Transmigrated Into an Ancient Filial Piety Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (GL) - Chapter 57

Chapter 57

At the same time, not far from Ji Huan’s house, a few villagers sat outside chatting. As they talked, they brought up Ji Huan again.

“Hey, did you know? Yesterday, Ji Huan’s house had smoke going until midnight. No idea what she was doing.”

“Yeah, yeah, I saw it too when I got up at night. The fire was stronger than in winter.”

“Has that girl been upset by the Ji family? What’s she been up to these days?”

“No clue. I asked Er Zhuzi yesterday, and he said he didn’t know either.”

Meanwhile, Ji Huan, preparing to start work in the backyard, didn’t know people were talking about her. The kiln had cooled down completely. She opened the kiln door and took out several clay trays.

With a quick glance, Ji Huan saw that the first tray had at least five or six cracked teacups. The second and third trays were the same.

Last night, Ji Huan had put in about ninety-five rough teacups. Now, only seventy-three remained intact.

Ji Qiao looked at the teacups, her eyes shining. “Sister, these look a bit like those expensive purple clay teacups sold outside.”

Ji Huan smiled lightly and shook her head. “These are just half-finished. The most important step is still to come.”

“What’s the most important step?” Ji Qiao asked.

“Glazing the teacups and firing them a second time,” Ji Huan said while tossing the broken teacups aside.

“Sister, is there anything we can help with?” Jiang Yubai asked. She and Ji Qiao were new to this and had no idea how to assist Ji Huan.

Ji Huan nodded. They could actually help her this time. “First, help me crush the clay finer and mix it with water. It’ll be very useful later.”

“Okay,” Ji Huan said. Jiang Yubai and Ji Qiao quickly started mixing the clay.

When the clay was almost ready, Ji Huan showed them how to make saggers for holding teacups. “Look, the base and walls should be the same thickness. Shape them into cylinders like this, but don’t close the top. Just follow my example. You two try it.”

“Okay,” Jiang Yubai nodded and started shaping the clay as Ji Huan instructed. Ji Qiao did the same. Both were clever and careful. Their first attempts were a bit clumsy, but the saggers they made later got better and better.

Ji Huan first soaked all the pre-fired rough teacups in water to help the glaze stick better later.

Then came a crucial step: preparing the glaze. Ji Huan poured some glaze into a large wooden basin, slowly added clear water, and stirred quickly with a wooden stick until the glaze became a thin paste.

She pinched a bit of glaze and felt it, estimating as she added small amounts of plant ash several times until the consistency felt right. A basin of red clay-colored glaze was ready. She cleared impurities from the surface, and the glaze was usable.

Ji Huan set the plant ash aside, keeping only the glaze and rough teacups nearby. “Yubai, how many saggers have you made? Bring a few over so I can check if they’re usable.”

“Okay,” Jiang Yubai replied, placing the saggers she and Ji Qiao made next to Ji Huan.

Ji Huan checked them and confirmed the saggers were usable, feeling a bit relieved.

Jiang Yubai watched Ji Huan curiously, wondering what she would do next.

Ji Huan picked up a rough teacup. Using the dipping method, she held the teacup by its foot, poured some glaze inside, and gently swirled it to coat the interior evenly. Then she poured out the excess glaze, flipped the teacup upside down, and dipped it into the glaze again, stopping short of the base to leave a glaze-stop line. This left a small section of the original clay exposed, a tradition passed down since the Song Dynasty.

Ji Huan paused to ensure the glaze wouldn’t drip. She finished glazing the first teacup and continued with the others, one by one. She was so focused that she didn’t hear anything outside. By the time all the teacups were glazed, the sun was nearly setting.

Next, the teacups needed to air-dry, and any excess glaze had to be carefully removed to make the finished Jian ware teacups look better.

After dinner and a short rest, the teacups were almost dry. The most critical step—the second firing—was next.

Ji Huan had Ji Qiao and Jiang Yubai help put thick layers of plant ash powder at the bottom of the saggers to prevent the teacups from sticking during firing. Then they carefully placed the teacups in the saggers, stacking them one on top of another up to half a person’s height.

Ji Huan carried the stacks of saggers into the kiln. Luckily, she wasn’t firing many teacups, or this small kiln wouldn’t have been enough.

After placing all seventy-three saggers in the kiln, Ji Huan took a deep breath and closed the kiln door. The rest depended on her experience and a bit of luck.

“Sister, will we have to fire until midnight again?” Ji Qiao asked curiously. She was fascinated by what her sister was doing. At home, she only saw farm work or chores and never imagined she could help make teacups.

Ji Huan looked at the little girl and smiled. “It’s not that simple. This firing needs a full day and night plus three more hours without stopping. The temperature must be just right. No mistakes, or it’s all for nothing.”

A normal second firing took thirty hours. Then the firewood had to be removed, and the kiln cooled to below one hundred degrees before opening. In modern times, electric kilns saved time, but in ancient times, only Ji Huan had experience firing teacups.

