Chapter 38: Firing the Kiln
Chapter 38: Firing the Kiln
After receiving a 20-yuan red envelope from the bride's family, Deng Shirong's wealth soared to over 370 yuan. Now, with the groom's gift of a 30-yuan red envelope and the system's tenfold reward, he had an additional 330 yuan, bringing his total to over 700 yuan—a substantial sum.
With such a large amount of money, Deng Shirong felt the time was ripe to build a house.
After all, building a house in this era was vastly different from the future. In the future, labor costs would account for nearly half of the total cost, sometimes even surpassing the cost of materials. But in this era, labor costs were minimal. He could call on relatives, friends, and villagers for help, and all he needed to do was provide food—no wages were necessary.
Thus, Deng Shirong could use his 700 yuan entirely for purchasing building materials.
For most families, this amount would be enough to build several mud-brick houses. However, for Deng Shirong, it wasn't enough to build the house he envisioned.
Of course, while his current funds were insufficient, building a house wasn't an overnight process. It would take at least a few months, and he could even arrange to buy materials on credit, giving him room to maneuver.
With a few months' buffer, he could help arrange more marriages and, with the tenfold reward from the "Matchmaker Reward System," earn a significant amount of money.
Moreover, the first batch of pottery at the kiln factory was about to be fired. If everything went smoothly, the factory would start making money soon.
With this confidence, Deng Shirong announced to his children that they would be building a new house this month.
...
In the countryside, no matter how much you achieved outside, if you didn't have a decent house in your hometown, the villagers would look down on you, even if they didn't say it openly.
Your success outside was invisible to them, but the state of your house in the village was plain for everyone to see.
Therefore, in the future, those who earned money or held positions of power would spend a considerable amount to build a beautiful house in their hometown, so the villagers would know they were doing well and would have something to show for their occasional visits.
In his previous life, Deng Shirong's four sons had done quite well. Even the second son, Deng Yunheng, who had taken the path of gambling, had achieved a level of success that many envied.
The third son, Deng Yunsong, held a government position and retired with a senior-level pension the year Deng Shirong was reborn. Achieving such a position without family connections was a remarkable feat.
The fourth son, Deng Yunhua, ran a fruit wholesale business in the county and made a good income.
The fifth son, Deng Yunheng, became a small contractor, taking jobs from larger contractors and earning around 300,000 to 500,000 yuan a year, making him a respected figure in the village.
All four brothers did well outside, and they wanted their house in the village to reflect their success. So, they pooled their resources and built a fine house in their hometown.
The design of the house was a collaboration between the fifth son, Deng Yunheng, and their father, Deng Shirong. Deng Shirong was involved from start to finish and lived in the house for nearly two decades, so he knew every detail of it.
Now, when he thought about building a new house, his first thought was to replicate the one from his previous life.
However, he could only dream about it. Not only did he lack the funds, but even if he had them, he needed to be cautious. It was the early days of the reform and opening-up, and many things were still unstable. He didn't want to draw unnecessary attention.
Thus, after much consideration, Deng Shirong decided to build his new house as a blue-brick, large-tiled house. This would meet his living requirements without being overly extravagant, and most importantly, the cost would be manageable. In a few years, when the time was right, he could tear it down and rebuild without any regrets.
...
Three days later.
The brick and tile factory began loading the kiln.
Loading and firing the kiln were highly specialized tasks, typically handled by the factory’s master craftsman. This master craftsman, second only to the owner in status, was not just because the techniques were more advanced but because any mistake in either step would ruin the entire batch, causing significant financial loss.
Therefore, the importance of loading and firing the kiln could not be overstated.
Some factories had dedicated master craftsmen for these tasks, while others had them handled by the same person who made the large vats. In Deng Shirong’s factory, the master craftsman was none other than Deng YunGui, one of the owners.
Deng YunGui had been the master craftsman of the village’s kiln, responsible for loading and firing, for many years. His experience was vast, and he had never made a mistake. With him overseeing everything, Deng Shirong was completely at ease.
Of course, loading and firing the kiln were not tasks that could be handled by one person alone.
Loading the kiln could be done by two people, though it would be more labor-intensive and time-consuming. However, firing the kiln required continuous attention for several days and nights, with fires maintained in multiple spots. At least seven or eight people were needed, working in two shifts.
Deng Shirong did not go to the factory while the kiln was being loaded.
He only arrived when it was time to light the fire and begin the firing process.
On the day of the firing, the factory would offer sacrifices to the Great Emperor of Splendid Light, believed to be the patron deity of commerce, and seek his blessing for all business endeavors. They would prepare two tables adorned with food and drink, reminiscent of the opening ceremonies depicted in modern films.
...
"Here, YunGui, I offer you this drink. You’ll have a tough few days ahead!" Deng Shirong raised his glass.
With the harvest just around the corner, Deng YunGui was in high spirits. He smiled and said, "Uncle Jiu, you’re too kind. I’m only responsible for overseeing the process. The actual firing will be done by YunTai and the others. I won’t be too busy."
They took a sip of the drink, and then Deng Shirong asked, "Where do you plan to sell the first batch of goods, YunGui?"
Deng YunGui put down his bowl and replied, "In the past, we always sold our goods in Hepu County. I don’t plan to change that. What do you think, Uncle Jiu?"
Deng Shirong swallowed his mouthful of food and said, "Starting with a steady approach is fine. However, I suggest that when you take the goods to Hepu, don’t rush back after selling them. Take the opportunity to visit Beihai and check the market prices there. If they’re higher than in Hepu, we can send the second batch to Beihai."
Deng YunGui nodded in agreement. "Uncle Jiu, how about this: once the first batch is ready, I’ll go with you to Hepu to sell them, and then we can both visit Beihai to check the market?"
Deng Shirong waved his hand and smiled. "I won’t go. Let YunTai go with you. You’ve been in this business for so long; checking the market won’t be a problem for you."
Deng YunGui laughed heartily and dropped the matter. Indeed, checking the market was not a difficult task.
After a satisfying meal, Deng YunGui, surrounded by onlookers, lit the first fire in the kiln.
(End of Chapter)
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