Dahe found the store easily, and double-checked the sign hanging above the door. It was a sign for a carpenter. He walked in and closed the door behind him. The sounds of woodworking greeted him.

The carpenter was busy but a young man was there and walked over. “Hello, I’m Mu Juzi. What can I do for you?”

“I’m developing a game. I need a board of wood about this thick.” He gestured to the length of his thumb. “After that I’ll need divots or hollows carved into it.”

The lips of the apprentice folded inwards while he thought. His eyes then returned to Dahe’s face. “I can do that, if you don’t want anything fancy.”

“Not fancy, but rounding the edges. Is that possible?”

The look the apprentice gave him indicated he’d nearly snorted. “Simple. That’s practically the first thing a carpenter learns. What’s the design?”

They found a length of wood plank and Dahe used a piece of coal to indicate the dimensions of what he wanted cut out.

“So, six holes on each side, and at the end, a longer hole. Sort of a trench.” The apprentice held the board up. “Should be simple.”

Dahe nodded, “Ok. but make sure the holes are angled to be easily scoopable.”

“Sure, no problem. When do you want it done? For a little extra I could have it done within a few hours.”

Dahe shrugged, “sure.”

He left a deposit and exited the shop.

Walking along he found the next place. A glass maker's shop. Once inside he had another conversation with another apprentice. When he said he simply wanted glass beads, they were able to give it to him right away. “Here, 48 stones right?” The apprentice handed him a small cloth pouch that held his glass beads. Dahe looked inside, and satisfied, paid and was once more on his way.

A city belonging to a prince had to have excellent food. He checked the mental copy of the city map and found a place.

It was rated as low profile. Not fancy but simple and filling. It was a dumpling shop. A variety of shapes and fillings. It was simple fare, but made the best they could. The meats would be cooked with different herbs, even the vegetables tasted fine.

He had a few to taste, and nodded to himself. He approached the kitchen and stepped in. “Who are you? We’re busy!” A large man shouted. A wok in his hands was moving quickly, the food inside moved quicker. “I’d like to place an order. To go.”

“Hello, sir? Can I help you?” a waiter had approached him from the dining area. Dahe turned, “yes, I want to buy a large amount of dumplings. As many as you can make.”

The waiter licked his lips, the stranger in the kitchen didn’t seem like a crazy person. “Are you an energy gatherer?”

“Yes, and I happen to be wealthy. So I’ll pay double for however many you can make.” The waiter looked at the head chef. The head chef looked at the man, the waiter also looked at the man. Suddenly in the man’s hand was a golden duck. “Yes sir!” the waiter nearly saluted. “Good. I’ll be waiting out there.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The man placed the golden duck in the waiter’s hand and left. The waiter looked at the gold shining in his hand. He had seen but never held a golden duck. All he could do was stare.

“Get your mind back in your body! Put the duck over there!” The waiter looked up and saw the chef pointing to a clear space on the cutting board. The waiter hefted the coin, before reluctantly setting it down. “Now go! Close the doors! We have only one customer today! Send the others to get more supplies.”

The waiter ran to the front and managed to close the door before another person could enter. He then turned to the other waiters and ordered them to go get more supplies. The best they could get. He saw the man nod in appreciation.

For several hours, while the man meditated at a table, they continuously brought out platters of a variety of dumplings. Each time, the man would make them disappear and put out money. The pile of silver in the kitchen was mesmerizing. Finally the cooks collapsed in exhaustion and a waiter approached on shaking legs to deliver the platter of dumplings neatly in front of the strange man.

“This is the last of it.” The man nodded, then stood and walked out. Before the waiter could call out, to remind the stranger about the bill, the clang of metal hitting the wooden table stopped him. Looking down, instead of the silver coins he expected to see, it was instead a golden shine that reflected in his eyes.

Holding the coin in his trembling hands, he stared at the beautiful picture of a duck in flight. It was considered a lucky bird by an early Emperor, and now he could understand why.

The other waiters crowded around him and stared at the golden coin in his hands. The chef looked out and saw the man had gone. Then he saw the crowd of waiters. When he walked over, he saw they were all gazing in awe at a golden duck. The chef snorted. He’d seen and had a few, so he felt superior to these young men. However, with a sure hand he reached out and plucked the gold coin from the waiter’s hands.

The waiters all turned and looked at him, with shock on their faces. However, when the chef announced “double wages today” they all smiled large smiles, and hugged each other.

Dahe had no idea of the scenes he had caused, he simply was on his way to collect his wooden board.

At the carpenter’s shop the board was waiting. It was just as he had asked for. Also, the edges were carefully rounded, and the wood was oiled. The apprentice looked up as he came in. “Hello, I got your job done. I think it looks pretty good.” Dahe smiled, agreed and paid the rest of the bill.

“By the way, what is it?”

“It’s a game.”

The carpenter’s apprentice looked at and scratched his temple. “Really? A game? How do you play?”

Dahe smiled, and then pulled out the bag of glass beads. “First you set up the board. Place four beads in each of the twelve hollows. For easier, or shorter games, you can go with three each.”

“The point is to see who has more of these beads in their storehouse at the end. The storehouse to your right is yours.” Dahe gestured to his.

“The goal is to sow your seeds, like so.” Dahe selected a pocket on his side, and scooped up the four stones. “Deposit one seed in each pocket as you go. If you encounter your storehouse deposit a seed, if you encounter your opponent’s, don’t.”

The apprentice nodded and made his move. Dahe nodded, and continued. “If you finish by depositing a seed in the storehouse, take another turn. If you place your last piece in a formerly empty pocket, you capture the opponent’s stones in the opposite pocket. Place those captured stones in your storehouse. The game is over when one side has emptied their pockets. Whoever has seeds left, will place their seeds into their own storehouse. Then, whoever has the most in their storehouse wins.”

The apprentice looks up at him, “that’s it?” Dahe smiled and nodded. They both focused back on the game. Finally, Dahe won. The apprentice rubbed his forehead with his thumb. “Can I make another one? For myself?”

Dahe smiled, “sure. For anyone who asks.” The apprentice's smile was brilliant. “Thanks. I’ll teach this to my father. He’ll get some joy out of it.”

Dahe stood and patted the apprentice on the shoulder. “I’m glad.” Then he put the mancala board and stones away in a storage bag and left the shop.