1979 The Life of Idle Fish

Chapter 23 Visiting the Master
In the blink of an eye, a few days later, there was a reply to what I asked the two pulley masters to inquire about last time.

His name is Zhang Chengyuan, he lives in Shijia Hutong, Qianmen, and he once worked as a carpenter's apprentice in Yuanshuncheng.

After liberation, I worked in a furniture factory. The furniture factory closed down last year for unknown reasons.

If you say it goes bankrupt, it must go bankrupt, that’s willful.

He was no longer on duty, so he pulled up the cart as he still had some strength.

After hearing the news, the exact address was confirmed.I found a good day, got off work early, bought some gifts and rode to Shijia Hutong.

Along the way, I was also thinking: Is this person so unlucky?Or is it just poor technique?
That's not right. Just seeing him that day, based on his decades of experience, he is definitely a capable person, and he speaks and acts differently.

When I saw the house number, I carried my things and walked in. As soon as I entered, I met an aunt.

Then he asked: "Auntie, I'm asking you for someone, does Zhang Chengyuan live here?"

"If you live here, why are you looking for him?"

Auntie's eyes were fixed on Luo Tao, which made him feel scared.

I wonder if this aunt sees everyone like this?Or just look at Luo Tao differently.

"I heard that he used to be a carpenter and he did a good job, so I wanted to ask him to make some furniture."

Luo Tao made up a half-truth and told the aunt.

After hearing this, the aunt persuaded her.

"Go back! He used to be famous for making furniture in this area. He hasn't done it since the factory he worked at closed down last year.
He refused to go when someone invited him, saying he didn't like it.

You might as well go back, it will save you some money. "

Luo Tao was also stunned. It seemed that Zhang Chengyuan's carpentry work was really good. If he was not among the first-rate carpenters, he was still among the top among the second-rate ones.

How do you say that?There are very few first-rate masters, and even if you have one, you should have heard of them. Therefore, he is not among the first-rate masters. He should be at the forefront of the second-rate masters. Otherwise, no one will look for him. It is better to meet him than to be famous.

Regardless of whether this visit is successful or not, it is not in vain for two people to get to know each other.

"I'll try my luck. I'll try to find a way to Chengdu. I'd like you to show me the way."

"Go inside and there is a water tank at the door of his house." After pointing out the way, the aunt headed out the door.

Luo Tao also walked inside. This large courtyard was just not good. It was difficult to recognize the door. After searching for a while, he finally saw the water tank. He looked like a relative. He was so excited that he almost cried.

"Is Master Zhang at home?" Luo Tao shouted.

A familiar yet unfamiliar response came from inside: "Who is it?"

Lift the door curtain and come out, "Hey! It's you! Why did you come here? I'm looking for a cart tomorrow morning, and now I'm resting."

He also pretended not to see what Luo Tao was carrying.

"I'm taking the liberty to visit you, but I hope you won't blame me."

"Then come in!" He stepped forward, Luo Tao stepped back. As soon as he entered the room, he found that this old man was not simple.

The tables and chairs are all made of huanghuali wood, but they are all modern-style armchairs. It seems that they are mostly made by themselves.

There is a wooden tray on the table, and in the wooden tray are a porcelain teapot and eight porcelain cups. On the wall in the middle is a portrait of a great man, and there is nothing else.

"You live here very elegantly."

Whether you live well or live in a bad place, there are good words to compliment you. The good ones are treasures and blessings, and the bad ones are left behind.

"Hey, you can see all this." The old man curled his lips.

Luo Tao didn't know if he heard it or not, he kept looking at the table and chairs, and touched them back and forth with his hands a few times, feeling that the patina was not bad.

"Is this all done by your old self?"

"This! It's all just fun."

Hey!He is not afraid of bragging to death, but he was still aloof when we first met him.

As soon as I saw him today, he seemed like an old braggart. He didn't look like a carpenter, but more like a sugar blower.

"Your skills are so good. There are not many people in the country." Luo Tao could boast better than him, so much so that he felt ashamed. "Ahem! Isn't that what you came here to talk about?"

