Reborn Troops

Zhou Wanwan sat in her jewelry store, the sunlight outside the window shone through the thin curtains and sprinkled on the sparkling jewels.

Her fingers gently slid across a string of pearl necklaces, but she was thinking about Ms. Zhu's order. Lotus root bracelet, this is not the style she usually makes.

"Wanwan, you can do it, don't worry." My best friend's voice came from the other end of the phone. Her voice is always so warm, like a cup of hot tea in winter.

"But, Qianqian, I've never made a lotus root bracelet." Zhou Wanwan sighed, her brows furrowed as if she could hold back a trace of sorrow.

"You forgot that you are Zhou Wanwan, the Zhou Wanwan who runs a jewelry store." Qian Qian said with a smile, "You can always make the impossible possible."

Zhou Wanwan smiled, she knew Qianqian was right. She put down the phone and began to think about the design of the lotus root bracelet in her mind. She thought of the shape of the lotus root and its meaning - purity and elegance.

She decided to use white jade and light green jadeite to imitate the texture of lotus root, and then use fine gold threads to outline the texture of lotus root.

Zhou Wanwan sat in her studio, with various materials spread out in front of her: white jade beads, light green jadeite, fine gold wire, and the tools she carefully selected. Her fingers shuttled between the materials, as if playing a silent movement. The sunlight outside the window became brighter, as if it was also looking forward to her work.

"Wanwan, do you really want to make it yourself?" The clerk Xiao Li pushed the door open and came in with a cup of coffee in his hand. "This is Ms. Zhu's order. If something goes wrong..."

Zhou Wanwan looked up and gave Xiao Li a firm smile: "Don't worry, Xiao Li. I believe in my craftsmanship."

Xiao Li nodded and put the coffee on the table: "Then I won't bother you. Call me anytime if you need anything."

Zhou Wanwan continued her creation, her fingers deftly winding around the gold wire, stringing together the white jade and jadeite beads. Time passed unnoticed, and when she finished fixing the last bead, an exquisite lotus root bracelet appeared before her eyes.

She gently blew away the gold flakes on the bracelet and smiled with satisfaction.

Just then, the door of the shop was pushed open and Ms. Zhu walked in. She was an elegant lady, always well-dressed and with extraordinary temperament.

"Is my bracelet ready?" Ms. Zhu's voice was gentle and polite.

Zhou Wanwan stood up and handed the bracelet to Ms. Zhu: "Ms. Zhu, please look, this is your lotus root bracelet."

Ms. Zhu took the bracelet and looked at it carefully, with a hint of surprise in her eyes: "It's so beautiful, your craftsmanship is really well-deserved."

Zhou Wanwan smiled and felt relieved: "As long as you like it."

Ms. Zhu put on the bracelet, turned her wrist left and right, and admired its luster in the sun: "I have an important banquet next week, and this bracelet will match my dress perfectly."

"That's great." Zhou Wanwan said, "I hope it will bring you glory."

Ms. Zhu paid and left the shop with satisfaction. Zhou Wanwan saw her off to the door and returned to the studio, feeling a sense of accomplishment. She sat back at the workbench and prepared to sort out the materials, but found that one of the white jade beads was missing.

Her heart sank, and the joy she had just felt was instantly replaced by worry. She searched everywhere, but could not find the lost bead.

"Have you seen a white jade bead?" Zhou Wanwan asked anxiously.

Xiao Li shook his head: "No, Wanwan, what's wrong?"

"I just finished making the bracelet and found that a bead is missing." Zhou Wanwan frowned, "What should I do? Ms. Zhu has left."

Zhou Wanwan's heartbeat quickened. She knew that the loss of a bead might affect the beauty and value of the entire bracelet. She quickly searched on the workbench, hoping to find the missing white jade bead. However, no matter how hard she looked, the bead seemed to have disappeared without a trace.

"Xiao Li, can you help me recall when was the last time I saw that bead?" There was a hint of anxiety in Zhou Wanwan's voice.

Xiao Li frowned and tried to recall: "I remember that bead was still there when you were making the bracelet just now. Did it fall to the ground?"

Zhou Wanwan immediately squatted down and began to search carefully on the ground. Her fingers groped in the cracks of the carpet, hoping to find the bead. At this moment, the door of the store was pushed open and Ms. Zhu walked in again.

"Ms. Zhu, why are you back?" Zhou Wanwan stood up and asked in surprise.

Ms. Zhu smiled and said, "When I was leaving just now, I suddenly remembered that I forgot to ask you something. But, I saw that you seemed to be looking for something?"

Zhou Wanwan smiled awkwardly: "Yes, I just found that there is a bead missing from the bracelet, and I am looking for it."

Ms. Zhu took a closer look and found that there was indeed a vacant spot on the bracelet. She frowned slightly and said, "What should I do? I can't be without this bracelet at the party next week."

Zhou Wanwan took a deep breath and tried to stay calm: "Ms. Zhu, please rest assured that I will definitely find the bead or make another one exactly the same."

Ms. Zhu nodded, with a hint of trust in her tone: "I believe in your craftsmanship, but time is running out, you have to hurry up."

After Zhou Wanwan sent Ms. Zhu away, she immediately returned to the workbench and began to carefully examine each bead. She knew that it was not easy to find a completely identical white jade bead, but she had to do her best.

At this moment, Xiao Li suddenly shouted: "Wanwan, look what this is?"

Zhou Wanwan turned around and saw that Xiao Li was holding a white jade bead in his hand, which was exactly the one she had been looking for. It turned out that the bead fell into the gap of the workbench and was accidentally discovered by Xiao Li.

Zhou Wanwan breathed a sigh of relief, took the bead, and carefully put it back on the bracelet. She carefully checked it and finally felt relieved after confirming that the bracelet was perfect.

"Xiao Li, thank you so much. If it weren't for you, I might not have found this bead." Zhou Wanwan said gratefully.

Xiao Li smiled and waved his hands: "It's okay, this is what I should do. But, Wanwan, you have to be careful and don't let the beads fall out next time."

Zhou Wanwan nodded, and secretly vowed in her heart that she must be more careful in the future. She picked up the bracelet and decided to deliver it to Ms. Zhu's home in person to express her apology and sincerity.

When Ms. Zhu saw the intact bracelet, a satisfied smile appeared on her face: "You really impressed me. I will cherish this bracelet."