Courtyard House: Starting in a Ceramics Factory

Chapter 206 The Daily Life at the Kiln and What I Heard
After Li Feng and Han Ming finished talking about this, they arrived at the kiln site.

At this moment, the two saw Yuan Xin, a kiln apprentice, busy working in the kiln. Han Ming shouted at Yuan Xin as he entered the kiln.

"Yuan Xin."

"Yuan Xin."

At this moment, Yuan Xin, who was busy in the kiln, heard Han Ming's voice and came out carrying two double-eared bottles with 150 pieces each, his face covered with pine ash.

So he looked a bit disheveled.

When Yuan Xin saw Han Ming and Li Feng, he quickly put the two double-eared bottles in the corner and then smiled and responded to Han Ming and Li Feng.

"Brother Li Feng, Han Ming."

"Why are you here?"

Are you thirsty?

"Would you like some water?"

After hearing Yuan Xin's words, Han Ming smiled and replied to Yuan Xin.

"Didn't Master Deng send the two of us to get the porcelain plaques of the Eighteen Arhats?"

"So Master Deng just sent us directly."

"How about it?".

"The porcelain slab should be fired by now, right?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Xin nodded to Han Ming.

"Yes, it's cooked."

"However, the kiln has only been open for a short time, and people cannot enter the kiln as it is still dissipating heat."

"The new color is hard to burn lately, the quantity is a bit small."

"The kiln isn't full yet."

"We haven't fired nearly as many blue and white porcelains. Others have fired several kilns of blue and white porcelain, but your new colored porcelain group only fires one kiln every few days."

"This time, the kiln was fired ahead of schedule again."

"The production specialist who arranges the kiln schedule has been coordinating things with the higher-ups."

After hearing Yuan Xin's words, Li Feng couldn't help but sigh and say something to Yuan Xin.

"Our new color porcelain processing speed is definitely not as fast as that of blue and white porcelain. Even though blue and white porcelain can be fired after just a few strokes, new color porcelain cannot."

"Last time I saw an old master craftsman paint a bowl; he finished one in just over ten seconds."

"If you calculate it this way, it's normal for blue and white porcelain to be fired in several kilns."

After hearing Li Feng's words, Han Ming nodded in agreement.

"Yes, that's right."

"Even I'm preparing to paint blue and white porcelain."

When Yuan Xin heard that Han Ming was going to paint blue and white porcelain, he was surprised.

"What?".

"Are you going to paint blue and white porcelain?"

"The performance of painting blue and white porcelain is not as high as that of new color porcelain. Are you willing to give it up?"

Han Ming sighed.

"I'm reluctant to leave, but there's nothing I can do. I'm only temporarily helping out in the new color group. After I'm done, I have to go back to the pastel color group."

"I'm going to talk to my master about painting blue and white porcelain in the future. If I can paint blue and white porcelain quickly, I can earn quite a lot."

"At least in terms of quantity, we have caught up."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Xin couldn't help but try to persuade Han Ming.

"I've heard that many people who paint blue and white porcelain do so because they can't master overglaze enamels. If you can paint famille rose, why would you bother painting blue and white porcelain?"

When Li Feng heard this, he shook his head at Yuan Xin and said...

"Actually, I feel that famille rose and blue and white porcelain are the same. They are just different in terms of materials, painting techniques, and presentation. Their art forms are the same."

"Moreover, blue and white porcelain is actually easier to express with the brushwork of traditional Chinese painting."

“For example, the freehand style of painting can be well represented by blue and white porcelain, but it is a bit difficult to do with overglaze enamel.”

Upon hearing Li Feng's words, Yuan Xin couldn't help but express his admiration for Li Feng.

"Brother Li Feng, you truly deserve to be called a Level 3 painter; you know so much."

"I heard from the technical department last time that you should be a level four artist in April, right?"

"It seems like you don't even need to take the CET-4 exam."

Before Li Feng could speak, Han Ming spoke first to Yuan Xin.

"That's for sure. I heard that Director Wei has already submitted Li Feng's application materials, and we're just waiting for the certificate to be issued in April."

When Yuan Xin heard Han Ming's words, he was even more surprised. After all, for kiln apprentices like Yuan Xin, the information they received was basically from exchanges with other apprentices or junior workers.

When Yuan Xin heard that Li Feng had submitted all his application materials, it was practically certain that Li Feng would be promoted to intermediate-level painter.

So Yuan Xin couldn't help but praise Li Feng.

"Brother Li Feng, you're really amazing! I've been working at the factory for almost a year and I still haven't been promoted to a permanent position, but you've already become an intermediate-level worker."

"I wish I were as good as you."

