After the porcelain kiln had been burning 24 hours a day for several days, it was finally time to start firing porcelain.
The villagers of Yangliu Village, who had never seen porcelain firing before, all came to watch the fun.
Xia Qianqian mixed the clay with some other things to make a particularly sticky mud. She fiddled with the mud with her slender hands and soon made several bottles and jars.
The finished bottles and jars are placed in a cool place until they are half dry, and then they are shaped with a knife. Finally, they are put into a kiln and put into the porcelain kiln for refining.
For the first batch of porcelain, Xia Qianqian used ordinary porcelain clay and did not glaze it.
This way, even if it fails, it won't be a waste of materials.
The temperature of the furnace gradually rose, and Xia Qianqian walked around the porcelain kiln.
As long as the temperature inside the furnace reaches 800, her eyes will automatically open and she can see the situation inside the furnace.
The flames were blazing, and the porcelain kiln was all red.
Liu Bo and others added fire according to Xia Qianqian's instructions, effectively avoiding unstable furnace temperature.
Everyone was watching and waiting expectantly.
Pingning Town is poor. Being able to produce Xia tiles and willow bricks is already very good. If Xia Qianqian can really make porcelain, the whole Pingning Town will be excited!
"Fellow villagers, let's go back and don't wait any longer. It won't be ready in a while. It has to be burned all night!" Xia Qianqian said with a smile.
“Why does it take so long to burn?”
"Won't that mean it won't be ready until tomorrow morning?"
"Yes." Xia Qianqian nodded, "If you want to watch the fun, come back tomorrow!"
"All right!"
The villagers stayed until dark and then gradually dispersed.
Xia Dingfeng was even more excited than Xia Qianqian and refused to leave: "Qianqian, you are tired, go home and rest. I will watch the kiln for you here."
"Uncle San, thank you for your kindness. But I have to see the kiln in person." Xia Qianqian said. She was very confident in her semi-finished product, and the success or failure depended on the kiln temperature.
Xia Dingfeng was unhappy and frowned: "Qianqian, do you not trust your uncle?"
"No, you don't know how to look at the kiln temperature." Xia Qianqian looked at Xia Dingfeng.
In fact, Xia Dingfeng is not that bad. Although he is selfish, lazy and greedy, he is not particularly evil. Unlike Xia Dinghai, he dared to kill his brother!
"Can you read it?" Xia Dingfeng asked, "I have been following my elder brother in making tiles for many years, but I still can't read it very well!"
"Then how do you usually burn tiles?" Xia Qianqian asked.
Xia Dingfeng scratched his head embarrassedly: "Big brother and second brother are in charge, I just need to follow and do the work on the side."
Xia Qianqian's eyes twitched fiercely: "What will you do in the future?"
"I don't know." Xia Dingfeng looked around and saw that everyone was far away, so he lowered his voice and said, "Actually, I don't want to make tiles anymore. I want to follow you and make porcelain."
"That won't work." Xia Qianqian refused mercilessly.
There are some people you can get along with, but you can never be friends with them!
"Making tiles is the Xia family's business, you can't give up." Xia Qianqian said, "I'll teach you how to check the temperature of the furnace later, and you can run the tile kiln well."
Xia Dingfeng didn't dare to say no, so he had to smile and said, "Okay, Third Uncle will listen to you."
It's chilly in spring, and it gets even colder at night.
Liu Bo and others sat by the porcelain stove, watching the fire and talking. Four men kept watch over the fire and took turns to rest.
Only Xia Qianqian wrapped herself in a cloak, holding a hand warmer, and dared not close her eyes. She would get up from time to time and walk around the porcelain kiln.
Liu Bo and others didn't know what she was looking at. Every time she walked around the porcelain kiln and came back, she would tell them how to add fire.
(End of this chapter)