“A day and a night? Won’t you be exhausted?” Jiang Yubai’s eyes reddened as she continued, “Can’t Ji Qiao and I help you?”

“No, really. I’m not even sure how many will turn out well. You two rest first. When these teacups are done, I’ll sleep soundly. Don’t worry. We don’t fire every day. After one firing, we rest for six or seven days. I’m not alone—you and Ji Qiao need me to take care of you. I’ll look after myself.”

Seeing Jiang Yubai wasn’t comforted and nearly crying, Ji Huan quickly added, “I want to eat meat tomorrow. Buy some to help me recover, okay?”

Ji Huan took out one hundred wen and placed it in Jiang Yubai’s hand. “Be good. The house depends on you and Ji Qiao.”

Jiang Yubai sniffled, holding back tears, but said, “Then I’ll stay with you a bit longer before sleeping.”

“Sister, I’ll stay too. It’s too early to sleep,” Ji Qiao added, unwilling to leave.

Ji Huan looked at them helplessly and nodded. “Fine, stay a bit longer, but then go rest early.”

“Okay,” Ji Qiao replied obediently.

Ji Huan began adding firewood. The kiln’s temperature needed to rise gradually. Firing required maintaining high heat and a good reducing atmosphere. Jian ware teacups demanded skill in the kiln. If the timing, degree, or frequency of reduction wasn’t right, the desired glaze color wouldn’t appear.

Once the teacups were in the kiln, Ji Huan had to focus on controlling the temperature, or the teacups might all be defective.

She added firewood slowly as the sky grew darker. Ji Huan urged the two girls to sleep and stayed in the backyard guarding the kiln.

The first half of the night was fine, but by the second half, Ji Huan felt sleepy. To stay awake, she stood and paced whenever she felt drowsy.

Staying up all night was tough. At dawn, Jiang Yubai and Ji Qiao brought her food.

“Sister, can’t you rest a bit? Can we watch the fire for you?” Jiang Yubai asked quickly.

“Only for a short while—a cup of tea’s time at most. After I eat and visit the outhouse, you two watch the fire. Don’t add wood. Wait for me to return,” Ji Huan said, eating breakfast quickly.

After using the outhouse, she returned and added firewood based on experience. She was sweating heavily. By noon, the kiln’s heat was intense, and Ji Huan’s clothes stayed soaked.

They even ran out of firewood. Jiang Yubai and Ji Qiao took the mule cart to fetch more, barely getting enough.

Time passed slowly. By evening, Ji Huan urged Jiang Yubai and Ji Qiao to rest again. She kept adding firewood. The kiln’s temperature had to reach about 1300 degrees before stopping. A few more hours should do it.

Ji Huan waited until three in the morning, barely staying awake by sheer willpower. When she felt the kiln’s temperature was right, she removed the firewood.

Smelling her clothes, Ji Huan nearly gagged. She took an oil lamp to the kitchen to heat water for washing before sleeping, then heard a noise at the door.

“Sister, I’ll heat the water. Go rest,” Jiang Yubai said, entering the kitchen with an oil lamp.

“Why aren’t you asleep?” Ji Huan forced her eyes open, trying to look alert to avoid worrying Jiang Yubai.

“I slept a bit and woke up. Let me do it. You rest,” Jiang Yubai said, pulling Ji Huan’s wrist away from the stove.

Jiang Yubai quickly started heating water. Ji Huan leaned against the wall, watching her. Her eyes could barely stay open, her body ached, and her head hurt. She wanted to hug Little White Rabbit and sleep.

But the naughty rabbit wouldn’t let her touch. Ji Huan pouted, feeling wronged.

Seeing Ji Huan nearly asleep against the wall, Jiang Yubai’s heart ached. She quickly said, “Sister, wash up and sleep soon. I’ll wash your clothes.”

“No need. I’ll wash them tomorrow morning,” Ji Huan said. She was too embarrassed to let Jiang Yubai wash her clothes.

Seeing Ji Huan about to fall asleep, Jiang Yubai said, “Sister, the water’s hot.”

“Okay, I’ll get a basin,” Ji Huan replied. Her mind felt rusty, unable to think without prompting. She was exhausted. This intense work made her head feel like it would explode.

She grabbed a wooden basin. Jiang Yubai insisted on carrying it, mixed hot and cold water, and brought it to Ji Huan’s room.

After Jiang Yubai left, Ji Huan changed out of her smelly clothes, washed thoroughly, put on clean clothes, and collapsed into bed, falling asleep instantly.

Jiang Yubai stood in the courtyard, listening for sounds from Ji Huan’s room. Hearing nothing but seeing the oil lamp still on, she gently pushed the door open a crack and saw Ji Huan asleep. She quietly entered.

She tiptoed to the bed, pulled Ji Huan’s blanket up, and cleaned the room quietly.

She poured out the wastewater from the basin, took Ji Huan’s dirty clothes, and left the room, placing the basin in the storage room.

