Courtyard House: Starting in a Ceramics Factory

Chapter 223 Going to Jingdezhen for further studies

After Li Feng and Zhang Jiefang finalized these arrangements...

At this moment, Master Deng came in from outside the workshop. When Zhang Jiefang saw Master Deng, he quickly nudged Li Feng and signaled to him that Master Deng had returned.

Only then did Li Feng realize that it was Master Deng who had returned.

So Li Feng couldn't help but say something to Zhang Jiefang.

"Let's go together."

Zhang Jiefang thought for a moment, then nodded to Li Feng and said.

"Row".

The two then walked over to Master Deng.

At this moment, Li Feng took the cloth bag from Master Deng's hand, while Zhang Jiefang helped carry Master Deng's bamboo pencil case.

Looking at the two of them, Master Deng sensed that something was amiss.

So he went straight to Li Feng and Zhang Jiefang and asked them.

"Why are you two suddenly being so attentive?"

"Speak."

"What's the matter?"

At this moment, Zhang Jiefang gestured to Li Feng, who nodded to Zhang Jiefang before speaking to Master Deng.

"Master Deng, that!"

"Is our group going to send someone to Jingdezhen for further training this year?"

Master Deng then realized that Li Feng and Zhang Jiefang were acting this way because of this matter, so he nodded to the two of them in response.

"yes.".

"how?".

"You want to go?"

Li Feng quickly asked Master Deng.

"Master Deng, how many people from our team should we send?"

At this moment, Li Feng really wanted to know how many spots were available in the group.

At this moment, Zhang Jiefang focused his attention on Master Deng, because he really wanted to know the answer.

Upon hearing this, Master Deng stopped walking, as did Li Feng and Zhang Jiefang.

Then Master Deng pondered for a moment and said to the two of them.

"This one."

"Same as last year."

When Zhang Jiefang heard this, he assumed that, like last year, no one would go. Hearing this, Zhang Jiefang couldn't help but feel frustrated.

But Master Deng continued speaking to the two of them.

"It's different from last year."

When Master Deng finished speaking, Zhang Jiefang, who had been feeling somewhat dejected, immediately turned from worry to joy.

"How many people from our group can go?"

When Master Deng saw Li Feng and Zhang Jiefang asking him this, he answered them directly.

"several?".

"All three of you are going this year."

"This month is considered the off-season for Xincai, and Han Ming and the others are still working. Why don't all three of you go this year?"

"For a period of one month."

"You've made considerable progress this year, and since you and Jiang Fei will be preparing for the Level 1 worker assessment after October, going to Jingdezhen to learn some new skills will also improve your level and greatly increase your chances of passing the Level 1 worker assessment."

"Our Xincai painting team, like other groups, needs to pass the advancement assessment, and there are only so many spots available."

"New color painting is a relatively new genre, and in terms of technique, it is definitely not as comprehensive as theirs. Moreover, your level and Jiang Fei's level are currently only at the threshold of first-class craftsman."

"But the number of spots available each year is limited, and there won't be many."

"Moreover, this year in the blue and white porcelain and famille rose porcelain categories, there are quite a few apprentices who have been learning their craft for longer than you, so you may not be able to compete with them."

"So that's why!"

"You and Jiang Fei should go together."

He then continued speaking to Li Feng.

“Li Feng, it’s good for you to go and broaden your horizons. After all, it’s one of the most important birthplaces of ceramics. If the master craftsmen there hadn’t been unwilling to leave their hometown, we wouldn’t have had to travel so far.”

When Zhang Jiefang heard this, he immediately felt relieved. If he could go to Jingdezhen for further training, then there should be no problem with his assessment for promotion to the next level of worker.

After all, Zhang Jiefang believed that the master craftsmen in Jingdezhen had many unique skills, and if he went there, he would definitely be able to learn a lot.

of course!

Zhang Jiefang also knew that the experienced masters there were not usually willing to teach people. If he got along well with the experienced masters there, then he might be able to learn something new.

However, Zhang Jiefang only heard about these things from people who had returned from Jingdezhen.

Whether that's the case or not, we'll only know once we go there.

Zhang Jiefang felt it was good to inquire about these kinds of things, since it wouldn't do him any harm.

At that moment, he was thinking about going to Jingdezhen to learn some new skills so he could take the exam to be promoted to a higher level of worker.

Once you become a Level 1 worker, your future path will be relatively smooth.

At this moment, Li Feng was thinking that if he went to Jingdezhen now for a month, it would only be May.

