After reconnecting in recent years, she learned that he had graduated from university and was still persisting in work related to intangible cultural heritage silver jewelry. Qiao Ling was very happy, thinking as long as there were people like Shixiong who had both talent and passion, her grandmother’s skills would definitely be carried forward, seen by the whole world.
Half a month ago, Wu Zong called her, saying he was going to come to Binyang during National Day following his current teacher to participate in the exhibition, and if she had time, they could meet.
So Qiao Ling came.
After wandering around the exhibition area for a round, she still hadn’t seen a booth related to Miao silver, and just as she was puzzled, she saw Shixiong Wu Zong’s figure in the crowd.
Wu Zong was beside an elegant middle-aged woman, currently being interviewed.
Qiao Ling stood in place, hearing the documentary voiceover playing on the big screen of the booth beside her: “Yin Huasi [Silver Filigree], Shu embroidery, bamboo weaving, and lacquerware together form Shu City’s four famous dan m. Yin Huasi originated in the Han dynasty, flourished in the Tang dynasty… the characteristic of Yin Huasi technique is the use of ‘flat fill’ technique, forming without a base, reflecting the artisan’s superb skills…”
[dan: originally refers to female roles in traditional Chinese opera, here referring to famous crafts]
Technique, forming without a base, reflecting the artisan’s superb skills…
She looked toward the exhibition pieces being admired inside the booth, marked with high prices, for a moment her mind was a little blank.
…………
After Wu Zong accompanied his respected teacher to finish the interview, he saw Qiao Ling slowly walking over.
Wu Zong was very happy to see her, “Qiao Ling? I almost didn’t dare recognize you, it’s been so long.”
“How have you been these years?”
Qiao Ling smiled slightly, “All pretty good. Thank you, Shixiong, for sending me grandma’s pattern book before. I heard your works are also being exhibited?”
“Yes, come, I’ll introduce you.” Wu Zong enthusiastically pulled her into the Yin Huasi team’s booth, introducing to her one by one his Yin Huasi exhibition paintings and various accessories.
Finally, they walked to the center, looking at the most exquisite Yin Huasi product in this exhibition—a Longfeng Chengxiang [Dragon and Phoenix Bringing Prosperity] ornament integrating Yin Huasi and enamel craftsmanship, shining with white light under the lighting.
“This was made together by me and my teacher. Our team worked for a full six months.”
The other party talked on and on about his years of study and apprenticeship experience, as well as his current income and achievements.
After listening, Qiao Ling genuinely felt happy for him, but after a few seconds, with a nervous heart, she asked him with difficulty: “Shixiong… then you.”
“You don’t do Miao silver anymore?”
Wu Zong was stunned, as if he hadn’t expected her to actually ask this kind of question. After thinking for a moment, he smiled helplessly, “Qiao Ling, you also know.”
“Heritage, heritage, without a market, no matter how good something is, it can’t be passed on.”
“Your grandmother’s Miao silver, I haven’t touched it again since I started university.”
Wu Zong felt ashamed, telling the truth: “Almost ten years have passed, now even if you let me do it again, I already wouldn’t know how.”
“Why?” Qiao Ling was overcome by a surge of anxiety, even carrying a bit of resentment, “Back then she said you were the most talented one, valued you the most.”
“That’s right, so I’ve always persisted in doing this line of work. Since it’s all silver craftsmanship anyway, I can also do Southern-style silver very well.”
Wu Zong patiently explained to her the reality of the situation: “Your grandmother’s line of craftsmanship is basically fixed within the ethnic group’s single type of accessory. Time-consuming, complicated, and still conservative, innovation is too hard, the market is too small.”
“Yin Huasi now can be combined with all sorts of modern crafts, there are also more projects to develop, as long as orders come in, the income is considerable. Once you make a name and enter the association, have fixed customers, it won’t be any worse than doing other things.”
“Universities over in Shu City have even opened majors for this. In the future, maybe I can get hired as a university teacher.”
After he finished speaking, looking at Qiao Ling whose face had turned pale, expression stiff, he spoke sincerely: “I’m a man, in the future still have to get married and raise kids, I can’t spend my whole life clinging to something that doesn’t make money, right?”
