Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 34 - 33 Changsheng Porcelain Kiln

Chapter 34: Chapter 33: Changsheng Porcelain Kiln

Chapter 34 -33: Changsheng Porcelain Kiln

“This…” Shen Chengyao wanted to say it was impossible, but he found himself partly believing Xiao’er’s words: “I’ll ask Brother about it tomorrow.”

“No matter what, we still have to look for that family.” Mrs.

Liu felt hopeful again.

“We can’t ask Uncle.” Jingrui’s instinct told him they couldn’t ask their uncle.

Given their experience from the last incident, if they did, they might make it even harder to find his sister.

Xiao’er gave Jingrui an approving look.

If things were really as she suspected, bringing up something that had happened years ago could stir up trouble unnecessarily.

“Dad, you could discretely investigate where their family is.

We can pay them a visit unofficially to check if sister is there.

Once we’re certain she is, then we can plan our next steps.”

“Exactly, child, we can’t just ask.

If there’s truth in this, startling the snake in the grass would ruin our efforts.

If there’s nothing in it, then we have unjustly accused Uncle, which is even worse.”

“Indeed, we need evidence before taking any action.

Until we have evidence, all conclusions are merely speculation.”

“Alright, I’ll look into it in town tomorrow.”

“I’m thinking of going to town to buy a wine jar tomorrow.”

“Good, Dad will take you to Porcelain Street tomorrow.

You can buy it there and then wait for me while I do some investigations.

Xiao’er has been to town many times and so, is familiar with the roads.

Besides, it only takes an hour to get there from Lianxi Village.

She has even travelled there by herself during the harvest season, so I fully trust her.”

“Alright.” Xiao’er nodded in agreement.

She remembered Lai Zhewei saying he would have dinner at their house the next day and said to her brothers, “Brothers, Hao’er, you’ll head to the river tomorrow and catch some fish.

Young Master Lai is probably going to come over for dinner.

I’ll prepare some bait in a while.”

The brothers agreed.

Tomorrow, they were planning to go play with Brother Zixuan, going up the mountains to hunt and also fish in the river.”

The next day, Shen Chengyao took Xiao’er to town.

There’s a street in town especially famous for porcelain shops called Porcelain Street.

Although Xiao’er theorized she was in present-day Jiangsu region, she couldn’t say for sure.

The original host’s knowledge about the outside world was so scant, almost nonexistent.

As the name suggests, Porcelain Street is lined on both sides with shops selling porcelain or tile products.

The shops are antiquely charming, brimming with rich cultural resonance.

The quality of the goods varies from shop to shop, ensuring that both rich and poor can find something suitable for them.

The street is a bit famous due to its vast assortment of products, available for both retail and wholesale.

China has long been renowned for its porcelain.

Sitting in the bullock cart, Xiao’er admired the antiques in the shop windows, marvelling at the boundless wisdom of the ancients.

Just look at the treasures prominently displayed in the windows- they were simply stunning, treasures that would be priceless in the modern world!

Seeing all these exquisite works of art, she really felt strongly that she’d set up a porcelain workshop someday when she had enough silver.

As someone from a millennium later, she had seen countless porcelain pieces, from pictures to physical objects.

If she didn’t set up a porcelain workshop, she’d feel like she was wasting an opportunity.

Exquisite items should be appreciated by more people and passed on to future generations.

Shen Chengyao stopped the bullock cart in front of a shop called Changsheng Porcelain Kiln.

This shop was one of the top shops on this street.

Just as Shen Chengyao stopped the cart, an assistant came out from the shop: “Welcome, sir.

Have you come to buy something?”

“We want to buy some wine jars.

Is Manager Yao here?” Shen Chengyao helped Xiao’er down from the bullock cart.

“Yes, he is here.

Let me help you with the bullock cart and park it in the backyard.

Take your time and look around in the shop.”

“It’s not necessary.

I have to leave shortly.

My daughter will do the shopping.” Shen Chengyao brought Xiao’er into the shop.

“Alright, please come in.”

Manager Yao who spotted Shen Chengyao entering, came forward enthusiastically, “Little Brother Chengyao, I have been waiting for you to pay me a visit.”

The assistant was surprised at the manager’s warm welcome of Shen Chengyao, because the man didn’t look like Yao’s usual friends based on his clothes and appearance.

Xiao’er was equally curious about her father’s relationship with the manager.

Generally, the owner of such a large shop was certain to have some importance.

Since he was calling Shen Chengyao ‘Little Brother’, it was clear they had a good relationship.

Yet, Xiao’er couldn’t find any recollection of this person in the previous host’s mind.

