(Word Count: 4727)
Han Ze carved day and night, and was busy for nearly 20 days. Boss Chen’s Ruyi Guanyin root carving ornament was completed ten days ahead of schedule. He called Boss Chen on the landline at home and told him that the Ruyi Guanyin root carving was completed and asked him to come and pick it up.
When Boss Chen heard that the Ruyi Guanyin root carving was completed ahead of schedule, his face immediately turned very ugly. When he signed the contract with Han Ze, he clearly told him that the carving of the Ruyi Guanyin root carving should be fine, and it didn’t matter if it was delayed for a few days, as long as the ornaments were carved well. Now he actually completed the task ten days ahead of schedule. It is conceivable how rough the finished product of the Ruyi Guanyin root carving is.
The mother of one of his big customers has been a Buddhist for many years. In order to please the mother of this customer, he asked around and got to know Han Ze. He thought that his master was a master-level engraver, and the apprentice would not be much worse. He didn’t expect that he was so rough and cut down on the process.
Han Ze didn’t know what Boss Chen was thinking. He looked at the Ruyi Guanyin root carving ornament in front of him in amazement. He felt it was very magical. He couldn’t imagine that this was actually carved by him one by one. People’s wisdom is really endless.
Yang Qiubai supported Han Ze’s carving because she could make money by carving for others. In fact, she could not understand why those people would spend a lot of money to ask Han Ze to carve something.
When Han Ze put the polished Ruyi Guanyin root carving ornaments on the table, she seemed to understand why those people were willing to spend money to ask Han Ze to carve things. She did not understand art, and did not know what works were good, but she was amazed when she saw the Ruyi Guanyin root carving. She seemed to see the Guanyin looking at her with charity and smiling. She turned back and looked at her man in surprise, praising: “I didn’t expect that my man’s craftsmanship is so amazing. The Guanyin he carved is so realistic, especially the eyes of Guanyin, which seem to be alive.”
She really didn’t expect her man’s craftsmanship to be so amazing, so amazing that she felt like she had picked up a bargain. Looking at the Ruyi Guanyin root carving again, she was a little reluctant. Although she did not believe in Buddhism, she also wanted to put such a vivid Ruyi Guanyin in her own hall. It was a pity that Boss Chen actually gave it away.
Facing the admiring gaze of his wife, Han Ze raised his tail with his eyes bright black. He approached Yang Qiubai and asked with a smile on his face: “Wife, am I awesome?”
The look of him seeking praise so quickly made Yang Qiubai’s original sense of pride disappear without a trace in an instant. She calmly pushed his face away and said nonchalantly: “It’s just so-so. There’s still room for improvement. Keep working hard.”
Han Ze’s shoulders drooped instantly. He looked unhappy and had no energy. He said sullenly: “I know.”
Yang Qiubai couldn’t bear his discouraged look. She said awkwardly: “Actually, it’s okay. You’re much better than the men in the village who can’t do anything.”
Han Ze was not comforted. His shoulders drooped even more and he looked listless. The men in the village only knew how to farm all day. They had never learned carving, let alone understood carving. His wife actually compared him with them. Was his carving skills really that bad?
Yang Qiubai said uncomfortably: “You carved it very well, okay?”
He secretly comforted himself that men were no different from children and needed to be praised from time to time.
Han Ze immediately looked at Yang Qiubai with energy and said with shining eyes: “Wife, do you really think that the root carving of Ruyi Guanyin that I carved is very good?”
Yang Qiubai nodded helplessly.
Han Ze looked at Yang Qiubai and said suddenly, “Wife, are you afraid that I will be proud?”
Yang Qiubai looked at Han Ze in confusion, “What?”
Han Ze said with a silly smile, “Don’t children often say that pride makes people fall behind, and humility makes people progress? You just said that, are you afraid that I will fall behind?”
Yang Qiubai looked at him stiffly, “…”
She really didn’t think so much, she just couldn’t stand seeing him being too proud, so she deliberately hit him. Forget it, she still didn’t say anything, let him think so.
