Chapter 25 Learning a Craft

In the afternoon, Ethan went to the Holy Hill of Serenity to pick up Ethan Lee.

"Dad! I just noticed that Uncle Lee didn't look right. Did you have an argument with him?" Ethan asked.

"It's nothing," Ethan Lee said nonchalantly.

Then, an idea came to his mind, and he casually asked Ethan, "Xiaochen, the college entrance examination is coming up soon. You're about to graduate from high school. What are your plans after graduation?"

"Go to college!" Ethan replied without hesitation.

There was already so much Qi Yun (a concept related to one's fortune or destiny in Chinese culture, here it can be understood as good luck or positive energy) in high school. What would it be like if he went to college? Especially at those century - old universities that are closely related to the national fortune. The Qi Yun he would inherit would surely be unprecedented!

"Heh..." Ethan Lee laughed.

"Xiaochen, Dad is not joking with you. I want to know your real thoughts."

"Dad, I'm not joking either. I really want to go to college. But don't worry about my college tuition. By then, if I become the top scorer in the college entrance examination, I believe the county and the city will give me a lot of bonuses," Ethan said earnestly.

Ethan Lee's expression was already a bit of a mix between laughter and helplessness.

"Ethan, have you ever passed an exam since you were a child?"

"Uh."

"Alright, since you don't want to say, Dad won't force you."

When they got home, Grace Feng had already bought a bag of fruit.

"Let's go! Let's go find Elder Chen," Ethan Lee said to Ethan.

"Do we really have to learn this craft?" Ethan asked.

"Yes. Why not? Even if you don't rely on this for a living in the future, it's always good to master one more skill," Ethan Lee said.

"Alas, it's a pity that you're starting too late. I should have let you learn earlier. The child of the Liu family in the suburbs started learning from Elder Chen in junior high school, and now he has achieved some success. Not long ago, a wealthy merchant in QZ city took a liking to a jade carving he made and bought it for 88,888 yuan on the spot."

"Don't be discouraged either. For this, half depends on talent and half on hard work. If you're smart enough, you might be able to catch up with him quickly in a year even if you start learning now," Ethan Lee said.

After walking for half an hour, Ethan pushed Ethan Lee to a small building.

This was a small building full of classical charm. Time had left its mark on it, but it didn't look dilapidated at all. The walls exuded an ancient color, and on them were engraved stone carvings of the story of Yiqiao Jinlü (a story in Chinese history where an old man tested a young man's patience and respect by dropping his shoe deliberately and asking the young man to pick it up for him several times), full of ancient style. On the dilapidated wooden railing, it seemed as if there were dragons flying in it, with a unique charm.

"It has a bit of an artist's look," Ethan couldn't help but nod in praise.

"Elder Chen is an artist in the first place and quite famous in Qingyun province. Ethan, when you get to Elder Chen's place, be obedient, but don't be afraid either. Although Elder Chen has a bit of a bad temper when teaching the craft, he's a nice person usually," Ethan Lee instructed Ethan.

"Yeah, I got it, Dad!"

Walking into the building, there was a plaque with "Treasure - Hiding Studio" hanging above the door. The first floor was a simply - decorated shop filled with all kinds of items.

"These are all Elder Chen's works, including clay sculptures, stone carvings, and bamboo carvings," Ethan Lee introduced to his son, trying to arouse his interest.

Ethan was really interested when he saw these exquisite items. He was especially amazed when he saw a walnut carving. It was originally just a small walnut, but now it had been carved into a black - awning boat. There was not only an awning and a tea table on the boat, but also people drinking on it. Looking closely, there were also couplets carved on the door of the black - awning boat.

"Exquisite workmanship!" Ethan couldn't help but admire.

"I carved this ten years ago. At that time, my eyesight, physical strength, and energy could still keep up, so I was able to complete this piece. Now that I'm old, I can't do it anymore. Even if I try to imitate it, I can't. I don't have enough physical strength, and my eyes are blurry," an old man said.

When Ethan Lee saw the old man coming, he quickly told Ethan, "Call him Elder Chen!"

"Elder Chen," Ethan said respectfully.

"Um," Elder Chen nodded, then looked Ethan up and down and said, "The young man looks a bit too delicate. It might not be very suitable for him to learn this craft. But he can have a try first."

Huh? Is being good - looking also a sin? Ethan was a bit helpless.

Ethan walked through the shop. There was an even larger space behind the shop, like a classroom. There were already more than a dozen people studying in the classroom, men and women, old and young. In recent years, with the improvement of living standards, people have been paying more and more attention to this kind of art, and the number of people learning it has increased a lot.

When several girls who were drawing saw Ethan walking in, their eyes lit up immediately. However, when they saw Elder Chen beside him, a little fear showed in their eyes.

"Where are you all looking? When doing handicrafts, you need to be calm and not be half - hearted. Do you understand?" Elder Chen shouted at the girls who had just looked at Ethan.

Then, Elder Chen walked to the front, sat on an old - fashioned wooden chair, and looked over at Ethan with an unfriendly look. Obviously, the distraction of those girls just now made Elder Chen think that his previous intuition was right.

Regarding this, Ethan felt very helpless. Had his first impression been ruined like this?

Elder Chen played with two walnuts for cultural appreciation while picking up a delicate small purple clay teapot, took a sip of tea, looked at Ethan, and then asked, "Do you want to learn these crafts?"

"Yes," Ethan nodded.

He knew that this was an opportunity his father had managed to get for him with great difficulty, and he couldn't let his father down.

"Have you ever learned painting before?"

Ethan shook his head.

"Ethan Lee, he has been with you. Haven't you taught him anything?"

"No. He was at school before, and now that he's about to graduate, he just had the idea of learning."

"That's troublesome. Since he hasn't learned painting, it means he has no foundation at all. Starting from scratch, it will be very difficult for him to go far in the future," Elder Chen said.

"Elder Chen, please do your best to teach him. Whatever he can learn is fine," Ethan Lee said.

"Alright, in that case, let him have a try first," Elder Chen said.

"Thank you, Elder Chen," Ethan Lee said gratefully.

Then, Ethan Lee told Ethan something and went to the second floor. He sold things at the Holy Hill of Serenity during the day, and when he had time at night, he came here to do part - time jobs making handicrafts. The finished handicrafts were taken away by Elder Chen and sold in big cities.

"First, follow them to learn painting," Elder Chen handed Ethan the painting tools and books, and then closed his eyes to rest again.

Seeing this situation, Ethan regretted a little.

If he had known this, he wouldn't have come.

"Isn't this a waste of time? I've just learned how to deal with difficult and complicated diseases, and I haven't even made back my investment yet. I still have to go out and post small advertisements. Now, I have to waste my time here."

But since he was already here, he had to accept it. There was no other way, so he could only sit down in his seat honestly.

"First, do tracing. Practice your brushwork," Ethan followed the instructions, found an empty seat, and sat down.

"I just don't know if I can absorb the skills mentioned in this book by 'eating' it," Ethan thought to himself.

While he was distracted, a voice came from beside him.

"Hi, handsome. I'm Xiaohong Yu," a girl with long hair said to Ethan with a smile.

"Hello! I'm Ethan," Ethan also smiled and replied.

"Are you just starting to learn?"

"Yes."

"Then you're starting a bit late. It might be a bit difficult to learn," Xiaohong Yu said sincerely.

"..." Ethan was speechless. How could she dampen someone's confidence as soon as she came up?