Chapter 35: The Skills of a Craftsman
Zhu Zaijing is arbitrary, how can he listen to Meng Chong’s advice?
Zhu Zaijing said: "If you are asked to buy it, just go and buy it. Can I really take you to drink the northwest wind?"
Meng Chong was caught by Zhu Zaijing's sudden rise. His aura was also startled, and his voice suddenly became weak, "I'll go right now, slave."
Zhu Zaijing nodded with satisfaction, "That's right."
Then he explained: "As long as it is good, not bad. The more delicate and compact the better, but it must not be as small as a snuff bottle."
Meng Chong didn't know what a snuff bottle was, because Snuff bottles were introduced to the Ming Dynasty only a few decades later and were gradually orientalized as works of art.
Although Meng Chong didn't know about snuff bottles, he also understood that Zhu Zaijing's request must be a small glass bottle that could hold about one tael of sugar. With this appointment, he naturally knew what to do. What kind of glass bottle are you looking for?
Meng Chong had no choice but to go to the Wangfu's accounting room to withdraw a sum of money, and then went to Liulichang in Xicheng District according to Zhu Zaijing's request.
At this time, Liulichang was not as prosperous as it would be in later generations. The main reason was because the West Market in Xicheng District was the execution ground where the imperial court dealt with death row prisoners.
Therefore, the industries gathered in Xicheng District at this time are also relatively large-scale low-end industries and handicraft industries with relatively low added value, which are not as prosperous as the commercial district with many shops in Dongshi.
When Liulichang really became prosperous, we had to wait until the "Qing Dynasty" more than a hundred years later.
Because when the Qing Dynasty first entered the customs, the Qing Dynasty implemented "Manchu and Han living in separate cities", and Liulichang was just to the west of the outer city, so most of the Han officials at that time lived nearby.
Later, with the stability of the world and the rise of commerce again, merchant guilds all over the country were built near this place, making this place gradually prosperous.
Officials and candidates rushing for exams often gathered here to visit the book markets, so the prosperous Qianmen, Dengshikou and Chenghuang Temple book markets in Xicheng during the Ming Dynasty gradually moved to Liulichang.
Booksellers from all over the country also set up stalls, built rooms and sold large collections of books here. The bustling market and convenient conditions have naturally formed "a place for elegant travel in Kyoto", making Liulichang gradually develop into the largest book market in Beijing, forming a cultural street market with a gathering of humanities, including culturally related pens, inks, paper, inkstones, antiques, calligraphy and paintings. And so on, it also develops.
But now Liulichang is just a little-known gathering place for ordinary civilians in the capital. It is one of the five major factories of the Ministry of Industry of the Imperial Court.
But even though Liulichang is a court unit, it still does private work.
After all, how many glazed utensils can the imperial court purchase throughout the year? If they want to support such a large group of glaze craftsmen and their dependent families, they have to find ways to make some extra money, otherwise they will really starve to death.
After Meng Chong arrived at Liulichang, he visited the honorable products of Liulichang under the leadership of the old master of Liulichang. Finally, Meng Chong finally found a small glass bottle suitable for holding white sugar.
This small glass vase is a small jar with a round belly similar to an incense burner. It is also painted with plum blossoms, orchids, bamboos and chrysanthemums. It looks extremely exquisite. The only drawback is that it has no lid.
Meng Chong said to the old master of Liulichang: "We think this bottle is good, but it is not good enough. If you can make the mouth of this can tighter, and then match it with It would be nice to put on a delicate stopper.”
The old master understood Meng Chong’s words and immediately understood what Meng Chong meant, and quickly replied: “My father-in-law can do this, little man. You can make it if you know how."
Meng Chong said, "Then you can make a few first and see if they are done well. Our family may need hundreds."
When the old master heard that he actually wanted hundreds, his eyes immediately lit up. He was a big boss, and he was also a father-in-law. He would definitely be rich in money!
The old master immediately patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, father-in-law. As long as what I do is not in line with my father-in-law's wishes, I am willing to help my father-in-law change it for free until he is satisfied."
Meng Chong still knew the level of the Liulichang craftsmen very well. Yes, after all, he has come to Liulichang to buy many glazed vases for decoration in the palace over the years.
