carved heart

Chapter 4 The first appearance (1)
Luo Jiao is very close to Ah Yin, and from this angle, she can just see that Ah Yin is removing the skin of the peach pit at an astonishing speed, and with the first knife, she holds a conical knife and carves a half-supported Arhat in the hand. Venerable Jia's leisurely eyebrows and eyes.

Fan Haohe is an enthusiastic young man, and when he took Ah Yin and Jiang Xuan to the inn, he kept talking all the way.A Yin also had a general understanding of the current situation in Hediao Town.Although the nuclear carving town is very lively, most of them are rushing to do a business or two, so the level of nuclear carving is uneven.

However, this place also satisfies many people who are dedicated to learning nuclear carving skills.

There are three main streets in the town.

One is the Changxing Street that Ah Yin saw today, and it is exclusively for nuclei carving technicians to sell nuclei carvings.The other two are Beipai Street and Nanpai Street, which are dedicated to learning skills. There are many nuclei carvers who are willing to accept apprentices, and there are often people discussing skills.

Hearing this, Ah Yin was somewhat surprised in his heart, and asked, "Northern faction and southern faction?"

When Fan Haohe heard this, he was also surprised.I just saw that she has a lot of posture, how come she doesn't even know the basic knowledge of nuclear carving technicians?Oh, it must be an apprentice who is a master of the world and does not eat the fireworks of the world!The more he thought about it, the more reasonable he became, his eyes narrowed into slits, and he explained to Ah Yin.

"There are two factions of nuclear carving techniques, the northern and southern schools. The southern school of nuclear carving is beautiful and elegant, while the northern school of nuclear carving is rough and simple. In the town of nuclear carving, you can often see the two factions fighting, and some even get bloody." See A Yin opened his eyes. Wide-eyed, Fan Haohe coughed lightly, and said: "After all, the nuclear carving equipment is sharp, and if we quarrel without paying attention, we will treat our opponent as a nuclear carving. We are all rough people, if I scare the girl, it is my fault." gone."

"It's okay."

If there is a fight, she is not afraid.

Seeing that A Yin was so calm, Fan Haohe's affection surged in his heart, and he asked with a smile: "Why did the girl come to us? Just now, the girl showed her skills. I think she came to learn from a teacher, maybe she came to sell nuclear carvings? If a girl wants to sell nuclear carvings, she has to rent a stall. The Fang Bo of Shangguan’s family in Suizhou lives at the intersection of the North and South Streets in the small town. The girl brings her household registration documents and three hundred copper coins, and the stall can be rented after Fang Bo’s approval. There are not many places left, if the girl wants it, she must do it as soon as possible."

Jiang Xuan said: "Thank you Fan Xiaolang, my sister is just thinking..."

"Xiao Lang is enthusiastic, and Ah Yin is very grateful." Ah Yin interrupted with a smile, and said: "I came to Hediao Town for a private matter, so I can't disclose it. Please forgive me, Xiao Lang."

Fan Haohe became more and more convinced of his conjecture.

Such a mysterious person must be a great person!

Ah Yin asked for an upper room to live with Jiang Xuan.

Jiang Xuan felt sorry for the money, and said: "Sister, we can barely live here. It costs fifteen yuan a day to go to the room." Ah Yin put down the bag, poured a cup of tea, handed it to Jiang Xuan, and said, "We just got 130 yuan. Wen Qian can live for half a month."

Seeing her frowning, Ah Yin didn't know what she was thinking, and whispered: "Don't feel bad."

Jiang Xuan flattened her mouth and said, "It's a pain in the flesh."

"Okay, okay, my sister will try her best to make you hurt even if you want to hurt."

Jiang Xuan was amused, drank the tea in the teacup, and said, "Isn't my sister planning to come to the town to sell nuclear carvings? Why didn't you want to tell Fan Xiaolang?"

"We want to make money, but selling stone carvings is not a long-term solution. Today at Ma Dahe's place, I deliberately made such a high profile. My grandfather once said that good stone carvings are hard to find, and they are waiting for people to come to ask for them." Yes, the nuclear carvings placed in the stalls and shops lost their momentum from the very beginning. The most important thing for us now is to build a reputation so that people can't fathom it and make people respect."

As if thinking of something, Ah Yin focused slightly, and she asked Jiang Xuan seriously: "Do you know why Ma University has studied nuclear arts for three years and still can't carve the charm of a monkey?"

Jiang Xuan knew that her sister was testing her, so she couldn't help but sit upright.

When she was young, when her elder sister was learning nuclear carving, she also followed her to learn, and the grandfather of the Yin family would also teach her, but her talent was not as good as that of her elder sister, and she encountered a bottleneck recently, so she kept stagnating.She thought carefully, and replied: "According to my sister's observation, Ma Dahe's arhat nuclear knife carving skills are not solid, and he probably didn't lay a good foundation when he learned the art."

