The box contained a small wooden bird, exquisitely crafted and lifelike.
Qi Xuanxuan carefully took out the bird. "Second sister, look. If you wind this part a few times, the bird will move."
A winding mechanism was attached to the bird's tail. After a few turns, the bird's wings began to flap, and its eyes rolled, making it appear even more realistic. In her previous life, Qi Zhenzhen had read about the Mohist school's mechanical birds that could fly a thousand miles. At the time, she had argued against it, believing the accounts were exaggerated. Now, she realized how narrow-minded she had been!
Mechanical arts were profound and vast. Those who didn't understand them naturally couldn't grasp their intricacies.
"Second sister, what are you spacing out about?" Qi Xuanxuan waved her hand in front of Qi Zhenzhen's eyes.
Qi Zhenzhen snapped back to reality, a smile curving her lips. "I was wondering how your sister Rou is so clever to make a bird that moves."
"Yes, I think it's amazing too! Sister Rou said she wants to try making the bird bigger, big enough to hold a person inside. Then, once it's wound up, it can walk on its own," Qi Xuanxuan said excitedly. "Then we won't need carriages to go out."
Qi Zhenzhen pictured the scene Qi Xuanxuan described: a young girl inside a wobbly mechanical bird, walking down the street and attracting everyone's attention.
The image was hilariously absurd.
...
The carriage halted, and the coachman's voice announced, "Second young lady, third young lady, we have arrived."
Qi Zhenzhen woke the sleeping Qi Xuanxuan and fastened a cloak around her. "You fell asleep while we were talking. You're something else. We're home now, go lie down and get some proper rest."
Qi Xuanxuan rubbed her eyes. "I didn't sleep well last night."
Qi Zhenzhen jumped down from the carriage first, then helped Qi Xuanxuan down.
As the sisters walked hand in hand towards the entrance, Qi Zhenzhen casually turned her head and saw a person and a horse following their carriage.
Qi Xuanxuan noticed and followed Qi Zhenzhen's gaze, seeing Amu'er leading his horse.
Qi Xuanxuan unbuckled the saber from her waist. "Here, take it back. You must keep it safe. If you lose it again, you might not meet anyone as easygoing as us."
Amu'er's face lit up with surprise. "R-really?"
Qi Xuanxuan nodded. "Of course, it's true. Why would I lie to you? Take it and leave quickly. Don't follow us anymore."
She paused. "This is impolite, and if people see it, it will affect my and my sister's reputation. Moreover, this is a marquis's mansion. If you linger here, you'll be driven away."
Amu'er took a jade pendant from a leather pouch hanging from his waist. "This saber was bought for you by your sister. I can't just take it. But I don't have any money on me right now, so I'll trade this with you. When I have money in the future, I'll come back to redeem it."
With that, Amu'er pressed the jade pendant into Qi Xuanxuan's hand and, before she could react, mounted his horse and rode away.
"Second sister, this person is really strange. He first said he'd give any amount of money, but now he says he has no money and gave me a jade pendant. What do I need his jade pendant for? Does this count as a private exchange? It's improper and goes against etiquette. I should just throw this jade pendant away," Qi Xuanxuan muttered.
"Then, if he comes back to redeem the jade pendant later, what will you give him back?" Qi Zhenzhen asked with a smile.
"Maybe he won't want it back!" Qi Xuanxuan said. "He gave it away so readily; this jade pendant must not be something important."
"He deliberately followed us home and found our residence. Do you think he won't come back to redeem it?" Qi Zhenzhen asked helplessly.
Qi Xuanxuan pouted. "Then I won't throw it away for now."