Pingcheng Blue

On the third day after the Shehuo storm subsided, Pingcheng was shrouded in post-holiday laziness and the dampness and coldness of the first melting snow. The hustle and bustle of the racecourse banquet has also dissipated, leaving behind a more complicated situation and human relationships that need to be sorted out carefully. Sima Ruian was sitting alone in the back hall of Longchang House. His fingertips were tapping the names on the desk that needed to be replied to, but his eyes were a little wandering. Even he can't help but feel a little tired after going through a series of hard work. "Master," Wang Wu's voice sounded outside the door, with some hesitation, "there is a young lady outside asking to see her, saying that... She wants to express her gratitude on behalf of the head of the family." Ruian was slightly startled and put down the name card. "Which family?" The ones he met recently were all dignitaries or guild leaders, and there were no female relatives. "She said her surname was Li, and she was... The granddaughter of Mr. Chen, the leader of the Han Society, who was in the fire team the day before yesterday." The granddaughter of Mr. Chen? Ruian was even more confused when he thought of the old man with a stubborn temper and a red face. Although Chen Laoguan accepted the mediation plan that day, his attitude was always a little tough. How could he send his granddaughter to express his gratitude? He straightened his robe and said, "Invite her in." The door curtain moved slightly, and a young woman wearing a light blue plain cotton robe lowered her head and walked in. She has a slender figure and a quiet manner, which is very different from the cheerful Xianbei or Hu women you usually see. Behind her was a little maid holding a brocade box. "Little girl Li, I have met Mr. Sima." Her voice was soft and polite. When he raised his head, he revealed a delicate face, with a bit of bookishness between his brows and eyes, but his eyes were clear and calm, without the shyness of an ordinary boudoir woman. "Ms. Li, you don't have to be polite, please take a seat." Ruian motioned to watch, and Wang Wu offered hot tea. "I'm sorry to bother you because after my grandfather returned home, he was deeply impressed by his wisdom and fairness in mediating the social dispute. He was stubborn and might not be willing to say much in person, but after returning home, he repeatedly praised his method, saying that his method not only avoided a disaster, but also saved the face of each society and took into account the overall situation. Mrs. Li spoke slowly and clearly, "My grandfather sent me some refreshments made in my own workshop to express my gratitude. They are not expensive things. I hope you won't refuse." Ruian took a look at the brocade box. They were cakes from the time-honored brand "Li Ji" in Pingcheng. They were indeed not luxurious, but they were very considerate. He knew in his heart that this thank you was genuine, but he was afraid there was another reason. "Chen Huishou is too polite. I don't deserve the responsibility. On the day of the social fire, the three families performed together, and the effect was wonderful, especially the dragon dance of the Han Society. It was more powerful than in previous years. Ruian has not yet thanked Chen Huishou and all the heroes for their strong cooperation." Ms. Li smiled slightly, like the spring breeze blowing through the newly melted snow: "Excuse me, sir. Award. My grandfather said that if my husband had not proposed the 'integration' strategy, he would have still adhered to the 'orthodox' and 'successive' views, but he had lost his temper. After this incident, he also realized that Pingcheng is so big, how can it only have one voice and one color? " Ruian couldn't help but look at her with admiration when these words came from a young woman's mouth. He calmly took a sip of tea and waited for her next words. Sure enough, Madam Li paused for a moment, and her tone became a little solemn: "Actually, the little lady came here today. In addition to thanking you, there is one more thing I would like to ask sir." " Madam Li, it doesn't matter." "The brocade workshop run by my grandfather has encountered some troubles recently." She said softly, "There were Han craftsmen in the workshop who weaved traditional patterns, and there were also a few Xianbei craftsmen who were good at fur inlay and Xianbei totem weaving. In the past, everyone did their own thing, and they were in harmony. But recently, A Hu merchant proposed to customize a brocade that combines the complex patterns of Han brocade with the Persian style of the Western Regions. It required bright colors and novel patterns. My grandfather tried to get the two groups of craftsmen to cooperate, but... It was like a social fire rehearsal, and the Han craftsmen thought Hu Feng was weird. , Lost the foundation; the Xianbei craftsmen felt that the Han pattern was too delicate and not grand enough. My grandfather was worried about this. Seeing that her husband could resolve the social dispute, the young woman must also have high opinions on this kind of... Fusion of skills? " So that's it. Ruian secretly sighed in his heart that the dispute over Shehuo was just the tip of the iceberg. Deep in Pingcheng, all walks of life were facing the same integration problem. He looked at the clear-eyed young woman in front of him who dared to ask for advice on family matters, and seemed to see himself eager to break the deadlock on the school field that day. He