"Which is better, ebony or camphor wood?"
"Naturally, camphor wood is better. Ebony is heavy; it sinks when placed in water and is hard to handle. Camphor wood is softer and easier to carve."
"Then shopkeeper, fetch me a piece this large."
"Alright."
......…
Carrying a large block of camphor wood back to the courtyard, Chen Yi drew water from the well and poured it over the wood. He picked up a knife and began carefully peeling the bark.
The small knife, the size of a palm, glided over the bark. Layers of it peeled off from the half-man-tall camphor wood, curling as they fell to the ground. Chen Yi worked with the knife, unaware that beads of sweat had started to form.
After a long while, no matter how he tried, he couldn't carve out a human figure. Chen Yi took a deep breath.
The entire block of camphor wood had turned into a misshapen mess, and the ten or so taels of Silver spent on it were essentially wasted.
