Gradually, Liu Fang started to only open the wood and began to nail the wooden box frame. Compared with exquisite furniture, transporting wooden boxes did not have much technical content. He nailed the wooden squares and wooden slats according to the size of the carton sent by the low-voltage electrical appliance factory. Wooden frame to prevent collision during transportation. After sealing the box, use wooden strips to nail one side of the lid, and a packaging frame box is completed.
In addition to nailing the wooden box frame, Liu Fang worked hard and studied hard. He collected the wooden nails of some old trees (particles similar to tree knots on the wood) that he encountered when cutting materials, and polished them with a sharpening blade and a jagged stone. The round beads were carefully polished with the old gauze used by the master after polishing the furniture. After drilling, they were made into bracelets for the junior sister. The little junior sister put them on so cutely that she couldn't put them down. Many years later, in his woodworking studio, Liu Fang would still use various precious rosewood and huanghuali wood materials to make bracelets and give them to clients and friends. However, the tools became more high-tech 3D printers, which could never be found again. I won’t go back to the feeling I had back then.
He is smart and has a very good brain. In addition to the old-fashioned calculation methods such as "change dimensions, add 60%" and other old-fashioned calculation methods taught by his master, he can also use the set theory knowledge such as the Pythagorean theorem learned in school. As well as modern calculation formulas such as cylinders and cones, it helps the master calculate the cutting dimensions of some furniture, which is very popular with the master. Even junior sister Liu Xia, who is in the third year of junior high school, Liu Fang can easily answer algebra and solid geometry questions that she cannot calculate.
In addition to learning crafts from his master, Liu Fang also enjoys reading and listening to the radio. Relying on the skills he learned and taking the opportunity to repair tables and chairs at the home of his former class teacher Liu Wencai, Liu Fang borrowed a copy of "Three Kingdoms" with yellowed pages from his teacher's house. From then on, he couldn't stop reading. From time to time, he went to Teacher Liu's house to borrow books, such as "The Romance of the Gods", "Shuo Yue Quan Zhuan", "Life" and many other novels. They were Liu Fang's best reading after the heavy carpentry work during the day. 's habitat. Wandering in these words, Liu Fang's spirit was rich and comfortable, especially the story of Gao Jialin, a rural teacher in a small mountain village in northwest China, who was indomitable and struggled, which deeply attracted him.
Liu Fang, who has poetry and books in his belly, is different from the scoundrel young people in the village who do not study. He looks gentle and gentle. Walking on the streets of the town, no one would believe that he is a young carpenter. The honest parents had little education. Apart from learning crafts and working, there were no topics for communication with the master. Junior sister Liu Xia is just a younger sister in his eyes, like a little brat. A 17-year-old young man with so much to say has no friends to talk to, let alone confidants.
At this time, an old-fashioned radio at home became his friend. When those well-spoken Mandarin words came out from the speaker, Liu Fang felt like he had met a close friend. From here, he learned about the world outside Yangshi Town and even Yueqing City. In addition to Wenzhou Luantan, he listened to popular music, cross talk, and many novels broadcast by teacher Li Yemo of the Central People's Broadcasting Station. Liu Fang also learned to speak Mandarin with smooth accents. In an era when television was not yet popular, this old-fashioned radio accompanied Liu Fang on countless sleepless nights.
Off the coast of Yangshi Town, typhoons will come every year in July, August, September, and even into October. Each passage lasts for three to five days. The raging winds and torrential rains make the town restless, and the village is even more disturbed. It's often waterlogged. Liunan Village is no exception. Although many rivers have been dredged and drainage ditches dug in the past two years, water still rushes into Liu Gen’s yard every typhoon season. At this time, Liu Fang and his master are the most tired. At that time, all the wood in the yard needs to be moved indoors, and the electric planer and tools need to be moved in.
Weather forecasting in the 1980s was similar to that of the older generation who looked at the sky and made judgments based on experience, with almost no accuracy at all. The typhoon predicted in September 1985 has yet to arrive, and the school has been closed for the holidays as announced. Every household in Liunan Village has closed its doors tightly, wrapped sandbags in plastic sheets and blocked the door to a height of more than one meter, all ready to welcome the arrival of the typhoon. . It's just that the Yongtai Electrical Appliance Factory in the town wanted to ship out the goods from the warehouse before the typhoon arrived, so it customized more than 300 wooden boxes here in Liugen. Liu Fang also needs to hurry up and complete this batch of wooden boxes for his master.
As long as it's not windy or rainy, Liu Fang and his master will carry the electric planer to the yard to cut materials and nail wooden boxes. The sun was shining brightly for three consecutive days, and everyone felt that the typhoon was turning. This situation also happened from time to time. Master Liu Gen was going to take the prepared set of tables and chairs to the town on a bamboo frame cart with his wife to sell. Before leaving, the planer and Liu Fang were carried into the yard as usual. Liu Fang planned to speed up cutting the wood and nail the frame box out for Yongtai Electrical Appliance Factory.
Near noon, junior sister Liu Xia, who was at home after classes were suspended, cooked rice and heated up the dishes that her parents had reserved for the morning, and asked Liu Fang to eat together. Liu Fang has been an apprentice at his master's house for two years. He has lunch and dinner at his master's house. He and his junior sister Liu Xia have become like brothers and sisters. Liu Fang stopped his work, turned off the power, went to the kitchen water tank made of scrap wooden boards, fetched a basin of cold water, and washed away the odor of sweat in the toilet in the corner of the yard. The cool water washed away the fatigue of the whole morning, making me feel comfortable and comfortable. I couldn't help but hum the melody of "Tomorrow will be better", which has been particularly popular recently. This is the latest thing I learned from listening to the radio. The music programs of various radio stations continue to play the melody of this song. The streets and alleys of Yangshi Town are also filled with this song of praying for tomorrow.
Liu Fang finished washing, wore a vest and shorts, and walked to the main room with slippers (the Yueqing name for slippers), carrying the washbasin. Liu Xia had already placed the bowls and chopsticks, and Liu Fang put down the basin and sat down as usual, ready to eat.
"Brother, let's hang the towels!" Liu Xia said angrily.
"Well, let's dry it after eating." Liu Fang replied while chewing the rice.
"It's so hot, it will go rancid." Liu Xia said and walked over, ready to pick it up to dry.
"Don't move, I'll do it myself." Liu Fang put down the bowls and chopsticks and turned around, not thinking that his head would just collide with Liu Xia's head, which was holding a basin.
"Hiss..." Liu Fang gasped in pain.
"Ah, it hurts so much, brother..." Liu Xia covered her hurt head, tears welling up in her eyes.
Liu Fang ignored the pain and pulled his junior sister Liu Xia over, "Come and take a look." Then he gently pushed his sister's hair aside and saw that her delicate scalp had been bumped up.
"Huh..." Liu Fang blew gently, and then rubbed it gently with his rough palms. A fragrance like orchid came to his nostrils. Liu Fang couldn't help but want to smell it more, and just in time to catch up with Liu Xia's eyes Liu Fang raised his head with tears in his eyes and looked at each other. Liu Fang's unpromising body was a little stiff.