Ah Yin nodded and said, "This is one of them."

Jiang Xuan thought for a long time, then asked hesitantly, "The second is?"

"Ma Dahe said, why do we learn nuclear carving? He said it is to get ahead. It is a good thing to have motivation, but nuclear carving is only a square inch. Every knife and every stroke requires patience. Ma Dahe is utilitarian. If the heart is too strong, you must be impatient when carving the core. His core carvings can be seen to have an impetuous air on the surface. My grandfather once said that the heart is the most important thing to carve a good core.”

She lightly shook Jiang Xuan's hand, and said softly, "It's just that Ma Dahe's desire to stand out is not wrong, but sister, don't imitate him. When we carve cores, we must follow our heart."

At this time, the Ma Dahe that Ah Yin and Jiang Xuan were talking about was on their way to Gongcheng.

Ma Dahe was originally from Changzhou, and after hearing the name of Gongcheng, he came all the way to Suizhou Gongcheng, hoping to earn some money to survive.He has been in Hediao Town for half a year. Although the business is not particularly good, he can make ends meet.

Unexpectedly, today was ruined by a yellow-haired girl!
As soon as the previous incident got out, within half a day, his reputation of Ma Dahe's nuclear carving would be ruined.

Nuclear Eagle Town can't wait any longer.

Thinking of this incident, Ma Da's core, liver, spleen, lungs, and forehead all ached!The little girl who came from nowhere actually ruined his livelihood!He won't let it go so easily!Even if you want to die, you have to drag your back!
Ma Dahei arrived in Gongcheng in the evening, and he found Luo Mansion.

He crouched in the dark.

For a whole hour, when a carriage drove towards Luo's mansion, he rushed forward, intercepted the carriage, and said loudly: "Dare to ask, is it the third girl of the Luo family? There is a woman who doesn't know the heights of the heavens and the earth, and how much she speaks to the third girl of Luo" Disrespectful, now in Hediao Town, trying to compete with Miss Luo for the limelight. The villain respects the Luo family wholeheartedly, and is here to report the grievances on behalf of Miss Three."

The curtain was raised.

When Ma Dahe saw Miss Luo San's face, he was overjoyed, and knelt down and said, "Miss Luo San is outstanding in skill, how can that yellow-haired girl be comparable? That girl even claimed that her nuclear carving skills are unparalleled in the world, and she will never compare her skills to her." Miss Luo San is in your eyes!"

Luo Jiao casually glanced at Ma Dahei.

"Are you a Ma Dahei who is not as skilled as her?"

Ma Dahei's face turned slightly hot, "That girl is just bluffing! Bewitching people!"

Luo Jiao raised her chin slightly: "People who can't even carve monkeys are not worthy of talking to this girl, and they are not worthy of standing in front of my Luo's house and dirtying the door of my Luo's house. My Luo Jiao's carriage can be used by both cats and dogs." Stop! Someone, throw him into Hanguang Lake." After a pause, she sneered and said, "Since the skills are not as good as others, don't take the hands, so as not to tarnish the nuclear carving."

When the words fell, two black shadows grabbed Ma Dahei, blocked his yelling mouth, and dragged him away mercilessly.

When Luo Jiao returned to the mansion, Mrs. Luo, Mrs. Liang, was already waiting for her in the house.Seeing her daughter's turbulent appearance, Liang said: "You are a girl who shows your face outside all day long, how can you marry a good family in the future?"

Luo Jiao said: "Mother, how can I show my face? Eldest brother also said earlier that the prime minister's wife knew that I was quite talented, and even praised me. Now elder brother is a celebrity in front of the prime minister. Who would dare to speak of me in the future? ?”

Mrs. Liang was also reluctant to talk about her daughter, so she just said: "Okay, okay, just don't talk about you. Have you eaten dinner? There are warm dishes in the kitchen, all of which are your favorite dishes." Seems to remember something , Mrs. Liang beamed with joy and said: "The wife of the Xie family is here today."

Luo Jiao asked: "Madam magistrate?"

Liang said: "Jiaojiao, you are twenty-eight years old, and you are also married. The youngest son of the Xie family has also reached the age of marrying a wife. My mother has seen it. He looks handsome and gentle. He is perfect for you. Yes. And Madam Xie also likes you from the bottom of her heart, and her mother-in-law likes you after marriage, and her status will be half-steady. Your father and I are both satisfied with this marriage, and we plan to pick an auspicious date and settle it."

Luo Jiao likes a man with a good appearance, and hearing what her mother said, she felt a little happy in her heart.

