Chapter 83 Sharing the Storms, Sharing the Splendor
Qu He ultimately decided to attend the kiln opening ceremony.
She told Zhuang Bieyan everything Zhou Shi'an had said and her own thoughts.
After resigning, she had actually been running away. With Si Yue managing He Yue Fang, she didn't have to worry about it, but she still felt a sense of uncertainty about the future from time to time.
Si Yue kept telling her that she could continue to pursue her studies in ceramics and fulfill her dream from back then. But after five years away, it was like starting all over again, and she was afraid.
But Si Yue's words always reminded her of her small yet great dream: she wanted her work to be featured at the Basel Ceramic Fair.
Participating in the kiln opening festival is the first step in that process.
After listening to her evasive confession, Zhuang Bieyan didn't directly say whether he would go or not. He simply held her hand tightly and said, "When Ahe is kneading clay, her eyes are bright."
Qu He's fingers trembled slightly.
Zhuang Bieyan: "If you want to do it, then do it. I'll take care of everything."
Qu He looked up at him, and the softest part of her heart was touched.
She said, "I get very involved in making porcelain. I may have to go out to collect inspiration and find suitable clay. I also have to sift and knead the clay. I might not be able to take care of my family. Don't you mind all of that?"
Qian Zhaoye had been bothered by this before.
He wouldn't let her touch these things; in his eyes, his dreams were worthless, and he even thought they were "dirty things."
Zhuang Bieyan disagreed with her words. He looked into her eyes and said each word with utmost seriousness, "Ahe, remember, you are first and foremost yourself, and then my wife. With me, you will always have the freedom to pursue your dreams."
He paused, his tone becoming gentler and more serious: "You know what? Actually, I'd rather give you a kapok tree than a pink lychee."
"You are never anyone's foil, but an independent individual. You don't need to rely on anyone to grow. We can stand side by side, share the storms and the rainbows. And you should grow freely and fearlessly in love and respect. Go ahead and chase your kiln fire, the lights at home will always be on for you."
Qu He was stunned, her eyes welled up with tears, and her nose stung with emotion.
Every word he said struck a chord in her heart, and her self-doubt and wavering slowly disappeared like snow under the warm sun.
For the past few years, she had always felt like a leaf without a home, coming and going with the wind, but Zhuang Bieyan told her that she herself was a tree.
She is not a clinging trumpet creeper, nor a lovestruck bird, nor a leaf, but an independent tree.
They are equals; she doesn't have to lose herself for the sake of so-called marriage and family.
She buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled, "Thank you, Zhuang Bieyan."
......
On the day of the kiln opening ceremony, Zhuang Bieyan had a last-minute meeting and couldn't take her, so he arranged for a driver to take her to Phoenix Mountain.
The Maybach was stuck in traffic before it even reached the foot of the mountain. The section of road closest to Phoenix Mountain was particularly congested, with traffic control measures in place and the navigation system showing a completely red warning.
Seeing that the time was running out, Qu He was afraid of being delayed, so she asked the driver to park on the side of the road nearby and walked over herself.
The roadside at the foot of the mountain was lined with water-filled flags bearing the words "Millennial kiln fire, passed down from generation to generation," as well as various ceramic stalls selling ceramic bracelets, teacups, ceramic flowers, ceramic ornaments, and other ceramic items.
Qu He followed the flow of people inwards. After passing the entrance, she arrived at Fengling Lake, where a gentle breeze blew and the blue water rippled. Shuttle buses came and went, picking up and dropping off tourists.
By the time Qu He reached the mountain, it was time to open the kiln.
She stood on the outermost edge of the crowd, joining everyone in worshipping at Taiping Kiln.
When the auspicious hour arrived, the master kiln operator climbed the steps and shouted in a drawn-out voice, "Open the kiln!"
Colorful fireworks soared into the sky, blooming brilliantly under the blue sky.
The kiln door slowly opened, and one by one, the saggars were taken out and handed from the master craftsman to the young apprentice with reverence.
Qu He watched from afar, and her eyes suddenly welled up with tears.
The kiln fire never goes out; what is passed down from generation to generation is not only the craft, but also a spirit.
She remembered her grandfather, who dedicated his life to the kiln fire. When she was a child, he always said, "The clay must be crushed before it can be made into a vessel."
I didn't understand it at first, but now I finally get it.
She thought that she, too, should be like the porcelain clay, shattered to pieces, and then reborn from the ashes in the depths of fire and water!
The second half of the kiln opening festival is an exhibition of works by master artists.
Zhou Shi'an sent a message saying that his teacher's works were in the Porcelain Origin Exhibition Area at the foot of the mountain, and asked her to come and meet him.
