When they got home that evening, Xiao Tian pulled Chen Kai aside and asked, "Are you really going to teach them how to make miniature bonsai?"
Chen Kai asked in confusion, "Yeah! Is that not allowed?"
Xiao Tian said helplessly, "I just think their aesthetic sense is terrible. A few days ago when they were selling dried flowers, Da Ya and the others had a strange mix of white and black flowers in their flower baskets!"
Chen Kai laughed and said, "It's okay, there's no cost to making these anyway, and maybe some people will like that style! If the finished bonsai don't sell, they'll definitely change it."
To create miniature bonsai, materials with slender branches and small leaves, easy to pot and grow, unique root systems and trunks, vibrant flowers and fruits, and ease of shaping are generally chosen. Commonly used plants include Japanese white pine, small-leaved podocarpus, juniper, bamboo, fine-leaved holly, serissa, asparagus fern, and Chinese privet. These species can be propagated through cuttings, seeds, and division. For faster shaping, stumps of plants such as wolfberry, golden bean, wisteria, and firethorn can also be artistically shaped and planted in pots.
Before shaping, the design should be based on the characteristics and posture of the chosen tree to be planted, determining the shaping method. If a straight-trunk style is chosen, no wiring is required; the main trunk should remain straight and upright, allowing lateral branches to grow. For a slanted-trunk style, the main trunk is planted at an angle without wiring. A cascade style requires wrapping the main trunk with wire to bend it into shape. When pruning branches and leaves, avoid excessive detail; generally, leave one or two branches, focusing on simplicity and fluidity to fully showcase its natural beauty. Shape branches by simple but exaggerated pruning or wiring, creating one or two bends. Crossing branches, parallel branches, opposite branches, and reverse branches—any messy or detrimental branches—should be pruned or shortened to create an orderly distribution of branches, distinct layers, and appropriate height. For varieties with well-developed root systems, such as Forsythia and Elm, the roots can be exposed above the pot surface during planting to enhance the tree's aged appearance.
Miniature bonsai often include pumice, axe-cut rocks, and reed pipe rocks. There should not be too many rocks in the pot, but there should be a main peak, secondary peaks, and supporting peaks. A small decorative item of appropriate proportion can be placed to set off the height of the rocks.
Commonly used shaping methods include palm fiber binding, lead wire wrapping, branch bending, tying, and hanging, among which lead wire wrapping is relatively simple. The specific operation involves selecting lead wire of appropriate diameter according to the thickness of the branch, wrapping it around the branch, and then bending the branch into the desired shape. When wrapping with lead wire, it must be close to the bark, with appropriate density, and the direction of wrapping should ideally be at a 45-degree angle to the diameter of the branch.
The shape of the pot should match the tree's size. Generally, tall cylindrical pots are suitable for cascade styles; oval or shallow rectangular pots are suitable for planting upright or slanting trunks; round pots can be used to display low-growing, twisted plants; and polygonal shallow pots are suitable for planting tall trunks, etc.
The next morning, after breakfast, Chen Kai led a group of kids to the mountain to find materials for making miniature bonsai.
When they reached the top of the mountain, as they were walking, Chen Kai suddenly said, "Alright, this is it. You've all seen those bonsai trees. Look around and see if you can find any similar or uniquely shaped small trees, tree roots, decorative stones, pretty little flowers and grasses, etc. The most important thing is that the plants should be small, otherwise they won't fit in the flowerpots."
"Understood!" everyone replied, and immediately dispersed to search.
Chen Kai had Da Ya follow him while he searched and Da Ya dug out the roots. Chen Kai wasn't very strong, so he couldn't dig out any roots that were even slightly larger.
Around lunchtime, Chen Kai saw that everyone's baskets were almost full, so he led the group back. On the way back, Chen Kai carried Da Ya on his back, even though she protested. But with his short arms and legs, he was too slow, and by the time he got home, it was already very dark.
Chen Kai thought to himself, "I wonder when this will stop. He has to be carried everywhere. When will he be able to walk on his own?"
After they got home, dinner was quickly prepared. At the dinner table, Old Man Chen asked, "My good son, is that bonsai you sold yesterday easy to make?"
Chen Kai swallowed what was in his mouth and said, "I think it's alright! After your afternoon nap, I'll demonstrate it for you all, and you can see if you can do it yourselves!"
After lunch, all the children in the Chen family went for a nap. Children naturally need a lot of sleep, and they were tired all morning, so they all went to rest at noon.
Chen Kai was still groggy after his afternoon nap when he heard Da Ya knocking on the door. Da Ya excitedly called out, "Uncle, Uncle, are you up yet? We're all ready and waiting for you!"
Chen Kai was immediately awakened and said, "I'm awake, Daya, I'm coming right now."
When Chen Kai walked into the yard, he saw that apart from his parents, brother and sister-in-law who were going to work in the fields, everyone else was sitting in the yard. They all wanted to see how to make miniature bonsai and whether it was easy to make. Even Xiao Tian was pulled to sit on the side by his brother Chen Nong.
Last night, they couldn't believe it when they heard that just a few bonsai trees had sold for thirty taels of silver. Knowing that Chen Kai was going to demonstrate how to make them today, they wanted to see, and if it was simple, they would help make more so they could earn more money.
Chen Kai told them to put the materials they had dug up that morning, along with a wooden basin, next to them, and then he began to teach them how to make it, demonstrating as he spoke.
After Chen Kai finished decorating his bonsai, he started to see how the others were doing. The first bonsai Chen Kai saw was Xiao Tian's, and it had to be said, it was very beautiful. However, when Chen Kai turned to look at the bonsai made by the others, it was simply indescribable—crooked and crooked.
Chen Kai said, "Take a look at Xiao Tian's work. As long as Xiao Tian's work is decent, do you think anyone will buy your oddly shaped pieces?"
Da Ya exclaimed in surprise, "Wow! Xiao Tian, you did such a beautiful job! Why can't I do it well!"
Xiao Tian said, "Of course, what I made is definitely the best-looking!"
Chen Kai smiled helplessly and said, "In that case, if anyone else is interested, they can come and ask me separately. If the miniature bonsai he makes can be sold, I will give him an extra share of the money. The others should continue dyeing dried flowers."
A few days later, Chen Kai was surprised to find that only Sanya had persevered, and the bonsai she was making was slowly starting to look good.
One day, Sanya ran to Chen Kai with her newly made bonsai and asked, "Uncle, what do you think of the bonsai I made this time?"
Chen Kai observed for a moment and said, "Sanya, you did a good job this time. If you let it grow for a while longer and it doesn't wither, your uncle will give you a share of the profits when you sell it."
“Okay!” Sanya said happily, and then went out to work.
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