Chapter 3: Nine Children Embracing Lotus, the Method of Internal Strength

Xu Ji Mu diao Pu is a woodcarving shop ranked among the top in Wai Cheng, often able to take orders from Nei Cheng, with enormous demand for all kinds of woodcarving.

Either carving landscape images, or carving Bodhisattva statues, Buddha statues, and even various deity statues that Li Che had never heard of, and so on.

For a helper, moving timber and finished statues earns a fixed piece-rate wage; the pay is not much, but it's exhausting work.

But if one could become an official woodcarving master, carving a finished piece could earn at least ten taels of silver!

Moreover, Li Che had heard that Master Chen once carved a 'Thousand-Armed Guanyin Holding Child' wood statue, which took nearly a month and earned a gold leaf, equivalent to a hundred taels!

Such skill could make an ordinary commoner rich and noble!

Li Che felt moved; if it were before, he would not dare to dream of it.

Because woodcarving skill requires training from childhood and tests talent and artistry, like the apprentices at the woodcarving shop, many were sent by their families to study at five or six years old after spending silver.

When Li Che came to help at the woodcarving shop, he was already thirteen, having missed the appropriate age.

Although he once had the idea of self-teaching mastery, after trying for a few days he gave up.

What gave him the idea that a few days of self-study could defeat others who had painstakingly learned almost an entire childhood?

Moreover, looking at woodcarving is one thing, but actually doing it is another.

"Let's find a chance to try… the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit; perhaps it truly granted me woodcarving talent?"

Li Che couldn't help but feel anticipation in his heart.

A cold wind blew over, making Li Che a bit calmer and clearer; he merely buried the thought of becoming a woodcarving master in his heart and began to work seriously.

Moving finished woodcarvings is different from moving timber; one must be more careful, because any bump or knock will damage the carving.

Wrap it in cloth, then bind it with hemp rope, to prevent the statue from being damaged by friction from the rope when carried on the back.

Shouldering the Six-Eyed Bodhisattva statue, Li Che walked with careful steps toward the inner room.

Arriving at Master Chen's workshop house, he set down the Bodhisattva statue, removed the cloth, glanced to see no friction marks, and his heart eased.

"Master Chen, the Bodhisattva statue has been moved in; I'm now going to fetch the 'Flower Bent Willow' for you, you want a larger piece, right?"

Li Che loosened his shoulders and smiled.

Master Chen was already seated on the workbench, sharpening his carving knife with a whetstone.

"Right, be quick; this time we need to carve a 'Nine Children Embracing Lotus', the process is complicated, and Nei Cheng is urging delivery."

Master Chen picked up the carving knife, narrowed his eyes to check its sharpness, then spoke.

Li Che returned to the snow‑fluttering courtyard, intending to move the piece of Flower Bent Willow he had selected.

But when he touched the Flower Bent Willow timber, Li Che felt the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit seem to twitch slightly, giving him an inexplicable sensation.

"This piece of Flower Bent Willow for carving a 'Nine Children Embracing Lotus' statue… seems… not quite suitable."

Li Che murmured softly.

Most of the time, woodcarving masters personally select their timber, but of course there are exceptions; some masters, confident in their skill, are too lazy to go out in the deep winter wind and snow to choose wood.

But if a helper is tasked with selecting timber and the chosen wood is not quite suitable…

If the master is good‑tempered, it's still okay; if he's bad‑tempered, he might deduct the hauling fee.

Then not only would one have to haul extra timber, but also lose money… a real loss.

Li Che abandoned that piece of 'Flower Bent Willow', turned to the timber pile and selected again; he felt with his palm until, under the influence of the Immortal Craft Dao Fruit, he intuitively judged a piece of timber to be quite good.

Carrying this somewhat heavier piece of 'Flower Bent Willow', he arrived at Master Chen's workshop.

"Hey, not bad, Little Li has good eyes; this piece of timber is just right!" Master Chen was somewhat surprised, because this timber almost perfectly matched the 'Nine Children Embracing Lotus' he had envisioned in his mind.

Only a few strokes were needed to outline the rough shape, saving considerable effort in pondering the design.

Li Che smiled, but did not say anything boastful.

After Master Chen gave a compliment, he went ahead and began preparing for the carving on his own.

"Little Li, help me move this timber onto the frame; I heard your daughter was born… this order will earn you extra pay." Master Chen rose, smiling.

Upon hearing this, Li Che's eyes lit up; he quickly agreed, then slung a hemp rope and began to lift the heavy 'Flower Bent Willow' onto the metal frame.

"Nei Cheng is pressing hard; lately they keep asking for woodcarvings of boys and girls, surely related to the recently rampant 'Spirit Infant Dharma Master'; it's a fad among the Nei Cheng nobles… really, a style that changes with the times."

Master Chen shook his head and muttered a sentence.

"The goods must be ready in five days; this old body of mine… I'm afraid I'll be worn out from the hustle."

"But the pay is also good, hehe; Little Li, guess how much the patron of this order is paying?"

Master Chen rubbed his hands, chatting and laughing with Li Che as he walked to the Flower Bent Willow soaked by the heavy snow and dampened with moisture.

