In a small town in India, there lived a potter named Raju. Raju's craft was passed down from his ancestors. His hands seemed to be endowed with magic by the gods, being able to turn lumps of lifeless clay into exquisite pottery. His workshop was small, but it was filled with all kinds of tools and the pottery he had made.
Raju would get up early every day. First, he would fetch some clean water from the brook beside his workshop, and then start his day's work. He sat in front of the potter's wheel, placed the clay on it, and as the wheel spun, his fingers gently pressed the clay, as if stroking a sleeping baby.
One day, a wealthy merchant passed through this small town. Having heard of Raju's craft, he came to his workshop. The merchant saw that Raju was making a clay pot, and the shape of the pot was already taking form, with beautiful curves slowly emerging under Raju's hands. The merchant said to Raju, "Your craft is really good, but by making one piece at a time like this, how much money can you earn? I have an idea. You can make pottery using molds, so that you can mass - produce and earn a great deal of money." Raju just smiled and said to the merchant, "The reason my pottery is precious is that each piece is made with my heart and hands, not replicated by molds."
After the merchant left, Raju continued his work. He began to draw exquisite patterns on the clay pot. The pigments he used were all extracted by himself from plants and ores. He painted the scenery of the small town, including the ancient temple, the bustling scenes of people in the market, and women washing clothes by the brook. Every pattern was vivid, as if telling the story of the small town. Raju's pottery became more and more popular in the small town, and many people came to buy his works attracted by his fame.
Raju's reputation also spread to more distant places. Even people from big cities sent carriages specifically to buy his pottery. Raju did not change his production method because of his fame. He still adhered to the traditional handmade method and treated each piece with care. He incorporated his wisdom and love for life into these pottery pieces, allowing everyone who owned his pottery to feel that unique warmth and beauty.