Qu He followed the signs to the Origin of Porcelain Kingdom, where the Master's Lounge was nearby.
She had just sent a message to Zhou Shi'an when she heard the crowd become a bit more agitated.
She turned around and saw a woman surrounded by reporters and fans.
It's Yan Shu.
Today she changed into a smart beige suit, with a navy blue apron like the one worn by the master, and her hair was tied up in a neat bun.
She handled the reporters' questions with ease, a perfectly timed smile playing on her lips.
Qu He watched her walk into the master's lounge, but she noticed that Yan Shu's gaze lingered on her for a moment, seemingly unintentionally.
It flashed by quickly, like an illusion.
But Qu He's attention wasn't on that glance; it was entirely focused on the mutton-fat jade pendant around Yan Shu's neck.
She had seen that jade buckle before!
It's almost exactly the same as the one Zhuang Xi wore around his neck!
How did Yan Shu get this?
An absurd guess popped into her head, but she quickly dismissed it.
Just then, someone gently patted her shoulder.
Looking back, it was Zhou Shi'an.
"Why are you just standing here daydreaming? My teacher is inside, let's go."
Qu He suppressed her thoughts, composed herself, and followed him inside.
As Zhou Shi'an walked, he introduced, "My teacher settled in England with his son five years ago. He cherishes talent the most, and he will definitely like your work and your talent."
As they spoke, the two arrived at the door of the innermost lounge.
Zhou Shi'an knocked on the door and went in first, while Qu He waited outside.
A moment later, the door opened.
Zhou Shi'an helped an old man out.
Qu He smiled and was about to step forward to greet him, but when she saw the old man, she froze on the spot.
Zhou Shi'an's teacher is actually Master Qi Mo?!
"Teacher Qi...?"
But Master Qi Mo's expression darkened the moment he saw her.
He snorted and turned to walk back without hesitation.
Zhou Shi'an stood there awkwardly, looking at the teacher's back and then at Qu He's astonished face, and finally had no choice but to chase after him.
Master Qi Mo returned to the lounge and tapped the floor with his cane: "So that's the talented, kind-hearted ceramic artist you were talking about?"
"What was the first lesson I taught you? To be a good porcelain maker, you must first be a good person! If you're not upright and have poor character, no matter how talented you are, you'll never amount to anything! You're simply wasting my time!"
Zhou Shi'an stood there, not understanding why the teacher was angry.
It seems the teacher and Qu He know each other, but why would the teacher say that about her?
Is he dishonest? Has poor character?
What exactly did Qu He do to make the teacher dislike her so much?
Outside the door, Qu He was still standing there, not understanding where Teacher Qi Mo's sudden dislike came from.
Before she could think it through, the staff nearby, seeing that she was just an ordinary tourist, politely asked her to leave.
Qu He's mind was in a mess, and without paying attention, she accidentally bumped into someone while walking.
"I'm sorry..." she apologized instinctively.
"Qu He? Is it really you?" The other person exclaimed her name in surprise.
Qu He snapped out of her daze and looked at the girl in front of her wearing the work uniform who looked somewhat familiar.
"Chen Li?"
"Yes! It's me! Long time no see!"
Chen Li was her classmate in college. Although they were in different dormitories, they knew each other because they had participated in several study tours together.
Qu He noticed the work badge on her chest: "You work here?"
"Yes, after graduation I took the civil service exam and got a job at the Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Now I'm in charge of ceramic culture, and I happen to be helping out at the exhibition today."
Chen Li laughed heartily, "Are you here to participate in the exhibition? I don't think I saw your name on the list earlier."
Qu He shook her head, her smile somewhat forced: "No, I just came to take a look."
Chen Li understood and considerately skipped the topic: "I heard about the school anniversary ceremony. I didn't go because I knew those gossipy people were going. Don't take their words to heart; they're just jealous!"
Qu He was surprised that she would take the initiative to comfort her, and felt a warmth in her heart: "Thank you."
"By the way, I heard you now own a pottery studio and got married?" Chen Li asked.
Qu He nodded.
"That's fine too!"
Chen Li sighed, "To be honest, I felt it was a real pity when you turned down Master Qi Mo's offer back then. Such a great opportunity, we would have been begging for it. You were the most talented in our class, but you've always been opinionated, so you must have had your own considerations."
"Oh, by the way, Master Qi Mo is here today too, you..."
Qu He didn't hear a single word Chen Li said after that.
All I could think about was, "You rejected Master Qi Mo's offer."
What?
When did she... receive an offer from Master Qi Mo?!
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