Chapter 15: Provincial Governor
As they walked, Yu Huatang whispered, "Madam, don't worry. Lord Yan has organized two large-scale lantern festivals in a row. His Majesty now values craftsmen and the Ministry of Works. Lord Yan is promoting Quanzhou lanterns, and we, the skilled craftsmen, are also rising in status. I believe that we will hear about promotions soon."
As for when the promotion will take place, I don’t know.
Will it take a long time for Quanzhou lanterns to go global?
Only when we can at least accept most women to learn skills can we be said to have truly gone out.
After chatting for a while, they said goodbye.
After returning to the Lantern Master's Hall, she recorded today's skeleton problems.
Zhang Hudong, the clerk in front, wandered around and finished sorting his things. Then he started chatting with Zhang Dong at the top of his voice, "You guys are not as well-informed as I am. I heard early this morning that a new governor is coming, but do you know who this new governor is?"
Zhang Dong hated Zhang Hu's behavior the most. He was obviously a big mouth, but he liked to keep people in suspense. He immediately pushed him and said, "Hurry up and tell us. Everyone is waiting."
Zhang Hu took a sip of water. "This new governor is from the capital. I heard he's the son of the Left Prime Minister, so he has a strong backing. I heard he was transferred to Quanzhou to make some achievements so he can return to join the cabinet..."
Everyone exclaimed, "Son of the Left Prime Minister, my goodness..."
Yu Huatang, who was recording, stopped, looked forward, and listened to Zhang Hu's voice.
"Not only that, I heard he's still very young, only twenty-seven now. I heard from the county magistrate that he was born with a very pretty child, some Qiongzhi... I can't remember exactly. Anyway, he was incredibly beautiful..."
Everyone was surprised again, "What's the name of that..."
Zhang Hu wiped his mouth and said, "How could we know that? We only heard that his last name was Zhao."
His surname is Zhao, he's the son of the Left Prime Minister, he's a noble and elegant person, so of course it's him...
No one noticed Yu Huatang's expression. Zhang Hu took a pancake and continued to tease the other guys, "Don't worry about what kind of official he is. If he can really make a good life for us craftsmen who have been here for generations, I, Old Zhang, will obey him..."
Zhang Dong shook his head. "That's just wishful thinking. We're lucky if the officials don't plunder us..."
The group of people started chatting about the first three things a new official should do upon taking office.
Yu Huatang stared straight ahead for a long time. When he came to his senses, the guys had all gone to Heyuan Street to see the lanterns.
She also packed up and went home.
When I bought this yard, I was looking for its quietness, but now, in the dead of night, with the faint fragrance of osmanthus wafting in the air, it feels lonely.
The cold moon shone on her. Although it was late spring, it was still cool.
The lantern festival usually lasts for three days, and she would usually go to take a look.
The lanterns at night were bright. Those lanterns made by her were hung high up, accompanying her like relatives, bringing her some comfort.
But she was a little tired today, so she didn't go.
On the second day, everyone in Shi Dengtang rested in the morning.
Yu Huatang remembered that there was an artist in Yanzhi Lane who was good at painting, especially flowers and birds.
Since I said I would visit you before, why not go today?
I found a carriage to go into the city and arrived in half an hour.
After asking a blacksmith, I found out that the third shop was it.
Master Yuan, a man of forty-eight years old with a well-knit beard, asked, "Are you the clever lantern lady from Quanzhou?"
Yu Huatang nodded, "Huatang just wanted to record the relevant skills so that the younger generation wouldn't want to learn them but wouldn't know where to ask."
Master Yuan was also straightforward, "My technique is indeed almost lost. When ordinary people paint flowers and birds, they only depict their bodies. I am different. I depict their forms."
"It would be really beautiful if you painted my flowers and birds on your lantern."
After saying this, she started painting on the spot without hiding anything. "There are very few women learning to make lanterns. It's a good thing that you can endure this hardship."
"The most important thing about these flowers and birds is the starting stroke. The outline should be thick and thin. The final touch of the feathers is the most crucial. The thickness of the ink needs to be adjusted dozens of times..."
"Come on, try it..."
Yu Huatang didn't refuse and followed Master Yuan's example, sketching carefully. As expected, a bird in ink painting appeared, but it wasn't very vivid...
Master Yuan saw that she was serious and respectful.
No wonder Old Man Li passed on his skills to her.
Now, for the sake of a few more paintings, he was delighted that people had come so far to learn his skills. "It's already very good at the beginning. Come to me when you have time. In a few months, you will be able to see it too."
Yu Huatang thanked him with a smile, and took out the notebook he had with him to write down some key points.
When I left, I asked for a few paintings to take back with me so that I could practice with them later.
Master Yuan sat on the steps to see her off. "Come when you have time. This is the only fun I have as an old man."
Yu Huatang nodded in thanks.
When we returned to Dengshi Hall, it was noon and everyone had just finished lunch and was discussing the new governor.
Seeing that she had come back from outside, Xu Fu knew that she had not eaten yet, so he made a bowl of noodles from the kitchen and brought it to her.
Yu Huatang ate while listening to their exaggerated words.
"Oh my goodness, the new governor asked people to sort out the previous files as soon as he arrived at the government office... He was really decisive and efficient as shown in the novels..." Zhang Hu said, slamming the table.
"Not only that, the governor wore a black robe, exuding a noble and imposing aura, and his face was even more beautiful than a woman's... Damn it, I haven't seen such a good-looking man in decades..."
Yu Huatang paused while eating his noodles. He had finally arrived in Quanzhou...
Xu Fu saw her in a daze and called out, "Senior Sister, why are you in a daze? The noodles are almost dry."
"Could it be that you are also interested in the new governor..."
Yu Huatang paused, "I'm not interested. I'm not interested in who will be the governor."
Xu Fu knew that apart from learning how to make lanterns, researching how to make lanterns, and visiting various craftsmen, his senior sister had never shown any interest in anyone.
He couldn't help but feel a little confused, as his senior sister was a recognized beauty, with a temperament like orchid, elegant and pleasant.
But no one came to arrange a marriage for her, and even if there was, her senior sister would just evade the question.
Later I heard from others that my senior sister had been married to a noble young man from a wealthy family, but that young man looked down on her.
The elder sister divorced him and returned to Quanzhou. She gave up the idea of getting married and devoted herself to passing on her skills. She became known as the "Skillful Lantern Lady."
At first, Xu Fu felt sorry for his senior sister. His senior sister was such a beautiful woman, but that man didn't know her worth.
But later, he sighed that it was fortunate that his senior sister came back, otherwise his apprenticeship would have been meaningless.
Zhao Yan from the provincial governor's office also expressed the same regret as Xu Fu.
The county magistrate Yan Quan sent a visiting card early in the morning, saying that the master had come from afar and had called the heads of various departments to welcome the master. The venue was set at Baoxiang Tower, the most prosperous Heyuan Street in Quanzhou.
In the past, Zhao Yan would have refused directly, but now he had just arrived and needed to understand the local customs and practices with these officials.
So he silently wrote a note and asked someone to deliver it to County Magistrate Yan.
Anfu arranged the carriage and was about to call his family when a little kid came out from nowhere and hit him with an exquisite lamp.
The furry child also fell to the ground and started crying.
Zhao Yan silently picked up the lantern from the ground. It suddenly felt familiar to him. Just as he was about to take a closer look, the furry child got up from the ground, reached out his hand, and spoke timidly, "This is... Qiao... Qiaodeng Lady gave it to me..."
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