Liu's initial wariness of the two young men she "picked up" eventually turned into acceptance and affection, all stemming from Xiao Chang'an's good looks and Yuan Lang's sweet talk!
"Oh my, Auntie, you're the most amazing matriarch I've ever met! This candied yam is absolutely amazing! It's crystal clear and sweet to the taste!"
"Oh dear, what are we having today? Stir-fried rabbit meat! I've never had such delicious rabbit meat before! Yesterday's congee with preserved egg and lean pork was also delicious, so delicious... right, young master?"
Yuen Long ate and praised the food, saying that the Tan family's cooking skills were truly amazing! Xiao Chang'an was also in a great mood, as such delicious food was hard to find even with a lantern!
For the master and servant who were planning to live a difficult life, this was an unexpected joy!
Since He Yingyuan returned, the village children have gone back to school, and the Qin family home has become rather deserted. Before, after finishing her work, Liu would always linger in the workshop for a while, chatting and talking. Now, with two wounded soldiers to care for at home, she can't even chat anymore; she has to go back and look after them!
Xiao Chang'an came from a noble family and was taught from a young age not to speak while eating or sleeping. But here, he found himself joining in the lively atmosphere with everyone.
"My cooking skills are not as good as Third Aunt's. If Third Aunt has time, I'll ask her to cook for you. Spicy chicken, spicy fish, spicy blood curd, and sliced beef and tripe in chili sauce, hot pot, oh my, they're all so delicious!"
What? I've never heard of these dish names before? Yuan Lang turned his head in bewilderment to look at his young master, who also looked helpless!
Although he was the son of a local tyrant, he had never heard of these dishes, let alone eaten them! He was simply a frog in a well!
The waiter, who seemed to appear out of nowhere, continued to deliver the final blow.
"There's also fish soup with pork wontons, squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, braised pork ribs, stir-fried pork intestines... Oh my, my mouth is watering! It's just a pity that you two are both patients. Grandpa Cao said that patients should eat light meals! It's such a shame you can't finish all of this..."
Yuan Lang suddenly stopped, wondering what to do if he really wanted to beat this brat up!
Sigh, when will this wound heal? He felt it was almost healed, but the old doctor kept saying it wasn't...
By the time Xiao Chang'an and the others were able to walk on the ground, the kiln entrance on the back mountain had been completed.
Recently, Qin San Niang has devoted herself to this project, reading through numerous books and working with Master Xing to finally produce the white porcelain.
Although this craft is not yet fully developed, it is unique in Dasheng!
At that time, the ceramics industry was underdeveloped, and most pottery jars were blackish-brown or yellowish-brown. White porcelain did exist, but the craft was only mastered by large families.
Master Xing, on the other hand, was a craft fanatic. After discovering that the soil in the back mountain was very suitable for firing white porcelain, he was overjoyed and couldn't wait to try firing white porcelain.
Now, the firing of the wine jars has begun, but in order to repay the employer's kindness, Master Xing decided to show his skills and not let the employer down, so he devoted himself to the process of firing white porcelain.
Qin San Niang also attached great importance to technological research and development. To make things easier for him, she built him a residence and a kiln so that he could focus on making pottery.
When the first batch of pottery fired in the kiln came out, it almost blinded her.
The porcelain was so white and spotless, with a lustrous sheen, that it was simply irresistible!
Although Master Xing had never seen white porcelain, he had heard of its great reputation for a long time.
Hundreds of years ago, craftsmen discovered the secret of celadon by chance, leading to celadon's dominance in the world. However, in the northern capital, a type of porcelain emerged, said to be even more noble than celadon, lustrous as snow, with excellent transparency, and some even as thin as an eggshell. The masters praised it as "white as snow," and very few pieces have survived to this day!
Seeing her master acting so erratically, alternating between crying and laughing, Xiao Ran, the apprentice, wondered what was wrong. Had something happened?
But when he saw the white porcelain in his master's hand, he was equally shocked and speechless! What kind of divine porcelain was this? Could it be the legendary white porcelain?!
Qin San Niang was well-informed and naturally recognized that this was the most common white porcelain of later generations, but it was very rare in this era! Compared with the more exquisite translucent white porcelain, the difference was still quite large.
However, this also shows that the clay in the back mountain is more suitable for firing porcelain than pottery, so spending those tens of taels of silver was really worthwhile.
Qin San Niang naturally praised the master and apprentice for their discovery.
"Master Xing, this white porcelain is really good. If you could make more exquisite wine vessels, the sales would definitely be great!"
Initially, she only wanted to make some vessels for holding wine to enhance the elegance of the wine's packaging. If wine were served in white porcelain bottles, its value would increase significantly. Especially for wealthy and powerful people, an extra tael of silver was nothing; the most important thing was the artistic conception!
"Master Xing, it would be even better if you could add some plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums to this white porcelain!" Qin San Niang didn't know if there were any materials available for painting on the glaze at this time, so she could only ask the question.
Compared to the excitement and joy of the master and apprentice, the boss was unusually calm. In Master Xing's eyes, the boss was just the boss. His calmness alone was beyond the reach of ordinary people, and he even came up with the idea of painting on porcelain!
He thought to himself, "That's not impossible. As far as I know, there are indeed skilled craftsmen who can draw exquisite patterns on ceramic ware. Maybe I can give it a try."
With a direction in mind, Master Xing immersed himself even more deeply in the kiln, constantly searching and studying pottery in the market. The result was gratifying; he actually managed to paint patterns on the white porcelain. Although not particularly elaborate, Qin San Niang's requirements weren't high; adding a few bamboo stalks or plum blossoms made it look quite elegant!
"Master Xing, you're really amazing! Our Ruyi Ceramics Workshop is sure to be a hit. Let's get started on this! Oh, and there are a few other utensils I've drawn up. Let's see if we can make them."
Thinking of the wine vessels from her previous life, Qin San Niang drew different styles of wine cups and wine pots, all of which were relatively small and portable, and more appealing than the rough wine jars.
After seeing it, Master Xing felt refreshed and impressed. He never expected his employer to have such an innovative idea. He thought that it wouldn't be long before he could surpass his master and become a skilled ceramic craftsman.
He was an orphan and unmarried, devoting himself entirely to pottery making. Later, due to war, he eventually made his way to the north.
With people's livelihoods in ruins, where are there still places that need craftsmen? Master Xing was disheartened, his skills having nowhere to be used, so he went to a charity hall, where, unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better. Truly, heaven has not forsaken me!
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