Chapter 94 Glazed Tiles (The End)
Viewers both at the scene and outside the live broadcast room were drawn to this splash of blue.
The director of the national television station was clearly a professional; he immediately cut to a close-up shot.
The peacock blue glazed tile lay in Zhang Erlang's hand, sunlight pouring unreservedly onto its glazed surface.
Its blue is like the most beautiful eye of a peacock's neck feathers, deep and still like the tranquil ocean, yet it reveals a warm and lustrous quality like jade as it flows. The glaze is as smooth as a mirror, delicate and flawless, and that blue flows and changes on it, sometimes deep, sometimes bright, depending on the angle, as if it has come alive.
Holy crap! This color! It's absolutely gorgeous!!!
[A radiant light! It truly is a radiant light! Master Qin was right!]
Mr. Zhang cried! I cried too!
Seriously, please go to Shanxi Province and take a look. There are several cultural relics with peacock blue glazed tiles; they are absolutely stunning. And after so many years, the color has only become more lustrous.
[I've been following this since their first livestream went wrong, it's been over half a year, and they finally got it working. It feels like a perfect ending, I'm completely satisfied.]
[Where are those people who said they'd eat shit if Chef Zhang cooked this up? Come out here! I'm going to keep an eye on you!]
[Upstairs, I already took screenshots, I'll tag them one by one later.]
[Do you have any tiles from Jingye for comparison? Didn't Jingye say the color difference was due to changes in the ore composition?]
Over here, everyone had already surrounded Zhang Dalang and Zhang Erlang, placing them in the center.
After his initial excitement subsided, Zhang Erlang remembered that there were still many more tiles left in the kiln. He immediately asked the workers who were waiting nearby to move out the other fired tiles.
Stacked up in layers, shimmering with light and color.
Of course, a few that were cracked or had substandard color were also rejected.
Zhang Dalang finally nodded in satisfaction: "This batch is not bad."
All eyes were fixed eagerly on Professor Liang Wenbo and Master Qin Lixuan. This wasn't just about examining the newly fired tiles; it was about awaiting a historic assessment.
Master Qin Lixuan, who was well-prepared, solemnly took out an object wrapped in soft velvet from a specially made wooden box held by his assistant. He peeled back the layers of velvet to reveal an irregularly shaped fragment of glazed tile.
This fragment has weathered many storms, its edges are worn, and its glaze bears the marks of history. But even in this brokenness, a restrained and profound blue radiance, which has been precipitated for hundreds of years, still stubbornly shines through!
"This is what I brought here: a fragment of a peacock blue glazed tile from the Ming Dynasty official kiln, unearthed from the site of the Prince Dai's Mansion in Shanxi Province." Master Qin's voice carried a pilgrimage-like reverence as he gently placed this fragment, which carried the weight of history, on the display stand covered with black velvet.
Almost simultaneously, Professor Liang Wenbo also signaled to his assistant to bring over a tile.
This tile is brand new and neat, with a uniform glaze and a bright blue color, but compared with the Ming Dynasty fragment in Master Qin's hand and the new Zhang family tile held by Zhang Erlang, it always feels like something is missing.
"This is a sample of peacock blue glazed tile that we purchased from the open market, which Jingye Co., Ltd. claims to have 'restored'." Professor Liang's voice was calm and even, yet it carried immense weight.
The scene fell silent instantly, and even the live stream chat became sparse for a moment before it erupted again.
Good! Good! Good! Talking big is meaningless; we need a real, hard-fought contest!
Holy crap! This comparison is so obvious! Put three tiles side by side, even a blind person could tell the difference between them!
I'm so nervous, does anyone understand me?
【I understand, I understand, but don't worry, sisters. I just glanced at it, and to my unprofessional opinion, that Jingye one... looks okay on its own, but next to the real thing, it instantly looks like a plastic toy!】
Yes, both stunned and dead!
Within just a few minutes, a large number of people flooded into the live stream room.
Lu Xiaoqi overheard the people next to her whispering, "Holy crap, look, it's already trending on social media."
"That's normal. Don't you see how many people are in the live stream?"
