Fortune Across the World

Chapter 14: Preparing for the New Role with Thoughtful Consideration (Part 2)

"Did your master teach you all this?" Lian'er couldn't help but marvel at how much Ding Qiyu knew, thinking Master He must be a hidden woodworking master in the countryside.

"Hmm?" Ding Qiyu was startled for a moment, then nodded after some thought, "Yes, my master taught me." Of course, beyond Master He's teachings in carpentry, there were also the lessons from years of schooling and the knowledge Ding Qiyu had gained from studying various texts.

"Wow, your master is truly impressive!" Lian'er remarked with admiration.

"Yes, Master He is indeed a great teacher. But some things I figured out on my own!" Ding Qiyu's youthful spirit shone through as she added, "Let me show you my latest invention, the Flying Arrow Crossbow! The other day, I used a repeating crossbow to save someone, and the Flying Arrow Crossbow is an improved version—more powerful and efficient than the repeating crossbow!" Ding Qiyu proudly presented the newly upgraded Flying Arrow Crossbow to Lian'er, her eyes sparkling with anticipation, clearly seeking praise.

Seeing Ding Qiyu's expression melted Lian'er's heart. She took the crossbow from her hands, feigning curiosity, and asked, "This thing can take down three strong men? How does it work?"

"The repeating crossbow can take down three; the Flying Arrow Crossbow can take down six! Like this..." Ding Qiyu shifted the stool closer to Lian'er, then guided Lian'er's hand holding the crossbow with her own left hand, while her right hand wrapped around Lian'er's right shoulder, encircling her entirely in her embrace. She helped her raise the crossbow, pointed to the aiming device, and directed it at a homemade wooden target nailed to the wall for testing. "See this? It's called the sight. Align it with your target."

Once again, Lian'er found herself in this close embrace. Her breath became cautious, her heart raced, but alongside the tension was an undeniable sense of happiness—leaving her feeling helpless yet longing for more.

Ding Qiyu's voice sounded in her ear once more: "Then pull this trigger." With her warm fingertips guiding Lian'er's fingers, they gently pulled the trigger. A soft "click" was heard, and an arrow shot out, embedding deeply into the target on the wall with a "thud."

Lian'er was a bit distracted during the shot, but the result genuinely surprised her. Ding Qiyu released her, satisfied with Lian'er's amazed expression, and asked with a smile, "How was it? Impressive, right?"

Lian'er ran to the target to examine the arrow embedded in it. After several attempts to pull it out, she turned around in awe, "How did you do that? I've seen hunters struggle with their bows to shoot arrows with such force, yet this gadget just needs a light touch!"

"Hehe, the secret lies within the Flying Arrow Crossbow. I experimented many times to achieve this effect!" Ding Qiyu briefly explained the mechanics, and Lian'er listened with a mix of understanding and awe, increasingly impressed by Ah Yu's abilities.

The two returned to the table, and Ding Qiyu continued her work on the project. Lian'er watched her focused profile and asked, "Ah Yu, do you want to become a great master carpenter in the future?" Then she remembered that Ding Qiyu had just agreed to take up the position of a "Jiancha Shi" in the city, shaking her head and muttering to herself, "Oh, right, you're going to be a Jiancha Shi; how could you still be a carpenter?"

Ding Qiyu paused her work, looked out at the night sky filled with stars, and said, "In the future, I won't be a carpenter, nor will I remain a Jiancha Shi. I... I want to become the greatest master of mechanical arts in the entire Qianguo."

It was the first time Lian'er saw this side of Ding Qiyu: illuminated by the candlelight, her face carried a gentle warmth, her gaze fixed on the starry sky outside the window, serious and determined, with eyes reflecting the brilliance of the stars. It made one want to draw near, to fall into those dreams, unable to escape. Though Lian'er wasn't familiar with the term "mechanical arts," she could grasp its meaning from the context. The person before her inspired an inexplicable belief that the dream reflected in her eyes would one day come true.