pondered for a moment and did not answer directly. Instead, he asked: "Why did Mrs. Li think that the social fire of that day was finally successful?" Ms. Li thought for a while and replied seriously: "Because Mr. Li found a point of 'co-prosperity'. Dragon dance is the background, Nuo dance and illusion are the core. The three do not replace each other, but complement each other and create a more exciting scene." "Yes." Ruian nodded, "The same is true for brocade, or forcing Xianbei craftsmen to abandon their own style will lead to resistance. Hu merchants were asked to provide samples of their favorite Persian patterns and colors. The Han craftsmen used their superb weaving skills to cleverly combine them with elements such as auspicious clouds and curly grass in the traditional patterns of our dynasty and rearrange them; while the Xianbei craftsmen could be responsible for decorating the edges or specific parts of the brocade with fur or other special techniques. The gold and silver threads highlight the thickness and luxury. In this way, they retain their respective strengths and create new products that meet Hu Shang's requirements. This is not a compromise, but... Shengwei? "A flash of light flashed in Madam Li's eyes, just like the light that once flashed in the "Northern Wei Blue" bowl. "Exactly. Break out of the either-or debate and look for a new form that can accommodate and transcend the original elements at a higher level. This requires the host to have a broad mind and creative wisdom." Ruian said slowly, "Perhaps, we can ask Chen Huishou to take the lead in setting up a small trial workshop so that craftsmen who are interested in trying it can trial-produce samples first. Once successful, the benefits will be shared, and more people will follow suit." After hearing this, Madam Li stood up and bowed solemnly: "I was enlightened after listening to Mr. He opened the window, and the cool air poured in. The ice under the eaves in the distance was dripping, reflecting the dim light of the afternoon. He thought of the brilliance flowing in the glass bowl that day, and also thought of the light of realization in Madam Li's eyes just now. The road to Pingcheng's integration, although there are games in temples and disputes in the marketplace, is also happening quietly in these specific skills, patterns, and even the weaving of a piece of brocade. It requires time, wisdom, and more importantly, old people like Chen Laoguan who are finally willing to change, and young people like Madam Li who dare to ask questions and try. The road ahead is long, but at least the sunshine at this moment has a hint of warmth. Ruian picked up the pen and began to reply to those famous posts. When the pen tip came down, he seemed to be a little more confident.

On the third day after the Shehuo storm subsided, Pingcheng was shrouded in post-holiday laziness and the dampness and coldness of the first melting snow. The hustle and bustle of the racecourse banquet has also dissipated, leaving behind a more complicated situation and human relationships that need to be sorted out carefully. Sima Ruian was sitting alone in the back hall of Longchang House. His fingertips were tapping the names on the desk that needed to be replied to, but his eyes were a little wandering. Even he can't help but feel a little tired after going through a series of hard work. "Master," Wang Wu's voice sounded outside the door, with some hesitation, "there is a young lady outside asking to see her, saying that... She wants to express her gratitude on behalf of the head of the family." Ruian was slightly startled and put down the name card. "Which family?" The ones he met recently were all dignitaries or guild leaders, and there were no female relatives. "She said her surname was Li, and she was... The granddaughter of Mr. Chen, the leader of the Han Society, who was in the fire team the day before yesterday." The granddaughter of Mr. Chen? Ruian was even more confused when he thought of the old man with a stubborn temper and a red face. Although Chen Laoguan accepted the mediation plan that day, his attitude was always a little tough. How could he send his granddaughter to express his gratitude? He straightened his robe and said, "Invite her in." The door curtain moved slightly, and a young woman wearing a light blue plain cotton robe lowered her head and walked in. She has a slender figure and a quiet manner, which is very different from the cheerful Xianbei or Hu women you usually see. Behind her was a little maid holding a brocade box. "Little girl Li, I have met Mr. Sima." Her voice was soft and polite. When he raised his head, he revealed a delicate face, with a bit of bookishness between his brows and eyes, but his eyes were clear and calm, without the shyness of an ordinary boudoir woman. "Ms. Li, you don't have to be polite, please take a seat." Ruian motioned to watch, and Wang Wu offered hot tea. "I'm sorry to bother you because after my grandfather returned home, he was deeply impressed by his wisdom and fairness in mediating the social dispute. He was stubborn and might not be willing to say much in person, but after returning home, he repeatedly praised his method, saying that his method not only avoided a disaster, but also saved the face of each society and took into account the overall situation. Mrs. Li spoke slowly and clearly, "My grandfather sent me some refreshments made in my own workshop to express my gratitude. They are not expensive things. I hope you won't refuse." Ruian took a look