The story takes place in the turbulent era of the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China. The place where it happened was a place called Linjiang Province. Linjiang Prefecture in the central part of Jiangxi. Up to Nanchang, down to Linchuan, a Yuan River passes through it. Since ancient times, it has been a land of fish and rice. It is especially famous for the wholesale of medicinal herbs and tea. Since ancient times, one government has governed three counties. He is in charge of three places, Fengcheng, Xinyu, and Gao'an. It is equivalent to the current prefecture-level city.

There is a carpenter's shop at the east gate of the city. The story we are going to tell comes from this carpenter's shop. The owner of the carpenter's shop is called Old Ginger. He was a well-known carpenter. I don't have to say anything about the craftsmanship of that body. The carved beams and paintings are lifelike. Old Jiang Tou relied on this craft to run the family. His wife died early, and he and his daughter lived together with an apprentice who didn't know their origin. Life is quite rich.

"Old ginger, please do me a favor. I'm missing a few things in my house. Please help me do two days of work. I'll give you two oceans. "Yo! It turned out to be the shopkeeper of Li Jiafang! It's easy to say! It's easy to say! Dare to ask the owner what kind of materials and parts are used!" Old Jiang Tou saw that it was Li Cai, and hurriedly greeted him. "Authentic pear blossom wood. Otherwise, I wouldn't dare to drive you out of the horse. ”

The old ginger hurriedly welcomed the rich man Li to the living room. "The owner of the house does. I'll make you tea. Dare to ask the owner when he wants it?" "If you don't have a job in your hands, you can find out! I'll bother you. "No trouble, no trouble. I'll clean up tonight, clean up. Arrive early tomorrow morning. The two of them chatted for a while. The rich man Li got up and said, "It's not too early. I'm waiting for you at home. "Okay, boss, you go slowly. Old Jiang Tou hurriedly got up and sent Rich Master Li to the door.

"Nian'er, where are you making a fuss again!" Old Jiang Tou turned back to his apprentice Liu Xiaonian. Speaking of this Liu Xiaonian, no one else knows where he comes from. It seems to have suddenly appeared at the old ginger head's house. The old ginger head didn't speak. No one else can inquire. I only know that Lao Jiang Tou has such an apprentice. It grows five big and three thick. It's a good material for crafting.

"Master, I just helped my sister catch crickets and play? As he spoke, a young man of thirteen or fourteen years old popped up. I saw his Chinese face and eyebrows. On the high bridge of the nose are a pair of large piercing eyes. Heh! Why is this young man so energetic! Old Jiang Tou looked at his apprentice and said with a smile, "Does Yanming like that?" "Master, senior sister likes it." She said her favorite thing was listening to crickets sing. The old ginger nodded and said, "If you like it, go and prepare the guy." We have to go to the house of the rich man Li in Lijiafang next door to make a few things. ”

"Ah, that's so far! I've heard that to go to Lijiafang, you have to pass through a cemetery. I'm afraid of the master walking at night. "I think you're lazy! What is there to be afraid of in Lijiafang. It's not like we haven't been there. Hurry up and clean up. When I come back, I will make a robe for you and your sister to wear. Winter is coming. Old Jiang Tou touched Liu Xiaonian's head and said with a smile.

Liu Xiaonian heard that there were new clothes to wear. Jumped up for joy. "Okay, I'm going to get ready." With that, he ran to the back room. Old Jiang Tou looked at Liu Xiaonian's back. He smiled with relief. Liu Xiaonian was picked up on his way back from Xinyu ten years ago. At that time, my wife had just passed away. Leaving a daughter to live with him. He happened to be on his way to a meeting of the Southern Carpenters Alliance. This carpenter's alliance is an exchange conference held by the four provinces in the south of the Yangtze River. Presided over by the President. The main thing is to exchange the experience of carpenters of the southern school. Demonstrate the craftsmanship of the carpenters. He came back and passed through a barren mountain and heard the cry of a child.

Thinking about it, ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. Old Jiang Tou looked at Liu Xiaonian's back. He smiled. He had always had a wish. I hope that Xiao Nian will be able to marry his daughter in the future. Then he will be satisfied. Xiao Nian, this child. Down-to-earth and able to endure hardships, his daughter Yanming will definitely not suffer if he follows him. The daughter is exactly three years older than Xiao Nian. As the saying goes: female juniors, hug gold bricks. Just a perfect match.

