Eternal madness

Chapter 39: This is the group of people!
A faint aroma of ointment wafted through Mingzhaozhai's workshop, the smell of oil left from ox horns.

The man picked up a cow horn and began to explain the lamp-making process.

"The first step is to select the horn. When Mingzhaozhai makes lamps, they only use the upper horn of an old yellow ox. The lower horn is oily and coarse, and is not suitable for making lamps. The upper horn has been weathered for many years, so the horn is firm and has a stable luster."

As he spoke, the waiter tapped the horn with his fingernail: "A crisp sound indicates a good horn; a dull sound means there's nothing inside, and that's just trash."

The selected ox horns should be soaked in warm vinegar water for three days to remove the fishy smell and oil, just like the consecration of jade.

After introducing the casting process, the waiter went to an iron pot and said, "After the ox horn is cooked, the second step is to split it into pieces. Some workshops split the pieces and then burn them. Mingzhaozhai is different from them. We add ingredients first and then cook it to soften the ox horn."

Zhang Laifu asked, "What are the ingredients?"

The waiter glared at him: "How could I tell you that? It's Mingzhaozhai's secret recipe!"

Zhang Laifu didn't ask any more questions. The waiter continued, "When it's cooked to the right consistency, use a knife to split the ox horn open, then gently prop it up with a wooden wedge. After that, bake it over a fire until it's soft, then flatten it and leave it overnight. The horn pieces will be as smooth as jade. That's the craftsmanship of Mingzhaozhai."

Despite the complicated explanation, it's actually just about heating the cow horn to press it into thin sheets. Zhang Laifu understands this.

"The third step is scraping and polishing. Use a knife to remove the burrs, use sharkskin as a base to roughen it, and then use ash powder to polish it finely. After scraping, use linen cloth dipped in a little tung oil to spread it evenly, which is both to seal the corners and to nourish the color."

Hearing this, Zhang Laifu felt that the goddess's status was getting higher and higher.

"The fourth step is to assemble the lamp. The lampshade is glued together with a mixture of glutinous rice glue and fish glue. The lamp you bought also needs to be covered with bronze. The bronze strips are first carved with cloud patterns with a small chisel, and then fixed with fine nails. The inlay must be flat and straight, without any corners or gaps."

The base of the lamp was made of ebony, with a round support carved out and inlaid with the silver character "明" (bright). The corner shade, copper rim, wooden support, and wick were layered together and finally nailed together with bamboo pins.

Hearing this, Zhang Laifu felt that the goddess was getting further and further away.

Ah Qiang continued, "The final step is to test the light. The test should be done at night. The wick should be made of mutton tallow candle wick, which is fragrant but not greasy, has a warm flame, does not shine into the eyes, does not leak fire, and the wick is not visible. Only when all three are met is it a good lamp."

"Great light!" Zhang Laifu praised, carefully considering whether he was truly part of this group.

The shopkeeper showed Zhang Laifu the entire process of making the horn lamp, and the feeling Zhang Laifu experienced was indeed much stronger than when he was in the candle shop.

But a goddess is a goddess, and Zhang Laifu always felt that he and Niujiaodeng did not live in the same world.

"A hundred years of life, all for this one bright night," the shopkeeper said, walking up to Zhang Laifu with a cow horn lantern. "Mingzhaozhai makes lanterns not to light the way, but to illuminate the heart. My friend, you've entered the craft, but haven't found your way yet, have you?"

Zhang Laifu was startled; this shopkeeper was truly astute, he had really seen right through him.

Ox-horn lamp maker, one of the 360 ​​trades.

The old shopkeeper just used the unique skill of the ox horn lamp trade: tattooing shadows to see into someone's mind.

Different ox-horn lanterns have different patterns, and these patterns will appear differently on different people's faces.
Zhang Laifu didn't hide anything: "I did come looking for a business, but I felt..."

