The first snow of Chang'an had just dampened the eaves when Zhang Yifan hurried toward Cyan Ox Village, carrying a bulging bamboo basket on his back. Inside the basket, alongside the cumin gifted by the Persian merchant, were packed a spring-driven top for Huwa and a glazed hair hairpin for Xiaoxiu. As he reached the foot of the Qinling Mountains, the Wooden Ox and Gliding Horse suddenly let out a creak and its leg buckled. He crouched down to tap the ox's hoof, then chuckled and scolded playfully: "That little rascal Huwa, stuffing chestnuts into the gears again!"
The sound of camel bells drifted through the twilight, and Ali, the Persian merchant, came riding after him on a camel, holding something wrapped in a blanket in his arms: "Young Master, stay your step! My young wife insists on learning 'pest control using insects' from you, saying your granary-guard beetles are more precious than the diamonds I gave her." A bright-eyed, sharp-looking young wife peered out from the blanket, a glazed hairpin bearing a cyan ox pattern tucked into her braid—the exact same one Zhang Yifan had given to Xiaoxiu.
"I wouldn't dare take on disciples," Zhang Yifan scratched his head, then suddenly pulled out a bamboo tube. "I'll give you three spring-guiding insects. Put them in your jewelry box, and wherever the insects crawl, you'll know it's damp." He suddenly lowered his voice: "Don't ever learn from Huwa and shove chili peppers into the bugs' mouths, or they'll drill holes right throu…
Chapter 17