Font Size:
Over the past year, people have become much wiser.
“Well done,” Jiang Mixia patted Song Jingyun on the shoulder. “But next time, be more cautious and try to minimize such activities. This time, the stall owner clearly had no background and it didn’t cause any trouble.”
“But if you encounter someone influential next time, who relies on cheating for profit, if they catch you tampering, it could be dangerous.”
“Okay,” Song Jingyun readily agreed.
On the pottery side, the kiln was fired recently.
This round produced approximately two hundred pieces, including bowls, plates, and basins. About ninety percent were considered qualified, with over sixty percent being top-quality pieces.
Jiang Mixia took all the ceramics to Mr. Zhao’s shop in town, and together with the shopkeeper, they set a price, finally settling on twenty-eight taels of silver.
They also confirmed the next order, a full set of underglaze colored teacups, along with some ordinary porcelain cups.
Holding the substantial amount of silver, Jiang Mixia smiled to herself. ” Mr. Zhao’s business is thriving.”
This statement held a hint of inquiry.
Jiang Mixia often visited the town and was familiar with the business situation of most shops. Mr. Zhao’s business was indeed doing well, but not at such a scale.
The kiln had been firing every half a month, producing a substantial amount of ceramics.Mr. Zhao’s shop bought everything and continued placing orders, indicating there were other underlying reasons.
Understanding Jiang Mixia’s inquiry, Mr. Zhao, the shopkeeper, didn’t hide anything. He smiled and responded, “I’ll be honest, Madam Jiang. My cousin’s third nephew has opened a shop in the county town, and we’re in the same line of business. Previously, I used to source the ceramics I sold at Zhao’s shop from him. Now, with the excellent goods I’ve obtained from you, it’s only natural to recommend them to my nephew.”
“He mentioned that the products from your family’s kiln are well-crafted, with ample glaze, durable, and comparable to the goods from the capital, but at lower prices. Naturally, we’ll use your products.”
“Madam Jiang, your village’s kiln should be well-maintained. If you produce a variety of high-quality goods, they will surely sell. My nephew’s shop and mine can also expect to earn more from your kiln.”
So that’s it.
Jiang Mixia understood the reason behind it and expressed her gratitude to Zhao. “You’re just being modest, Mr. Zhao. We rely on your shop to help promote our products.”
“Of course, Madam Jiang, you can rest assured. If the goods are good, they will sell,” Mr. Zhao reassured.
As long as the products are of good quality and can be sold, they are sure to make a profit, even if it’s just a small margin, especially with a large quantity. If a big buyer comes, they don’t mind acting as intermediaries.
After some pleasantries, as the day was drawing to a close, Jiang Mixia bid farewell and departed.
Upon returning, Jiang Mixia discussed with Zhu Yongwu about fulfilling Mr. Zhao’s order and also to try firing some tea canisters, planning to promote them at the tea plantation.
Since the plantation needed bamboo-woven boxes for shipping, tea canisters were essential for storage.
As for Zhu Yongwu, his kiln firing had been successful, and with increased experience and confidence, even from the initial stages, Jiang Mixia could see that each batch was an improvement.
Making underglaze colored tea canisters was well within reach.
“The tea canisters are quite large, and it’s crucial to control the firing process. I’ll try it out,” Zhu Yongwu, who had never fired tea canisters before, expressed some uncertainty.
“They shouldn’t be large, they should be small,” Jiang Mixia explained.
“Small?” Zhu Yongwu was surprised.
“Yes, small. Approximately this size,” Jiang Mixia gestured, indicating the size of a large pear.
“So small?” Zhu Yongwu was quite astonished. “If they’re that small, they might not even hold a pound of tea, at most a few ounces. Wouldn’t that be impractical?”
“It’s precisely because they’re impractical that they’re good,” Jiang Mixia narrowed her eyes.
What’s good about something impractical?
Zhu Yongwu scratched his head, increasingly perplexed.
Due to the numerous items to be made, Zhu Yongwu was busy for nearly twenty days before he began firing the kiln.
When the kiln was opened, Jiang Mixia saw the impractical tea canisters she had requested from Zhu Yongwu.
They were small, oval-shaped, about the size of an apple, each with a lid. Six of them were a success, three in white and three in light blue, all made using the underglaze coloring technique, with the patterns provided by Jiang Mixia.
With scattered patterns covering a third of the canister’s surface, the simple and elegant design served as a finishing touch, adding a touch of brilliance to the otherwise unassuming tea canisters.
After the tea canisters were made, a batch of waterproof boxes required by the tea plantation was also completed. Jiang Mixia made a trip to the plantation to meet with Manager Zhou.
“The newly-built kiln in the village was used to fire the tea canisters specifically. I’ve brought them for you to inspect. Are they satisfactory?” Jiang Mixia presented the six tea canisters.
Manager Zhou carefully examined the tea canisters, testing the smoothness when the lids were placed on. “Well done,” Manager Zhou nodded. “In terms of size, they can hold half a pound of tea, making them suitable for gifting or personal use. The craftsmanship is good, with even thickness and glazing, comparable to the ones I bought in the county town.”
“For Manager Zhou to appreciate them is also a recognition of the craftsmanship of the kiln,” Jiang Mixia smiled. “I see the tea output at the plantation is quite substantial. Has the tea all been transported to the capital?”
“Yes,” Manager Zhou replied. “The tea merchants from the capital collect tea from here every year and offer a fair price. The business at the plantation is quite satisfactory.”
Speaking of the plantation’s business, Manager Zhou was quite proud. When their master acquired the plantation, everyone had their doubts due to past incidents. Despite the low price, people believed the place was unlucky. However, Manager Zhou was determined to prove them wrong and to make the plantation successful.
As for the tea business, Manager Zhou believed in practical results. He was proud to show that their master’s decision was right, and he himself was a capable manager.
“The tea merchants ferment and process the tea they buy at a low price from the plantation, then sell it at a high price. Have you considered producing a specific type of tea independently at the plantation?” Jiang Mixia asked. “Supplying the tea merchants is profitable and convenient, especially for small tea farmers who just need to focus on growing, picking, and drying the tea, without worrying about sales.”