Chapter 307: Handicraft Class

When Sui Sui woke up in the afternoon, Prince Qing had already returned to the mansion.

He has to leave early tomorrow morning, and today he still has a lot of official duties to attend to.

Sui Sui didn't see Prince Qing's uncle, and she didn't have much thought about it.

Although he is a benefactor, he is ultimately not familiar, so Sui Sui doesn't have much attachment to him.

This afternoon, they didn't go to the archery class; Master Shen took them to a handicraft class instead.

The wooden horse that Feng Xuancang and his group made earlier was very creative; Master Shen thought it was quite good.

Although, among the Six Ministries, the Ministry of Works holds the lowest status.

But after all, it's still one of the Six Ministries, and it's a capital office—many people wish to get in but can't.

So, if they have potential in this area, Master Shen is also willing to nurture it.

What else can be done?

With so many poor students, are they all going to sneak into the Hanlin Academy through the back door?

Master Shen fears that the Hanlin Academy's gang of old scholars could make him so angry he'd vomit blood!

Furthermore, Master Shen's education has always been unconventional, focusing on cultivating talent.

Not only in academics, but also in martial arts, it includes hands-on abilities and the like.

If possible, Master Shen could actually also give everyone a lecture on agriculture.

However, he worries that the Prince might not be willing, so he has temporarily suppressed this idea.

Sui Sui didn't expect they still had a handicraft class; she proudly showed off to her two older sisters: "My paper kite is awesome!"

Upon hearing that, Shen Hua Tang's eyes lit up: "I like paper kites."

It's a shame, because it's hard to paste well and easy to cut one's hand; her mother doesn't let her touch it much.

By contrast, Liu He Meng is freer in the mansion; upon hearing about paper kites, she also came over: "I can do this too—I'm great at it; I don't just know how to paste, I also know how to assemble the frame!"

Sui Sui and the others just paste pre-made ones, but Liu He Meng has tried it, starting from assembling the frame and doing it step by step to make a paper kite.

Of course, her father accompanied her; as a child alone, she certainly couldn't complete such a complex task.

The children chattered away in their discussion.

Master Shen wasn't in a hurry either; he gave them plenty of time to discuss first.

Seeing that the time was about up, Master Shen then tapped the ruler: "Quiet."

The children instantly fell silent.

The master's authority is still sufficient.

Although Sui Sui had just come to class, she had already learned the rules; she sat properly, and looking at the tiny creature, she found it unexpectedly soft and cute.

The Prince Qi who was listening in, the more he looked, the more he liked it, the more he found it cute, and he almost couldn't resist reaching out directly.

What's wrong with giving such an adorable good child a hug? Seeing Prince Qi about to make a move, Master Shen was about to roll his eyes.

He really wanted to ask: "Prince, don't you have anything else to do?" In fact, he really doesn't.

Especially since his health recently took a turn, unless it concerns the mansion, His Majesty won't even send someone to summon Prince Qi to the grand court assembly.

Master Shen didn't want to pay attention to the Prince; after tapping the ruler and letting the class quiet down, he then shook his head and said: "The handicraft class isn't as simple as you imagine—just jumping right in—ancient saying goes……"

A long string of principles, Sui Sui didn't understand a single word.

However, in the end Master Shen still took care of these youngsters, explaining specially: "You need to first draw what you want to make, mark the dimensions clearly, so that during production, no accident occurs that prevents the parts from fitting together, wasting time and materials." To make something, it's not as simple as just wanting to and jumping right in.

What kind of amazing artisan would that be, producing objects without a diagram? These kids of Sui Sui's age simply don't have such ability.

Even someone as skilled in handicrafts as Feng Xuancang can only produce small items without a diagram, carving little flowers and little rabbits.

For anything too complex, requiring mortise-and-tenon joints, you must draw a diagram; otherwise, sometimes the dimensions really won't fit.

Master Shen's explanation was straightforward; Sui Sui understood it, and the others even more so.

So, the first step in making handicrafts is to draw in danqing; the drawing must be clear, at least understandable to oneself.

Sui Sui:? The little girl sat there blankly.

She hasn't yet learned how to practice brushwork.

What should we do about this?

Fortunately, Master Shen also considered the young children; he raised his hand to indicate: "You three girls form a group and make it together."

After saying that, he turned his head and gestured to Feng Xuanrui and Feng Xuanbin: "You two form a group."

Feng Xuanbin originally wanted to say, he could do it himself.

But thinking about drawing, he honestly shrank back his neck.

Feng Xuanrui looks down on Feng Xuanbin, but having someone to help still speeds things up.

So, he reluctantly accepted.

Feng Xuancang and the older ones don't have such concerns.

However, making something alone will definitely take a longer cycle.

Master Shen also timely reminded them: "Do small things within your ability, first see your talent in this area, don't rush for success, don't go for big things right away—without accumulating small steps, you cannot reach a thousand miles……"

At the start of the long lecture, Sui Sui again didn't understand.

However, she still sat there seriously, back straight, listening attentively.

Prince Qi, watching from the side, couldn't help but praise along with Sui Si: "Look at our good child, oh my, she'll definitely become a female top scholar someday—too bad girls can't take the top scholar exam."

Having said that, Prince Qi gave a light hiss, then said displeased: "Why can't girls take the top scholar exam? Imperial elder brother, this is bias and favoritism!"

Sui Si didn't dare to join in, only able to whisper: "This is a rule left by our ancestors; even His Majesty finds it hard to interfere, and besides, the Ministry of Rites and the Censorate are watching over it."

Upon hearing that, Prince Qi snorted disdainfully: "Those old fogeys of the Censorate, full and idle, stare at my backside all day—my backside is so nice, they stare at it every day? Not even bothered by the smell."

Sui Si:? They're watching your conduct, not your backside, Your Highness! But Sui Si wouldn't dare say that.

After Prince Qi finished complaining about the Censorate, he started complaining about the Ministry of Rites: "And there's the Ministry of Rites—I don't even want to talk about it; this old fogey Ying Xian, the older he gets, the more problems he has—no wonder he can be a Minister."

Sui Si: ……

Sui Si's silence didn't affect Prince Qi's grumbling: "It's all their fault; otherwise my good child would have been the female top scholar."

Sui Sui:? Sui Sui was watching Tangtang Jiejie draw, while Mengmeng Jiejie helped on the side.

Sui Sui is young, can't even hold a brush properly, can't help much, can only help by passing paper and holding the inkstone.

She now doesn't even know how to grind ink.

Sui Sui wanted to learn, but Liu He Meng couldn't bear to let her try: "Sui Sui, watch me do it; just watching with your eyes is learning it. This requires firm pressure, otherwise you won't be able to grind it, look..."

Liu He Meng ground the ink while explaining to Sui Sui.

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