A Poor Man's Son-in-Law: He Picks Up the Daughter of a Duke's Mansion at the Start

Three days later, the bonsai was completed.

Lu Xiaoshan placed it on the table in the center of the main room and called the whole family to see it. The old bamboo root carving stood at an angle, with seven or eight bamboo leaves arranged in a pleasing manner, accompanied by two craggy stones, and a shallow pear wood basin underneath. Morning light shone in from the doorway, casting dappled shadows on the bamboo leaves.

Tao Hua was the first to clap: "So beautiful!"

Shunhua whispered, "It really feels like being blown by the wind."

Lu Dashan walked around the table, grinning sheepishly, "Second brother, you're really skillful."

Zhao wiped her apron, her eyes slightly moist: "Xiaoshan has made something of himself."

Lu Tiezhu stood at the door for a long time before finally speaking, "Can it be sold for money?"

Lu Xiaoshan looked at Lu Qingyan.

Lu Qingyan approached and bent down to examine it closely. The spirit of the bamboo roots was indeed captured well, vigorous and ancient. The shape of the bamboo leaves was also natural, with some sparse and some dense. The stones were also well chosen, one standing and one lying down, echoing each other.

but……

"Second brother," he straightened up, "it's almost there."

The room fell silent.

Lu Xiaoshan's smile froze: "Where...where is it lacking?"

"It's too rough." Lu Qingyan pointed to the joint of the bamboo joint. "Here, the knife marks haven't been smoothed out. And the edge of the basin isn't polished smooth enough; it feels rough to the touch."

He walked up to the bonsai and gently touched the bamboo leaves: "The edges of the leaves should also be trimmed; they look too harsh now. The mud on the stone isn't cleaned properly, making it look dirty."

With each word he spoke, Lu Xiaoshan's face paled a little more. By the time he finished speaking, Lu Xiaoshan had already lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of his clothes.

"Third brother," Lu Dashan couldn't help but speak up, "Second brother has been doing this for three days..."

"I know," Lu Qingyan said calmly. "It's precisely because we've been working on it for three days that we can't compromise. Boss Chen of Ya Yun Zhai has a sharp eye; he can spot even the slightest flaw. If we're going to sell, we have to sell the best."

Zhao looked at Lu Qingyan, then at Lu Xiaoshan, opened her mouth, but said nothing.

Lu Tiezhu took a drag of his cigarette: "Qingyan is right. If you want to make money, you have to do it well."

Lu Xiaoshan looked up, his eyes a little red, but his gaze was serious: "Then... how should we change it?"

Lu Qingyan went inside and got a piece of fine sandpaper—he'd bought it along with paper and pens last time. He also found a soft cloth and a small jar of varnish—he'd bought it from a general store in town, intending to use it to scrub tables.

"Second brother, look here." He pointed to the joint of the bamboo, "Use sandpaper to slowly sand it until you can't see the knife marks, but don't sand it too smooth, you have to leave some natural texture."

He demonstrated, gently sanding the wood. The sandpaper rubbed against the wood, making a soft, scratching sound. After sanding for a while, the joints were indeed much smoother, but the wood grain was still visible.

"You give it a try."

Lu Xiaoshan took the sandpaper and began to sand, imitating his movements. His hand was steady, and his pressure was even; he quickly mastered the technique.

"The same goes for the rim of the basin," Lu Qingyan said. "It needs to be polished until it feels as smooth as jade to the touch. But it can't be polished round; it has to maintain a square shape with rounded edges."

Lu Xiaoshan nodded, changed to a finer sandpaper, and began sanding the edge of the basin.

"Gently scrape the edge of the bamboo leaf," Lu Qingyan picked up the carving knife, "to remove the rough edges, but keep the leaf thin. If you scrape too hard, the leaf will become stiff."

He carefully scraped the edge of a bamboo leaf. After scraping, the leaf looked more natural, as if it had naturally grown variations in thickness.

"The stones need to be cleaned thoroughly." Lu Qingyan put the stones into the water and used an old toothbrush to scrub the mud from the crevices. "Wash them until every hole is clean, let them dry, and then put them back."

Tao Hua volunteered, "I'll wash the stones!"

Shunhua also came to help.

The family busied themselves again. Lu Xiaoshan was engrossed in polishing, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Lu Qingyan offered guidance from the side, occasionally adjusting the angle of the bamboo leaves. Tao Hua and Shun Hua squatted in the yard brushing stones, the small brushes making a crisp, clear sound.

Zhao boiled some water and brewed honeysuckle tea. Lu Dashan helped by handing over tools and carrying things.

They ate a simple lunch, and no one suggested taking a break. Lu Xiaoshan's hands were red from rubbing, but he didn't stop. He went through sheet after sheet of sandpaper, from coarse to fine. Gradually, the edge of the basin became smooth as a mirror, and the wood grain gleamed warmly in the sunlight.

The bamboo leaves were trimmed one by one, their edges becoming natural. The stones were washed clean, revealing their original textures and colors.

As the sun began to set, Lu Qingyan said, "We can start painting now."

The varnish is transparent; applying a thin layer protects the wood and makes the grain more visible. Lu Xiaoshan applied it very carefully, stroke by stroke, neither too thick nor too thin. After finishing, the entire bonsai looked as if it had been washed with water, fresh and glossy.

The lacquer needs to dry. The whole family watches over the bonsai, waiting.

As dusk fell, the lacquer dried. Lu Qingyan moved the bonsai under the oil lamp.

The lamplight cast a dim, yellowish glow, casting bamboo shadows that swayed gracefully on the wall. The smooth, polished rim of the pot gleamed softly, revealing clear, natural bamboo joint patterns, delicate bamboo leaves, and a clean, warm stone.

This time, no one spoke.

Lu Dashan stared, mouth agape, for a long time before finally managing to stammer, "Is...is this still the same pot we made?"

Zhao wiped her eyes and said, "Beautiful, so beautiful."

Lu Tiezhu smoked a cigarette, and amidst the swirling smoke, he gazed at the bonsai for a long time before nodding.

Lu Xiaoshan stood by the table, his hands trembling slightly. He looked at his own work as if he didn't recognize it.

"Second Brother," Lu Qingyan patted his shoulder, "It's done."

Lu Xiaoshan turned his head, his eyes were red, but he was smiling.

Tao Hua reached out to touch it, then pulled her hand back: "Can I touch it?"

"Touch it gently," Lu Qingyan said.

Tao Hua carefully touched the edge of the basin: "It's slippery."

Shunhua looked at the bamboo leaves: "They look like they could actually move."

In the evening, the bonsai tree was placed on the table in the center of the main room. Every time the family ate, they couldn't help but glance at it. Under the dim light, the bamboo shadows stood quietly, elegant and serene.

After finishing his meal, Lu Xiaoshan wanted to rest a bit more, but Lu Qingyan stopped him, saying, "That's enough. Any better and it'll look forced."

"Tomorrow... are you really going to sell it?"

"Take it," Lu Qingyan said. "If Boss Chen knows his stuff, he'll buy it."

"Second brother, you're really something."

"It's because my third brother taught him well."

"That's because you're skillful."

"Go to sleep, you have to get up early tomorrow."

The lights went out.

Lu Qingyan finished writing a chapter and blew out the lamp. Moonlight streamed in through the window, cool and clear. In the main room, the bonsai stood quietly, its bamboo shadows cast on the floor like a traditional Chinese ink painting.