In other words, it's possible to catch the college entrance examination. According to Li Feng's memory, the college entrance examination is not held in June like in later generations.

So, if I make it to the college entrance exam, there won't be any problem at all.

Thinking of this, Li Feng asked Master Deng.

"So when do we set off?"

Master Deng thought for a moment, then answered Li Feng.

"Based on previous years, it should be around the middle or late part of the month, but the exact time will be announced by the factory. But don't worry, it won't delay your business."

Li Feng felt a little embarrassed after Master Deng had seen through his thoughts.

Master Deng went to Director Zhou's office, while Li Feng and Zhang Jiefang returned to the new color group.

Zhang Jiefang also took the opportunity to spread the news that Li Feng and the others were going to Jingdezhen for further studies.

When Jiang Fei learned that he could also go for further training, he was very happy. After all, he had been learning from Master Deng for quite a long time, and now he really wanted to become a first-class craftsman.

Once you become a first-class worker, your treatment will be completely different from that of an apprentice.

What kind of treatment does Li Feng receive now? What kind of treatment do they receive?
He saw all of this.

Master and apprentice are two completely different concepts.

If I can go to Jingdezhen for further training this time, my chances of being promoted to a first-class worker will be higher.

This is what he most wanted to see.

At that moment, he turned his gaze to Li Feng.

Li Feng's treatment is now similar to that of the masters here. He can apply for painting materials on his own, whereas apprentices like them have to go through the master's hands.

Moreover, the differences go far beyond this.

Therefore, Jiang Fei also hopes to become a first-class worker.

At this moment, Han Ming and the others began to look at Li Feng and his group with envy, since they also wanted to pursue further studies.

But they don't have much of a chance, because they are from other groups. Their current work in the new color group is only temporary, and the new color group's quota will definitely not fall to them, while their pastel and five-color groups are groups with a large number of people.

They certainly wouldn't get a turn.

Moreover, they are only apprentices now. In other groups, the painters who are promoted to junior workers would definitely be given priority to learn.

Apprentices usually don't have the opportunity, but in the Xincai Group, Zhang Jiefang and Jiang Fei, both apprentices, were able to go to Jingdezhen for further training, which made them very envious.

They're both apprentices, so why is there such a big difference between them?
That's what they're thinking right now.

the other side

In Director Zhou's office.

At that moment, Director Zhou was chatting with Master Deng.

At this moment, Director Zhou was talking to Master Deng about the selection of model workers in May. Labor Day was just around the corner, and the factory was going to select model workers.

At this point, Director Zhou told Master Deng that he was going to submit him for evaluation.

However, at this moment, Master Deng shook his head and refused to speak to Director Zhou.

"Director Zhou, if you report me, won't that be blocking the path for young people?"

"Besides, I'm almost retired. It won't do any good if you recommend me. You should give this opportunity to a younger person."

By this time, Master Deng had already received almost every honor he could possibly have, so he no longer valued these honors. Therefore, he didn't care about honors like "model worker."

However, Director Zhou explained to Master Deng with a smile.

“Master Deng, our workshop can nominate five people for the selection, but you are the only one who can actually be awarded the title of model worker.”

"If you don't choose, other people will have objections."

"And Master Lin and the others will have objections at that time."

However, Master Deng waved his hand at Director Zhou and said...

"I will speak their language."

"I won't participate this year. Director Zhou, you can nominate the younger people this year."

"By the way, didn't Xiao Hou come back?" "Why don't you report him?"

When Director Zhou heard about the candidate for Master Deng, he nodded in agreement.

"Young Hou, you are indeed quite good."

"He's young and very hardworking."

"However, last year he spent most of his time studying in Jingdezhen, so if I were to recommend him, the reason wouldn't be sufficient."

Director Zhou was also in a difficult position at this time.

After all, for Director Zhou, recommending people is easy, but whether they can be selected is another matter.

Moreover, last year, Xiao Hou was not at the factory for a long time. If we report him, wouldn't that just invite criticism?
Therefore, he definitely wouldn't report Xiao Hou to the authorities.

After hearing Director Zhou's reasons, Master Deng nodded in agreement.

"You're right."

After saying this, Master Deng squinted and then changed the subject to the arrangements for the next batch of people going to Jingdezhen for further training.

So he then spoke to Director Zhou.

"Oh, right."

"The recommendations for this year's trainees going to Jingdezhen should be submitted in the next couple of days, right?"

Upon hearing this, Director Zhou nodded to Master Deng.

"yes.".

"how?".

"Are you sending someone this year?"