Li Che wiped the sweat from his forehead, exhaled, and said: "If delivery is in five days… surely it should be at least fifty taels?"

The difficulty of the 'Nine Children Embracing Lotus' statue is less than that of the Thousand‑Armed Guanyin, so Li Che made a conservative estimate.

"Fifty taels? Heck… that's too little, short by a whole gold leaf!"

Master Chen laughed loudly, then slapped the timber with one palm; the skin on his arm seemed to take on a reddish hue, heat rose from his palm and poured into the wood, driving out the moisture within!

The scorching heat rolled over; standing beside Master Chen felt like facing a blazing furnace!

Li Che drew a deep breath, amazed that this woodcarving was worth one hundred fifty taels, and also astonished and envious of Master Chen's marvelous technique!

These woodcarving masters not only have skill, but also legendary… martial arts!

Those who can become woodcarving masters are all possessors of internal strength, which they can use to dry the wood, saving considerable time.

Moreover, when internal strength is infused into the woodcarving, the carved piece will possess a certain connotation,

these connotations are the true ability that lets woodcarving masters make the Nei Cheng nobles willingly spend money.

Master Chen glanced at the astonished and envious Li Che, teasingly smiling: "Want to learn?"

"If you want to learn, you have to pay; although you can't acquire the supreme internal strength method, the ordinary internal strength methods left by Xu Ji in Wai Cheng can still be learned."

"After another few decades of bitter cultivation, one can roughly generate internal strength."

Li Che's heart stirred slightly: "Master Chen, I don't know the price of the internal strength method?"

"The supreme internal strength method cannot be bought even with money; one can only study it at the Nei Cheng Xu Ji, and ordinary people cannot learn it."

"The outer city's ordinary internal strength method, you can get it by spending money, the cheapest... also needs thirty taels, how about it? You've really taken an interest." Master Chen, while circulating internal strength to dry wood, glanced at Li Che, half-smiling.

"Your baby just arrived, you ought to save money... buying the internal strength method is one thing, learning it another, mastering it another."

Master Chen shook his head, offering a kind word of advice.

Seeing Li Che truly seemed to have taken an interest.

Master Chen raised his eyebrows: "You're quite thoughtful, kid. It's a pity you never tried learning wood carving when you were young. If you want to buy an internal strength method, come find me; I have one here, twenty taels and you can learn it."

Li Che, hearing that, didn't promise anything, just smiled and said he'd consider it for a while.

Afterwards, he simply left Master Chen's workshop.

In the following time, Li Che began busying himself again, helping several wood-carving masters transport lumber and finished wood carvings.

He also helped the shop's apprentices move small pieces of wood, earning wages.

The shop provided lunch; although simple, it was at least hot food, enough to fill half his stomach, giving him energy to work.

At dusk, Li Che collected thirty-five Dàjǐng cast copper coins for the day, then headed off work exhausted.

Wearing a bamboo hat, he brushed through the wind and snow, bought some charcoal on the way, then headed home.

Just as he entered the crisscrossing alleys, the sky was completely dark; the faint yellow glow of the oil lamp from his own earth house made his steps in the snow quicken involuntarily.

"My dear, I'm back."

He opened the door quickly, closed it quickly, to prevent the cold wind carrying white snow from blowing in and stealing the warmth.

He added some charcoal to the brazier, then Li Che tiptoed to the bedside, where Xixi lay in bed, eyes wide open.

Seeing Li Che, Xixi actually burst into a "hee-hee" laugh.

Li Che's heart almost melted; he picked her up and gently swayed.

Zhang Ya gazed at the scene softly, then brought out the dinner she had prepared for Li Che from the pot.

The steaming noodles gave off a fragrant aroma.

For a poor family, there's no such thing as observing the postpartum confinement.

No need to work in the fields; just preparing dinner, for Zhang Ya, already counts as observing the postpartum confinement.

After the couple finished dinner, Li Che let Zhang Ya rest, while he himself washed the bowls.

Afterwards, he took a small piece of wood and a carving knife, then returned indoors.

Zhang Ya held Xixi, gently patting and soothing her, while curiously watching Li Che.

"My dear, what are you going to do?"

Li Che, under the yellow oil lamp light, clasped his fingers, stretched a bit, making a cracking sound, and laughed: "I recently learned a trick at the wood-carving shop."

"Wife, watch closely!"

Zhang Ya, hearing that, couldn't help laughing: "My dear, you've learned quite a few tricks over the years, but after a few days you'd sternly say, letting go is also fine..."

Li Che's lips curled slightly: "My dear, stop teasing your husband; have you heard the saying 'thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river'?"

"As a husband, I'm no longer the same; I'm now a father!"

Zhang Ya pressed her lips, her eyes smiling gently.

What necessary connection is there between being a father and you learning wood carving?

Li Che smiled, then said nothing more.

He closed his eyes slightly; in his mind, the carving technique and skill of the Six-Eyed Bodhisattva statue surged forth like water squeezing out wet cotton...

He opened his eyes again; a glimmer seemed to flash in the depths of his gaze.

Calm and composed, his five fingers gripped the carving knife with strong, vigorous strength, and he began to make the first cut on the wood...

(End of chapter)