233 Unparalleled in the World
Zhou Linghuai’s expression froze for a moment. He felt that he was coaxing her again.
However, he couldn’t possibly give her a gift and tell her that he had spent so much time and effort to make this!
No one would bring this up when they gave a gift.
Yu Zongshen looked at Zhou Linghuai and said with a smile, “The Shoushan stone carving method is known as one of the Great Zhou’s Three Absolutes. Linghuai can be considered a master.”
Even if his leg was broken, Zhou Linghuai was still unparalleled in the world.
A few elders were reading the inscriptions on the longevity peach blossom stone and fighting to look at them. Yu Jianjia was also envious. Her eyes were fixed on the inscriptions for a long time.
Thinking about how Zhou Linghuai had given Yu Youyao a lot of rare items and how the other sisters in the residence could only covet them, they felt an itch in their throats and couldn’t help but cough.
However, everyone in the room was so distracted by the moment that no one noticed the coughing.
At this moment, Yang Shuwan couldn’t help but say, “Linghuai’s carving skills are really impressive. I have a piece of yellow field stone in my house. I also want you to help me carve a seal so that I can give it to Jia Jia as a birthday gift on her birthday.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell silent.
Yu Jianjia raised her head, her eyes inevitably filled with joy. The yellow field stone was also a rare material for carving seals. Although it was not as good as the longevity peach blossom stone, it was still quite rare.
It seemed that after Zhou Linghuai’s wonderful carving, even if it was just a yellow field stone, it would still be extraordinary.
She couldn’t help but look at Zhou Linghuai.
Yu Youyao pursed her lips, feeling a little unhappy and regretful. She had been so smug that she had forgotten her etiquette and showed off the seal her cousin had given her.
As soon as she showed off, trouble came knocking on her door.
She did not like it when her cousin carved things for others.
Everyone also looked at Zhou Linghuai, curious as to whether he would agree or not. Engraving a seal was not something easy, and it required a lot of time and effort.
Under everyone’s gaze, Zhou Linghuai’s expression was indifferent. He put down the teacup in his hand and said, “I’ll have to disappoint you, Eldest Aunt. I’m not in good health, and I’m not in good spirits. Even though I’ve carved a seal for Cousin, I still feel that it’s very tiring. The longevity peach blossom stone requires more work on one side and more thought has to be given to the shape of the stone. It’s also easier. However, the yellow field stone emphasizes on detail and requires more effort. I’m afraid I’m not suitable.”
Yu Youyao quickly said, “That’s right, that’s right. Yellow field stones are rare. If I’m not careful, they’ll be damaged. I can’t even repair them. The seal Cousin carved for me is made of his own material. It doesn’t matter if it’s damaged. I can’t let it ruin Mother’s material.”
Her anxious look made sense.
However, Zhou Linghuai could tell at a glance that she was afraid that he would really agree to carve something for someone else. He lowered his eyebrows, and the smile on his lips was faintly discernible.
As the only insider in the room, Yu Zongshen picked up his teacup and lowered his head to drink.
The yellow field stone and the longevity peach blossom stone were both Longevity Mountain stones. Although the colors were different and there was a certain difference in quality, they were still generally similar. They were both particular about the golden rule and that stones should be carefully carved. How could it be easy?
Zhou Linghuai had used the words of an expert to reject Madam Yang.
Madam Yang did not understand what he meant, but it was rare for yellow field stone to appear, so she did not dare to let Zhou Linghuai make a move easily. If it was damaged, there would not be a second one.
Yu Youyao smiled. How was it that her cousin did not have the energy? It was obvious that he was unwilling. Others did not know about her cousin’s health condition and only thought that he was indeed sick and weak, but she knew.
After taking the Essence Protection Pill for a while, her cousin’s health had already improved a lot.
Zhou Linghuai glanced over and saw that the little girl was smiling like a cat that had just stolen a fish. Her face was filled with joy. It was obvious that she was also happy that he had rejected Madam Yang.
“In that case, forget it.” Yang Shuwan was a little unhappy. However, when she thought about how rare the yellow field stone was, and how such a small piece might be ruined by Zhou Linghuai, she felt that there wouldn’t be a second one.
She had even secretly looted it from Madam Xie’s private vault.
Later, when the matter was exposed, Old Madam asked her to spit out everything else, including the interest. Only this piece of yellow field stone was something she was unwilling to take out, so she replaced it with a yellow jade with a similar color.
Yellow field stones were rare and precious. How could the servants recognize them without seeing them?
Zhou Linghuai was young, so he didn’t know if his second uncle was praising her sincerely or exaggerating. She also didn’t know if he was really reliable. It was better for her to find a powerful carving master.
When Yu Jianjia heard Zhou Linghuai’s rejection, she was a little disappointed. She covered her mouth and coughed a few times.
How could she not know that Zhou Linghuai’s carving skills were really good?
Zhou Linghuai said that his health was not good and he was not in good spirits, but he was willing to spend more effort on painting, making incense fans, making zithers, and carving seals for Yu Youyao. It could be seen that her cousin was very close to him.
Saying that he was incompetent was just an excuse. He was clearly unwilling!
Yu Shuangbai glanced at Yu Jianjia and pursed her lips. “After Cousin Zhou entered the residence, he ate a lot of the medicinal cuisine from Eldest Sister’s courtyard. It’s only right for him to carve a seal for her.”
In other words, Cousin Zhou was willing to carve a seal for Yu Youyao because she had taken care of him a lot. Her relationship with him was also not ordinary. Some people should not join in the fun.
When Old Madam Yu heard this, she nodded repeatedly. “That’s right. It’s not good for your son’s health. He should recuperate more. You’re not allowed to torture him with such trivial matters.”
After saying that, she even looked at Yang Shuwan meaningfully.
Yang Shuwan couldn’t keep a straight face anymore. How could she have known that a casual sentence would be so annoying? “Oh, I was just saying it. Of course, your health is more important.”
With that, she lowered her head and tugged at her handkerchief.
Madam Yao smiled and said, “You’re still the most thoughtful. Which of us won’t sign our names directly when writing letters? We thought that the seal was something for men, but who knew that women would like it too? Now, even Third Miss wants to carve a seal. Looks like I have to find a good piece of material and help Shuangbai carve one too.”
That was also the truth.
If the material of a good seal was not good, it would be better not to use it. Therefore, not everyone could make such an expensive thing like a seal.
But now, Yu Youyao and Yu Jianjia have seals. They were all sisters, so they had to have seals too.
This wasn’t to compete, either. It was the norm.
However, she was also worried. The eldest son and second son in the family were both men, so this thing could not be of bad quality. Now that Shuangbai was added, the material could not be bad or it would make things difficult.
When Old Madam Yu heard this, she smiled. “There’s no need for you to look for it. I still have a small piece of bloodstone in my house. It’s the remaining material from Miaofu’s seal. I asked Old Master to give it to me, but I didn’t use it, so I kept it. It’s a good gift for Shuangbai.” After saying that, she looked at Yu Zongshen. “Second Brother knows how to engrave.”