Chapter 19 Inspecting Longquan Village The moonlight was like water, and Zhou Xubai held his coat…
Just then, Lin Yuwei's phone rang again, and Zhou Xubai's name appeared on the screen. She rubbed her slightly sore eyes and stopped painting.
"Did you see the group message? Director Zhang said he's going to Longquan Village for a two-day inspection tomorrow. I noticed you didn't reply, so I guess you're too busy and didn't notice."
"Yes, I was drawing and didn't check my phone. Thanks for reminding me. Tomorrow... no problem, I can coordinate it." Lin Yuwei pressed the speakerphone button, exited the call interface, opened the project group chat, and sure enough, she saw the notification that Director Zhang had sent in the afternoon, followed by a long string of "received".
Zhou Xubai chuckled softly, "Alright, then I'll give Director Zhang a unified reply. I'll pick you up at eight tomorrow morning?"
Lin Yuwei glanced at the time; it was already 11 p.m. She stretched her aching shoulders and neck, looking out at the still brightly lit city nightscape: "It's so late? I'll just sleep in the office tonight, so you don't have to make a special detour to pick me up tomorrow."
Zhou Xubai's tone was filled with concern: "I wasn't here this afternoon, and you've been working overtime until this late? Looks like I'll have to make sure you leave work on time from now on."
Lin Yuwei chuckled, her voice tinged with weariness: "No, I also stay up all night drawing at home. I'm actually more efficient at the studio. Anyway, I'm working for myself, so I'm not losing out."
After hanging up the phone, she looked out at the dazzling night view, her heart filled with turmoil. This project was of great significance to her and could not be lost, but the anonymous text message still made her feel uneasy. She went to the break room and made herself a cup of coffee. Holding the warm white porcelain cup in her hands, she could not dispel the doubts in her heart.
"Let's observe further," she told herself softly, taking a sip of coffee. "Maybe I'm just overthinking it."
The next morning, sunlight streamed into the office through the blinds. Lin Yuwei got up early, finished washing up before her colleagues arrived, changed into a neat white shirt and khaki trousers, applied light makeup to conceal the fatigue of the previous night, and packed her simple belongings to head to Longquan Village.
"Good morning, Teacher Lin!" Xiao Li knocked and came in, holding a document in his hand: "The preliminary investigation results are in. Zhichuang Internet has no connection with large technology companies, but..."
"But what?" Lin Yuwei stopped what she was doing and looked up at her assistant.
“A classmate of mine who works as a headhunter told me that they’ve had a lot of staff turnover lately, with several senior engineers leaving the company…”
As they were talking, Lin Yuwei saw Zhou Xubai's figure walking towards them from the other end of the corridor through the glass window. She immediately instructed Xiao Li, "Okay, I understand. Report any further developments directly to me. Remember, don't tell anyone else about this, so as not to affect team morale." Xiao Li nodded quickly, "Understood! I'll go back to work now."
Zhou Xubai pushed open the door and entered. Today he was wearing a light blue shirt, which made him look even more gentle and refined. "Let's go, let's go to Longquan Village together." "It's kind of you to go out of your way to pick me up." Lin Yuwei smiled and picked up her bag to follow him out of the office.
Today, Zhou Xubai didn't drive his usual Bentley, but instead opted for a comfortable and spacious SUV. The car was equipped with a full set of office equipment and even had a soft cushion thoughtfully provided.
"Actually, it doesn't have to be so complicated." Lin Yuwei looked at the arrangement inside the car and felt a little guilty.
Zhou Xubai handed her a box of exquisite cakes and poured her a cup of black tea, the aroma of which immediately filled the car. "Girls should get used to being well taken care of." His smile was gentle, like a spring breeze. "It takes three hours to get from the city to Longquan Village. You can look at the plans on the way, and rest if you get tired."
As the car drove out of the city, the tall buildings were gradually replaced by greenery. Lin Yuwei flipped through the documents, occasionally glancing at the fields rushing past outside the window, and her mood gradually brightened.
At the village entrance, local officials had been waiting for some time. A young female official with a ponytail greeted them warmly, her cheeks slightly flushed from the sun: "Distinguished leaders, welcome to Longquan Village! Master Li is already waiting for you at his workshop."
Master Li's workshop is located beside a bamboo grove. Pushing open the wooden door, a faint scent of wood wafts out. The old man is intently carving an exquisite screen, the carving knife moving across the wood with a soft, rustling sound. Upon seeing the visitor, he merely nods slightly and continues his work, appearing somewhat aloof.
Zhou Xubai stepped forward and said in fluent local dialect, "Master Li, sorry to bother you. We are from the city's cultural project and have come specifically to learn wood carving skills from you."
The old man suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in his cloudy eyes: "You can speak our language?"
Zhou Xubai smiled modestly and continued to answer in his dialect: "When I was a child, I went with my parents to collect folk songs in the next village and lived there for a year. I remember there was a big locust tree at the entrance of the village. In the summer, we often sat under the tree to cool off and listened to the old people tell stories."
The old man's expression softened considerably, and fine smile lines appeared at the corners of his eyes: "There really was an old locust tree at the entrance of the village; it was there when I was a child. Back then, everyone loved to chat and play chess under the tree, and children would play hide-and-seek around it. It's a pity it was cut down a few years ago when they were building a road." He put down his carving knife and pointed to the wooden stool next to him: "Sit down. What do you want to ask?"
Zhou Xubai said gently, "I've come here this time to ask you to come out of retirement and help us better understand Longquan wood carving, so that more young people can see and appreciate this craft."
