Chapter 356: Top of the Line
They come from a family of weaving artists and have been exposed to it since childhood. Even though they cannot make a living from it now, they still have a deep affection for willow weaving.
After more than a decade of living in a monotonous way, they gradually became desperate, a kind of despair that clipped their wings and imprisoned their ideals. When they thought they would live hopelessly for the rest of their lives, they learned that a TV station was recruiting a skilled master.
They were almost planning to gamble all their hopes. If it failed, they would never touch willow branches again and would be willing to be ordinary people like their neighbors, not superior to others in any way.
Fortunately, they won the bet, at least they changed jobs. Anyone who said that they worked in a TV station would attract the envy and jealousy of others. This respectability was given by their mastery of editing skills!
"Deputy Director Xiao An," a woman in her forties came forward impatiently. Her face was covered with traces of years, but her eyes and eyebrows could still show her former beauty. "My name is Liu Yingniang, and I'm good at embroidery," she said, carefully handing over a white silk handkerchief from her pocket.
An Zhixia raised her eyebrows and opened it. The handkerchief was extremely soft and smooth, as if a thin layer of callus on the hand could create ripples on it. One corner of the handkerchief was embroidered with blue and white flowers and leaves of varying shades, just like the hand-painted ones on a blue and white porcelain vase. The stitches were fine and varied, and it was not something that could be embroidered by a machine in later generations. There was no doubt that the woman in front of him was an embroidery master.
Naturally, each of the people recruited by the “Eight Immortals of Beijing” has real abilities.
She still smiled and asked, "Embroidery is not difficult, but it requires a master to patiently guide you. Not everyone can learn it. Master Liu, are you willing to pass on your skills to everyone?"
Liu Yingniang nodded and said with a little excitement: "Yes, I was narrow-minded before and didn't want to teach my skills to others. I thought I could live a good life with this craft. But later I didn't have the opportunity to show it. I was afraid that people would find out that I could embroider and drag me out to be criticized.
I have been watching the overseas channels of our TV station these days, and I especially hope that foreigners will also know the power of our Xiahua embroidery, and I don’t want the country’s excellent intangible cultural heritage to be lost in our generation. Now that I have this opportunity, I am willing to teach everyone embroidery, and if conditions permit, I would also like to recruit a few talented students.
Embroidery is not a dregs, but a brilliant crystallization of civilization! "
An Zhixia's eyes curved. It seemed that the overseas channel was very successful and had initially opened everyone's minds. They subconsciously used the lines from the TV when choosing words and sentences.
Other craft masters also introduced themselves, covering paper cutting, purple clay pottery, hand-made porcelain, root carving, woodworking, brocade weaving, spinning, dyeing and weaving, all of which are crafts that are highly respected in later generations.
She ensured that every master volunteered to train their family members and help them create exquisite artworks to promote at home and abroad. They are masters of art who have escaped from the shackles of traditional crafts that are not passed on to outsiders, and are full of love for the country and the responsibility of reviving and inheriting the crafts.
An Zhixia immediately arranged for them to sign an agreement, which specified the responsibilities and obligations of both parties, and officially registered them as technicians of the TV station's derivative unit, the Maicheng Technology Factory.
After the onboarding procedures were completed, she held meetings with them one by one to assign them tasks, asking them to produce handicrafts that would be suitable for international export and accepted and appreciated by overseas friends.
For example, willow weaving, small and beautiful coasters, wide-mouthed baskets for candies and cakes, storage boxes with O-shaped elements, small flower baskets, vases, rattan pendants and ornaments for the house, or large baby chairs, baby strollers, rocking chairs, etc., can all be accepted by international friends across borders. Willow weaving objects are beautiful, durable, lightweight and artistic, and can also be integrated into the family styles of various countries.
The three Chen brothers compiled a number of samples according to An Zhixia's requirements, and then taught everyone by referring to them.
Embroidery, paper cutting, root carving, and woodworking are all easy to do, but purple clay pottery, handmade porcelain, brocade weaving, and spinning, dyeing, and weaving are complex and require a full range of tools and materials. All of these were left to Jing Xiaosheng to contact.
Two days later, the "Beijing Eight Immortals" found teachers who were capable of opening interest classes for the children. Painting, calligraphy, roller skating, swimming, singing, dancing, foreign languages, Go, musical instruments, math Olympiad, writing, etc., all of them are top-notch in their fields. They were not attracted by the high salary, but were ambitious young people who simply wanted to join the TV station. They quit their good jobs and contribute to the development of the motherland with their meager strength!
An Zhixia called all the family members of the TV station to a meeting in the square behind the office building. These family members had learned some news in advance, and now they were excitedly carrying their children and supporting the elderly.
The meeting was chaired by Qiu Yingyue, a newly recruited female educated youth who had worked as a village cadre in the countryside. She was almost 30 years old, and more than six years of hard work in the fields had worn away her tenderness and arrogance. After struggling in confusion and hopelessness, she chose another way to realize her self-worth and support national construction.
"Comrades, please be quiet, the meeting will start soon," she said loudly into the loudspeaker with a smile on her face and clear voice.
The crowd immediately quieted down, and pairs of shining eyes focused on the thirty or forty people on the stage.
After An Zhixia nodded, Qiu Yingyue began to officially host the meeting: "Dear family members, good afternoon!"
Everyone immediately clapped their hands hard, and it lasted for nearly half a minute before they stopped.
She chuckled and continued, "We gathered you all here today because it was our deputy station Xiao An who advocated it. There are two purposes..."
Before he finished speaking, the family members in the audience began to applaud vigorously, expressing their admiration and worship for An Zhixia. Even though some of their family members temporarily moved from the big house to the tube building, they still could not deny that An Zhixia had the ability to turn stone into gold and was the "living god of wealth" of the TV station!
An Zhixia raised her hands and pressed them down, and the big guy immediately put down his hands with a silent smile.
"I know that you are all very excited and you like our Deputy An very much, but the meeting time is tight. Please keep quiet and cooperate with me. You don't need to applaud. Please save your energy until the end and speak together, okay?"
The family members nodded and said yes in unison, and began to listen quietly.
"First, the Maicheng Craft Factory exclusively organized by our TV station has been approved by the organization and officially established. On my left are the first batch of outstanding technicians in the factory. Maicheng is open to all family members of our TV station. As long as you pass the assessment, you can become the first batch of employees!"
(End of this chapter)
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