Min Song’s father had the single name Huan, the sixth son of Min.

The Min family had many sons and grandsons, so although they had declined once, there were always capable descendants to revive the family business. To this day, besides the world-renowned Nine Treasure-Making Techniques, they competed for glory among all trades with the status of powerful merchants, their standing among the common people impossibly high.

But these Min-surnamed people in Mo Zi’s eyes had no sense of distance. Even the stern-faced Min didn’t seem completely unapproachable. And Min Song’s father was even more good-tempered, asking her about everyday family matters, making her feel he was like a kind elder.

Min Song’s mother, Lady Ding, also left an excellent impression on her. She pulled Mo Zi to sit beside her and inquired after her well-being with warm concern. Between her gentle words, she could touch that deep place in Mo Zi’s heart that lacked maternal love.

Although the Min family treated her well possibly because of Min Song’s relationship, after Min Huan thanked her for taking care of and guiding Min Song, the others no longer mentioned it, just treating her as someone of a daughter, granddaughter, or sister generation, speaking very comfortably and casually.

Min Song had performed excellently in the four days of examinations, smoothly passing Mo Zi’s final stage, and had already been personally conferred the title of Grand Master Craftsman by the Emperor’s edict.

“I had no idea what you meant by putting out those five wheels, and thought you couldn’t possibly give such a simple exam question.” Min Song recalled today’s test, feeling only fortunate. “Sure enough, you had a follow-up move. If I’d been the slightest bit careless, wouldn’t I have been eliminated?”

“In the half year you were at Hongyu, what did I tell you most often?” They had no formal master-disciple status, but Mo Zi sometimes had the bearing of a master.

Everyone watched the two of them, listening to their conversation with great interest.

“Once the ship design is decided, it can only be refined to precision, crafted without the slightest deviation.” Mo Zi had truly taught him much. Although she always said secret techniques weren’t passed on to outsiders and she wouldn’t teach him hand-by-hand, she was very generous in letting him look at blueprints and allowing him to participate in making ship models. For instance, dragon boat technology—she essentially openly let him learn it. Moreover, she would also teach other craftsmen at the shipyard, even the shipwrights. Especially with civilian ships, she displayed her innovative applications generously before people without stint.

At the same time, because Min Song himself worked hard to figure things out, he achieved mastery and would incorporate some of his own ideas.

“Exactly. Never mind what I meant by putting them out. I told you all to make them exactly the same—you give me five gears that can’t differ by a fraction and that’s it.” Mo Zi praised him at this point. “You did it. Congratulations.”

“Mo San’er, does that thing you used to measure that makes sounds have a name?” Old Master Min Yu had also been present today.

When Min was young, he had served as an imperial craftsman. Later, as family head, he resigned his position to the previous emperor, who earnestly tried to keep him. Therefore, when Min family descendants came to test for Grand Craftsman, the Emperor specially permitted Min family members to enter and observe.

“No name. Just making some random tinkling and clanging sounds—could it possibly have some great use?” Mo Zi played dumb. The creativity wasn’t hers—the copper tubes were made by blacksmiths, and she’d roughly put together the bumps and comb pieces without standard do-re-mi.

“If processed more meticulously, it could make a new type of musical instrument—a hand-cranked five-tone copper tube could have a short melody.” Min was indeed an outstanding imperial craftsman, glimpsing through one hole to observe the deep vista. “Since Miss Mo Zi has talent and is also a Grand Master Craftsman, you cannot muddle through lazily. Apply more effort and you will surely achieve greatness. And regarding His Majesty’s test question—making feathers so realistic shows your skilled knife work. Using balance and wind force to attract the eagle’s eye. But you cannot deny your opportunistic scheming heart. If there had been strong winds today, you would have been the loser.”

Mo Zi admitted this Min family head was truly formidable and laughed cheerfully. “I thought Grandfather would say women should be more proper, but I never expected to be praised instead.”

