When Wang Gang drove Xu Hongdou and Xie Xiaochun back, the car was a lot duller. Xu Hongdou was not in high spirits because of a foot injury, and Xie Xiaochun was a little tired after a busy day.
"We didn't eat at noon, what do we want to eat when we go back in the evening?" Wang Gang took the initiative to start the conversation.
"I don't have much appetite." Xu Hongdou said without interest.
"I have to take care of the little gourd when I go back, and I have to go home for dinner." Xie Xiaochun apologized: "I originally wanted to treat you to authentic Yunnan cuisine, but I didn't expect that not only was it not possible, but you were also left hungry."
Wang Gang shook his head and said: "It doesn't matter. I'll invite you again next time I have a chance. I'll remember this meal."
Xu Hongdou said: "Brother Wang, could you please send me to the ancient city again in three days?"
Three days later, the mobile phone screen arrived. Xu Hongdou still had to go to the ancient city, but she sprained her ankle and had difficulty moving, so she had to trouble Wang Gang.
"It's no trouble. Why don't you give me your phone and I'll help you go to the ancient city to repair it. You can rest in the courtyard for a few days and recover from your injuries."
"Is it okay?" Xu Hongdou asked.
"It's okay, I have nothing to do anyway." Wang Gang said nonchalantly.
Xu Hongdou thanked Wang Gang again, and then gave the broken mobile phone to Wang Gang, not afraid that he would steal the phone information.
After spending the past two days together, Xu Hongdou has completely trusted Wang Gang.
The car quickly drove back to Yunmiao Village. Wang Gang parked the car outside the village. He and Xie Xiaochun helped Xu Hongdou back to the windy courtyard.
After delivering the person, Xie Xiaochun said: "Hongdou, I will ask Nana to bring you some dinner later. If you don't have an appetite, you can eat some."
"Thank you, Sister Xiaochun."
Wang Gang also said: "You live on the second floor. It's inconvenient to go up and down the stairs. Just call me if you need it."
Xu Hongdou couldn't help but blush again as she recalled the scene of Wang Gang hugging her just now.
Xie Xiaochun was very puzzled. What he said was fine. Why was Xu Hongdou so shy?
Wang Gang and Xie Xiaochun asked Xu Hongdou to have a good rest and they left first.
Xie Xiaochun went to the cafe, and Lin Na was surprised to learn that Xu Hongdou had sprained her foot, so she took the initiative to take over the task of delivering food.
On the other side, Wang Gang was a little hungry, so he was going to have some barbecue outside. When he left the courtyard, he met Xie Zhiyao.
"Ayao, come to see Xu Hongdou?" Wang Gang asked.
"If you're not looking for Xu Hongdou, I'm looking for you." Xie Zhiyao said with a smile.
"Looking for me?" Wang Gang asked in surprise: "What's the matter?"
"It's no big deal, I just want you to help me persuade Xia Xia. He usually listens to you the most." Xie Zhiyao said with a headache.
"Xia Xia wants to go to the Magic City again?" Wang Gang said.
Xia Xia is Xie Xiaochun's younger brother Xie Xiaoxia. She is twenty-two years old this year and usually learns carving skills from her master Xie Heshun.
Wang Gang sometimes went to Xie Heshun to ask for advice on carving techniques, and he was very familiar with Xie Xiaoxia.
Xie Xiaoxia is an enterprising young person and does not want to stick to Yunmiao Village. She has always wanted to go to a big city to make a career.
"Xia Xia's live broadcast of carvings, there was a person from the Magic City who often rewarded him. Once he got familiar with it, he wanted to go to the Magic City to develop, and the other person said he would help him solve his work." Xie Zhiyao said distressedly:
"Because of this, his master lost his temper. He said that he had to learn to run before he learned to walk. He was so ambitious."
Wang Gang smiled and said: "I know Heshun's temper. He is not scolding his apprentice, but he is reluctant to let his apprentice leave, and he refuses to ask for him to stay because of his face.
But Xia Xia is a good child, and it’s a good thing to go out and have adventures. If you don’t have adventures when you’re young, then why not?”
Xie Zhiyao said angrily: "Do you agree with Xia Xia going to the Magic City?"
Wang Gang shrugged and said: "Young people want to break in, you can't stop them."
Xie Zhiyao sighed: "Aren't I worried that he will be deceived? People I meet online are unreliable!"
Wang Gang nodded and said: "That's true. Does Xia Xia know who the other party is?"
Xie Zhiyao said: "That kid Xia Xia is so heartless and doesn't see bad people in his eyes. How does he know who the other party is?"
Wang Gang said: "Have you had dinner? Let's go have a barbecue together and invite Xia Xia out to ask."
As soon as Xie Zhiyao thought about it, he called Xie Xiaoxia and asked him to go out for dinner.
Yunmiao Village is not big, there is only one barbecue stall, and there were not many customers when Wang Gang and Xie Zhiyao arrived.
They randomly found a small table and sat down, asking the boss to bake whatever they wanted, and served two bottles of beer first.
Xie Xiaoxia arrived ten minutes later.
