Reborn Troops

Zhou Wanwan was sitting in her small jewelry shop. The sunlight outside the window shone through the mottled shadows of the trees and onto the counter, making the jewelry sparkle.

She held an old gold ring in her hand. The gemstone inlaid on the ring had lost its former luster and looked a little dull.

Zhou Wanwan sighed softly. She had received the ring from an old customer, who said it was a relic of her grandmother and she hoped it could be restored to look like new.

"Wanwan, what are you thinking about?" Qianqian pushed the door open, holding a bag of snacks in her hand, and asked with a smile.

Zhou Wanwan looked up at her and smiled: "Nothing, it's just this ring. I always feel that it is a bit difficult to repair it."

Qianqian came over and took a closer look at the ring: "This ring does look a bit old, but your craftsmanship is so good, there will definitely be no problem."

Zhou Wanwan shook her head: "It's not a matter of craftsmanship, it's a feeling. I always feel that after repairing it, it loses its original flavor."

Qianqian frowned: "You are too particular. Isn't it better to be simple sometimes?"

Zhou Wanwan smiled but said nothing. She knew Qianqian was right, but she just couldn't change this bad habit.

She likes those old things, the stories behind them, and the flavor that has settled over the years.

Restoring them is not just about making them look brand new, but also about allowing their stories to continue.

"By the way, Qianqian, how have you been recently?" Zhou Wanwan changed the subject.

Qianqian shrugged: "What else can I do? It's the same as always. I'm so busy at work, working overtime every day, and I'm exhausted like a dog."

Zhou Wanwan smiled and said, "Then why are you free to come here today?"

Qianqian curled her lips: "I saw that you were so busy lately that you didn't even have time to eat, so I specially brought you some food."

Zhou Wanwan felt warm in her heart. Qianqian was always like this. She was harsh with words, but she cared about her more than anyone else in her heart.

She took the snack handed to her by Qianqian, opened the bag, and inside was her favorite red bean cake.

"Thank you, Qianqian." Zhou Wanwan said softly.

Qian Qian waved her hand: "Why thank you? Eat quickly, don't starve yourself."

Zhou Wanwan smiled, picked up a piece of red bean cake and put it into her mouth. The sweet taste spread across her tongue, making her feel a lot better.

"By the way, Wanwan, I have an idea." Qianqian said suddenly.

Zhou Wanwan raised her head and looked at her puzzledly: "What do you think?"

Qianqian smiled mysteriously: "I think you can open a column for second-hand jewelry repair, specializing in helping people repair those old jewelry."

Zhou Wanwan was stunned for a moment: "Second-hand jewelry repair?"

Qianqian nodded: "Yes, now many people like vintage things, especially those old jewelry with stories. You are so good at craftsmanship, you will definitely attract a lot of people."

Zhou Wanwan pondered for a while and felt that what Qianqian said made sense.

She has always felt that her skills have not been fully utilized. If she could open a column for second-hand jewelry repair, it would not only help more people, but also allow her skills to gain more recognition.

"Okay, I'll try." Zhou Wanwan nodded.

Qianqian smiled and said, "I knew you would agree. By the way, I have a friend who has an old necklace that she has always wanted to repair, but she can't find the right person. Do you want to try?"

Zhou Wanwan was just about to respond to Qianqian's proposal when the shop door was gently pushed open and a tall figure walked in.

Zhang Xiang is a regular customer. He holds a rusty little bear pendant in his hand, with a hint of anticipation and uneasiness on his face.

"Wanwan, can you help me take a look at this?" Zhang Xiang's voice trembled a little. It was obvious that this little bear pendant meant a lot to him.

Zhou Wanwan put down the red bean cake in her hand, took the pendant and looked at it carefully.

The little bear on the pendant has lost its original luster and is covered with rust, but you can still vaguely see how delicate and cute it once was.

"This pendant is very important to you, right?" Zhou Wanwan asked softly. She could feel the emotion in Zhang Xiang's eyes.

Zhang Xiang nodded, a trace of memory flashing in his eyes: "This was a birthday gift my mother gave me when I was a child. I have been wearing it. A few days ago, it accidentally fell into the water, and it was like this when I fished it out."

Zhou Wanwan sighed softly. She understood the emotion. She looked up at Zhang Xiang and said, "I will try my best to help you recover, but it may take some time."

Zhang Xiang breathed a sigh of relief and said gratefully, "Thank you, Wanwan. As long as it can be repaired, I am willing to wait as long as it takes."

Qianqian was watching from the side and suddenly interrupted, "Wanwan, aren't you planning to start a column on second-hand jewelry restoration? Isn't this a good opportunity?"

Zhou Wanwan was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, you are right. If you don't mind, I would like to record this repair process as the first issue of the column."

Zhang Xiang hesitated, but seeing Zhou Wanwan's sincere eyes, he finally nodded: "Okay, as long as it can be repaired, I am willing to cooperate."

Zhou Wanwan smiled and said, "Thank you for your trust. I will try my best to preserve its original appearance while making it look brand new."

In the next few days, Zhou Wanwan began to repair the little bear pendant.

She first carefully removed the rust from the pendant using professional tools, and then cleaned it with a special solution.

She took every step extremely carefully, as if she was treating a precious work of art.

Qianqian would come to the store to help from time to time. Seeing Zhou Wanwan's focused look, she couldn't help but sigh: "Wanwan, you are really amazing. I have never seen anyone treat an old item so attentively."

Zhou Wanwan smiled and said, "Every old thing has its story. I just want these stories to continue to be passed down."

Just when the restoration work was halfway through, Zhou Wanwan suddenly received a call.

An anxious voice came from the other end of the phone: "Wanwan, this is Zhang Xiang. My mother suddenly fell ill and was hospitalized. I have to go back quickly. That pendant..."

Zhou Wanwan immediately comforted him, "Don't worry, Zhang Xiang. Go take care of your mother first. I will continue to repair the pendant. When you come back, you will definitely see it in brand new condition."

Zhang Xiang said gratefully, "Thank you, Wanwan. My mother has always missed this pendant. She will be very happy if she can see it restored."

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Wanwan felt a little heavy.

She knew what the pendant meant to Zhang Xiang and his mother, and she became more determined to restore it perfectly.

A few days later, the restoration of the pendant was finally completed.

Zhou Wanwan looked at the brand new little bear pendant and felt a sense of accomplishment.

She carefully placed the pendant in an exquisite box, ready to give it to Zhang Xiang when he returned.