at the brocade box. They were cakes from the time-honored brand "Li Ji" in Pingcheng. They were indeed not luxurious, but they were very considerate. He knew in his heart that this thank you was genuine, but he was afraid there was another reason. "Chen Huishou is too polite. I don't deserve the responsibility. On the day of the social fire, the three families performed together, and the effect was wonderful, especially the dragon dance of the Han Society. It was more powerful than in previous years. Ruian has not yet thanked Chen Huishou and all the heroes for their strong cooperation." Ms. Li smiled slightly, like the spring breeze blowing through the newly melted snow: "Excuse me, sir. Award. My grandfather said that if my husband had not proposed the 'integration' strategy, he would have still adhered to the 'orthodox' and 'successive' views, but he had lost his temper. After this incident, he also realized that Pingcheng is so big, how can it only have one voice and one color? " Ruian couldn't help but look at her with admiration when these words came from a young woman's mouth. He calmly took a sip of tea and waited for her next words. Sure enough, Madam Li paused for a moment, and her tone became a little solemn: "Actually, the little lady came here today. In addition to thanking you, there is one more thing I would like to ask sir." " Madam Li, it doesn't matter." "The brocade workshop run by my grandfather has encountered some troubles recently." She said softly, "There were Han craftsmen in the workshop who weaved traditional patterns, and there were also a few Xianbei craftsmen who were good at fur inlay and Xianbei totem weaving. In the past, everyone did their own thing, and they were in harmony. But recently, A Hu merchant proposed to customize a brocade that combines the complex patterns of Han brocade with the Persian style of the Western Regions. It required bright colors and novel patterns. My grandfather tried to get the two groups of craftsmen to cooperate, but... It was like a social fire rehearsal, and the Han craftsmen thought Hu Feng was weird. , Lost the foundation; the Xianbei craftsmen felt that the Han pattern was too delicate and not grand enough. My grandfather was worried about this. Seeing that her husband could resolve the social dispute, the young woman must also have high opinions on this kind of... Fusion of skills? " So that's it. Ruian secretly sighed in his heart that the dispute over Shehuo was just the tip of the iceberg. Deep in Pingcheng, all walks of life were facing the same integration problem. He looked at the clear-eyed young woman in front of him who dared to ask for advice on family matters, and seemed to see himself eager to break the deadlock on the school field that day. He pondered for a moment and did not answer directly. Instead, he asked: "Why did Mrs. Li think that the social fire of that day was finally successful?" Ms. Li thought for a while and replied seriously: "Because Mr. Li found a point of 'co-prosperity'. Dragon dance is the background, Nuo dance and illusion are the core. The three do not replace each other, but complement each other and create a more exciting scene." "Yes." Ruian nodded, "The same is true for brocade, or forcing Xianbei craftsmen to abandon their own style will lead to resistance. Hu merchants were asked to provide samples of their favorite Persian patterns and colors. The Han craftsmen used their superb weaving skills to cleverly combine them with elements such as auspicious clouds and curly grass in the traditional patterns of our dynasty and rearrange them; while the Xianbei craftsmen could be responsible for decorating the edges or specific parts of the brocade with fur or other special techniques. The gold and silver threads highlight the thickness and luxury. In this way, they retain their respective strengths and create new products that meet Hu Shang's requirements. This is not a compromise, but... Shengwei? "A flash of light flashed in Madam Li's eyes, just like the light that once flashed in the "Northern Wei Blue" bowl. "Exactly. Break out of the either-or debate and look for a new form that can accommodate and transcend the original elements at a higher level. This requires the host to have a broad mind and creative wisdom." Ruian said slowly, "Perhaps, we can ask Chen Huishou to take the lead in setting up a small trial workshop so that craftsmen who are interested in trying it can trial-produce samples first. Once successful, the benefits will be shared, and more people will follow suit." After hearing this, Madam Li stood up and bowed solemnly: "I was enlightened after listening to Mr. He opened the window, and the cool air poured in. The ice under the eaves in the distance was dripping, reflecting the dim light of the afternoon. He thought of the brilliance flowing in the glass bowl that day, and also thought of the light of realization in Madam Li's eyes just now. The road to Pingcheng's integration, although there are games in temples and disputes in the marketplace, is also happening quietly in these specific skills, patterns, and even the weaving of a piece of brocade. It requires time, wisdom, and more importantly, old people like Chen Laoguan who are finally willing to change, and young people like Madam Li who dare to ask questions and try. The road ahead is long, but at least the sunshine at this moment has a hint of warmth. Ruian picked up the pen and began to reply to those famous posts. When the pen tip came down, he seemed to be a little more confident.