“Even you, her own biological granddaughter, haven’t done it, have you?”
…………
In the evening, Qiao Ling sat in the subway returning to her parents’ house, utterly disheartened.
Because of Wu Zong’s choice and that round of words, she wilted like an eggplant beaten by frost, forcing a smile as she faced the relatives’ enthusiasm.
“Lingling, Lingling, what are you daydreaming about?” Second Aunt called her.
Qiao Ling came back to her senses, taking the handful of shelled walnuts Second Aunt stuffed her with, “Ah? Nothing, what is it?”
In the living room, the uncles were sitting together drinking tea and talking about work, the aunts were pulling her to chatter about women’s matters.
Qiao Ling was the one in their generation who was most cared about by the relatives.
Third Aunt said: “Your Second Aunt said she wants to introduce you to someone, this young man is pretty good, works as a teacher, and is also a local.”
Second Aunt nodded: “Not many like this anymore. He’s the only son in his family, not that complicated. Mainly he’s a local, that’s good, after you get married you won’t have to be too far from us.”
At this time, Second Uncle cut in: “Ling’er, look at your cousin Zhouzhou, insisted on marrying to the South City, when she was pregnant with her second child, suffered so much, made your Third Aunt cry every night at home, even flying over takes several hours.”
“Finding a partner, even without money, must be a local.”
Qiao Ling pulled a smile, feeling a little guilty, but didn’t argue with the relatives.
At this time, Third Uncle spoke: “Ling’er just graduated from university and you’re already worrying about this, what’s the rush, a girl must first have a good job, then talk about other things.”
“Your dad told me a few days ago, said your mom doesn’t support you opening a store, is that so?”
She nodded, “Says a few words once in a while.”
Third Uncle slapped his thigh, “On this, I really agree with your aunt-in-law. Ling, this employment pressure is huge. In the future, there will be even more university graduates, you’ll have even less advantage.”
“While you still have your fresh graduate status these two years, quickly take a civil service exam, settle down steadily. Don’t be like your dad, doing small business for so many years, only at thirty-eight realizing he needs to enter a government unit, starting from the lowest grassroots level, how hard is that.”
“Can that store of yours really open for a lifetime? Besides, the revenue isn’t stable, you yourself know.”
Qiao Ling was getting more and more discouraged from being persuaded, holding a handful of walnut kernels like sitting on pins and needles, joked a few sentences: “Alright then, I’ll think about it again. You all have tea, I’ll go help my mom check on the dishes.”
Saying that, she ran out of the living room in a streak, escaping to her parents’ side.
…………
“Mom, I’m really about to get calluses in my ears from you guys.” Qiao Ling stood next to her mom, sighing.
Qiao Zhiwen was outside at the dining table dealing with seafood. Yang Manyun was cooking, not comforting her daughter, but advising earnestly: “You think your uncles and aunts want to nag you? Isn’t it just because they’re anxious seeing you.”
“If you, like your second cousin, settled down and took the civil service exam, working nine to five, who would say one more word about you? Instead, they’d all spoil you.”
Qiao Ling fiddled with her clothes, muttering in a small voice: “I think my life like this is pretty good too…”
“Good? Just now your uncles and aunts spent half the day persuading you, do you know why I didn’t say a single word?” Yang Manyun knocked the spatula against the edge of the pan a few times, glanced at her: “You’re still young now, what about five years from now, ten years from now?”
“If we don’t think long-term for you, who else will?”
“Outsiders hear you’re running a business, opening a shop — but today doing this business, tomorrow might be forced to switch because the market isn’t good. To put it harshly, no five social insurances, no stable income, irregular schedule, no fixed place to live.”
“How are your proud elders supposed to go out and boast about you to others? Nothing to boast about, afraid outsiders will look down on you.”
Mother’s words were realistic and harsh, as if ignoring all her efforts and advantages.
Already hit hard because of Wu Zong giving up the ancestral craft, Qiao Ling listened, layers of suppressed emotions piling up, reaching the edge of explosion.
