Chapter 818: Chapter 818: It’s Been Too Long, I Can’t Remember Clearly Chapter 818: Chapter 818: It’s Been Too Long, I Can’t Remember Clearly In a quiet little alleyway.
The human presence was sparse.
The damp walls were already mottled, with the white surface covered in a layer of green moss, sketching the silhouette of the years.
“Mr. Jie, the address we found is right here,” Yao glanced at the map in his hand and pointed to a low-set bungalow ahead.
This area was once an enclave for expatriates, heavily populated by Chinese immigrants and overseas Chinese.
The architectural style also mimicked that of the Ming and Qing periods’ Jiangnan Alley, with a small river running through stone bridges amidst misty rain, creating a highly evocative scene.
However, due to redevelopment, the whole street had been relocated.
Only rows of old houses were left, not yet demolished.
Most of the old houses were empty, labeled as dangerous buildings.
Only a few were still sporadically visited by people, the veterans of the area who haven’t moved out because they couldn’t bear to leave.
The old craftsman they were visiting this time lived in one of these old houses.
“Sir Huo has no children, is a master of old crafts, and has taken several apprentices. All are now trained and work as designers at major jewelry stores. He’s quite well-off financially, but it’s his nostalgia that has kept him living here.”
As Yao walked towards the old house, he relayed the information he had gathered.
Before they reached the bungalow, they saw an elderly man sitting in a rocking chair outside the house.
The wooden rocking chair swayed leisurely and comfortably.
Next to the rocking chair stood an old sandalwood tea table, with simple teaware on it and a cup of hot tea still steaming.
The steam danced on the wrinkled old man’s face, adding an indescribable sense of tranquility.
“Is this Sir Huo?” Yao stepped forward, politely bending over to inquire.
Dan Hanjie stood a step away, intently surveying the surroundings.
Had it not been sought out deliberately, no one would imagine that such a renowned master craftsman could be hidden away here.
“What did you say? I can’t hear clearly!”
Seeing visitors, the old man rose from his rocking chair, reaching for the hearing aid on the tea table.
After putting it on, he turned his head to look at Dan Hanjie and Yao, waving his finger between them.
“Who are you looking for me?”
At that, Dan Hanjie and Yao exchanged glances, and Yao immediately nodded respectfully, stepping forward.
“Sir Huo, we’ve come to visit you, inquiring about a hairpin from over twenty years ago.” Yao handed over the design drawing he was carrying.
Fearing that the old man couldn’t see clearly, he thoughtfully grabbed the reading glasses from the table for him.
The years spare no one. At the ripe old age of eighty-eight, even the most skilled master craftsman has reached the point where he needs to be looked after.
Let alone craftsmanship.
“More than twenty years ago, that’s too long, I can’t remember…” Sir Huo did not reach for the design drawing in Yao’s hand, but instead he looked at the two men warily.
“Who are you people? As custodians, we absolutely cannot disclose the privacy of our customers.”
“What if we are the clients in question?” Dan Hanjie stepped forward, taking out a jewelry box, and opened it in front of Sir Huo.
“Does Sir Huo remember this hairpin?”
Sir Huo’s body trembled as if he had seen some precious treasure, his eyes flickering with a moist light.
He reached out shakily, wanting to touch the hairpin in the box.
Dan Hanjie quickly closed the box.
“Let me have another look!” Sir Huo frowned in displeasure, his voice deepening.