Prodigal System in the Flourishing City

Chapter 743: Chapter 741 Bad News [Third Update]

Grandpa Wang was always in a state of weaving while explaining.

Lu Xiaobu and the others didn’t interrupt; instead, they quietly waited and listened.

Even when little Wang arrived, Lu Xiaobu signaled him to sit down quietly and wait.

During this time, on several occasions, the elderly man made mistakes.

To tell the truth, Lu Xiaobu and the others couldn’t even spot the errors.

But the old man anxiously explained, ”I’m wrong, wrong, I am just too old, that’s the only reason.”

While explaining, he corrected the mistakes.

Once again, perhaps because he was too anxious, he made mistakes seven or eight times in the same spot.

Sweat broke out on the old man’s forehead as he kept anxiously explaining!

He was afraid!

Afraid that Lu Xiaobu would stop learning from him because of this!

”Grandpa Wang, it’s okay, take your time,” Lu Xiaobu took Grandpa Wang’s withered hand, which even felt bone-chilling, and said softly.

With that one grip, coupled with the incredibly gentle smile on Lu Xiaobu’s face, Grandpa Wang relaxed and let out a satisfied sigh, ”Good child, such a good child!”

Although he had said he no longer cared about matters of character, how could he truly not care?

However, that gesture from Lu Xiaobu truly made him feel that Lu Xiaobu was a good person!

To pass on his skills to someone like this, he felt at ease!

As dusk gradually fell, Grandpa Wang could no longer see clearly at all.

Yet, even so, his hands continued weaving!

Even faster and more accurately than before!

The reason for all this, apart from the fact that Grandpa Wang had ingrained this craft in his bones, was his recognition of Lu Xiaobu!

This recognition calmed his heart!

It grew darker and darker.

Eventually, Grandpa Wang simply couldn’t continue.

”Let’s rest for now.”

It was only then that Lu Xiaobu suggested taking a break.

He hadn’t dared to interrupt earlier, fearing that the old man would overthink and become emotionally unstable.

At his age, one must avoid severe emotional ups and downs.

”Alright!” Grandpa Wang did not insist but chuckled heartily, and with Lu Xiaobu’s assistance, stood up.

Little Wang watched Grandpa Wang’s smiling face nearby, his expression one of amazement.

It had been so many years since he’d seen that smile!

He remembered the last time he saw it was when Grandpa Wang was still making furniture!

Young Master Bu was truly amazing, not only powerful but also heartwarming and comforting!

Lu Xiaobu helped Grandpa Wang walk back into the house.

And at that moment, Grandpa Wang suddenly spoke, ”Child, you didn’t come here to learn from me, right?”

”Grandpa Wang, why do you say that?” Lu Xiaobu smiled.

”I may be uneducated and have little experience, but I know that a child won’t easily show such respect to someone; you must be a big boss, right! Big bosses don’t learn this sort of thing!” The ’child’ Grandpa Wang referred to was little Wang.

”Grandpa Wang is very insightful. Actually, I am looking to set up a school to pass on our traditional crafts.”

Lu Xiaobu finally revealed the truth: ”And I would like to invite you, sir, to come out of retirement and teach the students.”

”A school?!” Grandpa Wang was visibly taken aback.

But then he sighed bitterly and shook his head, ”Child, not to dampen your enthusiasm, but this wide-net approach is really not suitable. This craft cannot be passed on with a fixed pattern, it won’t work that way!”

”Grandpa Wang, after the wide-net approach, there is another saying,” Lu Xiaobu played coy.

”What saying?” Grandpa Wang was puzzled.

”Focus on nurturing,” Lu Xiaobu said with a smile.

”Wide-net approach with a focus on nurturing?!” Grandpa Wang pondered these two phrases.

The more he mulled over them, the brighter his eyes became, ”Child, don’t fool me, tell me in detail.”

”It’s quite simple. The school I’m setting up will, at a glance, still be a regular school. But in addition to the usual curriculum, there will also be elective classes, which will be our various crafts. You, the masters, will act as teachers, teaching them a little.”

Lu Xiaobu explained calmly.

”If they are not interested, or if they can’t learn it, then it’s like attending a handicraft class.”

”But if they learn it and are interested, and you, the masters, also feel that the child is good, then we can adjust their class schedule, allowing them to focus on learning from you.”

After hearing Lu Xiaobu’s explanation, the cloudiness in Grandpa Wang’s eyes disappeared in an instant, replaced with excitement, ”Is it possible?!”

”It is possible!” Lu Xiaobu affirmed.

”Great, great, great!” Grandpa Wang was obviously elated, but he then sighed again, ”Still, it won’t work.”

”What’s wrong?” Lu Xiaobu asked again.

”This craft, nowadays, can’t put food on the table!” Grandpa Wang sighed, ”Although I hope the craft will be passed on, it doesn’t mean I want to ruin someone’s life!”

”You don’t have to worry about that. Anyone who becomes an inheritor of these old crafts, unless they find a better source of income, I will hire them here and pay them a salary,” Lu Xiaobu said with a smile.

The old man was really kind-hearted, even worrying about that!

”Then you will suffer a huge loss!” The old man worried again, ”One or two people is fine, but it’s unsustainable with too many!”

”Don’t worry, Grandpa Wang, I have nothing else in abundance but money! I think about how to spend it every day!” Lu Xiaobu said with a laugh.

However, as much as he spoke the truth, Grandpa Wang burst into tears all of a sudden, patting Lu Xiaobu’s hand and saying, ”Child, you have had it tough!”

He thought Lu Xiaobu was the kind of person willing to pay any price to preserve a craft!

This made Lu Xiaobu want to both laugh and cry.

He was telling the truth!

On one hand, he could preserve these crafts, and on the other, it would help him squander his wealth.

What a comfortable arrangement!

”Alright, I agree to it, I’ll become a teacher!”

Grandpa Wang said earnestly, ”You are a great philanthropist!”

”Don’t say that,” Lu Xiaobu quickly waved his hand.

He was a prodigal son, not a great philanthropist!

”Oh, there’s one more thing,” Grandpa Wang suddenly remembered something.

”What is it?” Lu Xiaobu asked.

”You must also bring my junior brother with you; he wants to pass it on even more than I do!” Grandpa Wang said, ”And I’m old; I could be gone any day, while he is young and still has time!”

”Sure, write down your junior brother’s address and phone number, and I’ll go find him!”

Lu Xiaobu nodded, thinking it was a good idea.

”Good, good, good!”

Grandpa Wang laughed heartily three more times, wrote down the address and phone number, and then went to sleep!

This was probably the happiest day of his later life.

However, the next morning!

The joy came to an abrupt end!