After hearing Yuan Xin's words, Han Ming couldn't help but offer some advice to Yuan Xin.

"You're lucky. I've been studying for two years and I'm still the same as you."

"well".

"Thinking about it brings tears to my eyes."

At this moment, Li Feng spoke to Yuan Xin.

"If you're firing a kiln, that's actually not bad."

"Once you become a master craftsman, you'll basically only need to control the temperature. After a while, once these kilns are replaced with electric kilns, you'll have very little to do."

After hearing Li Feng's words, Yuan Xin sighed.

“I also want to switch to electric kilns here. It would save us a lot of trouble, but the higher-ups just won’t approve it.”

"Several of our kiln masters jointly suggested that we purchase electric kilns, but after the factory manager submitted the plan, it seemed like there was no response from above."

"So we, the masters, estimate that this matter..."

"Suspended".

After listening to Yuan Xin's story, Li Feng asked, somewhat puzzled.

"No way?"

"Not approved?"

"What went wrong?"

Yuan Xin shrugged and shook his head to indicate that he didn't know.

After all, an apprentice like Yuan Xin would never have access to such high-level matters.

At this moment, Han Ming, who was standing next to Li Feng, couldn't help but start guessing.

"Do you think it might be related to Director Wei's retirement?"

"If Director Wei were to retire, wouldn't it be reasonable for the higher-ups not to approve it?"

Upon hearing Han Ming's words, Li Feng's eyes lit up, and he nodded to Han Ming.

"That's possible, but electric kilns are the trend. I think they will definitely be promoted in the future, and approval for electric kilns is just a matter of time."

"Moreover, burning this pine wood does indeed affect the environment and people's lives."

“There’s always black ash floating around our factory. That ash is from burning pine wood.”

"However, building an electric kiln is quite expensive right now, and it requires funding from the ministry before it can be replaced. By the way..."

"Do you know whether the money from sales in our factory goes to the factory or the ministry?"

Upon hearing Li Feng's words, Han Ming immediately replied to Li Feng.

"That goes without saying, it will definitely be directly assigned to the ministry."

"Apart from the factory's expenses and wages, everything goes to the department."

"So it seems like our factory has a budget or something every year."

"However, you should ask the finance department about these things."

"However, if we ask, they certainly won't tell us."

Li Feng nodded and said.

"So that means it still needs approval from the ministry."

"Why".

"If possible, I would like to replace this kiln with an electric kiln and fire it directly, so that we don't have to go through all this trouble."

“Just sealing and dismantling the kiln takes a lot of time. If we have that time, we might as well fire another batch.”

"And it might even cost less."

After listening to Li Feng's words, Yuan Xin couldn't help but sigh again.

"Who says otherwise?"

"But there's nothing we can do about it."

“Now Sun Peng and I load and dismantle the kiln every day.”

"My hands are about to cramp up."

"I don't know what's going on lately, but it seems like a lot of the laborers here have been transferred away, so I'm really exhausted lately, almost as tired as a potter."

“When I talked to Brother Wang about this last time, he just said I don’t do enough.” “Don’t I do enough?”

When Yuan Xin got to this point, he seemed to have thought of something, and then he couldn't help but ask Li Feng.

"That's right."

"It seems that Fusheng is getting married soon."

"Did he invite you?"

"It seems to be the Sunday after next."

Upon hearing this, Li Feng nodded to Yuan Xin.

"Of course they have to invite me! I joined the factory on the same day as him!"

"Could he not invite me?"

"That's right."

He said, "It seems like Brother Wang will be here soon too."

"Why".

They're getting married soon.

"Wow, that was fast."

"A considerable amount of this money has already been given away."

Yuan Xin, however, said with a smile.

"Brother Li Feng, you'd better hurry up too."

"With your skills, you shouldn't be hard to find a job in this factory."

"Look at the young girls in the filling workshop, there are so many of them."

"Many of them are relatives of the leaders. If you manage to get a ticket to one, you'll have an even better life at the factory."

After Yuan Xin finished speaking, Han Ming agreed wholeheartedly.

"Yes, Yuan Xin is right, but I have a higher opinion of Ni Zi who paints blue and white porcelain."

After listening to Han Ming's words, Li Feng asked Han Ming somewhat blankly.

"I know there are a lot of girls in the filling workshop."

"Are there any nice pieces in the blue and white porcelain workshop?"

"How come I didn't notice? I've been to the blue and white porcelain workshop several times."

"And, could it be that your purpose in going to the blue and white porcelain workshop was actually for the girls?"

Han Ming, somewhat embarrassed that Li Feng had guessed correctly, explained to Li Feng.

