After the first bicycle of the Qin Dynasty was made, Qi Pan and Ying Zheng took Fusu, Ying Yinman and the ministers to demonstrate and practice it in the open space of Xianyang Palace.
Qi Pan hasn't ridden a bicycle for a long time. She only rode it for a few years when she was a child. Later, when she went to middle school and went to the station to take the bus, her parents would take her there on a motorcycle or electric bike.
When bringing the bicycle back to the palace, Qi Pan had already tested it and found that it could be ridden, and she also regained a sense of familiarity.
"This is called a bicycle. When you ride it, you hold the handlebars on both sides with both hands, put one foot on the ground and the other on the pedal. Then you gently push forward and the bike moves forward. At the same time, you pull your foot back and step on the other pedal."
"Take turns stepping with both feet, one up and one down."
Qi Pan briefly explained the key points of cycling, and under the gaze of everyone, he sat on the bicycle, stepped lightly on the pedal, and went out with the bicycle.
Qi Pan's footsteps gradually became faster and faster, and he was getting further and further away.
"This, this thing called a bicycle actually works?!"
"You can still take people away?!"
"Look, it's really fast! It's almost as fast as a horse!"
"yes!"
The ministers looked at Qi Pan who was riding his bicycle in circles with surprise and excitement.
"Master! Let me try! I want to ride a bike, too!"
Fusu shouted and happily chased after Qi Pan who was walking in a circle. Feng Quji and several important ministers also followed.
This is such a rare thing, they also want to try riding it.
Ying Zheng stood there, looking at Qi Pan, whose eyebrows were gorgeous and eyes were bold, his eyes full of warmth.
"Brother! Do you want to try it? I'll give you a ride!"
Qi Pan shook off Fusu and a group of ministers, slipped in front of Ying Zheng, stopped his bicycle, and patted the back seat at him.
"Brother, come up quickly! Sit sideways!"
Ying Zheng acted faster than he thought, and when he reacted, he was already sitting on the back seat of Qi Pan's bicycle.
Qi Pan kicked his feet hard, even standing up to kick.
The bicycle swayed, and Ying Zheng put his hands on Qi Pan's waist.
The bicycle started a little slowly, then pedaled faster and faster. The wind blew across Qi Pan's cheeks, blowing her hair behind her head.
Ying Zheng sat on the back of the bicycle, holding Qi Pan's waist, smiling gently and sweetly.
Fusu and a group of ministers were chasing after him, panting.
"National Master! Huh... Wait, wait for us!"
"Give us a ride too!"
"I haven't ridden this bike yet!"
Qi Pan drove Ying Zheng around and around before he stopped and handed the carriage to Fusu. "Here, take it and ride it. Be careful and don't fall."
Fusu happily took the bicycle handlebars, "Okay! Thank you, Queen Mother!"
Fusu got a bicycle and imitated Qipan's behavior. He sat on the bicycle, held the handlebars tightly, and pedaled slowly to start the race.
He couldn't keep his balance and started to sway from side to side after riding for a while, which made Feng Quji and other ministers exclaim in surprise.
After riding for a while, Fusu slowly mastered the trick and became more and more stable.
Seeing this, Feng Quji shouted to Fusu, "Master! Give me a ride too! I'll sit in the back seat!"
Seeing Feng Quji about to rush over and sit in the back seat, Fusu quickly shouted, "Don't! Don't come over here! I can't do it yet! I'll fall!"
Seeing this, Feng Quji had no choice but to hold back and wait for Fusu to ride several laps before it was finally his turn. He rushed forward in one step.
"Master! It's my turn, it's my turn!"
Other ministers also gathered around and pushed Fusu out.
Fusu straightened his robes and returned to Qi Pan and Ying Zheng. "Master, how many miles can that bicycle travel in a day?"
Qi Pan thought for a moment and said, "If the terrain is relatively flat, we can travel 400 miles a day."
Fusu was shocked. "Four hundred miles a day?! Isn't this faster than a swift horse?!"
Qi Pan nodded, "Indeed, a fast horse will get tired and needs to rest, drink water and be fed with grass."
"A bicycle doesn't need to. As long as the rider isn't tired, it doesn't need to rest, eat or drink. It can keep going."
"However, bicycles also need to have their parts replaced regularly and be lubricated. Otherwise, aging and damage to the parts will affect the riding time."
Fusu nodded, still amazed.
"Master, now that we've successfully developed the first bicycle, how long will it take for the second and third ones?"
Ying Zheng looked at Qi Pan and asked.
Qi Pan said, "After I got the first one, the second and third ones will be much easier. As long as I can make the necessary parts, I will have a second bicycle within three months."
While the three were talking, several ministers had already taken turns riding around, and Feng Quji walked up to Qi Pan.
"Master, this bicycle is really a good thing. It runs so fast!"
“And it’s lightweight!”
Feng Quji picked up the bicycle and weighed it. It was very light and he could carry it with one hand.
"It's a good thing, but it's not easy to make. We only made this one now."
Qi Pan sighed softly. It took nearly a year to develop this bicycle from the beginning to its success, and for it to pass the inspection and be ridable.
She spent every day with the craftsmen, pondering and adjusting each part one by one.
I even have less time to spend with Brother Zheng.
"It is a blessing for the Great Qin that the Imperial Master can create such a rare item. To have this machine is a blessing that the Great Qin has cultivated for hundreds of generations."
Feng Quji said this, and the other ministers nodded in agreement.
Before this, they didn’t even know what a bicycle was. Now, not only did they see it with their own eyes, they were able to ride one themselves.
This was something they had never dared to even think about.
Feng Quji and other ministers looked respectful, as if they regarded Qi Pan as an immortal in heaven.
Qi Pan couldn't remember when it started, but she had become accustomed to the ministers' attitude towards her.
Even the common people of the Qin Dynasty would sometimes look at her as if she were a god descending from heaven, which made her go from being at a loss to being numb.
"I'll give it a try too."
Seeing that all the ministers had ridden the bicycle, Ying Zheng stepped forward to take it and covered the handlebars.
Following Qi Pan’s teaching, he sat on the bicycle and pedaled.
After two tries, the bike started smoothly, then slowly accelerated, getting faster and more stable.
After sliding around a few times and making sure he had gotten the hang of it and wouldn't drop Qi Pan, Ying Zheng stopped in front of Qi Pan and spoke to her.
"Master, come up and try. I'll give you a ride."
"OK!"
Qi Pan smiled, stood on tiptoe, and sat sideways on the back seat of the bicycle, with her hands naturally falling on both sides of Ying Zheng's waist.
Ying Zheng's muscles tensed instantly, and Qihan could feel those bulging, strong and powerful muscles even through the fabric.
She quietly pinched Ying Zheng's waist.
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