with a question instead of an answer: "Sir, is your surname Xiao? From the Xiao clan of Lanling in Jiangnan?"

Xiao Chong rubbed his nose and smiled: "Exactly. It seems you are the famous young lady of the Lin Clan in Wanghai Town?"

Well then, he’s clearly done his research.

Lin Wanwan immediately stepped down from the pavilion, performed a formal bow she recently learned from a video on ancient etiquette, then looked at Xiao Chong with bright eyes and said: "I can’t sell directly to you, I need to cultivate them first to produce new seeds, but that’s not difficult. Besides rice, we also grow sweet potatoes that are equally high-yield, would you like to take a look?"

Xiao Chong stood straight, looked at her for a moment, then suddenly smiled brightly: "You’ve guessed my identity?"

Lin Wanwan laughed cheerfully: "What is your identity? I only know that a person of your talent can never be ordinary."

Xiao Chong said: "I am not talented, I am the newly appointed County Magistrate Xiao Chong of Mao County, also known as Zifang."

A County Magistrate, to the common folks, he’s a significant official of authority.

Lin Wanwan immediately performed a proper bow again, saying: "So it was Lord Xiao’s esteemed visit, forgive me for not welcoming you from afar."

"Pff~" Suddenly, Shu Qi beside him burst out laughing.

Xiao Chong glanced at him, the latter immediately covered his mouth to suppress his laughter. But from Lin Wanwan’s perspective, it wasn’t just Shu Qi who laughed joyfully, even Xiao Chong’s handsome eyes carried a hint of a smile.

What joke did she make? Wasn’t it a perfectly normal greeting?

Lin Wanwan felt slightly embarrassed; being not born and bred in Great Tang, it truly is difficult to understand the locals’ humor, a gap of over a thousand years! She indeed tried her best to speak in antiquated style.

With a smile in his eyes, Xiao Chong brought up the topic Lin Wanwan mentioned earlier: "Lady spoke of high-yield sweet potatoes, a type I, being ignorant, have not heard of. May I see them?"

Lin Wanwan no longer cared about what they were laughing at; this is precisely the kind of thing to show to the County Magistrate! At once, she held the drowsy little Qingyu and said: "Please follow me, Lord Xiao. These are planted on the hillside behind our Lin Family Manor."

"Alright."

Lin Wanwan held little Qingyu at the front, Kun Lun held a blanket and followed tightly behind, Xiao Chong and Shu Qi also followed closely.

In the paddy field, Lin Mengjin put down the rice, took a few steps to catch up, Lin Wanwan heard the footsteps and turned back: "Brother Jin, what’s the matter?"

Lin Mengjin raised his chin and asked: "Wanwan, who are they?"

Lin Wanwan introduced the visitors, Lin Mengjin upon hearing that the handsome man before him was the County Magistrate, nearly stumbled from shock, hurriedly performed a kowtow greeting and exclaimed: "Greetings to Lord Mingfu Xiao!"

Xiao Chong said calmly: "No need for such formality, please rise."

After Lin Mengjin rose, he quickly said: "There’s work in the field, Wanwan I should get back to it."

Lin Wanwan watched him as he scurried away like a mouse seeing a cat, faster than when he arrived. Then she saw Lin Mengjin saying something to the clan members in the field, causing instant commotion.

Lin Wanwan was suddenly reminded, this is ancient times, where officials could determine the life and death of people! Break family’s County Magistrate, extermination of the Clan’s Prefect! Common folks seeing a County Magistrate would surely panic, this is not the law-abiding modern era. An official wanting to crush a commoner is all too easy.

In the interruption from Lin Mengjin, Lin Wanwan calmed down significantly, turned back, slightly smiled at Xiao Chong, and continued to lead with little Qingyu in her arms.

Even though appearances can be deceiving, indeed Xiao Chong’s looks naturally elicited a favorable impression, causing involuntary relaxation of vigilance, no wonder law-abiding Lin Wanwan was thus affected. Even the Emperor selects scholars, still prefers good looks.

Inner curiosity welled within Lin Wanwan, after a while, she couldn’t resist asking: "Is Lord Xiao familiar with the Crown Prince Xiao Tong of Southern Dynasty Liang?"

"Bold!" Shu Qi snapped coldly, intending to say more, but was stopped by a look from Xiao Chong.

Xiao Chong smiled: "Indeed he is my sixth great-grandfather."

"How disrespectful!"

Lin Wanwan took a breath in surprise, goodness, she saw a direct descendant of the great Xiao Tong, no wonder so outstanding! The "Zhaoming Wenxuan" greatly influenced later literati, it was a breeze amid the turbulence of life!

Xiao Tong himself was a gentleman as gentle as the moon, standing upright without impurity. Based solely on Xiao Chong’s appearance, Lin Wanwan thought highly of him even more.

Just a casual association and she guessed correctly, her sixth sense was too strong!

When the group entered the village, they caught the villagers’ attention.

Lin Wanwan led Xiao Chong straight to the hillside, where the autumn sweet potatoes were planted.

Upon arrival, Lin Wanwan pointed at the sweet potatoes in the field and said to Xiao Chong: "Sir, these are sweet potatoes, the yield per mu can reach about twenty dan, they can be directly boiled to eat, or processed into noodles, vermicelli, and other derivatives. Originally from America, oh, America is west of the sea, these seeds were brought back by my senior brother from America. He is a ranger, fond of exploring the world."

"Twenty dan!" Shu Qi exclaimed.

Xiao Chong said: "Your senior brother travels the world yet still holds the people of Great Tang in his heart, admirable. When can these sweet potatoes be harvested?"

Receiving the news, the Lin Clan Leader arrived just in time to hear Lin Wanwan boasting to Xiao Chong, frightened so much the heartbeat paused, hurriedly shouted: "Lord Mingfu Xiao, please forgive! Forgive! I am the Lin Clan Leader, the Village Chief here, little lady from our clan grew up with an old forest sage, lacks knowledge of farming, unaware of the significance, speaking nonsensically, don’t listen to her ramblings."

When it comes to farming matters, one mustn’t just speak offhandedly, saying it in the village might be fine, but facing such as the County Magistrate, better not say anything than speak incorrectly!

The Lin Clan Leader was truly stunned by Lin Wanwan’s bold recklessness, fortunately receiving the notification, hurriedly came over, otherwise not knowing what Wanwan might have said to Lord Mingfu Xiao.

His fear was that she might cause trouble; nowadays Lin Wanwan is the Lin Clan’s precious jewel, the hope of the entire clan, must incur no mishap.

Understanding the Lin Clan Leader’s protective intention, Lin Wanwan just smiled without saying more.

Yet Xiao Chong said: "Lady Lin, when these sweet potatoes are ready for harvest, please notify me, I wish to witness their yield personally."

Lin Clan Leader hesitated: "This...this..."

Lin Wanwan straightforwardly replied: "Okay. This batch was planted at the end of July, harvest is expected around early winter."

Xiao Chong thus instructed Shu Qi to hand over a name card, so when time comes, Lin Wanwan can have someone take the name card to notify the County Government.