Bai Feng led them towards the workshops at the rear of the building.
Several craftsmen were working at long benches, using tools Xu Hao recognised alongside instruments he'd never seen before.
One man was shaping a small metal ornament beneath a magnifying lens. Another was polishing the edge of a narrow blade, while a third used a faintly glowing implement to engrave delicate patterns into a piece of steel.
Xu Hao slowed to watch.
The craftsman manipulating the engraving tool appeared to be guiding a thin current of elemental energy through its tip, allowing him to produce lines far finer than an ordinary chisel could manage.
Bai Feng followed his gaze.
"Interesting, isn't it? That fellow's been working on precision engraving for nearly ten years. He's become rather good at it, though he still complains whenever I ask him to produce something difficult."
Xu Hao examined the unfinished piece.
"The lines are remarkably consistent. Does he use his elemental ability to control the depth?"
"Partly. But the important thing is keeping his hand steady. The element helps him work the metal, but it won't correct a mistake if he loses concentration."
Xu Hao recognised the principle: better tools could extend a craftsman's abilities, but they couldn't replace skill and experience.
Bai Feng led them to a quieter workbench near the back of the workshop.
"Now, young healer, let's see what you've brought me. If Tianming has dragged me away from my work to examine a few ordinary acupuncture needles, I'm going to charge him for wasting my afternoon."
Xu Hao smiled and opened his notebook.
"Some of the instruments are similar to tools healers already use. Others will probably require a little more explanation."
"Good. I enjoy a proper challenge."
Bai Feng pulled up a chair and leaned forward.
Xu Hao began with the simplest designs.
He described the needles he needed, explaining that they should have smooth surfaces, consistent thickness and a material that wouldn't corrode easily.
Bai Feng listened, occasionally interrupting to clarify a measurement.
"Those won't be difficult," he said after examining the first drawing. "We already supply needles to several healers. I can have my men select suitable pieces from our existing stock."
"That would be helpful. I don't want to commission something unnecessarily if you already make it."
The craftsman nodded approvingly.
"An unusual attitude. Most wealthy customers insist on having everything specially made, even when the item they're asking for is sitting on a shelf outside."
Xu Hao laughed.
"I'm afraid I'm not wealthy enough to develop that habit."
Bai Feng looked towards Li Tianming.
"Then you've brought him to the wrong man if he's worried about money."
"Just make the instruments properly," Li Tianming replied. "I'll settle the account."
Xu Hao moved to the next drawing before they could begin arguing about the price.
"This is a surgical blade. I need it to make controlled incisions, so the edge must be extremely sharp and the handle should allow precise movement."
Bai Feng examined the sketch.
"It's much smaller than an ordinary knife. I can make the blade, but keeping something this thin from twisting under pressure will require the right metal."
"That's exactly what concerns me. A flexible blade might be useful for some work, but I can't have the edge bending unexpectedly when I'm trying to make a precise cut."
The craftsman reached for a small sample of steel.
"Then we'll use something that holds its shape. I have an alloy we use for delicate carving tools. It retains a fine edge, though we'll need to test whether it suits your purpose."
Xu Hao examined the sample.
He was impressed by how quickly Bai Feng had understood the problem.
They discussed the handle next.
Xu Hao explained that it needed to be comfortable to hold and easy to control, even during prolonged work.
Bai Feng made several notes.
"I'll produce two different handles," he decided. "You can try both and tell me which gives you better control. There's no point making a dozen blades if you dislike the way they sit in your hand."
"That sounds sensible. Thank you, Uncle Bai."
The craftsman grinned.
"Don't thank me until you've seen them. I might still make something you hate."
They continued to the remaining designs.
Xu Hao had drawn several pairs of narrow scissors, fine forceps, small clamps and instruments intended to hold tissue aside during a procedure.
Some were relatively straightforward.
Others required more discussion.
Bai Feng examined the drawing of a clamp with a locking mechanism.
"You're asking this to maintain its grip without someone holding the handles. I can manage that, but the pressure will depend on the strength of the spring and how closely the locking teeth fit together."
"Then we'd need to test it carefully," Xu Hao replied. "The instrument is supposed to hold delicate tissue or a small blood vessel. If it closes too tightly, it could cause more damage than the injury I'm trying to treat."
Bai Feng looked up.
"You're planning to use these inside a person's body?"
Xu Hao nodded.
"That's why the details matter so much. Even a small defect could become dangerous."