Shen Chengyao respectfully returned the greeting: “Brother Yao, my daughter wanted to buy some wine jars, so I brought her here.”

Upon hearing her name, Xiao’er politely delivered a greeting in a manner typical of a child: “Hello, Uncle Yao.”

“Good, good.

Little Brother Chengyao, your daughter is much more adept in social manners than you.” Manager Yao said ambiguously before asking Xiao’er, “What’s your name, young lady?”

Shen Chengyao scratched his head, chuckled as he didn’t quite understand why Manager Yao would say such a thing and could only go along with it: “That’s true, Brother Yao.”

He really is a blockhead, Manager Yao shook his head.

But this young girl was different.

Her timing in giving the greeting was spot-on.

Without any prompting from an adult, she addressed him correctly.

Even though this was their first meeting, she did not address him as Manager Yao, but as Uncle Yao.

It seemed she had learnt their relationship from their mutual respect and addressed him appropriately.

What alertness!

“My name is Shen Xiao’er.”

“Xiao, for intelligence, haste, wisdom, and brightness!

Yes, indeed, one lives up to one’s name!” Manager Yao admired.

“Brother Yao, I have something to attend to, so Xiao’er will pick a few wine jars here first, and I’ll come back for her later.”

“Alright, go ahead.

Come back for lunch at my house.

I’ll tell your sister-in-law to wait for you with the meal.”

“We’ll see.

I have to go now.” Shen Chengyao left, anxious about some matter regarding Yun’er.

“Niece Xiao’er, how big a wine jar do you want?”

Xiao’er mulled over: “I want four of the 50-pound ones, Uncle Yao, can these wine jars be custom-made?”

“They can, but it takes a bit longer, probably about a month before you can get them.” Usually, custom orders need a minimum purchase of fifty pieces, but he couldn’t reject this simple request from Shen Chengyao, his acquaintance.

He would need to arrange for his workers to make a few in their spare time, leading to uncertainties around the timeline, hence why he said a month later.

“Uncle Yao, do you have paper and pen?

I want to draw a pattern.”

“Do you know how to draw?

That would be even better!” Manager Yao was quite surprised.

He was aware of the situation in Shen Chengyao’s household, but was curious how his daughter knew how to draw.

“I’ve loved to draw since I was little.

I would always pick up a discarded brush from my cousin and draw on the ground.” Xiao’er explained to the perplexed Manager Yao.

“Come, let’s go to the accounting room.

There’re paper and brushes there.” Manager Yao guided Xiao’er to the accounting room and prepared the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

He was then called out by one of his assistants.

Xiao’er thought for a moment and then started to draw.

After sketching the wine jar, she drew two sets of tableware and a tea set, intending to sell the designs to earn some silver.

When Manager Yao entered, Xiao’er had already finished her drawings.

She handed over the diagram of the wine jar to Manager Yao.

The jar was a common shape, but she had drawn three different types, each adorned with the sketch of a different fruit: golden cherries, grapes, and apples.

The words ‘Jingfu Manor’ were on each jar, and there was a unique pattern at the bottom of each jar.

Xiao’er requested that the character ‘Shen’ be carved into the base of each jar from the inside.

This was a preemptive measure against counterfeiting.

“Your drawing skills are commendable, my niece.

And engraving the name inside the jar is such an excellent idea!” Manager Yao praised as he looked at the drawing.

The Su family’s wine was highly acclaimed, resulting in many counterfeits that annoyed them greatly.

Finally, they had to announce that genuine Su family wine could only be purchased from certain places and any wine bought elsewhere was certainly counterfeit, which reduced much of the trouble.

“Uncle Yao, you’re too kind.

Take a look at these designs for the tableware and tea set.” Xiao’er handed two design drafts for porcelain pieces to Manager Yao.

Upon a glance, Manager Yao was amazed.

He quickly flipped through the designs, then meticulously studied the drafts.

Finished, he looked up and asked Xiao’er, “Could your design drafts for these two sets of porcelain be sold to Uncle Yao?”

“If Uncle Yao doesn’t disdain, that is what I have in mind exactly,” Xiao’er replied with a smile. freewёbnoνel.com

“Disdain, definitely not.

Niece, you are highly talented!

These are exceptional works!” Manager Yao repeatedly looked at the designs, incessantly singing his praise as he did so.

Currently, his own porcelain was considered top-notch in Minze Country in terms of style, design, and quality.

The only formidable rival was the Ou family.

If these two sets of porcelain were to be produced, they would certainly leave the Ou family behind, becoming the premier porcelain kiln of Minze Country.