It seems that the old man is still a shameless person.

"I'm here to ask you to do a small favor."

The old man is also very interested in Luo Tao, other young people like new things, this guy just likes old things.

After returning from a trip to Luo's house, I thought about it for a long time but never figured out that there was a famous person named Luo in this capital. The house was not an ordinary house. At least the ancestors had some official status.

"What's the matter? Just make furniture, I'm not interested in that now." The old man said this lightly.

Luo Tao smiled and said: "Haha! I'm not looking for you to make furniture! I'm looking for repairs."

The old man was very confused: "Xiu?"

"Yes, it's repair. I bought dozens of broken pieces of furniture at a junkyard some time ago, including those from the Ming, Qing and Republic of China.

I have been looking for a long time but could not find a suitable master. I heard that you are an expert, so I took the liberty to pay you a visit. "

Luo Tao explained to him.

He didn't speak. He thought for a moment and asked, "Can you dismantle it at will? If so, I will repair it for you for free."

Ha ha!Luo Tao guessed correctly.

People at his level still want to make further progress in technology, not just relying on known furniture styles.

This requires studying the things of the predecessors and how to study them. It is not enough to just read a few books or find a few pieces of furniture to look at.

I have to dismantle it all and understand it bit by bit.Good furniture cannot be dismantled. Once it is dismantled, it will be damaged. Even an ingenious carpenter will not do this.

The best way is to choose broken furniture and dismantle it. If you dismantle a few pieces, you won't see much success. If you want to make a name for yourself, you have to have money to buy broken furniture and dismantle it.

Not everyone has the conditions of Mr. Shixiang to study this matter in the Forbidden City. It would be a bit embarrassing for him to do it.

"I can guarantee that this will be fine."

If you agree first, I hope this old man won't do anything wrong.This is an old baby, so hurry up. If he really develops something famous and becomes a master, we can be regarded as the person who created the master!It's more important to speak out.

The old man was happy and kindly invited Luo Tao to stay for a simple meal.

Fortunately, I bought a lot of cooked food and brought wine, so I didn’t have to let the old man cook!
This old man was also a poor man. His wife got sick when she was giving birth to a daughter, and she left within a few years.

I worked hard to raise my daughter by myself, and I didn’t have another one.

I heard from him that at that time, his children were still young and were afraid of marrying someone who did not treat his daughter well. He was full of guilt and longing for his deceased wife.

well!The first infatuated person in this book.

My daughter's name is Zhang Siniang. She got married nine years ago. Unfortunately, she married a short-lived man and she didn't say goodbye a few years ago.

She has a seven-year-old son named Yang Qi who has not remarried. She will visit him every once in a while.

well!Both father and daughter are miserable people, and both have extremely tough fates.I thought to myself that I should be careful and go to Huguo Temple tomorrow to ask a master to get a longevity lock to wear, but I don't know if they are open for business?

After chatting for a long time, he asked Luo Tao about the house, and Luo Tao told him that his grandfather Luo Jing bought it in [-], without mentioning the twists and turns in the process.

But he didn't hide it from anyone. The old man had actually heard of his grandfather's name. There were too many study rooms in Liulichang and Meishi Street.

It is rare for the Luo family to be open for several generations, but the Lanting Study House has been around for a hundred or two hundred years.

What is more famous is that after his grandfather picked up the leak, he was tricked and set up again. There were not many old people who lived in the front gate of Liulichang in those years who didn't know about it.

After the store was taken over, everyone thought their home was in ruins. Who would have thought that they would choose to be a lonely eagle B.

A skinny camel is bigger than a horse, but it all depends on whether the owner is a smart person.

If it's a bit stupid, it's just a skinny camel. Even if it's bigger than a horse, it's just meat on someone else's cutting board.

After the matter was understood and it was eight or nine o'clock, Luo Tao stood up and left. The two made an appointment to go home on Sunday to see how the furniture should be repaired.

　Ranked fifth on the urban newcomer list, not bad.Friends, remember to vote if you have votes.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)