Note: The game opens with a long animated story sequence, then the first levels. You cannot go back to the main menu or the map until you complete this long tutorial. Once it is over, you can access the map and menu.
There is also a "how to play" section in the main menu which will go through the basics.
There are two parts to the story of the game. The first part revolves around an archaeological dig taking place in the present, which alternates with the second part, a story about Xi Niu taking place in the past in China.
To unlock Xi Niu's stories, you must first play the preceding archaeological levels, and find the required amount of treasure fragments. Once you have all the fragments, you'll piece them together into an artifact, which will then unlock a movie and some game levels.
How to play the archaeology levels:
A worker will appear and request a station. Click on her, then on the station. While at the station, the worker will request items, help from Ivy, or to go to another station. Some requests will require mini-games which are well explained. These levels are very easy, especially as you buy the upgrades.
The hearts over the worker's head show the amount of points you will earn for that worker when s/he finishes. The happier a worker is, the more hearts earned.
What is different about the archaeology levels is that they must be replayed many times to find all the pieces of the artifact, the jade mouse, and the treasures.
To find a piece of the artifact, you must reach a certain amount of points. The bar in the top left of the screen shows how many pieces are in the location, and fills as you earn points. When reaches one of the empty markers, Diana or Gritt-E will find a piece. As you can see in the screen shot below, there are five pieces needed to complete the artifact, with the fifth one being represented by the last pot symbol. In most levels, you will need to play the level several times to earn enough points to get all the pieces.
There are also treasures that can be found on each archaeological level. These can only be dug up once the artifact is completed. The bar on the top right of the screen is for the treasures. When the bar is filled with points, Diana or Gritt-E will find a treasure. The numbers tell you how many treasures there are for this level, and how many you have already found. As you can see in the screen shot below, there are a total of four treasures to be found in this level, and one has already been found.
Unlike the Xi Niu levels, the mouse to be found in the archaeological locations is a jade statue, and must be dug up by Diana or Gritt-E. The jade mouse will be found after all the artifact pieces have been dug up, and will be at a random time while you are working toward unearthing the treasures. The mouse icon on the top left bar will fill in with a green mouse when it has been found.
How to play Xi Niu's levels:
These levels play more like current standard TM games. Xi Niu will need to perform actions for, or take objects to, the workers. Each level has a bonus challenge that will earn extra points if completed.
A mouse will be found in each level, and a screen shot has been provided below to show his location in each level. The mouse will make a squeaking noise when he appears, and will only stay for short time. He will continue to appear throughout the level until clicked on.Xi Niu's Story, Chapter 1: Bone Toothbrush
Chapter 1, Level 1: Under a Warlord's Banner
Challenge: Reach at least two stars.
To help the ox, click on him, then on the plow. He will walk to it, then request more assistance.
When you cut the rice, you will have three bundles. Click on them, one at a time (left to right, or right to left) and they will combine into one bundle that will be requested by the worker.
Mouse location:
Chapter 1, Level 2:
Movie.
Chapter 1, Level 3: Poems and Tails
Challenge: Plant the two rice fields by clicking on the baskets with exclamation points. You can interrupt Xi Niu by clicking on any object, just be sure to send her back to the fields in between helping workers.
Mouse location:
Xi Niu's Story, Chapter 2: Ox Statue
Chapter 2, Level 1: Gathering Storms
Challenge: Calm the ox by clicking on him from time to time to refill the meter. Don't let the meter run out or you will loose the challenge.
Mouse location:
Chapter 2, Level 2:
Movie.
Chapter 2, Level 3: Great Opportunities
Challenge: Earn at least 8 stars in the rice cutting mini game.
Mouse Location:
Xi Niu's Story, Chapter 3: Necklace
Chapter 3, Level 1:
Movie
Chapter 3, Level 2: Xi Nui's New Home
Challenge: Wash the laundry. You can interrupt Xi Nui by clicking on an item, just be sure to send her back to work on the laundry again.
Mouse location:
Xi Niu's Story, Chapter 4: Hair Pin
Chapter 4, Level 1: Perspectives
Challenge: Keep the water hot by keeping the meter filled. Click on the bellows before the green runs out of the meter to refill the meter and keep the water hot. If the meter runs out of green, you will lose the level.
Mouse location:
Chapter 4, Level 2: Rare Cures
Challenge: Earn 10 stars in the washing game.
Mouse Location:
Chapter 4, Level 3:
Movie
Xi Niu's Story, Chapter 5: Guzheng
Chapter 5, Level 1: Washing Maiden's Duty
Challenge: Hang up the washing.
Mouse location:
Chapter 5, Level 2:
Movie
Chapter 5, Level 3: A Lesson
Challenge: Prepare 8 dry clothes piles.
Tip: There will not be enough orders of these, so you will have to prepare extras and delete them from your inventory. The meter does not tell you how many you have made, so you'll have to keep count.
Mouse location:
Chapter 5, Level 4: Movement is Happiness
Challenge: Click on the music teacher and have Xi Niu take a lesson before the green runs out of the meter on the teacher.
Mouse location:
Xi Niu's Story, Chapter 6: Ornate Box
Chapter 6, Level 1: Imperial Introduction
Challenge: Find the 7 pieces of clothing lying around the garden. Locations marked below.
Mouse location:
Chapter 6, Level 2
Movie
Chapter 6, Level 3: Be Nice
Challenge: Prepare the courtesan area by clicking on the exclamation point.
To make tea, click on the pot. When the meter hand is in the green, click it again. If you let it get into the red, you will have to make it again.
Mouse location:
Xi Niu's Story, Chapter 7: Xi Niu's Portrait
Chapter 7, Level 1: A Letter from Chen
Challenge: Dance with Li Shishi by clicking on her. This will refill the green meter. If the meter runs out, you will loose the challenge.
