Siheyuan: The Ambition of Sanzang

"Oh, let me see first." Dou Zhishan took it with his big hand, first weighed it in the palm of his hand, then closed his eyes and rubbed them for a while, then put them in front of his nose and smelled them, and finally put them in front of his eyes for a closer look , couldn't help frowning, "Old lady, turn on the light."

"Eh."

Dou Zhishan took it under the light again and looked after it carefully.

"Uncle, do you see something tricky?" Sanzang asked with a smile.

"Hmm... this piece of wood is a bit weird, like teak but not teak, like mahogany but not mahogany, tasteless, dense, hard, and should be very durable, isn't it made in China?" Dou Zhishan said. Gently place the small wooden block in front of Sanzang.

"Uncle has good eyesight. That's right. It's called Rhodesian red teak, which comes from the country of Jin in the south of Africa. I want to ask if this kind of wood can be used for carving?" Sanzang pushed the small piece of wood to Dou Zhishan after finishing speaking. before.

"Well, this kind of wood is a bit hard, but it's not a problem to use it for carving. What do you want to use it for carving?" Dou Zhishan picked up the small wooden block in front of him and re-examined it, and said affirmatively.

"What do you think about making Buddha statues and shrines?" Sanzang hesitated for a moment, hiding his true purpose.

"What? Buddha statues? Buddhist altars?! You...you are just playing the zither! Such a fine piece of wood seems to be very precious, and it's not easy to get it, right?

You just used it to make these things, it's really... really..." Dou Zhishan was so angry that he almost wanted to scold his mother, but he held back after thinking about it, "Besides, this kind of thing should not be easy to sell in China, right? "

"That's right, it's not sold in China, I'm going to sell it to Dongwa, so it's a test for the carving skills of you master masters. If it's as exquisite as a work of art,
At that time, the price can be called whatever we want, only US dollars are accepted, not Japanese yen. "San Zang said with a smile, confessing half of his plan.

"Hey, can this work?" Dou Zhishan no longer objected when he heard that he could earn US dollars. The hardwood furniture factory he works in has the task of exporting foreign exchange every year, and he is no stranger to US dollars, but he just looked at Sanzang suspiciously.

"It will definitely work. More than half of the population in Eastern Japan believes in Buddhism, and every household has the habit of worshiping Buddhist altars. Our Buddha statues and altars are made of high-quality materials.
As long as the carvings are exquisite, and then cooperate with the local famous mountain temples, and ask the great masters inside to open up or something, it will definitely sell well. "Sanzang has already thought up a marketing strategy.

"Well, this is a good idea. I'm afraid that the Dongba people can't afford the price. Carving Buddha statues is a delicate job. I guess your wood is also difficult to carve. A skilled person may not be able to carve a few in a month.
If the price is too low at that time, it will not be a good deal. " Dou Zhishan said with a worried face, he was applying the practice of an old country lady in the old society, thinking that he could buy a Buddha statue from the temple for a few dollars and take it home as an offering.

"Haha, your old lady underestimates the Eastern Japanese people. Their current average annual income is about 300 million yen, which is 1 U.S. dollars. It is not a problem to spend a hundred and eighty U.S. dollars on it. ’” Sanzang said this directly and dropped a zero, fearing that telling the truth would directly frighten Dou Zhishan.

"Well, from what you said, there seems to be some business in this business." After finishing speaking, Dou Zhishan rubbed the stubble on his chin.

"Of course, if it's the kind of artwork you've always carved, we won't sell it for less than a thousand dollars." Sanzang said while gesturing with an index finger.

"Haha, it's too exaggerated, it's too exaggerated, and I'll be satisfied if the things I sculpt can sell for three or four hundred dollars." Dou Zhishan was very happy when he heard this, and he was very pleased with this flattery.

"What three or four hundred dollars? Hey, there are distinguished guests at home." At this time, the door of the room was suddenly pushed open by a young guy with an honest and simple appearance, and he saw Sanzang in luxurious clothes and extraordinary appearance at a glance.

"What are you doing coming home from work at this time?" Mother Dou was furious when she saw that it was her youngest son.

"I want to go to work, but I have to have some work to do." The young man went to get a teacup and poured water for a drink, very modest, and didn't bother Sanzang.

"The hardwood furniture factory is dead again?" Dou Zhishan frowned after hearing this.

"It has nothing to do with us temporary workers. What we do now is export work, and the requirements are very strict. How can we let us temporary workers get started? My brother is there." The young man took a big sip Tea, unable to complain.

"Oh, it's really not a problem with you. I will go to your factory manager in two days and tell you about it. Your carving skills are so good. I should arrange some serious work for you. How can you keep sawing?" Wood?" Dou Zhishan sighed and said helplessly.

"You, don't go, it's useless to go. Now the main force of the hardwood furniture factory is you rehired masters, and the factory director only trusts you.

He must be a regular worker. His carving skills are better than mine, but he can only do it first. Export is the top priority now. If there is a problem, no one can take responsibility for it. Our factory manager will not take risks indiscriminately. "The young man shook his head.

"Then you can't always leave work early, what if the factory finds out and fires you?" Mother Dou patted her son's arm vigorously.

"If you get fired, you'll be fired. I don't want to do it anymore. Besides, all the temporary workers in the factory are like this now, and I'm not the only one." no.

"No, don't you usually stay with Xiao Min after get off work? Why did you come back alone today?" Mother Dou asked suspiciously.

"Blow." The young man said nonchalantly.

"What? You're blowing it up again. Are you trying to piss me off? How many people have you dated in the past year? You don't even look at your conditions. You want a house but no house, you want a job but you don't have a job. Min wants to have a good looks, a job to have a job,
It's your good fortune that such a good girl can fall in love with you. How dare you brag about it? I'll kill you, a dishonest thing. "Mother Dou casually took a feather duster from the table and whipped it vigorously at her son.

"Xiao Min, Xiao Min, you know Xiao Min, she already knew that my brother-in-law made a fortune in Hong Kong City, so she urged me to take her to Hong Kong City to develop, I always wondered why she fell in love with me? This will reveal the truth." The young man stood still and told the truth without hesitation.

"What you said is true? When did this happen?" Mother Dou stopped beating her with an expression of disbelief.

"Why did I lie to you, she told me in person yesterday afternoon." The young man quickly stretched out his fingers and swore.

"I believe, I have always felt that there is something wrong with Xiao Min. Even if our son marries her in the future, he will be eaten to death by her for the rest of his life." Dou Zhishan spoke.

"Oh, this doesn't work, that doesn't work either, what kind of woman do you want to marry?" Mother Dou sighed and inserted the feather duster in her hand.

"Mom, they are not good. I just want to marry a wife who is pleasing to the eye, has a good heart, and can honor the two elders. She can't be like a sister-in-law." The young man said gently while supporting his mother.

"I know you are filial, but it's not a problem to be so single all the time. You are almost 34 years old today, and you don't have a formal job yet. It's really a headache." Mother Dou shook her head helplessly.

"I've also figured it out now. A man should put his career first. Any good job is secondary. Now as long as you can make money, you are an old man. Should I not ask your elders to discuss it? "The young man talked eloquently.

"Discussion, what are you discussing? I want to get your sister's money again. Don't even think about it. Your sister said that both of you brothers are not material for doing business. Sooner or later, you will be cheated out. The 2 Hong Kong dollars is The money that our family presses the box to protect the capital,
I'm looking for someone to look for a house. When the time comes, you and your elder brother will be alone and half, and the rest of the money will be used to marry you a wife, and you will work for me honestly. Dou Zhishan patted the table, stared at his youngest son and said.