After having breakfast, Madam Qian insisted on returning to the city first, and Song Jiyun and Yuan Yunzhong saw her off.
While boarding the mule cart, Madam Qian also told Yuan Yunzhong, "Once you have handled everything here, hurry back to the city with Yun Duo. The Kiln Factory is too crude, filled with dust everywhere. It’s okay to visit for a while, but it’s not suitable for a long stay."
She added, "When you return, I’ll have Steward Wu hire a chef who specializes in Jiangsu and Zhejiang cuisine."
Even though it was just a three-delight sauce, Yuan Yunzhong still found it spicy.
Song Jiyun had become numb to it.
During just one meal, her mother not only planned for Yuan Yunzhong to study at the Song Clan School but also prepared to buy him two horses, a horse carriage, and hire two embroideresses for him.
Buying a chef who could cook Jiangsu and Zhejiang dishes was no longer surprising to her.
She lowered the curtains of the cart for Madam Qian, saying, "Please be careful on the road. We will return this afternoon."
With that, she gave the coachman a knowing look.
The coachman cracked his whip, and the cart immediately sped away from the Kiln Factory.
Song Jiyun took a deep breath and turned around, only to see Yuan Yunzhong thoughtfully watching the cart carrying his mother as it drove away.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly said, "Young Master Yuan, there are still some matters to attend to at the Kiln Factory, so I won’t be able to accompany you. If you need anything, just command Liu Zi."
Yuan Yunzhong withdrew his distant gaze, nodded, and said, "All right! Just have someone inform me when you leave."
Song Jiyun watched Yuan Yunzhong walk away, her lips tinged with a smile she herself did not understand.
Zheng Quan and Luo Zixing came in a rush.
"Miss!" Zheng Quan said gravely, "A group of craftsmen, whose deeds are due to expire soon, have asked to leave the Kiln Factory."
Song Jiyun’s expression turned serious as she said, "Let’s talk about this in the Study."
Both men nodded in agreement, and together they went to sit down in the Study beside the hall.
Song Jiyun asked, "How many people want to leave the Kiln Factory? And who are they?"
Luo Zixing’s expression was grave as he replied, "About thirty-plus people, all of them craftsmen from the everyday porcelain workshops or apprentices who have just completed their training. They are from various processes. The apprentices are easier to deal with, for I have asked their masters to inquire about the situation. But those masters intend to take their apprentices with them, so I’m afraid they can’t be kept."
Zheng Quan added from the side, "Master Xiang said it’s very possible that someone has noticed the unrest at our Song Family Kiln Factory recently and is trying to poach our people."
Song Jiyun felt the same.
She pondered for a moment, then asked, "How skilled are the ones who are leaving?"
Luo Zixing said, "Aside from two apprentices who have just finished their training and are quite talented, the others are only good enough to produce daily-use porcelain."
"Is there a way to keep those two talented ones?" asked Song Jiyun.
Luo Zixing replied with a wry smile, "Those two are the ones causing the most trouble."
Song Jiyun’s gaze became somewhat icy as she said, "A twisted melon is not sweet. Since they want to leave, let’s follow the Kiln Factory’s rules: those who have learned a skill at the Song Family Kiln Factory will leave their apprenticeship silver; those who haven’t, deduct three months of their salary and let them resign."
No matter who was behind them, let them pay her a hefty amount of silver first.
She also wanted to see just how deep the pockets of this behind-the-scenes player were.
Song Jiyun also advised Luo Zixing, "You don’t need to give them a hard time, either. Everything under heaven will unite for a time but must eventually part, and what comes together must at some point separate, let alone us common folk who need to provide for our families. If people aren’t happy working for us and haven’t violated the terms of the deed, what right do we have to stop them from leaving?"
"Others abide by the rules, and so should we,"
Luo Zixing was still not easily pacified and said through clenched teeth, "I’ll see what good end they come to!"
Song Jiyun waved her hand nonchalantly and said, "Plant the phoenix trees, and the phoenixes will come. If we work together to make the Kiln Factory even better than before, highly skilled masters will come to work for us without our having to poach them."
After this batch of people left, she discussed with Luo Zixing for half a day how to rearrange the kiln workers at the Kiln Factory.
Xiang Yang strode in, his face ashen, and said, "Miss, something’s not right—Eunuch Wan is here!"
In all of Jingde Town, even in Liang County, there was only one person who could be referred to as Eunuch.
That was the Supervising Pottery Officer of the Imperial Kiln Factory, Wan Xiaoquan.
"Why has he come?" Song Jiyun frowned slightly, stood up abruptly, and asked, "Who else is with him?"
She had originally planned to visit Eunuch Wan after settling things down at the Kiln Factory.
Wiping sweat from his forehead, Xiang Yang said, "He also brought two young eunuchs and seven or eight government officials."
That was a common entourage for going out.
Song Jiyun instructed Luo Zixing to inform the other workshops, while she and Xiang Yang went to greet Eunuch Wan.
"What else do you know?" she asked Xiang Yang, "Do you have any experience or lessons to advise me with?"
Xiang Yang’s sweat became even more profuse.
He said, "I’ve been working at the Song Family Kiln Factory for nearly twenty years, and this is only the second time I’ve seen Eunuch Wan. The last time was when our Kiln Factory produced Sacrificial White Porcelain, and he personally came to inspect the workshop. However, I’ve heard from Wong Dahai that Eunuch Wan is fond of posing as a connoisseur, with deep claws. Any kiln factory that he sets his sights on ends up bleeding, and will be brought along with flesh—it’s very difficult to deal with."
Song Jiyun nodded and then saw a green-canopied sedan chair parked at the main entrance, with two delicate-looking children standing on either side, and seven or eight tall and sturdy government officials surrounding the chair.
"Eunuch Wan!" She stepped forward and, with the sedan curtain between them, she respectfully performed a courtesy and said, "I was unaware of your visit and have failed to welcome you from afar—please forgive me!"
The sedan curtain hung quietly, the inside of the sedan silent and still.
Was this meant to intimidate her?
Song Jiyun could only wait, considering all the possible reasons for Eunuch Wan’s visit. Nevertheless, she stood straight, her expression composed, gracefully poised and dignified.
After about a quarter of an hour, a cold snort came from the sedan, and a soft, feminine voice spoke, "Lift the sedan!"
The bearers quickly hoisted the chair, and it wobbled its way into the Kiln Factory.
Song Jiyun led the way in front.
The entourage reached the hall.
The sedan stopped, and one of the children lifted the curtain, revealing a man in his thirties. He wore a Hangzhou silk robe in bamboo green, adorned with a white jade hairpin edged with gold in a cloud pattern, and his waist hung with gold accessories, a small seal, and a jade pendant.
He looked up at the plaque reading "The Song Clan" at the front of the hall and walked in ahead of everyone else.
Only then did Song Jiyun notice that Eunuch Wan had a long face with sparse whisker-like eyebrows, a bulbous nose, and a pair of exceptionally bright eyes that looked razor-sharp and clever.
She invited Eunuch Wan to sit in the Main Hall, and once the maids had served tea and refreshments, she greeted Eunuch Wan once again and said, "My father’s name contains ’Again’ and ’Good’. I am the eldest in the family, the eldest daughter of the Song family’s second branch, and also the owner of the Song Family Kiln Factory. May I ask why Eunuch Wan has personally come? Is there any urgent matter, or is there anything that we can assist with?"
Eunuch Wan picked up the Tea Cup, blew on the floating tea leaves, and only then glanced at Song Jiyun and said, "Female Owner?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
