Rebirth 84, starting from fish farming

Chapter 511 Cao County
After spending a few days in Beijing, Lu Changhua called home.

So he hurried to Shandong.

While in the capital, Lu Changhua had already inquired about Caoxian County in Shandong Province as the distribution center for willow weaving.

And what they planted was also Qiliu.

Lu Changhua thought, he still lacked information.

If I had known that Caoxian County was so professional, I would have come directly.

Why are you still searching in Beining?

Sitting on the train, all the way from Tianjin to Cangzhou and straight to Jinan.

Then transfer to Jining and Heze.

Cao County is a subordinate county of Heze area.

Cao County is not big, with a total area of ​​just over 1000 square kilometers.

The county government is in Caocheng Town.

After getting off the bus, Lu Changhua asked someone where he could buy willow baskets.

"Are you a foreigner?"

"Yes, from out of town."

"The willow baskets are worthless now. There used to be a lot of them. Who has the time to weave them now?"

"I just heard that our Caoxian County willow weaving is very famous, so I came here to have a look."

"Well, you have to wait until you go to the market. There may be people selling them at the market, but you won't see them at ordinary times."

"Then we in Caoxian County stop weaving willow baskets. What will we do now?"

"Let me tell you, what Caoxian County is famous for now is not wickerwork. How much is that thing worth?"

"We all grow asparagus now. And we do wood processing."

The man pointed to the shop on the roadside and said, "Look, our canned asparagus is exported abroad, and there are one or two thousand plate factories."

"Oh, thank you. Is it still too late to go to the market?"

"Today is the [-]th. Tomorrow is the first day of the lunar month. You can go to Qinghuan Market. They go to the market on the first, third, sixth and eighth day of the lunar month."

"There happens to be an episode tomorrow? That's great. Where is this Qingzhi episode?"

The man told him how to get there very enthusiastically.

No one in Lu Changhua could understand Caoxian dialect, but the pronunciation of the words was not accurate, so he heard it as "Qingguji".

When I arrived at the station and bought a ticket, I realized that I had made a mistake.

It turned out to be "Qingzhiji".

Qingtan is located in the southeast of Caocheng Town, nearly [-] kilometers away.

It was the size of a town very early on.

Now it belongs to the central town, and its economic development ranks among the best in Cao County.

When he wandered to Qinghuanji in a bus, he found that this place was just as people said.

It is densely populated with many factories.

There are also large asparagus growing areas.

He walked around the street a few times before going to a house to ask someone where the market would be tomorrow.

An enthusiastic person pointed to a row of tin sheds on the roadside ahead and said, "That's over there."

After Lu Changhua thanked him, he went to the market to have a look.

Although the market starts tomorrow, it does not mean that the market will not be open.

There are still many merchants in the market.

Many of the items sold here are daily necessities, vegetables and meat.

He walked around and found no one selling willow baskets.

"Boss, let me ask you, is there anyone selling willow baskets in the market?"

"What? A basket seller? No!"

Lu Changhua was disappointed.

Is this my idea wrong?Why is it that in the legendary hometown of willow weaving, no one sells baskets anymore?

Seeing the disappointment on Lu Changhua's face, the store owner kindly added: "Let's see tomorrow, there seem to be a few selling that thing."

Seeing what his boss said, Lu Changhua became hopeful again.

"Boss, why are there so few baskets for sale now?"

"You are a foreigner and don't understand the situation."

The local boss said: "Liu baskets used to be used in every household."

"But not everyone makes this stuff up."

Seeing that the boss was willing to talk more, Lu Changhua quickly handed over the cigarette and listened to what he said.

"In our Cao County, we used to plant a lot of qiliu, and every household planted some."

"If your family makes it up, make it up yourself; if you don't know how to make it up, ask someone to make it up at home."

"I rarely go to the market to buy this stuff."

"The buying and selling of willow baskets happened three or four years ago, more than ten years ago."

"But now that asparagus cultivation is developing in the town, who has the time to make up that stuff and sell it?"

"Even if there are, there are only a few."

"Because it's not worth anything to us."

"There are very few sales locally."

"When I go to the market, there are a few people selling them, but the quantity is not large. They are all made up for fun by the elderly at home who have nothing to do."

"Oh! That's how it is."

It seemed that he had been misled.

Willow weaving used to be an indispensable tool and supplies for production and life in rural areas.

Therefore, it used to be a very common and prosperous industry.

But now?

If there is no basket, there are other alternatives.

This thing has gradually become lonely.

It seems that since willow weaving can rise to the level of handicrafts, it can only be sold in big cities or exported abroad.

Let those rich people who look fresh and new buy this thing as a handicraft or art, and they have to sell it at a high price.

If you treat it as an ordinary practical tool for daily life, it has no high value.

The lowest grade wicker product is earth basket, also called "earth basket".

This is a tool for labor.

The more practical things are worth less.

High-end wicker products include food baskets, fruit baskets, flower baskets, and sundry baskets.

Although these are also practical devices, their value is higher.

