The sound of crackling firecrackers rang out on a small street in Xuan Tak City, Ninh Thanh Province, attracting nearby businesses and passers-by. I saw that in front of an inconspicuous small door, a middle-aged couple was using a bamboo pole to carry a long whip with a thousand rings, and their faces were filled with excitement and apprehension.

"Master Cao, Xiao Yi, what's wrong with you?"

The merchant who opened a pharmacy next door couldn't help but come forward and ask.

This middle-aged couple, the man's name is Cao Jianzhong, and the woman's name is Yi Xiuying, who were originally workers in Chunze Machinery Factory. Two years ago, when the machine factory was in a serious loss and all the workers went home to work, the couple spent their family savings and rented a shop on this small street to make breakfasts and light meals to make a living.

I don't know if it's because of the couple's poor craftsmanship or the lack of popularity on this street, the couple's snack bar has been deserted, and after paying the rent, the remaining income to maintain the family's food and clothing is a problem.

A few days ago, the surrounding shops suddenly found that the snack bar was closed, and a notice was posted on the door, saying that the owner had something to go out and was temporarily closed for a few days. Later, the two of them came back, and they only said to their neighbors that they had gone to Dongye Province, and they were secretive about what they were doing. Everyone didn't have a deep friendship with each other, and it was inconvenient for everyone to inquire more about what they refused to disclose, but they only knew that the couple did not resume the business of the snack bar after they came back, but hid in the store and did not show their heads, not knowing what they were busy with.

Today, the door of the snack bar finally opened, followed by the sound of festive firecrackers, which is clearly the opening ceremony of the new store. Could it be that the two of them went to some kind of chef school, and when they came back, they were going to change the snack bar into a big restaurant?

Regarding the inquiries of others, the two of them just laughed and did not answer. After the firecrackers were finished, the two went into the house and took out a plaque, and then Yi Xiuying supported it underneath, and Cao Jianzhong stepped on the ladder alone, first took off the sign of "Xiuying Snack" on the door, and then replaced it with the new plaque.

"Jianzhong Craft Wood Carving Studio!"

Everyone read the words on the plaque in unison, all of them inexplicable. Everyone understands the word "work", but what does "studio" mean? Could it be another name for the workshop? Also, craft wood carving, it sounds like a very tall appearance, but when did these two people understand wood carving, and when did they understand the craft?

"Hey, this plaque is so beautiful!"

Someone discovered the New World. Everyone looked at it intently, only to notice that the plaque that Cao Jianzhong had just hung up was quite different, and everyone just paid attention to the words on the plaque, but did not find the mystery of the plaque itself.

Other plaques are either acrylic signs made by someone, or they are made of wood and painted with white paint, and then the name of the store is written with black paint. Pay attention to a little bit, will do some decoration on the plaque, but just paste a gold edge or something, I look very good, but to others I feel that it is dirt and slag.

The plaque that Cao Jianzhong just hung up is made of a single piece of hardwood, and the surface is not painted. The above line of words is not written with a pen, but carved out, and the pen is lifelike, it looks like it exudes a cultural atmosphere, which makes people feel that the owner of this shop must have been cultivating in Kunlun Mountain for more than ten years, if you don't have a doctorate diploma in your pocket, you are embarrassed to say hello to the boss.

"Wow, Boss Cao, this plaque is so good, who did you ask to make it?"

"Just this plaque, you can't get 500 yuan, right?"

"What 500 yuan, I'll give you 500 yuan, you can make me a piece!"

"That's it, this knife skill must be carved by an old carpenter!"

"I thought, it must have been carved by a professor from the Academy of Arts......"

Everyone talked about it, Cao Jianzhong jumped down from the ladder, made a gesture in front of everyone, and then said loudly: "Bosses, masters, our family has changed to craft wood carving." The plaque you see is carved by me, so it's okay, right?"

"What so-so, it's amazing! Boss Cao, when did you learn wood carving, I heard that this craft can't be taught in ten or eight years." Someone exaggerated.

"Haha, it's all trivial. Cao Jianzhong was quite complacent, he moved the ladder, made a gesture of welcome, and said: "If you don't dislike it, please come in and have a look, I have prepared some wood carvings here." In addition, you can undertake all kinds of customization, make screens, make railings, and do decorative paintings!"

"Let's go, let's go inside!"

The curiosity of everyone was aroused, and they greeted each other, and they poured into Cao Jianzhong's studio.