"Finding a wife is just a side thing; what I care more about is studying there."

"Yes, it's about studying."

However, Li Feng felt that Han Ming's words were a bit far-fetched, but he did not expose him at this time, after all, it was Han Ming's choice, and he could not say anything.

So Li Feng turned to ask Yuan Xin.

"Are you looking for the filling workshop?"

Yuan Xin nodded and said.

"yes.".

"My child is already two years old."

When Li Feng heard that Yuan Xin's child was already two years old, he couldn't help but ask Yuan Xin in surprise.

"Your child is already two years old?"

"You must be only a year older than me, right?"

Seeing Li Feng's strong reaction, Yuan Xin couldn't help but ask Li Feng a question with some doubt.

"I'm almost 21, it's normal for me to have a two-year-old child, right?"

"If I had to say, I would say I had my first child late in life."

"Why".

"Actually, there's nothing to be surprised about."

Han Ming nodded in agreement.

"Yes, Yuan Xin is right. My cousin had a baby when he was sixteen, but I still don't have a result."

"But I'm different from him; I want to find someone from the city."

"Actually, most of the girls in this factory come from families with decent financial conditions."

"If you look with your eyes closed, you generally won't be bad."

"So our painters, or other workers, usually come from our own factory."

"If they are both factory workers, then their combined wages would amount to quite a lot of money."

“I remember last year, I even helped put together a bicycle wedding car team.”

"My Phoenix brand bicycle is the one at the very front."

Li Feng asked Han Ming with some surprise.

"You bought a car in your first year at the factory?"

Han Ming nodded and said.

"yes.".

"My family helped me raise some money, and I saved up a few months' salary, so I bought a bicycle in my first year. Not bad, right?"

Previously, Li Feng knew that Han Ming had a bicycle, but he didn't expect that Han Ming would buy one in his first year at the factory.

Li Feng himself had worked hard for several months, and with the bonus and other money, he was able to buy a bicycle.

Han Ming's thinking was indeed correct; this can be considered a powerful alliance.

When Li Feng thought of this, he couldn't help but sigh.

Li Feng doesn't have much savings right now. Although he wants to renovate his house, he just doesn't have the money.

I guess I'll have to wait until I become a top-notch artist before I can make money.

Therefore, Li Feng decided that he must study hard, get into university, and then come back to become a master craftsman and a national arts and crafts master.

of course!

This is the current goal.

After all, he's already 60 years old, and Li Feng doesn't dare to do anything out of line. If he did, he'd be courting death.

So for now, I can only live my life step by step.

Li Feng's idea is that when he has the ability in the future, he can also contribute to the country.

As the saying goes, when poor, one should cultivate one's own virtue; when successful, one should benefit all under heaven.

At this time, Li Feng was still in the stage of focusing on his own well-being.

When the time comes for those who have achieved success to benefit all under heaven, Li Feng will naturally make contributions to the country.

When Li Feng thought of this...

Yuan Xin suddenly spoke to Li Feng and Han Ming.

"The porcelain inside the new kiln should have dissipated the heat by now."

"Let's go move the porcelain."

After hearing Yuan Xin's words, Han Ming slapped his head and said.

"We've almost forgotten about the important business."

"Let's hurry up and move the porcelain slab back, otherwise Master Deng will start yelling at us later."

Li Feng simply smiled and replied to Han Ming.

"Don't panic."

"I'll paint this porcelain slab. I estimate I can finish applying the colors this morning, and I'll have to go out and collect materials this afternoon."

After hearing Li Feng's words, Han Ming patted Li Feng on the shoulder and comforted him.

"Don't worry, you'll get used to this. Anyway, if you're in the new color group, you'll definitely need to collect materials."

"I'm just a little curious about what you're going to draw."

"They actually have to collect materials?"

Li Feng didn't hide anything and answered Han Ming directly.

"Actually, it's nothing much, it's just dancing or something."

"According to Commissioner Ma, they even provide cameras."

After hearing Li Feng's words, Han Ming waved his hand and said...

"This camera is probably useless now. I heard from Zhang Jiefang and Jiang Fei that Master Deng's requirement was hand-drawn."

"At that time, you'll have to draw it by hand."

Li Feng spread his hands, shook his head, and said.

"Why".

"Let's see."

In fact, Li Feng had already made up his mind that he would simply use a camera to capture the wonderful scenes, and as for the hand-drawn part, he would just use a brush to copy it.

Anyway, Li Feng already has his own ideas.

If it can be made more convenient, then it should be. The final result will definitely be related to the level of drawing skills. Based on my current understanding, it can be adjusted upwards a little.

(End of this chapter)