The 14th story:《Jingtailan: The Chinese Beauty in a Touch of Blue》 Mom takes the child to a craft museum on a bright day.一个明亮的白天,妈妈带孩子来到一座传统工艺展馆。 The hall is quiet, but the child’s eyes are full of curiosity.展厅里很安静,孩子的眼睛里却装满了好奇。 They walk past wood shelves and glass cases.她们走过木色展架,也走过一排排玻璃展柜。 Then the child suddenly stops.忽然,孩子停下了脚步。 Inside one case, there is a blue vase shining softly under the light.在一个展柜里,有一只蓝色的花瓶,在灯光下静静发亮。 It is not the pale blue of the sky.那不是天空那种浅浅的蓝。 It is deep, rich, and calm.那是一种深深的、浓浓的、安静的蓝。 “Mom, what is that?” the child asks in a whisper.“妈妈,那是什么呀?”孩子轻声问。 “That is Jingtailan,” Mom says.“那是景泰蓝。”妈妈说。 The child repeats the name slowly.孩子慢慢跟着念了一遍这个名字。 It sounds beautiful even before it is understood.这个名字还没有完全听懂,就已经很好听了。 The child looks closer.孩子又凑近了一点去看。 The vase is covered with golden lines.花瓶表面布满了细细的金线。 Between the lines, there are flowers, leaves, and little curling patterns.金线围起来的地方,有花朵、有叶子,还有弯弯绕绕的纹样。 The blue color sits between them like still water in a quiet pond.蓝色安安静静地躺在里面,像一池不动的水。 “It looks like someone drew with gold and filled the picture with light,” the child says.“好像有人用金子画画,再把光装进去了。”孩子说。 A guide in the hall smiles and waves them over.展厅里的讲解老师微笑着招呼她们过去。 On the table, there is a half-finished piece of Jingtailan.桌上摆着一件还没有完成的景泰蓝作品。 First, the maker shapes a body from metal.先要做出一个金属器物的胎体。 Then, thin metal wires are bent by hand.然后,再把细细的金属丝一点一点弯出来。 They are placed on the surface like tiny walls.这些金属丝贴在表面,就像一堵堵很小很小的墙。 After that, bright colors are carefully filled into the empty spaces.接下来,工匠会把鲜艳的颜色,小心地填进每一个空出来的格子里。 The child watches without blinking.孩子看得眼睛都舍不得眨一下。 “So beauty is made little by little,” the child says softly.“原来,好看的东西,是一点一点做出来的。”孩子轻轻地说。 Mom points to the patterns on another piece.妈妈又指着另一件器物上的花纹说。 There are lotus flowers, curling vines, and round petals.上面有莲花,有缠绕的藤蔓,还有圆圆的花瓣。 Some patterns are neat and balanced.有些纹样很整齐,很匀称。 Some seem to be quietly growing in every direction.有些纹样又像在安静地慢慢生长。 The child finds that the blue is not alone.孩子发现,那片蓝色并不孤单。