Hong Xi couldn’t help but take out a Bell Cup from the brocade box.
The delicate and exquisite brushwork, the appropriately dense and light colors, the sparkling and translucent walls of the cup—he could tell, even as a layman, that this tea set was a rare exquisite product.
After pondering for a while, he opened several other brocade boxes.
One contained the Buddhist Eight Treasures, another Rain Hitting Banana Leaves, one had Lotus Fish Algae Scroll Grass Cluster Patterns, and another a Bat Pattern; each one was an extraordinary item. Especially the tea set with the Bat Pattern, which was fired in Alum-Red.
Hong Xi murmured thoughtfully, "Any one of these tea sets that Third Miss Song has brought could become a family heirloom, and by all accounts, I shouldn’t accept them. However, we are just in need of a batch of such tea sets, so I will brazenly accept them."
After speaking, he considered for a moment, then added, "I’ll offer to purchase from you at the price of two hundred taels for one tea set, what do you think?"
Song Tao was quite surprised and waved her hands repeatedly, "No, no! These are gifts for Young Master. If Young Master gives me silver, what does that make me?" She continued, "I know the Young Master is magnanimous and doesn’t want to take advantage of women and children. But would the Young Master accept silver if he were in my shoes?"
Hong Xi hadn’t expected Song Tao to be so eloquent.
He thought of Song Jiyun.
Could it be that all the women in the Song Family were so articulate?
Then he heard Song Tao ask, "Young Master, what do you need a batch of tea sets like these for? I still have a few sets at home. I don’t know if that’s enough? If Young Master is not in a hurry, I can also fire a kiln for you."
Speaking of this, she added with embarrassment, "By rights, I should send a kiln full to Young Master. But I’ve angered my father, and really..."
She looked quite ashamed.
Hong Xi didn’t want to stand on ceremony and pondered before saying, "Then I’ll trouble Third Miss Song with this matter. As for the kiln and such, I will figure something out. When the time comes, I will ask for Third Miss Song’s assistance."
Song Tao agreed repeatedly and started discussing the styles and patterns of the tea sets with Hong Xi.
Hong Xi invited Song Tao to the study, and the two spent an afternoon settling the tea set designs.
Song Tao parted from Hong Xi in high spirits, saying, "Once you have decided here, just send someone to notify me at the Gaosheng Inn outside the city."
Hong Xi was surprised.
Song Tao explained in a low voice with a wry smile, "I dare not go back. The Gaosheng Inn outside the city is owned by The County Magistrate Lord; those idlers and ruffians don’t dare to make trouble there. For me alone, it’s safer to stay there."
After a moment’s thought, Hong Xi said, "How about Miss Song stays here for the time being?"
In Jingde Town, if you invite a kiln worker to make porcelain at home, you not only have to pay them but also provide food and lodging.
In such a way, Song Tao could be considered as working for them.
Song Tao showed joy and thanked him repeatedly before following the maid to the guest room where she had stayed previously.
Soon after, the maid found the Grand Steward of the Hong Family and said, "Third Miss Song only has the clothes she is wearing, what should we do?"
If she were a valued guest, naturally, she should be served with the utmost respect and attention; as a distinguished guest, with the wealth of the Hong Family, they ought to make several sets of clothes for her.
The Grand Steward was also somewhat uncertain and sought advice from Hong Xi.
Hong Xi seemed deep in thought, standing by the window and staring silently at a pomegranate tree taller than a person under the eaves. After a while, he finally said, "Just prepare something for Third Miss Song according to the standards we use for inviting a master craftsman to our home."
The Grand Steward, looking at the tea set still on the table, not yet packed away, couldn’t help but sigh, "This girl is pitiful, too. What will become of her in the future? Is she to remain drifting outside like this?"
Hong Xi’s voice was equally somber as he said, "With the wage I’ve given her, she should manage for some time."
As for the future, there were so many pitiable people; he and Song Tao were but strangers brought together by chance. Could he really take care of her for a lifetime?
The Grand Steward knew this all too well.
It was precisely because he knew that he felt especially sorry for the beautiful, courteous, gentle and obedient Song Tao.
Hong Xi took the tea sets given by Song Tao to Old Grand Master Hong, "What do you think of these tea sets?"
Old Grand Master Hong stood abruptly from his Drunken Master’s Chair and asked repeatedly, "Where did you get these from? The Song family didn’t agree to make porcelain for us, yet you received Song Youliang’s collection? The porcelain body is as thin as a cicada’s wing, the blue and white is used so skillfully and delicately, clear yet lingering. Aside from the Imperial Kiln Factory, only the Song family has such craftsmanship in Jingde Town."
A fleeting unusual expression crossed Hong Xi’s eyes as he briefly replied, "I happened to save a girl, and this was her token of gratitude. Weren’t you worried about not having fine porcelain to present to the masters at Ah Zhao’s Academy? So, I accepted them."
Old Grand Master Hong quickly asked, "Which family’s daughter is she? Do her elders agree with her giving you this tea set as thanks?"
However, Hong Xi didn’t mention a word about Song Tao and instead brought out the alum-red bat pattern tea set, "Indeed it’s rare. Such quality tea sets aren’t available on the market yet, are they?"
Old Grand Master Hong’s attention was indeed diverted as he reminisced about his younger days, "It was fired by Song Daliang’s father for the Imperial Kiln Factory. It was much prettier than this one. This one just changed color compared to the blue and white. Song Daliang’s father fired different shades to create a snow scene."
Hong Xi smiled and chatted with Old Grand Master Hong, gradually dissuading him from inquiring about the woman who had given him the tea sets.
After Song Tao settled down in the Hong family’s place, no one bothered her. When Hong Xi lent her a small kiln factory for practice, Song Tao fired over three hundred tea sets of various sizes and styles in one go.
Hong Xi, unable to hide his amazement, exclaimed, "Third Miss Song, with such skills, why don’t you have a proper talk with your father and help him run the kiln factory?"
Song Tao scoffed sharply, "If he were willing to listen to me, why would he use my porcelain-making skills to raise my marriage price, to make the Zeng family willing to offer five thousand taels as a bridal price?"
Every family has its own difficulties.
Hong Xi did not ask any further.
Song Tao, however, bent down to pick up a ladies’ shoulder-shaped small teapot cleaned up and painted with a "Children at Play Painting," and said, "Young Master Hong, what do you think of this pot? I wonder if it meets your approval?"
The shape was exquisitely beautiful, and the children on the pot each had their distinct expressions. Upon a closer look, even the eyebrows of the joyous children were clearly visible.
"It’s extremely beautiful!" Hong Xi sincerely praised.
Song Tao smiled, her eyes curving, but then showed a helpless expression and whispered, "Young Master Hong, I see that my father holds you in high regard. You’ve seen that I can completely support myself with my skills. Could you put in a good word for me in front of my father, so he doesn’t just marry me off carelessly? I could help out in our family kiln factory."
As she spoke, she pursed her lips and continued, "If you find it troubling, could you recommend me to work at another kiln factory? So that I also have a place to settle down."
Hong Xi looked at her, slowly revealing a smile, and said, "I fear that speaking out of turn to Old Master Song may not help you much. But if you wish to work at a kiln factory, why not come with me to meet someone? He will definitely be interested in your craftsmanship."
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