Translator: churnie
No Editor
After being stiffened for half a day the 70 years old Fu Tong finally began to breath deeply, holding his cane, his legs and feet shake violently.
Feng Ming feared that he was over-agitated and causing a stroke, he quickly replaced the generous appeasement in behalf of Qiu yue. “Don’t be too agitated, the dyeing secret recipe is something that the Fu family has passed down, even if Qiu Yue accidentally guessed, she will not force you to hand it over. It’s fine even if it didn’t happen today.”
Fu Tong flushes and his eyes are fixed on Qiu Yue’s face, he doesn’t blink, as if he were afraid that she would disappear in the blink of an eye. The old servant makes a few strokes on his back and finally managed to get him breath.
Fu Tong shouts with enthusiasm, “It’s the Will of Heaven! The Will of Heaven! It’s hard to come by, she’s still Xiao Young Master’s person. Isn’t this the Will of Heaven?”
Qiu Yue is still with unsure expression. “Am i right?”
“Yes! That’s right!” Fu Tong smiled with eye smiles, Qiu Yue’s expression is more loving. “Young Miss, what’s your name?”
“Qiu Yue”
“Good! Good name! Even your name has aura! Hahahaha…”
Qiu Xing stunned, even Qiu Yue’s name has aura?
“Quick, servant quickly prepare for paying courtesy to the teacher. Qiu Yue, master will accept you as apprentice today, in the future the craftsmanship of Emperor Purple will be handed over to you!”
“Isn’t this too fast?” Even Qiu Yue can’t help but stunned.
“It’s not fast, master has been over 76 years old, lives day by day, master is worried about the future of the Emperor purple.” Not waiting for Qiu Yue to agree, Fu Tong had already relied on his old age to sell himself, the self-proclaimed master shook his head happily. “After the two disciples were taken away, master was worried about losing the craftsmanship day and night. Aih, those two brothers of yours, even if they studied hard enough, they can’t dye the real Emperor Purple. Fortunately God sent you to the Fu Qi Men. Maybe you’re the only one who will be able to dye the real Emperor Purple in the future…”
(t/n: Brothers here using ‘shixiong’ is brother from the same teacher, not sibling)
As he said on this side, the servant there had already prepared the hot tea quickly as what he had told him to do, he comes out with holding a square plate and put the set of square plate in front of Fu Tong and asks respectfully, “Master, how about giving this jade as the apprentice’s meeting gift? What do you think?”
There is a butterfly jade in the middle of the square plate, the color of the jade is mild, although it’s not a rare treasure in royal palace, but it’s also considered to be good.
Fu Tong is very satisfied. “Un, just this one.” He smiles at Feng Ming, “Excuse me to ask Xiao Young Master to be a witness, this old man has accept the third apprentice Qiu Yue today.”
Feng Ming opens his mouth wide, looking at Fu Tong, then looking at Qiu Yue again. “This… It seems to be too fast, isn’t it? I… I haven’t figured out what’s going on.”
Luo Yun looks coldly at the servant who still hand over the tea on his knees to Qiu Yue, his eyebrows wrinkles, he takes a step forward and pulls Qiu Yue behind him. “Make things clear first.”
The old servant has been mixing in the shop business for all his life, he has acquainted such a guy who emitted a chilly murderous aura somewhere, suddenly he scared himself that his face change.
Mian Ya also takes a step forward and protect Feng Ming behind him.
Fu Tong looks at the changes in front of him in dismay, he figures out after a long time. “Didn’t I make it clear?”
Feng Ming, Qiu Yue, Qiu Xing, Qiu Lan, Mian Ya, Luo Yun, nod almost simultaneously.
“Oh…” Fu Tong sighs. “I’m old, i’m old. Sure enough my brain is no longer good. I’ll make it clear first…” then he begins to chatter away again.
Originally Fu Tong highly values the craftsmanship of Emperor Purple, in order to prevent the secret recipe being passed on, his ancestors had set strict teaching rules.