Mouse location:
Chapter 7, Level 2: Call to Action
Challenge: Deliver tea when requested by the eunuchs.
Tip: Make tea first thing, and put two in your inventory. As soon as you use those, make tea again and put two in your inventory.
Mouse location:
Chapter 7, Level 3: Conspirators Challenged
Challenge: Swing Li Shishi by clicking on her for Xi Niu to go to her. Be sure and do so before the green runs out of the meter.
Mouse location:
Chapter 7, Level 4: Garden Work
Challenge: Hang the silk yarn.
Mouse location:
Chapter 7, Level 5: More Garden Work
Challenge: Make 4 bowls of leaves.
Tip: You will not have that many requested, so you will need to make some and delete them from your inventory.
Mouse location:
Chapter 7, Level 6
Movie
Chapter 7, Level 7: A Bookish Welcome
Challenge: Serve the library patrons what they request.
Mouse location:
Chapter 7, Level 8: Tending to the Library
Challenge: Put the books into the bookcase by clicking on the exclamation point.
Mouse location:
Chapter 7, Level 9
Movie
Xi Niu's Story, Chapter 8: Ornate Warrior Helmet
Chapter 8, Level 1: A Friend in Need
Challenge: Earn 3 stars.
Mouse location:
Chapter 8, Level 2:
Movie
Chapter 8, Level 3: Offering Help
Challenge: Take care of Li Shishi by clicking on her when the green meter begins to run down. Be sure and click on her before the meter runs out.
Mouse location:
Chapter 8, Level 4: Pawn to Queen
Challenge: Tap the drawers until you find the ingredients. Locations marked below.
Mouse location:
Xi Niu's Story, Chapter 9: Mirror
Chapter 9, Level 1:
Movie
Chapter 9, Level 2: Endearing Encounters
Challenge: Find the 6 blocks. Locations marked below:
Mouse location:
Chapter 9, Level 3: Reunion at Last
Challenge: Earn 9 stars in the calligraphy mini game.
Mouse location:
Chapter 9, Level 4: Goodbye for Now
Challenge: Clean the ink spills.
Mouse location:
Xi Niu's Story, Chapter 10: Seal
Chapter 10, Level 1:
Movie
Chapter 10, Level 2: Scribe's Joy
Challenge: Attend the guzheng lessons when the instructor's green meter appears. Be sure to click on him before the color runs out.
Mouse location:
Chapter 10, Level 3: Deceitful Warnings
Challenge: Visit Li Shishi when she becomes restless by clicking on her when the green begins to run out of the meter. Don't let all the color run out or you will loose the challenge.
Mouse location:
Chapter 10, Level 4:
Movie
Xi Niu's Story, Chapter 11: Knife
Chapter 11, Level 1: A Warning Ill-Received
Challenge: Find the 7 silk worm cocoons. Locations marked below:
Mouse location:
Chapter 11, Level 2: Beloved Return
Challenge: Earn 6 stars in the leaf/basket mini game.
Mouse location:
Chapter 11, Level 3: Doubts in Trust
Challenge: Build the silkworm station.
Mouse location:
Chapter 11, Level 4:
Movie
Xi Niu's Story, Chapter 12: Baijiu Vessel
Chapter 12, Level 1: Courtesan Delight
Challenge: Earn at least 8 stars in the make up mini game.
Mouse location:
Chapter 12, Level 2:
Movie
Chapter 12, Level 3: Moving Pieces
Challenge: Make 7 kettles of tea.
Tip: This does note mean you need to boil the kettle 7 times, only that you need to have tea on your tray 7 times.
Tip: You will not have enough orders for tea, so you will need to make it and delete them from your tray.
Mouse location:
Chapter 12, Level 4: Overheard Attempts
Challenge: Find the 7 cushions. Locations marked below.
Mouse location:
Xi Niu's Story, Chapter 13: Herb Vessel
Chapter 13, Level 1: Fatal Gifts
Challenge: Bring the fans when requested, before the color drains out of the thought bubble to earn the bonus. The bonuses will fill the meter.
Mouse location:
Chapter 13, Level 2
Movie
Chapter 13, Level 3: Visits From Old Foes
Challenge: Make ink 5 times.
Tip: You will not have enough orders, so you'll need to make them and delete them from your tray.
Mouse location:
Xi Niu's Story, Chapter 14: The Writer's Companion
Chapter 14, Level 1: Messenger Talks
Challenge: Bring what Nai Nai requests.
Mouse location:
Chapter 14, Level 2: Doctor's Duty
Challenge: Take care of Nai Nai by clicking on her each time the bar begins to run down. Do not let the green run out entirely, or you will loose the challenge.
Mouse location:
Chapter 14, Level 3
Movie
Xi Niu's Story, Chapter 15: Tea Kettle
Chapter 15, Level 1
Movie
Chapter 15, Level 2: Making Things Right
Challenge: Reach at least 6 stars on the grinding mini game.
Note: I was unable to achieve this. Anyone got any tips for winning this challenge?
Mouse location:
Chapter 15, Level 3: The Strongest Man at Whim
Challenge: Bring the requested items to the green table. Quick bonuses count toward the goal.
Mouse location:
Chapter 15, Level 4: Schisms in Wisdom
Challenge: Reach 3 stars.
Mouse location:
Xi Niu's Story, Chapter 16: Golden Mask
Chapter 16, Level 1: Gathering Wisdom
Challenge: Search the library for the two scrolls with a blue ribbon by tapping on the scroll cabinet. Locations marked below:
Mouse location:
Chapter 16, Level 2
Movie
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