Transtor Xiaobai:

  Dear Readers,

  I hope this message finds you well. I know this year has been incredibly challenging for everyone, especially my U.S. readers. With talks of a recession and rising costs, I understand how hard it is to support yourselves and your families right now. No matter where your political views lie, I know we’re all feeling the strain.

  That’s why I’m reaching out with a humble request: If you’ve enjoyed the novels I’ve transted, could you take a moment to like or share my Etsy shop, adorablethingsbynoen.etsy.com?

  You don’t have to spend a single dolr—but if you help spread the word, someone else might find something they love in my shop. Every like, share, or even a kind comment helps me earn a little income to keep doing what I love: bringing you amazing stories for free.

  Times are tough, but your support means the world to me. Together, we can keep this community thriving.

  Thank you for being here, and thank you for anything you can do to help. ??

  P.S. Even if you can’t share right now, know I’m so grateful you’re here. Your readership alone keeps me going!

  _____

  Qin Shuying smiled sweetly. “I knew it. Cousin Wei is the model of noble daughters in the capital. Even if she says something crude, it must be the fashion among noble dies these days. Poor me, I so rarely have the chance to speak with noble daughters—I had no idea it’s now fashionable to speak rudely. Next time I get the chance, I’ll have to try it myself, so everyone can see the fine example Cousin Wei has set for us. Sixth Sister, don’t you think so?”

  Xu Peiwei was so furious that she almost couldn’t catch her breath. If it weren’t for Qin Yunyun holding her back, she would’ve already pointed at Qin Shuying’s nose and cursed her again.

  Qin Yunyun quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “Enough, enough, Seventh Sister. We’re all family here—just joking around. Let’s go. Cousin brought back some delightful and novel trinkets. I can’t wait to see them.”

  But Qin Shuying raised her chin and asked Xu Peiwei pointedly, “Cousin Wei, are you sure you don’t want me to get lost?”

  Xu Peiwei gritted her teeth so hard she could’ve shattered them. “No need!” she snapped, then stormed off at the front, not sparing another word.

  Inside Xu Peiwei’s boudoir.

  On the table sat a pair of wooden birds, each about a foot tall.

  The craftsmanship was exquisite—the materials fine, the colors vivid and lifelike. Anyone with an eye could see at a gnce that they were remarkable pieces.

  Qin Yunyun and Qin Lulu were both drawn to the wooden birds, marveling at how novel they were.

  “Cousin, you said they can fp their wings and even walk?” Qin Yunyun asked, wide-eyed in disbelief.

  “Of course.”

  A faint smile finally appeared on Xu Peiwei’s face. She had, after all, gone to great lengths to bring back these treasures.

  She carefully picked up one of the birds and pced it on a wide, long table by the window. She twisted something under the bird’s belly, then let go—and like magic, the wooden bird’s wings began to open and close, and its little legs took careful steps. It moved slowly, but it was indeed walking.

  “How amazing!” Qin Yunyun gasped, her eyes round with wonder as she watched the bird walk a fair distance before stopping.

  Even Qin Lulu, who still felt bitter over Xu Peiwei’s earlier insults, couldn’t help but watch the wooden bird quietly, though she didn’t voice her astonishment.

  Qin Shuying also studied the wooden bird, quickly understanding how it worked.

  She had overheard during casual conversations with foreigners that, in some nds, craftsmanship was so advanced that they could create intricate iron parts and assemble them inside wooden toys. With a simple mechanism, the object could move.

  Qin Yongzhou, ever eager to learn, had collected a vast number of books, including ones from overseas. Though Qin Shuying only recognized a few words, the books contained diagrams with expnatory notes, and she had managed to piece together some understanding of these mechanical curiosities.

  In truth, getting a wooden bird to move wasn’t particurly difficult. Nor was it anything truly rare. But it wasn’t cheap—each one would cost at least ten taels of silver.

  Of course, to Qin Yunyun and Qin Lulu, cloistered noble daughters who rarely left their homes, it was a marvel.

