Capítulo 3: Chapter 3: Nine Children Embracing Lotus, The Art of Internal Energy
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Xu's Wood Carving Shop was one of the top wood carving shops in the Outer City, often receiving orders from the Inner City. The demand for various types of wood carvings was immense.
Whether it was carving landscapes, Bodhisattva Statues, Buddha Statues, or even various deities that Li Che had never heard of, the shop catered to all.
For the helpers, moving wood and finished statues earned them a fixed piece rate, which was not much and involved back-breaking labor.
But if one could become a full-fledged wood carver, carving a single piece could earn at least ten taels of silver!
Li Che had even heard that Master Chen once carved a 'Thousand-Armed Guanyin Statue,' which took about a month and earned him a gold leaf, equivalent to a hundred taels!
That was a skill that could make an ordinary person wealthy!
Li Che's heart raced at the thought. In the past, he wouldn't have dared to dream of it.
Because wood carving skills needed to be cultivated from a young age and tested one's talent and artistic sense. Many of the apprentices in the wood carving shop started learning at the age of five or six, their families paying silver for their education.
Li Che was already thirteen when he started working as a helper at the wood carving shop, long past the ideal age.
Although he had once thought about self-study, he gave up after a few days.
How could he expect to defeat someone who had spent almost their entire childhood studying with just a few days of self-study?
Moreover, watching someone carve was one thing, but actually doing it was another.
"I'll find a chance to try... Perhaps the Dao Fruit of Immortal Craftsmanship really gave me a talent for wood carving?"
Li Che couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation.
A cold wind blew, making Li Che more alert and clear-headed. He buried the thought of becoming a wood carver in his heart and began to work seriously.
Moving finished wood carvings was different from moving wood; it required extra care to avoid damaging the carvings.
He wrapped the carvings in cloth and tied them with hemp rope to prevent the statues from being damaged by friction during transportation.
Carrying the Six-Eyed Bodhisattva Statue, Li Che walked carefully toward the inner room.
Arriving at Master Chen's workshop, he placed the Bodhisattva Statue down, removed the cloth, and checked for any signs of friction. Feeling relieved when he saw none.
"Master Chen, I've brought the Bodhisattva Statue in. I'll go get the 'Flowering Ashwood' now. You want a larger piece, right?"
Li Che relaxed his shoulders and smiled.
Master Chen was already sitting on his work chair, sharpening his carving knife with a whetstone.
"Yes, be quick. This time, we need to carve a 'Nine Children Embracing Lotus Statue.' The process is complicated, and the Inner City is in a rush."
Master Chen picked up the carving knife, checked its sharpness, and said.
Li Che returned to the snow-covered courtyard, intending to move the piece of Flowering Ashwood he had chosen.
But when he touched the wood, he felt the Dao Fruit of Immortal Craftsmanship seem to twitch slightly, giving him an inexplicable feeling.
"This piece of Flowering Ashwood might not be suitable for the 'Nine Children Embracing Lotus Statue.'"
Li Che murmured to himself.
Most of the time, wood carvers would personally select the wood, but there were exceptions. Some carvers, confident in their skills, were too lazy to go out in the cold to pick wood.
But if a helper picked the wrong wood...
A good-tempered carver might let it slide, but a bad-tempered one might dock the helper's pay.
In that case, not only would the helper have to move more wood, but they would also lose money... a real loss.
Li Che abandoned that piece of Flowering Ashwood and started selecting again from the woodpile. He touched the wood with his palm until he found a piece that felt right under the influence of the Dao Fruit of Immortal Craftsmanship.
Carrying the heavier piece of Flowering Ashwood, he brought it to Master Chen's workshop.
"Hmm? Not bad, Li, you have a good eye. This piece of wood is just right!" Master Chen was pleasantly surprised, as the wood matched the 'Nine Children Embracing Lotus Statue' he had envisioned in his mind almost perfectly!
Just a few cuts would outline the basic shape, saving a lot of time and effort.
Li Che smiled but didn't say anything to take credit.
After praising Li Che, Master Chen began preparing for the carving.
"Li, help me move this piece of wood to the stand. I heard your daughter was born... I'll give you extra pay for this job." Master Chen stood up and smiled.
Li Che's eyes lit up, and he quickly agreed. He put on the hemp rope and began to carry the heavy piece of Flowering Ashwood, placing it on the metal stand.
"The Inner City is in a hurry. They've been requesting a lot of child carvings lately, probably related to the 'Spirit Child Dharma Master' that's been all the rage. The Inner City nobles' tastes... change every so often."
Master Chen shook his head and muttered.
"Five days to complete the job, my old bones... I'll be busy."
