During this time, I had more opportunities to rest and spend time with my grandmother. More importantly, I traveled across more than 20 provinces, visiting over 100 intangible cultural heritage inheritors and cultural workers. Six or seven years ago, I met artisans mainly to learn their crafts, but in recent years, I’ve focused more on listening to their stories.

Lacquerware made a deep impact on me. It was the subject of my first video after returning. When I first came into contact with raw lacquer, I had a severe allergic reaction—my skin broke out in blisters and rashes, and I couldn’t sleep. My entire team even had to go to the hospital for allergy shots. Despite all that, I was determined to complete the work.

The hardest part was the final polishing stage. My first attempt failed—the lacquer lines appeared, but the patterns didn’t show. I remember locking myself in the bathroom and crying as I called my teacher, Yin Liping. She encouraged me to try again. I re-sanded the board and repeated the final step for three months until it finally worked.

I believe that the internet, short videos, and even technologies like AI are all valid tools to showcase daily life and share culture. I hope to keep exploring and see if I can find a new path forward. Right now, I’m focused on the innovative development of traditional culture and building a positive ecosystem—this includes protecting the intellectual property of heritage craftsmen, and helping to address challenges like aging artisans and the lack of promotion channels.

I want to keep working in the field of traditional culture. Whether it’s through creative works or business, as long as people recognize and love it, that’s enough. I truly believe that the path I’ve chosen is both right and meaningful.