Song Jiyun had made up her mind.
For someone like her, enjoying a monopolistic dominance, the presence of an external threat like Eunuch Wan put everyone under survival pressure, fostering a united front against a common enemy; of course, there was no problem. However, once the external pressure lifted, the envy, jealousy, and discontent inherent in human nature would all be released. If she became everyone’s target, the Song Family Kiln Factory would be in great danger.
Stands out the tree in the forest, and wind shall take it down.
What she needed now was not to stand out, but to hide in plain sight.
"I won’t just give it to anyone," Song Jiyun said with a smile, "I invited you all here because I also want to discuss how we should handle this matter."
She explained, "Logically speaking, when Eunuch Wan limited the porcelain production quota, everyone helped me. But now there are many people involved, and it’s hard to keep things quiet. It’s fine if only we know about it, but I’m afraid that if Song Tao hears, it will definitely lead to a lot of trouble.
"Remember back when she took our Jade Porcelain formula without a word of notice to me, and now she’s still using it for the Hong Family. I have to be cautious!"
"Boss Song is quite right," everyone chimed in agreement.
To receive the formula for sweet white porcelain was tempting, indeed. But the favor felt too significant. They were uneasy whether to accept it or not; rejecting it, they feared missing out on a great opportunity. Yet, fearing to miss out ultimately prevailed, and with closed eyes, they handed the matter over to Song Jiyun: "You tell us what to do. We’ll listen to you, just like before, and follow your lead."
Song Jiyun then smiled and revealed her plan, "Now, the price of Old Blue and White has been greatly damaged by Song Tao and others, and even if the Liangyu Kiln Factory stops waging a price war with us, it will be hard for Old Blue and White to return to its former glory. The merchants always feel that the value of Old Blue and White is fixed; if we sell high, it’s because we want to earn more, not because it’s worth that much. Even if they can’t buy it, they would be unsatisfied. Wasn’t gold-trimmed porcelain eliminated this same way?"
The group was familiar with the reference and let out sighs.
This was a matter from the previous dynasty.
Porcelain, aside from its firing technique, also valued the beauty of its shapes.
At the time, some bordered their porcelain with gold. Bordered with gold, the porcelain possessed both the elegance of the ceramic and the dazzling beauty of gold. For a time, it was all the rage across Jiangnan, and it was extremely sought after.
Seeing the business opportunity, some started decorating flawed porcelain with gold trim, claiming it to be a special firing method and made a fortune. As time passed, people began to notice the trick; many in the porcelain industry quietly followed suit, and some small workshops, competing with big kiln factories, simply lowered their prices.
Eventually, everyone saw through the gimmick, and the price of gold-trimmed porcelain plummeted. Moreover, it was thereafter considered inferior, and even after a hundred years, no one would produce such porcelain again.
Song Jiyun then said, "I was thinking, why don’t we take this opportunity to dispose of all our Old Blue and White stock and then collectively make and sell new Blue and White porcelain? Since it’s a new technique, we can reprice it, and Blue and White can achieve its former glory—killing two birds with one stone, right?"
"Boss Song is right!" Old Master Yan quickly grasped the cunning plan and excitedly said, "A new technique means new porcelain, and new porcelain must be repriced. That’s much better than stubbornly trying to push the price of Old Blue and White back up!"
"What a great idea!" everyone also exclaimed in agreement.
Song Jiyun continued with a smile, "So, I’ll need everyone’s help with this. Who will join us in making the new Blue and White? How shall we handle the Old Blue and White? What if someone is reluctant to take a loss and doesn’t want to dispose of the Old Blue and White? How should we price the new Blue and White? I can’t do this alone!"
She wouldn’t try to take over everything, because doing a good deed might end up with her being blamed.
She joked, "When it comes to pricing, you shouldn’t let me do it; you’ll definitely be at a loss!"
At first, the group didn’t understand her meaning, but then they realized she was capable of operating a Dragon Kiln, firing thousands of pieces at once—they didn’t have that capability. If they followed Song Jiyun’s pricing, wouldn’t they be at a loss?
The room filled with laughter.
Song Jiyun said, "I remember when the two-color overglaze enamel came out, it was Chairman Ma who set the price. Should we ask Chairman Ma to help us set the price again?"
This time, Chairman Ma had been rubbed on the ground by Eunuch Wan, so to speak, losing all his dignity.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend, she thought; it might be a good idea to bring Chairman Ma back.
Some people thought this was a good idea, while others still believed it would be better for Song Jiyun to set the price. They said, "Boss Song, by that logic, doesn’t that mean sweet white porcelain is as easy to fire as old blue and white porcelain?"
"It also depends on the technique!" Song Jiyun said tactfully, "Aren’t there those who can fire old blue and white porcelain well and those who cannot?"
Everyone started discussing this issue.
In the midst of the noisy discussion, Song Jiyun was somewhat distracted.
She had managed to sell a whole shipment of porcelain in Nanjing, with Yuan Yunzhong’s significant help.
She wondered what he was doing now.
*
Yuan Yunzhong sat cross-legged on Magistrate Jiang’s Zen chair with an expressionless face. He glanced disdainfully at Magistrate Jiang and said, "Can’t you buy a couple of taels of better tea? Must you brew this kind of tea with all the froth? If you don’t have the silver, I’ll give you a few taels of tea."
Magistrate Jiang suddenly leaned in close to him, eyes wide, and said in a certain tone, "Xiao Si, do you have some news?"
Lord Wang’s visit to Liang County was at the invitation of Eunuch Wan, but was there any official business to be handled?
Yet, Yuan Yunzhong still acted all business-like, bringing people to the Liang County Yamen.
Bringing them was one thing, but at least say a few pleasantries before sending them away. Instead, he just scowled and with a simple "You may leave," dismissed everyone. This made Lord Wang, who had wanted to get closer to Yuan Yunzhong, leave with a face as dark as the bottom of a pot, huffing with anger.
Outside the door, Jiang Xiaosi thought he was the one being called.
He poked his head out, saw Magistrate Jiang speaking with Yuan Yunzhong, and hurriedly pulled his head back in.
Yuan Yunzhong sneered with disdain and pushed him aside, saying, "What mischief are you up to?"
Magistrate Jiang stood up straight, looking at him intently, and said, "Before, you couldn’t bear to stay here for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea without clamoring to return to the Song Family, boasting about how much better and abundant the food and drink were there compared to here. Yet today, you’ve sat here all afternoon. Could it be that you’re too embarrassed to see Miss Song?"
"That’s nonsense!" Yuan Yunzhong’s ears turned red as he scolded Magistrate Jiang, "I’m worried that Senior Brother Huang might double back to discuss the Prince Ning case with me."
Magistrate Jiang didn’t believe him at all and just chuckled, saying, "But I heard from Shao Qing that you rushed back overnight, nearly capsizing the boat. And when you returned, you found out Miss Song had been called to the Temple of the Wind God by Wan Xiaoquan, who was also pressuring her to hand over the sweet white porcelain formula. Your face turned dark then, and without a second thought, you ran to the Temple of the Wind God.
"You’ve exposed your identity now!"
He said with a touch of schadenfreude, "I told you earlier not to live at her place or act in Jingde Town under the guise of her fiancé. Now look, I’m curious to see how you will end this?"
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