Chapter 99
They crossed an arched bridge and looked from afar at the brightly lit entertainment district, where the sounds of stringed instruments and bamboo flutes seemed to drift toward them.
They had already passed through the most prosperous area, yet they showed no signs of stopping.
“Where are we going now?” Shen You asked.
“Didn’t you want to see the ancient craft-making process?” Wen Zhi pointed ahead. “That’s the capital’s craftsmen’s quarter. All the renowned workshops are located here.”
Dye workshops, gold and silver workshops, carpentry workshops, and pottery workshops. It was really a wonderful place!
“Can we still visit at this hour?”
Seeing that there weren’t many people around, Shen You complained with her mouth while her eyes were practically drifting into the workshops.
“We can. The master craftsman who specializes in making gold, silver, and jade items for the palace is here today.”
Wen Zhi’s smile was suffused with warmth, his eyes reflecting the swaying light from under the eaves, making it impossible to look away.
Yet within his languid expression, there was still a hint of expectation, as if waiting for praise.
Shen You paused for a moment, feeling a subtle stirring in her heart. Then she smiled and said softly, “Thank you. I’ll treat you to dinner when we return!”
The two entered the workshop, which was a large residence separated by an arched gateway. The left side housed jade items, while the right side contained gold and silver jewelry, and looking up, one could see the tall palace walls.
If those old professors from modern times came to this place, they would be excited beyond measure.
A steward-like figure bowed respectfully to Wen Zhi and Shen You before leading them to meet Great Qi’s top gold and silver craftsmen.
There were two master craftsmen and three apprentices who had completed their training.
The half-finished pieces before them were already exquisitely beautiful, along with those ancient tools.
Casting, chasing, filigree… Even the Tang Dynasty hammering techniques were recreated here.
Hammering sounded simple, repeatedly striking to shape gold and silver items.
However, the specific techniques employed were quite particular.
Ancient times lacked many tools to assist the process, so craftsmen relied more on the masters’ experience, yet they could still achieve perfection down to the smallest detail.
Unfortunately, craftsmen held low status in ancient times. Had they been born in modern times, they would all be respected intangible cultural heritage masters within their circles.
If possible, Shen You really wanted to work here for a period.
These exquisite techniques were people’s means of livelihood, so ordinary people who wanted to learn might not necessarily be taught.
It was beneficial to have connections in Great Qi.
She imitated the respectful gesture she had observed before, bowing with cupped hands to the master craftsmen.
Since she wanted to learn their techniques, let alone just cupping her hands, even following the ancient apprentice tradition of serving tea would be appropriate.
“This is inappropriate, inappropriate.” The master craftsman said urgently.
Today’s visitor was a distinguished person, so they dared not accept such courtesy.
Moreover, teaching this young lady their craft would earn them the protection of the National Preceptor, which was already an enormous benefit for humble people like themselves.
“It’s appropriate. Please rest assured, masters. I’m learning these skills out of interest and will absolutely not enter this trade in Great Qi.”
Shen You clarified her position. She would not compete with the masters after learning their techniques.
“This old man understands.” The master craftsman smiled.
Looking at this young lady’s attire and the jewelry in her hair, he could tell she wasn’t of ordinary birth and so naturally wouldn’t become a craftsman.
“However, there is one impertinent request. The item the young lady is wearing, is it a crystal butterfly shell flower hairpin from the Western Regions? Could this old man examine it briefly?”
“No problem.”
Shen You immediately reached to remove the hairpin from her hair. To prevent the hairpin from falling while walking, she had used many clips throughout her hair, making removal somewhat difficult.
Just as she rolled up her sleeves with a ribbon, picked up a hammer, and sat down to strike silver bit by bit, the Great Qi craftsmen were also studying her hairpin. Even the carving craftsmen from next door came over. While shells were common and they could carve any style, petal-shaped crystals were really rare.
“The carving and polishing are so excellent. Considerable effort must have been invested.”
“Last month we received crystal and expended great effort, wasting heaps of material before managing to carve a few leaves and flowers. Are Western Region craftsmen really so skilled?”
Several master craftsmen began to question their abilities.
They had been in this trade since childhood, with decades of skill, and so considered their craftsmanship quite good. Now, however, they had been surpassed by Western Region craftsmen.
The neighboring carpentry workshop was the same. They had heard that His Highness the Crown Prince had even obtained blueprints for Western Region rocking chairs and paid handsomely to have them crafted.
Shen You explained, “It’s not that Western Region craftsmen are more skilled, but rather that the Western Regions have a type of adhesive that can penetrate into crystal invisibly to the naked eye. This prevents cracking during carving.”
Ancient craftsmen who could carve crystal cups and bowls with such simple tools were already powerful.
Modern mass production of crystals, aquamarine, and similar small items relied entirely on adhesive injection techniques.
The same applied to carnelian on the market. It couldn’t compare in value to ancient carnelian.
“I see.” The carving craftsman realized. “Young lady, do you know how this Western Region adhesive is produced?”
Shen You pondered for a moment. “That technique is not shared outside the Western Regions. They only sell finished carved pieces.”
She really didn’t know this, and ancient times certainly couldn’t replicate it.
While it was possible to purchase such items, since she didn’t know the injection process, it was more cost-effective to bring finished carved crystal pieces directly to Great Qi.
Crystal petals with holes cost only two yuan per piece regardless of quality, and even carefully selected pieces weren’t much more expensive.
Shen You seemed to suddenly remember something and added, “Crystals treated with adhesive are suitable for jewelry, but not ideal for bowls and cups.”
After hearing Shen You’s explanation, the master craftsman sighed softly. Since the Western Regions wouldn’t share the technique, they could research and improve their own tools, perhaps finding better methods for carving crystal.
Seeing that all of Shen You’s attention was focused on the piece of silver that looked quite ugly at the moment, Wen Zhi asked quietly, “Is your time here alright?”
Shen You used her sleeve as cover to secretly check her phone. There were still a few minutes left of the two hours.
However, she had just begun learning here, so leaving now would be too regrettable.
Here, within sight, there were so many lost ancient techniques!
She replied in an even quieter voice, “I can extend my experience card. As for safety, aren’t you here with me?” She also had a stun gun in her storage space.
Wen Zhi’s lips curved, his voice extraordinarily pleasant. “True.”
Then he settled down at a nearby simple wooden table and bench, sending his attendant to buy hot food from outside taverns.
Steaming brown sugar osmanthus glutinous rice balls, chestnut cakes, and pastries, all the craftsmen received portions.
Previously, when distinguished persons rewarded silver and food, it was done casually in moments of good mood. Never had anyone shown such genuine respect for people like them.
Much less sitting with bowls to eat together. Several master craftsmen’s expressions already showed considerable emotion.
“Are you really not eating? This shop’s glutinous rice balls are their specialty.” Wen Zhi asked with a gentle smile.
“Can I take some to go?” Shen You held her hammer, glancing sideways at the food on the table before continuing to puzzle over where she had gone wrong.
Why didn’t the shape she hammered match the example?
“Miss, you’re striking too hard.” The master craftsman demonstrated once. “At this stage, you have to proceed little by little, you can’t rush.”
This young lady appeared delicate and slender, yet when wielding a hammer to work gold and silver, she managed to display the vigor of ironworking.