"Brother Tao, are you just looking at the shop now?"
"On weekdays, when I have free time, I just look at the shop. When I'm not busy, I follow the master outside the city to learn the kiln-burning craft. In fact, I'm not a clerk, but an apprentice."
"I see, how far has Brother Tao learned now?"
"Mr. Chen, don't ask. After all these years of learning, I haven't even learned how to make porcelain bowls."
Tao Sheng smiled helplessly. This craftsmanship cannot be achieved by just building a kiln and lighting a fire. The temperature of the fire, the weather, and various complex factors must be taken into consideration.
After hearing this, Chen Changsheng said: "So, Brother Tao's master is not limited to these daily porcelain bowls when it comes to firing porcelain?"
Tao Sheng said: "To be honest, sir, a few years ago, master fired a batch of porcelain, which was later directly sent to Shangjing as tribute."
Chen Changsheng couldn't help but pause, he was probably a very capable person.
Chen Changsheng paused in his heart and asked again: "Brother Tao, have you ever heard of a firing technique called blue and white porcelain from your master?"
Tao Sheng thought for a while, but shook his head.
He had never heard his master talk about it.
"Blue and white porcelain, what does it look like?"
Chen Changsheng said: "Chen has heard from people in the past years that the blue and white porcelain products are rich and colorful, clear and elegant. The blue color is like a landscape scroll, and even more azure, which is particularly moving."
"I haven't seen Master before." Tao Sheng said, "You can ask Master later."
Chen Changsheng continued: "Chen has also heard of a special firing method. After firing, the glaze will form various patterns such as rabbit hairs and oil droplets. It is gorgeous but simple, which is particularly touching. I wonder if Brother Tao can Do you understand?"
"Rabbit hair? Oil droplets?" Tao Sheng paused and asked, "Is it painted on?"
Chen Changsheng shook his head and said, "It is formed naturally after the glaze is fired."
Tao Sheng paused and said, "Mr. Chen, could he be joking? Is there really a glaze that looks like rabbit hairs?"
"Chen has indeed seen it." Chen Changsheng said.
Tao Sheng also reacted at this time, and his expression became serious.
If there really is such a glaze...
He quickly asked: "Mr. Chen, has he ever known this firing technique?"
Chen Changsheng said: "I don't know much about it. I heard that such a lamp is particularly difficult to bake. It takes three days to continue firing in the kiln alone, and another four to five days in the cold kiln. The final product is less than 10%."
"Is it so difficult!?" Tao Sheng was also shocked by the 10% yield.
Just as he was talking, he invited Chen Changsheng inside.
"Mr. Chen, please explain in detail."
Tao Sheng picked up a pen and paper and planned to record it.
Seeing this, Chen Changsheng said: "Brother Tao, I'm afraid it will take a long time to find the result. The energy and money consumed are huge, and we still need to do what we can."
Tao Sheng said: "Don't worry, Mr. Chen, Tao Sheng knows what's appropriate."
Chen Changsheng nodded, and then told Tao Sheng everything he learned.
Dragon kiln, sagger, kiln transformer, glaze...
Chen Changsheng could only give a rough idea, but he didn't know the specific process.
Even so, Tao Sheng still wrote it down word for word.
Tao Sheng felt as if he had found a treasure. After the ink dried, he carefully put it away.
"Thank you Mr. Chen!"
Chen Changsheng said: "Blue and white are much easier."
After hearing this, Tao Sheng said: "Sir, don't worry, Tao still can't do this. If Master takes action, he will definitely do what he can."
Chen Changsheng was not worried after hearing this.
When leaving, Tao Sheng also picked out many fine porcelain bowls and plates and brought them back to Chen Changsheng.
Then he closed the shop and ran non-stop towards the outside of the city.
Three miles outside of Qingshan City, there were three kilns burning, and the surrounding temperature was much hotter.
"Master! Master!!"
Tao Sheng's master's surname is Cui. His ancestors were originally engaged in the job of firing green bricks. Later, Master Cui's generation gradually switched to the job of making porcelain.
Later, Master Cui visited many places and learned many crafts. After returning to Qingshan City, he concentrated on this craft.
Master Cui was controlling the heat and said with some displeasure: "What are you doing, frizzy? I want you to see how the shop came here."
Tao Sheng swallowed and said, "Master, look at this!"
He quickly handed over the paper in his arms.
"What is it?" Master Cui raised his eyebrows, then took it and started looking at it.
"Master, look at the 'Dragon Kiln' where the casting kiln is tilted, so the cold and heat inside and outside will be different!"
Master Cui suddenly became serious.
He thought carefully about the appearance of the dragon kiln.
"Wonderful, why didn't I think of that?"
Master Cui paused for a moment, then looked down.
The light in his eyes became more and more obvious.
After reading it, he said: "This is not complete! This is not complete! There is no mention of the weather, heat, etc. What about the glazed materials? This is not complete!"
"Who gave this to you?"
Tao Sheng immediately explained.
Master Cui was in a daze for a moment after hearing this, and he looked at the piece of paper again.
"Rabbit hair..."
"Can you really burn out rabbit hairs?"
But the things described above are probably too different.
There is really nothing crucial.
Could it be fake?
Master Cui thought so at first, and he never denied this idea.
"It's probably not true, don't even think about it."
Master Cui waved his hand and told Tao Sheng to go back and look at the shop.
"Master, what if it's true, Master..."
"Go, go, don't bother me. If the heat is bad, the kiln will be ruined."
Tao Sheng was blown away, leaving Master Cui alone here watching the fire.
In fact, there are many people on staff, but they are not as experienced as Master Cui.
After Tao Sheng left, Master Cui could only think about the rabbit hair.
'Is there really such a skill? '
Master Cui was shaken by this matter.
His heart was a little confused.
So when the kiln was opened at dusk and sunset, a lot of defective products came out of the kiln.
This kiln was almost burned down by him.
After Master Cui returned home, he frowned and kept thinking about this matter.
His wife seemed to notice something and asked him what was wrong, but Master Cui kept silent and even left the table without taking a few bites of food today.
At night, I even tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.
At this time, Master Cui also reacted.
If he doesn't try it himself, he might not be able to pass this level.
'This brat misled me! '
Early the next morning, he took his people outside the city and started digging a kiln without eating.
He must try to see if he can really burn out rabbit hair!
…
Tao Sheng, on the other hand, was unhappy about this incident and did not go to the kiln today. Instead, he kept looking at the shop, thinking about what the glaze would look like after it was fired into a rabbit-hair-like glaze.
But it's a pity that he has insufficient financial resources and a certain gap in skills. One person cannot do such a thing at all.
"well……"
Tao Sheng sighed repeatedly and sat in the shop in a daze all morning.
