Remarrying Chun Yuan

Chapter 410 Stability

Liu Yuechu was speechless with embarrassment upon hearing this.

Whether Li Chengyue gets married or not is none of her business.

Moreover, this is not something she should meddle in. "...If you are worried about this, why don't you go to Hanming Temple to ask?"

"Why go to Hanming Temple?" Minister Li asked, puzzled.

"There is a Yue Lao Hall in Hanming Temple, and I heard that it is very effective."

"..."

Minister Li felt he had talked too much nonsense and could only put aside other matters to begin discussing the carving competition.

Liu Yuechu had already thought things through thoroughly; all the Ministry of Rites needed to do was follow the established procedures.

With the matter settled in this way, an official notice was posted to inform the public.

The news sparked an enthusiastic response, as many carving apprentices had studied for years without getting a chance to make a name for themselves.

Now, not only can they participate in competitions to broaden their horizons, but they may also win a prize. Although only the top three will be awarded honors and provided with a salary by the Ministry of the Interior.

However, those ranked fourth to fiftieth would still work for the royal gardens, earning generous wages, though without official titles. Those ranked fiftieth to one hundredth could also work, though for less money, but at least they wouldn't go hungry.

People enthusiastically signed up.

Responses were received in various regions.

No one expected that such a sculpture competition would attract so much attention.

The capital city was immediately bustling with activity.

This time, however, unlike the imperial examinations, there were no prefectural or state-level examinations. Everyone who wanted to participate had to come to the capital, and the competition would begin a month later.

Things are proceeding smoothly and methodically.

But Xu Shan became anxious after receiving the news.

He made a special trip to the Duke's mansion to seek an audience. Upon seeing Liu Yuechu, he asked, "...Madam Liu wanted me to select wood carvings, so why hold this grand gathering? If you don't trust my skills, I can take my leave!"

The competition at the conference made him feel humiliated.

He is a master recognized by the Great Qi, why would he need to compare his objects with those of ordinary people?

Liu Yuechu smiled and said, "Are these two things in conflict? Master Xu naturally looks down on such a conference, so he can choose not to participate."

Xu Shan said, "But only the top three can receive the imperial honor."

“Master Xu, you don’t need to care about the honor of the court. After all, your reputation is renowned throughout the Great Qi. Even without the court’s reward, you are a recognized master. Why bother with this matter?” Liu Yuechu’s question left Xu Shan with a complex and indescribable feeling.

How could he not care about his reputation?

That's an award from the imperial court!

He's called a master sculptor, but he's just a carpenter. His achievements are all thanks to people praising him.

But this conference put him in a difficult position. If he didn't participate, he would be ridiculed for being cowardly. But if he did participate, he would be no match for the outsiders, and his previous reputation would be ruined!

Xu Shan stood there, momentarily at a loss.

Liu Yuechu suddenly suggested, "Actually, it's not like you're the only one from your family who would step in."

Xu Shan was taken aback, not understanding what she meant. "I'm the only one in the Xu family who knows this skill. My son..."

“I’m talking about your daughter, Xu Xianglan.”

Liu Yuechu directly brought her up, "I heard that she has been Xu Dajia's assistant since she was a child, and she also helps with some odd jobs. With her participating in the competition, you can only support her and you won't be able to win a prize. She is a woman, and outsiders will only praise her. If you win a prize, your Xu family will be honored and have such a rare talent. Isn't that a win-win situation?"

Xu Shan: "..." But she's a woman!

He almost blurted out those words, but then he remembered that Liu Yuechu in front of him was unique and had fought her way to where she was today among thousands of men.

"Madam Liu's suggestion is excellent. Please allow me to consider it." He was speechless after being reprimanded and could only leave.

Liu Yuechu then sent a message to Xu Xianglan: "...Whether she can seize the opportunity depends on her choice."

The Xu family is a den of wolves.

Liu Yuechu is capable of helping her break free.

But the prerequisite for helping her is that Xu Xianglan herself has the ambition and expectation to break free from her constraints. If she only wallows in self-pity without the courage to take action, no matter how much Liu Yuechu regrets her grievances, she will not lend a hand.

Xu Xianglan was extremely excited when she received the news. She had actually seen the notice posted on the street and was still hesitating whether the woman could participate.

However, Liu Yuechu secretly sent someone to deliver a message to her, which clearly indicated that she had given her permission.

She had made up her mind and was ready to find an opportunity to register. If she could actually win a prize, she would at least have the confidence to make some requests to her grandmother.

At least, she could suggest choosing another maid to serve her brother, so she wouldn't have to personally take care of his bodily needs.

Xu Shan returned home but did not tell Xu Xianglan the news, as he did not want his daughter to come out into the public eye.

Upon hearing the news, Wei Junlang still insisted on returning to the capital. He wasn't there to participate in the competition, but rather to watch the excitement. At least this matter had piqued his interest, preventing him from being preoccupied with his illness every day.

When T.V. Soong received this news, he was extremely dismissive.

In his opinion, all those carving competitions are nonsense. He is the most outstanding carver in the world, and no one can compare to him!

"This Liu Zhong's daughter is just like him, always obsessed with these fancy things, blinded by the desire for fame! She's nothing like her mother, what a pity, what a real pity!"

Song Ziwen sat at home, drinking alone.

Since Liu Yuechu's mother passed away, he has been drinking all day long and has never been sober.

Do you know why my mother didn't choose you?

A voice suddenly came.

Song Ziwen's body stiffened, and he scrambled to his feet in a flash. In the dim light, he saw a woman in front of him, her outline indistinct, yet strikingly similar to the woman he admired.

Thinking of what she had just said, Song Ziwen swallowed hard. "Liu Zhong's daughter, what brings you here? Just for your so-called lousy carving competition? Get lost, I have absolutely no interest in it."

"You're not interested? Is it because your cooking skills have deteriorated?" Liu Yuechu covered his nose with his hand, his nose already choked by the fumes of alcohol and smoke.

“I have seen the zither you made for my mother. Although the craftsmanship is good, it is not conducive to playing the zither. It is rough on the hands.” Liu Yuechu took all the items back. “I have been thinking about why it is rough on the hands after so many years. It’s because the wood is too poor.”

"How can someone who can't even afford good wood be called a master carver? Now you know why your mother didn't run away with you?"

"Just because you can't give her a stable life, and you can't give her the best piano."

Liu Yuechu took out the "Le Yuan" (a type of musical instrument). "This is a musical instrument that my father gave to her. Although the craftsmanship is not as exquisite as yours, my mother plays it exceptionally smoothly, and it is still in perfect condition after more than 20 years."

"You can't compare."