"You don't think I belong in this line of work, do you?" The shopkeeper chuckled. "I can't tell what kind of line of work I'm into, but I can tell you're definitely not in this line of work. But the real line of work isn't far from here. Do you still want this lamp?"

"want!"

I have to buy this lamp. I promised to buy it before the shopkeeper let Zhang Laifu see the workshop.

Actually, this was all thanks to the shopkeeper: "Young man, if it weren't for the fact that we're from similar trades, I wouldn't have let you into the workshop even if you gave me eighty silver dollars, let alone eighty."

"If you think my line of work is wrong, then go check out Ruihua Lane. Ah Qiang, give him directions."

A-Qiang took Zhang Laifu to Ruihua Lane. This shop was big, much bigger than Mingzhaozhai. In the center was a vermilion signboard with large gold characters on it. On both sides were a couplet: the first line was: "A lamp before people, a hundred families' affairs under the lamp"; the second line was: "A thousand layers of gauze in hand, ten miles of spring within the gauze".

This shop doesn't sell horn lanterns; it sells gauze lanterns.

The large palace lanterns at the gates of wealthy families, the signboard lanterns in front of shops, and the eaves lanterns in deep courtyards are generally these kinds of gauze lanterns.

The light transmission of the gauze lantern was obviously not as good as that of the ox horn lantern, but the halo of light under the gauze made Zhang Laifu feel very warm and friendly, at least it was not as unattainable as the ox horn lantern.

Rows of lanterns of various colors hung on the lamp racks in the shop. The shop assistant came out to greet customers: "Sir, would you like to buy a lantern?"

Before Zhang Laifu could speak, Aqiang said, "This was introduced by Manager Qian. He came to check out the business."

Only then did Zhang Laifu realize that the old shopkeeper of Mingzhaozhai Ox Horn Lamp Shop was surnamed Qian.

"Looking at the shop?" The clerk couldn't make that decision, so he quickly went to find the manager.

The manager of Ruihua Fang arrived, exchanged a few polite words with A-Qiang, and then turned to Zhang Laifu and said, "There are rules in every trade, and there are some things that cannot be seen. But since it was introduced by Mingzhaozhai, please tell Manager Qian that I have given you face!"

Zhang Laifu had previously bought a cow horn lamp. Shopkeeper Qian not only had A-Qiang lead the way, but also made an introduction for him. Those eight silver dollars were well spent.

The shopkeeper called over a shop assistant and asked Zhang Laifu to take a walk around the workshop.

The workshop is in the backyard, divided into three sections. The front section is where paper cutting and binding are done; the middle section is a drying room for applying glue and gauze; and the back section is a courtyard for drying lanterns, with several rows of bamboo poles erected high and gauze lanterns hanging everywhere.

The shop assistant briefly explained the process: "There are five steps to making a gauze lantern. The first step is to build the frame—using thin bamboo strips or willow branches to weave the skeleton."

The second method is to paste gauze onto bamboo frames using rice paste.

Thirdly, the artist paints patterns on the lantern surface, depicting flowers, birds, and figures. While the brushwork isn't as refined as in a traditional painting studio, the aim is to create vibrant colors and a lively atmosphere. Fourthly, the lantern is sealed with oil; after it dries, another layer of oil is applied, making it glossy and moisture-proof.

Fifth is to install the lamps—that is, to install the candles.

"I've said everything, take a look for yourself."

Zhang Laifu looked around the workshop, his heart pounding with excitement.

For Zhang Laifu, the gauze lantern seemed more fitting than the ox horn lantern. This wasn't a goddess; it felt more like a school beauty. Zhang Laifu touched a large red lantern, as if he were touching the school beauty's flushed cheeks.

"How much is this lantern?" Zhang Laifu wanted to buy the red gauze lantern.

The shopkeeper replied, "This red gauze lantern is quite exquisite in its workmanship and uses very fine materials. One lantern costs thirty-eight coins, a pair costs seventy coins, and one silver dollar can buy five lanterns."