More advanced wicker products are decorations.

For example, various wicker animals, characters, bookshelves, desks, chairs, lampshades, bedside tables, etc.

Most of these are mainly for decoration and have little practical value.

But the more something like this is, the higher its price is, and the more people pay for it.

Lu Changhua lay on the bed in the hotel and meditated.

After thinking through these things, I gradually came up with ideas.

The positioning and design of wicker products are critical.

Using wicker as a material and craft to make decorations and furniture products may have unexpected effects.

Thinking of this, he took out a pen and paper and wrote down his thoughts.

Sometimes inspiration is fleeting.

On this day, Lu Changhua did not go out again. Instead, he gathered his thoughts in the hotel and waited for the market tomorrow.

In the evening, he found a restaurant nearby.Ordered two dishes and had a cup of Caoxian braised rice.

The hotel is very close to the market.

This is also because he wants to save some energy.

Lu Changhua was woken up at dawn the next day.

There was a lot of noise outside.

He jumped up and quickly got dressed.

He didn't expect that the meeting would be so early here.

Lu Changhua didn't have time to eat breakfast in the next year, so he hurried to the market.

At this time, the market was full of people inside and outside, and the people setting up stalls extended far along the road.

He saw that there was no front and back of the stall, and he didn't know where to start.

Just keep looking.

Walk along the road and look at it.

I walked out for more than a mile and still didn't see him.

At this moment, his heart suddenly sank.

Went to the end, still nothing.

Turn around and walk back.

When he arrived at the entrance of the market, he paused briefly and continued walking forward.

There were not as many stalls at the top as there were at the bottom, so I walked more than 100 meters and found a small stall selling baskets in an inconspicuous place.

An old man with white hair squatted on the ground, with a piece of cloth spread out in front of him, and several square baskets were placed on it.

The market-goers walking back and forth didn't even look at it.

The old man held a copper pipe in his mouth and took two puffs leisurely.

When he saw someone standing still in front of him, he looked up.

"Want a basket?"

"Old man, how do you sell this basket?"

Lu Changhua also squatted in front of the stall.

"Fifteen and one."

Lu Changhua picked up Fang Lan and looked at it.

The weaving is exquisite, the wicker thickness is consistent, and importantly, patterns are woven on it.

"Uncle, did you make this up?"

"Yeah, I had nothing to do, so I made it up myself."

The old man knocked on the bags under his eyes and blew on his copper mouthpiece.

A stream of smoke dregs came out of the pipe pot.

"Uncle, I want all these baskets of yours. Do you still have them at home?"

"No more. If you still want it, I will make it up for you."

"Uncle, close the stall, I want all these baskets."

Ten baskets, 150 yuan.

The old man's asking price is really not high.

"Can you get it?"

"Uncle, help me and take me to the hotel ahead."

"Row."

After giving the money, the old man tucked up Budieba.

He took five baskets, Lu Changhua took five, and they went to the hotel together.

After entering the room, Lu Changhua made tea for the old man and handed him cigarettes.

"Uncle, are you in a hurry to go back? Are we chatting?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm interested in basket weaving. Can you tell me about it?"

"Weaving baskets?"

The old man took the cigarette, knocked it on his hand, and put it in his mouth.

Lu Changhua quickly took out his lighter, clicked it, and lit it for the old man.

"Is there anything to say about this?"

He blew out a puff of smoke.

Then he coughed up another mouthful of thick phlegm.

Lu Changhua quickly handed over a tissue.

The old man spit into the paper and wiped the corners of his mouth.

"Master, what's your name? How long is your birthday this year?"

"Me? My surname is Liu, and I am seventy this year."

"Uncle Liu."

"It's not Liu, it's Liu, the willow of the willow tree!"

"Oh, Uncle Liu!"

"Are there many basket weavers like you in your village?"

"There are not many anymore. There are not many old people who can make up. Today's young people are not willing to do this."

The old man sighed.

He picked up the tea and took a few sips.

"Besides weaving baskets, do you do anything else?"

"Something else? What?"

"You know how to do things like deer, pony, etc.?"

"Yes, yes, but it's too labor-intensive."

"Uncle, it's okay to waste time. I'll pay you more."

Lu Changhua's eyes lit up when he heard that the old man could make up this stuff.

"That's fine, as long as the wages are high, I'm still willing."

"Uncle, who else is there in your family?"

"My son and grandson are all here."

"That's a great relationship, you're in for a treat."

"Hey, life is getting better now and I have nothing to do. I just make some stuff and relax."

"Then, can I go to your house and have a look?"

"Okay, how many do you want to order?"

The old man is still thinking about this.

"I'll do the same thing. Whatever you know, I want."

"I'll give you one hundred and fifty for one, how about it?"

"Okay. Let's take a walk and go home."

The old man couldn't sit still now.

When he got up, he wanted to take Lu Changhua home.

Lu Changhua felt happy.

I took out a home video camera from the suitcase.

"Let's go, sir."

The two left the hotel and walked out of town.

(End of this chapter)