The Dilemma of Success: Su Mei’s Cold Year of the Dragon

Su Mei, a traditional red string craftsman from a small southern city, has run the “Su Ji Red String” workshop for ten years, inheriting it from her mother. In previous Years of the Dragon, she’d rush to make dragon-shaped red string bracelets and pendants three months in advance and sell over 200 of them. Regular customers would refer new ones. But this year, business plummeted. Young people preferred online-famous jewelry, and her red string stood at the market stall, but no one showed interest for hours. A pre-order of 100 corporate annual meeting gifts was canceled at the last minute, leaving the finished products piling up in her workshop, filling half the room. Her mother sighed, looking at the pile of red string, “Is this craft going to die in our generation?”

Su Mei’s enthusiasm had faded. She used to be able to sit by the window weaving red string late into the night, but now she gets tired after just a few moments, not even noticing the marks on her fingers from the string. The market management said, “Your stall isn’t popular, so we might have to adjust it next year,” adding to her anxiety. Her daughter urged her to livestream her red string sales, but she wasn’t even proficient in smartphone operations, and after two attempts, the audience was meager. Once, while buying string from a herbal medicine shop, the owner, seeing her distressed look, recommended the LAOTLON Feng Shui Company: “My cousin’s clothing store wasn’t doing well, but after consulting Feng Shui master MONEYGAGA, business rebounded. Ask them, maybe you can find a way to improve your red string business for the Year of the Dragon.” Determined not to let her craft die, Su Mei asked a neighbor for help in looking up the company’s address.

Entering LAOTLON: Finding Hope in the Red and Silver Light

Saturday morning, Su Mei wrapped up a sample of her dragon-shaped red string and took the first bus to the LAOTLON Feng Shui Company in the city. A red, gold-lettered “Year of the Dragon” ornament hung at the company entrance. Pushing the door open, she found shelves filled with red ropes, silver jewelry, and Buddhist stone ornaments. The faint scent of incense wafted through the air, and the auspicious Year of the Dragon paintings on the wall exuded a festive air, relaxing her tense nerves.

After understanding her purpose, the receptionist quickly contacted Feng Shui master MONEYGAGA. MONEYGAGA, wearing a red Chinese-style blouse and a red string bracelet, greeted her with a smile: “The traditional red string symbolizes good fortune. It’s a shame it’s not popular in the Year of the Dragon. Tell me about the current issues with your red string.” Su Mei pulled out a sample and dished out the story of canceled orders, a lackluster market, and the pressure to pass it on. “My dragon string is clearly more exquisite than machine-made ones, so why isn’t anyone buying it?”

MONEYGAGA flipped through the red string samples and analyzed them using a compass, combined with Su Mei’s birth chart: “Your craftsmanship is excellent and your heart is sincere, but the Year of the Dragon’s ‘auspicious aura’ hasn’t spread. Your red string lacks the ‘energy’ to attract young people. I recommend a bracelet that will help you activate the red string’s auspicious power and give you the confidence to pass it on.” She then took out a 925 sterling silver  Year of the Dragon Lucky Power Red String Bracelet—the red string was bright red and lustrous, and the 925 sterling silver dragon pendant, with distinct scales and a pale green Buddha Stone inlaid in the center, was three-dimensional. “Red ropes gather good fortune, silver dragons display strength, and Buddha stones stabilize your aura. Wearing them while weaving ropes or setting up stalls will imbue your red ropes with auspiciousness and help you find new sales channels.”

Red and silver on the wrist: The first touch of a lucky bracelet

Su Mei took the bracelet, her fingertips feeling the coolness of the silver dragon pendant. The red rope felt similar to the ones she’d weaved, but with greater resilience. The Buddha stone shone with a warm glow, perfectly complementing the silver dragon. She tried it on her wrist; the size was perfect. When she raised her hand, the silver dragon pendant swayed gently, as if a force reminding her, “Don’t give up.” “This bracelet isn’t about selling the red string itself. It’s about helping you rediscover the original spirit of string weaving and allowing young people to see the value of traditional red string.” MONEYGAGA added, “Before you start weaving, touch the silver dragon and reflect on the care your mother put into teaching you. When you’re setting up shop, show it off. If someone asks, talk about its auspicious meaning for the Year of the Dragon. Gradually, changes will occur.” Su Mei paid and carefully put the bracelet away, feeling a warmth in her arms. On the way back to town, she couldn’t resist taking out the red string and weaving half a simple red string bracelet on the bus.

First Encounter of Warmth: Visitors at the Market

On her first weekend at the market, wearing the bracelet, Su Mei encountered a surprise. Following MONEYGAGA’s advice, she wore the Buddha Stone Silver Dragon bracelet prominently on her left wrist. She placed a small sign in front of her stall that read “Auspicious Red String for the Year of the Dragon” and displayed a sample of her own dragon-shaped creations. A little after 10 a.m., a woman in Hanfu stopped by her stall, stared at her bracelet, and asked, “Auntie, your silver dragon bracelet is so exquisite. Did you weave it yourself?”
Su Mei was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, “This is a lucky bracelet for the Year of the Dragon. My red string at home is also woven in the shape of a dragon. Look at this sample—I made it all stitch by stitch.” The woman took the sample, examined it carefully, and then touched Su Mei’s bracelet. “I like traditional things. Your red string is more heartwarming than the ones you see online. I want a simple dragon-shaped red string. I’ll ask my friends if they want one.” That day, the woman not only bought some for herself but also brought three friends. Su Mei sold four red strings, the most in nearly a month.
As she was closing her stall, the woman selling handmade soap next to her said, “Su Mei, you look much better today, and you sold quite a few red strings. Do you have any ideas?” Su Mei pointed to the bracelet on her wrist and smiled, saying, “Maybe it’s the good luck it brings.” On her way home, clutching the money she earned from selling the red strings, she felt for the first time that “there’s still hope for the Year of the Dragon.” Orders are picking up: A turning point for old customers bringing in new ones