"Brother Ayao, Brother Wang." Xie Xiaoxia is a very honest child, and she was very reserved when she saw Wang Gang and Xie Zhiyao.
"Come and sit." Wang Gang brought a small stool to Xie Xiaoxia.
"Thank you, Brother Wang."
Xie Xiaoxia has realized why Xie Zhiyao asked him to come.
"Brother Ayao, don't try to persuade me. I have decided to go to the Magic City to develop my career. I have already told my master and my family."
Wang Gang and Xie Zhiyao looked at each other. Just as Xie Zhiyao was about to speak, Wang Gang took the lead.
"Have you taken care of your basic necessities, food, housing and transportation when you go to the Magic City?" Wang Gang asked.
"My friend said that if I go to Shanghai, I can live with him and he can help me find a job." Xie Xiaoxia said enthusedly.
Wang Gang raised his eyebrows and said, "How much do you know about your friend?"
"We often chat online, and he appreciates my carving skills very much. He said that many people in Shanghai like my carvings."
Xie Zhiyao said angrily: "You believe whatever others say, what if he lies to you?"
"What can he lie to me about?" Xie Xiaoxia asked.
Hearing this, Xie Zhiyao was speechless.
Wang Gang sighed: "It seems that you are determined to go to the Magic City. I won't advise you, but I only have one request."
Xie Xiaoxia said happily: "Thank you, Brother Wang, you are the only one who supports me."
Wang Gang shook his head and said: "Don't be too happy too early. My request is that you wait three days before leaving. I'll ask acquaintances in Shanghai to check and you give me your friend's information."
"Isn't this bad?" Xie Xiaoxia said hesitantly.
Wang Gang poured a glass of beer for Xie Xiaoxia and said, "If your friend has no problem, he won't be afraid of checking."
Xie Xiaoxia thought for a long time and finally nodded: "I only have his online name."
When Xie Zhiyao heard this, he became even more angry.
"You don't even know someone's real name, and you still want to go to the Magic City?!"
Wang Gang also felt that Xie Xiaoxia was an unreliable friend.
"Tell me your online name first. It's best if you have a photo of him."
Xie Xiaoxia took out her mobile phone and said: "I once had a video call with him and accidentally took a screenshot."
Wang Gang had Xie Xiaoxia's prestige, so he asked him to send the screenshot, and then said: "You wait three days, I will find out and send you to the Magic City."
The owner of the barbecue stall brought a plate of food, and Xie Zhiyao handed Xie Xiaochun a mutton skewer.
"Eat! Don't worry, Brother Wang will be able to find out the details of that person."
Xie Xiaoxia took the mutton skewers and asked: "Brother Ayao, after I leave, master, can you help me to persuade me?"
Xie Zhiyao sighed: "Your master's apprentices are leaving and changing careers. If you leave again, I think he, the inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, can be regarded as a peerless person in this generation."
"No, I went to Magic City to promote the master's wood carving skills and promote traditional culture. I didn't want to leave the master's sect." Xie Xiaoxia said nervously.
Wang Gang smiled and said: "You have some conscience, you don't forget your ancestors too many times."
"It's good that you have this intention, but I still think you should listen to your master and hone your skills for a few more years. As for promoting wood carving culture, I have been following up." Xie Zhiyao sighed.
With the development of the times, traditional wood carving skills are becoming less and less popular. Machine carving has replaced pure hand carving as the general trend.
It's just that Xie Xiaoxia's master, Xie Heshun, loves the wood carving culture too much and has always been stubborn and unwilling to give in. Coupled with the problem of face and unwillingness to accept new things, the business of the wood carving workshop will become worse and worse.
Wang Gang has seen Xie Heshun's craftsmanship, what do you say? The craftsmanship is good, but it is limited to handicrafts, and there is still some gap between it and wood carving art.
If he is willing to compromise for the sake of the market, commercialize wood carvings, and find a dedicated team to promote it, there may be a way to survive.
"Xia Xia, please think carefully about leaving. I am discussing cooperation with the hotel and strive to hang Master Xie's works in the hotel chain to let more people know the wood carving culture."
Wang Gang took a sip of wine and remained silent. He felt that Xie Zhiyao's idea was a good one, but unfortunately, even if the hotel could negotiate, it might not be able to solve Xie Heshun's dilemma.
In the final analysis, if Xie Heshun is not progressive in his thinking, all the efforts made by Xie Zhiyao will be useless.
"Brother Wang, have you been to Magic City? What kind of city is that?" Xie Xiaoxia suddenly said with longing.
Wang Gang sighed and said: "Magic City is a very prosperous city, many times larger than Yunmiao Village, but it does not have the warmth and warmth of Yunmiao Village. It is a place that values profits more."
Xie Xiaoxia was confused, but Xie Zhiyao understood.
"Brother Wang, will you go back?" Xie Xiaoxia suddenly asked.
Wang Gang shook his head and said: "There are no plans to go back yet, why do you ask?"
Xie Xiaoxia took a sip of wine and emboldened herself and asked, "Do you like my sister?"