Courtyard House: Starting in a Ceramics Factory

Chapter 44 Discussions among factory workers
Li Feng was drawing pictures at Master Lin's place, and time flew by.

Ten o'clock arrived quickly.

Wang Liu went to participate in the promotion assessment.

Li Feng wanted to see what the assessment was like, so he told Master Lin about it, and Master Lin generously allowed Li Feng to go and see.

Master Lin also knew that Wang Liu was Li Feng's senior apprentice, so it was normal for him to care about this promotion.

Li Feng now practices drawing in the morning and wheel throwing in the afternoon.

In other words, Li Feng is now under Master Lin's supervision in the morning and Master Wang's supervision in the afternoon.

The morning's assessment for first-level pottery throwing workers was conducted in the pottery throwing workshop.

At this time, a large number of people had already gathered in the pottery workshop.

Instead of kneading the mud, Zhou Jianjun and Qian Fusheng chose to stay here and see if Wang Liu could pass the test.

After Li Feng spotted them, he naturally walked over to Qian Fusheng and Zhou Jianjun.

When Zhou Jianjun and Qian Fusheng saw Li Feng, they both smiled and said something to him.

"I knew you'd come here."

Li Feng smiled and nodded in response to the two of them.

"Of course!"

"Brother Wang is our senior brother after all. How could I not come when he's taking the promotion exam?"

"I just asked Master Lin for leave!"

"That's right!"

"Has the promotion assessment started yet?"

At this moment, Zhou Jianjun shook his head and then answered Li Feng.

"Not yet!"

"Because Master Jin's apprentice He Wei was injured, Master Jin is applying to Director Dai for a postponement of the assessment."

Qian Fusheng chimed in.

"yes!".

"This Peter Hessler is so pitiful."

"If he can't postpone the assessment, then he'll have no chance."

Li Feng can only say that He Wei's actions were self-inflicted.

Whether he can pass the assessment or not is completely none of my business.

It would be even better if he failed the test.

However, Li Feng would not say these things aloud.

Just then, Director Dai returned from outside.

It seems he went to ask his superior for instructions.

As for which leader he was consulting, Li Feng guessed it was probably a factory leader.

After all, only factory leaders can make these decisions.

In the ceramics factory, the factory director and the party secretary are both at the deputy director-general level, while the deputy factory director is at the division chief level or deputy division chief level.

As for the director, they are generally at the level of section chief, and occasionally a deputy section chief may hold the position of director, but this level can be promoted very quickly.

Li Feng heard from someone at the ceramics factory that the factory manager was nearing retirement.

Several deputy factory directors were eyeing this position.

However, none of this has anything to do with me.

These things were too far removed from Li Feng's life.

My goal now is still the same as Wang Liu's: to become a first-class worker.

The next step was getting into university.

Other things are none of my business.

Just then, Qian Fusheng tugged at Li Feng's sleeve and sighed.

"It was no use for Director Dai to go to the factory leaders."

At this moment, Zhou Jianjun began to explain to Qian Fusheng.

"As for the director, he has to listen to the leaders in the factory."

"If the director can make decisions, what's the point of having leaders?"

Li Feng deeply agreed with Zhou Jianjun's words.

At this moment, Li Feng heard people in the factory starting to talk.

"What a pity!"

"He Wei might actually have to load the kiln this time; this is his only chance."

"yes!".

"It's such a pity. These people are so wicked. They actually beat He Wei up like that."

"I don't know if he'll be able to compete later."

"yes!".

"I imagine it must have been very difficult to pull the clay."

"But the factory leaders are too heartless."

"Even this cannot be postponed."

He Wei was also very frustrated at this time.

I have to take the assessment today, and my application to postpone my promotion was unsuccessful.

The factory leaders simply wouldn't agree to this, and even Director Dai's personal intervention was useless.

If I don't pass the promotion test today, then I'll really have to go load kilns. Sigh!
At this moment, Master Jin, who was standing next to He Wei, seemed to notice his apprentice's disappointment, so he patted He Wei on the back and comforted him.

"Little He!"

"Just do your best in the exam."

"Even if you don't pass the exam, you'll still be my apprentice."

He Wei has no choice but to go for it now.

After all, no matter what, I have to take the assessment now.

Next up!
The fifteen apprentices who were to take the assessment to advance to the first-level worker level were all ready.

This also includes Wang Liu.

Director Dai then announced the topic for this round of promotion to Level 1 worker.

That is to make a long-necked bottle that is 80 centimeters tall.

After Director Dai announced the topic, the fifteen apprentices began to work on the potter's wheel.

The first step is the same for everyone.

They all just add water to the clay in front of them.

The amount of water to add is determined by feel.

Some of them had taken the exam once before, while others had just taken it.

Wang Liu, on the other hand, had just joined.

Wang Liu took this assessment very seriously.

After all, Wang Liu wanted to succeed in one go, so he worked very hard during his apprenticeship.

This time, he added more water than the average apprentice.

Because Wang Liu has now mastered his technique, and he is perfectly suited to this mixing ratio of mud and water.

Next up!
Everyone started making long-necked bottles by hand.

The apprentices all used basically the same methods.

The only difference is in some subtle ways of handling it.

after all!

Not every potter teaches the same method; there are differences.

Some people discover shortcuts during practice.

This will also cause differences.

About ten minutes passed.

The apprentices quickly finished making the lower part of the long-necked bottle.

Next, we'll start making the bottle neck.

The most difficult part of making a long-necked bottle is the mouth, because you have to ensure its length and thickness, and that the mouth is perpendicular to the body of the bottle.

This is no problem for experienced masters.

But these are a bit difficult for apprentices.

After all, the apprentices had limited exposure to different types of implements at the beginning.

Most of what we make are mass-produced items in the factory.

The factory doesn't make long-necked bottles very often.

Therefore, most apprentices are not very proficient at this.

At this moment, everyone began to praise Wang Liu's technique.

"Wang Liu is quite something."

"It's already taking shape."

"Not bad! No wonder he's Wang Dafa's apprentice."

"Huh!"

"Fatty He is not bad either."

"I never imagined that even with his hands and feet in such a state, he could still do something like this."

"Master Jin's apprentice is quite good too."

At this point, people in the factory started talking about it.

Li Feng looked at their belongings.

have to say.

Given his current condition, He Wei has already done a very good job in achieving this level.

But it's still a long way from what Wang Liu made.

At this moment, Qian Fusheng and Zhou Jianjun also looked at He Wei with surprise.

time flies.

The promotion assessment is also nearing its end.

The fifteen apprentices are basically in the final stages of their training.

Wang Liu quickly finished up the mess.

Li Feng looked at the long-necked bottle that Wang Liu had made, and it was the best one among this group of people.

He Wei's work was comparable to that of the other apprentices who came after him.

As for how to judge it specifically, it's not up to you to decide.

It will take some of the factory's experienced workers to evaluate and judge.

(End of this chapter)