After two weeks of consistently wearing bracelets, weaving ropes, and setting up a stall, Su Mei’s red ropes received more orders. Aunt Zhang, who had often bought her red ropes, saw the silver dragon bracelet she was wearing and came to her workshop specifically to say, “My granddaughter is getting engaged, and I’d like to order 10 dragon-shaped red ropes as a gift. Your bracelet is auspicious, so the red ropes you weave will surely be excellent.” Su Mei quickly agreed, working through the night to finish them. She even added fine silver thread to the red ropes to complement the dragons.

When Aunt Zhang picked up the ropes, she was so impressed by the silver thread detail that she exclaimed, “Exquisite!” and ordered five more on the spot. Even more surprising, Aunt Zhang’s granddaughter posted a photo of the red ropes on social media with the caption, “Grandma recommended a traditional red rope, handwoven with so much care.” She received over a dozen private messages asking how to purchase them. Su Mei asked her daughter to reply, and she received over 20 online orders. Her daughter also took the initiative to help her take photos of the red string and posted them in a local lifestyle group, tagging them “Craftsman Su Mei’s Dragon Year Red String, Customizable.” A small business saw the photos and contacted Su Mei to order 50 red strings as employee benefits. While the quantity wasn’t as large as previous large orders, it was a significant turning point for Su Mei. While she was braiding the string, she always touched the silver dragon bracelet on her wrist to feel at ease.

Renewing her craft: Incorporating silver dragon elements

After wearing the bracelet for a month, Su Mei had a new idea—to incorporate elements of the Buddha Stone Silver Dragon Bracelet into her own red string. She bought fine 925 silver wire and incorporated the pattern of silver dragon scales into the string. She also added a mini silver dragon pendant to the end of the string to match the bracelet’s design. Targeting young people, she launched a “simple dragon-shaped red string,” which removes the complex pattern while retaining the silver dragon element at a more affordable price. After the new style was released, the first person to buy it was the Hanfu girl who had previously been wearing it. Seeing the small silver dragon pendant, she excitedly exclaimed, “Auntie, your red rope and bracelet are a beautiful set! I want two, one for myself and one for Mom.” Soon, the “Silver Dragon Red Rope” became her signature item. Lines formed daily in front of her stall at the market, and some customers from out of town even asked their friends to buy for them.

Su Mei’s mother, observing her busy work, smiled and said, “Your red ropes have a new look, and people like them again. This craft can be passed down.” Su Mei held her mother’s hand and pointed to the bracelet on her wrist: “It gave me the courage to make some changes, and it also allowed people to see the value of traditional red ropes.”

The market is rebounding: The spirit of heritage is rekindled

With red rope sales rebounding, Su Mei’s stall has become a popular spot at the market. Market management not only stopped discussing stall adjustments but also invited her to set up a “Red Rope Experience Zone” during the Year of the Dragon market, allowing visitors to weave simple red ropes themselves. On the day of the event, Su Mei wore a bracelet and taught everyone how to weave basic knots. Many parents brought their children to try it out, and the children happily said, “I’m going to give them to Mom and Dad.”

A university student studying design saw Su Mei’s silver dragon red string and offered to help design the packaging for it. “Auntie, your red string is great, but the packaging is old-fashioned. I’ll design you a special package for the Year of the Dragon. It’s free, just to contribute to this traditional craft.” The new packaging features a red base and a simple silver dragon pattern, echoing the bracelet. The red string inside instantly elevates the item to a higher level.

Su Mei also took on an apprentice—a little girl from the alley next door. She loves handicrafts and comes to the workshop every day after school to learn how to weave red string. Wearing a Buddha stone silver dragon bracelet, Su Mei taught her how to weave dragon knots, just as her mother had taught her. The workshop was bustling with activity again, and the rustling sound of the weaving became Su Mei’s most comforting sound. A Renewed Life: Rediscovering a Passion for Heritage

After her red string business picked up, Su Mei’s life also brightened. No longer gloomy, she woke up early each morning to sort the strings. The sunlight filtering through the window onto her red strings and bracelets filled her heart with energy. In the evening, after finishing her stringing, she would watch TV with her mother and daughter and chat about the customers she had met that day. Her daughter even taught her how to use her phone to film the stringing process and post short videos.

On weekends, she would bring her red strings and bracelets to nearby communities for “Traditional Red String Sharing Sessions,” teaching residents how to weave simple auspicious knots and explaining the cultural significance of the red strings. An elderly man remarked, “Young people these days have forgotten these traditional skills. Thankfully, you’re still here. Wearing this red string on my hand brings peace of mind.” Su Mei felt even more deeply that her work was meaningful.