Han Ze’s smile widened: “My dear, you are so kind. With your encouragement, I will never be proud or fall behind. I will make a lot of money and buy you a big house. Let everyone in the village envy you, don’t worry.”
Yang Qiubai shuddered. This man was too annoying. She couldn’t stand it and glared at him: “Okay, stop talking, hurry up and pack the ornaments. Boss Chen will be here soon.”
Han Ze smiled and said: “No hurry, wait for Boss Chen to come and take a look. If he is satisfied, we will pack it.”
…
Boss Chen drove over, accompanied by his business partner. Before coming, Boss Chen didn’t have high expectations for the Ruyi Guanyin root carving. Seeing Han Ze’s smile, he didn’t even give him one.
Han Ze didn’t care about it, but Yang Qiubai was a little indignant, but she didn’t say anything. After all, he was the boss who paid, and she wouldn’t offend him without any sense.
Boss Chen asked directly: “Where is the Guanyin?” Han Ze led them to the carving room. When they saw the Ruyi Guanyin root carving in the carving room, before he had time to say anything, Boss Chen’s business partner next to him exclaimed: “It is ingenious, both in form and spirit. You are worthy of being Master Chen’s apprentice. It’s so exquisite.”
Boss Chen was also stunned. He took out a tissue to wipe his eyes in disbelief. He looked at Han Ze, pointed at the Ruyi Guanyin root carving, and asked with trembling hands: “Han, Master Han, is this the Ruyi Guanyin root carving you carved for me?”
The address was also changed from Han the Carver to Master Han.
Han Ze smiled and nodded.
Looking at the smile on Master Han’s face, Boss Chen felt ashamed in his heart. He was ashamed of the misunderstanding and slander of Master Han before coming. Master Han really deserved to be Master Chen’s apprentice. Just as he was about to speak, his business partner grabbed Han Ze’s arm and said, “Master Han, I want a set of bamboo root carvings of the Eighteen Arhats. Is that okay? Price is not an issue.”
Han Ze was about to agree when Yang Qiubai, who came over with a kettle, coughed. Han Ze immediately changed his words and said in embarrassment, “Well, well, I need to discuss this with my wife.”
Boss Chen’s business partner, Boss Mi, is a collector. He has no shortage of money. He heard that Boss Chen knew a carver, so he followed him to see and try his luck. He was amazed by Han Ze’s Ruyi Guanyin root carving, and was moved to ask him to help carve the Eighteen Arhats bamboo root carving he had always wanted. He was very disappointed when he heard Han Ze’s words: “There is nothing to discuss. If you are worried about the money, it’s okay, you can increase the price.”
Han Ze looked at Yang Qiubai. Boss Mi saw Master Han’s actions and suddenly realized that Master Han was afraid of his wife. In an instant, he understood and felt that he had found the key point. He looked at Yang Qiubai and said with a smile like Maitreya Buddha: “Is this Master Han’s Furen?”
Furen?
Yang Qiubai’s mouth twitched uncontrollably. She was a rural woman, and what Furen. She smiled and said, “My last name is Yang, and the boss can call me Xiao Yang. If someone hears that, they will laugh at me.”
Boss Mi immediately smiled and said, “Sister Yang, my last name is Mi. I plan to ask Master Han to help me carve a set of Luohan bamboo root carvings. What do you think?”
Yang Qiubai frowned and said, “Boss Mi, some time ago, Han Ze worked overtime day and night to carve Boss Chen’s Ruyi Guanyin root carving. He was busy for more than 20 days and was tired and thin. I plan to let him rest for a while. He didn’t make much money. What if his body is broken? He has no scruples and doesn’t know how to feel sorry for himself, but I can’t ignore him. He is the pillar of the family. The old and the young in the family are all waiting for him to support them.”
Boss Mi looked at Boss Chen, meaning, how low is the price you offered to Master Han? His wife is unwilling to take our work.
