Chapter 134 I Wanted Him to Do It
"I think the fragrance here is unique," Evelyn said directly, "and the scent in your shop is very mixed. It shouldn't be the same kind of wood, right?"
At first, the boss was puzzled, but after Evelyn's explanation, he suddenly realized and clapped his hands. "Oh! So you are a connoisseur! The wood we use is of superior quality. Miss, what kind of wood carving material are you looking for? If you're not satisfied with what we have, we can also place a custom order. Of course, in terms of price..."
"You can do additional customization here?" Evelyn asked with interest.
"Of course! After all, there are always customers with special preferences and requirements throughout the year. Although our shop is not large, we can meet the needs of most customers. However, in terms of price, it will be more expensive. But it's worth it. As long as you can buy what you like, it's a win, don't you think?"
Facing the boss's fluent eloquence, Evelyn didn't have to think too much. "That's true. Are there many customers who order such special customizations?"
"Not many, but there are always a few throughout the year. After all, those who can afford such a price..."The boss suddenly stopped talking, feeling something was amiss, looking at Evelyn with vigilance. "Miss, why are you asking so many questions? Do you actually want to buy something, or do you want a custom order? If it's a custom order, please write down your requirements and also pay a deposit."
"I..." Evelyn smiled as she looked around the shop.
Seeing Evelyn's attitude, the boss felt like he had wasted his words and didn't gain anything, so he became quite unhappy. "If you don't plan to buy anything today, then just browse around."
After saying that, the boss turned to leave. Evelyn pointed to a pair of small wooden carvings nearby. "I'll take these."
It was a pair of small wooden figures, a boy with a round face and a happy smile, and a girl with two braids, tilting her head while holding a lollipop. The craftsmanship wasn't extremely detailed, but the facial expressions were lively, and Evelyn found them to be her favorite in the shop.
"Alright." The boss's smile returned, reaching out carefully to pick them up. He turned to Alex and said, "What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and get a box to wrap these for the customer."
Alex stood up slowly, went to get a box and a bag, and packed the small wooden figures for Evelyn.
"Boss, I'd like to order a wood carving. I'll probably pick it up next month. Is that possible?" Evelyn asked casually while paying.
Evelyn actually thought of it on the spot and asked casually.
"Of course. What kind of wood material do you want to use, and what do you want to carve? How big should it be? Do you have any other requirements?" The boss inquired.
Evelyn glanced at the half-finished piece Alex was working on and said, "Approximately of that size. As for what to carve and what wood material to use, I'll let you know in a couple of days, okay?"
"Sure, sure!" The boss nodded repeatedly. "And the deposit..."
"I'll pay a part of it now, but I have one request."
"What request? Feel free to ask," The boss said.
Such personalized customizations are high-priced and high-profit, so the boss was naturally enthusiastic. As long as it was doable, he would agree.
"I want him to carve this piece!" Evelyn pointed to Alex with a serious expression.
Alex looked up at her in astonishment.
The boss, equally surprised, interjected, "He? He's just an apprentice. If you require personalized craftsmanship, we boasts professionals..."
"No," Evelyn interrupted the boss, walking over to stoop and examine the half-finished sculpture by Alex, "I find his work great and wish for him to complete the task."
"I can't do it well," unexpectedly, Alex refused outright.
"I think you're doing a good job. If you don't do it, then I'll have it done elsewhere." Grabbing the bag, Evelyn was about to turn around as she spoke.
Seeing the potential business slipping away, the boss hurriedly stopped her. "Miss, wait. If you appreciate his work, that means you value him. What he says doesn't count; I have the final say. It's settled. He will do it, and I guarantee it will be done well to your satisfaction!"
"But, boss..." Alex said.
"Shut up! If you don't want to do it, then you will be fired!" The boss remarked.
Evelyn paid the deposit, took the receipt, walked over to the item Alex was carving, bent down to look at it, picked up a small piece of debris, and asked, "Boss, can I take this?"
"Sure, of course!"
It was a small piece of debris. The boss didn't mind at all.
Not far from leaving the shop, Evelyn heard the faint sound of footsteps behind her. She stopped without turning around, and the footsteps stopped, too.
Evelyn smiled, continued walking forward, quickly turned a corner, pressed her body against the wall, and waited. As expected, not long after, she saw the figure she was looking for checking around.
"Are you looking for me?" Stepping out, Evelyn looked at him with a smile.
Caught off guard, he no longer tried to hide, and Alex stared at Evelyn. "Why do you want me to do it?"
"I think you're skilled!" Evelyn said with a smile.
"You haven't seen what I've done. How do you know I'm skilled?" Alex was quite dissatisfied. "Are you deliberately trying to make things difficult for me?"
"Making things difficult for you won't benefit me," Evelyn said, taking out the piece of wood debris she had picked up earlier, "Besides, I have seen what you've done when you're doing it just now."
"It's not finished yet," he said, his rebellious demeanor softening a bit.
"I know, but the half-finished piece already looks quite good. Besides..." Evelyn paused. "Most of the wood carvings in the shop are done by you, right? Including the pair of small wooden figures I bought today?"
Surprised by Evelyn's words, Alex asked, "How did you know?"
"By observing the carving technique and the intensity of the strokes, I can see some commonalities."
So all the talk about high-level artisans and master craftsmen was a lie, just marketing tactics to attract customers. After all, not many of those who came to buy these were truly knowledgeable, and they didn't really care which master carved the piece.
Alex's eyes lit up. "Are you a woodcarver, too?"
Evelyn shook her head. "No, I'm not! But I wanted to ask, are the wood materials you use all purchased uniformly by the shop? Or..."
"Why are you asking this?" he inquired.
"Just curious." Evelyn looked at him. "Can't I ask?"
After some thought, Alex replied, "They are all purchased uniformly by the boss. If you want to know where they are purchased from, you'll have to ask the boss."
"All of them?" Evelyn said, shaking the small piece of wood debris in her hand, "Including this one?"
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