Early the next morning, the old ginger got up early. He woke up Liu Xiaonian and said, "Nian'er, are all the things ready?" Xiao Nian rubbed his eyes and said, "Master, how many shifts! "Alright, it's time to get up. Clean up. It's time to go. Strive to come back early in the evening. Liu Xiaonian pouted in response. I slowly got up.

The two of them cleaned up. Liu Xiaonian picked up two boxes with five feet. (Five feet, five feet and a half inches long.) Made of straight mahogany. There is a scale of measurement on it. There are also drawn charms. ) is an important tool for Jiangnan carpenters. It's not just a measuring tool. It is also an important tool for exorcism and evil spirits. As the saying goes: five feet, five feet, measure people above, and measure ghosts in half an inch. Any ghosts. It's only half an inch.

Liu Xiaonian carried the tool with five feet. The old ginger head has an axe in his hand. He has a dry pipe in his mouth. He glanced at his daughter's room. said to his daughter: "Yan Ming, I'll go to Lijiafang with your junior brother." You can get some food for yourself after school! We'll try to come back early in the evening. "Daughter Yanming is studying at Qingjiang Girls' High School. People were not like now. Books are read relatively late.

"Hmm!" came a crisp sound from inside the room. Old ginger looked at the upper room. He opened the door and walked out of the house with his apprentice Liu Xiaonian one after the other. I walked to the house of the rich man Li in Lijiafang. The sky is still gray. I can barely see the road clearly. The two of them were talking and laughing. Walked over.

"Oh! Master Jiang. It's coming! It's early! "Boss, you see that you have come here in person. Can I still not be careful?" "Yes, I just like Master Jiang's attitude. Be honest and honest, and I can rest assured that I will live for you. Sit down quickly. With that, he welcomed the master and apprentice into the hall. Rich Li is a well-known wealthy man in this neighborhood. Look at the big tiled house with three entrances and three exits. Sanjin means that there are three large patios. The houses of ancient Jiangnan were all of this construction. Once inside, you will find the antechamber. And then there's the patio. The patio is tired of a pool with stones. The rich landlord and the old rich man would raise some turtles in the pond or something.

This is called turtle longevity. The pool used to be the living room. It was set up by the host to entertain guests. There are wings on both sides. This is called the first entry into the living room, and there is a vestibule and patio that is the inner hall. It is used for one's own activities, reunions, and gatherings. Then the back is the dining room, which is used by the host's family for dinner. The wing room in the lobby is used as a guest room. The wing room in the middle is the son's room. The last one is the boudoir of the master and his daughter. Of course, this is only available to landlords or eunuch families. It would be nice for ordinary people to have a tiled house.

Liu Xiaonian looked at this room carefully, and there were carved beams and paintings everywhere, and on the left was the chart of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea. On the right is a painting of Shiro's mother. It's lifelike. His eyes were straight when he saw it. Rich man Li asked the maid to bring tea and said, "Master Jiang, take a sip of tea and rest first." As he spoke, he did it at the chairman's meeting. When the old Jiang saw it, he hurriedly sat down on the side seat. "Don't look around, come over and have a sip of tea. Moisten your throat. Liu Xiaonian turned around. "Master, this Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea is so beautiful. Rich Master Li glanced at Liu Xiaonian and said, "Little master, be beautiful! This is your master's masterpiece." ”

"Ah, master, this is your craft! Liu Xiaonian made a sound of "tsk, tsk, tsk"! "Hehe! You know how to play. Look at when you have my craft, and I will be able to enjoy it at home. Old Jiang said proudly. In this way, the three of them are the east and the west, and there is a short sentence to make trouble. But. Rich Li just didn't mean to move to call Lao Jiang Tou and them to do things.

Strange, the old ginger wondered in his heart: "Boss, I don't know what utensils are going to be licked in the house today?" "Oh! I forgot." Rich Man Li patted his head and said, "You come with me, I want to lick four Eight Immortal Chairs, one Eight Immortal Table." There is also a shop window. The Eight Immortals chair wants this style. As he spoke, he took the old ginger head and walked towards the middle hall.

The old ginger followed the rich man Li from the front hall to the middle hall, and from the middle hall to the back hall. Walked back and forth. In a blink of an eye, most of the morning has passed. But they haven't done it yet. Old Jiang Tou thought that he would definitely be late today. Otherwise, I will hand over what I will to the owner tomorrow! After a long morning, I finally understood Li Cai's main belongings.

In the afternoon, Liu Xiaonian sharpened the tools. And so they got to work.