Fortune Across the World

Chapter 11: Crafting Arrows and a Visit from Weixi

At the dining table, Ding Qiyu was in high spirits, eagerly devouring the meal.

Lian'er, annoyed by her exuberance, worried that eating so fast would choke her. "Slow down! You'll choke, and then you’ll really have something to deal with!"

Ding Qiyu chuckled, watching Lian'er with amusement. "Lian'er, how were the firecrackers you ate this morning?"

"Huh? What firecrackers?" Lian'er was confused for a moment before realizing the jab. She grabbed Ding Qiyu's ear, feigning anger, "You're the one who ate firecrackers!"

The pinch didn’t hurt, so Ding Qiyu didn’t mind, tilting her head slightly with the motion and laughing. "If you didn’t eat firecrackers, why the explosive mood?" Growing serious, she looked into Lian'er's eyes and asked earnestly, "Did someone bully you at work?"

Caught off guard by Ding Qiyu’s concerned gaze and proximity, Lian'er’s heart raced, her face flushing red. She quickly withdrew her hand as if burned, pushing Ding Qiyu away and changing the subject. "No, I didn’t even go to work today. It’s because of you! Mother was worried sick. So, where did you go this morning? And where’s the firewood?"

Firewood? Ding Qiyu suddenly remembered she’d left it in the forest. She awkwardly patted her head and confessed, "I left the firewood in the forest..." She recounted the morning's events, omitting the tense standoff with the bandits.

"Those bandits are too bold! Kidnapping in broad daylight!" Lian'er exclaimed, both surprised and proud of Ding Qiyu's bravery.

"What if you missed? What if they attacked you? Next time, come back for help! It's too dangerous to act alone!" Madam He said, feeling a wave of fear at the thought. Lian'er agreed, thinking Ding Qiyu should have chosen a safer way to help.

"How often do such things happen? If I’d come back for help, the lady would have been in danger by the time I returned. I’m confident in my aim! And see, I’m fine. Don’t worry too much, Mother and Lian’er." Ding Qiyu reassured them, patting her chest.

"Hmph, you just got lucky!" Lian'er retorted, then wondered aloud, "Why were there bandits? I've never heard of any before."

Could those bandits be from a nearby village? Ding Qiyu thought, worried they might seek revenge if they recognized her. Not wanting to alarm them, she said, "I don’t know. Maybe they’re displaced people. Things are unstable lately, so be careful when you go out, and avoid deserted areas." Unbeknownst to her, the bandits who attacked the general’s children had already been apprehended by the General’s Mansion.

"I know... But why didn’t the general’s daughter have guards with her?" Lian'er mumbled, "You got to play hero…" Her voice trailed off, too quiet for Ding Qiyu to hear.

"Who knows," Ding Qiyu replied cheerfully, only to yelp in pain as Lian’er stepped on her shoe. "Ahh—"

With a sharp glare, Lian'er squashed Ding Qiyu's protest. "See if you play hero again! You’re cleaning up the table!" She got up and retreated to her room, exhausted from the day's worries and annoyed by Ding Qiyu’s antics.

"Hehe, Ayu, why don’t you rest? I can clean up," Madam He suggested, pulling Ding Qiyu back from her thoughts. "You must be tired. Maybe skip your lessons today."

"I’m alright, not tired at all. I’ll clean up. I can’t slack off on learning my craft," Ding Qiyu said, tidying up the table. In such high spirits, she felt energized, not weary.

In the afternoon, Ding Qiyu retrieved the forgotten firewood basket from the forest before heading to Master He’s place. As she learned how to carve birds and flowers on a grand chair, her mind wandered to improving her mini crossbow. The three short arrows weren’t enough in emergencies, but increasing their number meant adding weight and size. Pellets were lighter and more plentiful but lacked power. If faced with bandits, using pellets would require precise targeting of vulnerable spots, otherwise, she’d end up merely annoying them and getting chased.

Even as a modern youth, Ding Qiyu had no desire to take lives or cause severe harm, even to bandits, so aiming for vital spots was out of the question.

As Ding Qiyu sat at the table, examining the newly crafted mini arrow, she pondered further improvements to her mini crossbow. Inspired by the shape and function of darts, she had redesigned the short arrows to be more compact while retaining their effectiveness. She named them "flying arrows" and had already modified her crossbow to accommodate them, now dubbed the "flying arrow crossbow." This new design allowed for six arrows to be loaded at once, and a simple mechanism switch could reload the next set of three without much hassle.

Just as she was about to head to her master’s place, Lian'er emerged from the kitchen, prepared to ask about Ding Qiyu's new project when someone called from outside the courtyard, "Is anyone home?"

Ding Qiyu exchanged a curious glance with Lian'er as they both went to answer the door, with Madam He joining them from inside.

"Who is it?" Ding Qiyu asked, mindful of not opening the door to strangers, a habit ingrained from modern times.

"Is this the home of Ding Qiyu?" a young man’s voice inquired. "My master and lady have come to express their gratitude for your great help the other day."

Realizing who it was, Ding Qiyu promptly opened the door. The attendant stepped aside to reveal the young master who had been injured. Ding Qiyu’s gaze inevitably drifted to Lu Weixi, who wore a simple yet elegant yellow dress. Despite her understated attire and makeup, Ding Qiyu found her increasingly beautiful. Trying not to be rude, Ding Qiyu quickly invited them inside.

The group consisted of seven people: Lu Weixi, her brother, the maid, and four attendants. Unlike the previous time, the attendants were robust and clearly trained, likely a precaution taken by the general following the recent incident.

As they reached the entrance, the attendants naturally positioned themselves by the door, standing like vigilant guardians. Inside, the small room felt a bit cramped with so many people. Ding Qiyu introduced Madam He to the guests, "Lu Gongzi, Lu Xiaojie, this is my mother." She then gestured to Lian'er, "And this is my... um, my sister, He Lian'er." Lian'er, who had been silent, felt a twinge of discomfort at this introduction. Once eager to be called the older sister, she now found the title unsettling.

The young master, his head still bandaged, greeted them warmly, "Ding Xiaoyingxiong, Madam, Miss He. I am Lu Weiming, second in line at the General’s Mansion. My sister and I owe you our lives. We’ve come to thank you personally for your bravery."

Lu Weixi also curtsied gracefully, saying, "Madam, Miss He, I am Lu Weixi. I join my brother in visiting to thank Ding Xiaoyingxiong." Her voice was as gentle and soothing as before, and she repeated her brother's words with a hint of playful teasing, recalling Ding Qiyu’s earlier reaction to being called "young master." She had noticed Ding Qiyu’s attire, a simple white outfit with a cloth bag slung over her shoulder, which contrasted with the poised and fearless image from the rescue. Living in Hejia Village yet not sharing the He surname suggested a story behind her circumstances.

Ding Qiyu discreetly winced at the nickname "Ding Xiaoyingxiong," reminiscent of a youthful hero like Nezha. Sensing Lu Weixi’s playful gaze, she quickly moved to offer them seats, saying, "No need to be so formal. Please, have a seat."