Chapter 3: Nine Children Embracing the Lotus, the Method of Inner Strength

Xu's Wood Carving Shop is one of the top-ranked wood carving shops in the outer city, often receiving orders from the inner city, with a huge demand for various types of wood carvings.

Whether it's carving landscapes, images of bodhisattvas, Buddhas, or even various deities that Li Che has never heard of, the demand is immense.

For the laborers, transporting wood and finished carvings earns them a fixed piece rate, which is not much and is also exhausting work.

However, if one can become a formal wood carver, carving a single piece can earn at least ten taels of silver!

Even more so, Li Che has heard that Master Chen once carved a "Thousand-Armed Guanyin Wood Carving," which took about a month and earned him a gold leaf, equivalent to one hundred taels!

That is a skill that can make ordinary people wealthy!

Li Che was tempted, but in the past, he didn't dare to dream of it.

Because wood carving skills need to be cultivated from a young age and also test one's talent and artistic ability. Many of the apprentices in the wood carving shop were sent by their families to learn at the age of five or six, spending silver to do so.

Li Che was already thirteen when he started working as a laborer in the wood carving shop, far too late to start.

Although he once had the idea of self-study, he gave up after a few days.

How could he expect to defeat others who had spent almost their entire childhood in hard study with just a few days of self-study?

Moreover, wood carving is one thing to observe, but quite another to actually do it.

"Find an opportunity to try... The Dao Fruit of Immortal Craftsmanship might have really given me a talent for wood carving?"

Li Che couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.

A cold wind blew, making Li Che more clear-headed. He buried the idea of becoming a wood carver in his heart and began to work seriously.

Transporting finished wood carvings and wood is different; it requires more care, as any bumps or knocks can damage the carvings.

He wrapped the carvings in cloth and tied them with hemp rope to prevent damage from friction during transport.

Carrying the Six-Eyed Bodhisattva statue, Li Che took careful steps and walked toward the inner room.

Upon reaching 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 Willow' wood 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 the Lotus.' The process is complicated, and the inner city is in a hurry."

Master Chen picked up the carving knife, squinted to check its sharpness, and said.

Li Che returned to the snow-covered courtyard, intending to move the piece of Flowering Willow wood he had chosen.

However, when he touched the Flowering Willow wood, he felt the Dao Fruit of Immortal Craftsmanship seem to twitch slightly, giving him a strange feeling.

"This piece of Flowering Willow for the 'Nine Children Embracing the Lotus' statue... seems... not quite suitable."

Li Che murmured softly.

Most of the time, wood carvers would personally select the wood, but there are exceptions. Some carvers, confident in their skills, are too lazy to go out in the cold to pick wood.

But if the laborer picks unsuitable wood...

A good-tempered carver might let it slide, but a bad-tempered one might deduct the transportation fee.

In that case, not only would he have to move the wood again, but he would also be penalized... a real loss.

Li Che abandoned the "Flowering Willow" and went back to the wood pile to select again. He touched the wood with his palm until he found a piece that felt very good under the influence of the Dao Fruit of Immortal Craftsmanship.

Carrying this heavier piece of "Flowering Willow" to Master Chen's workshop,

"Wow, not bad! Li, you have a good eye. This piece of wood is just right!" Master Chen was pleasantly surprised, as this piece of wood almost perfectly matched the "Nine Children Embracing the Lotus" he had envisioned in his mind!

Just a few cuts would outline the basic shape, saving a lot of time and effort in planning and conception.

Li Che smiled but didn't say anything to take credit.

After praising Li, Master Chen began preparing for the carving work.

"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's eyes lit up, and he quickly agreed. He put on the hemp rope and began to carry the heavy "Flowering Willow" to the metal stand.

"The inner city is in a hurry. They've been asking for a lot of child carvings recently, probably related to the 'Spiritual Infant Dharma Master' that's been all the rage. The nobles in the inner city... their tastes change every so often."

Master Chen shook his head and muttered.

"Five days to complete the job, my old bones... I'm afraid I'll be busy until I'm worn out."

"But the pay is good, hehe. Li, guess how much the client is paying for this job?"

Master Chen rubbed his hands, laughing and chatting with Li as he walked to the Flowering Willow wood, which was damp from the snow.

Li wiped the sweat from his forehead and exhaled, "Five days to complete... at least fifty taels, right?"

