The Leisurely Life of a Peasant Woman in the Tang Dynasty

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the dock, gilding the distant ships. Tang Youyou watched her daughter's sailing figure go by, feeling a mixture of emotions. Suddenly, a voice with an unfamiliar accent said, "Excuse me, are you Tang Youyou?", bringing her back to her senses.

Tang Youyou turned around and saw a young woman standing behind her. She was wearing a simple T-shirt and jeans, and she looked out of place among the people around her. There was expectation and a hint of uneasiness in the woman's eyes, as if she was looking for something.

"I'm Tang Youyou, may I ask who you are..."

"My name is Lin Xiao. I'm a travel writer. I'm writing a book about the ancient Silk Road. I heard your story by chance and wanted to come visit you." Lin Xiao's tone was filled with unconcealable excitement and admiration.

Tang Youyou invited Lin Xiao to her home with some doubts. With a cup of tea and a few casual chats, the modern atmosphere revealed in Lin Xiao's conversation aroused Tang Youyou's longing for her hometown.

"You've been here for so many years, you must miss your hometown a lot, right?" Lin Xiao asked. She keenly caught the loneliness that flashed across Tang Youyou's eyes.

"Yes," Tang Youyou sighed softly, "but my hometown has become an unattainable dream for me."

Lin Xiao looked at Tang Youyou, and an indescribable sympathy and admiration welled up in her heart. She couldn't imagine how difficult it was for a woman to live alone with three children in a foreign country.

"I brought some specialties from my hometown this time, hoping that you can experience the taste of my hometown." Lin Xiao said as he took out some beautifully packaged snacks and tea from his backpack.

Tang Youyou accepted these gifts from her hometown, and her eyes couldn't help but become moist. She opened a box of snacks, and the familiar smell instantly brought her back to the place in her memory.

Just then, a familiar noise came from outside the yard.

"Mom! We're back!" Tang Wan and Tang Jin's voices rang out outside the yard.

Tang Youyou stood up in surprise, "Wan'er, Jin'er, why are you back?"

The brother and sister walked into the yard, followed by several merchants dressed in Tang Dynasty costumes.

"Mother," Tang Wan said with a smile, "These are merchants from the Tang Dynasty. They heard we were here and came to visit us."

Tang Youyou looked at these compatriots from her hometown, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. She warmly entertained them and listened to them talk about every little thing about their hometown, as if she had returned to that familiar yet distant place.

As night fell, Tang Youyou sent Lin Xiao and the merchants from her hometown away, feeling a surge of emotion in her heart. She looked at the children and said softly, "Tonight, let's cook a meal of our hometown food together..."

However, before she could finish her words, she heard hurried footsteps outside the door, and then Xiaoya ran in breathlessly, "Mom, guess who I met at school today..." "Mom, guess who I met at the activity organized by the school today..." Tang Xiaoya's face was full of excitement, her little face turned red from running, and fine beads of sweat were oozing from her forehead.

Tang Youyou smiled and scratched Xiaoya's nose, "Girl, you've been naughty at school again, haven't you?"

"No, Mom!" Xiaoya quickly waved her hands in denial, "It's true, I met a very magical child!"

"Oh? How magical is it?" Tang Youyou asked curiously while pouring a glass of water for Xiaoya.

Xiao Ya drank the water in one gulp and said impatiently, "His name is...his name is..." She tried hard to recall, but she couldn't remember the child's name. "He said he came from far, far away, and that he knew a lot about the future!"

Tang Youyou's heart moved, and Lin Xiao's figure appeared in her mind. Could it be...

Before she could think about it, Xiao Ya began to talk incessantly about her conversation with the little boy, from the skyscrapers in the future world to the flying cars, which left Tang Wan and Tang Jin stunned.

Late at night, Tang Youyou lay in bed, but couldn't fall asleep. Xiaoya's words kept echoing in her ears, making her full of curiosity and anticipation for the future.

At the same time, Wu Dehua tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Tang Youyou's strength, kindness and optimism deeply touched him, making him feel the sweetness and bitterness of love for the first time.

He got up and went to his study, spread out the rice paper, ground the ink and picked up the brush, wanting to pour out the surging emotions in his heart. However, he wrote and wrote, tore and tore, but he still couldn't write out what he was thinking.

"Can love really transcend time and space, and transcend identities?" Wu Dehua murmured to himself, his eyes full of confusion and longing.

The next morning, Wu Dehua arrived at Tang Youyou's door early, holding a bunch of freshly picked flowers in his hands. He took a deep breath and was about to knock on the door when he heard a hearty laugh coming from the yard.

"Boss Tang, thanks to you, our goods arrived safely this time!" Gang leader Ma's voice was loud and powerful.

"Yes, Boss Tang, we admire your wisdom and courage!" Captain Zheng also echoed.

Wu Dehua's hand froze in mid-air. He hesitated for a moment, then quietly walked to the window and looked in... Through the window, Wu Dehua saw Tang Youyou surrounded by a group of people, a confident smile on her face. Gang leader Ma, a burly man with a resonant voice, was vividly describing their thrilling battle of wits and courage with the pirates. Captain Zheng supplemented his words, his words filled with gratitude and admiration for Tang Youyou.