  “Cousin, this is so strange. How does it move?” Qin Yunyun asked Xu Peiwei.

  Xu Peiwei smiled. “I knew you’d ask. But before that—look here. I brought two wooden birds and two wooden cats, one for each of you.”

  As she spoke, she took two wooden cats from a cabinet. “These are for you two cousins. They’re small, but a token of my regard. I hope you won’t mind.”

  Qin Lulu couldn’t help but gnce at Qin Shuying, her eyes filled with hope, afraid Qin Shuying wouldn’t accept the gift, in which case she wouldn’t dare take hers either. They had stood on the same side earlier, and now she felt she had to follow through.

  Qin Shuying immediately understood Qin Lulu’s meaning. She reached out and accepted the wooden cat. “Thank you, Cousin Wei. You even thought of me from so far away.”

  Xu Peiwei completely misread her acceptance, thinking Qin Shuying had finally learned to be tactful—after all, they were in her house. Despite their earlier squabble, she assumed Qin Shuying now sought to mend retions.

  Qin Lulu happily accepted her wooden cat, turning it over and over in her hands, clearly delighted.

  Xu Peiwei then turned to Qin Yunyun. “This remaining wooden bird is yours, Cousin.”

  Qin Yunyun picked up the wooden bird from the table. “Then I won’t refuse. Let me see how it works.”

  Qin Lulu fiddled curiously with her wooden cat but couldn’t figure out how to make it move.

  Qin Shuying studied the wooden cat in her hand, her shes lowered, concealing her gaze.

  When no one managed to discover the trick, Xu Peiwei spoke, a trace of pride in her tone. “None of you can find the mechanism, can you? It’s really quite clever. Let me show you. Do you see that little protruding strip of wood? It’s not wood at all, but iron painted to look like wood. I was fooled at first too. Pinch it here, twist it gently—hear that sound? That’s right. Turn it twice, then set it on the table…”

  Qin Lulu watched in delight as her wooden cat began to move across the table, cpping her hands. “My cat is walking!”

  Qin Yunyun was equally pleased when her wooden bird started to walk.

  Only Qin Shuying’s wooden cat remained still.

  “What’s wrong with this one? I tested them all earlier. They all worked.” Xu Peiwei frowned, taking the wooden cat from Qin Shuying’s hands. She twisted the mechanism and set it on the table, but the cat remained motionless.

  “How strange,” Xu Peiwei muttered, trying again and again, but the wooden cat refused to move.

  “Could it be broken?” Qin Yunyun asked tentatively.

  The question seemed to dawn on Xu Peiwei. “That might be it. Seventh Sister, I’m terribly sorry. I must have jostled it on the road. It was perfectly fine when I bought it, but now it won’t move.”

  Qin Shuying said calmly, “It doesn’t matter. Cousin Wei gave it to me, and I accept the sentiment.”

  But Xu Peiwei shook her head. “No, I brought it all the way here for you, only for it to be broken—that won’t do. Let’s do this. I’ll swap mine with yours and write to my cousin to buy me another one.”

  As she spoke, she gnced reluctantly at her wooden bird, clearly reluctant to part with it.

  Qin Shuying pretended not to notice her reluctance. She smiled sweetly. “In that case, I shall obey Cousin’s wishes. Thank you, Cousin Wei.”

  She promptly set the wooden cat on the table, snatched up Xu Peiwei’s wooden bird, twisted the mechanism, and pced it on the table. The bird fpped its wings and began to walk, and Qin Shuying watched with great interest.

  Xu Peiwei bit her lip, muttering, “I’ll write the letter now. Who knows how long it’ll take my cousin to send me another one…”

  Qin Shuying acted as if she hadn’t heard a word, turning the wooden bird over and over in her hands, studying it with great enthusiasm.

  Xu Peiwei felt like cwing at her face. That had been a polite offer—yet Qin Shuying had accepted it without the slightest hesitation or guilt.