“Who’s praising you?” Being called Grandfather, the old man accepted it calmly.

“Do you think my elder brother never said such things?” Old Master Min Yu stroked his beard and laughed heartily. “When I first told him about the female chief steward at Hongyu breaking through three trials, the first sentence in his reply was pretty much what you just said. However, later he displayed the extraordinary bearing of our Min family head—as long as someone is talented, regardless of gender, he appreciates them equally. Without me mentioning your affairs, he inquired about you. Coming to the capital this time was specifically to see you. If we hadn’t happened to meet today, next time he’d definitely invite you separately. After all, such an ingenious female craftsman as you—probably can’t find a second one under heaven.”

“A-Yu, you talk too much.” Min furrowed his brow.

Min Yu behaved like a mischievous younger brother before his elder brother two years his senior, made a shushing sound, then lowered his voice to tell Mo Zi, “Be careful—he’s reached the point of being extremely interested in your Song family’s secret techniques. Who knows, he might pick the best among the Min family descendants to marry you back as a daughter-in-law so he can glimpse the secrets of your craftsmanship. Look, Song’er’s fiancée’s family has the untransmitted secret of pearl grinding.”

Though he spoke softly, at a round table, who couldn’t hear?

“Third Great-Grandfather!” Min Song objected. It was one thing to talk, but why drag him into it?

“Third Uncle, I was the one who arranged this match for Song’er—it has nothing to do with my father.” Min Huan smiled. “I just saw that family’s child had a dignified appearance and kind heart, able to endure Song’er’s pride.”

But Old Master Min Yu cried out mournfully, “Mo San’er is capable of suppressing Song’er until he has not half a bit of pride left. Sixth Brother, you regret it now, don’t you? You shouldn’t have arranged this match earlier. Now, only Fourth Brother’s family’s Zhen’er slightly surpasses Song’er and matches this girl.”

Mo Zi had initially thought the old master was just joking and pursed her lips in good humor. Then she discovered even a name had popped out, and her mouth hung half open. Min Zhen? Who was that?

When Min spoke again, there was a bit of heat in his tone. “A-Yu, if you continue talking nonsense, leave the table.”

Seeing his elder brother was serious, Min Yu finally stopped.

Mo Zi put away her smile and hurriedly said, “Grandfather, Mo Zi didn’t take it seriously. Grandmaster Yu and this junior are very familiar—speaking without formality, just like my own grandfather. Please don’t be angry.”

Lady Ding also came to smooth things over, but addressing her. “My father-in-law isn’t angry—don’t be frightened. As head of the family, he has to put on a stern face for others in the family. After so many years, if he casually chats about family matters, we take it as a scolding.”

“Sixth Daughter-in-law.” Min seemed helpless about this daughter-in-law’s liveliness.

Lady Ding smiled it off and asked Mo Zi, “Hearing you say my third great-uncle is like your own grandfather, I wonder where your ancestral home is and who else is in your family?”

“My family is in Yuling. My parents and elder brother are gone. Besides my younger sister, I have no other relatives.” Her ancestral home—she couldn’t say it was Daqiu.

“You also had an elder brother?” As soon as Lady Ding asked this, she glanced at her husband and father-in-law with what seemed like a bit of regret.

“Yes. Mother died early. When Daqiu attacked, Father and Brother met with disaster.” She had an elder brother—why did Lady Ding feel regretful?

“Your name is a flower name. Is your sister also a peony name?” But Lady Ding had more questions.

“Madam guessed truly accurately. My sister is called Doulü.” Since the elder treated her with such concern, she couldn’t refuse to answer.

Clap—Min Huan knocked over his teacup, wetting the tablecloth.

A server wanted to come clean up, but he stopped them, repeatedly saying it wasn’t necessary.

“Mo Zi and Doulü.” Lady Ding smiled with her eyes sparkling brightly at the corners. “Truly lovely names for daughters. In the future, they will surely both be blessed.”

