Chapter 29

In just over ten minutes, the two cars arrived at Wild Boar Gully. Under Su Xinghui’s guidance, the cars parked in front of the village committee office. Several dogs barked wildly at these two big machines, but they were timid and didn't dare to approach. In Wild Boar Gully, these dogs had never seen a car since they were born.

Chen Hongfu was the first to get out of the car, and he shouted with a resonant voice: "Youcai, Youcai, come out quickly, honored guests have arrived!"

Fang Youcai didn't come out; Gao Daping did. He said to Chen Hongfu: "Secretary Chen, the Party Secretary is at the breeding farm construction site."

Chen Hongfu waved his hand: "Call them all back quickly! Honored guests have arrived! This is the manager of the Jiangcheng Arts and Crafts Store, here to discuss buying bamboo crafts."

Gao Daping agreed in a panic and ran toward the breeding farm construction site, shuffling in his cloth shoes.

Chen Hongfu ushered Song Qiao and the others into the village committee’s conference room; it was the only place large enough for everyone to sit.

Su Xinghui busied himself scalding cups and pouring water for the guests. Seeing this, Xue Qin immediately stepped forward to help, and Lu Xiaoya was not to be outdone, helping Su Xinghui. Before long, everyone had been served cold boiled water.

Chen Hongfu said: "How embarrassing, you are guests, how can we let you pour the water."

Xue Qin smiled: "Uncle Chen, don't be so formal with me. Xinghui and I are very close; if I don't help him, who will?"

Lu Xiaoya didn't say anything, but she gave Su Xinghui a look that was neither a smile nor a frown. This look made Su Xinghui shiver.

Within a few minutes, Fang Youcai and Zhao Zhongfu came running back together, with Gao Daping following behind them. As soon as they entered the conference room, they asked: "Secretary Chen, where are the honored guests?"

Chen Hongfu smiled and introduced Song Qiao’s identity to them. Song Qiao stood up and smiled, extending her right hand toward them. Fang Youcai quickly waved his hand: "Can't shake, can't shake, we just came from the construction site, our hands are very dirty."

Song Qiao said: "I heard you are building a breeding farm. How is the construction going?"

Fang Youcai said: "It only started a few days ago, it’s still very early."

Song Qiao stopped asking this question. She took out a bamboo craft and asked: "Then can you call over the person who wove this?"

Fang Youcai naturally knew; this bamboo craft was woven by Xia Zhu. He replied: "I’ve already sent someone to call her, she will be here soon."

The one who went to call Xia Zhu was, of course, Xia Lan. Before long, Xia Lan and Xia Zhu came running over. Because they were in a hurry, their foreheads were covered in a bit of sweat, and their faces were as bright as peach blossoms.

Seeing two more great beauties arrive, Zhang Cheng and the others exchanged mischievous glances again.

As soon as Xia Zhu entered the conference room, she called out "Brother Xinghui." This "Brother Xinghui" immediately made Xue Qin and Lu Xiaoya widen their eyes and look at Xia Zhu.

This wasn't intentional on Xia Zhu’s part; it was just that there were too many people in the conference room, and the only person she knew was Su Xinghui. When she got nervous, she could only call the name of the person she was most familiar with and trusted. She had gotten used to calling him "Brother Xinghui" over the past few days, so it came out naturally.

Seeing everyone looking at her, she couldn't help but lower her head, her face flushing red, her hands unconsciously playing with the ends of her hair.

Su Xinghui was a bit numb by now. He pointed to Xia Zhu and said: "Auntie Song, this is the person who wove these bamboo crafts. Her name is Xia Zhu."

Song Qiao nodded with a smile: "Xia Zhu, not bad, a very nice name. The person is pretty, and her hands are skillful too."

Hearing Song Qiao praise her, Xia Zhu said "Thank you" with a blushing face.

Hearing that she was the Xia Zhu that Su Xinghui had mentioned to her before, Lu Xiaoya couldn't help but look at her carefully. After sizing her up for a while, she couldn't help but sigh in her heart. No wonder Su Xinghui said she was pretty and pure; this mountain girl, with just a little bit of dressing up, would absolutely be no worse than any celebrity!

But as soon as she thought of the "Brother Xinghui" that Xia Zhu had just called out, Lu Xiaoya couldn't help but glare fiercely at Su Xinghui. This guy, having just broken up with Jiang Ting, now has both Xue Qin and Xia Zhu. It’s a pity she even sympathized with his heartbreak; it looks like this guy isn't suffering at all.

