Luo Zixing and others were naturally overjoyed, unable to stop smiling broadly.
Even the master craftsmen, apprentices, and kiln workers in the kiln factory were discussing in private, "The young mistress is too amazing! Whenever she fires the kiln, the yield of finished products is around seventy to eighty percent. Even when the old owner was alive, he didn’t have this skill! Could it be that the young mistress is the reincarnation of the Kiln God?"
"Whether she’s the reincarnation of the Kiln God or not is hard to say, but working for the young mistress certainly won’t leave you without food!"
"Other kiln factories can make a fair amount of money with a yield of thirty to forty percent from one batch of kiln products, but our kiln factory must be making a fortune these days! One batch from our kiln is equivalent to two from others! Just look at Shopkeeper Zhou, the smile has never left his face."
When people talked about this, they were uncontrollably excited, and the entire kiln factory was brimming with joy and enthusiasm.
As one rises, another falls./p>
After its initial fervor, Liangyu Kiln Factory, although the Sacrificial White Porcelain continued to sell well, found its order book for daily-use jade porcelain plummeting ever since Song Family introduced Blue and White with Iron-red Overglaze Enamel, with good times bringing two or three orders and bad times meaning it could not even open for business.
Song Tao gently caressed the orangish persimmon on the Blue and White with Iron-red Overglaze Enamel octagonal exquisite cup in her hand.
In her previous life, it was five years later that Song Jiyun introduced the Blue and White with Iron-red Overglaze Enamel technology, during the thirtieth birthday celebration of Prince Ning.
The Song Family Kiln Factory became the center of attention.
Could it be that at this moment, Song Jiyun had already mastered the technique of Blue and White with Iron-red Overglaze Enamel?
Song Tao’s brow furrowed slightly.
The steward sent by the Hong Family to help Song Tao manage the kiln factory was besides himself with joy, "Now when it comes to sacrificial porcelain, who doesn’t mention ’Liangyu Kiln Factory’! Even Eunuch Wan has taken notice. Just a few days ago, he sent someone to inquire with the old master about what was going on!
"Our old master said that the Spring Festival is the busiest time for giving holiday gifts. He told us to package the porcelain for sacrificial use in gift boxes, with sixteen, twenty-six, thirty... to ninety-nine pieces. In a few days, when the old master goes to Suzhou to give gifts to the teachers at Crane Mountain Academy, he’ll bring some with him. We’ll also spread the word here, and the sales will surely skyrocket again."
Like a satisfied nouveau riche, a bumpkin who has never seen the world.
Song Tao’s face carried a chill, and a wave of irritation surged in her heart.
The vision of the people from Hong Family was limited, but they sure managed to extend their reach far. When the kiln factory’s sales were good some days ago, they sent a steward to the "help" in the accountant’s room. Then seeing the people in charge of deliveries being extremely busy, they sent a few more people to "help" in the storeroom. These past few days, seeing that the daily-use porcelain was not selling well, they sent this steward to "help."
She felt that the master craftsmen and kiln workers, who used to respect her, no longer showed the same respect as before.
Song Tao picked up the tea cup and slowly sipped her tea.
Her collaboration with the Hong Family neither held an advantage in capital nor in connections; she had only her skills to rely on. These master craftsmen, having learned her craft, would inevitably harbor their own thoughts sooner or later. If this continued for long, she feared that eventually, the kiln factory would have no place for her.
"Do you have any good methods for increasing the sales of daily-use porcelain?" she asked the steward sent by the Hong Family, feigning concern, "Do we still have a lot of stock of daily-use porcelain?"
The steward, not taking it seriously, laughed, "Porcelain is not food that if not sold today, must be thrown away. We can just sell it slowly. What’s important is the sacrificial porcelain; every family needs to buy some for their ceremonies. As long as we can produce it, we can live off it for a lifetime."
That’s because you’ve never experienced Song Jiyun’s tactics!
Can she really provide for you for a lifetime?
Song Tao scoffed in her heart and after sending off the Hong Family’s steward, she sat alone in the empty accountant’s room for a long while.
*
Song Tao was unhappy, and so was Song Jiyun.