At this moment, Master Qin Lixuan was the first to bend down, scrutinizing his prey like the most experienced hunter.
He first carefully compared the glaze of the Ming Dynasty fragments with that of Zhangjiaxin tiles.
"Look!" Master Qin pointed to the Ming Dynasty fragment, "This is the authentic peacock blue passed down from the Ming Dynasty! It's blue with a hint of emerald, and its precious light shines within! Look at this part, doesn't it look like the most dazzling feather on the neck of a peacock when it spreads its tail?"
The host naturally chimed in, "It really is! If you turn around in the light, you can see a faint green tinge in the blue... It's so beautiful!"
"That's the exquisite coloring of copper in the ore, a 'vibrant color' created by the ancient formula and the kiln firing process!" Master Qin said, picking up a newly fired tile and slowly rotating it in the sunlight. "Look, isn't it exactly the same?"
When these two tiles are placed together, anyone with a discerning eye can immediately see that they are the same color and come from the same source.
One is new, the other is old, each with its own charm.
"Excellent! Master Zhang and his team have fired this kiln perfectly! The blue, the green, the shimmering light—it all matches the spirit of the piece left by our ancestors! They've found the right path!" Master Qin couldn't help but get excited as he finished speaking.
To recreate the lost art of peacock blue glazed tiles is the dream of every generation of glazed tile craftsmen!
Unexpectedly, he actually saw it today.
“Look at this one!” Master Qin picked up a tile from Jingye. “The color is a little off, making it look somewhat dull. This must have been machine-mixed; it’s very uniform, but it’s still different from the lustrous quality of ancient glazed tiles, which comes purely from kiln firing!”
He didn't say much, leaving it at that.
Needless to say, everyone who looks at the tiles from Jingye can immediately see the difference in color. While described as peacock blue, it's more like lake blue or indigo, lacking that crucial, vibrant emerald green. The glaze looks bright, but compared to the other two tiles, something just doesn't seem right.
The comments in the live stream room are already flooding the screen:
[Isn't it said that different ore impurities prevent consistent color firing? How come Qinghe Ancient Town manages to achieve the same color?]
[Isn't it said that different ore impurities prevent consistent color firing? How come Qinghe Ancient Town manages to achieve the same color?]
Professor Liang Wenbo adjusted his glasses, picked up a magnifying glass, and brought it close to the three tiles for a more detailed microscopic observation. As he looked, he calmly added, "Master Qin pointed out the key differences in the macroscopic glaze color and spirit. We can also confirm this by looking at the microscopic structure."
He pointed to the glaze of the Ming Dynasty fragments and the new tiles from Zhangjia Village: "Look closely, under a magnifying glass, you can see extremely fine and natural crackle patterns on the fragments and the glaze that just came out of the kiln today, like ice cracks. This is formed naturally during the high-temperature melting and cooling process of the glaze, and it is also one of the physical bases for the luster. At the same time, you can see tiny bubbles and mineral crystal points deep in the glaze layer, distributed in a sparse and dense manner. It is these microstructures that produce complex refraction and scattering of light, which creates that deep and ever-changing, seemingly lustrous luster that shines through from the inside."
Next, he pointed the magnifying glass at Jingye's tiles: "Jingye's products have an overly clean and smooth glaze, lacking any crackle texture. The bubbles and crystallization points are controlled too evenly by modern technology, resulting in a strong reflective glaze that appears dull and monotonous, lacking that natural sense of layering and vitality..."
After his brief explanation, everyone finally understood where the sense of disharmony they had observed came from.
I admire Professor Liang; he explained it very clearly.
Therefore, Jingye's products are more like industrial products under precise control, rather than works of art that embody ancient craftsmanship and the soul of kiln fire.
[Case solved! All the talk about altered ore composition is just an excuse! The fundamental problem is the wrong technological approach; they couldn't replicate the essence!]
[Mass-produced goods trying to piggyback on handmade art? That's fucking ridiculous!]
[Where's Jingye's face? Weren't you so tough sending lawyer's letters? Come out and show yourself! Let's see what real peacock blue looks like!]
