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Jiang Mixia blinked, “Yongwu, do you understand the craft of porcelain making?”
“Yes, I know a bit,” Zhu Yongwu nodded. “My father used to make porcelain. We had a small kiln at home. Our livelihood relied on that kiln for a long time.”
“Although I didn’t get along well with my father, and the children my stepmother bore didn’t learn to make porcelain from him, I could still manage some work. I used to help my father with clay modeling and firing porcelain. He treated me like an assistant and paid me a little.”
“I see,” Jiang Mixia nodded slightly.
Then she added, “There’s quite a lot of good quality clay around here. I’ve seen the place where Chunyu digs the clay. It’s all like this. Since you know how to make porcelain, would you consider building a kiln to fire porcelain? If the porcelain turns out well, it could be more profitable than farming.”
Zhu Yongwu scratched his head, expressing some hesitation. “I’ve always worked under my father’s guidance. I’ve never fired porcelain on my own. I’m not sure if I can do it well.”
“Moreover, while the clay is good, setting up a kiln and obtaining the glaze for firing porcelain requires a considerable investment. And firing porcelain also involves a certain amount of loss…”
Indeed, porcelain making was profitable. If a kiln produced high-quality pieces, it would yield a lucrative return.
But if the kiln produced subpar pieces, it would be a complete loss. Zhu Yongwu had very little money left after arranging for the house, and he was also concerned about taking good care of Zhu Guangtai. He had planned to rent land for farming to sustain their livelihood, and considering working at a kiln was something he intended to contemplate once Zhu Guangtai was older. He had never thought about building and firing his own kiln.
However, Jiang Mixia had thought it through. Zhu Yongwu had mentioned that after his father married his stepmother, he had essentially become a stepfather. His stepmother and his brothers were wary of him and didn’t want him to touch anything in the house. After his father’s death, they even resorted to absurd claims to take back the property, denying his blood relation to the family. Despite these strained relations, Zhu Yongwu’s family had consented to his working at the kiln and paid him for it. This could only mean one thing: Zhu Yongwu was skilled, to the point of being a pillar of the family. However, due to his family’s attempts to prevent him from building and firing a kiln, they had hindered the family’s income. They often mocked and questioned him, which had left Zhu Yongwu with little confidence. To earn money to support himself and Zhu Guangtai, he had endured and continued working at the family’s kiln. In light of this, Jiang Mixia suggested, “Yongwu, I think you should give it a try. You won’t know if you can succeed until you try. As for the money to build the kiln and obtain glaze, don’t worry about it. Our family can provide the funds, and you just focus on firing the kiln and making porcelain. We can split the earnings between our two families. What do you think?”
“If we incur losses, we’ll each bear the responsibility according to our shares,” Jiang Mixia explained. “In that case, both families would share the burden, which would help minimize the risk.”
“However, I don’t think that’s likely to happen. Even if it does, it would only be temporary. I believe in your skill, Yongwu.”
Believe in his skill? Zhu Yongwu instinctively looked down at his hands, remembering the disparaging remarks he had heard while working in the kiln at the Zhu family village.
“Working slowly, after all these years of teaching, has it all gone to waste?” “Look at the pieces you’ve made. Are they even usable?” “You’re as clumsy as a pig, can’t do anything properly…”
Such words were nothing but insults, all aimed at highlighting his worthlessness.
Hearing Jiang Mixia express belief in his skill made Zhu Yongwu feel as if he were hearing it for the first time.
The spark of determination, which had been on the verge of being extinguished, suddenly ignited within him. It transformed into a blazing fire, warming Zhu Yongwu’s heart.
“Well…” Zhu Yongwu’s voice trembled. “Should I give it a try?”
“Let’s give it a try. If it works out, well, what if it does?” Jiang Mixia smiled.
Yes, what if it does? If he could successfully fire the kiln and produce porcelain, he could earn more money and provide a better life for Zhu Guangtai in the future.
“Alright!” Zhu Yongwu nodded once more.
At lunchtime, when Jiang Youcheng returned for the meal, Jiang Mixia and Zhu Yongwu discussed the details of building a kiln and firing porcelain.
The Jiang family would cover the costs of building and operating the kiln. Zhu Yongwu would be responsible for firing the porcelain, and regardless of the kiln’s operating status, he would receive a minimum monthly wage of five hundred wen.
If there were profits, they would split the earnings in a 70-30 ratio, with the Jiang family receiving 70% and Zhu Yongwu receiving 30%. In the event of a loss, Zhu Yongwu would still receive his minimum wage, and they would share the loss based on the same ratio.
After reaching a general agreement, they planned to negotiate the finer details based on the situation as it unfolded.
Once the discussion was settled, after finishing lunch, Jiang Youcheng led Zhu Yongwu to discuss the matter of building the kiln with Jiang Zhengxin. Building a kiln in the village was a significant matter, requiring the involvement of the village chief and the village community for any future issues or concerns.
As for Zhu Yongwu’s plan to build a kiln for firing porcelain, Jiang Zhengxin was first surprised, then thrilled. He understood that relying solely on farming wouldn’t be enough for the village; they needed ambitious individuals to speak for the village’s interests.
If the pottery business took off, not only would Zhu Yongwu and Jiang Youcheng’s families prosper, but if it expanded, Zhu Yongwu alone wouldn’t be able to handle everything. He would need to hire workers and apprentices.
Wasn’t this an opportunity for the village to thrive?
With a clear understanding of the situation, Jiang Zhengxin wholeheartedly supported the idea and even offered, “I won’t say much about the financial matters, with you and your uncle Youcheng here. But when it comes to labor and official procedures, feel free to ask for my assistance.”
Hearing Jiang Zhengxin’s supportive words, Zhu Yongwu felt both surprised and elated.
Back in the Zhu family village, because his family had a pottery kiln and could make money from firing porcelain, everyone in the village had tried to take advantage of them. Even the village chief, had found various ways to extort money from them.
They imposed various taxes and protection fees, and even complained about the kiln firing day and night, demanding compensation for the smoke and fumes it produced.