The "Nine Children Embracing the Lotus" is less difficult than the "Thousand-Armed Guanyin," so Li made a conservative estimate.

"Fifty taels? Heh... too low, it's a whole gold leaf!"

Master Chen laughed loudly, then slapped the wood, his arm's skin seeming to turn a reddish color. Heat rose from his palm, entering the wood and driving out the moisture!

The heat was intense, and standing next to Master Chen felt like facing a boiling furnace!

Li took a deep breath, amazed not only by the value of this wood carving, which was worth 150 taels, but also by Master Chen's mysterious skills!

These wood carvers not only have skills but also... martial arts!

To become a wood carver, one must possess inner strength, which can dry the wood and save a lot of time.

Moreover, when inner strength is infused into the wood carving, it gives the carving a certain aura,

These auras are the true skills that make the nobles in the inner city willing to pay.

Master Chen glanced at the shocked and envious Li, teasing, "Want to learn?"

"Learning costs money. Although you can't learn the highest-level inner strength techniques, you can learn some ordinary ones left in the outer city by the Xu family."

"Spending a few decades in hard practice, you can roughly develop inner strength."

Li's heart stirred, "Master Chen, how much do the inner strength techniques cost?"

"The highest-level inner strength techniques can't be bought with money; you have to go to the inner city Xu family to learn. Ordinary people can't learn them."

"The ordinary inner strength techniques in the outer city can be bought, but the cheapest... is thirty taels. What? You're really thinking about it?" Master Chen used his inner strength to dry the wood while glancing at Li with a smile.

"Your child just born, save your money... buying the technique is one thing, learning it is another, and mastering it is yet another." Master Chen shook his head, giving Li some well-meaning advice, seeing that Li seemed genuinely interested.

Master Chen raised an eyebrow, "You have a keen eye, but it's a pity you didn't try wood carving when you were young. If you want to buy an inner strength technique, come to me. I have one, and I'll teach it to you for twenty taels."

Li didn't immediately agree, just smiled and said he would think about it.

He then left Master Chen's workshop.

In the following time, Li continued to work, helping other wood carvers transport wood and finished carvings.

He also helped the apprentices in the shop move smaller pieces of wood to earn his wages.

The shop provided lunch, which, though simple, was hot and filling, giving him the energy to work.

In the evening, after receiving his wages of thirty-five large Jing copper coins, Li left work, exhausted.

Wearing a bamboo hat, he braved the snow, bought some charcoal, and headed home.

By the time he reached the narrow alleys, it was completely dark. The dim oil lamp light from his earthen house made his steps through the snow a bit faster.

"Wife, I'm back."

He quickly opened and closed the door to prevent the cold wind and snow from entering and taking away the warmth.

He added some charcoal to the stove and tiptoed to the bed where Xi Xi was lying, her eyes wide open and twinkling.

Seeing Li, Xi Xi giggled.

Li's heart melted, and he picked her up, gently rocking her.

Zhang Ya watched this scene with a gentle gaze and brought out the dinner she had prepared for Li from the pot.

The steaming noodles emitted a fragrant aroma.

For poor families, there was no such thing as a postpartum period.

Zhang Ya didn't need to do any heavy work; preparing dinner was already considered a postpartum period for her.

After dinner, Li let Zhang Ya rest and washed the dishes himself.

He then took a small piece of wood and a carving knife and returned to the room.

Zhang Ya held Xi Xi, gently patting her, and watched Li curiously.

"Husband, what are you going to do?"

Li, under the dim oil lamp, stretched his fingers, making a cracking sound, and smiled, "I've learned a new skill at the wood carving shop recently."

"Wife, watch closely!"

Zhang Ya couldn't help but laugh, "Husband, over the years, you've learned several skills, but after a few days, you always say it's better to give them up..."

Li's lips curled up, "Wife, don't mock me. Have you heard of 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.

What does being a father have to do with learning wood carving?

Li smiled but didn't say anything more.

He closed his eyes slightly, and the techniques and methods for carving the Six-Eyed Bodhisattva statue in his mind flowed out like water from a squeezed wet sponge...

He opened his eyes again, a glimmer of light in his eyes.

With a calm and composed demeanor, he held the carving knife firmly and began to make the first cut on the wood...

(End of Chapter)