In Yizhou City, Li the Carpenter set up his stall today as usual.
Though in terms of identity, he no longer needed to earn money through craftsmanship. After all, despite still bearing the title of refugees, once Du Chengfeng raised the rebellious flag, his initial followers also rose in status—much like the Yang family, who now constantly drilled and trained as if they had already conquered Yizhou City.
But for Li the Carpenter, he was still more accustod to doing so woodworking.
Perhaps at first, he only did carpentry to earn a living, but after decades, he found it hard to distinguish whether he did it just to earn a little extra for the household or because he genuinely loved the craft—he only knew that he couldn’t relax like old man Yang, nor could he indulge himself like Mr. Liu. Only with so work in his hands could he find peace.
Thus, under Li the Carpenter’s tireless creativity, those little trinkets he carved quickly piled up into a large collection.
Even if his children were still at the age to play with toys, they obviously couldn’t play with so many, so under his wife’s admonishnt, Li the Carpenter had no choice but to take them out to sell—proven to be highly popular, as the locals in Yizhou showed considerable enthusiasm for his work.
This wasn’t just because of Li the Carpenter’s status; it was mainly because his craftsmanship was exceedingly fine. Decades of diligent polishing had made his skills extrely refined. The only thing perhaps missing from global fa was a proper platform.
So local rchants in Yizhou even specifically sought out Li the Carpenter, wanting to buy his works at a high price and then sell them as luxury goods to the elite.
But Li the Carpenter refused this highly tempting offer.
"They’re just children’s toys, really not worth that much money."
Sitting behind his stall, Li the Carpenter appeared quite earnest, his honest appearance making it clear he harbored no grand ambitions.
Perhaps to others, earning big money from their work was a great thing, a ans to fa and fortune... but good-hearted Li the Carpenter, after pondering for a long ti, still didn’t want to make money this way. After all, he knew the worth of his items well enough, and if he sold them for such a high price, wouldn’t that be deceitful?
"How is that deceitful? Isn’t that a good thing?"
A passing swordsman approached the stall with a perplexed face.
"I saw everything just now, and heard your mutterings too... Reasonably speaking, if they’re willing to spend big money on your stuff, that ans to them, your things are worth the price. Transactions have always been on a voluntary basis; if they’re willing to spend big bucks, what does it have to do with you?"
"How could it have nothing to do with ? It’s big!"
Upon hearing the swordsman’s words, Li the Carpenter couldn’t help but shake his head repeatedly.
"If I sell them sothing at a high price today, the prices of these things will be inflated tomorrow... if these little toys really get priced so high, kids won’t be able to afford them."
"This..."
The swordsman couldn’t help but take another look at Li the Carpenter.
"You actually think it’s more important to sell to those ignorant children than to make a lot of money?"
"At least they genuinely like these toys."
Li the Carpenter still insisted on his own thoughts.
In fact, this was also why he enjoyed setting up his stall, for every ti he saw those kids’ smiles upon receiving a toy, he would think of his own children—back when his children saw his works, they too had shown such delighted expressions, that pure happiness was more joyful than anything else in the world.
It’s just a pity that as he made more and more toys, his children gradually beca indifferent to them, even starting to pick on his creations, saying this wasn’t right, or that wasn’t right.
So he could only rely on setting up his stall to savor that simple joy.
"Interesting, you’re quite the character."
After hearing Li the Carpenter’s explanation, the swordsman laughed.
"Well then, being acquainted with you must be fate. Since you’re unwilling to sell these things at high prices to those rchants, just use your skills to earn a little more yourself."
Saying this, the swordsman took a seat in front of Li the Carpenter.
"I need a pole, a long pole... Don’t look at like that, I have so specifications for the pole. It should have bamboo skin on the exterior, hardwood at the core, varnished on the outside, and best if it feels oval-shaped when held..."
"Wait, this style?"
Li the Carpenter’s brows furrowed slightly.
"Is it for a spear shaft... no, a sword shaft? That grip, are you trying to easily find the blade’s direction?"
"Indeed, seeing your craftsmanship, I knew you’d understand."
The swordsman, whose words were interrupted, didn’t mind at all and nodded repeatedly.
"I approached five carpenters already, all claid they could only make round poles, so even said long weapons are supposed to have round poles, and that not finding the blade was purely my inability... ridiculous, I’m here to order a pole, paying for them to make it, and if they can’t, they bla , what’s with that logic?"
"Uh, it’s not really their problem."
Li the Carpenter thought about it, feeling it necessary to defend his peers.
It’s not that the other carpenters have an issue; rather, this egg-shaped handle hasn’t been made in a long ti. Due to its lengthy production ti, most carpenters have only heard of it—even many have never made lacquered poles, given they’re weapon shafts, not everyday items, who would make them for no reason?
But coincidentally, Li the Carpenter had indeed made so.
It was sothing he practiced in his spare ti, while having nothing else to do recently, so in the free ti, he began trying things he hadn’t made before—like those few oval-shaped poles, intended for his brother Du as components for so items.
However, since there were quite a few poles now and a knowledgeable person had co along, giving one to this stranger swordsman was no problem.
"By the way, good sir."
Having fetched a pole and handed it over, Li the Carpenter casually asked.
"What head are you pairing this pole with? A sword head? Or a halberd head?"
"Thank you so much, really."
Upon touching the pole, the swordsman couldn’t help but nod repeatedly.
"This is perfect, just what I need... Wait, you’re asking what head I’m pairing?"
Thud—
The hardened pole thrust directly into Li the Carpenter’s chest.
"Well, let’s see what kind of head you can beco."
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