After discussing for a long time, the three agreed that this was an authentic artifact, not a modern replica. Although its preservation is unbelievably new, it still bears the marks of time. In the Imperial Palace Museum, it isn’t uncommon to find millennia-old works preserved in similar conditions.
After sending off the two old experts, Lu Shouyue turned to Lin Wanwan and said, "Wanwan, I don’t have any issues on my side now. If you don’t have any issues, shall we sign the auction agreement?"
Lin Wanwan agreed gladly.
Once signed, there were two copies, and Lin Wanwan took one. Because it was an auction format, Buzhou Studio only collects a commission and doesn’t need to advance funds. Even if the finance department is off work, it doesn’t affect the signing of the agreement. Lin Wanwan is no longer in a rush for money and can leisurely wait for the auction result.
With business handled, Lu Shouyue extended an invitation, "Shall we have dinner together?"
Lin Wanwan checked the time and shook her head, "No, I want to head back early; there’s still a lot to do."
Lu Shouyue tried to convince her, "No matter how busy, you still need to eat dinner, right? I have a reservation at Jie Yuting’s restaurant."
Lin Wanwan still politely declined, "Really, no. I’m leaving; I’ve already booked a car."
Lu Shouyue, resigned, said, "But I’m here. Why book a ride? I’ll take you."
Lin Wanwan laughed and said, "You should really stay put, Teacher Lu, after flying back and forth you’re not tired? You should rest early. Bye-bye."
Unable to change Lin Wanwan’s mind, Lu Shouyue had no choice but to watch her get into the booked ride, feeling a bit disappointed. Was his affection not clear enough? Was she too oblivious, or was he too subtle? Would he really have to embarrassingly say those three words?
After closing the door, Lu Shouyue immediately pulled out his phone and bought several so-called dating guides in one go.
Out of the three of us, I’m sure there’s someone I can learn from. Learning is endless; everyone has their strengths. It’s worth seeing what people good at dating have to say.
As soon as Lin Wanwan got home, she locked the door and quickly replayed the surveillance footage from the last two days. She found that her doorstep had only been visited by a few cleaners and no other strangers, which put her mind at ease.
Next, she put on a mask and headed out to a fruit store outside the community to buy some fresh fruits. As she walked back humming a tune, a BMW X5 drove up beside her, lowered the window, and greeted her.
She turned to look. Ye Ying was sitting in the passenger seat, grinning brightly at her from inside the car.
"Wanwan, do you need some help? You look like you’re carrying a lot."
Lin Wanwan replied coldly, "No need, thank you."
Then she turned and walked away, ignoring the person.
Ye Ying’s little vain desire was almost written all over her face. Lin Wanwan couldn’t bear to look directly at her, fearing she’d burst into laughter. Lin Wanwan really couldn’t be bothered with such shallow people.
After all, just because they knew each other didn’t mean they were friends—at most, just acquaintances. As for Ye Ying, who liked to gossip behind people’s backs, Lin Wanwan preferred to stay away from her.
Of course, this is because Ye Ying hasn’t completely crossed the line yet. If she did, Lin Wanwan wouldn’t just let it go.
The man sitting in the driver’s seat, looking plain and ordinary with a few acne marks, gazed longingly at Lin Wanwan’s back and casually remarked, "Your friend? Not bad-looking."
Ye Ying replied, "Yes, a childhood friend. We grew up together. Her parents are gone. She lives with her grandparents. Quite pitiful."
The man said "Oh" and, with a pitying expression, added, "Orphaned, that indeed is pitiful."
Ye Ying rolled up the window and continued, "She probably has a tough fate; such a lonely person. Even her grandparents are gone. Her grandfather passed away this year. Everyone says she brought bad luck to him. She’s jinxed. A few months ago, her uncle came back to sell the house. Who knows if she’s renting now."
The two continued chatting about Lin Wanwan as they drove further into the community.
The apartment area and Lin Wanwan’s villa area didn’t share the same entrance, so she didn’t have to hear Ye Ying’s gossip. For such people, living better than them is the biggest blow; jealousy will gnaw at them.
Returning to her room, Lin Wanwan felt energized. She could go back to Mao County now! She could see little Qingyu!
Though it had only been three days and two nights, it felt like ages had passed. Lin Wanwan couldn’t wait to open the Space-Time Gate and move her things into the courtyard house in Great Tang Xiao Creek Town.
She opened the door and gazed at the Great Tang sky, lightly laughing, "I’m back again."
She put her things into a wooden box, then went to the courtyard gate, opened it, and, sure enough, Kun Lun was nearby, crouching as if inspecting something on the ground. Hearing the noise and seeing it was Lin Wanwan, he immediately showed his big white teeth, smiling foolishly.
It was the si hour in Great Tang. Lin Wanwan called Kun Lun over to move the box onto the cart, and then they prepared to ride back to Lin Family Manor. Before heading back, Lin Wanwan had Kun Lun drive to Youfu Tea House.
She wasn’t there for tea but mainly to listen to the gossip and learn about the latest news in Mao County.
In an era without newspapers, getting news relied on word of mouth. County Government had records, but Xiao Chong certainly wouldn’t let her see them.
As soon as she sat in the private room, she overheard a big news story that shocked her tremendously.
The discussion was about how Xiao Mingfu initiated corvée labor for the construction of Ta Mountain Dam! After the twenty-day labor period, those who stayed on to work could earn twenty wen daily!
The money reportedly came from donations from local gentry and the newly built Wanghai Salt Field by the County Government. This text is hosted at novelꜰire.net
Lin Wanwan was utterly astounded! Not shocked by Xiao Chong’s money-making skills, but by the construction of Ta Mountain Dam itself.
She recalled Ta Mountain Dam because last year, during a team-building trip near Ta Mountain Dam organized by her previous company, she learned about its history.
This is a dam that has stood against the test of time—it was scientifically designed, strategically located, and serves great purposes, earning a spot in the World Irrigation Project Heritage List. Its advanced design predates similar foreign dams by centuries. The knowledge embedded within remains relevant; how the people of Tang constructed such a dam remains a mystery.
Ta Mountain Dam effectively prevents droughts and floods, stops backflow from the East Sea, and solves drinking water problems for townsfolk. It’s undoubtedly a states-benefiting, people-serving grand project—truly transcending eras, benefiting the current while securing the future.
But historically, this gravity-type dam was built in the seventh year of the Taihe era, in AD 833, by the then County Magistrate Wang Yuanwei! Yet it was now only the third year of the Zhenguan era, a full two hundred years before what history accounted for!
History has taken a turn!