"I remember last year, you didn't release a single one."

Master Deng said to Director Zhou with a smile.

"yes..".

“This year I plan to let them broaden their horizons. After all, they’ve been with me for quite a while, so they should go out and see the world, right?”

"If I'm not mistaken, I should have four spots this year, right?"

After hearing what Master Deng said, Director Zhou nodded in response.

"Um!".

"There are four people!"

"You're sending four people this year?"

"I remember, the New Color Team, including you, only has six people in total, right?"

Master Deng said to Director Zhou with a smile.

"yes.".

“I plan to send the younger members of our team to learn. Master Fan and Master Liu have already gone, and now only Li Feng and his group haven’t gone yet.”

"So I plan to send Zhang Jiefang, Jiang Fei and Li Feng together."

Upon hearing Master Deng's plan, Director Zhou immediately nodded in agreement.

"OK!".

"The new color group is completing its production tasks very quickly, so sending them there for a month won't have much of an impact."

"Then I'll report them."

Master Deng smiled and thanked Director Zhou.

"Thank you, Director Zhou."

Director Zhou smiled at Master Deng and said.

"It was just something I did."

"That selection of model workers?"

"Master Deng, is that you?"

Master Deng thought for a moment, then said to Director Zhou.

"Choose another group, I have no objection."

"In our new color team, no one is qualified to participate in the model worker competition, although Li Feng's usual performance and hard work are quite good."

“But he hasn’t been with the factory long enough. If it were next year, I would like to have him participate in the selection.”

"This year, that's absolutely not going to work."

"He's too inexperienced."

When Master Deng got to this point, a look of helplessness appeared on his face.

After all, for Master Deng, Li Feng was the one he thought the most was the best, but Li Feng had arrived too late.

If Li Feng had come to the factory before June of last year, Master Deng could have tried to help him.

However, at that time, the ceramics factory was not hiring.

When Director Zhou heard what Master Deng said, he had no choice but to give up.

After all, for Director Zhou...

His idea of recommending Master Deng would only increase the number of people who would be selected.

As for the others, he didn't consider them.

For Director Zhou, the more honors his workers receive, the better.

Time flew by and it was noon.

After Li Feng arrived at the cafeteria, he ran into Wang Liu and the others.

At this point, Li Feng quickly told them that he was going to Jingdezhen.

When Wang Liu, Zhou Jianjun, and the others heard Li Feng's words, they were somewhat surprised and asked Li Feng.

Are you going too?

Li Feng asked Wang Liuzhou, Jianjun, and the others with some surprise.

"Are the three of you going too?"

However, Qian Fusheng felt a little uncomfortable at this moment.

"It wasn't the three of us, it was the two of them."

At this point, Wang Liu began to explain to Li Feng.

"Master Wang only has two spots available. You know, that's only because Master Wang is the head chef."

"Otherwise, it would just be one."

"You know how many people work in our pottery wheel workshop."

"This time, it's pretty good that it's our turn."

Zhou Jianjun nodded in agreement.

"yes!".

"However, if I could go to Jingdezhen to learn pottery throwing, that would be a great help to my skills!"

"Since you can go too, Li Feng, that's perfect."

"We have company on the road now."

Wang Liu also said with a smile.

"yes!".

"This time, the few of us can travel together again."

"I heard Master Wang say that porcelain made in Jingdezhen is as thin as a cicada's wing."

"Moreover, the color is uniform, and it makes a crisp sound when lightly tapped."

"If I can learn it again, then I can be considered to have made it in the factory."

"None of the people in our pottery workshop who came back from Jingdezhen have learned this skill. I don't know if the master craftsmen in Jingdezhen kept it to themselves or if they just didn't learn it."

Li Feng thought for a moment, then shook his head and said.

"I don't know either. I would be happy if I could learn some other techniques."

"I heard that the enamelware there is a bit different from ours, and what techniques the Eight Friends have inherited."

"Moreover, when I was checking the information in our factory before, we found that our factory had exchanges with Hongdu in Jiangxi Province."

"Hongdu should also produce porcelain, right?"

At this point, Li Feng was also somewhat unsure about the situation.

At this moment, Zhou Jianjun spoke directly to Li Feng.

"We'll find out when we go and see for ourselves. That's what my dad said."

"If we go to Jingdezhen, we will definitely pass through Hongdu. Our factory will stay there for three days."

Li Feng was stunned when he heard Zhou Jianjun's words.

Then he couldn't help but ask Zhou Jianjun.

"What are we doing in Hongdu?"