Professor Liang put down the magnifying glass, his gaze swept across the lens, and his voice was clear and strong:
"Colors can be imitated, and formulas can be analyzed, but the unique mark given by the kiln fire and the warm and mellow charm that can only be formed through the sedimentation of time are difficult to completely replicate by any modern industrial means."
"I believe that the peacock blue glazed tiles fired by the Zhang family this time not only highly reproduce the charm of the Ming Dynasty official kiln in terms of macroscopic glaze color, but also possess the core characteristics of ancient glazed tiles in terms of microscopic structure and optical effects."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "So, this time, Qinghe Ancient Town has indeed restored the long-lost peacock blue glazed tiles!"
This is the assessment result he provided!
A national treasure-level craft that had been lost for a century has finally returned!
Liang Wenbo himself breathed a sigh of relief.
After being messed up by scoundrels like Su Bingwen, the reputation of the domestic cultural relics research community has been severely damaged, and many netizens have left sarcastic comments on the official accounts of various institutions.
So when he heard his old friend invite him to appraise the peacock blue glazed tiles for Qinghe Ancient Town, Liang Wenbo readily agreed.
He needs to get to the bottom of things and end this farce caused by Su Bingwen.
After hearing his words, Master Qin nodded vigorously. He picked up the Ming Dynasty fragment and the Zhang family's new tile, holding them high so that the camera could simultaneously capture these two strikingly similar blue treasures spanning hundreds of years. His loud voice resounded throughout the venue and the live broadcast room:
"Professor Liang is right! This is the true peacock blue of our Chinese heritage! Master Zhang and his team have brought honor to our ancestors and to the artisans of China!"
Qin Lixuan was genuinely excited; his voice cracked during the last sentence.
The glass artisans of Shanxi Province have been researching peacock blue glazed tiles for a long time and have made some progress. Given time, they will eventually be able to restore them. However, two Master Zhangs from Qinghe Ancient Town have emerged out of nowhere and managed to fire them first in such a short time!
Qin Lixuan wasn't dissatisfied; he only felt that these modern glass artisans had finally lived up to their ancestors' expectations and rediscovered this precious craft. From now on, the restoration of those glass buildings in Shanxi Province wouldn't be so meticulous!
Everyone could see Master Qin's genuine joy, and thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the audience! Zhang Dalang and Zhang Erlang's eyes welled up with tears again.
The comments section was even more heated:
[I cried! I really cried! Master Qin's phrase "He's brought honor to our ancestors" broke down all my defenses!]
[Microscopic comparison! I'm impressed! Professor Liang and Master Qin are so professional! I wonder who will have any objections to this result now?!]
[Officially Certified! Technologically Superior! Does Jingye Feel the Shame?]
Is this just a simple dispute over roof tiles? No, it's a dispute over the right to interpret culture! Because we were poor in the past, how many good things did neighboring countries steal and claim as their own? Even many things that were originally ours were subject to their rules and standards, simply because they were rich and technologically advanced back then! So, I'm incredibly happy today! Since we can't participate in the carnival here, I'll ask for fifty tickets to Qinghe Ancient Town. DM me first, first come, first served!
Holy crap, this guy's rich! I'm signing up!
[This is a great idea! I'll get ten reimbursements too. Today is awesome!]
Because both the national television station and Qinghe Ancient Town's live broadcasts today have turned off tipping, this is the only way people can express their excitement.
This is not just a definitive conclusion to the technological debate, but a grand triumph over cultural heritage and technological dignity!
At the end of the live broadcast, a reporter from the national television station interviewed Zhang Dalang and Zhang Erlang. The two craftsmen, completely lacking the composure they displayed during the kiln firing, appeared quite awkward and their speech was somewhat incoherent. But that's alright; today's audience will undoubtedly adore them.
That's what craftsmen are all about: less talk and more action.
[Exactly, what's the use of saying it all? Can you actually get peacock blue from burning it?]
Our Master Zhang is a ruthless man who doesn't talk much.
[So what if I can't speak? I can still burn peacock blue! (smug) (smug)]
After the live stream ended, Lu Xiaoqi originally wanted to persuade Liang Wenbo and Qin Lixuan to stay in Qinghe Ancient Town for a few more days. Qin Lixuan agreed, but he suggested that he wanted to stay in Meishan Village with Master Zhang and the others, obviously wanting to exchange skills with them.