Zhang Laifu nodded: "This is much cheaper than the ox horn lamp."

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Brother, don't be fooled by the fact that it's cheaper than ox horn lanterns. We sell much more than ox horn lanterns. Opera troupes, teahouses, temple fairs, and spring lantern festivals all order from us. It's always dozens or even hundreds of them. If you're a craftsman, you definitely won't lose money in this business."

Zhang Laifu nodded slightly: "I should be one of these people!"

Once Ah Qiang saw that the matter was settled, he quickly returned to his shop.

Zhang Laifu approached the manager of Ruihuafang and said, "I'm planning to go into this line of work."

The shopkeeper was checking the accounts. He looked at the ledger without looking up and asked, "Are you planning to learn your craft from me?"

Zhang Laifu nodded and said, "I'll learn the craft!"

“Young man, don’t rush. Think things through before you speak,” the shopkeeper put down his abacus and looked up at Zhang Laifu. “If you learn a trade from me, you’ll be learning for three years. I’ll provide room and board, but I won’t pay you wages. Once you’ve signed the contract, it’ll be too late to back out.”

three years?

This is what they mean by not being able to find a job after several years, right?

This really needs to be considered carefully.

The shopkeeper pointed outside: "There's a teahouse across the street. Go in, have a cup of tea, and come back to me when you've thought it through."

Zhang Laifu bought the red gauze lanterns, went to the teahouse, ordered a pot of jasmine tea, and pondered the ins and outs of the trade while drinking the tea.

He touched the red gauze lantern, his heart pounding faster, then touched the ox horn lantern; though there was some distance between them, he felt excited.

Which one is truly your profession?
The practice of "xingmen" (行门) is too subjective; it only mentions having a feeling, but doesn't specify the extent of that feeling, or the level of heart rate and blood pressure.

After drinking a pot of tea, Zhang Laifu felt palpitations. The tea was made from broken tea leaves left over from sifting; it didn't look good, but the quality of the tea was not bad, and it really helped with digestion.

Zhang Laifu hadn't eaten much at noon, and now that it was evening, he was hungry.

Standing on Zhuyou Road, Zhang Laifu looked around for something to eat. There was a noodle stall on the side of the street, and just as Zhang Laifu was about to go over to take a look, he suddenly felt his heart skip a beat.

Just for a moment!
He turned his head and saw a pedestrian passing by, carrying a lantern in his hand.

The lantern is white and doesn't seem particularly special.

Zhang Laifu calmed himself down and continued walking along the street. After a while, he couldn't help but shiver again.

What's going on here?
This feeling is so strange.

Not intense, but very clear.

Zhang Laifu looked around and noticed that many pedestrians were carrying lanterns.

Every time Zhang Laifu sees such lanterns, he has a feeling that is not too strong, but very real.

Is this lantern really that special?
Just as Zhang Laifu was about to ask a passerby, a waiter suddenly chased after him from the teahouse: "Sir, it's getting late, please take a lamp with you."

The shop assistant stuffed a small paper lantern into Zhang Laifu's hand.

Zhang Laifu looked at the lantern in his hand, then looked up at the shop assistant: "How much is this lantern?"

"It's free, a complimentary gift from our shop. Take care, sir." The waiter returned to the teahouse.

Zhang Laifu ordered a pot of tea, a plate of fruit, and a plate of melon seeds and peanuts at the teahouse, which cost a total of sixteen coins. A lantern was also given as a gift.

He held the lantern in his hand and stood in the wind for a while.

My heart wasn't beating that fast, and my blood pressure wasn't that high, but I just didn't want to let go of the lantern.

It felt like I had finally grabbed my wife.

P.S.: Paper lantern makers are one of the 360 ​​trades. This trade uses bamboo strips for the frame and paper to cover the lampshade, making the simplest lanterns, the most common type used in ordinary households. Their skills are truly remarkable!
(End of this chapter)