A crown princess who doesn't do infrastructure construction isn't a good doctor.

"Zhengjun, we've basically completed half of our order. The rest is just carving the patterns, and some pieces have already been painted. Once the paint dries, we can take them to the bookstore for assembly, which will make transporting them easier."

Qin Suiyou was somewhat surprised, so he asked, "Why are you so fast?"

Speaking of this, Lawson has to mention Master Zhao's wisdom. He replied, "Every time Master Zhao receives a batch of timber, he will cut and polish the materials in advance according to their characteristics and what they are suitable for. Whether you buy finished products or order custom-made ones from him, you will basically listen to Master Zhao's advice. With those pre-prepared timbers, it will be much faster to make them according to the customer's actual needs. Moreover, Master Zhao is very good at utilizing and calculating the leftover materials, so most of them will not be wasted. Even if there is not enough, Master Zhao has already prepared it in advance because he has calculated it."

"Preparing semi-finished products in advance without conducting a detailed investigation of the purchasing situation in a region is very risky. However, Master Zhao is very experienced, and the timber raw materials can be stored for a long time if they are properly handled. This reduces the risk of over-purchasing raw materials for other commodities with shorter shelf lives. This approach is indeed very good."

Although he was still a little confused and didn't quite understand what Qin Suiyou meant, Lawson knew that Zhengjun was definitely praising Master Zhao, so he smiled with pride as well.

“Master Zhao is very capable. I have learned a lot from him these past few days. They are all very practical experiences and methods.”

Qin Suiyou nodded and affirmed, "That's great. It will be very beneficial for you to improve yourself and avoid some detours. I think Master Zhao seems to want to take you as his apprentice. I'm telling you this in advance. If it really is true, you don't need to worry too much. Of course, it doesn't matter if it isn't. Just pretend I'm talking nonsense right now. But you must remember that you must not forget Master Zhao's kindness."

After receiving a lecture on ideology, Lawson, as if he had been given a large dose of inspirational wisdom, said excitedly, "I understand, and I will never forget Master Zhao's kindness in passing on his knowledge!"

After being led around the woodworking shop by Lawson, Qin Suiyou went to the work area in the backyard.

Walking up to Master Zhao, Qin Suiyou saw him carving a set of exclusive patterns he had designed. The abstract waves had a small cloud in the same style. According to Qin Suiyou's requirements, the sides of the shelf to be placed on should be hollowed out. Hollowing out the sides would require a higher load-bearing capacity of the wood, which would also increase the difficulty of the carving.

Master Zhao's calloused hands gripped the carving knife, skillfully shaving the wooden board. With each stroke, wood shavings fell, gradually revealing the cloud and sea pattern. Master Zhao's eyes remained fixed on the wooden board in his hands. The original blueprint he used for reference had fallen into some corner, and there were no traces of prior drawing on the board, clearly indicating that he had memorized the pattern to be carved.

"Don't you draw the pattern before carving? Aren't you afraid of making mistakes?"

Startled to realize Qin Suiyou was there, Master Zhao tried to get up, but Qin Suiyou stopped him with a gesture. Just then, a piece of wood was finished being carved, and Master Zhao began to polish it with the prepared file while answering Qin Suiyou's question.

“I feel that pre-drawn patterns always look stiff. You see, even without pre-drawn patterns, it’s still just as you want, and combined with the original wood grain, it looks even more natural and beautiful.”

Qin Suiyou looked at it as instructed, and indeed, as Master Zhao said, the pattern followed the wood grain, making the entire openwork carving look very smooth and natural. Even a layman would subconsciously think that Master Zhao's work was better than the method of drawing the pattern first and then carving it.

"So how did you do it before? Most people in Yejing probably have a fondness for symmetrical beauty."

When making a perfect carving using Master Zhao's method, there will always be asymmetrical parts, which can easily dissatisfy many people who are obsessed with the beauty of symmetry.

Upon hearing this, Master Zhao couldn't help but smile wryly and say, "Of course, I can only do it according to the customer's wishes. After all, I can't lose the woodworking business because of my own little habit."

"But you still have your own principles on this point. Not only me, but there are also people who share your principles and aesthetics, they just haven't appeared in front of you yet. You will meet them in the future."

Master Zhao's eyes lit up with anticipation.

"Is that what those literati call... a soulmate?"

Qin Suiyou nodded, a slight smile playing on his lips, and said, "That's right."

"Haha, I've lived most of my life, and I still don't know when I'll meet a soulmate."

Qin Suiyou gestured for Master Zhao to look in the direction of his apprentices and said, "True friends are hard to find, but you still have them."

Master Zhao shifted his gaze, and some of them were still engrossed in their work, while others noticed his gaze and looked up, all grinning with their teeth showing, exuding a kind of simple and honest charm.

"Humph."

Master Zhao snorted, but the corners of his mouth, which he deliberately pursed, couldn't suppress his smile and pride. To him, who had never married, this group of men were not only his apprentices, but also his sons. Each of them had grown up under his painstaking guidance.

"They're all troublesome brats, each one either stupid or idiotic."

Qin Suiyou smiled but remained silent.

"Oh dear, I've given you a good laugh, Your Highness. Please forgive me."

Upon hearing this, Qin Suiyou smiled and shook his head.

"How could I blame you for this? You and your apprentice have a deep bond, a true affection that others can only envy."

Master Zhao remained modest and said with a smile, "You flatter me too much. I've been their master for so many years. If I didn't have any feelings for them, they would all be a bunch of ingrates."

The two talked for a while without stopping, and seeing that it was getting late, and that Beitang Yan had been standing by without saying a word for so long and was clearly unhappy, Qin Suiyou said that he had to take his leave.

Qin Suiyou and Beitang Yan were about to return, but Luo Sen had walked there, so he couldn't leave them behind and walk back. He called over Luo Sen, who was discussing something with Master Zhao's apprentices, and Chen Xiaodong, who was helping to hand them tools. The four of them then boarded the carriage for the return journey.

"Goodbye, Master Zhao. I'll come again tomorrow."

"Alright, I'll get angry if you don't come."

"I've already said you're not old, why do you still talk like that?"

"Enough of that, young man Dong. You must drive carefully and keep His Highness in mind."

Chen Xiaodong gently patted the horse's rump.

"Of course, let's go!"

"be careful!"