Reborn Troops

Zhou Wanwan was standing in her small jewelry store, holding a necklace she had just designed in her hand.

The pendant of the necklace looks like an ancient copper coin, with some wear on the edges.

In the middle of the coin were engraved the words "招财进宝". She stared at the coin with a frown on her face, feeling a little uneasy.

The light in the store was dim, shining on her slightly tired face.

She had been working through several consecutive nights to design this necklace.

She thought that since everyone likes retro style now, the appearance of ancient copper coins should attract many customers. But the problem is that she always feels that something is missing.

"It's missing a bit of soul." She sighed, put the necklace on the counter, and turned to pour herself a glass of water.

Just then, the door of the store was pushed open, and a gust of cold wind rushed in. Zhou Wanwan looked up and saw that it was her friend Qianqian.

"Wow, you're still open so late?" Qianqian walked in with a smile, holding a bag of fruit in her hand.

"Didn't you say you would come and help me look at the design today?" Zhou Wanwan put down the water cup and pointed at the necklace on the counter. "Here, this is it."

Qianqian walked over, picked up the copper coin necklace, looked at it carefully for a while, and frowned slightly.

"How is it?" Zhou Wanwan asked nervously.

"Hmm..." Qianqian pondered for a moment, "The design is quite interesting, but I always feel like something is missing."

"Do you also feel like something is missing?" Zhou Wanwan's eyes lit up, as if she had found a soulmate.

“Yes, this copper coin looks quite retro, but it feels too rigid.

It doesn't have that kind of eye-catching feeling." Qianqian put down the necklace and turned to look at Zhou Wanwan, "You have to add some stories to it."

"Story?" Zhou Wanwan was stunned.

"Yes, you have to give this copper coin a story and a soul." Qianqian patted her shoulder, "You see, people nowadays buy things not only for the sake of the object itself,

It depends on the story behind it. You have to make the customer feel that this copper coin is not just a decoration, it has some meaning.”

Zhou Wanwan nodded thoughtfully, "Then...what story do you think should be added?"

Qianqian smiled and said, "You have to think about it yourself. However, I can give you a suggestion -

You can start with the history of ancient copper coins, find some interesting anecdotes, or make up a story.

For example, this copper coin was used by an ancient merchant to attract wealth, or it was given by an emperor to a meritorious official. In short, the customer must feel that this copper coin has a history. "

Zhou Wanwan's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she started to think about it in her mind.

She suddenly felt that her previous thinking was too narrow. She only thought about the design but ignored the importance of the story.

"You're right. I need to add some stories to this copper coin." She said excitedly, "But... I'm not good at history. Can you help me look up some information?"

Qianqian shrugged, "Okay, but you have to treat me to a meal."

"No problem!" Zhou Wanwan agreed readily.

In the next few days, Zhou Wanwan and Qianqian were busy looking up information and making up stories. They found that there were many types of ancient copper coins.

Each one has its own unique historical background. In the end, they decided to design a new necklace based on the prototype of "Kaiyuan Tongbao".

"Kaiyuan Tongbao is the currency of the Tang Dynasty, symbolizing prosperity and wealth." Qianqian pointed to the information on the computer screen and said, "You can incorporate this story into the design of the necklace."

Zhou Wanwan nodded, and she had an idea in mind. She decided to engrave the words "Kaiyuan Tongbao" on the back of the copper coin and add some Tang Dynasty style patterns on the edge of the pendant.

"In this way, when customers see this copper coin, they will think of the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty," she said excitedly.

She smiled faintly, "Not bad, it has that flavor."

Zhou Wanwan was concentrating on sketching new design details on the drawing when the shop door was suddenly pushed open and a gust of cold wind mixed with rain poured in.

She looked up and saw that it was her younger brother Zhou Guo, holding a wet umbrella in his hand.

"Sister, why are the lights in your store so dim?" Zhou Guo complained while shaking off the water droplets on his umbrella.

"Why are you here?" Zhou Wanwan was a little surprised and put down the pen in her hand. "Didn't you say you had to work overtime today?"

"I'm done with overtime, so I came to see you on the way." Zhou Guo walked to the counter and glanced at the design drawings on her desk. "Oh, are you still working on that copper coin necklace?"

"Well, I just discussed it with Qianqian. We plan to use 'Kaiyuan Tongbao' as the prototype and add some Tang Dynasty decorations."

Zhou Wanwan pointed to the details on the drawing and said, "Look, doesn't this make it more historical?"

Zhou Guo took a closer look and frowned slightly, "Sister, isn't your design... a little too traditional?"

"Traditional?" Zhou Wanwan was stunned. "Isn't this good? Retro style is very popular now."

"It's retro, but the appearance of your copper coin is too rigid. It feels unoriginal." Zhou Guo shook his head.

"I think you could try making the copper coin orange, or making it foldable, so it would have a more ceremonial feel."

"Orange? Foldable?" Zhou Wanwan was a little confused. "Aren't all copper coins copper-colored? Wouldn't orange be too strange? And foldable...how can this be achieved?"

"Sister, don't always think about tradition." Zhou Guo patted her shoulder.

“People nowadays like novelty. If you design an orange copper coin, it may attract more young people.

As for folding, you can design it into two halves, connected by a hinge in the middle, so that customers can open it when they want to wear it, and close it when they don’t want to wear it, like a small box.”

Zhou Wanwan was somewhat moved by what she heard, but she was still a little hesitant, "But... wouldn't this deviate too far from history?

The Kaiyuan Tongbao coin is originally copper-colored. Wouldn’t it look weird if it was changed to orange? "

"History is dead, but design is alive." Zhou Guo shrugged, "Besides, you are not doing archaeology, you are making jewelry.

The most important thing about jewelry is that it is beautiful, interesting and attractive. If you keep thinking about history, you will limit yourself.”

Zhou Wanwan was silent for a while, and her heart began to waver. She looked at the design drawing on the table, then looked at Zhou Guo, and finally nodded.

"You're right, I'm a little too traditional. But... orange copper coins, will that really work?"

"Give it a try. You don't have any other ideas right now anyway." Zhou Guo smiled. "How about I help you draw a sketch?"

"Okay, you try it." Zhou Wanwan handed him the pen, feeling a little expectant.

Zhou Guo took the pen and started drawing quickly on the paper. After a while, an orange copper coin sketch appeared on the paper.

Some modern geometric patterns are added to the edge, with the four characters "Kaiyuan Tongbao" engraved in the middle, and the back is designed to be a foldable structure.

"Look, isn't this more interesting?" Zhou Guo handed her the sketch.

Zhou Wanwan took the sketch, looked at it carefully, and her eyes gradually brightened.

"Indeed... it's quite creative. But, will the folding part be difficult to realize technically?"