Xue Qin also glared at Su Xinghui. No wonder he refused to transfer back to the county seat; it turns out he had such a pretty girl here calling him "Brother Xinghui."

Su Xinghui felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. Even if he were sitting in front of a Provincial Party Secretary right now, he wouldn't feel this way. He simply looked at his nose, his nose at his mouth, and his mouth at his heart, assuming the posture of an old monk in meditation.

Song Qiao held the bamboo craft and said to Xia Zhu: "Xia Zhu, did you weave this?"

Xia Zhu looked up and saw it was a little duck woven from bamboo. The duck was woven to look simple and cute, vivid and lifelike; it was indeed her work. She nodded: "Yes, it is exactly what I wove."

Song Qiao placed the duck on the table and beckoned: "Come over here."

Xia Zhu walked over. Song Qiao took a stack of printed pictures from her bag to show Xia Zhu and asked: "Can you weave bamboo crafts according to these patterns?"

Among those patterns were bamboo-woven teapots, lampshades, flower baskets, birds, beasts, insects, fish, handbags, fruit plates, toys, and other items, and even world-famous paintings and calligraphy works woven from bamboo.

Xia Zhu flipped through all these pictures. She looked up and said with confidence: "No problem, I can weave these things."

Talking about the bamboo weaving she was familiar with, there was no more shyness on Xia Zhu’s face; her face shone with a moving radiance.

Song Qiao asked with a smile: "Then can I watch you weave bamboo crafts on the spot today?"

Xia Zhu nodded: "Yes, I will go home to get my tools and weave it for you to see right here."

Xia Zhu knew that this kind-looking aunt in front of her was the person who held her fate in her hands. She must show all her skills to win her approval.

Song Qiao nodded: "Alright, then I will wait for you here."

Xia Zhu ran out quickly. In less than ten minutes, she came running back with a few bamboo stalks, a bamboo knife, and a small stool.

She sat on the small stool and began to split the bamboo strips with the knife. Her ten nimble fingers flew, and the bamboo knife in her hand seemed to have a life of its own, splitting the bamboo stalks into strips as thin as hair.

After splitting all the strips, she began to weave. Her weaving speed was very fast, her fingers dancing in the air like a dance. Following her dancing fingers, a bamboo craft gradually took shape.

Xia Lan whispered to Song Qiao: "Manager Song, Xia Zhu is nineteen this year. She has been very interested in bamboo weaving since she was a few years old, and she has been weaving for more than ten years now. She is also the most skillful girl in our village; she learns everything at a glance and weaves it to look just like the real thing."

Song Qiao could naturally see that Xia Zhu was so skilled that she must have at least ten years of foundation. She nodded and asked: "Then how many people in your village can weave bamboo crafts, and how many have her level of skill?"

Xia Lan said: "There are six or seven hundred people in our village, and many women know how to weave bamboo. There are at least a hundred or so who can be called weavers, and at least a few dozen who are skilled. However, there aren't many with Xia Zhu’s level of talent; the main thing is that they lack her inspiration. But weaving these birds, beasts, insects, and fish they are familiar with is no problem for them."

Song Qiao nodded. She had expected this situation. If everyone here had Xia Zhu’s level, she would have found it strange instead. But it didn't matter; if they made a living from this, their level would improve after long-term practice.

In less than an hour, Xia Zhu completed a bamboo weaving work. This was one of the pictures Song Qiao had taken out: an old fisherman fishing, sitting on a small boat.

Xia Zhu handed this work to Song Qiao. Song Qiao examined the work carefully, her eyes filled with disbelief. This fisherman was woven to be vivid and lifelike, with every detail visible. If you looked closely, you could even see the leisurely expression on the fisherman’s face.

Was this really a work woven by Xia Zhu in less than an hour? Was this woven after she had only glanced at that picture? If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, Song Qiao would absolutely not have believed it.

After a long while, Song Qiao murmured: "A genius, a genius!"

Song Qiao looked up and said solemnly to Xia Zhu: "Miss Xia Zhu, you are truly a genius. The works you weave will definitely be very popular! You will definitely become a master of arts and crafts in the future!"

Xia Zhu couldn't help but flush red. When had she ever received such praise? Since she was a child, she had been obsessed with bamboo weaving, and her parents had always seen it as not doing her proper work. But she just loved weaving this; she loved it from the bottom of her heart!