At this point, Song Jiyun had already left the home of Registrar Wang and was discussing the cooperation with the Wang Family in Song Youliang’s study with Zheng Quan, who had returned from the Kiln Factory.
"I’m afraid I’ll need your help to keep an eye on this," Song Jiyun said, seated beneath the long table in the Main Hall on a Taishi Chair. She took a sip of the newly released Rock Tea and continued, "Even though we’ve created new porcelain for the Imperial Kiln Factory, we should still inform them as we take the white porcelain that was previously a Tribute Item and sell it externally. You should bring Wong Dahai with you when you go to visit Eunuch Wan and get the Deed in hand."
At the end of her instructions she added, "Don’t be stingy with money."
Zheng Quan respectfully acknowledged with an "Understood," and mentioned something he heard at the Kiln Factory this year, "I’ve heard that the Great Master’s Kiln Factory is planning to open in a few days and has even poached master craftsmen from several smaller kiln factories."
Song Jiyun was slightly astonished as she asked, "How did he manage that?"
The smaller the Kiln Factory, the more reliant it is on the skills of the master mould-maker or glaze-blower. Sometimes, their survival in the highly competitive market of Jingde Town relies on mastering a single production step at an exceptional level. These master craftsmen have a closer relationship with the small Owners and are more difficult to lure away than those from bigger Kiln Factories.
Zheng Quan was also puzzled, "I went and inquired specifically, but no one seems to have a clear understanding. All I know is that the owners of those small Kiln Factories are very angry, but when asked directly, they all remain tight-lipped, which is quite strange."
Song Jiyun couldn’t possibly keep an eye on Song Daliang every day, so she instructed Zheng Quan, "Send someone to keep watch, and inform me immediately if anything is amiss."
Zheng Quan nodded.
Xiang Zhan rushed in, saying, "Miss, the Eleventh Grand Master is here to discuss urgent matters, and Lady Qian has asked you to come over right away."
Tomorrow was Song Youliang’s seventy-seventh, and Song Jiyun, worried about any emergencies, hurried to the Main Hall.
In the Main Hall, not only were Madam Qian and the Eleventh Grand Master Song present, but several Clan elders and seniors from the Song Family were there as well.
They were excitedly discussing the Dignified County Magistrate’s upcoming visit to the Song family’s private school, and upon seeing her, they waved cheerfully, "We heard that yesterday, the County Magistrate praised you for being ’a woman who does not yield to men.’ Excellent! You’ve brought glory to our Song Family!"
It was actually for this reason.
It had nothing to do with the ritual for Song Youliang.
Song Jiyun recounted the events at the flower viewing banquet to them one by one.
Then, a concerned Clan elder said, "Won’t the County Magistrate’s words just be a polite remark?"
Another person, unconvinced, replied, "Even if they are merely polite words, we can make them a reality when the time comes, and that’ll do it!"
Someone else said, "This is the first time the County Magistrate visits a private school in Liang County. Does anyone know how to receive him?"
The discussions were lively, everyone pitching in with their thoughts.
Madam Qian quietly grasped Song Jiyun’s hand, her eyes brimming with contentment.
With the County Magistrate’s endorsement, her daughter’s path ahead would be much smoother.
In her heart, she felt grateful towards the County Magistrate, and after the Clan members had left, she asked Song Jiyun, "I still have a pair of Jihong porcelain Bell Cups that your father accidentally made many years ago. What do you think about offering them to the Dignified County Magistrate?"
"Let’s talk about it when the time comes," Song Jiyun always found the attitudes of Lord Jiang and Yuan Yunzhong a bit strange and deflected the conversation with a joke, "I had no idea you had such treasures on hand!"
"Oh, that’s not all!" Madam Qian, in high spirits, intentionally lowered her voice and said with a laugh, "I also have a pair of Blue and White Bamboo Forest Seven Sages Pen Sea that your father personally made. When you leave home for marriage, I will give them to you as part of your dowry."