The craftsman studied the drawing again.
His expression became more serious.
"Then I don't want you using anything we haven't tested. I'll make the first pieces as prototypes, and you can tell me whether they're suitable before I prepare the rest."
Xu Hao was relieved. Bai Feng questioned the designs and refused to promise more than he could deliver. That was the sort of craftsman he needed.
They moved on to the forceps.
Xu Hao explained how they would be used to handle small structures without crushing them.
Bai Feng pointed out several difficulties with the narrow tips and suggested a slightly different shape.
Xu Hao considered the proposal.
"That might actually work better than my original design. The important thing is that the ends meet evenly and don't shift sideways when pressure is applied."
"Then we'll make a pair and test it. If they don't close properly, I'll adjust the joint."
Xu Hao altered his drawing to reflect the suggestion.
He was beginning to enjoy himself.
During his years on Earth, he'd studied ancient tools, excavation equipment and preserved machinery. He'd often spent hours discussing small manufacturing details with museum conservators and restoration specialists.
Bai Feng reminded him of the best of those craftsmen: he wanted to understand what each instrument needed to do, not simply copy the drawings.
They worked through several more designs before Bai Feng noticed an unusual sketch near the back of the notebook.
"Now, what's this strange-looking contraption? It resembles a pair of tubes joined to a metal cup."
Xu Hao glanced at the page.
"A listening instrument. It's intended to help a healer hear sounds inside a patient's body."
Bai Feng frowned.
"How would that work?"
Xu Hao explained the basic idea, showing how the chest piece would collect sound and carry it through flexible tubing to the examiner's ears.
The craftsman examined the drawing more closely.
"So instead of placing your ear against someone's chest, you'd use this instrument to listen to their heartbeat?"
"That's the intention. The difficulty is making sure the materials transmit the sound clearly enough."
Bai Feng rubbed his beard.
"Interesting. I can make the metal parts, but the tubing will require experimentation. If the material absorbs too much sound or the connections aren't fitted properly, you might not hear anything useful."
"I expected that. It's not essential for the operation itself, so we can leave it until the more important instruments are finished."
The craftsman looked pleased.
"Good. I prefer customers who understand that a drawing isn't the same thing as a finished invention."
Xu Hao laughed.
"I've spent enough time studying old machines to know that very well."
They continued working.
Bai Feng occasionally called an assistant over to fetch samples of metal or demonstrate how a particular finishing technique might be used.
Xu Hao asked questions whenever he encountered something unfamiliar.
He was particularly interested in the alloys the Bai family used for precision work.
Some appeared capable of retaining a fine edge without becoming brittle, while others possessed enough flexibility to make delicate mechanisms possible.
Bai Feng explained the differences with obvious enthusiasm.
At one point, Li Tianming rose from his chair and wandered towards a nearby display of finished tools.
When he returned, the workbench was covered in drawings, measurements and metal samples.
He looked at the two of them.
"Have you finished?"
Bai Feng glanced up.
"Not yet. Your young healer keeps bringing out more drawings, and every time I think we've finished one, he explains why some tiny detail could be dangerous if I make it incorrectly."
Li Tianming looked towards Xu Hao.
"Is that a problem?"
"Quite the opposite," Bai Feng replied. "I'm pleased he's taking the matter seriously. But I won't promise to finish everything overnight, no matter how urgently you need it."
Xu Hao nodded.
"I understand. I'd rather wait a little longer than use instruments I haven't properly inspected."
Li Tianming sighed.
"Min'er has already been ill for months. I don't like the thought of making her wait any longer."
Xu Hao looked towards him.
"Neither do I, Uncle Li. But even if the instruments were ready this afternoon, I wouldn't attempt the operation until I'd completed the other preparations."
The older man sat down again.
"You're still concerned about her condition?"
"Very much. She's weak, and we haven't established how much strain her body can endure. I need to review the earlier treatments, examine her again and find out what medicines and assistance are available."
He paused.
"I know waiting is difficult, but rushing won't improve her chances."
Li Tianming looked down at his hands.
After a moment, he nodded.
"I understand. I just wish we'd discovered the cause of her illness sooner."
Xu Hao couldn't offer much comfort.
He'd only met Li Min that morning, and he wasn't prepared to tell her father that everything would be fine.
He believed there was a way to treat her, but he still had a considerable amount of work ahead.
Bai Feng studied his old friend's expression.
