Lawrence Liu was an official in Beijing, but not the old Beijingers, his hometown is Shandong Province, said in the kitchen there is a master pay, also surnamed Liu. This year from his hometown came a relative, surnamed Wang, there are more than forty years old, everyone called him, since his father was an official before settling down in Beijing, and therefore the housekeeper of the family. Most of the errand boys were brought from the old country in Shandong. Shan Lao Wang, a native of Shandong Heze, because of the bad year in his hometown, thought of Liu Shifu in the capital, so he came to join him. Liu Shifu alone, living in the lower room of the Liu House, the old Wang defected to him, also lived in the lower room, to help do some odd jobs.
One time, the old king to help knead the steamed buns, dry dry to the interest, he followed the custom of Shandong New Year's Day, the steamed buns kneaded into a variety of shapes. To say that the old king's hands can be really clever, a lump of flour in the hands of kneading and kneading, some of them into a peach, some into a flower. He used a small wooden comb in the kneaded dough on a pressure and a pick, a moment to make a small fish, a moment to make a good butterfly, on the pot of steam a shape a little bit unchanged, to the dinner table, attracted the Liu House of family members to hold in their hands carefully look at, repeatedly look at, and competition can not afford to eat. Liu Yong also found it quite interesting, asked who did this, of course, can not help but praise a few words.
Liu Shifu went back to the old king said, the old king heard Liu adults praise him, more spirit, would like to show his hand again. He looked for some river rice flour, fine rice flour and good steamed, pinched into a big girl, little boy, chicken, dog and other models, and find a rouge and dye, to these knickknacks on a little color, so it can be more in the look, the old king entrusted Liu Shifu to the knickknacks sent to the Liu House of the family members, which has caused everyone's praise, but coincidentally, Liu Yong and saw, his interest has come, let Liu Shifu go to the old king summoned to have a chat with him. He let Liu Shifu go to summon Lao Wang, to talk to him. The old Wang heard not to mention how happy, followed by Liu Shifu to the upper room. Lawrence Liu asked him how he learned this skill, Lao Wang replied: "Our hometown is poor, families have to move around each other during the New Year's festival, always have to bring some gifts! But where can afford to buy snacks, just knead the noodles into a variety of things, steamed as a gift. It was a child's play, and I learned it from others." Lawrence Liu asked him, "Why do you use jiangmi noodles?" Old Wang replied, "Boss, you know, this Jiangmian noodles are not bad, and the contraptions made for a child must be able to let him play for some days!" Lawrence Liu nodded his head and said, "Good, that's very thoughtful, do you know how to make other things?" The old Wang replied:" I can still pinch some patterns, I don't know what the boss likes?" Lawrence Liu pointed to the painting of the Eight Immortals hanging on the wall and said, "Can you pinch the characters on this?" Old Wang looked seriously at the characters on the painting, nodded and said, "You can try ba try ba."
The old king said goodbye to Liu Yong returned to the lower room, pinched two or three years ago, but also really pinch out the eight characters. Liu Tang took a look, hey! Quite a spirit, very happy to say: "Lao Wang ah, you do not want to find a livelihood? I think you're down to drum up this thing. Do a good job, get on the street, the temple fair to sell, can also make money ah!" Old Wang was surprised and asked, "This can also be sold for money?" Lawrence Liu nodded and said, "You can try it, but I'll give you some ideas to make it more delicate." He told Wang that he could add honey to the noodles to make them last longer. He also told him to mix the noodles with the water in which the various paints were brewed, and then steam them separately, so that the noodles would have their own color, which would be much more beautiful than if they were pinched and then colored.
These words of advice to the old Wang said the mind wide open, happy to Liu Yong straight bow. Lao Wang returned to the lower room, according to the method taught by Lawrence Liu to do, hard work for a while to figure out how to pinch the character more like. He tried to do a few tools, such as bamboo made of round dials, flat dials, with iron smashed into a variety of small scissors and so on. With the tools in hand, it is much more convenient to do the work. Less than a month's work, the old Wang's skills great growth, he pinched a set of colorful eight immortals, with a plate to send to Lawrence Liu look. This time can be very different from the last pinch of the Eight Immortals, eight characters with clear faces, different attitudes, coupled with a variety of colors, more vivid. Jiangmian steamed itself after the bright, plus honey, simply translucent, eight immortals than that tooth carved jade carving.