Boss Chen was really embarrassed. According to Master Han’s previous craftsmanship, he felt that the price he offered was already high. But compared with the Guanyin he carved, the price he offered seemed too low. Master Han’s wife has some ideas, and it’s reasonable.
Han Ze was deeply moved by Yang Qiubai’s words. He touched his waist and found that he was not as fat as before.
Then he thought proudly, his wife said that the old and young in the family need him to support them. Although he felt a lot of pressure, his wife was right. He was the pillar of the family and the family couldn’t do without him.
He couldn’t help but raise the corners of his mouth. It felt good to be needed and valued. Although his leg was uneven, he was not a useless person. He could bring a good life to his family. Therefore, he had to take good care of his body so that he could make money to support his wife and children.
So, he said, “Boss Mi, I’m very sorry that I can’t agree to carve an Arhat for you. I need to rest. I’ve been too tired recently. We can’t let the sake of earning a little money ruin our health. There are many carvers in the city. You can ask them to carve for you. They are all the same.”
Boss Mi smiled bitterly and shook his head. The carvers in the city were not Master Chen’s apprentices, nor did they have Master Han’s skills. How could they be the same? Now, he has identified Master Han’s skills and he doesn’t like others.
Yang Qiubai added, “Boss Chen, Han Ze performed exceptionally well in the Ruyi Guanyin root carving. He carved it very well. I am worried that the next work may not be carved so well. If you have too high expectations, you will be disappointed. ”
Although Han Ze felt that his wife looked down on him, he also felt that his wife’s words made sense. He was afraid of the possibility of something going wrong in his carving, and the root carving was not carved well.
Han Ze kept nodding beside him. His wife was right.
Boss Mi smiled and said, “It’s okay, it’s okay. Everyone has a bad performance. If a bamboo root carving is not performed well, just continue to carve it. You can carve it slowly. I am not in a hurry, and I will not give it to others. When the carving is done, give it to me. Money is not a problem. If you have any difficulties, just tell me.”
Han Ze and Yang Qiubai looked at each other, and Han Ze said, “Boss Mi, since you are not in a hurry to get the Luohan bamboo root carving, I can carve it slowly. When it is done, you can come to see it. If you are satisfied, you can buy it. If you are not satisfied, you don’t buy it. I can’t let you suffer a loss. Do you think it’s okay? ”
Boss Mi was stunned. Is there such a good thing?
Yang Qiubai smiled and said, “Han Ze, this is not a good idea, right?”
Boss Mi asked carefully, “What do you think should be done?”
Yang Qiubai said apologetically, “If the Luohan bamboo root carving carved by Han Ze performs exceptionally well again and is discovered by others, and they want it and the price satisfies us, we will be in a difficult situation if we don’t sell it to them. After all, Han Ze is in this business. If we sell it to them, you told us in advance, and we can’t let you down… Boss Chen, please help me think of a way. What should I do?”
Boss Mi hurriedly said, “This is easy. I’ll pay the money first, and you can just tell others that it’s my root carving, isn’t it?”
Yang Qiubai frowned and said, “This is not appropriate either. How should the price of the root carving be determined? We can’t take advantage of you.”
Boss Mi waved his hand and said straightforwardly, “When the time comes, it will be as much as the root carving carved by Master Han is worth. We will refund the excess and make up the shortfall. It’s nothing.” ”
Yang Qiubai smiled and nodded, “Boss Mi is worthy of being a businessman. This way, no one will suffer. If you are not satisfied with the root carving, I can return the money to you.”
Han Ze asked in a low voice beside him, “Wife, are you guys settling it like this?”
Don’t you even need to ask for his opinion?
Yang Qiubai nodded and said, “You have been working so hard recently. It’s too hard. Boss Mi is righteous. You don’t have to rush to work. You can take a rest when you are tired. It’s such a good thing. What’s there to hesitate about? Isn’t it, Boss Mi?”
