Celestial Master： I Have an Otherworld-Chapter 45 - 1: The Kiln Site

Fang Zheng has an erhu, which his uncle Fang Jian bought for him when he was a child.

That erhu was second-hand, old and shabby.

The neck was smoked black, the sound box cracked, the skin used was the lowest-grade snake skin, and the horsehair bow might break with a slight force. The sound it produced was as unpleasant as sawing wood, or like a hoarse throat crying while still trying to shout.

But it was precisely because of that erhu that he was able to enter an art university despite his severe decline in cultural studies.

And he relied on it to make a living for quite a while afterwards.

Now, the one in his hand has a round sound box made of sandalwood, a redwood neck, a python skin, and a long and straight bow with silk strings.

It’s expensive, beautifully styled.

Yet, after obtaining it, the genuine joy he once felt was no longer there.

Thanks to years of training, his skills have become mature.

Plucking the strings.

The melodious sound of the erhu echoed.

Sad, desolate, it whispers like elusive mist and uncertain breeze, deep and hoarse, bringing tears to the eyes.

"Master!"

Wu Hai sighed:

"Could you play a more cheerful tune?"

"Hey!" Fang Zheng stopped and shook his head:

"I’m heartbroken, feeling terrible, can’t bring myself to play something cheerful. Besides..., it’s good enough that you get to listen, stop being so picky."

You think I want to listen?

Wu Hai was speechless.

Obviously, you forced me to listen, refusing isn’t an option. I’d actually prefer not to hear this kind of tune, but what does heartbroken mean?

"Speaking of which."

Fang Zheng caressed the bow and said:

"Ever since I started practicing martial arts, especially after the Hundred Days Foundation Establishment, I’ve had much finer control over my body, couldn’t play this good before."

"How do you feel?"

"Brings tears to eyes." Wu Hai genuinely expressed:

"Better than any tune I’ve heard, Master, even if you fall on hard times, I think this skill alone can fill your stomach."

With familiarity, he sometimes cracked jokes, no longer so restrained.

"Really?"

Praised by others, Fang Zheng felt a bit relieved, and didn’t mind the minor sarcasm Wu Hai made:

"I haven’t heard anyone else play. Does Gu’an County have any similar entertainment places? I’ll treat us to a visit if there’s time."

"Master!"

Wu Hai shook his head:

"Square Porcelain has been open for so long, yet we’ve only sold two sets of porcelain. We’re always in the red. This isn’t a sustainable way forward; your focus should be on this."

"Oh!" Fang Zheng’s voice was calm.

"What does Master think?" Wu Hai asked.

"Nothing." Fang Zheng lowered his head and fiddled with the erhu.

"How can there be nothing?" Wu Hai got a bit anxious:

"We won’t keep this going for long like this."

"Are you the Master or am I?" Fang Zheng rolled his eyes:

"I’m not in a hurry."

Precisely because you’re not in a hurry, which makes me anxious!

Sitting in an empty shop day after day, spending money like flowing water without any income, Wu Hai couldn’t help worrying about his future.

"Master."

After thinking for a while, Wu Hai said:

"Our porcelain is of good quality, everyone who sees it praises it, but a set of dishes costs a few ounces of silver, which is indeed too expensive."

"If we can lower the price, I’m sure many people would buy it."

"Lower the price?" Fang Zheng shook his head:

"I don’t like doing business with poor people."

"What do you mean?" Wu Hai instinctively felt uncomfortable:

"Does Master look down upon the poor?"

"No." Fang Zheng said:

"Poor families find it hard to earn money and will naturally be very careful when spending it. If what they buy has any defect, they’ll ask for a replacement, which is too troublesome."

"Middle-class families are slightly better, but they also weigh options thoroughly."

"Only money from wealthy families is easily earned."

"Uh..." Wu Hai hesitated and spoke:

"Does Master mean that the poor are petty?"

"I didn’t say that!" Fang Zheng put away the erhu, patted his behind, and stood up:

"Let’s go!"

"Where to?"

"Explore the market."

*

*

*

The wagon clattered.

