Chapter 3, Cheng's Wood Carving

Liu Fei knew that the person holding the crescent blade was named Guan Gong, who was said to be a formidable historical figure from the mother planet Earth, possessing unmatched bravery and revered as the Saint of War

Although it is already 9 PM, the pedestrian street is still bustling with crowds. At the entrance parking lot of the pedestrian street, suspended vehicles and shuttles are constantly entering and exiting like flies, with the bluish-green tail slightly revealing a bright orange flame that appears exceptionally vibrant

... ...

He? ! '' Mr. Wang said with a look of disbelief: `` So young? ''

At the front of the shop, there are several wooden display racks, casually adorned with various wooden carvings. At the back of the shop, there is a small workbench where an elderly man, with a white beard, tall and slender, appears to be around eighty years old, is working with great concentration. In his hands is a half-meter tall sculpture of a figure, depicting a general clad in ancient armor, wielding a large sword, with piercing eyes, a tall stature, and an imposing presence.

After tidying up the room and doing some stretching exercises to relax his muscles and nerves, Liu Fei went to bed to sleep

The small shop was enveloped in a quiet silence, the elderly man wore a look of despondency, while the young girl displayed a range of emotions on her face, as if she were deep in thought.

At five o'clock in the morning, Liu Fei got out of bed. In less than five minutes, he completed all his washing and grooming tasks. Ten minutes later, he appeared outside a wooden house located five hundred meters away.

The customer is male, over the age of 40, with a robust physique and an imposing presence. He is also well-dressed, and his every gesture exudes a certain elegance, giving off an aura of authority without the need for anger.

Liu Fei is in a very pleasant mood; good business means he can take on more work

Old Cheng seemed reluctant to say much about Liu Fei, and Mr. Wang did not press the matter further. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they settled the bill and left. The half-body wooden sculpture of General Han Qing was also carefully packaged and stored in the space button.

Liu Fei was naturally unaware of the events occurring in the small shop; ever since the death of the Iron Head, there were few things in this world, aside from mechs, that could stir Liu Fei's emotions

"Please have some tea." The gentle voice of the young girl interrupted Liu Fei's thoughts, and a pleasant fragrance wafted through the air. It was hard for Liu Fei to distinguish whether it was the aroma of the tea or the girl's body scent; of course, he never pondered this question.

Thank you. Liu Fei took the teacup, gulped it down in one go, and casually handed the smooth and shiny porcelain cup to the young girl

Liu Fei nodded slightly, his eyes not even glancing at the shy face of the young girl, but instead walked straight into the shop.

Liu Fei's first encounter with mechas dates back to when he was five years old. He found a comic about mechas from a soldering iron head, and from that moment on, he was deeply fascinated. Since his memories at the age of five, he has spent most of his time on mechas. In order to gain an intuitive understanding of mechas, at the age of eleven, Liu Fei even re-measured the ancient mech he lived in using a light ruler.

An eleven-year-old child re-mapped an ancient mech, which can be imagined as an immensely grand and complex project. It is important to note that manual measurement is not the same as holographic automatic scanning; it requires complete manual effort, and even a single screw is a very complicated task

Having traversed Fallen Street, I emerged from a narrow alleyway and entered a main thoroughfare. This thoroughfare runs parallel to the grand entrance of Zhaor Mecha University, located less than two kilometers away. Approximately three kilometers in the opposite direction from the university entrance lies a renowned pedestrian street

... ...

Decadent Street is divided into two ends; one end is the opening in the school wall, while the other end leads to the main street. The primary reason for the prosperity of Decadent Street is that the route through it is nearly half the distance compared to walking through the school gate. Over time, this has resulted in the distorted prosperity of Decadent Street

Oh... could it be a work by Master Rodin? No, that can't be right; if it were a work by Master Rodin, it wouldn't be unsigned... Mr. Wang was first surprised, then wore a look of confusion.

