At noon the next day, Uncle Cao and Xu San delivered two couches to the bookstore. Along with them came the buyer that Xu San had brought to look at the counter.
The counter was originally made by Uncle Cao when Xu Jiang opened and renovated the shop. Although the wood was not of the best quality, it was strong and durable. Apart from the marks left by Yue Nu's mischievous claws, there was no damage on it.
The buyer fell in love with it at first sight and immediately measured the size.
“It’s a little short in size, but it’s enough.”
Xu Jiang saw that he was interested and, to save trouble, offered him a half-price discount. He gladly accepted, paid the money, and asked a few people to move the items outside.
Shopkeeper Wang came over to eat after breakfast and saw a group of people busy moving things out, so he quickly went forward to help.
"Wow, it's quite heavy."
Several people moved the counter out, and then moved the two couches in. The buyer was also very kind. After the counter was loaded onto the truck, he did not leave, but stayed to help carry the couches.
After a few people carried the wooden couch from the inn into the room and placed it, they looked at it and found it fit perfectly. Then they put a small table and a futon on it, and then they drank tea and copied books, which was a leisurely and enjoyable experience.
Even if you don't do anything else, it's also good to display it as a decoration for enjoyment.
"Uncle Cao, your craftsmanship is truly amazing." Xu Jiang looked over and over, and found it was exactly right. He immediately smiled with satisfaction.
Shopkeeper Wang felt it over several times and thought it was fine. Thinking his daughter was getting older, it would be inconvenient for her to sleep with him and his wife all the time. He said to Uncle Cao, "I think this wooden couch is a good choice. I'm just looking for one for my little girl. Master Cao, please come to my house later to measure it."
Unexpectedly, he could get another job after this trip. Uncle Cao immediately nodded and said, "Okay." Then he said to Xu Jiang, "Come on, let's move the low couch in and set it up to see how it looks."
Xu Jiang couldn't wait any longer, "Let's go, let's go."
Shopkeeper Wang asked curiously, "What low couch?"
Xu Jiang deliberately kept him in suspense, "You'll know when you see it later, brother."
Shopkeeper Wang held his waist and said, "What rare thing is this? I want to see it."
After saying this, a few people went to move the couch.
Xu Jiang went to open the corner door, Liang Mo and Xu San carried half a sheet, Manager Wang and the buyer at the counter carried half a sheet, and Uncle Cao directed how to arrange them.
After the couch was set up, everyone was surprised.
"Oh, this is such a coincidence." Shopkeeper Wang and the counter buyer pounced on the low couch and touched it again and again, simply unable to let go. "A rare item, a real rare item."
Uncle Cao walked to the low couch, reached out to undo the hidden buckles under the couch, and then unscrewed them. There were eight hidden buckles in total, corresponding to the eight hexagrams.
When everyone saw it, they were confused. What was it used for?
At this moment, Xu San came in carrying a dozen or so brackets, snapping them into the slots between the hidden buckles. The brackets were connected to the crossbeams with mortise and tenon joints for stability, and the tops were cut from tree branches and polished into shape to support the top beams.
After the rack was set up, everyone suddenly realized that the rack was used to hang gauze curtains, and then they couldn't help but praise Uncle Cao's ingenuity.
Uncle Cao pinched the joints of the wooden frame and said to Xu Jiang, "This frame is also detachable, but it will wear out if it's disassembled too often. Then we can make a few buckles out of bamboo and snap them into the mortise and tenon joints to make it more stable."
"Uncle Cao is still thoughtful." She only made a rough sketch, but he made the low couch so delicate and exquisite. This is not only the result of her dexterity, but also the result of her ingenuity and experience.
Xu Jiang circled the couch several times, her eyes full of admiration, and jokingly said, "It's a good thing it was Uncle Cao who was willing to take on this troublesome task. If it were someone else, I'd be annoyed to death."
Uncle Cao sighed twice, waved his hand, and smiled, "Master, you're quite ingenious. Your sketch would surely captivate any carpenter. Even if it weren't just for you, I'd have to print it out to see." Then he discussed with her, "I have another idea. Since we've already made this couch, why not make a set of round tables, four hidden tables, or crescent-shaped chairs to go with it? That way, we can sit and lean on it, and it's comfortable and casual."
"Okay!" Xu Jiang clapped her hands and said, "Just as you said. If we're going to do it, we'll do it completely. Only then will it look perfect."
The buyer at the counter was also very fond of the couch and was reluctant to leave. After hearing what Uncle Cao and Xu Jiang said, he couldn't help but feel a stir in his heart, so he asked them, "Mrs. Xu and Master Cao, could you make me a set of this couch as well?"
Uncle Cao looked at Xu Jiang, "What do you think, Master?" This set of low couches was originally Xu Jiang's idea, so naturally he had to ask her.
Xu Jiang smiled and said, "I only gave this couch an idea. It's now complete thanks to you and Third Brother. Whether to build it or not, or to sell it or not, is up to you all. You don't need to ask me."
Since they are not outsiders, Uncle Cao will not be polite. There are many carpenters in the capital now, and they are competing fiercely for work. With this set of ingenious low couches, he can also get more work.
Uncle Cao then said to the buyer at the counter, "I'll take this job. I'll have Xu San go with you to take measurements later." He then said to Xu Jiang, "Since we're going to recommend this job to others, we need a name. The boss is very knowledgeable, so why don't you come up with one?"
"A name? Hmm... I need one." She pondered for a moment, then clasped her hands and said, "Tai Chi gives birth to two opposites, so why not call it the Liang Yi Couch? It's both vivid and easy to remember."
Everyone agreed.
"Liang Yi Couch, this name is good and sounds elegant." The buyer was so fond of it that he touched the couch back and forth several times. Then he called Xu San, said goodbye to everyone, drove the oxen and the cart, and went back happily to measure the size.
Uncle Cao stayed and nailed a wooden bolt with the same slot in the center of the wall between Xu Jiang's bedroom and the carving room. He then asked a few people to dismantle the low couch and put it up.
Two of the wooden plugs are stuck in the joint of the two yin and yang, so there is no need to worry about them being bumped and falling off when passing by.
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