Eternal madness

Chapter 18 Myriad Life and Changes
bowl?
I have it!
Zhang Laifu had a bowl, which was kept in his bundle.

But this bowl is for growing trains. Once the trains are grown, they can go back to out of state.

After returning to another state, you can continue your studies, and if you're lucky, you can find a job. If you can't find a job, you can go back to the film studio and continue working...

Zhang Laifu carefully compared life in Outer State and Wan Sheng State and found that it wasn't necessarily necessary to grow trains.

If you're just an ordinary person, life in another state is obviously better; at least you don't have to live as hard a life as the uncle selling wontons.

If they are artisans, then it's a different story. Artisans in Wansheng State are much better off than ordinary people in other states.

"What kind of bowl can be used to cultivate a craftsman?"

"Any bowl will do. The bowl is the root. Without a bowl, nothing can be planted because the spirit cannot be aroused."

Soil is essential; without soil, you can't cook a bowl, and seeds won't receive nutrients.

The seed is the soul; the harvest you desire resides within the seed.

Zhang Laifu pondered for a moment, as if he had realized something: "It's similar to planting flowers in a flowerpot."

Li Yunsheng nodded and said, "That's one way to understand it, but flowerpots aren't that picky. You can plant flowers as long as you put some good soil in them."

The bowls from Wanshengzhou are much more particular; you have to find the right type of clay for them to resonate with you. This process is called "opening the bowl."

Zhang Laifu had been waiting for this: "What kind of soil qualifies as the appropriate soil?"

Li Yunsheng was stumped: "There's no way to say it. We can only rely on experience to judge. Some bowls and soil are related. For example, if a wooden bucket is a bowl, the soil corresponding to the wooden bucket is likely to be sawdust. But this is just a matter of common sense."

Logically speaking, there is indeed a close connection between wooden barrels and sawdust, and sawdust does indeed have the characteristics of soil.

But I once saw a wooden bucket with a bowl, and the corresponding soil was sheep offal. I can't explain why.

Can sheep offal be used to make soil?
Zhang Laifu recalled his experience in Hunlong Village, where he was captured and seemingly used as a tool to break bowls: "Can people be turned into dirt?"

“Okay.” Li Yunsheng nodded. “There is a type of jade in the Southwest called blood jade. Bowls made from this jade require people to prepare the soil. Different types of blood jade require people with different temperaments. It is said that a blood jade bowl can grow a craft root.”

Zhang Laifu was taken aback: "Only by eating the root of craftsmanship can one become a craftsman?"

If that's the case, becoming a craftsman would be extremely difficult.

Li Yunsheng shook his head: "The Craftsmanship Root is used to improve one's level. It is an extremely rare and precious thing. To become a craftsman, you don't need to eat the Craftsmanship Root. Eating the Craftsmanship Spirit is enough."

“The craftsmanship is amazing…” Zhang Laifu’s face lit up with joy. “I’ve seen it! It came out of the craftsman’s corpse and looked like a clump of willow catkins.”

Lin Shao Cong killed Lao Liang and took the clump of willow catkins; the whole process was indeed witnessed by Zhang Laifu.

"A clump of willow catkins... You're talking about a willow craftsman, right?"

"Yes, it's Willow Craftsman!"

"This isn't just skillful, this is masterful."

Zhang Laifu suspected he had missed something very important: "Can eating a 'craft essence' turn a person into a craftsman?"

Li Yunsheng thought about it carefully: "Someone has tried to do this, but I've never heard of anyone succeeding. Craftsmanship is the essence that a craftsman cultivates, and it has become one with the craftsman's soul. If a person eats it, their nature will not be compatible, and something terrible will happen."

"What major event could happen?"

"You could die, or you might fall into the chaotic path."

What is "disorderly conduct"?

"The path of chaos is the path of demons. Falling into the path of demons is a very serious matter. You will become the enemy of the entire Wansheng State."

so serious?

Zhang Laifu couldn't think of anyone who could become the enemy of the entire Wansheng Prefecture, but that wasn't his main concern. He didn't have any special skills, only a bowl.

"Brother Li, let's continue talking about the bowl."

Li Yunsheng put down his teacup: "What we're talking about now is the bowl. If you want to become a craftsman, you can plant the Craft Spirit in the bowl as a seed. It will become the Craft Spirit. Eating the Craft Spirit is the right way to become a craftsman."

The opportunity to acquire the best skills has already been missed; Lin Shao Cong has taken them, which means Zhang Laifu currently has no seeds.

But there was nothing that could be done; Zhang Laifu could only choose one: the craftsmanship or the bowl.

Is it possible that I made the wrong choice back then?
"Which is more valuable, a bowl or exquisite craftsmanship?"

