Episode 8 recap: Chen Xiaoman worked hard to create a kind of blue.
In the early morning, Chen Xiaoman got up and packed her things, preparing to leave. Suddenly, she remembered that she had forgotten an important item. She quickly searched and finally found her power bank. She recalled how Ke Yan referred to himself as her "power bank," and she felt genuinely happy. Chen Xiaoman went to Rain Sword's studio and discovered that her childhood friend's craftsmanship had been improving. Many of the vases had exquisite and vibrant colors, they were incredibly beautiful. Several friends had already reserved their desired vases, and Chen Xiaoman felt a bit disappointed. However, Rain Sword had already brought out a large collection box filled with his most satisfying creations from the past few years. It also contained many adorable and colorful little animals, which made Chen Xiaoman very happy.
Ke Yan also arrived and begged Chen Xiaoman to continue being his tour guide. As they were chatting, they suddenly saw Quan Ge and his wife bringing in many boxes of porcelain. Quan Ge and his wife were no longer planning to continue in this line of work, and before leaving, they wanted Rain Sword to sell their unsold porcelain on their behalf. Realizing that the current market conditions were indeed unfavorable, Rain Sword felt sorry for Quan Ge. They must have lost a lot of money due to the large number of unsold products.
Seeing this situation, Ke Yan offered a suggestion: they should do a live stream to promote and sell the porcelain. It was the first time the kiln had encountered live streaming sales. Chen Xiaoman, somewhat skeptical, found a live streamer. To her surprise, in no time, they achieved unexpectedly high sales. Seeing the smile on Quan Ge's face, Rain Sword gradually let go of his resentment towards Ke Yan. They decided to continue with the orders they received today, believing that Quan Ge would regain his confidence and wouldn't go back.
Ke Yan was undoubtedly a hero in helping the local artisans solve the problem of unsold products. He proactively invited Chen Xiaoman to join him in starting a new business. This time, Chen Xiaoman hesitated a little. Nowadays, she saw porcelain every day and had a strong desire to try her hand at pottery again. She no longer wanted to work in sales like before. Chen Xiaoman's third uncle was still resting at home, but the kiln received a large order for a type of blue that had never been attempted before. Her third uncle couldn't rest assured and was preparing to personally take on the task. Xu Man was worried about his health and wanted him to rest at home, but her third uncle couldn't sit still. Chen Xiaoman suggested that she accompany her third uncle so that she could also take care of him.
In the studio, Chen Xiaoman's uncle frowned deeply. There were many shades of blue, but the specific shade mentioned in the order was something they had never attempted before. Figuring out the right proportions and the materials needed for the pigment was a challenging task. Seeing her uncle's distressed expression, Chen Xiaoman felt anxious as well. If they couldn't deliver on time, the kiln would face substantial penalties for breach of contract.
Ke Yan noticed that Chen Xiaoman was feeling down, and upon hearing her worries, he suggested giving it a try. What if they succeeded? At first, Chen Xiaoman lacked confidence, but Ke Yan's words reminded her of something. She went back home and reviewed her father's notes on porcelain-making. Chen Xiaoman decided to try it out according to her own ideas. She personally sought out her elder uncle and asked him how to master the firing process. Throughout the night, she diligently tended to the kiln, carefully adding firewood, and ensuring that the temperature of the flame remained within a certain range.
In the early morning, her elder uncle prepared breakfast and saw that Chen Xiaoman hadn't slept all night. He comforted her, advising her not to push herself too hard. He mentioned that her stepmother still harbored some resentment towards her, and if she failed to achieve the desired colors, it might alleviate some of that resentment. Finally, after multiple attempts, Chen Xiaoman successfully produced several shades of blue. She selected a few colors that satisfied her and wanted to show them to the workers. However, upon arriving at the kiln, she fell silent upon seeing the long table filled with various shades of blue. None of those colors were what the customers needed, and the richness and variety of those colors far exceeded her own creations.
In order to experience the colors that consumers liked, Chen Xiaoman personally went to the Tea Garden after the rain and carefully observed the changing hues of the clouds and the blue sky. The colors were both warm and fantastical, evoking a sense of excitement. Inspired by this, Chen Xiaoman returned to her elder uncle's studio and broke away from tradition, starting the firing process anew.
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