She said: "Marriage is an important matter, and my daughter listens to her parents."

Liang frowned and smiled: "Okay, your father just sent someone to deliver a letter to your eldest brother today, and when you come back to support the scene on the day you get married, you will be married in a good manner. Oh, it's time to prepare the dowry, our Jiaojiao's marriage will make others envious. Don't run around these few days, stay at the mansion with peace of mind."

"I have to go to Hediao Town in a few days." Luo Jiao snorted softly: "No one in Hediao Town has ever dared to compete with me for the limelight, and our Luo family's limelight cannot be easily given by an unknown girl. Robbed. And I feel uncomfortable when someone pushes me, I have to teach her a lesson, let her know what is a mountain and a mountain is high, and there are strong hands in the strong."

In the blink of an eye, Ah Yin and Jiang Xuan had already stayed in Hediao Town for three days.

During these three days, the two sisters only wandered around the town in the morning, and the scope was limited to Changxing Street.Many stall owners were wary of Ah Yin because of Ma Dahe's incident, but because they were not sure of her background, they did not dare to stop her, which made the stall owners who sell nuclear carvings on Changxing Street panic these days.

On the afternoon of the third day, Ah Yin's monkey-presented peach-core carvings were sold at a price of 250 renminbi, causing a small storm in the town of nuclear carvings.

The difference between thirty Wen and 250 Wen makes many people salivate.

Gradually, there are no stall owners on Changxing Street who don't know Ah Yin, and they all know that a girl who has turned decay into magic has recently come to Hediao Town.

However, Ah Yin is a little distressed at the moment. She urgently needs someone to let more people know that there is a female artist who can carve nuclei here, and it is not enough to rely on word of mouth from the stall owner.After all, those who came out to set up a stall, the level of nuclear carving can not be called superb.

On the morning of the fourth day, when Ah Yin was having breakfast in the upper room, Jiang Xuan hurried in.

"Sister, it's not good!"

Jiang Xuan's cheeks were flushed, Ah Yin wiped the thin sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief, and said, "Don't worry, speak slowly if you have something to say."

Jiang Xuan was in a good mood, and then said: "The girl Luo San that we met outside the town that day came, and she was down there, asking my sister to fight her by name."

Ah Yin was overjoyed.

Just as I was about to doze off, someone brought me a soft pillow.

Ah Yin went downstairs, and before he got close, he saw the bright and beautiful girls who were outside the town that day surrounded by stars like the moon, and the owner of the inn personally served tea and water, extremely courteous.Jiang Xuan muttered behind Ah Yin: "The posture is really big."

Ah Yin said, "Don't talk nonsense later."

Jiang Xuan smiled and said: "Sister, is she a person who doesn't know the general idea? Don't worry, sister."

Luo Jiao also saw Ah Yin at this time, and with a glance, the people around who joined in the fun immediately understood, like a magic pearl falling into the deep sea and split into two.A spacious road was immediately cleared in front of the third girl of the Luo family.

She narrowed her eyes and looked at Ah Yin who was slowly walking forward, and recognized the girl who commented on the boulder that day.

She was wearing an apricot-colored begonia-patterned jacket and skirt, with soft features, like apricot blossoms in full bloom on the branches, a small one with white flowers and red stamens, beautiful as it is, but lacking in uniqueness.Luo Jiao thought she was bright and attractive, but wherever she appeared, the other girls could only serve as foils.

Seeing Ah Yin's appearance now, his heart is even more arrogant.

Even the tone of voice was a bit contemptuous.

"Are you Ah Yin who sold 250 Wen?"

Ah Yin corrected: "Only sold 160 Wen."

The others burst out laughing, this girl didn't know if she was really stupid or not, couldn't she hear that Miss Luo San was mocking her?
But other people didn't know that Ah Yin was very excited at the moment. These days, the stall owner mentioned the third girl from the Luo family, saying that she was somewhat talented.After hearing this, Ah Yin really wanted to see Miss Luo San's nuclei sculpture.In addition, Miss Luo San is only twenty-eight years old, younger than Ah Xuan, such a young girl who is so bright and beautiful, no matter what provocative words she says, Ah Yin feels that she is still young, and she is justifiable to play lip service.

She asked seriously: "I don't know how the girl wants to fight with me?"

Luo Jiao saw that she didn't answer her words, but still put on a cheerful look, without any fear of nervousness, her heart became more and more unhappy, and she thought to herself that she really is a wild girl who knows how to teach her a lesson.

She asked, "What are you good at?"

Ah Yin was a little distressed, it was really hard to answer this question.She started learning nuclear carving at the age of eight, and it has been 12 years.When her grandfather taught her, she was strictly forbidden to have a preference. She learned and carved everything, and now she can't say that she is particularly good at anything.