Then he carefully gathered the drawings.
"Well, Tianming, you brought the boy to the right place. I can't promise to cure your daughter, but I can make sure he has the best instruments I'm capable of producing."
He looked towards Xu Hao.
"Come back in three days. I'll have the first prototypes ready for inspection, and I'd like you to be here when we test them. You'll need to tell me whether they meet your requirements before I make the final versions."
Xu Hao bowed his head.
"Thank you, Uncle Bai. I appreciate the care you're taking with this."
"You're welcome. Just remember that I know metalwork, not surgery. If an instrument doesn't behave the way you expect, I need you to tell me before anyone attempts to use it."
"I will."
Bai Feng turned towards Li Tianming.
"As for the cost, I'll prepare a proper account once we've settled the materials. I assume the Li family is paying?"
"Of course. Use whatever materials are necessary, provided they're suitable for the work."
The craftsman smiled.
"Excellent. I've been waiting thirty years for an opportunity to charge you an outrageous amount."
Li Tianming laughed.
"Try it and I'll challenge you to another game of chess. Perhaps this time we'll finally settle the question of whether you can win without cheating."
Bai Feng shook his head.
"Absolutely not. One quarrel over chess was enough to last us half a lifetime. I'm not risking another."
Xu Hao smiled as the two old friends continued talking.
This time, their argument sounded more like an ordinary conversation.
He suspected neither man had ever entirely stopped thinking about the other.
Perhaps they were simply too stubborn to admit it.
---
When they emerged from Bai Crafts, the afternoon was drawing towards evening.
The commercial street was still busy, though several merchants had begun arranging their stalls for the following day.
Li Tianming offered to send a carriage to take Xu Hao home.
"Thank you, Uncle Li, but I'd rather walk. I still have a few things to think about, and the fresh air will do me good."
"Very well. But don't stay up all night studying those drawings. You'll be no use to Min'er if you exhaust yourself before the operation."
Xu Hao smiled.
"I'll try to remember that."
"And come to the residence again once you've finished reviewing the treatment records. I want you to examine her properly before we make any further decisions."
"Of course. I also intend to visit Golden Meridian Trading House tomorrow. They should have most of the medicinal ingredients I need, although I won't know the prices until I've spoken with their staff."
"Whatever you need, have the steward arrange the funds. Don't waste time worrying about the cost."
Xu Hao nodded.
"I'll keep a proper account of everything I purchase."
"Good. And if you run into trouble, come directly to me. I haven't forgotten what happened with Su Jin at the restaurant."
The reminder was reassuring.
Xu Hao had been so occupied with Li Min's illness that he'd almost managed to forget the circumstances that had brought him to the Li residence in the first place.
Almost.
He knew Su Jin wouldn't be pleased about the way their confrontation had ended.
For the moment, however, Li Tianming's protection offered him a measure of safety.
The older man rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Do your best for Min'er, little brother. That's all I ask."
Xu Hao looked at him.
"I intend to, Uncle Li. But I also want you to understand that I won't attempt the operation until I'm satisfied we've prepared as carefully as possible."
Li Tianming studied him for a moment before nodding.
"I'd expect nothing less."
They parted near the end of the street.
Xu Hao made his way towards the outer district, his notebook tucked beneath his arm.
He was pleased with the progress he'd made.
Bai Feng had accepted the commission, and the old craftsman seemed capable of producing most of the instruments he needed.
That solved one problem. Several remained.
He still had to obtain medicines, arrange suitable assistance and decide how to manage the foreign energy lodged near Li Min's injury.
He also needed to become familiar with the instruments once they were ready.
As he'd told Li Tianming, knowing how an operation ought to be performed didn't mean he was ready to perform it himself.
Xu Hao thought of the many evenings he'd spent watching his mother prepare for difficult cases.
She'd often reviewed medical records long after dinner, explaining that a surgeon needed to understand the possible complications before entering the operating room.
He'd listened with interest at the time.
Now those lessons seemed considerably more important.
He glanced at the drawings in his notebook.
Perhaps his mother would have been pleased to see how much of her advice he remembered.
Though he suspected she'd also have a great many uncomfortable questions about his qualifications.
Xu Hao smiled faintly.
He could almost imagine the conversation.
For now, the best he could do was continue preparing.
Tomorrow, he would visit Golden Meridian Trading House and find out which medicines were available.
Then he'd return to the Li residence, review what he'd learned and decide what still needed attention.