Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 545 Collecting the Kiln
Xie Yuyan couldn't care less about Chen Yixiu and the others. She had been too busy these days, not only dealing with various accounts but also having to devote some of her energy to managing the Han family's porcelain kiln.

After finishing her business today, she took a carriage to the Han family's porcelain kiln. To save time, she specially called Manager Zhu from the porcelain kiln to the carriage to talk.

Steward Zhu entered the carriage and cautiously peered inside. It was the first time he had seen Madam Xie, and he hurriedly tried to step forward to perform a grand salute, but Xie Yuyan stopped him, saying, "No need for that. Sit down and let's talk."

Manager Zhu then carefully sat down to the side. When he looked at his new employer again, he couldn't help but be surprised. He never imagined that he would change employers one day, and that his new employer would be such a young woman.

When Han Si was arrested, the porcelain kiln was in complete chaos. A kiln full of porcelain that was being fired was ruined because no one was watching over it. He was heartbroken when he cleaned up the kiln, thinking that the Han family porcelain kiln had fallen into ruin. All the craftsmen and employees in the kiln were in a state of panic until news came that Madam Xie had taken over as the head of the porcelain business and would soon reorganize the Han family porcelain kiln.

Xie Yuyan looked at the steward: "How is the porcelain kiln doing now? Can we start firing the kiln again? If there are any difficulties, you can tell me."

The Han family's porcelain was to be sold at the border market. To avoid delaying the porcelain trade, Xie Yuyan would temporarily take control of the porcelain kiln. Once Han Si's case was adjudicated, she would purchase it according to the court's regulations (a government-granted contract), pay the annual tax on time, and thus bring the Han family's porcelain kiln under her own name.

Prior to this, the income and expenditure of the porcelain kilns had to be properly recorded and submitted to the government office for review at any time.

A few days ago, Xie Yuyan sent his craftsmen and accountants to the porcelain kiln. In addition to taking inventory of the kiln's items and goods, the main purpose was to appease the people. Manager Zhu, who had previously managed the kiln, remained there, but two more managers were added to help handle some miscellaneous matters.

Manager Zhu hurriedly said, "The porcelain kiln has been cleaned and repaired, and all the fired porcelain, clay, glaze, and other materials have been re-invented..."

Steward Zhu explained these things in detail. When Madam Xie asked about his areas of expertise, he spoke of them effortlessly, and her tense mind gradually relaxed.

After explaining the arrangements for materials and personnel, he belatedly realized that Madam Xie was unaware of these matters. The manager sent to the porcelain kiln should have been reporting to Madam Xie daily. The reason Madam Xie asked him again was to consider his situation and choose a question he was most familiar with, to discuss it with him step by step.

Madam Xie truly cared for those working below her, and Steward Zhu couldn't help but think of the atmosphere at the porcelain kiln during this period.

The kiln artisans had been waiting for Master Xing to arrive. They had heard that Madam Xie treated the artisans very well, but since the owner had changed, they were inevitably filled with anxiety.

After waiting and waiting, a few craftsmen arrived first.

They were all craftsmen from the same porcelain kiln, so they spoke much more smoothly. All hired workers in the world are the same, with similar experiences, hardships, and toil.

Sitting together, talking, and reminiscing about the past, everyone becomes much closer.

Just as they were getting to know each other better, the craftsmen from Daming Prefecture took the opportunity to reveal how much money Madam Xie paid each day and how she rewarded and punished people.

Those who produce well-shaped pieces and produce a large quantity of finished products will be rewarded, while those who damage porcelain due to human negligence will be punished.

Of course, they wouldn't beat the craftsmen; they would just reduce their wages. Those who deliberately damaged the porcelain would be handed over to the porcelain shop, which would then investigate and send the case to the government office.

Everyone makes mistakes, and no one will deliberately deduct money for a small mistake. The punishment will not be based solely on the words of the kiln manager, but will be determined by the craftsmen of the porcelain shop before it is implemented.