Meng Chong said: "You go ahead and do it, let's go shopping again."
The old master did not dare to disturb Meng Chong and continue to visit Liulichang. He was also busy following the instructions at this time. Meng Chong requested to make a glass vase.
The production of colored glaze is actually not much different from the process of making glass, and the most obvious difference between the two is that one is white and transparent, and the other is brightly colored and opaque.
The old master's skills are still very superb. He calcined a piece of raw material for making colored glaze at high temperature. After the raw material was completely reddened and softened, he immediately used a tool to roll out a lump of fiery red and soft colored glaze, and then Rotate and shape while wearing thick fireproof gloves. Whenever the temperature of the glass was about to drop, he would stop and continue to burn it in a high-temperature furnace.
After it turns red and softens, pull it out again and continue to shape the glass embryo with your hands wearing fireproof gloves.
After repeating this process for more than ten times, the master finally made the shape requested by Meng Chong.
Then the old master didn't take a break, he continued to do the second one, and he continued to do it for ten times before he stopped.
Then the master picked up the first glass bottle that had cooled down and began to paint. The artistic conception of proud snow and cold plum blossoms was detailed and detailed under the master's exquisite brush, which looked really beautiful.
After painting the first one, the old master started to draw the second one. The second old master painted a blooming chrysanthemum. On the other side of the chrysanthemum, the old master also sketched a white cloth. The image of a literati is like a picture of Tao Yuanming appreciating chrysanthemums.
Looking at the exquisite craftsmanship of this old master, it can be seen that there is really a crouching tiger, hidden dragon in this Liulichang. It is a pity that their status is too low. Even if they make exquisite works of art, they He can only earn enough money to feed and clothe his family.
After the ten glazed bottles were finished, the master found a piece of cork as required and made ten wooden stoppers that could just fit the glazed bottles tightly. Moreover, for the sake of beauty, the master also added a piece of cork to each bottle. The cork has small paintings of plum blossoms, orchids, bamboos and chrysanthemums corresponding to those on the bottle.
If this craftsmanship is left to future generations, it will be a master who is the inheritor of intangible culture, and there will be no need to worry about food and drink expenses. At this age, I would not have to grovel in Liulichang to solicit customers.
Meng Chong also walked around and returned to the old master at this time. He also liked the ten bottles made by the old master very much.
Meng Chong praised: "What you did is really good, you deserve to be Liu Yishou from Liulichang."
Liu Yishou said respectfully to Meng Chong: "As long as I agree with my father-in-law, it will be done. Even if the villain’s efforts were not in vain.”
Meng Chong hummed, “How much money is this in total?”
Liu Yishou was very happy when he heard Meng Chong talking about the money. He was waiting for it. This is the moment.
Liu Yishou said shyly: "One is 800 Wen, ten is 8 taels."
When he heard that the ten bottles cost 8 taels, Meng Chong suddenly felt as if he had stepped on his tail, "What? One like this You want 800 yuan for a small bottle?”
Liu Yishou quickly yelled: “My father-in-law is really not talking nonsense. This is the price of the glazed stone and the glazed mother.” Dare to scream. ”
Glazed stone is the raw material of paper-burning glass, which is natural crystal fragments, and glass mother is the mineral pigment used to color the glass, with cinnabar, lapis lazuli, realgar, Mainly galena, etc.
The prices of these things are not cheap, and there is really no way to reduce them.
But Meng Chong still thought it was expensive, and Meng Chong said: "Every time it's a hundred cents cheaper, our family will pay seven taels!"
How can it be that it's a hundred cents each? Can't even cover the cost.
Liu Yishou replied: "The most is 20 Wen!"
Meng Chong gritted his teeth and said: "50 Wen!"
After Liu Yishou heard the fifty Wen, he was heartbroken. He also calculated silently, and it seemed that this order could still earn a few hundred coins. He gritted his teeth and said: "Okay, fifty coins is fifty coins. Each one is 750 coins, a total of 7 taels and 5 coins."
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Meng Chong took out the silver in pain and said, "Wrap it carefully. If one of them is broken, our family will come to you to refund the money." Carefully wrap ten glass bottles and put them into a wooden box to ensure that there will be no problems.
(End of this chapter)