Firstly, the method of dyeing Emperor Purple must be passed on to the descendants of the Fu family —— This is for the benefit of the family. Indeed the Fu family passed on from generation to generation. By relying on the dyeing technique that no one can compare, at least they don’t have to worry about food and clothing.
The former master had son, of course there was no difficulty in choosing a successor. However, as Fu Tong’s turn, it has become a big problem. What if there is no future generation? What should we do? Fortunately, on this point, Fu family ancestors still want to be more thoughtful. So there’s a second rule.
Second, if there’s no son in the family, you can accept apprentices.
Of course, the apprenticeship also has rules, and the rules are quite strange.
To get into the Fu family to learn to dye, you must be able to guess that the Emperor Purple color is from the shellfish from the sea. Guessing is the fate of people, only then you can enter the entrance door, and pass on the techniques of dyeing the purple.
Since Fu Tong knew that he couldn’t pass on his craftsmanship to his own children, since the news was released to the outside world, no less than 100 people have come to study the craftsmanship, but to guess out of thin air the origin of the Emperor Purple is easier said than done. Fu Tong was also reluctant to lose this beloved craftsmanship, after come and go, with great difficulty he finally took two disciples, only coaching for 80%, they were forced to serve as soldier.
Fu Tong is getting older, whenever he close his own eyes, he thought of when he got to the ground how to report to the ancestors that the Emperor Purple is vanish from this world, his heart can’t help but burst out of grief and sorrow. So every time a guest comes into the store and he thinks they look good, he will test them with questions about Emperor Purple, if they take interest in Emperor Purple, and also brilliant and clever, such as Qiu yue, he’s more likely to take out the treasure Emperor Purple cloth to see if he could meet his third apprentice.
At the last Fu Tong says happily, “As soon as I knew that Xiao Young Master was the guest, I vaguely feel that things have taken a turn for the better. Sure enough, Xiao Young Master has such a clever and brilliant girl around him. To be honest, even if she couldn’t guess for a few days, I would give some hints so that she can enter my entrance door to pass on the Emperor Purple, after all she is the most suitable candidate. The opportunity is rare, I can’t let this Emperor Purple gave up on my hand.”
After his explanation, everyone understands why he suddenly takes Qiu Yue as an apprentice, and give her the treasure Emperor Purple dyeing techniques for nothing.
Luo Yun is still alert and narrow his eyes and says, “Why is Qiu Yue the most suitable candidate?”
“Of course because of Xiao Young Master.”
“Huh?” Feng Ming blinked and pointed at himself. “What does it have to do with me?”
Fu Tong stays blank for a while, before looking around, then he says blankly, “I haven’t told you about the dyeing of Emperor Purple in detail?”
Everyone yelled in the bottom of their hearts and roll their eyes.
It’s not easy to talk with the elderly. How do the topic jump here again?
Fu Tong slowly swallows and says, “The raw material of the Emperor Purple comes from a kind of deep-sea purple shell. The shell can only be found in the Dan Lin sea area. It used to be okay, but now, that sea area is full of pirates ah, who dares to go find the purple shell ah? However, I recently heard Xiao family Young Master plan to open up some routes and signed a contract with the prince of Dan Lin, to be able to do these major events, you must not afraid of pirates. I’m looking to the whole world, the people who can get the Emperor Purple raw materials are only Xiao Young Master’s. Therefore, Qiu Yue is the most suitable person for integrating the Emperor Purple dyeing technique. Otherwise, even if you learned how to dye, but you don’t have the purple shell, where does the purple you dye come from?”
Wow……
It's only now that everyone has finally realized.
No wonder that the old man’s eyes lit up hearing the four words Xiao Family Young Master, still so proactively want to take Qiu Yue as an apprentice. It turned out to be the wide reputation of the business of the Xiao family.
Qiu Yue also figures out and says. “No wonder that at the beginning, the master said that even if one have learned it, one might not be able to dye the Emperor Purple, it turns out to be there’s no purple shells.” Luo Yun blocking in front of her like an iron plate, she pinches his sleeve with her fingers and pulling it, she whispers. “You go away, don’t frightened the old man.” she’s a little shy.