After everything was explained clearly, the craftsmen and workers were relieved. With their minds at ease, everything else went much more smoothly.

So this is how Madam Xie manages the porcelain kiln. Madam Xie doesn't look down on craftsmen and laborers, including people like him. Manager Zhu pulled himself out of his thoughts and boldly spoke frankly: "Now we're just missing some of the Han family's secret kiln firing techniques, and we don't even know the kiln's fire source. Without these techniques, we can only try firing... and we might not be able to achieve the same quality as before."

Xie Yuyan nodded: "There's no rush, I'll figure something out."

Besides smuggling goods, Han Si was also involved in the sale of salt and was sentenced to death for "colluding with foreign enemies." Many members of the Han clan were implicated and were all convicted of the same crime. Craftsmen who fired double-layered porcelain in the Han clan's kilns were also considered accomplices; only some clan members and employees who were not directly involved were treated as accessories and were exiled or had their property confiscated.

Regardless of the crime committed, these people need some money to settle themselves or their families.

If there's a price, you can get it.

Moreover, the government ordered her to temporarily take over the Han family's porcelain kiln, and she would use this as an excuse to meet with the Han family. Therefore, at present, apart from her, no one else has the opportunity to buy the Han family's porcelain-making techniques.

Upon hearing this, Steward Zhu was immediately relieved: "I heard that Madam wants to build another coal kiln?"

Xie Yuyan nodded.

Manager Zhu was somewhat worried: "After Bianjing started using coal extensively, our master... Han Si also had people try to replace firewood with coal, but unfortunately... it didn't work. Not only did the porcelain not fire, but the kiln was also damaged. Our manpower here may not be able to do these things." He spoke the truth to avoid causing the porcelain kiln to lose money.

Xie Yuyan said, "The temperature of a coal kiln is different from that of a wood kiln, so you will inevitably find it difficult to adapt. Besides, the method of building a coal kiln is also different from that of a wood kiln."

"However, you don't need to worry. The craftsmen I have can repair coal kilns and control the fire. You just need to select a few craftsmen and learn how to use coal kilns from them. However, the firing techniques of coal kilns cannot be passed on to outsiders. These craftsmen need to sign a contract with me."

Manager Zhu nodded repeatedly: "Of course, that's how it was when we were at the Han family's porcelain kiln."

Xie Yuyan continued, "I will no longer inquire about the Han family's porcelain kiln in the past, but from now on, the porcelain kiln must operate according to my rules. When firing porcelain, the kiln must be manned in shifts, and the craftsmen and employees must not be beaten or scolded at will. If the craftsmen have new firing techniques, we must reward them according to the rules."

"Inside the kiln, if there are any craftsmen's family members who are willing to do the odd jobs such as grinding glaze and drying clay bodies, we will consider them first, and their wages will be settled in the same way as the kiln's employees."

At this point, Xie Yuyan paused, "As long as the work can be done well, men or women are both acceptable."

Manager Zhu was somewhat surprised. In the past, these jobs were done by the manager sent by the master who would find other people to do them. These jobs were easy and not tiring. The people who were placed in the workshop were either paid little or the master would try to squeeze some money out of them. Now that the lady of the house was giving the craftsmen's families a benefit, it was another kind of benefit. Moreover, it was possible for both men and women to do it...

“Madam, just for this reason alone, the kiln artisans will do their best to work,” Steward Zhu said, then realized something was amiss. “That’s not what I meant… Even if you don’t give them this benefit, they will still work hard.”

Xie Yuyan smiled slightly: "In this way, I will feel more at ease and at peace when doing things."

“Yes, yes,” said Steward Zhu, “that’s exactly what I meant.”

Xie Yuyan said, "Also, the craftsmen have three days off each month, with holidays calculated separately. As the weather gets hotter, you need to plan ahead for manpower so that they can take turns to avoid the heat."

"Once the market opens, a lot of porcelain will be needed. However, while firing porcelain is important, the safety of the hired workers and craftsmen must be ensured first."