She thought for a while, then asked, "I wonder what Miss Luo San is best at?"

"Arhat Rosary."

Ah Yin said frankly: "Then how are we compared to Arhat's rosary?"

As soon as these words came out, the people present couldn't help being in an uproar.

Who doesn't know that Dalang of the Luo family is good at carving nuclear carvings, and he is best at eighteen arhats. The outstanding style of nuclear carvings of the Southern School was caught by the prime minister, and he was able to enter Yongping.His third younger sister, Luo Jiao, also has the charm of her elder brother in Luohan nuclear carving, and has been praised by Zhang Lao of the northern school and Huang Lao of the southern school.

You must know that these two old men rarely boast.

Luo Jiao snorted heavily.

Suicide.

She was going to die, how could she not want to?

"In three days, we will compete with eighteen Arhat rosary beads for a period of one day. Just in this inn, I will invite Huang Lao from the Southern School to decide whether to win or lose. If you lose, kneel down on Changxing Street and kowtow to me. From the street to the end of the street. If I lose..." Luo Jiao suddenly smiled, as if this was impossible, "It's the same."

Ah Yin smiled and said: "Okay."

Almost everyone looked at Ah Yin with a hint of absurdity. Miss Luo San is not Ma Dahe, and the Arhat carving is even more different from the little monkey offering peaches. The eighteen Arhat carvings have different expressions, unlike the little monkey carving. Generally can win by cleverness.Everyone seemed to be able to foresee the scene of Ah Yin kneeling and kowtowing. This is a trial that must be lost.

In less than half a day, news spread that the third daughter of the Luo family was going to fight A Yin.

Not only Changxing Street, but even people in Beipai Street and Nanpai Street talk about it after dinner.Douhe is common, but it is not common for the third girl of the Luo family to fight with others, and the one who fights with her is a girl, which is much more novel than two big, big and five thick men.

Someone even opened a gambling table secretly, buying and leaving.

It's a pity that no one is optimistic about Ah Yin. Miss Luo San's bets are piled up like a mountain, and Ah Yin's bets are only one or two, and they are all curiosity hunters.Until the next day, suddenly a white-faced gentleman came, and he put it away, and it was a full ingot of silver.

The gentleman sitting in the dealer was dumbfounded, and asked stammeringly: "Is...was...wrong bet?"

Yan Shen glanced at it, and said, "It seems that I made a mistake." He stroked his chin, and said regretfully, "But I'm determined to leave, so just treat this girl A Yin as me." Then he turned and left.

Most of the people's bets were ten or so pennies, and most of them were only a few tens of pennies. Now seeing a gleaming ingot of silver placed on top of Ah Yin's name, everyone couldn't help but put more money on Luo Jiao's body. With so much power, in the blink of an eye, Luo Jiao's bet was nearly ten taels of silver.

"...Isn't it? Seeing that she was born petite and small, she had a lot of ideas in her heart. She said she had chickenpox and needed to recuperate, but she went to Hediao Town in a blink of an eye. Her face was smooth and tender, and there was no trace of chickenpox." Traces? It's clearly a lie to her family."

Yan Shen couldn't stop talking, and said again: "But it seems that she has some skills, and yesterday she was going to fight Luo Jiao from the Luo family in Gongcheng. Everyone in He Diao Town has placed a bet. I looked at her It's poor, so I supported her."

Yan Shen spoke quickly, and said all that Yan Mo wanted to report, so he had to say: "According to my subordinates' investigation, only the grandfather of the Yin family in the Yin family knows how to carve, and it seems to be taught by the grandfather of the Yin family." Report the situation of the Yin family one by one.

Shen Changtang was lazily leaning on the recliner, with his slender eyes closed, playing with a nuclear carving in his hand.The little monkey is cheerful and witty, and is depicted vividly. It is the little monkey presenting peaches that Ah Yin sold for 160 Wen on that day.

"Gongcheng Luo family?"

After a long time, Shen Changtang spoke in a low voice.

Yan Mo said: "Returning to Lord Hou, the Luohan nuclear sculpture that was praised by the Holy One last year was made by Luo Yuan, the eldest son of Gongcheng Luo, and now Luo Yuan is Prime Minister Wang's favorite guest." Ask silently: "Master Hou, do you want to capture Yin Shi back?"

Yan Shen glared at Yan Mo, and said, "Our Marquis is not a bandit, so how can we use the word 'catch' when we want a girl?"

Yan Mo coughed lightly and said, "This subordinate is dull."

At this time, Shen Changtang slowly opened his eyes, and said calmly: "No hurry, let's see what she wants to do first."

(End of this chapter)