Liang Wenbo was very busy. He experienced VR in Qinghe Ancient Town and visited buildings such as Qinghe Tower and Huanyin Pavilion. Only then did he understand why his old friends had suddenly started a project in Qinghe Ancient Town. To be honest, he was even considering staying there for a while!
Unfortunately, Liang was busy with other matters and had to return to the capital after only one day. However, he had a very pleasant conversation with Yuwen Kai and Wang Wei, who joined later, and they agreed to come back in a few months.
The online controversy had not yet subsided, and it reached its peak when someone discovered that Jingye had applied for a patent for the "peacock blue glaze" color it produced two months earlier and named it "Jingye Peacock Blue"—of course, this patent application has not been approved and is still under review.
But this ignited the anger of netizens.
[Damn, that's so shameless!]
There's a feeling of helplessness, like a hand trying to reach into the screen. (Smiling) (Smiling)
[No one said anything when you applied for "Jingye Blue," but you dared to apply for "Jingye Peacock Blue"? Is what you burned actually peacock blue?!]
[The neighbors around here are becoming increasingly unrecognizable; are they addicted to stealing?]
The patent office's examiners have discerning eyes! It would be a huge joke if this kind of thing were allowed to register!
[Brothers! Let's report this! @The State Intellectual Property Office must reject these malicious, misleading, and deceptive patent applications! Permanently reject them!]
[If the patent office dares to approve it, I'll stand outside with a sign every day! This is outrageous!]
The anger of netizens spread like wildfire, instantly engulfing major social media platforms.
Two days later, the national television station broadcast a news report:
Recently, artisans in Qinghe Ancient Town successfully fired peacock blue glazed tiles, a technique lost for a century, filling a technological gap in this field in my country. The peacock blue glazed tiles gained public attention and familiarity due to a commercial and technological dispute between Japan's Kyōgyo Co., Ltd. and Qinghe Ancient Town.
Currently, the authority of the restoration results has been confirmed by top domestic experts through rigorous comparison and appraisal.
Meanwhile, relevant departments have launched an investigation into the issues exposed in this incident. It is understood that Kyōgyo Co., Ltd. of Japan is under investigation by the State Administration for Market Regulation for suspected unfair competition and commercial bribery in China. The investigation has also extended to some of the scenic spots and related entities involved. Relevant departments stated that they will handle the matter seriously in accordance with laws and regulations to maintain a fair and orderly market environment and the healthy development of cultural heritage…
The video footage shows several people being taken away for investigation, including Yamada and Lin Rong, who was detained at the airport.
Lu Xiaoqi turned off her phone and said slowly, "Those who do many evil deeds will surely perish, so people should still do some good deeds."
At this point, Jingye's domestic layout can be said to have collapsed by more than half.
I watched him build a tall building, I watched him entertain guests, and I watched his building collapse.
Netizens speculated that the fact that the national television station devoted so much time to this matter during its most important 7 PM news segment shows how much the country values it. Indeed, for China, this is a great thing that significantly boosts cultural confidence!
The name of Qinghe Ancient Town is frequently mentioned, and its unique and distinctive features are enthusiastically recommended by fans:
[A word of advice: if you can buy a two-day ticket, definitely buy a two-day ticket, otherwise you'll regret it, especially during holidays.]
[You should definitely wear Hanfu! They're amazing at taking Hanfu photos there! But a friendly reminder: make sure you wear high-quality Hanfu, otherwise you won't even be as good as the staff...]
[Go queue up at 7 AM, then rush to the VR experience area as soon as you get in. This way, you might be able to play two or three times a day. Otherwise, the queues will make you question your existence.]
[Song Sao Fish Restaurant is a must-visit, but reservations are very difficult to make. There's no other trick but to keep refreshing the page and try your luck.]
My suggestion is quite unique and niche: if you're traveling with your parents, consider getting an appointment at Guanmaitang Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic. While you're traveling, take your parents to see a traditional Chinese medicine doctor; even if they're not sick, it can help regulate their bodies. And if you come across their sachets, you absolutely must buy them...