"It's difficult to compare; it depends on the type and condition of the bowl." "Are there many kinds of bowls?"

"Cooking pots, water jars, ear-cleaning spoons, and soil-pouring baskets can all be used as bowls. As long as you have the right techniques and put in the effort, you can use them to grow things."

"So, Wansheng Prefecture is full of bowls?" Zhang Laifu began to doubt the value of the bowls; he felt he had made a bad choice.

Li Yunsheng shook his head slightly: "I dare not say that they are everywhere, but there are indeed many good bowls. However, even if you put the bowl in front of you, out of ten thousand people, you might not be able to recognize it."

Countless people have exhausted their wealth but still can't buy a good bowl. Some craftsmen make a fine bowl but don't even realize it, and casually sell it as a cheap item.

There are also discerning people who stroll along the street and can buy a fine bowl for a few coins. Judging a bowl requires real skill; it takes real expertise.

Zhang Laifu doesn't have that kind of ability, so getting a good bowl is definitely a win for him.

Besides, the skill of the willow craftsman doesn't necessarily mean the quality of his products. Zhang Laifu didn't want to be a basket weaver; he felt that selling wontons was much better than basket weaving!
Perhaps there are even better craftsmen than those who sell wontons.

"Brother Li, how many kinds of craftsmen are there in total?"

Li Yunsheng opened his fan and said, "Clothing, food, housing, transportation, and entertainment; agriculture, industry, education, healthcare, and all sorts of other professions exist, and every profession has its artisans."

Zhang Laifu's eyes widened as he asked, "There are 360 ​​kinds of craftsmen?"

"Actually, there are more than that. Some trades are not considered part of the 360 ​​trades, but there are also craftsmen in these trades."

Zhang Laifu asked excitedly, "Brother Li, out of all 360 professions, which one is the most lucrative?"

"It's hard to say. In any profession, becoming a craftsman is a blessing."

Which profession do you think is most suitable for me?

"I don't think it's useful! It all depends on luck."

"All based on luck?" Zhang Laifu felt he might not have explained himself clearly. "If I use the skill of a willow craftsman to grow willows, and the skill of a willow craftsman is enhanced, then I can become a willow craftsman. What does luck have to do with this?"

Li Yunsheng kept shaking his head: "That's not necessarily true. It depends on what kind of bowl you use. Some people use an iron pot as a bowl and iron filings as soil. They planted a blacksmith's skill and ended up growing a sweet potato roasting skill. So no one can say for sure."

Iron pot, iron filings, blacksmith, roasted sweet potato...

Does this make any sense?
"Brother Li, are you talking about a special case?"

“This is not an exception, it is the norm in all things!” Li Yunsheng pointed to the signboard in the yard. “I originally wanted to be a Western doctor, and I studied Western medicine seriously. I used the instruments in the operating room to make bowls, antibiotics to make soil, and used the skills of a Western doctor to cultivate a skillful one. As a result, I became a doctor of the Zhuyou Department.”

This is completely random?
"Brother Li, since you like Western medicine so much, have you ever thought about changing careers?"

"Change careers? You mean switch industries?" Li Yunsheng gave a wry smile. "You can't afford to think about that. Changing careers is no small matter. If you're not careful, you'll fall into the dark side."

Zhang Laifu was taken aback: "Changing careers can turn you into a demon?"

"Life is ever-changing and unpredictable, and Brother Zhang, aren't you being a bit too hasty in thinking about these things now?" Li Yunsheng didn't continue, but his meaning was clear: Zhang Laifu was thinking about these things too early; his life was still hanging by a thread.

Zhang Laifu was aware of his situation. After eating two snacks, he got up to leave. Li Yunsheng refused to accept the money, but Zhang Laifu insisted on leaving three copper coins.

“You’ve taught me so much, and I know this money is definitely not enough. If I manage to get back to Heishakou alive, I’ll give you another gift as a thank you.”

Li Yunsheng shook the three copper coins in his palm, opened them up and looked at them again; they were still face up.

He smiled.

This big tree is very sincere!
Based on Zhang Laifu's sincerity, he knew the divination was correct.

He took out two coins and handed them to Zhang Laifu: "I'll take one, Brother Laifu, take care on your journey."

After seeing Zhang Laifu off, Li Yunsheng held the two copper coins and played with them for a while.

He tossed two copper coins into the air, and they landed on the coffee table one after the other.

Tap tap tap tap tap~ Clang!

The two copper coins spun around a few times before lying on the table. Li Yunsheng stared at the table for a long while, stunned.

That's really strange, how come it's still showing a positive and upward trend?

Where did these two copper coins come from?
PS: Why are there two copper coins? Didn't Li Yunsheng only keep one copper coin?

(End of this chapter)