Chapter 121: Reaching an Agreement

The village chief was named Lu Ling, sixty-three years old this year. Though his hair was completely silver, his vigor rivaled that of a man in his forties.

When Zhang Tianfeng and his companions came to visit, Lu Ling had just finished breakfast and was scrubbing pots in the courtyard. He wore a large undershirt, a long smoking pipe clamped between his teeth. Even while working, his sharp gaze never left Zhang Tianfeng.

“Tianhe, take our guests to their room to rest for a while. I’ll be right in,” he called out.

“Yes, Chief,” Yun Tianhe replied, nodding, and led the three into the house.

They had expected the village chief’s quarters to be more refined, yet upon entering, they found it little better than a storeroom, hardly different from the rooms Yun Tianhe had arranged for them. The walls were hung with various carpenter’s tools, and a pile of wood shavings in the corner filled the air with the scent of timber. In the living room, many finished but unassembled wooden pieces were stacked. Judging by their shapes, Zhang Tianfeng could just make out that some were table legs.

“Hey, what’s this thing that looks like a battering ram?” he asked.

“Uncle, that’s a beast-repelling device invented by Grandpa Lu,” Yun Qian replied. “He says once it’s assembled, when the hammer falls, it sounds just like thunder.”

With Yun Qian’s explanation, Zhang Tianfeng finally understood what it was. No wonder he’d seen a hollowed-out square block of wood and thought it was a special kind of stool.

“Incredible,” he murmured.

“Incredible? It’s just borrowing wisdom from our ancestors,” Lu Ling’s voice came from the doorway as he entered, taking a handkerchief from the wall to wipe his brow. “I hear from Tianhe you want to discuss business. Well then, big boss, how do you propose we talk?”

“You craft items with the mortise and tenon joinery, then hand them over to me. I’ll use machinery to replicate them for sale,” Zhang Tianfeng replied.

“Ridiculous!” Lu Ling tossed his handkerchief on the table, glaring. “This craft, handed down by our forefathers, was meant to teach that things must be made by hand, with heart. How can a cold machine, churning out copies, ever convey your intentions?”

“Chief Lu, let me ask you—why do you think young people today are unwilling to learn these traditional skills?” Zhang Tianfeng countered.

“Who said that? Yun Qian and her mother are willing to learn.”

“Jiling had no choice—she’s bedridden, even walking is difficult. As for Qianqian—” Zhang Tianfeng glanced down at the little girl watching him with wide eyes. “You know better than I how gifted she is. Can your conscience rest easy making her cling to this trade?”

“Then you tell me—what’s your solution? Tianhe said you have a way to revive our national traditions. That’s why I let you come. I’m here to listen, not to be lectured.”

Lu Ling’s voice thundered through the house, his anger as loud as a storm, making Zhang Tianfeng’s ears ring. He rubbed his earlobes and sat down. “Young people aren’t interested because it’s tedious and they prefer city life. If you want to find suitable heirs among billions, you must first raise awareness—let more people know about mortise and tenon craftsmanship. When enough people know, you’ll find those with real passion, and then you can select the best.”

“Otherwise, if you just stay hidden in this mountain village teaching two disciples, do you really think the world will know? It’s not realistic.”

“Well said. Go on,” Lu Ling grunted, tapping his pipe.

“I’ll take your works, analyze them with precision instruments, and create molds for mass production—not just for the domestic market, but to sell overseas, so that foreigners can appreciate our country’s wonders. We’ll split the profits fifty-fifty, after expenses. All you need to do is make the prototypes here and give them to me. If you’re worried, you can assign someone you trust to supervise the finances with my staff. I can also help solve the villagers’ employment issues.”

“They’re fine here, there’s no need for them to leave,” Lu Ling replied.

Only a fool would believe that. When villagers saw products brought in from outside, they acted like starving weasels, ready to devour even the bags. If not for the lingering fear left by the asbestos factory boss, most would have already left Shuangshen Village, eager to escape. And living here, what if a rock, weathered loose, fell from above one day? That would be the end for all. Or if a wild boar, escaped from captivity, came seeking revenge—its hide impervious even to muskets—who could stop it?

When Zhang Tianfeng didn’t answer, Lu Ling knocked his pipe on the table. “Let’s leave it there for now. Come with me. The rest of you stay put.”

Zhang Tianfeng glanced at his two companions, signaling them to wait, then followed. They passed through the main hall and courtyard, finally descending into the cellar.

There, many stores of grain were stacked, some already starting to spoil from the recent rains, releasing a foul odor. Lu Ling set down his pipe and pulled on an eagle-shaped stone sculpture; with a creak, a stone door slid open before them.

Zhang Tianfeng’s eyes widened. It was the first time he’d seen something like this in real life. What could be inside? Could it be the secret legacy of the Luban clan?

Curiosity piqued, Zhang Tianfeng stepped into the chamber, lit by a glowing rock. The soft light illuminated an array of furniture scattered across the floor—small toys like those Yun Qian sold at the market, as well as large cabinets and chests.

“All of these, I made myself,” Lu Ling said. “You choose which ones are best for the first stage of our cooperation. Pick a few and tell me.”

“The first stage?” Zhang Tianfeng thought for a moment, then pointed to the smaller items. “The compact ones are easier to promote. Let’s start with these.”

“The smaller, the more intricate the structure, and the higher the demands on the wood. Are you sure?” Lu Ling asked.

“I can solve that problem. You just need to provide them. It’d be best if you could include a few simple models and one or two complex ones,” Zhang Tianfeng said.

The simple ones would satisfy customers’ pride, the complex ones would inspire their curiosity and drive to challenge themselves.

“Very well. Go back for now. I’ll get everything ready and hand them to you.”

Lu Ling didn’t finish his thought—he’d only mentioned the first stage of cooperation. Anything further would depend on Zhang Tianfeng’s abilities.

Zhang Tianfeng understood and didn’t press the matter, turning to leave. At this point, he’d more or less achieved his goal for coming here and could finally relax.

Soon after, Lu Ling emerged from the cellar, only to meet Yun Qian’s reproachful gaze.

“Grandpa, why were you so fierce with Uncle? He’s so nice, and he even saved Uncle Chen,” she complained.

“If Grandpa isn’t strict with him, what will happen in the future?” Lu Ling smiled, lifting Yun Qian into his arms. “You’ll have to take up the burden of revitalizing Shuangshen Village one day. Let Grandpa be the bad guy for now, and you can be the good one later, all right?”

“But… but I really think Uncle already understands what you mean.”

“All the better. If he dares step out of line, I simply won’t work with him.”

“No, don’t say that. Uncle is a good man—he even offered to treat Mama’s illness.”

Those words struck a sore spot in Lu Ling’s heart. He’d watched this little girl grow up in Shuangshen Village, providing her with the best of everything. Yet she’d only been out a little while and already her loyalties leaned toward an outsider.

Zhang, you rascal, I won’t let you off so easily!