"If it weren't for Boss Tang, we would have been in great danger this time! Those pirates are so cunning that they set an ambush on the route." Gang leader Ma got so excited that he couldn't help but slam the table, shaking it so much that the teacup jumped up.

"Yes, thanks to Boss Tang for predicting their actions, we were able to adjust our route in time and avoid their trap." Captain Zheng took over the conversation, his tone tinged with fear. "Boss Tang, you really are as foresighted as a god!"

Tang Youyou smiled and waved her hand, "I just made some judgments based on my experience. The real effort was made by you. It was because of your unity and courage in fighting against the pirates that we were able to save the goods and ensure everyone's safety."

Gang Leader Ma and Captain Zheng exchanged a glance, each seeing admiration and gratitude in the other's eyes. They were originally just separate merchant caravans and fleets, but because of Tang Youyou's appearance, they learned to cooperate and trust each other, and eventually became a legend on the sea.

After seeing off Gang Leader Ma and Captain Zheng, Tang Youyou returned to her room and gently stroked an ancient jade pendant. This jade pendant was something she had accidentally obtained and was said to be the key to opening the door to time and space.

"Go back, or stay?" Tang Youyou looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes full of struggle.

Back in the modern world, she can live a comfortable and convenient life and reunite with her family and friends. But here in the Tang Dynasty, she also has new concerns and new responsibilities. Three lovely children, kind villagers, and...

The image of Wu Dehua emerged in Tang Youyou's mind, that gentle, yet resolute and brave man. His love, like the warm sun in winter, warmed her heart that traveled through time and space.

Finally, Tang Youyou made a decision. She carefully wrapped the jade pendant in a silk handkerchief, placed it in an exquisite wooden box, and then hid the box deep in the cabinet.

"Mom, what are you doing?" Tang Xiaoya ran in and asked curiously.

"Nothing," Tang Youyou smiled and patted the little girl's head, "Mom is just sorting out some old things."

"Oh." Xiao Ya nodded, not quite understanding, then took Tang Youyou's hand and acted coquettishly, "Mom, let's go play in the yard. Brother and sister are waiting for us!"

Tang Youyou took Xiaoya's hand and walked out of the room. The warm sunshine sprinkled on her body, dispelling the last trace of haze in her heart. She looked at the children playing in the yard, and a happy smile appeared on her face.

As the sun sets, Wu Dehua returns home exhausted, only to find Tang Youyou and the children waiting for him in the yard...

"Brother Wu, why did you just come back?" Tang Wan saw Wu Dehua and hurried to greet him. "We made your favorite osmanthus cake. Come and try it!"

Wu Dehua looked at the heartwarming scene in front of him, and his heart was filled with emotion. He slowly walked to Tang Youyou, his eyes affectionate and firm, "Youyou, I..." Wu Dehua looked at the heartwarming scene in front of him, and his heart was filled with emotion. He slowly walked to Tang Youyou, his eyes affectionate and firm, "Youyou, I..."

"Dad, come quickly!" Tang Jin grabbed Wu Dehua's clothes and pulled him to the stone table. "Mom made a lot of delicious food today, including your favorite osmanthus cake!"

Wu Dehua smiled and patted Tang Jin's head, then sat down next to Tang Youyou. Tang Wan considerately poured him a bowl of porridge, while Tang Xiaoya stuffed a piece of osmanthus cake into his hand and said sweetly, "Daddy, try it, it's delicious!"

Tang Youyou watched the intimate interaction between the children and Wu Dehua, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. She knew that her original choice was the right one.

"By the way, Youyou," Wu Dehua said as if he suddenly remembered something after taking a sip of his porridge. "Today, Gang Leader Ma and Captain Zheng came to visit me. They wanted to thank you for helping them escape the pirate attack."

"Are they okay now?" Tang Youyou asked with concern.

"Everything is fine with them," Wu Dehua said with a smile. "They also said that your craftsmanship is getting better and better. Your soaps, perfumes, and glass products are very popular overseas, and many foreign merchants are rushing to buy them!"

Tang Youyou smiled faintly. These were all little gadgets she made based on her modern memories and knowledge. She didn't expect them to be so popular.

"They also said..." Wu Dehua paused, seeming a little hesitant.

"What?" Tang Youyou asked curiously.

"They said that those foreign merchants are very interested in the culture of the Tang Dynasty and hope to buy some items with Tang Dynasty characteristics." Wu Dehua looked at Tang Youyou, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Youyou, what do you think, can we..."

Tang Youyou understood what Wu Dehua meant. He hoped to use this opportunity to spread the culture of the Tang Dynasty overseas, so that more people could understand the Tang Dynasty and this ancient and great country.

"I understand what you mean," Tang Youyou smiled slightly, "I will do my best."

It was late at night, and the children were all asleep, but Tang Youyou was wide awake. She sat by the window, gazing at the bright moon in the sky, her mind racing. She had never imagined that one day she would become an envoy of cultural exchange, connecting two worlds of different time and space, with her own hands, across different cultures.

She took out the exquisite wooden box from the cabinet and gently opened it. Inside lay the ancient jade pendant. This jade pendant was her last connection with the modern world and also the greatest secret in her heart.

"Youyou?" Wu Dehua's voice suddenly sounded behind him, with a hint of doubt and worry.

Tang Youyou turned around and looked at Wu Dehua, with a determined light flashing in her eyes...