Chapter 115: Chapter 115: High Quality and Low Price
Mrs. Zhao’s homemade Mijiu is indeed delicious.
Tuanzi held a small bowl, sipping it bit by bit. Every so often, she glanced at Master Zhao who was weaving bamboo baskets.
The main room was filled with bamboo products, including the straw hats, vegetable baskets, sieves, bamboo mats, and cushions commonly used by villagers, and surprisingly, there were also exquisite storage baskets and bamboo boxes. Tuanzi even saw a bamboo bed and a few bamboo chairs.
This is incredible!
"Mr. Zhao, you’re really amazing."
Tuanzi, feeling at home, squatted in front of the master craftsman and carefully observed his movements.
Beside him, there were many prepared bamboo strips. Her little hands were itching to move.
Master Zhao smiled kindly, "Many people can do this, it’s nothing special."
At this moment, the elderly woman came out with a plate of fruits, and upon hearing, said, "Miaomiao, let Mr. Zhao make you some little toys, after all, these things aren’t selling, yet he keeps weaving every day without feeling tired."
Master Zhao didn’t argue, putting down the half-woven basket, picked up some bamboo strips again, pondered for a moment, and sliced them even thinner, "I’ll weave a little dog for you."
"Bamboo can also be woven into little dogs?"
"Indeed."
Master Zhao was skillful, and before long, a little bamboo dog took shape.
A while later, he also wove a bamboo horse.
Tuanzi held one in each hand, watching so intently she didn’t want to blink.
"It looks real, just bamboo, yet woven into so many shapes, it’s truly magical."
The audience shared her thoughts.
[Back in rural areas, I knew some people wove baskets and such, but didn’t expect they could keep up with the times, weaving storage boxes and bamboo chests]
[Honestly, I quite like that storage box and bamboo chest]
[I want to collect a few little dogs and horses, just wonder if they are expensive]
Seeing his sister so curious, Pei Hai conversed with Master Zhao, learning that their offspring lived in the county while they preferred staying in the countryside.
Master Zhao, when younger, used this craft to raise his children, but as time went by, bamboo weaving faded from many people’s lives, and not many bought them anymore.
Gu Peihai: "But I see you’re quite creative, have you thought about selling online?"
Beside him, Mrs. Zhao shook her head, "We don’t know how to use that, besides, we don’t hope to make big money, just a little, so we don’t bother our kids, occasionally we can buy a few gifts for our grandchildren."
Gu Peihai thought, given the popularity of the show, if this couple opened an online shop, initial sales would surely be good, but later business is hard to predict.
Since they just want to make some pocket money, it’s better not to open an online shop.
At this moment, Master Zhao swiftly made a bamboo ball, smaller than a football; it can be a decoration, something to kick around, or a toy for cats to nibble on.
Tuanzi happily accepted it.
"This is fun."
She immediately stood up, kicked it a few times on the spot.
[Miaomiao’s football skills are pretty good]
[No problem juggling ten times in a row]
[I also want to play, is it expensive]
[Want to buy it for my cat to nibble on, I’m always a bit wary of other non-natural materials]
Since the director arranged Master Zhao’s family, he naturally intended to help.
Gu Peihai guessed this insight, and casually walked past a staff member.
"What are the viewers saying?"
The staff understood.
Returning to the scene, Gu Peihai smiled and inquired about the prices of these things.
To everyone’s surprise, Master Zhao’s asking price was very low.
For something like a small ball, the smaller ones are one or two yuan, larger ones no more than five yuan. Little dogs and horses are under ten yuan. Small bamboo mats are below twenty, and larger ones are slightly pricier. The delicate storage baskets and bamboo boxes are relatively expensive, but not shockingly so.
Tuanzi, familiar with contemporary prices, gaped at hearing this.
"Mr. Zhao, it’s so cheap, aren’t you making any money?"
Master Zhao grinned, his face full of wrinkles.
"The bamboo around the back mountain is plenty, costs hardly anything, I just provide some craftsmanship and time, wouldn’t feel right charging high prices."
His requirement for himself is to keep weaving daily and if he can earn a hundred yuan a day, it’d be like hitting the jackpot.
The exquisite craftsmanship and simple smile left the audience slightly stunned.
[I just searched online, some bamboo products are quite expensive, just the small ball is over ten yuan]
[Guessing shipping is included]
[If I visit Xishui Village, I want to bring back some local specialties]
[If it’s just things costing a few yuan, good value for money, I’d definitely buy some, since it’s cheap]
[I previously visited xx scenic spot, a piece of broken stone cost me over a hundred]
[Me too, at another scenic spot, a bowl of noodles over thirty yuan, and it’s plain noodles, casually buying two souvenirs cost several hundred, daylight robbery]
Tuanzi held the bamboo ball, thought for a bit, "Grandpa, Grandma, there will be lots of people coming to Xishui Village later, we can sell these to those handsome uncles, brothers, and beautiful aunts, sisters."
Gu Peihai agreed: "Yes, with such wonderful craftsmanship and affordable prices, tourists will surely appreciate."
Master Zhao was aware of Xishui Village’s transformation into a tourist village, he considered it and found it a good idea.
[Wow, then we definitely will go buy]
[Hope prices won’t be raised once they become popular]
[Simply keep it limited, prices unchanged, the old man makes just that amount daily]
[Kneeling hoping Xishui Village’s lodging and food prices not too high, I’ve been ripped off enough]
This interaction has already successfully promoted Master Zhao’s bamboo crafts.
Later, the village leaders indeed assigned someone specifically for this task. While initially, when there were fewer tourists, Master Zhao alone could fulfill the demand for souvenirs.
Later, as the scenery here became more appealing, projects increased, lodging prices stayed low, and all food prices were consistently not high, more and more tourists came. The person in charge invited Master Zhao to serve as a teacher, leading those elderly who were relatively idle after farming or had no means of living to make bamboo products together.
The village priced the goods by the piece, maintaining strict quality control. Then added one to two yuan to the selling price to tourists. Profits were entirely used to repair roads and build cultural and fitness facilities in the village.
However, these are stories for another time.
Currently, Tuanzi, smiling brightly, picked up some bamboo strips, inviting Gu Peihai to learn together.
They planned to weave some small bamboo mats, and if there’s no stool to sit on, the bamboo mat can be placed on the ground pretending to be a stool.
The outcome is, the famous Film Emperor again revealed his shortcoming.
He awkwardly fumbled without letting the bamboo mat materialize, whereas Tuanzi learned elegantly.
Tuanzi proudly placed her finished product next to her cousin’s attempt, didn’t utter a word, merely held her face laughing.
Gu Peihai: "...."
[Haha, the comparison is too stark]
[Miaomiao’s learning ability is amazing]
[But the finishing touches were done by the master craftsman]
[I suddenly want to learn too, can there be a handicrafts class? Like those painting, pottery, handcrafts DIY classes]
The village head, always paying attention to the live broadcast, hurriedly took notes.
How to develop the tourist village, enabling the villagers to have better lives, depends on the viewers’ creativity. These are potential tourists; if they’re happy, there’s income to be made.