She lowered her head in silence, after a long time, suddenly burst out: “…How am I bringing shame to you all?”
Yang Manyun frowned, looking at her.
Qiao Ling stared with reddened eyes, stubbornly asserting herself: “I’ve been getting scholarships since my first year in university. The money to open the store, rent a house, food, clothing, daily expenses, I haven’t asked you for a single cent! I earn money with my own hands to eat — tell me, how is that shameful!?”
“How am I shameful!?”
As soon as she shouted, Qiao Zhiwen sitting outside immediately came in, closing the kitchen door, looking at the mother and daughter on the verge of confrontation, hurriedly trying to calm things down: “What are you doing, it’s a family gathering, don’t yell, how bad would it be if people heard.”
Yang Manyun’s temper flared up too, pointing at Qiao Ling, “Qiao Zhiwen! This is all your spoiling! Daring to challenge her own mother now!”
“Who among us isn’t doing it for her own good? Can’t even listen to a few more words!”
“Your dad and I have both done business before, we know how hard it is. Is it wrong that we don’t want you to suffer!?”
“Who said you’re shameful? Huh? Since we took you back home at fourteen, whatever you wanted to do, didn’t we support you unconditionally!?”
Qiao Ling cried out in a choked voice: “I wanted to make silver jewelry like Grandma, you never agreed!”
Yang Manyun was so angry her neck turned red, as if the next second she wouldn’t be able to breathe, leaning back, utterly heartbroken: “Fine… you just like her that much, you like her — did she ever care about you?”
“If that thing had any future, why did I have to run away from home? Qiao Ling, who exactly did you inherit this stubbornness from?”
Qiao Zhiwen, stuck in the middle, neither able to persuade nor scold, sighed repeatedly, “Alright… alright, it’s a holiday, what are we doing.”
Qiao Ling wiped her tears more and more, trembling voice, both heart aching and still saying stubborn words to her parents: “I don’t think this is shameful. That I couldn’t become the capital you brag about to others is my own incompetence.”
“But I won’t change, I just want to do this.”
After saying that, she ran out of the house without looking back, leaving behind a group of confused relatives.
…………
After midnight, Chen Kuang finished working overtime. The last two or three hours of business left to Xia Tian alone was enough, so he went home.
Tonight, alone at home, he wasn’t really hungry so he skipped even late-night snacks. Just as he was about to take off his clothes to shower, he suddenly received a call from Qiao Jing.
“What is it?” He was shirtless, stuffing clothes into the washing machine, turned on speakerphone.
Qiao Jing’s tone was urgent: “Is Qiao Ling with you??”
“No, I just got off work. Didn’t she say she’s staying at her parents’ house tonight?” he asked.
Chen Kuang felt something wasn’t right, “What happened?”
Qiao Jing sighed, explained: “She had a fight with our parents tonight, in front of all the relatives.”
“Just now my uncle and aunt called me asking if I was with her. I’ve been outside all day, had no news at all, so I called you.”
“She’s not answering her phone. From seven-thirty until now, it’s already been five hours. No idea where she went.”
“I’m worried she might get caught up in her emotions and do something foolish.”
Compared to Qiao Jing, Chen Kuang was calmer. He knew Qiao Ling’s personality—no matter how upset she got, she wouldn’t do anything to hurt herself. But being out alone this late at night, with her phone unreachable, really was dangerous.
He pulled the sweatshirt out from the washing machine and put it on, “I’m going to look for her now.”
After hanging up the call, he hurried to change his shoes. Just then, the door was suddenly knocked on.
Chen Kuang paused for a moment, one shoe half on, walking to the door, pulling it open—facing Qiao Ling’s swollen, red eyes.
He let out a breath of relief.
Qiao Ling stood pitifully at the doorway, not waiting for him to speak. Seeing the worried look on Chen Kuang’s face, her chin trembled, and in an instant she burst into tears.
Chen Kuang stepped forward, taking off the shoe he’d just put on, pulling the sobbing her into his arms.
He sighed.
“You made me so anxious I could die.”