CHAPTER 75: CHAPTER 74: FIRST SNOW DAY, HOT POT FEAST

Outside the library, Lin Wanwan halted and said, "Thank you, Mr. Lu, no need to see me off, you can go about your own business."

Lu Shouyue’s eyebrows curved as he smiled, "I don’t really have anything to do right now, just wanted to relax a bit. Besides, I’m only a visiting scholar, not a real professor. How can an archeology teacher handle antiques? Haha, I’m a bit embarrassed hearing you call me a teacher all the time."

"Even if you’re just a visiting professor, you’re still a professor." Lin Wanwan then curiously asked, "Why can’t archaeologists handle antiques?"

Lu Shouyue shrugged, "To avoid suspicion. This line of work is too sensitive, handling too many ancient objects. If I were to personally collect antiques, it would be easy to cross boundaries and potentially get into trouble."

It was the first time Lin Wanwan heard such a thing, and she exclaimed in surprise, "But I remember people at your shop introducing you as an archaeology student!"

Lu Shouyue self-deprecatingly said, "Studying archaeology doesn’t mean being an archaeologist. I’m not a scholar, fundamentally just a businessman."

A hint of melancholy flashed in his eyes, which Lin Wanwan noticed, but she then smiled, "Some people are dying to go to Rome, but you were born in the center of Rome, and you’re still complaining here?"

"Haha, my mistake." Lu Shouyue laughed and switched the subject, "How about having a meal together? I’ve booked a table at Jie Yuting."

Lin Wanwan thought for a moment and then shook her head, "Next time."

"Then let me see you off."

"Really, there’s no need, I’ve already booked a ride-hailing service."

Lu Shouyue didn’t insist, "Alright, then, take care on your way. Bye-bye."

On the way back, Lin Wanwan transferred four thousand as an appraisal fee to Lu Shouyue. Four experts, it’s not easy to hire that many on her own.

The appraisal fees in the antique market were erratic, so Lin Wanwan gave what she thought was fair.

There are services for three hundred per time, instantly determining authenticity; others charge thirty thousand and even provide certificates. Whether the final results are credible or not depends on if there’s a buyer willing to take it.

She had just completed the transfer when the money was returned.

Lu Shouyue messaged, "This doesn’t count as an appraisal."

Lin Wanwan was taken aback, is this not considered an appraisal?

Once she got home, Lin Wanwan wrapped the painting in white velvet cloth and carefully removed the middle shelf of her safe to place the painting inside. Such a valuable painting, it’s safer in the safe.

After putting it away, she looked around the room, thoughtfully stroking her chin, "I need to install a surveillance system at home."

Thinking about it, she sent a message to Gu Jingyu, "I remember your cousin-in-law owns a computer store, right?"

Gu Jingyu quickly responded, "Yes. Why, do you need to buy a computer?"

Lin Wanwan: "No, I want to install surveillance at home, does your cousin-in-law’s store offer that?"

Gu Jingyu: "I’ll ask for you."

A moment later, Gu Jingyu forwarded her cousin’s WeChat and left a message, "They happen to have surveillance installation services, you can contact my cousin directly."

Lin Wanwan immediately contacted Gu Jingyu’s cousin, who was very efficient and arranged to come and install the surveillance the next day.

Once that was settled, Lin Wanwan grabbed a pot and some other items and opened the Space-Time Gate, returning to the Tang Dynasty.

To her surprise, it was snowing, the first snow of Great Tang had arrived somewhat early. In history, the Han and Tang periods were considered warm times.

Lin Wanwan wrapped her cloak tightly and waited for Kun Lun to load her large wooden box onto the carriage, then hopped onto the carriage herself, heading back to Lin Family Manor.

In the evening, sitting on the second-floor terrace with floor-to-ceiling windows, Lin Wanwan, little Qingyu, and Lin Mengbo’s family sat cross-legged around a hot pot for dinner.

Admiring the snowy view while enjoying a hot pot, life felt as blissful as that of a celestial being.

The tradition of Chinese people eating hot pot is long-standing, dating back to the Three Kingdoms period.

Great Tang’s people also loved eating hot pot in winter, and they called it "warm stove". Bai Juyi even wrote a poem about eating hot pot in winter — "Green ants new wine, red clay small stove. As evening comes, it wants to snow, can I have a drink?"

Gathering with friends in the cold winter for a warm hot pot and some wine, just imagining it feels comfortable.

Today’s dishes were exceptionally abundant.

There were Lin Wanwan’s modern purchases of beef and lamb rolls, tofu pudding, frozen tofu, quail eggs, and such, along with Tang Dynasty’s non-feed, bug-eating, wild-reared duck feet, duck blood, chicken feet, and chicken wings, as well as wild shrimp caught by the Lin family, made into shrimp paste, shrimp balls, and shrimp dumplings, not to mention deer meat that’s not easy to find in modern times!

"How’s the flavor of the hot pot base I made?" Lin Wanwan asked with a smile as she looked at Lin Qinshi beside her.

"Mm, it’s truly delicious, Wan Niang, you’re so skillful," Lin Qinshi genuinely praised.

In truth, to her, even items boiled in clear soup would be festive delicacies. Seafood like shrimp and crab weren’t rare, but beef and venison were something she had never enjoyed in her over twenty years of life.

As she ate, she even felt like crying. What fortune did she stumble upon to become neighbors with a disciple of an immortal! She’s living the good life.

For Lin Wanwan, a snowy day without gathering to eat a hot pot just lacked atmosphere.

Being lonely and cold, she greatly needed the lively warmth of human company.

The three little ones chattered away, sipping fresh juice that Lin Wanwan brought from modern times, as cheerful as larks and bringing joy to those watching.

Lin Wanwan originally invited Hua Nong, Yun Shang, and Kun Lun to join the table, but they firmly refused.

In the Tang Dynasty, merchants couldn’t dine with gentlemen, and as slaves, who were considered even lower than merchants, they dared not eat with their noble masters. The hierarchical system had deeply ingrained in them an understanding not to overstep bounds.

Seeing them insisting, Lin Wanwan could only instruct them to set up another pot for themselves. Yun Shang, wanting to serve by the side, was also shooed away by Lin Wanwan.

It’s just eating, everything was already prepared, no need for attendants; as a modern person, Lin Wanwan wasn’t that decadent yet.

While enjoying the hotpot, there was some noise from the western side gate, and soon Yun Shang led Lin Zhentian upstairs, "Lady, Master Zhentian is back."

Upon seeing Lin Zhentian, Lin Wanwan immediately invited, "Come over and eat with us, Yun Shang, bring another set of tableware."

Lin Zhentian quickly waved his hands, "No, no, Mistress Lin, I just came to report a few things regarding the manor."

"Talk while eating, why hurry." Lin Wanwan glanced at Lin Mengbo, who got up immediately to bring Lin Zhentian over, sitting him down around the table.

"Since Wan Niang asked you, why hesitate? With all this meat, don’t you want some? Come on, join us cheerfully!"

Lin Zhentian awkwardly rubbed his hands and smiled, "I just worry that my absence might cause chaos among the tenant farmers."

Lin Wanwan laughed, "Don’t worry, even without your supervision, they won’t immediately cause trouble, they wouldn’t dare."