[A boat trip is a must, and you can choose to go in the morning or evening. There's a chance you'll encounter fog, making it truly a fairyland.]
Every show in Zone 2 is fantastic—yes, every single one! So remember to pick up a show schedule at the visitor center when you enter, or you can find it on the app.
[Section 5, I highly recommend Section 5! I've noticed that everyone likes to explore Section 2 because it has more food and performances, but I personally believe that Section 5 is the essence and soul of Qinghe Ancient Town.]
...And so, during the traditional off-season for tourism across the country, the number of visitors to Qinghe Ancient Town actually increased against the trend.
Fortunately, the employees who were on holiday for the Spring Festival have gradually returned; otherwise, the front-line departments would have been overwhelmed.
Taking advantage of this momentum, Qinghe Ancient Town uploaded a video of Master Zhang and his team firing the kiln. The video, which lasted more than half an hour and was edited in the style of a documentary, received another wave of praise.
Only then did everyone realize how much pressure the two Mr. Zhangs had endured over the past six months.
While the hype is still going strong, Qinghe Ancient Town announced that it will incorporate the concept of a "Glass Garden" into the second phase of construction, using glazed tiles and glass to create a unique Chinese-style garden.
Netizens were delighted and expressed their anticipation for the second phase of the ancient town project, with the number of comments on several official accounts reaching its peak.
Lu Xiaoqi, who had come up with the idea on a whim, felt a little guilty—she only had the idea, but hadn't thought about or could figure out how to do it. She decided to leave the matter to Yuwen Kai and Wang Wei.
After returning from his travels, Yuwen Kai exuded an even more serene aura. Standing next to Wang Wei, one appeared as profound and unassuming as an ancient tree, while the other was as elegant and gentle as a bamboo stalk. Their complementary bearing and the unassuming glances revealed the distinguished demeanor of scions of prominent families from the Sui and Tang dynasties.
Lu Xiaoqi didn't ask him how he felt about being outside, afraid that urging him would only disturb his peace of mind.
He himself, however, was already quite eager to start the second phase of construction and was eager to try it out: "I have gained a lot of new insights during this trip, which is a good opportunity to give it a try."
Wang Wei, standing nearby, was quite a fanboy: "Lord Yuwen has a vast mind and a talent that flows like a spring; he will surely create a magnificent place on earth."
Yuwen Kai chuckled: "It's a pity I didn't get to witness the beautiful scenery of Wangchuan after the rain in Wang Wei's poem. If Wang Wei had helped, and we worked together, perhaps we could bring Wangchuan back to life."
Wang Wei was overjoyed and bowed deeply: "That is indeed my wish! I, Wang Wei, am unworthy, but I am willing to devote all my learning to this cause."
The Sui and Tang dynasties were essentially one entity, especially those aristocratic families, whose roots were intertwined and whose ancestors were related, so they could find many common topics to discuss.
Wang Wei greatly admired the era in which Yuwen Kai lived, a time when many talented people emerged, especially the beloved Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty—of course, the Li Shimin that Yuwen Kai had met was just a young boy, but that didn't stop Wang Wei from asking about it repeatedly.
Wang Wei lived in Chang'an and Luoyang for many years and naturally held Yuwen Kai, who built these two capitals, in high esteem. Yuwen Kai, in turn, greatly admired Wang Wei, this young man who would later become a prodigy in history.
The two hit it off immediately, chatted happily, and enjoyed each other's company immensely.
Lu Xiaoqi quietly raised her expectations for the second episode even higher.
However, the second phase is estimated to start in April, at which time it can be planned together with the vacant land by the lake. We are currently negotiating with the county government about that vacant land, and it should be within our grasp soon.
Yuwen Kai nodded: "No rush, I happen to be going to Qinghe University to give a few lectures during this time."
He had promised Professor Lin a long time ago.
Just as the group was discussing, Zhang Ying suddenly rushed over, calling out, "Miss Lu, Miss Lu!"
Lu Xiaoqi stood up: "But what happened?"
Zhang Ying was panting, but her eyes were shining. She glanced around before whispering, "It's my father and uncle. They've leveled up!"
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