“I’ll borrow Madam’s auspicious words.” Mo Zi stood to take her leave. She feared matchmaking, especially the situation where the male party wasn’t present and parents were evaluating her. “There are still people waiting for me to eat dinner. I really can’t stay long. Another day, I must properly seek Grandfather’s guidance on wood carving techniques.”

“Then another day it is.” Min nodded.

As Mo Zi walked out, she thought—really see each other next time? Although these family members were all quite nice, the way they looked at her was a bit like hungry foxes—cunning plus eager. So, better not to meet again. That Min Zhen who was even more outstanding than Min Song—she had no interest either.

As soon as the door closed, Lady Ding lowered her head and wiped away tears, startling Old Master Min Yu and the Min Song brothers who didn’t understand the inside story.

Min Yu hurried to comfort her. “Nephew’s wife, if you really like that girl, have Min Hua strive for her.” Min Hua was Min Song’s eldest younger brother, seventeen this year, two and a half years younger than Mo Zi.

Min sighed. “I kept telling you to speak less. If you don’t know, don’t stir things up blindly.”

“What exactly are you all hiding from me? If you don’t want the girl to marry into our Min family, then why treat her so well? Who would treat someone like their own daughter on first meeting? Sixth Brother and his wife are one thing—they’re always good people. Elder Brother, you’re the strangest, going on and on even teaching her principles. You’ve never spent such effort even on your own grandsons.” Min Yu felt things were increasingly wrong.

“Everyone, we have some family matters to discuss. Please move to the adjacent room—the banquet is all set up.” Min Huan had prepared early.

It turned out that among those who came, besides these few surnamed Min, the rest were senior managing craftsmen from Risheng Shipyard.

After only Min family members remained in the room, Min Huan finally consoled the crying Lady Ding. “It may not necessarily be so. Don’t let Father and Third Uncle get their hopes up for nothing.”

“How could it not be?” Lady Ding wiped her tears, but joy appeared on her face. “From the first moment I saw her, I knew it couldn’t be wrong. Those eyes of hers, her nose, and her mouth—they fulfill the saying ‘like father, like daughter.’ Song’er said she’s left-handed, and Fifth Brother is too. According to Steward Sun, that day at Muxin Tower, she essentially guessed fifteen out of fifteen correctly—Fifth Brother too. Also, the last time Fifth Brother wrote to you, he said Fifth Sister-in-law loved flowers and wanted to name their two daughters with peony as the main name. She and her sister just happen to both be named after peony flowers.”

“Father-in-law, I heard that the Min family produces someone left-handed in touching wood with extremely high talent in craftsmanship every twenty years. The founding ancestor Grandfather Min Zhen was left-handed, and Min Lou who revitalized the family business and found the first Water-Pure Pearl also had divine left-handed carving skills. In every generation, those who use the left hand with the knife, even if not surpassing Ancestor Grandfather and Great-Grandfather, are still the most outstanding of the Min family. In our generation, it was Fifth Brother—what his left hand produced was divinely crafted. With one touch of wood, he could tell its name. He had learned eight of the Nine Treasure-Making Techniques before leaving home.” Lady Ding took pride in being a Min family member. “Looking at Mo Zi, she’s clearly Fifth Brother’s daughter. Her talent is so high, she’s probably the best among Song’er and his generation. That incredibly realistic wood craft—doesn’t it come from Fifth Brother’s true transmission?”

Min Huan refuted, “When Fifth Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law met with disaster, the two little girls were only four and two years old. How could they have possibly learned wood craft? There are plenty of left-handed people in the world. Besides, Mo Zi’s surname is Song, and she has an elder brother above her. Better to investigate carefully to avoid empty joy.”

Min Yu was dumbfounded listening. “What are you two talking about?”

“Saying that the girl called Mo Zi very likely is my biological granddaughter.” Min’s gaze, sharp for half a lifetime, suddenly held both regret and loving kindness.