Mr. Wang, this is a half-length wooden sculpture of General Han Qing, crafted from the rare and exquisite *Tu* book-colored rosewood from the Moer Star. The wood is dense and heavy, which is why the price is somewhat expensive, requiring 80,000 Zor coins. The girl's voice is very soft, creating an incredibly comfortable feeling

Thank you, Mr. Cheng

Liu Fei's carving technique is imposing, fluid, and naturally grand. One can catch a glimpse of his artistry through his knife skills. The type of woman he prefers should be a spirited heroine rather than a gentle and virtuous housewife. The old man paused for a moment and sighed deeply: "Grandfather has always pursued that kind of magnificent knife technique, yet he himself is a person who goes with the flow, lacking great ambitions, content to remain in this small space. This is also the main reason why he could not surpass Master Rodin. What a pity! Liu Fei's aspirations do not lie here; otherwise, this shop would have a worthy successor. Alas..."

Liu Fei did not linger as he passed through Fallen Street. Fallen Street forms an angle of nearly ninety degrees; although it is referred to as a street, it is actually the intersection of two streets. Moreover, there are countless narrow alleys interspersed throughout. For those unfamiliar with the terrain, entering for the first time can evoke a sense of stepping into a labyrinth.

Every time Liu Fei arrives at this small shop, he cannot help but stop to admire the four characters that lack a signature, as if these four characters contain a vibrant and vigorous life

"Chenchen, Liu Fei will not like girls who are soft and weak like you." The old man stood up straight, slowly walked to the girl’s side, gently stroked her hair, and said affectionately

Seeing the elderly man engrossed in his work, Liu Fei did not disturb him but instead stood in front of the display rack admiring some wooden carvings. Of course, Liu Fei was more concerned about whether his own works had sold. What reassured Liu Fei was that only three of his carved pieces remained, indicating that business had been good recently

Hmm

Old Cheng knew that Liu Fei was a man of few words. After accepting Liu Fei's work and transferring a commission into Liu Fei's account, he immersed himself back into his work. Liu Fei took a piece of black wood and walked away directly. There seemed to be an unspoken understanding between the two, requiring no excessive words.

"Hehe, Mr. Wang is joking. Our establishment naturally does not attract the attention of Master Rodin and cannot accommodate the works of the master. The owner of this work is far away yet close at hand," the old man said with hearty laughter.

Liu Fei's daily routine is very stable, remaining unchanged for ten years.

Compared to the delicate wood, Liu Fei prefers the cold, hard metal. Whenever his hands come into contact with the icy metal, Liu Fei feels as if his soul is in turmoil, experiencing an indescribable pleasure and excitement

Walking less than 200 meters into the pedestrian street, Liu Fei quickly spotted his destination among the densely packed shops

This is a painfully small prefabricated room. Although the door is sturdy and heavy, once it is pushed open, there is just a bed, leaving almost no space to stand. In comparison to the simplicity and squalor of this place, Liu Fei's mech is nothing short of a luxurious palace

Grandfather... The young girl immediately lowered her head, a shy blush spreading across her face, extending to her ears and neck, as if the delicate, jade-like white skin were igniting in flames

It has been many years since we last met, Mr. Wang. How have you been lately? At this moment, the elderly man walked over, smiled and nodded at Liu Fei, and then greeted the customer.

It is difficult to explain in a few words; Mr. Wang can be considered a regular customer of the small shop, and this bust of General Han Qing is offered at a 30% discount.

Hehe, Mr. Wang is living an ordinary life, but Old Cheng is quite spry. His knife skills are sharp, flowing like clouds and water, becoming increasingly smooth. It is unexpected that at such an advanced age, Old Cheng can still reach new heights in his art. This is indeed commendable. The customer referred to as Mr. Wang wore a broad smile, clearly indicating that he and Old Cheng are old acquaintances.

In the pedestrian street, there is a shop that is so small it could not be smaller, with an area of no more than 30 square meters. The shop does not have a dazzling holographic sign, but rather a simple wooden sign. The sign is engraved with the four characters "Handcrafted Wood Carving," which are carved in a free and natural style, primarily in a square and flat form, exuding a sense of understated beauty. Overall, the form appears scattered while the spirit is concentrated, with a consistent atmosphere throughout.

"No, he is not the old man's apprentice." The elder shook his head with a bitter smile

Time was gradually slipping away, and Liu M. was completely immersed in those naturally formed sword techniques, unable to extricate himself, completely forgetting the existence of time. He was even unaware that a customer had appeared beside him at some point.