Boss Mi laughed. Master Han had outstanding skills, but he didn’t expect that he was a henpecked husband. He said, “Yes, Master Han, your wife should think about you more. I will not tire you out with this work next time, and I won’t rush you. You can rest whenever you want.”
Han Ze frowned slightly, “…Okay.”
Boss Mi wanted to laugh again. He knew so many carvers, but he liked Master Han’s temperament the most.
Boss Chen next to him finally couldn’t help but speak up, and said faintly, “Have you finished talking?”
Han Ze turned his head, with an apologetic look on his face, and said, “We’re done talking, we’re done talking. Boss Chen, are you satisfied with the Ruyi Guanyin root carving?”
Boss Chen was embarrassed. He was more than satisfied. He was so satisfied that he was ashamed of his original payment.
Han Ze smiled and fished out a box from the side. In the box lay a string of old sandalwood Buddhist beads. He said, “Boss Chen, these are the leftover materials from carving the Guanyin Ruyi root carving. It would be a pity to throw away those materials. I thought about it and carved a string of Buddhist beads for you. Do you like it?”
Boss Chen was shocked. He looked at the Buddhist beads in Han Ze’s hand and said excitedly, “I like it, of course I like it. I didn’t expect Master Han to carve a string of Buddhist beads for me. This, this is not written in the contract…”
Boss Mi especially disliked this point of Boss Chen. He was too serious about everything. He said, “Old Chen, I said that Master Han is so righteous that he even used the leftover materials for you. What else do you have to complain about? ”
Boss Chen said uncomfortably: “I’m not complaining, I just feel…”
Boss Mi said unhappily: “You can’t hire a master sculptor like Master Han for 500 yuan a day outside, what are you doing?”
“A good sculptor should be cherished. Old Chen’s attitude is wrong. He is disrespectful to art.
Boss Chen smiled bitterly and said: “Then how much do you think I should pay Master Han?”
Han Ze said beside him: “Let’s follow the contract.”
Yang Qiubai coughed beside him, Han Ze glanced at her, hesitantly said: “Wife, let’s do what the contract says, otherwise others will say that I am dishonest. We will still sell carvings in the future, and we can’t let people think that I am dishonest. ”
Yang Qiubai cursed inwardly, sighed and said: “Okay, let’s do as you say.”
Who made the man in her family an honest man?
Han Ze smiled foolishly and said: “Wife, you are so nice. ”
Yang Qiubai rolled her eyes. She was tired of hearing this sentence.
Boss Chen had no choice but to count out three thousand yuan for Han Ze according to the contract. Before leaving, he gave Han Ze another two thousand yuan, saying it was the wages for the Buddhist beads.
Han Ze looked at the money in his hand and stared at Yang Qiubai blankly: “Boss Chen is a good man! Three thousand yuan for a Guanyin root carving, and he actually gave me two thousand yuan for a string of Buddhist beads. He is really righteous, worthy of being a big boss.”
Yang Qiubai glanced at him sideways. This fool, didn’t he hear what Boss Mi said, a master-level engraver like Han Ze might not be hired outside for five hundred yuan a day. Han Ze was busy day and night for twenty days. Five thousand yuan was just over two hundred yuan a day. How could he think that Boss Chen was righteous and a good man?
Han Dazhuang suddenly appeared from the side and looked at Han Ze with admiration: “Han Ze, I just realized today that you are really capable. You can earn 5,000 yuan by carving a piece of broken wood with a knife. You are really amazing.”
Yang Qiubai was shocked and snatched the money from Han Ze’s hand and went back to the house.
Han Ze looked at him coldly: “Can you use a knife to carve for me?”
Han Dazhuang saw that Han Ze’s face was not right and smiled awkwardly.
Han Ze said: “I have been carving since elementary school. I have more than 20 years of skills. It is not something that can be carved casually. You make it sound as if my skills are worthless.”
Han Dazhuang said: “Yes, yes, yes.” His eyes rolled: “Han Ze, I know why your wife treats you so well?”
