Chapter 307: Arts and Crafts Class
Chapter 307: Arts and Crafts Class
Suisui awoke in the afternoon to find that Prince Qing had already returned to the mansion.
He would be leaving early the next morning, and there were still many official matters to attend to today.
Suisui didn't think much of not seeing her Uncle Qing.
Although he was her benefactor, they weren't close, so she didn't feel a strong attachment to him.
This afternoon, instead of their usual riding and archery lesson, Teacher Shen took them for an arts and crafts class.
The small wooden horses that Feng Xuancang and the others had made previously were quite creative, and Teacher Shen thought they were great.
Although, out of the Six Ministries, the Ministry of Works had the lowest status.
However, it was still one of the Six Ministries and was a position in the capital that many sought after.
So, if the students showed potential in this area, Teacher Shen was willing to nurture their talent.
What other choice did he have?
With so many academically-challenged students, he couldn't just pull strings for them all to get into the Hanlin Academy, could he?
Teacher Shen was afraid that the group of old scholars at the academy would drive him to spitting blood!
Moreover, Teacher Shen's teaching style was always unconventional, focusing on cultivating well-rounded individuals.
Not only did he emphasize academic knowledge, but he also paid attention to martial arts skills and practical abilities.
If possible, Teacher Shen would even teach them agriculture.
It was just that he was afraid the prince wouldn't approve, so he temporarily suppressed that idea.
Suisui never expected that they would have arts and crafts classes, and proudly boasted to her two sisters, "I'm amazing at making paper kites!"
Shen Huatang's eyes lit up at the mention of kites. "I love paper kites."
Unfortunately, they were tricky to make, and it was easy to cut your hands. As a result, her mother didn't let her play with them often.
Compared to her, Liu Hemeng had more freedom in the mansion, and at the mention of kites, she eagerly joined the conversation. "I can do that too! I'm really good at it. I don't just know how to paste the paper; I can also build the frame!"
Suisui and the others usually just pasted the paper onto pre-made frames, but Liu Hemeng had tried to make a kite from scratch, starting with building the frame.
Of course, her father had accompanied and helped her. It wasn't something a child could accomplish alone.
The children chatted excitedly.
Teacher Shen didn't rush them; he gave them ample time to discuss first.
When he saw that it was about time, Teacher Shen knocked his ruler on the desk. "Quiet, please."
The children immediately fell silent.
The teacher's authority was indeed formidable.
Although Suisui had just joined the class, she had learned the rules and sat properly, looking unexpectedly soft and adorable.
Qi Wang, who was auditing the class, found himself liking her more and more; he couldn't help but want to hold her.
What was wrong with giving such a well-behaved cutie a hug?
As Qi Wang looked like he was about to give in to his urge, Teacher Shen felt like rolling his eyes.
He really wanted to ask: Your Highness, don't you have anything else to do?
In fact, he really didn't.
Especially after his recent health issues, as long as it didn't concern matters of the mansion, the Emperor wouldn't even send someone to invite Qi Wang to the royal court meetings.
Teacher Shen didn't want to pay attention to the prince, so he knocked his ruler on the desk again to restore order before shaking his head and saying, "Arts and crafts isn't as simple as you imagine, where you can just start making something whenever you feel like it. As an ancient proverb says..."
Suisui didn't understand a single word of the long lecture that followed.
However, Teacher Shen eventually took care to explain it to the younger children, "First, you need to draw what you want to make and mark the dimensions. This will prevent wasting time and materials if the components don't fit together during the making process."
To create something, one couldn't just jump straight into crafting.
Understanding indeed required a master craftsman! How could one create something out of thin air without any blueprints?
Suisui and the other children didn't possess such skills.
Feng Xuancang, a master craftsman in his own right, could only create small objects from memory, carving little flowers and rabbits.
For more complex structures requiring intricate joinery, blueprints were essential, or else the dimensions might not align.
Teacher Shen explained bluntly, and Suisui understood completely. The others, of course, had no trouble following along.
Therefore, the first step in creating handmade crafts was to draw blueprints and mark the dimensions clearly. One must be able to understand their own drawings to avoid wasting time and materials during the crafting process.
Suisui: ?
The little girl sat there, perplexed.
She hadn't learned how to hold a brush properly yet.
What should she do now?
Fortunately, Teacher Shen had also considered the younger children and waved his hand to indicate, "You three girls will work together as a group."
After saying this, he turned and gestured to Feng Xuanrui and Feng Xuanbin, "You two will work as a pair."
Feng Xuanbin originally wanted to say that he could manage on his own.
But when he thought about drawing, he meekly retracted his neck.
Feng Xuanrui looked down on Feng Xuanbin, but having an extra pair of hands would speed things up.
So, he reluctantly accepted.
The older Feng brothers didn't have such concerns.
However, working alone would undoubtedly take a longer time.
Teacher Shen also reminded them timely, "Create something within your capabilities. Don't rush or aim for something too grand at the beginning. Remember, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Don't..."
Suisui was lost again as the lecture went on.
Nevertheless, she sat there attentively, her back straight and upright, listening intently.
Qi Wang, observing from the side, couldn't help but praise her further, "Look at our good girl over there. Oh, she'll definitely be a female zhuangyuan in the future. It's a shame that girls can't take the zhuangyuan exam."
As he spoke, Qi Wang let out a slight hiss, then continued unhappily, "Why can't girls take the zhuangyuan exam? It's unfair! It's favoritism!"
Su Si couldn't agree with the prince, but he could only whisper, "That's the rule passed down by our ancestors. His Majesty can't interfere, and there's also the Ministry of Rites and the Censorate watching."
Hearing this, Qi Wang huffed, "Those old fogies at the Censorate, they've got nothing better to do than stare at my backside all day! My backside is so captivating that they can't take their eyes off it? Don't they get sick of it!"
Su Si: ?
They're keeping an eye on your behavior and conduct, Your Highness, not your derriere!
But Su Si dared not utter those words.
After venting about the Censorate, Qi Wang started complaining about the Ministry of Rites, "And that Ministry of Rites, don't get me started on them. That old coot, Minister Ying, is getting more stubborn and nitpicky as he ages."
Su Si: ...
Su Si's silence didn't stop Qi Wang's rant, "It's all their fault! Otherwise, my good girl here would be a female zhuangyuan!"
Suisui: ?
Suisui was busy watching Shen Huatang draw, while Liu Hemeng helped on the side.
Suisui was still young and couldn't even hold a brush properly. All she could do was pass paper and hold the inkstone.
She hadn't learned how to grind ink yet.
Suisui wanted to learn, but Liu Hemeng wouldn't let her, "Suisui, just watch me do it. You'll learn just by observing. This requires strength, or else you won't be able to grind the ink. Look..."
Liu Hemeng explained as she ground the ink.
(End of Chapter)
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