After the banquet ended, Madam Zhang specially sent someone to inquire about the whereabouts of the guests. Originally, she just wanted to have some fun, but the news that came back made her laugh uncontrollably.
"Tsk tsk tsk, these people are really hypocritical. They say they don't care, but they're all honest in their hearts."
"They all acted quickly behind the scenes; they all came looking for us after just one night."
"That young lady is quite remarkable. She sells ordinary potted plants for ten taels of silver, but her strawberry potted plants sell for a thousand taels."
"A thousand taels? That young lady is quite a character. She was sold for only fifteen taels back then."
"I heard she's about to open her shop. I have a feeling she'll cause even more trouble in the future. Right now, you can still buy those strawberry plants with money, but I'm afraid you won't be able to in the future."
"What do you mean by that?" Zhang Wenlang was like a badger in a melon patch. He and his mother were talking about the same thing, but he was completely confused by their conclusion.
"Madam, young master, someone has delivered a potted plant." A servant reported, and Madam Zhang's face lit up with surprise. "Speak of the devil, and he appears."
The potted plant had been brought to the courtyard, covered with a red veil, its shape indistinct. Zhang Wenlang curiously lifted the veil and froze on the spot when he saw the fruit that looked like small lanterns.
"She's quite the one to return the favor; this young lady has a good character." Madam Zhang nodded in satisfaction, then saw Zhang Wenlang reach out to pick the fruit, tasting each one. When he ate the goat milk fruit, he felt a painful sourness.
The butler said with a blank face, "Goat milk fruit tastes sour, be careful when tasting it."
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Zhang Wenlang's voice cracked with sarcasm, especially since he had tasted the sweetness first.
"These are cherries. The young lady specifically instructed that she enjoy them all by herself." Madam Zhang understood and picked some to be delivered to the old lady's courtyard.
With the help of Li Yunhai, Li Yunzhou, Li Yunyun, and Li Junsheng, the goods were delivered quickly.
After delivering the goods, Lin Zhaozhao led the group to purchase daily necessities such as pots, pans, and bedding before returning to the shop. After settling the four Li siblings in, Lin Zhaozhao went to Song Family Ceramics to purchase a batch of porcelain.
Because of the large quantity purchased, the shop's inventory was insufficient, so Old Song suggested inviting Lin Zhaozhao to visit the kiln site.
Old Song is the manager of Song Family Ceramics.
Lin Zhaozhao readily agreed, and after saying goodbye to Old Lady Lin, she left the city with Old Master Song.
After a bumpy ride, the carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain.
Stepping down from the carriage, Lin Zhaozhao looked around and followed behind Old Man Song.
Walking from the foot of the mountain to the mountainside, and then into the heart of the area, we arrived at the kiln site. Rows of kilns stood tall, and you could feel the intense heat emanating from the air. The workers had clear divisions of labor and were busy at work.
It's clear that the kiln site was once a large and prosperous place, unmatched by anyone in Huichun. However, it gradually declined over time, with fewer and fewer workers. Only a few kilns remained, while the rest appeared dilapidated and desolate due to long-term disuse.
Lin Zhaozhao had only a superficial understanding of kiln firing, but she found it very interesting after watching it. Old Song noticed her interest and let her join the other workers in the ceramics production process.
Claying, stacking clay, throwing, molding, trimming, applying water, painting, glazing, and firing – with each step, Lin Zhaozhao gained a deeper understanding of ceramics, moving beyond a superficial understanding to a more profound appreciation of the charm of kiln firing.
Through conversations with her associates, Lin Zhaozhao also learned some of the secrets of the Song family ceramics business, secrets that were actually widely known.
Three years ago, Song Family Ceramics was at its peak, and everyone was amazed by its success. Unfortunately, the good times didn't last long. A traitor emerged from Song Family Ceramics—Song Lao's adopted son, Jian Ci. Due to differences in ideas with Song Lao, he led a group of key figures to betray the Song family and start their own business, leading to the decline of Song Family Ceramics.
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