Han Ze raised his eyebrows and looked at him with disdain: “My wife treats me well. Well, that’s what I should do, there’s no reason. Only people like you who lack care will find excuses everywhere.”
Han Dazhuang thought his idea was very correct, he said: “Han Ze, think about it, you can make so much money, how can your wife not treat you well? If she doesn’t treat you well, what will you do if you are snatched away by another woman? I can make as much money as you, and my wife will treat me well. ”
Han Ze said: “You are wrong, although my wife regards money as more important than life, but in her heart, I am more important than money. ”
Han Dazhuang didn’t believe it.
Han Ze glanced at him and said: “I was busy for 20 days some time ago, and my wife was so distressed that she didn’t let me take any work today. She was worried that I would be exhausted and asked me to take a rest. You say, if she didn’t feel sorry for me, wouldn’t she let me take all the work to make money for her?”
Han Dazhuang thought with his head down, yes, if it were him, if he could make so much money, his tigress would definitely order him around and exhaust his labor.
Han Ze said with a smile: “So, you think too much. Not everyone treats their men as animals.”
Treat them as animals?
Han Dazhuang was shocked. His tigress didn’t treat him as an animal.
Thinking of this, he didn’t bother to say anything to Han Ze, and ran back home. No, he had to implement his method of curing the disease with medicine.
…
Yang Qiubai was cooking, and Han Ze was resting on a recliner. Suddenly, he heard a miserable scream from the side. Han Ze was startled and stood up from the recliner. He lay down and shifted, making a crackling sound. Yang Qiubai came out of the kitchen, looked at Han Ze in confusion and asked: “What’s going on?”
Han Ze’s eyes flashed with a smile: “Why do I think that sound is from Han Dazhuang?”
Yang Qiubai frowned: “A grown man yells like this?”
No wonder Liu Qingmei came to her and asked her how to manage men. Liu Qingmei really needs to manage this man. This sound is no different from killing a pig. A grown man doesn’t know how to be ashamed.
Han Ze smiled and said, “I’ll go and take a look.”
Yang Qiubai frowned, not wanting him to go, but thinking that this man was really bored during this period, she said, “The children will be out of school soon, come back to eat after taking a look, don’t dawdle outside.”
Han Ze said, “I’ll be back after taking a look.”
…
Han Ze walked out of the yard and saw Han Dazhuang’s house was surrounded by people watching the fun, so he walked over slowly. Someone saw Han Ze and teased, “Han Ze, has your wife ever beaten you like this?”
Han Ze said proudly, “My wife treats me well, how could she beat me? Don’t talk nonsense.”
The man smiled and said, “I heard that your wife took away all your cigarette money. Is such a wife good?”
Han Ze looked at him with contempt and said, “My wife doesn’t let me smoke for my own good. Many people get lung cancer because of smoking. Don’t you know?”
The man smiled and pointed at Han Ze, shook his head and said nothing.
Han Ze was about to speak when he saw Han Dazhuang rushing out like a rabbit, with Liu Qingmei chasing him with a stick. When Han Dazhuang saw Han Ze, he hid behind him as if he saw a savior. Han Ze was stunned. Why did this guy hide behind him like this?
Liu Qingmei was about to hit him with the stick, but when she saw Han Dazhuang hiding behind Han Ze, she raised the fire-picking stick and said angrily, “Han Dazhuang, you want to die?”
Han Dazhuang hugged Han Ze’s waist, poked his head out from behind Han Ze, looked at Liu Qingmei and said triumphantly, “I won’t come out.”
Liu Qingmei narrowed her eyes, pointed at Han Ze and said, “Han Ze, get out of the way.”
Han Dazhuang hugged Han Ze’s waist and said, “Han Ze, you can’t get out of the way. If you get out of the way, I’ll die.”
Han Ze spread his hands, very helpless, “Sister-in-law Qingmei, can you not involve me in your affairs? Han Dazhuang hid behind me, there’s nothing I can do, or you can use the stick… to throw him away?”
