Song Jiyun was somewhat concerned about the issue of "Jade Porcelain" fading.
You must know, there aren’t many temples that can afford life-sized Buddha statues, especially since they have such efficient promotion capabilities.
She immediately made a decision, "Tell the pawnbrokers at those temples to keep their orders. We can offer one free replacement."
Zhou Zheng was somewhat stunned and asked, "One free replacement? How does that work?"
Song Jiyun explained, "As long as it’s not damaged by human causes, we can refire one for them."
Zhou Zheng immediately said, "Wouldn’t that essentially be selling it at half price?"
He was worried someone would take the order and directly ask the Kiln Factory to refire one.
"Of course not," Song Jiyun pulled out some repair details from later generations and discussed them with Zhou Zheng. Zhou Zheng seemed to have an epiphany, excitedly saying, "I see, Owner. You are guarding against Liangyu Kiln Factory and us competing for orders. This way, for at least ten years, their family won’t be able to do business with temples."
However, he soon realized something and said, "But our family’s Buddha statues aren’t lacking buyers at all, let alone ten years, even twenty years. As long as we can produce them, we can sell them."
Is it necessary to harm the enemy a thousand and ourselves eight hundred?
Song Jiyun certainly can’t expose the flaws in "Jade Porcelain."
She simply said, "Listen to me, you won’t be wrong."
Zhou Zheng, surprisingly, did not ask further and immediately agreed, starting to discuss with Song Jiyun how to incorporate these benefits into the Deed without allowing the temples and pawnbrokers to exploit any loopholes.
Song Jiyun was considering whether to renegotiate a contract with the Imperial Kiln Factory.
As per tradition, the porcelain fired for the Imperial Kiln Factory had the priority supply right.
The Song Family Kiln Factory’s own use must be approved by the Imperial Kiln Factory.
Or perhaps find a way to let the Imperial Kiln Factory allow their Kiln Factory to also fire sweet white porcelain, but the porcelain dedicated for religious use would be solely supplied by the Imperial Kiln Factory for the Imperial Family’s tribute?
This way, they could fire high-temperature porcelain, and there would be no issues with fading or cracking.
*
However, Song Tao’s business had plummeted.
Given the inconvenience of transportation at the time, it was the first time the Song Family Kiln Factory fired large Buddha statues, and not all merchants who came to purchase had the strength or credit to directly take silver from the Silver House. Most merchants could only stick to purchasing the porcelain they felt was best-selling or most needed; with the Spring Festival approaching and temples holding temple fairs, pristine white porcelain Buddha statues for home display, needless to say, were definitely more popular than those used for religious services.
The Hong Family was caught off guard.
Old Grand Master Hong felt that his Kiln Factory’s porcelain didn’t lack buyers, but he was more envious of the prosperity of the Song Family Kiln Factory.
He personally came to the Kiln Factory and negotiated with Song Tao, "Can we also try firing meter-high Buddha statues?"
Song Tao, watching the daily hustle and bustle at the Song Family Kiln Factory, though telling herself to not rush and to just focus on her business, still felt a blister forming at the corner of her mouth.
She felt uncomfortable hearing Old Grand Master Hong’s words.
She too wanted a throng of customers, but that required the skill.
Based on her memories from a past life, she managed to poach some kiln workers whom Song Jiyun had greatly valued to the Liangyu Kiln Factory, but these people hadn’t worked for over a decade at the Song Family Kiln Factory like they had in her previous life, gaining a lot of experience. What could she do?
But she couldn’t lash out at Old Grand Master Hong either.
She smiled and said, "It’s not that it can’t be done. But currently, all the mould makers are working for them, and if we want to produce, we have to pay a high price to poach people. That’s a minor issue. The fear is that the Song Family Kiln Factory has signed a very strict Deed with them, and even if they want to come to our Kiln Factory, they can’t."
Old Grand Master Hong was also aware of this.
He sighed disappointingly.
Chief Butler Hong, who had followed him, suggested, "Why don’t we also make some blue and white porcelain? I see that the Song Family Kiln Factory’s blue and white porcelain also sells quite well."
Upon hearing this, Song Tao cursed silently about "amateurs watching the excitement" but then explained with a smile, "I can make anything. The important thing is, where do we get the master craftsmen from?"
The Grand Steward of the Hong Family suddenly fell silent.
Song Tao reassured Old Grand Master Hong, "At most it’ll take two years, and the kiln factory will be up and running. There’s no need to rush at this moment."
Old Grand Master Hong nodded slightly upon hearing this and didn’t say anything more. After taking a look around the kiln factory, he led his people away.
Song Tao, however, seemed thoughtful and asked the servant boy beside her, "Song Ren? Did he not come to the kiln factory again today?"
She could only break through by starting with Eunuch Wan.
"Hmm!" The servant boy nodded with a smile, but did not forget to subtly insinuate about Song Ren, "He hasn’t come for several days in a row now."
Song Tao gave him a cold look.
Yet another person pushed in by the Hong Family.
"If Song Ren comes to the kiln factory, tell him to come see me." Saying this, Song Tao didn’t even glance at him as she turned and went back to the accountant’s office.
*
Meanwhile, Song Jiyun was visited by someone she had not expected.
Boss Xiong suddenly came to visit.
Boss Xiong was also considered a wealthy man, and business with the Song Family Kiln Factory was usually handled by stewards from each family; this was the first time she had met Boss Xiong.
She hurriedly led him to a private room.
Boss Xiong, in his forties, was tall and sturdy. He walked like a bear such that the room seemed to shake with each step. His full beard made it hard to see his face clearly, but fortunately, his eyes were large and bright, giving him an open and upright appearance that didn’t make him seem like a bad person.
Once he entered the private room, he looked around and kept praising, "Not bad, not bad. The kiln factory has been doing better and better under your management. Your father has a successor; he can rest in peace now."
Song Jiyun exchanged pleasantries with him for a while, and after the maid served tea and refreshments, she and Boss Xiong took their seats accordingly.
Who knew that Boss Xiong would cut straight to the chase, "I know you are the decision-maker at home. I had Old Master Yan convey a marriage proposal for our family’s son a few days ago. I wonder what Owner Song thinks?"
Although she had guessed it, still being hit with this straightforward question by Boss Xiong, Song Jiyun was taken aback momentarily.
She quickly said, "Marriage is a major event that concerns a person’s happiness for a lifetime. Naturally, it requires careful consideration."
"Good!" Boss Xiong clapped his thigh happily and said, "I came here to let Owner Song know our family’s sincerity. As long as this marriage is possible, you can take as long as you need to inspect our family."
Song Jiyun laughed uncomfortably at his bluntness.
Boss Xiong then began talking about his family, "In our Xiong Family, with four rooms inside and eight outside, we have many sons and few daughters. Any daughter-in-law who marries into our family will have nothing to worry about, and there won’t be any of that messy business. Besides, your sisters were personally picked by me. If anyone dares to mistreat your sisters, I’ll slap them to death."
"Wait!" A bad feeling arose in Song Jiyun’s heart, she said, "Sisters? You mean to propose for my second sister, don’t you?"
"Hahaha!" Boss Xiong rubbed his head and said, "We have three children, and your family has two daughters. Whoever is suitable is fine! Two sisters marrying two brothers would be a fine tale indeed!"
Song Jiyun didn’t know what to say for a moment.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside, growing louder and louder.
"Compensate! Compensate!"
"The Song Family Kiln Factory sold us defective products as if they were fine goods! Making unscrupulous profits!"
"Let your steward come out and talk!"
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