Liu Yong picked up the face of the people examined for a long time, and repeatedly praised: "Good, good, too wonderful!" Suddenly he remembered a thing, soon the emperor's birthday came again, in previous years the emperor celebrated his birthday, the ministers have offered birthday gifts, a flower is thousands of silver, Lawrence Liu for this matter can be broken brain. He thought, this time, why don't I just use the noodle as a birthday gift, both look good and save money, so he said to the old king: "I want to put your craft to use, can you pinch this eight immortals some more?" "Boss man, how big would you say?" Old Wang asked. Liu Tang gestured with his hand, "Just as tall as a foot." "Okay, I'll try." Old Wang went back to pinch. Three days later, really pinched out, but also a unique pinch of the old man. Well, nine people full of a large table, looks really beautiful. Lawrence Liu is very happy, told the old Wang let him wait for good news, the future will make him famous.
Qianlong Emperor birthday this day, Lawrence Liu ordered the preparation of a large lift box of gold lacquer, the nine faces one by one placed inside, covered with a large red silk, carried by two family members straight to the palace.
The palace at this time has been the drums and music, very lively. Qianlong ascended to the throne, accepting the king's relatives and nobles, civil and military ministers bowed to offer gifts, birthday hall full of gifts.
We saw Liu Yong far up to the temple, behind him, two family members carrying a large box. The Ministry of the people present at the thought; in previous years, Lawrence Liu sent the top of the birthday gift evil, this year I do not know what he is out of the flower point, we have to take a good look at.
Lawrence Liu came to the front of Qianlong, salute birthday. Qianlong asked: "What gifts you bring me? Lawrence Liu replied with a smile: "This year's birthday gift and the past is very different, long live please look -." He turned back and ordered his family to put the big carrying box next to the big case, and then took out one by one and put it on the table. The people present were stunned, nine Immortals luminous, overwhelmed all the gifts, people can not help but wonder: Liu Yong where the money to purchase such expensive things?
Qianlong could not help but ask: "Liu Aiqing, you these things with how much silver to buy" Liu Yong smiled, stretched out a palm, Qianlong said: "Oh, five thousand two!" Lawrence Liu shook his head. "Is fifty thousand taels?" Lawrence Liu shook his head again. "Then how much was used?" Lawrence Liu said word for word, "White - silver - five - two."
" Ah?" Everyone froze again, all shaking their heads in disbelief, Qianlong also do not believe, asked: "But really? You can not deceive the United." "Of course not false. I would not dare to play with His Majesty?" Qianlong said, "You send this birthday gift is jade or carved tooth?" Lawrence Liu shook his head and said, "Neither, this is pinched with noodles." People are more disbelieving. Lawrence Liu put his hand out and said, "Do not believe, please take a closer look at the heel."
Qianlong curiously measured some, really not like jade carving is not like tooth carving. Can not help but reach out and pick up a, hey, also quite light, and very soft, is indeed the face of the pinch. He turned his face to Liu Yong said, "Who did this? The craftsmanship is really high!" Lawrence Liu replied; "It is one of my countrymen surnamed Wang." Qianlong laughed and said, "Your Shandong Province can really produce capable people ah!" Lawrence Liu saluted and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty for your praise." Qianlong added: "Five taels of silver to buy so many gifts, you really have a way. Can't let you break the bank, Union doubled to give you back!" He said and laughed. The big gift has been worshipped, Qianlong went back to the harem.
When Qianlong left, the king's relatives, all the ministers swarmed around, to the face of a face, have praised. There is a horse harnessed by the side of a team who wants to give his mother a birthday gift. To pay a big price for a set of eight immortals.
Liu Yong returned to the house, called over the old Wang said: "You can say that the trumpet is blowing through the wall - fame. Now someone offers to buy your pinch of the Eight Immortals. I'll give you the ten taels of silver I got from the Hail Mary just now, so go outside and rent a house and do business boldly."
The old king was overjoyed, quickly kowtowed to Liu Yong thank you, after playing here, he really did it.
The government, the big house to find him, let him pinch the face of the people.
People say that this old Wang is drinking water - internal show. In addition to pinching the Eight Immortals, he thought of pinching a lot of characters, what the Sun Monkey, Porky Pig, Guan Gong, Zhang Fei ......, the more the pattern pinch more and more, the more the craft is dry more and more refined. Someone to order, he pinched at home, free time, he prepared a small wooden box, a small square stool to the street to pinch "He is not greedy for money, give a little money to sell, there is a profit to be satisfied. The days are long, the hand also more or less accumulated two money, the wife of the old family, the child received Beijing to live. Over and over, the old king is old and old, in order not to let the craft is extinct, to leave a rice bowl for the children, the craft was passed on to his son, but also collected a few children from the poor folks back home to do apprenticeship. The art of kneading noodles has been passed down from generation to generation in Beijing.