When I entered the door, someone who was familiar with the small shop found that the room had completely changed. The original snack bar layout has been demolished, and the walls are newly pasted with wallpaper, which looks quite elegant. On the wall, there are many pieces of wood hung, take a closer look, they are all exquisite wood carvings and paintings, there are flowers, birds, insects and fish, there are also poems of the ancients, and there are some famous sayings of Hillary and a certain rock pine, which are particularly inspirational and stylish.

In one corner of the store, there is a computer and a machine. Some people who have been in the factory can see at a glance that the machine is somewhat similar to the gantry milling machine in the factory, but the volume is slightly smaller, and the beams and columns look a little thinner. Next to the machine, you can see some remnants of wood chips, and it is conceivable that the various wood carvings in this house should have been made on this machine.

"This painting is beautiful! Buy it and hang it in the living room, and it will be high-grade when you look at it!"

Someone quickly discovered the practical value of these wood carvings.

Nowadays, it is a difficult economic period, state-owned enterprises are losing a lot of money, and there are "three rural" problems in rural areas. But in reality, every family is thinking about buying a house, decorating, and buying furniture, and they don't know where everyone's money comes from.

Some units have undergone housing reform, and the original house can be bought for 30,000 or 20,000 yuan. Although it is the same as living, can live in a house with its own property rights, and live in a public house, can it be the same thing? The public house, no matter how bad it is, does not feel distressed, and becomes your own house, you have to think about laying a floor tile, changing an aluminum alloy door and window or something,

The farmer's market has all kinds of New Year's paintings, some of which depict ancient generals fighting wars, some of which depict big fat boys, some of which draw flowers and birds, and some imitate the eight horses, that is, how the horses on them look like donkeys. The countryside likes this kind of New Year's painting, but it is understandable, after all, the countryside itself lacks color and needs red and green things to decorate. But it is too cheesy for people in the city to hang this kind of New Year's picture at home, and I am sorry for the money I spent on decoration.

Some have a way, just ask a calligrapher to write a banner or something, the calligrapher himself does not charge labor fees, only a little pen, that is to say, their pen is tired, everyone give a hundred and eighty yuan of comfort. There is no way, if you want to send a pen fee, you can't send it out, let your middle school baby write a few strokes, and hang it on the wall to avoid evil, which is not beautiful.

Nowadays, Cao Jianzhong's studio provides a new idea for everyone, can it ......be the same flowers and birds, painted with watercolors, and carved with wood?

"Lao Cao, your painting is not cheap, is it?"

Some people began to inquire tentatively, thinking that if a painting is within 100 yuan, it should be acceptable, and if it exceeds 100 yuan, it will have to be weighed. What, you said within 50 yuan, don't be funny, this is woodcarving, and it is such a fine wood carving, do you think it is just a random board on the ground and carved two knives?

"Boss Li, this one you fancy is 25 yuan. ”

Cao Jianzhong's voice rang out.

"Whatever!25 bucks!"

Not only Boss Li, who opened a small grocery store, but everyone was shocked. Such a beautiful wood carving painting is only 25 yuan, Lao Cao can't be mistaken, right?

25 yuan, put aside 10 years ago, is almost enough for half a month's food expenses for the family, and now you can buy 3 catties of meat. In the past two years, prices have risen like crazy, and the family has a meal on the weekend, and they can't wait to spend 25 yuan to save it to buy a painting and hang it in the house, and it is estimated that it will not be bad for 20 years, right?

"Lao Cao, what about this?"

"I want this, who is it, don't rob me!"

"I'll buy ten yuan, can you give a 20% discount or something!"

Everyone was moved, and they didn't understand the price while these two people were stunned, so let's make a move first. Buying 10 decorative paintings is enough to fill the walls of the whole house, which is only 250 yuan, which is a drop in the bucket compared to the money spent on decoration.

"Boss, how much does your map of China cost?"

A neutral voice attracted everyone's attention, and everyone saw that this was a strong man with a 20-pound gold chain around his neck, and he pointed to a large board standing on the ground. The board is 1 meter high and 2 meters long, and if you look closely, you can see that it was put together with several hardwood boards. The most eye-catching thing is that this board is carved with a complete map of China, on which the mountains, rivers and plateaus are convex, and the plains and lakes are concave.

"This ...... , a bit expensive. Cao Jianzhong said sneeringly.

"No matter how expensive it is, there is a price, right? The man with the gold chain said domineeringly.

"500 pieces. Cao Jianzhong stretched out a slap.

"Hahahaha!" The gold-chained man laughed, "I thought it was expensive, it's only 500 yuan! Boss Cao, can you engrave the name of our company on the blank space next to the map for me, indicating that this is a special version, and I'll add another 500 yuan to you when it's over, how about I'm going to hang this map in my office, so that my friends who do business will blind their dog's eyes as soon as they walk in!"