Chapter 490: Wooden statue? Divine statue!

Thank you, Master Qi...

Liu Dongzhu looked at Qi Wenshan forcibly stuffing the wooden statue into her hand, about to thank Qi Wenshan, but before she could finish her words, she saw Wang Ping'an, standing beside her, stretch out his chubby right hand and exclaimed:

"Ping'an, do you want this doll?"

Wang Ping'an neither nodded nor spoke, but continued to stretch out his right hand; after all, he was only a few months old infant, and being able to walk was already absurd.

How could he possibly understand speech, let alone speak? It's better not to frighten his mother.

"Master Qi, have you seen? This child likes your toy very much!"

Tong Weicai watched Wang Ping'an's movements, the sympathy in his eyes deepening; Wang Ping'an's performance became increasingly extraordinary, and the Prime Minister's Daughter found him less and less tolerable.

However, if this little brat could use his life to help him climb into the Prime Minister's Daughter's favor, then this kid would die a fitting death.

"I've given this thing to who knows how many children— which of them doesn't like it?"

Qi Wenshan's face was full of pride, but seeing Wang Ping'an stretch out his chubby right hand, wanting to force the wooden statue he had shoved into Liu Dongzhu's hand, the affection and excitement in his eyes could barely be contained.

Tong Weicai smiled narrowly and said: "Master Qi, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never believe your words no matter what, but now even a child just a few months old likes your toy, so I believe what you say."

"Coincidentally, I also have a few children at home; I don't know if Master Qi could send some toys like this one?"

"You wretched thing, I'm just saying—this deity has no connection with you; everyone knows you're the County Magistrate's dog, listening only to the County Magistrate's words."

"You want to bite any ordinary person you meet—how could you suddenly speak up for me out of the blue? It turns out you, this miserable creature, are scheming this!"

Qi Wenshan cursed silently, but felt no anger in his heart; instead he gave a cold smile, fawned with a grin, and tried to appease:

"Master Tong, it's an honor that you appreciate my toy, but I only brought this one; the rest are still at home. If you don't disdain it, Master Tong, I'll personally deliver more to your door after I return—what do you think?"

"No problem, certainly no problem!"

Tong Weicai's eyes grew brighter and brighter, and he said happily.

He is Wei Yuan's County Magistrate, often taking bribes and delivering bribes for Wei Yuan, having seen many great treasures, he can be considered discerning.

What he just said—that the wooden statue Wang Ping'an received is worth ten taels of gold—is not an exaggeration; it truly is worth that price.

Tong Weicai's expression turned serious, and he continued speaking:

"However, I have many children at home, so when the time comes, Master Qi, you'll need to send more!"

"As long as Master Tong likes it, being able to send a few more would be my honor!"

Qi Wenshan gave a silent cold smile, then spoke respectfully.

Everyone in Qingyang County knows Tong Weicai is a rooster that doesn't lay eggs; after marrying concubine after concubine, none have borne him a son or daughter, not for lack of seeking a doctor's examination, but the exams found nothing.

Of course.

This is merely the surface explanation; who knows whether the doctor couldn't detect it, dared not detect it, or detected it but dared not speak of it.

According to the folks of Azure Cloud Town, Tong Weicai became an egg‑less rooster unable to continue his lineage because he had done every evil deed and suffered retribution.

Everyone in Qingyang County knows that Tong Weicai is openly Wei Yuan's mentor, but secretly he is Wei Yuan's lackey, often doing wicked deeds for Wei Yuan.

Tong Weicai burst out laughing: "Master Qi, you mean well!"

Qi Wenshan wore a fawning smile, did not reply, but inside he began to thank Tong Weicai.

He truly wished that the wooden statue given to Wang Ping'an would be sent to even more people.

Especially by using Tong Weicai's hand, he could also send them to more noble offspring, which would be enormously beneficial for his future development; if crafting the wooden statues weren't difficult, he would love to give them to every commoner's child as well.

"Ping'an, this is Master Qi's heartfelt gift—don't break it, and don't lose it!"

Liu Dongzhu gave that admonition.

Although it's unknown whether Wang Ping'an can understand, after all he is only a few months old, not an age to comprehend speech.

But for some reason she believes their Ping'an is innately extraordinary, capable of understanding her words, merely unable to speak yet.

This is the speculation she formed during this period of caring for their Ping'an, observing his performance.

"Ding! You have obtained a 'Nameless Divine Statue', congratulations on earning the reward: Treasure: Divine Statue 【Entry Level】!"

Wang Ping'an instinctively took the wooden statue Liu Dongzhu handed over; a mechanical, cold voice immediately rang in his mind, and his face turned extremely strange.

He instinctively glanced at the wooden statue in his hand, found it very familiar; the statue's appearance resembled Qi Wenshan by about seventy percent.

"A divine statue? My own divine statue?"

In Wang Ping'an's mind, myriad speculations surfaced; he furtively glanced at Qi Wenshan from the corner of his eye, seeing the affection and excitement in Qi Wenshan's depths barely containable, and thought to himself:

"Was it made casually, or deliberately?"

This novel you have arrived at

He thought it over.

Wang Ping'an realized that this statue, which resembles him seventy percent, was very likely made deliberately by Qi Wenshan.

Being able to earn the reward 'Treasure: Divine Statue' from this statue indicates that the statue is very likely a magical implement.

Qi Wenshan's ability to craft magical implements, and moreover a strange treasure like a divine statue, shows he is not as simple as a mere stone‑statue maker on the surface.

Not long ago.

Tong Weicai said the wooden statue was worth ten taels of gold, so he guessed that Qi Wenshan's inexplicable gift of this valuable item to him might involve some scheme he didn't know about.

Tong Weicai's status shows he is discerning; he said the wooden statue is worth ten taels of gold, and it's not just idle talk—he even identified the statue's material, proving it truly is worth ten taels of gold.

Now it seems……

Tong Weicai still undervalued it; a treasure cannot be bought for mere ten taels of gold—any random magical implement, once sold, could support a family of five for a lifetime without worry about food and clothing.

He has no kinship or connection with Qi Wenshan, nor any involvement; Qi Wenshan likewise showed no intention of taking him as a disciple, yet suddenly gave him a precious magical implement—if there were no scheme behind it, he wouldn't believe it.

Moreover.

Such scheming is very likely not a good thing!

Wang Ping'an silently sneered: "I want to see just what kind of mischief you can pull off with this trifle!"

Qi Wenshan watched Wang Ping'an holding his wooden statue, looking dazed, following Liu Dongzhu's side and marching with the You Village troop, a smug smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

Tong Weicai exclaimed in surprise: "Master Qi, what good idea have you come up with to be so happy?"

From now on, this god has gained a fanatical follower; how could this god possibly not be happy?

Qi Wenshan gave a cold snort inwardly, but his face still wore a fawning smile, and he said ingratiatingly: "Master Tong, this child likes the toy I made; how could I possibly not be happy?"

(End of chapter)