Han Dazhuang hugged Han Ze tightly after hearing what Han Ze said. A grown man burst into tears and screamed: “Master Han Ze, I want to worship you as my master. Please save me, otherwise I will be beaten to death by that tigress.”
Han Ze frowned: “What master?”
Han Dazhuang cried and said: “You are so good at making money and you can control your wife. I want to worship you as my master and learn carving from you. I also want to make 5,000 yuan at once. That tigress should not think of beating me again.”
After Han Dazhuang finished speaking, Han Ze had no reaction, but the people around him opened their eyes and looked at Han Ze curiously. It turned out that carving made so much money. You can make 5,000 yuan at once? It seems that learning carving is very promising. Thinking of this, they were thoughtful.
Especially Wu Bin and his wife who had just come to watch the fun. Han Ze used to make money from carving, but it was all small, earning hundreds or tens of dollars. They didn’t expect that he could make so much money at once. It seems that they still underestimated Han Ze!
Wu Bin even thought that since engravers could make so much money, his son might as well let him learn engraving from Han Ze since he couldn’t study well.
Besides, he had such a good relationship with Han Ze, so he wasn’t afraid that he wouldn’t agree.
Cao Hua and Wang Licheng also had the same idea as Wu Bin. After they came over, they also heard what Han Dazhuang said. They all thought that since they had a good relationship with Han Ze, he would probably agree to teach their children engraving.
He was thinking, this wasn’t asking him to borrow money, so Yang Qiubai shouldn’t be able to do anything about it, right?
Han Ze was really helpless in his embrace, so he could only force his arms apart and said unhappily. “I won’t accept an apprentice as old as you.”
Han Ze said, and he didn’t care about watching the fun anymore. He hurried back home. If he was held down by him again, his waist would be useless.
After lunch, the two children went to school. Liu Qingmei came to Yang Qiubai to ask for advice. Han Ze saw that he had nothing to do, so he wandered out. Han Dazhuang hid in the corner of his courtyard wall. When he saw Han Ze coming out, he hurriedly pulled him aside.
Han Ze was startled and said unhappily: “Why are you so startled?”
Han Dazhuang sniffed, took a breath, and said: “Damn, it hurts, my face is all blue and purple, that tigress is so cruel.”
Han Ze’s face was full of sympathy: “There is no other man who lives like you. What did you do to make sister-in-law Qingmei so angry?”
Speaking of this, Han Dazhuang looked uncomfortable, his eyes flickered, and he stammered: “No, I didn’t do anything.”
Han Ze didn’t believe that. If he didn’t do anything, would sister-in-law Qingmei chase him and beat him all over the ground?
Seeing that Han Ze didn’t believe him, Han Dazhuang said desperately: “Aren’t I treating the disease with the right medicine?”
Han Ze raised his eyebrows: “The right medicine? How do you treat the disease with the right medicine?”
Han Dazhuang chuckled, pulling the wound, he groaned twice, and said: “Whenever I say something wrong, that tigress likes to pull my ears. This is not what I think of her, and I don’t like to hear it. So I pull her ears hard, didn’t she get angry?”
Han Ze suppressed his laughter and asked: “Why did you pull her ears?”
Han Dazhuang touched his forehead and said in annoyance: “Doesn’t she like to pull my ears? I treated the disease with the right medicine, let her feel the feeling of having her ears lifted, and she herself If you know what it feels like, you won’t mention my ears. Who knew she would get so angry?”
Han Ze couldn’t help laughing anymore and pointed at Han Dazhuang: “You are really…”
Han Dazhuang waited until Han Ze had laughed enough, and he said with a sad face: “I don’t know what the tigress went to your house for.”
Han Ze said gloatingly: “To ask for advice.”
Han Dazhuang looked at him blankly: “What advice?” Suddenly he realized, and immediately cried: “This tigress, if she doesn’t ask for advice, I’m in trouble. If she asks for advice again, how can I live now!”
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152