wenzili
Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 83 Location: China
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Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 10:29 pm Post subject: My Neighbors in Garden Lane (5) |
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5) A Noble Coppersmith
(1) A Peculiar Business
Being opposite to blacksmiths� shops, there was Mr. Fu�s coppersmith shop which was very popular but only got a single product of scissors series in it. Besides, the scissors were also outstanding for their double metal construction, i.e, 2 brass handles welded on hardened steel base, which not only remained the sharpness of steel cutting edges, but also added the elegance and stainless nature of brass handles.
It had been said this wonderful workmanship was universally unique and exclusive even today. However, this technical innovation had not brought Mr. Fu too much fortune.
(2) A Lonely Master
To my knowledge, his business had never come out from depression. With no assistor, this quiet neighbor was always busy at this or that process alone. Sometimes he squatted beside his little furnace, as pulling or pushing bellows as loading materials. Sometime he was absorbed in sand mould making. After a careful molding-box opening, he was squinting his eyes behind the glasses and scrupulously amending those minor defects with some little tools.
After the molding completion, he clamped out a dazzling crucible with orange-green smoke rising up. As he poured the liquefied copper out and cast the mold, whole room had been shined by its glorious radiation. As if had placed ourselves in a fairy land, we all were excited and could not help hailing by this spectacular scene. In the mean time, Master Fu�s idiot sun with age about 18 to 20 would also cheerfully jump out to join us with his silly grin and arms� stretching out just like a dancing gorilla.
Master Fu had 2 sons. One was this idiot who was so silly that he could never take care to himself. After washed his hands, he simply got up without further action. In this case, his stepmother, a blind old lady, had to fumble about his bottom cleaning and trousers putting on.
His second son had misfortunately drown, when he studied in an elementary school several years ago. Therefore, he had no business successor in his family.
But, why didn�t he recruit an apprentice as other craft fellows?
(3) A Valuable Peering
The answer to this puzzle had not been found until 1969 when I graduated from a university and had my summer vacation at home. I�d occasionally read a local historic logbook where Master Fu�s glorious legendary had been clearly recorded.
Master Fu was a very poor apprentice of coppersmith when he was young. His master was a very clever but grudging people. He�d invented a new workmanship to fabricate scissors with welded brass handle. But he never allowed any apprentice to approach this top secret process and always carried the welding out after their sleep.
The young Fu knew the importance well and made up his mind to get it. He pretended going upstairs earlier and sleeping soundly. When all of his apprentice fellows had fallen to sleep, he got up and peered thru the little gap on the wooden floor. He�d learnt this welding skill successfully and made it perfect with his own innovation.
(4) A Great Honor
He came back to his hometown and run his own coppersmith shop there. He rose to fame swiftly for a Golden Medal won in an International Craft Exhibition in Paris. It was the only product made in China and sent to the show on Chinese behalf. This great honor was immensely delight the emperor of Qing dynasty, who favored him a title of �the Most Skillful Craft Master� and promoted him an official title of�Qi Pin(Level Seven )�with the equivalence of �County Governor�.
In 1916, his scissors had been sent to Panama Show and had won a top-grade Golden Medal again.
Before the appearance of chromium plated or stainless steel, his scissors were the only sort of stainless products and had been very popular in both American and European markets. Their advantages were not only for the golden and shining color, but also for their hardened sharpness. My mother kept a small size scissors and had used for haft century without any damage.
Since this technology was so valuable and gained with great difficulty, Mr. Fu had taken his master�s lessons and vowed never diverge to someone else.
However, he was so unlucky, that he had no offspring to succeed to it. Consequently, this wonderful workmanship had completely disappeared with our enormous regret.
5) The disappearance of Garden Lane
It was in a very fickle year of 1958, when the tide of �Great Leap� was swept over whole China. At that very moment, a particularly officious governor, Mr. Lu came to Gan Yue county to take his new post. After his early arrival, he complained: �Served as our winder, the Liberation Street is terribly narrow. Tear it down immediately! � he issued an order with his sickly arrogance.
Sure enough, after less than a week, half shops in Liberation Street and most of resident houses in Garden Lane has been demolished. The majority of our neighbors had moved away. Garden Lane had eventually disappeared which had sadly terminated my story with a full stop. _________________ Practice made every effort perfect |
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