Fortune Across the World

Chapter 8: Into the Deep Forest, Saving the Fair Maiden (Part 1)

With the silk in hand, Ding Qiyu notified Madam He and set off with her axe to the small bamboo grove behind their courtyard. It took considerable effort to find a suitable bamboo stalk, but she eventually succeeded.

Carrying the bamboo and axe back home, Ding Qiyu settled into the courtyard to work, thinking wistfully about how much easier this would be with a 3D printer. After nearly an hour of fiddling, she finally crafted a passable bow arm. Looking at her hands, now marked with small cuts and bruises from the effort, she realized she really needed to learn proper woodworking skills from a carpenter.

She took out the roll of silk, inserted a small pad of hemp to secure the projectile, and, recalling the slingshot structure from He Ankang’s, tied the string tightly to the bow arm. Her little slingshot was complete.

After cleaning up, she tended to her hand wounds and went inside to find Madam He sewing clothes for her. The warmth of a mother’s care touched Ding Qiyu deeply. "Mother, there’s no rush to finish. Don’t strain your eyes," she suggested.

"I can't have you wearing those tattered clothes forever. Besides, my eyes are just fine," Madam He replied, threading the needle with ease.

Smiling warmly, Ding Qiyu didn’t press further and instead asked, "Mother, do we have a carpenter in the village?"

Madam He paused her work, looking up. "A carpenter? There’s one at the east end of the village. Are you thinking of making some furniture, Ayu?"

"No, no, I’d like to apprentice with the carpenter to learn the trade!"

Madam He wholeheartedly supported her son’s desire to learn a craft. "That’s wonderful! Once my leg heals, I’ll take you to become his apprentice. The old carpenter is actually my cousin, so bringing him some dried meat and eggs as a gift should make it easy."

"Ah, there's no hurry, Mother. I want to get fully accustomed to the surroundings first. Today, I was just inquiring." Ding Qiyu didn’t want to trouble Madam He and intended to handle the apprenticeship herself.

"Alright, whenever you’re ready, just let me know and I’ll take you," Madam He said, affectionately pinching Ding Qiyu’s rosy cheeks. She couldn’t help but adore her son more and more each day.

"Okay!" Ding Qiyu felt a bit embarrassed, being a "twenty-something" at heart, yet having her cheeks pinched like a child.

In the afternoon, Ding Qiyu visited He Zhongchang’s house to learn some basic farming skills from He Ankang. Their fields needed tending, and after spending the morning together, He Ankang already considered Ding Qiyu a brother. Besides, Ding Qiyu was essentially offering to help with their farm work while learning, so it was a win-win for He Ankang. He even offered Ding Qiyu the slingshot he mentioned earlier, but she declined, having already made her own. Throughout the afternoon, He Ankang guided Ding Qiyu through farming basics and techniques, giving her a good starting point.

Days flowed by, and almost two months had passed since Ding Qiyu arrived in this new world. The simple rural life was a fresh experience, with new skills learned daily. She became adept at using the slingshot, even mentally awarding herself the title of "Sharpshooter." She also learned archery from He Ankang, though her arms initially felt like they would fall off from the strain, and her fingers often ended up raw from the bowstring. Madam He was concerned when she noticed, but now Ding Qiyu had adjusted, rising early to collect firewood and often returning with small game. She also observed how others fished and caught crabs, making a decent net to bring home some river delicacies to improve meals. With almost daily meat, they could even sell the surplus at the market for some extra money. Ding Qiyu’s initial seven coins had grown into a modest savings, in addition to what she contributed to the household. She took on most physical chores and eagerly helped in the fields, working alongside Madam He and Lian'er to maintain their small plot well. She also dedicated time to teaching Lian'er to write, who diligently learned and now knew many basic characters.