Chapter 307 - Chapter 307: Chapter 315: Enchanting Skills (2/2)

“Don’t worry, madam. As for the kitchen matters, you had already given instructions earlier. Seeing that you didn’t have time, this servant let them follow your previous orders. I believe there shouldn’t be any problems,” answered Aunt Li.

Hearing Aunt Li’s words, especially that she hadn’t had time, Su Wenyue, not so thick-skinned, blushed slightly—blamed Han Yu for that, in broad daylight no less.

A couple of days later, the jewelry that Su Wenyue had commissioned in the prefecture to be crafted was finished, and several craftsmen delivered it in person. Su Wenyue inspected the pieces and found them to be quite exquisite. They were the best craftsmanship available in the prefecture, all crafted following her initial designs without any mistakes, proof of the craftsmen’s considerable effort. However, after seeing the hairpin given by Han Yu, Su Wenyue felt that these pieces lacked vitality and had too much of a crafted feel by comparison. Everything suffers when compared, quality is immediately revealed with a comparison.

The jewelry was ready, but Su Wenyue did not immediately send it to her two cousins. She waited for the old master craftsman’s arrival, eager to hear his opinion. According to her calculations, he would arrive within a couple of days.

Han Yu had invited three other gold and silver craftsmen, whom Su Wenyue housed together in one courtyard. For the old master craftsman, Su Wenyue had arranged a separate small courtyard. Fortunately, their home was spacious enough, and they didn’t have to worry about running out of room. Even so, several courtyards remained unoccupied.

Although the old master craftsman was difficult to invite, once he arrived, he didn’t put on airs. Su Wenyue had prepared herself, knowing that generally those with true ability tended to carry some pride. But the man she met was a kindly old fellow, not too advanced in years, around fifty or so. His hair was completely white, yet his face appeared young; he was full of vigor and moved with a sprightly step—it was clear he practiced Kung Fu and had internal strength.

The craftsman’s surname was Cao, his given name Tan, and he was someone truly devoted to his craft, with little desire for fame or wealth. Otherwise, he would not have kept his extraordinary talents largely to himself, happy to work in obscurity under the Zhang Family. If the Zhang Family hadn’t encountered problems, Su Wenyue wouldn’t have gotten him so easily.

Master Cao had modest requirements, and Su Wenyue offered him the utmost sincerity, so he felt joining the Han Family was a good option. He would be well-fed and able to do what he loved every day without having to worry about other things. Previously reluctant to serve another family, he had owed a debt of gratitude to Old Master Zhang. But now with the permission of Zhang’s descendants, he had settled that debt and could dedicate himself to his craft without any qualms.

“Master Cao, these are some sets of jewelry I had commissioned a while ago. I would like to ask for your help in taking a look,” Su Wenyue said, signaling to the servant girl to bring up the jewelry and open the box.

Master Cao, upon seeing the jewelry in the box, immediately took them out for a closer inspection. His way of handling the jewelry was unlike other people—seemingly casual and effortless, yet careful not to damage it in any way.

After inspecting the jewelry, Master Cao nodded and then shook his head, “The designs of these pieces are really fine, I have to admire the talent behind them, despite being no less critical myself. However, the craftsmanship still needs improvement—these pieces appear delicate, but some parts are not firmly constructed, making them just delicate without the essence of liveliness, and too much craftsmanship makes them fail to be truly successful.”

Master Cao spoke dispassionately, and his last comment aligned with Su Wenyue’s own observations. She nodded, “I am honored by Master Cao’s commendation. I designed the patterns for this jewelry myself. In fact, after seeing the hairpin you made, I shared the same thoughts—the hairpin ranks as delicate but lacks a bit of vitality.”

Initially, Master Cao did not treat Su Wenyue as anything special, not much different from any other master, perhaps only seeing her as a more easygoing mistress. Learning that the designs were Su Wenyue’s, he viewed her in a new light.