Lin Yuwei looked at Zhou Xubai in surprise. Not only could he speak the local dialect, but he could also chat with the old master so naturally, instantly breaking down the barrier.
“It’s certainly a good thing that young people like it, but nobody wants to learn this anymore.” Master Li shook his head and sighed, his rough fingers stroking the wood in his hand: “They find it boring and don’t earn much. Let alone other young people, even my own son, I can’t persuade him to stay. He would rather go to the city to deliver food than inherit this craft.”
“That’s why we came.” Zhou Xubai continued, his tone sincere: “To revitalize traditional crafts in a modern way, this Ms. Lin is a well-known artist who specializes in the innovation of traditional culture.”
Master Li sized up Lin Yuwei, his gaze lingering for a moment on the calluses on her hands from the paintbrushes, and nodded: "She seems like a serious and reliable girl."
With the help of Zhou Xubai's translation, Master Li opened up and talked a lot. He not only demonstrated his superb skills, but also told many stories about the cultural connotations and inheritance behind the wood carvings. Every pattern has its origin, and every knife technique has its own intricacies.
“Look at this grain,” Master Li pointed to a piece of wood. Sunlight shone on the delicate wood grain, giving it a warm luster. “You have to follow the nature of the wood and not force it. It’s the same with people; you have to know how to go with the flow.”
Zhou Xubai not only translated accurately but also added relevant cultural background: "Master Li's words are very practical and are consistent with Taoist thought, which follows the natural way. This reminds me of the concept of 'following the natural way' in Zhuangzi."
For the rest of the day, the team was completely immersed in the world of wood carving. Although Zhou Xubai came from a wealthy family, he was not pretentious at all. He followed everyone to learn basic carving skills and focused on imitating Master Li's knife techniques.
"I didn't expect Young Master Zhou to have this skill?" During the break, Lin Yuwei looked at the red marks on his hands from the carving knife and asked half-jokingly.
Zhou Xubai smiled and raised the carving knife in his hand: "I took a sculpture course when I was studying at Cambridge, and I found it very interesting. But compared to Master Li, I am still far behind." He said seriously: "Moreover, I think that to truly understand an art, you must experience the production process yourself. Only in this way can you respect the essence of the craft when designing."
What moved Lin Yuwei the most was that Zhou Xubai not only paid attention to the artistic aspects, but also carefully recorded every detail of the craftsmanship. He specially asked Master Li to slow down and use his mobile phone to take pictures of the carving process from multiple angles: "The knife techniques here are very special. When digitizing, we must pay special attention to restoring this change in strength."
As evening fell, the setting sun bathed the studio in a golden glow. For the first time ever, Master Li invited everyone to stay for tea. He brought out his treasured jasmine tea, and as the aroma filled the air, the old man became more talkative.
That evening, the team stayed at the best guesthouse in the area. The small wooden cabins were scattered on the mountainside. Zhou Xubai specially arranged the quietest room for Lin Yuwei. Outside the window was a bamboo forest, and the evening breeze rustled through it.
But Lin Yuwei was wide awake. What she had seen and heard during the day had given her too much inspiration. She sat alone on the stone bench in the courtyard, drawing design sketches by the light of the corridor lamp. The pen tip scratched on the paper, echoing the rustling of the bamboo leaves.
The moonlight was like water. Zhou Xubai came over with a coat and gently draped it over her shoulders: "It's cool in the mountains at night, don't catch a cold."
"Thank you." Lin Yuwei pulled her coat tighter, looked up at Zhou Xubai, and asked softly, "Xubai, why are you helping me like this? Actually, to be honest, we haven't known each other for very long."
Zhou Xubai sat down beside her, his gaze also fixed on the bamboo forest swaying in the moonlight: "Because your talent deserves to be seen by more people. To be honest, I already knew your name before we met for the first time. I remember being amazed by your ability to perfectly blend tradition and modernity when I first saw your work at the art exhibition."
He turned his head, his eyes sincere: "I spent an entire afternoon looking at your sculpture 'Dialogue with Time,' and many of its design concepts coincided with my own thoughts." After a pause, Zhou Xubai's voice softened: "After that... I've always looked forward to meeting the sculptor, and subconsciously I felt that we could become good friends. My sixth sense has always been very accurate. After spending this time together, I've started to look forward to more than just working together... Yuwei, I want to get to know you better."
After he finished speaking, Zhou Xubai gazed at her quietly, and Lin Yuwei felt a stirring in her heart.
Over the past eight years, although she has made many friends, she rarely allows others to get close to her heart. However, Zhou Xubai's thoughtfulness and professional attitude towards art made it hard for her to refuse. She lowered her head and continued drawing, but a smile unconsciously appeared on her lips: "Xubai, I am also very happy to be friends with you."
****
Meanwhile, in a bar on the other side of the city, Gu Qingyan absentmindedly swirled his glass, the ice cubes clinking against the glass. The neon lights outside the window flickered, reflecting in his deep eyes.
“Old Gu, you’re acting a bit strange today. As a workaholic, you’ve asked me out for two days in a row.” Lu Ming looked him over, keenly sensing something: “You seem to be quite interested in the government’s wood carving intangible cultural heritage project lately? To be honest, this project isn’t that big. In the past, you wouldn’t have paid attention to it personally, at most you would have had your assistant follow up. Something unusual must be going on. Let me figure out where this ‘marriage’ is.”
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Author's Note: Xiao Gu, your wife is running off with someone else! [doge emoji]
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