Chapter 4, Painted Vase (3)
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After calming down for a moment in the room, Lin Mufeng hurriedly left for the kiln.
"Young Master, that is not appropriate; it is better for you to call me Old Lin. " At this moment, Old Lin had clearly heard and quickly stepped forward to respond respectfully.
By noon, the two three-foot painted vases had finally completed all processes outside the kiln, awaiting only to be fired in the kiln
"You should hurry and prepare, see if you can find a buyer to sell the land to Wu Kui to pay off the debt." Lin Mufeng closed his eyes in anger; he wished he could take a knife and kill 'him' referring to the previous owner of this body.
The entire appearance is exquisite and unique, with patterns that are vividly lifelike. The font is bold and powerful, exuding an ancient charm, while the layout strikes a perfect balance of light and dark, creating a remarkably harmonious and elegant composition. Old Meng and several craftsmen were captivated by the sight, truly amazed by the extraordinary skill that seems to surpass nature itself! Fortunately, Lin Mufeng had already brought them endless surprises yesterday, so today's unexpected delight was both anticipated and surprising.
Lin Mufeng's frigid and furious gaze was cast upon Wu Kui, who was on the ground. He stepped forward, bent down, and seized the collar of his long gown, saying, "Get up!"
Without even having the courtesy to exchange pleasantries, Wu Kui left with his men in a dejected manner. Wu Kui is indeed a blustering coward, a bully who fears the strong. He was used to intimidating Lin Mufeng, but now that Lin Mufeng has suddenly become so aggressive and domineering, he has grown fearful. After all, the Lin family is a prominent household; with their own master retreating, Wu Kui's two servants naturally did not dare to act recklessly.
Young Master! Old Lin straightened up, his aged face displaying a mix of excitement and confusion, with two murky tears clearly swirling in his eyes
Old Lin hesitated, turning to walk outside.
Lin Mufeng patted Old Meng on the shoulder and said, "This is very good. You all carry on with your work; I will head back first. I will come again tomorrow afternoon when the kiln is finished." After saying this, he strode away.
"This is not acceptable, young master. This is the family business passed down from the Lin ancestors; it cannot be ruined..." Old Lin exclaimed in shock, his voice trembling with urgency.
Young Master, the Wu family is a dominant force in our area. Not only are they wealthy, but they also have connections to those in power. Now that you have struck him, he is unlikely to let this matter rest..." Old Lin hurried after him and, noticing Lin Mufeng's expression, spoke in a low voice.
Young Master... The valuable antiques and calligraphy left by the old master in the family have all been used by you for gambling. Nowadays, apart from daily necessities, there is hardly anything left to pawn in this house. If we are to speak of it, there are only a few acres of farmland in the countryside.
Currently, repaying debts is of utmost importance, old steward; the family fortune can still be accumulated in the future. Go ahead... Lin Mufeng suddenly opened his eyes, a cold and lonely gaze slipping out the door, drifting far away.
Lin Mufeng felt a stir in his heart and thought, isn't it just calling someone "uncle"? Why be so agitated? Upon further reflection, it should be because the former Lin had been too arrogant and overbearing, never treating others as equals.
Lin Mufeng laughed heartily, "Old Meng, you can start the kiln now. Remember, you must control the temperature well. You all need to take turns watching the fire. Do not let the temperature inside the kiln be too low or too high. Do you understand?"
After speaking, Lin and Tu Shumu Feng slowly released their hands, took two steps back, raised their faces, and gazed at the blazing red sun in the sky. The brilliant golden sunlight fell upon him and then refracted outward. Wu Kui suddenly realized that Lin Mu Feng's face, which was once so familiar, now appeared so cold and unfamiliar.
Old Meng and the craftsmen had long since moved the clay bodies that were 80% dry out into the courtyard, awaiting Lin Mufeng's arrival. Lin Mufeng took the sharp carving knife from Old Meng and began to carve patterns and designs on the clay body using a rotating technique. On the front of the body, he depicted a scene of pine and crane symbolizing longevity, while on the back, he inscribed two lines of poetry: "The green pine bids farewell to the old year, the red crane carries a token of longevity that rivals the heavens." In the space between the front and back, he cleverly connected and decorated it with wave patterns and auspicious cloud motifs. On the front of the body, he depicted a scene of pine and crane symbolizing longevity, while on the back, he inscribed two lines of poetry: "The green pine bids farewell to the old year, the red crane carries a token of longevity that rivals the heavens." In the space between the front and back, he cleverly connected and decorated it with wave patterns and auspicious cloud motifs.
I will say it again, the money I owe you will be returned to you, give me 2 days' time. Now, take your two dogs and get out! Lin Mufeng's deep voice reached Wu Kui's ears, and seeing the chillingly sinister smile at the corner of his mouth, Wu Kui couldn't help but shiver in his heart
"We respectfully send off the young master." Old Meng and several craftsmen watched as Lin Mufeng strode away, feeling not only excited but also a subtle sense of immense exhilaration. The young master of the Lin family turned out to be a master of porcelain processing; with him, the revitalization of the Lin family's porcelain kiln is promising
At this moment, Lao Meng was utterly in awe of Lin Mufeng, nodding repeatedly, "Young Master, rest assured, during this one day and night of firing, Lao Meng will ensure that it is done well, even if it means staying awake without rest."
What are you going to do? I am going to report to the authorities. You refuse to pay your debts and even resort to violence!" Wu Kui trembled, half getting up by himself and half being lifted by Lin Mufeng.
Hehe... Lin Mufeng smiled faintly, "Although there is a distinction between master and servant, you are of considerable age, and I should show respect for the elderly. Moreover, you are also an elder of the Lin family, so calling you 'Uncle' is not inappropriate. Very well, from now on I shall call you 'Old Steward'"
The next step involves glazing and coloring. This process was carried out by Lao Meng and his team, while Lin Mufeng provided guidance from the side. Amidst laughter and conversation, he observed everyone completing the glazing, and used a brush to outline the patterns and characters with colors. According to Lao Meng's usual practice, the glazing was done at most twice, but Lin Mufeng felt it was still somewhat rough, so he requested them to apply two additional coats. Furthermore, in many detailed areas, they performed slight "polishing" and "leveling".
As he spoke, Lin Mufeng sat in a large red armchair made of pear wood, and kindly asked, "Old steward, is it really impossible for our family to come up with 50 taels of silver?"
The two servants under Wu Kui were instantly dumbfounded, and even Old Lin and Lin Hu were left speechless. Is this really the Lin family's young master, who has always only been interested in women, gambling, and bullying the weak while fearing the strong?
Oh, is there no other property at home that can be used to settle the debt? Lin Mufeng sighed inwardly, lamenting how he had been so blind to attach himself to such a spendthrift.
Young master, while it is indeed possible to gather all that I have, the business at the porcelain kiln still requires funds for circulation. Once..." Old Lin whispered.
"If it comes to a fight, so be it; it's nothing serious. Old steward, you need not concern yourself with it." Lin Mufeng smiled faintly, not taking it to heart.
Lin Mufeng's anger gradually subsided. He cast a glance at Old Lin and said as he entered the room, "Uncle, please come here for a moment"