Wu Hai drove the cart, Fang sat in the carriage, heading outwards toward Dingseng Mountain. Thankfully, a few months prior, the Imperial Court had cleared the Cyan Wolf Gang, otherwise, they wouldn’t dare be so bold.

"Master."

"There’s a stone on Dingseng Mountain that resembles a monk sitting in meditation, and later a temple was built there by monks, which gradually gained fame."

Wu Hai said:

"That temple is called Cien Temple."

"Cien Temple?" Fang Zheng seemed thoughtful:

"I remember hearing Daoist Zhang from Three Purities Temple say that Master Wuyuan at Cien Temple has excellent Buddhist Skill and is truly a top-notch expert."

"That I don’t know." Wu Hai shook his head:

"Master could pay a visit. Cien Temple is always busy with worshippers and doesn’t block devotees, but the mountain path is hard to walk."

"Let’s check the kilns first." Fang Zheng was nonchalant:

"Are there many kilns nearby?"

"I’ve inquired; actually, not really." Wu Hai replied:

"Firing porcelain requires clay, and there happen to be suitable soil layers near Dingseng Mountain, so some kilns were built there for convenience."

"But there aren’t many pottery merchants in Gu’an County, so naturally, there aren’t many kilns. Most of the so-called many kilns are actually abandoned."

"Hmm."

Fang Zheng nodded slowly:

"Considerate of you."

"As it should be." Wu Hai scratched his head:

"Since I’m helping Master manage the business, I definitely need to understand some of the intricacies. You are the expert in this area, so I should learn more from Master."

"Easy to say." Fang Zheng lifted the car curtain and asked:

"Is the Wang Family Kiln also over this side?"

"Yes." Wu Hai nodded:

"Near the mountain top."

"At the top?" Fang Zheng raised his brows:

"Why?"

Firing porcelain relies on soil, wood, and water, so kilns usually situate outside the city, yet transportation convenience must be considered.

Building on a mountain top really doesn’t seem convenient.

In modern society, with gas kilns, there are far fewer restrictions.

"Apparently..."

Wu Hai said: 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"I just heard, the Wang Family needs to use thunder and lightning to fire porcelain, hence they build high to draw the Power of Thunder."

Such porcelain firing technique exists?

Fang Zheng was surprised.

But the Wang Family’s ’Thunder Walking Red Porcelain’ has unique traits even in modern society, building kilns atop mountains might truly involve some unique Secret Technique.

Approaching Dingseng Mountain, abandoned kilns left by predecessors came into view.

"Heap firing?"

Fang Zheng circled a kiln and picked up several pottery shards from the ruins while shaking his head:

"Still using this technology."

Heap firing involves stacking wood to fire, causing heat loss, which makes it impossible to produce porcelain.

It’s firing pottery!

And low-quality pottery at that.

Nonetheless, ordinary families use pottery primarily, with porcelain being rare enough to be acceptable.

Further searching upwards finally led to a kiln akin to an egg-shaped kiln, abandoned due to probably a cave-in.

"Such primitive technology!"

Touching his chin, Fang Zheng mused.

Egg kilns, dragon kilns, and later town kilns all aim to control flame, increase temperature, enhance porcelain, and glaze quality, differing mainly in construction methods.

The egg kiln here remains at a very primitive level, and Fang Zheng sees many potential improvements with his expertise.

The Wang Family Kiln atop the mountain doesn’t allow entry, but considering the height, it should remain modest-sized. Judging by its appearance, it likely resembles other kilns without too much difference, overall backward in technology.

......

"Who are those two?"

Wang Qian held a teapot and sipped, watching the distant leaving backs, asking.

"They’re from Square Porcelain." Someone bent and replied:

"Seemed like they came to see the kilns."

"Square Porcelain." Wang Qian paused:

"The recently opened one in the county?"

"Yes." The servant nodded:

"That young man is the owner of Square Porcelain, but since opening, hardly any porcelain sells; looks like it’ll close eventually."

Wang Qian narrowed his eyes.

He doesn’t quite agree.

He’s seen Square Porcelain’s pieces, which can be described as...

Exquisite!