Qin Zhao glanced up at the chubby girl, who took a wooden bird out of her pocket and showed it to him on her open palm. "Do you believe it can fly?" she asked.
Qin Zhao examined the wooden bird carefully. He thought it was intricately carved with a hollow body and wings joined by mortise and tenon joints.
The wings and legs were articulated with movable joints. If it were in modern times, it could sell for a good price as a collectible figure.
But he felt something was missing, so Qin Zhao shook his head. "I don't believe so."
The chubby girl took the brush hanging on the wooden plank and put it directly into her mouth to wet it, as the ink on it had dried.
Then she dotted the eyes of the wooden bird twice.
Only now did Qin Zhao realize what had been missing. The wooden bird's eyes were previously just wood colored, lacking vitality.
But with two strokes from the chubby girl's brush, the wooden bird instantly came alive!
In the next moment, the transformation happened!
The originally lifeless wooden bird slowly fluttered its wings, faster and faster, until it finally took off!
Qin Zhao looked up as the wooden bird flew away and marveled, "The finishing touch, that's all it takes."
He then asked, "Will it come back?"
The chubby girl replied, "No."
"Why not?"
"When I made it, I hoped in my heart that it could freely soar in the sky."
"So you mean the power for the wooden bird to fly comes from the belief you instilled in it?"
The chubby girl thought for a moment and said, "My father said it relies on the power of faith.
Every moment while making the wooden bird, you have to believe it can fly. If you doubt even for an instant, it won't be able to take off."
Qin Zhao could not conceal the shock in his heart. He continued asking, "Then what's the largest, flying wooden object you've made that could fly?"
"That wooden bird was the largest flying wooden object I've ever made.
The longer it takes to make the wooden object, the more likely one's emotions waver, so the difficulty increases."
"In this world, besides you, is there anyone else who can make wooden objects fly?"
"I learned it from my father. Besides him, I haven't seen any other woodworker capable of doing this."
Qin Zhao lowered his head to look at the body wrapped in the grass mat and let out a sigh.
Looking at the wooden plank on the chubby girl's chest again, Qin Zhao thought: How could such a talented person have no buyers?
Could it be that she was waiting just for him?
Someone nearby suddenly spoke up, "Girl, don't let her fool you!"
Qin Zhao glanced at the man. He was a vendor at the neighboring stall, a man in his forties.
Seeing that Qin Zhao still seemed intent on buying the chubby girl, the vendor went on, "That wooden bird can only fly in her hands. In others' hands, it's dead!
She must be using deceitful means!"
Another chimed in, "Old Liu is right! We've been watching the whole time. This girl not only tricks people, but her price is too high!
Three hundred taels of silver is enough for us commoners to live well for a lifetime!"
Soon a circle of people gathered, taking turns persuading Qin Zhao not to buy from this scammer.
Qin Zhao asked the chubby girl, "Is there anything you want to say?"
The chubby girl said, "Wooden objects resonate with their maker's heart and will only fly from their creator's hands.
And three hundred taels of silver is not a lot. My father said we Mohists may be poor but not cheap."
Qin Zhao ignored the onlookers' strange glances and applauded. He went up and helped the chubby girl stand, saying, "Well said, I admire you. May I ask how you are called?"
The chubby girl's eyes lit up as she replied, "This humble one is called Mo Qianqiu."
"Mo Qianqiu," said Qin Zhao.
He took out a stack of ten thousand taels worth of silver bills from his sleeve and placed it in Mo Qianqiu's hands. "I'll pay three thousand taels to buy you.
The excess of this ten thousand tael bill, you can return to me after you've buried your father."
Mo Qianqiu, who had never seen so much money before, trembled as she grasped the bills. The envious gazes of the onlookers nearly set her ablaze.
She opened her mouth, "Master, I'm not worth that much silver."
Someone applauded, "This girl learns quickly, she's changed her tune fast!"
Qin Zhao smiled and said, "I said you're worth it, so you are.
Don't decline, just take it."
Mo Qianqiu thought of her father, who went through life without meeting his patron.
Because the wooden objects were too expensive, he hadn't sold a single one.
When he died, there wasn't even enough money to buy him a tombstone.
Yet by following her father's advice to peddle at high prices, she had actually encountered someone godlike!
Mo Qianqiu knelt down and paid obeisance to Qin Zhao, saying, "I pledge my life to serve my master!"
Qin Zhao patted Mo Qianqiu's back. "From now on, don't kneel without my permission."
"Yes," Mo Qianqiu replied as she stood up.
She then asked, "Where does Master reside?"
Qin Zhao moved closer to Mo Qianqiu and whispered, "Princess Zhaoyang's residence."
Mo Qianqiu gasped and covered her mouth. "Prin...cess..."
Qin Zhao shushed her, "Quiet, don't spread it around."
"Yes," Mo Qianqiu said.
"I'll head back first. Come find me after you've finished your business," said Qin Zhao, bidding Mo Qianqiu farewell.
She deliberately took the back door when returning to Princess Zhaoyang's residence, because if she went through the front entrance, the attending servants would surely come to formally receive her, and the etiquette would be too cumbersome.
Upon entering her room at the main courtyard, Qin Zhao immediately smelled a strange fragrance!
She quickly covered her nose and mouth and demanded, "Who is it? Come out!"
Dressed in red and black athletic attire, Qi Yan Su Luo walked out from behind the screen.
Qi Yan Su Luo said, "You don't have to cover your nose. This scent isn't poisonous."
Qin Zhao said, "Do you really think I'd believe you? What are you doing here?"
Qi Yan Su Luo replied, "I said I'd come to take back my brother's dagger."
"I won't give it to you. Leave," said Qin Zhao.
If she returned the dagger, Qi Yan Su Luo would have no more reason to look for her. Of course she wouldn't give it back!
Qi Yan Su Luo's smile disappeared. "Then don't blame me for being impolite. What you just smelled was an aphrodisiac.
If you don't take the antidote, you'll soon become aroused, even more uncontrolled than I was that night!"
She took out a blue medicine bottle. "This is the antidote. As soon as you hand over the dagger, I'll give it to you immediately."
Qin Zhao lowered her hand covering her nose and smiled sardonically. "That works out just fine, since you happen to be here...
In three quick strides she reached Qi Yan Su Luo and pulled her into an embrace, swiftly landing a smooch on her face, saying, "We can consider that aphrodisiac foreplay!"
Qi Yan Su Luo had thought that even bare-handed, she could easily handle Qin Zhao.
But she didn't expect Qin Zhao to be much stronger than their first meeting. She couldn't break free at all!
Qin Zhao tore off a strip of Qi Yan Su Luo's clothing and used it to tie her hands. She carried her to the bedside.
Qi Yan Su Luo anxiously cried, "What do you think you're doing, you rogue!"
Qin Zhao gave her a hard shove, slamming her onto the bed!
The pain on her bottom made Qi Yan Su Luo's eyes well up with tears. She pleaded, "Please let me go, I won't sneak attack you again."
Qin Zhao moved closer to her with a creepy giggle. "Too late, it's all too late!"
Qi Yan Su Luo stared wide-eyed in terror as Qin Zhao sat on the bed and pulled her onto her lap...
Qi Yan Su Luo shut her eyes in fear, awaiting some unspeakable act to befall her.
Slap!
She heard a loud slap!
At the same time, pain erupted on her bottom.
Slap!
Another slap!
Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!...
One, two, three, four...seven, eight, nine, ten slaps in succession!
As Qin Zhao's hand worked, her mouth didn't stop either. "Say it, do you admit your mistake yet!"