Luo Yun is stupefied by her gentleness, then he returns to his place.
Fu Tong is now focuses on Qiu Yue and pleasantly says, “So, you’re going to be my apprentice?”
Qiu Yue blushes and nods with a smile. “Of course, if I could dye such a beautiful cloth, then this is a good thing.”
Misunderstanding was solved and the ending was very happy.
As a matter of fact Feng Ming becomes a guest, witnessing Qiu Yue kneeling down to offer the tea to formally become an apprentice to a master.
The old servant stands happily beside him and kept his hands on him, Fu Tong smiled even more happily revealing almost his whole gums, he drinks the hot tea served by Qiu Yue and personally hang the butterfly jade in the square plate to her neck.
Fu Tong says, “Qiu Yue, master is old, those that can pass on to you will be passed on as soon as possible. During these times, you must study hard, while master is still here, learn the craftsmanship well.”
Qiu Yue embarrassedly says, “But I will also serve Duke Ming .”
“You don’t have to serve me, there are Qiu Xing and Qiu Lan. You can come here and learn every day, learn more, you may be a generation of dyeing master in the future.” To think that Qiu Yue can go out every day, Feng Ming feels envy, “But you’re a girl, how can you go out alone? Looking for someone to guard, Ran Qing just happen to come back…”
“I’ll send her.” Luo Yun abruptly says.
This time, even the thick nerves Feng Ming comes out, he interestingly looks at Luo Yun’s eyes. “That’s right, you’re responsible for sending her over and you’re responsible for sending her back.”
Everyone silent for a moment, and for some reason they all burst out laughing.
After laughing, Feng Ming claps and says, “I can’t imagine to come and see the cloth done by the apprentice of the teacher. All right, Qiu Yue found her master, let’s leave her to learn something new and we’ll go shopping.”
Luo Yun originally wanted to stay, but to think of Feng Ming outside, Mian ya may not be able to watch this naughty Young Master, without any better option he had to arrange two Xiao sword masters to stay.
The people bought a lot of nice clothes, say goodbye to Fu Tong and leave the poor Qiu Yue behind, and cheerfully turn to the next shop Fu He Men.
Fu He Men specializes in fine gouache, which is a favorite of girls.
Qiu Xing and Qiu Lan all are very excited, although Qiu Yue doesn’t come along, they also help Qiu Yue pick several things.
This kind of large-scale shopping, there are guards to clear the road before and after, looking from afar it looks like a Boss strut around. Feng Ming and others seeing all the novelties along the way, like to play and having fun. The least shortcoming of Xiao family is money, they buy what they see, the hawkers knew that a group of big customers have come and they’re rushing to greet them. Feng Ming is surrounded by the guards in case of an accident.
The atmosphere is warm and interesting.
In addition to several clothes and rouge gouache, they also buy a lot of food. Under suce warm atmosphere of purchasing, Mian ya also join the groups to shop and chooses a few pairs of cloth-shoes that look solid. Qiu Xing sees a booth selling candied fruit and pulls Qiu Lan excitedly to run over. “Qiu Yue also loves to eat this.” They pick up three or four packs and run away after losing money.
Luo Yun quietly leans over and hesitates for a moment, bu he put down the money for a bag too.
When all the guards’ hands are full of all kind of shopping goods, Feng Ming finally feels tired, looking at the sky has been a little dark, he proposes to find a better restaurant to eat.
Luo Yun hasn’t said anything yet, Mian Ya has come and whispers in Feng Ming’s ear. “Duke Ming, The Great King repeatedly commanded when he left, can’t play too late today, he will be waiting for you early today at the Qing Prince Palace.”
Although Feng Ming loves to play, but since it’s Rong Tian’s instruction, of course he can’t ignore, not to mention that his feet has gone sour.
Immediately off forward, holding today’s big harvest whistling back to the residence.
This Fu Tong acquaintance might be a boring thing, but it has a huge deal in the future, so don’t underestimate it.