"But they're paying well, hehe. Li, guess how much the client is paying for this job?"
Master Chen rubbed his hands, laughing and talking with Li Che as he walked to the wet Flowering Ashwood.
Li Che wiped the sweat from his forehead and exhaled, "Five days to deliver... at least fifty taels, right?"
The 'Nine Children Embracing Lotus Statue' was less difficult than the 'Thousand-Armed Guanyin,' so Li Che made a conservative estimate.
"Fifty taels? Heh... that's low, it's a whole gold leaf!"
Master Chen laughed loudly, then slapped the wood. His arm seemed to turn a reddish color, and heat rose from his palm, entering the wood and driving out the moisture!
The intense heat rolled over, making it feel like standing next to a boiling furnace!
Li Che took a deep breath, amazed not only by the value of the wood carving but also by Master Chen's mysterious skills!
These wood carvers were not just skilled in their craft; they also possessed... martial arts!
Those who became wood carvers all had Internal Energy, which they could use to dry wood, saving a lot of time.
Moreover, when Internal Energy was infused into the wood carvings, they gained a certain aura.
These auras were the true skills that made the Inner City nobles willing to pay.
Master Chen glanced at the shocked and envious Li Che and teased, "Want to learn?"
"If you want to learn, you have to pay. You won't learn the advanced Internal Energy methods, but some ordinary methods left in the Outer City by the Xu family can be learned."
"After decades of hard practice, you might develop Internal Energy."
Li Che's heart stirred, "Master Chen, how much do the Internal Energy methods cost?"
"The advanced Internal Energy methods can't be bought with money; you have to learn them in the Inner City from the Xu family, and most people can't."
"Ordinary Internal Energy methods in the Outer City can be bought, but the cheapest... is thirty taels. What? You're really considering it?" Master Chen used his Internal Energy to dry the wood while looking at Li Che with a half-smile.
"Your child just born, save your money... buying the Internal Energy method is one thing, learning it is another, and mastering it is yet another."
Master Chen shook his head, offering some well-intentioned advice.
Seeing that Li Che seemed genuinely interested, Master Chen raised an eyebrow, "You have a good eye, but it's a pity you didn't try wood carving when you were younger. If you want to buy an Internal Energy method, come to me. I have one that you can learn for twenty taels."
Li Che didn't immediately agree but said he would think about it and then left Master Chen's workshop.
For the rest of the day, Li Che continued to help the other wood carvers move wood and finished carvings.
He also helped the apprentices move smaller pieces of wood, earning his wages.
The shop provided lunch, which was simple but warm and filling, giving him the energy to work.
By evening, Li Che collected his thirty-five Dajing Copper Coins for the day and went home, tired but satisfied.
Wearing a conical hat and braving the snow, he bought some charcoal on the way and headed home.
As he entered the narrow alleys, the sky was already dark, but the dim oil lamp light from his humble home made him quicken his pace through the snow.
"Wife, I'm back."
He quickly opened and closed the door to prevent the cold wind from entering and taking away the warmth.
He added some charcoal to the stove and tiptoed to the bed where Xixi, his newborn daughter, was lying with wide, curious eyes.
Seeing Li Che, Xixi giggled.
Li Che's heart melted, and he picked her up, gently rocking her.
Zhang Ya, his wife, watched with a gentle gaze and brought out the dinner she had prepared for him.
The steaming noodles smelled delicious.
For poor families, there was no such thing as a postpartum rest period.
Zhang Ya didn't have to do heavy work, but preparing dinner was already considered resting for her.
After dinner, Li Che let Zhang Ya rest while he washed the dishes.
Then, he took a small piece of wood and a carving knife back into the house.
Zhang Ya, holding Xixi, gently patted her to sleep while watching Li Che curiously.
"Husband, what are you doing?"
Li Che, under the dim oil lamp, stretched his fingers, making a cracking sound, and smiled, "I've been learning some wood carving skills recently."
"Wife, watch this!"
Zhang Ya couldn't help but laugh, "Husband, over the years, you've learned a few things, but after a few days, you always say it's better to let them go..."
Li Che's lips curved, "Wife, don't mock me. Have you heard the saying, 'Thirty years on this side of the river, thirty years on the other'?"
"I'm different now; I'm a father!"
Zhang Ya smiled, her eyes twinkling.
How does being a father have anything to do with learning wood carving?
Li Che smiled but didn't say anything more.
He closed his eyes, and the techniques and methods for carving the Six-Eyed Bodhisattva Statue flooded his mind like water from a squeezed sponge.
When he opened his eyes again, a glint of light seemed to flash in his eyes.
With a calm and steady demeanor, he held the carving knife firmly and made the first cut on the wood...
(End of Chapter)
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