The doctor arrived, and Madam Zeng and Madam Li escorted Song Sanliang to the inner chamber.
Ninth Master Song was there, feigning empathy, "As people age, they inevitably face defeat—I thought I was helping people for pleasure, but it turned out I was assisting a tyrant! I only regret it for the eldest daughter of the Song Family!"
His words were sincere, and everyone laughed.
However, Song Jiyun had no intention of forgiving him; she smiled with the crowd but didn’t join in the conversation.
Unperturbed, Ninth Master Song, stroking his beard with a serious expression, said to Song Jiyun, "Now that the eldest daughter is the head of the Kiln Factory, the urgent matter is how to solve the issue with the Sacrificial White Porcelain. What are your plans for this?"
Everyone held their breath in anticipation, all eyes piercingly fixed on Song Jiyun.
They had been caught up in righteous indignation but hadn’t considered what Song Jiyun would do after taking over the Kiln Factory.
Some even showed expressions of regret.
Song Jiyun smiled and said, "I plan to visit the Kiln Factory first thing tomorrow morning. I’ll start by finding out the cause of this morning’s incident, and then I’ll fire a kiln together with everyone."
But would that be useful?
She had never worked at the Kiln Factory before?
People looked at her youthful face, at a loss for words.
Someone muttered, "Can’t it be done today? We only have one month left before shipment!"
Before Song Jiyun could answer, Song Daliang spoke in a sardonic tone, "My dear niece, the Kiln Factory is not like the backyard, where smooth talkers prevail. This requires real skills. I advise you to be mindful of your capabilities."
After all, if the Sacrificial White Porcelain couldn’t be made, the Song Family Kiln Factory was finished.
He had nothing to fear.
"Before the Song Family Kiln Factory, the most famous Kiln Factory was the Wang Family Kiln Factory," he said. "Didn’t their family collapse because they failed to produce a pair of dragon-patterned large jars within the set time? Some died, some went mad, others were exiled." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
"A great family like the Wangs was dispersed just like that, brought to ruin!"
In the June summer, everyone shivered with fear.
Those over thirty had seen it with their own eyes, and those under thirty had heard about it.
Immediately, someone echoed, "Miss Song, you were able to find Wong Dahai, so you must be able to figure out what happened with today’s batch. Please, you must take charge for us!"
Their words stirred up a storm of responses.
There was also fear, "Yes, Miss Song! You are the head of our Kiln Factory, you must save us."
"Miss Song, making porcelain is such a mysterious process. Perhaps you should promote one of the Store Managers or master craftsmen to become the head steward. If there’s any problem in the kiln, we can consult him, and if he can’t solve it, then we can turn to you."
And some advice was given, "Miss Song, since you have never fired a kiln yourself, what if it turns out to be an empty kiln again?"
"Should we ask the monks from Gratitude Temple to perform a rite? I’ve heard they’re very effective."
The crowd buzzed around Song Jiyun, enclosing her completely.
Ninth Master Song and Song Daliang watched, sneering inwardly.
If making porcelain were so easy, why would there be people who spent their whole lives trying without success?
If the Sacrificial White Porcelain couldn’t be made, the Song Family Kiln Factory would be finished, and it would be Song Jiyun’s turn to weep bitterly and regret deeply.
*
What happened at Song Sanliang’s residence spread to Yuan Yunzhong’s ears in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
"That old devout woman, she’s shameless!" Shao Qing stood in front of his desk, "Song San vomited blood, and the doctor said it was nothing serious, yet she cried and wailed, claiming Song San couldn’t move, not once mentioning the matter of returning home."
Yuan Yunzhong ignored him, adding a bit of Gamboge to the cobalt blue, slowly blending it into a grassy green, his brush touching the slightly yellow matured rice paper, quickly turning them into banana leaves.
Shao Qing saw this and spoke even more cheerfully, his voice revealing an undisguised schadenfreude, "Fortunately, Wong Dahai was quick-witted and immediately had the Kiln Factory’s people help him report to the officials."
"The old devout woman, failing in one scheme, launched another. She claimed that Song Sanliang’s residence was too large and could not be sold off at once, suggesting they wait to leave until the house was sold.
"Who do you think Miss Song is? Could she be deceived by these petty plots? She just said that relatives should indeed help each other, so she would buy Song Sanliang’s house.
"The old devout woman then said that the ancestral home in the countryside couldn’t house anyone at the moment.
"Miss Song then complimented the old devout woman on her shrewdness and capability, saying she had crossed more bridges than the roads Miss Song had travelled, and suggested the old devout woman accompany Song Sanliang back to their hometown to take care of him."
At this point he laughed heartily. "It’s a pity you weren’t there to see how awful the old woman’s face looked. She even asked Miss Song if she was trying to get rid of her by sending her to the countryside?
"Miss Song is quite amusing; she actually blinked at the old devout woman and said, ’It is your piercing insight that nothing escapes your eyes.’
"The old devout woman was furious and pointed at Miss Song, accusing her of being unfilial. Miss Song innocently asked everyone why even flattering elders had become so difficult, and suggested she better not intervene in Song Sanliang and Wong Dahai’s affair.
"Those people then disdained the old devout woman for being meddlesome.
"The old devout woman’s face turned green. In the end, she had to grit her teeth and invite Miss Song back to continue managing the affairs."
He continued to reflect, "Miss Song is really incredible! She counters every move and covers every angle; truly, no tricks work against her."
"You saw this with your own eyes?" Yuan Yunzhong didn’t even lift his head, his tone lingering.
He dipped his fine outlining brush in cobalt blue to trace the veins of a banana leaf.
Shao Qing suddenly choked up.
The other day, when Yuan Yunzhong hadn’t explicitly objected, he had the Jiangxi Inspectorate send a few experts over, initially to assist Miss Song. When they arrived, Miss Song had already found Wong Dahai.
He hadn’t dared tell Yuan Yunzhong, and couldn’t just dispatch the men back immediately; so, he simply had them observe what Miss Song was up to and report back to him.
He hadn’t expected Yuan Yunzhong to have found out.
Shao Qing immediately stood to attention, not daring to say another word.
Yuan Yunzhong stood up to look at the painting he had made, then went back to adjust the colors, adding a few plump, delightful cherries next to the banana leaf.
Shao Qing coughed uncomfortably twice, hurriedly took out a booklet from his bosom, and placed it next to Yuan Yunzhong, trying to please him with, "My lord, this is what I have found out."
Yuan Yunzhong held the brush in one hand while distractedly flipping through the booklet with the other.
Then his hand stopped.
With a "snap," he closed the booklet.
"Wh-what’s wrong?" Shao Qing shivered, thinking about the inventory list from the Imperial Kiln Factory he still had in his pocket, which was scheduled to be sent to Prince Ning’s Mansion in August.
Could his lord know about that too?
However, benefiting from his sixth-grade military official’s pay, even if the lord decided to punish him, he wouldn’t do so in public, right?
As his thoughts ran wild, he heard Yuan Yunzhong say, "Where is Miss Song?"
Shao Qing heaved a sigh of relief and hurriedly replied, "She has gone to the Kiln Factory."
Suddenly, Yuan Yunzhong stood up, pointing at the scattered colors and paintbrushes on the table, and ordered, "Clean this up!"
"Ah?!" Shao Qing was taken aback, taking a long moment to come to his senses.
Although he had served his lord from a young age, he was a guard who only needed to practice martial arts; he had never done such menial servant’s work!
But without arguing, he crouched in the corner and silently washed the paintbrushes.
Yuan Yunzhong quickly left Yinyu Hall.
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