"That sounds wonderful!" Song Jiyun, eager to please her mother, cheerfully responded, "Tell me if you have any other treasures too!"
Rather than responding, Madam Qian instead asked about Yuan Yunzhong, "Why haven’t we seen him?"
Song Jiyun touched her forehead, "Didn’t he come to pay his respects this morning? Evening hasn’t even arrived yet."
She’s treating him like a son!
Embarrassed, Madam Qian chuckled and said, "Isn’t it because the new wheat from the countryside’s Tianzhuang was sent here, and I was planning to make some blown cakes for you to enjoy?"
"He’s from Suzhou, so rather than making him blown cakes, you might as well make him a steamed bun with dried radish."
As mother and daughter conversed, Yuan Yunzhong did not come to pay his respects that evening, prompting a worried Madam Qian to send someone to inquire. They reported he had gone out with Shao Qing, and nobody knew where they had gone.
Song Jiyun felt uneasy and had someone send a message to Liu Zi to immediately inform her if Yuan Yunzhong returned.
But even as dawn broke, Yuan Yunzhong had not returned.
Had he left again without a sound?
However, in another Shichen, it would be the seventh seventh-day memorial for her father, and some of the clan members who had come to help were already there, engaging the guests with her mother, with no mind to search for Yuan Yunzhong’s whereabouts.
Madam Qian, on the other hand, was quite concerned about him and asked anxiously, "Why hasn’t Young Master Yuan arrived yet?"
"I’ve already sent someone to Yinyu Hall," Song Jiyun had no choice but to divert her mother’s attention, pointing to the mother of Eleventh Grand Master Song, "The old lady has arrived!"
Madam Qian hurried to greet her, momentarily putting Yuan Yunzhong out of mind.
The Song Family household gradually became a hive of activity.
There were more people than at the previous memorials.
Even Lord Jiang, accompanied by Registrar Wang, had come.
Everyone was stunned.
Song Jiyun saw Hong Xi, who had come with Lord Jiang, nodding at her with a smile.
She felt a slight surprise in her heart.
Could it be that Hong Xi’s relationship with Lord Jiang had grown this close?
She helped Madam Qian forward to pay their respects to Lord Jiang.
"Please, please rise!" He smiled warmly, gesturing for Song Jiyun to help Madam Qian up, "Madam, take care of your health, there is no need for such formalities."
Madam Qian rose with tears in her eyes.
The clan elders of the Song Clan, upon hearing the news, hurried over to pay their respects to Lord Jiang and accompanied him to offer incense to Song Youliang.
Lord Jiang looked around and asked, "Why don’t I see Young Master Yuan?"
Everyone was taken aback once more. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Yes! Young Master Yuan had not been seen!
Is there anything more important than receiving the Dignified County Magistrate?
Everyone’s gaze towards Song Jiyun was filled with confusion.
Song Jiyun frowned secretly, just about to find some excuse to gloss it over when suddenly Yuan Yunzhong’s lazy voice came from outside, "Does Lord Jiang need me for something?"
All eyes turned towards the door.
There stood Yuan Yunzhong wearing a white fine cloth robe, utterly spotless, his demeanor relaxed as he stood at the entrance.
The bright morning light fell on his shoulders, as if coating him in a layer of radiance, ethereal and noble.
Many felt inferior in his presence.
A moment of silence followed, both inside and outside the house.
Lord Jiang looked on and chuckled twice, saying, "Young Master Yuan is as poised as a lofty tree and has an impressive appearance. I never expected to meet such hidden dragons and crouching tigers upon my arrival in Liang County. I feel an instant kinship with you, and would like to forge a friendship."
People immediately expressed envious admiration, feeling that with Yuan Yunzhong winning the favor of the Dignified County Magistrate, the Song family need not worry about the continuation of its family business.
Yuan Yunzhong laughed softly and slowly walked in.
Everyone immediately made way for him.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