A night without conversation

It is him. The old man also seems unwilling to keep it a secret

For Liu Fei, tea serves merely to quench thirst; he does not subscribe to the notion of wasting it. Naturally, he remains oblivious to the subtle disappointment on the girl's face. Liu Fei is unaware that the tea leaves used for this cup of tea are a cherished collection of the girl, which her grandfather would hesitate to consume even when he desires it.

"I am truly ashamed; this bust of General Han Qing is not a work of mine," the old man said with a hearty laugh, his expression calm and composed.

"Xiao Feige, you have arrived!" A graceful and elegant young girl came out to greet him. The girl was of similar age to Liu Fei, dressed in a snow-white long dress, exuding poise and elegance. A hint of shy blush appeared on her fair and clean face, giving her an overall impression of profound tranquility.

Hmm, the Moer starry colorful rosewood combined with exquisite carving justifies such a high price. However, why is there no signature from Master Cheng? The customer seems quite knowledgeable, carefully examining the wood carving with lowered head.

"Chenchen, he doesn't drink it; let grandpa have it instead, don't waste it," the old man sighed deeply.

Ah... not a disciple? Mr. Wang was increasingly astonished

Not bad, not bad. Congratulations to Master Cheng. Indeed, a renowned teacher produces outstanding students, and the student surpasses the master! Mr. Wang cast a deep glance at Liu Fei

Liu Fei observed the conversation between Old Cheng and Mr. Wang, yet he did not take it to heart. Although he was aware of his remarkable talent in wood carving, he had never intended to make wood carving his lifelong pursuit. His dream was to pilot a mech and gallop across the battlefield, fighting against alien creatures.

Liu Fei's gaze fell once again on the wooden carvings, as he studied the techniques used in these wood sculptures

As Liu Fei walked into the bustling crowd, Old Cheng suddenly stopped his work, staring blankly in the direction where Liu Fei's figure disappeared, and a heavy silence enveloped the small shop

"I do not believe it, but I have no choice but to believe it," the old man lamented

The voice of the customer from https://m.hetushu.com startled Liu Fei awake. Almost instinctively, Liu Fei distanced himself from this customer, as he was not accustomed to being so close to strangers.

Why? The young girl suddenly raised her charming face, her pair of clear and bright eyes gazing at the old man, as if she were trying to find an answer on his face

The moment Liu Fei stepped out the door, the young girl still held a cup of hot tea in her hands. She looked at Liu Fei's back, opened her mouth, but ultimately did not utter a single word.

How much does this piece cost

Although this pedestrian street is less than 1 kilometer long, it is the most famous pedestrian street in the Zhaol Star System. Here, one can find almost all luxury goods from the entire Human Alliance. It is not an exaggeration to describe this pedestrian street as "every inch of land is worth its weight in gold"

Far away yet close at hand? Mr. Wang's gaze first fell upon the young girl, then suspiciously shifted to Liu Fei.

When Liu Fei arrived home, it was already ten past ten, and there were only twenty minutes left before bedtime

One must not underestimate this small shop; it has a history spanning several hundred years, tracing back to the era of the mother planet. It has witnessed the great interstellar migration and the rise of mechanical civilizations in space. A shop with such profound historical and cultural significance is synonymous with luxury, making it unimaginable for an ordinary person to shop here. In this place, the value of a casual handcrafted item is sufficient to cover an ordinary person's living expenses for an entire year

In the hand-carved wood industry, renowned artisans often engrave their names on their works. For instance, this old shop, which has a history of several hundred years, ensures that every piece sold can be traced back to its origin.

Outside the prefabricated house, a mountain of discarded waste has accumulated, emitting a pungent odor that nearly engulfs half of the structure. The door of the prefabricated house is made of metal. Liu Fei did not push but pulled the door; upon hearing the sound of metal scraping from inside, he pushed it open.

Liu Fei could not help but glance at the customers around him, for this half-body wooden sculpture of General Han Qing was indeed his work. Due to its high price and the fact that the people of the Zuoer Star System were not familiar with General Han Qing's life and achievements, this piece had been displayed here for over two months without any inquiries.

Cheng's Wood Carving