Qin Shuying smiled charmingly: “I knew it—Cousin Peiwei is a model among the noble ladies of the capital. Even if she said some crude words, I suppose this is how noble ladies often behave. How pitiful that I rarely speak with noble ladies and didn’t know that the noble ladies of the capital nowadays are fashionable in speaking crudely. If I have the chance another day, I’ll also speak this way to let people see the good example Cousin Peiwei has set for us. Sixth Sister, don’t you think so?”

Xu Peiwei could barely catch her breath. If Qin Yunyun hadn’t stopped her, she would have pointed at Qin Shuying’s nose and cursed again.

Qin Yunyun hurriedly smoothed things over: “Alright, alright, Seventh Sister, we’re all sisters just joking around. Let’s go—the things Cousin brought are all exquisite, novel, and fun items. I can’t wait to see them.”

But Qin Shuying raised her chin and asked Xu Peiwei: “Cousin Peiwei, you’re really not telling me to get out anymore?”

Xu Peiwei nearly ground her silver teeth to powder, saying through gritted teeth: “No!”

Having said this, she huffily led the way forward, not saying another word.

In Xu Peiwei’s boudoir.

A pair of wooden birds about a foot tall were placed on the table.

These wooden birds were finely crafted, made of excellent materials, with very realistic colors—just looking at the workmanship was quite remarkable.

Both Qin Yunyun and Qin Lulu were attracted by the wooden birds—they were indeed novel.

“Cousin, you said they can flap their wings and walk?” Qin Yunyun pointed at the wooden birds and asked incredulously.

“Of course.”

Xu Peiwei’s face finally showed a trace of smile—these were good things she had carefully brought back.

She picked up one wooden bird and placed it on a wide and very long table surface by the window. She twisted something underneath the bird’s belly, then let go—a miracle happened. The wooden bird’s wings opened and closed, and its legs also stepped forward. Although it walked slowly, it was indeed walking.

“How remarkable!” Qin Yunyun exclaimed in admiration, her eyes wide with amazement as she watched the bird walk quite a distance before stopping.

Although Qin Lulu found it amazing, she just watched the wooden bird silently without loud praise—Xu Peiwei’s earlier mockery had left her holding back anger.

Qin Shuying also stared at the wooden bird, quickly understanding what was happening.

When chatting with overseas people, she had learned that some places had advanced craftsmanship and could use iron to make various ingenious parts, then configure these parts in wood. By turning mechanisms, the devices would move.

Qin Yongzhou was very studious and learned, leaving behind many books, among which were actually books by overseas people.

Qin Shuying only recognized simple, few characters and couldn’t read articles, but those books contained diagrams, and the key parts of the diagrams often had explanations, allowing her to guess and figure out some ingenious techniques.

Speaking of it, making this wooden bird move wasn’t difficult, nor was it particularly rare. But it wasn’t cheap either—one would probably cost over ten taels of silver.

Only deep-boudoir young ladies like Qin Yunyun and Qin Lulu who rarely left home would find it rare.

“Cousin, how strange—how does this wooden bird move?” Qin Yunyun asked Xu Peiwei.

Xu Peiwei smiled: “I knew you would ask. Let’s not talk about this first. I brought two wooden birds and two wooden cats in total—just right, one for each person.”

As she spoke, she turned and took out two wooden cats from the cabinet: “These wooden cats are for my two cousins, one each. Though the items are small, they represent my sincere feelings. I hope my cousins won’t despise them.”

Qin Lulu couldn’t help but glance at Qin Shuying, hope in her eyes, afraid that if Qin Shuying didn’t accept, she wouldn’t feel right accepting either. She had stood on the same side as her earlier, so naturally she should stick to it to the end.

Qin Shuying understood Qin Lulu’s meaning and reached out to take the wooden cat, saying: “Thank you, Cousin Peiwei, for remembering me from so far away.”

Xu Peiwei didn’t understand her meaning and assumed Qin Shuying was being sensible—after all, this was her home, and though there had been friction earlier, she now wanted to make peace.

Qin Lulu happily accepted it, fondling the wooden cat and examining it from all angles.

Xu Peiwei said to Qin Yunyun: “Cousin, this remaining wooden bird is yours.”

Qin Yunyun took the wooden bird from the table, saying: “Then I’ll accept it without being too polite. Let me see how to activate it.”

Qin Lulu curiously searched left and right but couldn’t find the key.

Qin Shuying studied the wooden cat, her eyelashes lowered, concealing her expression.

Seeing that everyone couldn’t find the trick, Xu Peiwei said with some pride: “You all can’t find the mechanism, can you? Such technique is truly ingenious! Let me teach you. Do you see that protruding wooden strip? That’s the spot—actually it’s not wood but an iron strip painted to look exactly like wood! I was initially fooled too, thinking it was wood. Grip it and gently twist—do you hear the strange sound inside? Right, twist it twice, then place it on the table…”

Qin Lulu watched her wooden cat move on the table and immediately forgot her earlier displeasure, clapping: “My cat is walking!”

Qin Yunyun also discovered with delight that her wooden bird began to move.

Only Qin Shuying’s wooden cat remained motionless.

“What’s wrong with this? I tested each one earlier—they all walk. Seventh Cousin, let me take a look.” Xu Peiwei took the wooden cat from Qin Shuying’s hands, twisted it once, and placed it on the table, but the cat still didn’t move.

“How very strange.” Xu Peiwei muttered and tried twisting again.

After three attempts, the cat remained completely still.

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

Reminded by her, Xu Peiwei had a sudden realization: “That’s possible. Seventh Sister, I’m truly sorry. Giving you a gift that might have been damaged somewhere along the journey—when I bought it originally it was perfectly fine, but now it won’t move.”

Qin Shuying said: “It doesn’t matter. Cousin Peiwei gave it to me, and I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”

But Xu Peiwei said: “Bringing a gift from so far away for Seventh Sister only to have it broken—this is indeed my discourtesy. How about this: let me exchange the bird with you, and I’ll write a letter asking my cousin to buy me another bird.”

Having said this, she looked at the wooden bird with great reluctance, clearly making a painful sacrifice.

Qin Shuying acted as if she couldn’t see the reluctance on Xu Peiwei’s face and cheerfully said: “Since that’s the case, I’ll respectfully accept rather than decline. Thank you, Cousin Peiwei.”

Having said this, she quickly placed the cat on the table and took Xu Peiwei’s wooden bird, twisted the iron strip, then placed it on the table. The wooden bird flapped its wings and moved forward, and Qin Shuying watched with great interest.

Xu Peiwei bit her lower lip and muttered: “I’ll write the letter right away. I don’t know when my cousin can send it over—how long will it take to arrive? At the fastest, it would be two months. Shu is really too far away!”

Qin Shuying acted as if she hadn’t heard, just examining the wooden bird from all angles, very pleased with it.

Xu Peiwei wanted to scratch Qin Shuying’s face—what she’d said was just politeness, but Qin Shuying had the audacity to take it without any shame.