Chapter 117 Old Man Dong
Sure enough, following Sister Zhang's leadership, there was a workshop next to Sister Zhang's workshop.
However, the yard outside the workshop was not filled with chamber pots like Sister Zhang, but was so empty that Zhang Yi thought there was no one inside.
Once you enter the yard, you can hear the "squeak, creaking" friction sound of the backyard.
Zhang Yi is very familiar with this sound. He is stepping on the wheel of the embryo making. However, it is obvious that the industry at this time was not as developed as later generations. There is obviously no bearing in the wheel but something similar made of wood, and the sound is a bit harsh.
"My father-in-law is inside. I think I'm working now!" Sister Zhang led Zhang Yi while introducing the pottery workshop of her husband's family.
After learning about Zhang Yi, I realized that Sister Zhang's husband's surname was Dong, and his ancestors made pottery for generations. In the most prosperous period, Old Man Dong was responsible for a workshop, and his son Dong Wenming was also responsible for one.
Of course, the reason for dividing into two workshops is not to separate the houses, but to split them into two workshops to attract more business.
Although the pottery business has declined now, it is very comfortable to live with the old family and the old foundation.
When his son was free, he would go to the dock to help others fight for some health. Old Man Dong was so old that he could not go out to work as a hard worker, so he continued to make some pottery for his wife to sell it in the workshop at this door.
This layout obviously shows that Old Man Dong is a bit tricky, at least he is quite active and not something that ordinary people can think of.
When I came to the backyard, there were indeed many prepared chamber pots displayed everywhere, and in addition to this, there were many other pottery. At this time, Old Man Zhang was concentrating on making the rough embryo of this chamber pot.
However, Zhang Yi was a little disappointed. He was surprised to think that he was using a connecting rod-pedal embryo, and was sighing that the wisdom of the working class turned out to be the original embryo that was turned by his hands.
However, even so, a piece of clay instantly turned into an exquisite pottery chamber pot with a great artistic sense while it was turning, which still made Zhang Yi secretly amazed.
With the skills of this old man Dong, if he was in later generations, he would be at least a master-level figure, so it would be a bit of a waste of time to make ceramic movable type.
"Brother-in-law, this is..." Sister Zhang looked at her father-in-law doing things and was about to introduce Zhang Yi to him, but then she realized that after talking for a long time, she only knew that Zhang Yi was his own family, and she couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed without even asking what Zhang Yi called.
"Who bought pottery?" Seeing that his wife brought someone in, Old Man Dong knew that it must be a business that came to the door, so he quickly stopped the work in his hand and looked at the two of them.
"That's right!" Zhang Yi bowed and smiled, "It's just the one who bought some pottery, but it's not ready-made, but customized. Specifically, it's made according to our requirements, but we need to fire it into porcelain, but we don't know that Uncle Dong may be glazed?"
As the saying goes, ceramics are not divided, so you can naturally make porcelain. Zhang Yi believes that Old Man Dong is so skillful in his skills, obviously he should be able to do porcelain. Even if he doesn't know how to find relevant people, it's not difficult to learn.
After hearing Zhang Yi's words, Old Man Dong frowned and said, "I know how to make porcelain, but you also know that the soil in Jiangning is not good, and the quality of the porcelain made is much worse than other places. If you have too high requirements, I will forgive my old man for not receiving the goods. First, I am not doing it badly and smashing my signboard, and second, you will also lose money, right?"
Seeing that her father-in-law was lukewarm and insisted on pushing out the business he had obtained, Sister Zhang suddenly became anxious.
"Father-in-law, have you been to Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province for a while before? "My sister Zhang hurriedly squeezed her eyes at Old Man Dong and said, "And with your skills, even if the soil quality in Jiangning is a little worse, it will not be impossible to sell it, right?"
You should know that the pottery business is difficult to do now, and few people are interested in it except for some old customers. The most important thing is that Zhang Yi dressed up as a servant. In his opinion, it is very likely that he was sent by a wealthy family to specialize in purchasing. As long as the business is negotiated, the order will naturally be quite large.
"What did you say?" Old Man Dong immediately raised his eyebrows, glared at Sister Zhang, and snorted coldly: "Business is business, craftsmanship is craftsmanship, this is a matter of two things. No matter how good the porcelain made by Jiangning Tu is, it will be useless. Moreover, this young man is obviously helping the mansion. If he buys the inferior porcelain and goes back, wouldn't it harm him?"
Zhang Yi not only secretly admired him.
This old man Dong is really good.
He obviously can make money as long as he agrees, but he refuses it. It is obviously for his own sake. Such an old artist is really kind!
Sister Zhang didn't say anything after hearing Old Man Dong say this. She just thought about how much money she could make, but now she seems a little unstoppable when she sees things are not that simple.
Her face turned red and she turned her head to apologize to Zhang Yi: "Brother and sister never thought about your situation. I'm really sorry! However, I have known some merchants for so many years. Why don't I introduce two to you? It's cheaper to buy them!"
"Then I would like to thank Sister Zhang and Uncle Dong for their kindness!" Zhang Yi smiled and bowed his hand to express his gratitude again, and then said: "But there is no need for this. The porcelain I need is not so much, but the craftsmanship is a little more complicated. I wonder if Uncle Dong can make it?"
In fact, the process of ceramic movable type is very simple, it is just to make movable type into uniform sizes, but there is an extra process in the middle, that is, engraving.
This will cause some delays in time and will also make glazing and other processes dull, so this problem will undoubtedly make ceramic movable type appear a bit repetitive.
The most important thing is that there are very few scholars in this era, and it is undoubtedly another trouble to find another carving master and Old Man Dong to cooperate.
"Hahaha!" After hearing Zhang Yi's words, Old Man Dong suddenly burst into laughter and raised his head and said proudly: "The craftsmanship is complicated? How complicated is it? I, Old Man Dong, have been making pottery for forty years. Although I dare not say that I am one of the best in Jiangning, I am still a little famous with these hands. I ask myself that I have some skills. If you really don't mind the difference in the color of the porcelain made from Jiangning soil, you might as well tell me!"
Chapter completed!