Although she managed to turn the tables with the Blue and White with Iron-red Overglaze Enamel, the formula for jade porcelain in Song Tao’s possession was genuine, as was the fact that Song Tao had made a killing by selling sacrificial porcelain using it. Even though she managed to turn the tables, it was as if she had swallowed half a fly - utterly disgusting.
Song Jiyun was in a private room at the kiln factory, looking over the account books from the past few days.
Xiang Zhan peeked her head in from the outside.
Song Jiyun said, "What are you doing? Sneaking around like that! If you have something to say, just say it."
With a giggle, Xiang Zhan leaped out and chattered rapidly, "Young Master Yuan sent someone to ask when you’ll return. He wants you to visit him after you get back—Madam said the Double Ninth Festival is coming up soon. Winter is arriving late this year and the weather is nice, so she’s invited Young Master Yuan to join us for a climb at Gratitude Temple. It will be good for the young ladies to get some fresh air."
Song Jiyun wasn’t in the mood for mountain climbing. She asked Xiang Zhan, "Did Young Master Yuan agree?"
Xiang Zhan shook her head, "Young Master Yuan hasn’t replied to Madam yet. I reckon he’s waiting for you to get back to make a decision."
Song Jiyun snorted.
Given Yuan Yunzhong’s temperament, he most likely didn’t want to go.
But there’s an old saying, "Beggars can’t be choosers." Lately, her mother had bought him a horse and made him a fur coat. Even if he didn’t feel like going, he wouldn’t want to outright reject her mother. He was probably expecting her to be the bearer of bad news!
Since she was feeling irritated and couldn’t come up with a solution right away, she simply decided to return and spend the Double Ninth Festival with her family.
Having made up her mind, Song Jiyun returned to Song Mansion in the city.
Madam Qian was instructing Nanny Zheng, "Go and tell Gratitude Temple we won’t be climbing the mountain. We’ll drive the carriage directly from the back of the mountain to Lingxiao Pavilion, take in the scenery, and then return. Also, regarding the three young ladies, have the tailor make some new clothes. The colors of their previous garments are too bright and are now inappropriate."
By the end of the conversation, her voice had lowered.
Nanny Zheng’s eyes were slightly moist, but when she looked up, she saw Song Jiyun. She quickly said, "Madam, the eldest young lady has returned!"
Madam Qian instantly perked up from her previous dejection, standing up joyously to greet Song Jiyun, "Come, come, sit down and talk. You’ve been away for more than ten days, and I’ve been both worried and afraid to disturb you, daring not even to send someone to inquire after you." Then, taking her in from head to toe, she showed a satisfied smile, "You haven’t lost weight! Xiang Zhan has taken good care of you. Reward her!"
She ordered Nanny Zheng and then complained, "You and your father are alike, disregarding everything else when you’re engrossed in your work. We’re not lacking in money at home; what’s important is your health."
Song Jiyun embraced Madam Qian and comforted her for a while.
Naturally, Madam Qian insisted that she stay for dinner.
Meanwhile, Yuan Yunzhong sent someone over, who said to Madam Qian, "The young master’s suggestion is that instead of going to Gratitude Temple, it would be better to visit The Eight Immortals Nunnery." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
Both Song Jiyun and Madam Qian were puzzled.
The reason for The Eight Immortals Nunnery’s popularity was largely due to its geographical location.
It was just three miles from the North City Gate.
Women from the city could go there to offer incense and return within half a day.
The only noteworthy feature was a bamboo grove, which had been planted by several successive abbesses over the span of decades. Families with a bit of wealth could cultivate such a bamboo grove in their own backyards.
Therefore, The Eight Immortals Nunnery saw many visitors seeking blessings for children, medical treatment, and vegetarian meals, but very few came for the scenery.
Unlike Gratitude Temple, which occupied several mountain peaks with magnificent imposing views and countless natural sceneries; nor like Nameless Temple, built amidst the high mountains and rugged peaks, with its wondrous rocks and cliffs that inspire awe.
Madam Qian speculated, "Does Young Master Yuan think it’s inconvenient for us, being without a male guardian, to go to Gratitude Temple?"
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