Jiang Yubai planned to wash Ji Huan’s clothes in the morning. She hadn’t slept well, worrying about Ji Huan. Now that Ji Huan was asleep, she could rest.

The next morning, Jiang Yubai woke early. Ji Qiao was already cooking in the kitchen.

Seeing Jiang Yubai, Ji Qiao smiled and greeted her. “Yubai, I made porridge. Come eat.”

Jiang Yubai nodded. “Good. Ji Huan’s still sleeping. Save some porridge and keep it warm for her.”

“Okay. I don’t know when Sister slept last night,” Ji Qiao said, feeling sorry for her sister. She hadn’t felt family warmth at the Ji family before. Now, with Ji Huan protecting her, she didn’t want anything to happen to her.

“She worked until three in the morning. Let her sleep more. Don’t disturb her,” Jiang Yubai said, sipping white rice porridge.

Just the two of them ate breakfast in the kitchen.

After eating, Jiang Yubai took Ji Huan’s dirty clothes, grabbed two large wooden basins, and soaked the clothes for washing. As she washed, her ears turned red.

Ji Huan’s undergarments were among them. Thinking she was Ji Huan’s wife, Jiang Yubai felt it was okay to wash them and continued despite her shyness.

Ji Qiao saw Jiang Yubai washing clothes early, noticing they were her sister’s. Unable to resist, she asked, “Yubai, are those Sister’s clothes?”

Jiang Yubai’s ears reddened, but she kept washing. “Yes, she was too tired last night. I had nothing else to do, so I’m washing them.”

She quickly changed the topic. “By the way, Ji Qiao, didn’t your sister say she wanted meat? Go buy some, okay?”

Jiang Yubai handed over copper coins. The little girl nodded and went to buy meat.

Lunch was just Jiang Yubai and Ji Qiao. Ji Huan slept through, not waking.

Jiang Yubai checked on Ji Huan, saw she was fine, and left.

At sunset, Ji Huan finally woke. She rubbed her eyes, saw the orange sunlight, and got up to dress and wash.

In the courtyard, Ji Huan noticed her dirty clothes from last night were already hanging to dry. She was about to fetch water when Jiang Yubai came out of the kitchen.

Ji Huan looked at the clothes and guessed Jiang Yubai had washed them, feeling a bit embarrassed about her undergarments.

Seeing Ji Huan staring at the clothes, Jiang Yubai’s ears turned red. She quickly said, “We saved you food. Come eat soon.”

“Okay,” Ji Huan nodded, unable to resist asking, “Yubai, did you wash my clothes?”

Jiang Yubai nodded obediently, eyes on Ji Huan’s legs, avoiding her gaze. “Sister, go wash your face. I’ll get your food. We made the braised pork you wanted yesterday.”

She ran off, avoiding talk of the clothes.

Ji Huan’s eyes curved with a smile. More than braised pork, she missed rabbit meat. Hugging Little White Rabbit for a nap would be better than pork, but the naughty rabbit kept avoiding her. Still, the rabbit cared—she’d stayed up late to heat water for her. The rabbit was just stubborn.

“Sister, I brought the food to the dining room,” Jiang Yubai said, carrying a wooden tray. Ji Huan followed with a smile.

Ji Qiao was thrilled Ji Huan was awake and rushed over. “Sister, are you still tired? What else can I help with?”

“Rest today. Tomorrow morning, we’ll open the kiln and see if these days’ hard work paid off,” Ji Huan said, entering the dining room.

Jiang Yubai and Ji Qiao had eaten, so they sat with Ji Huan. She was starving, having slept through breakfast and lunch. The food tasted amazing, especially the braised pork. In modern times, Ji Huan didn’t care for meat, but after months without much oil in ancient times, she craved it.

As she ate, she noticed the two girls staring. Feeling shy, she said, “Want to eat more?”

“We’ve eaten. You eat,” Jiang Yubai said, relieved to see Ji Huan’s appetite. She’d been worried about her not resting.

“Okay,” Ji Huan continued eating. When she was almost done, Ji Qiao poured her hot water.

Looking at Jiang Yubai and Ji Qiao, Ji Huan felt warm inside. This was what a family should be. The Ji family was never like this.

Meanwhile, the Ji family was gloomy. At the dinner table, Ji Sen complained again. “Father, there’s so much work in the fields. When can we finish? When’s Ji Yuan coming back? He failed the exam and still stays at the academy. He used studying as an excuse before, but now he won’t work. I’m not working tomorrow either.”

“Yes, Father. Even Yulan and Fourth Brother’s wife are working in the fields. Ji Yuan, a Qianyuan, does nothing. That’s not fair,” Ji Ming said, exhausted.

Ji Mantun, smoking his pipe during dinner, sighed heavily. “Five years. Five years of silver wasted. Fine, Ji Ming, Ji Sen, go to the county tomorrow and bring Ji Yuan back. He’s not meant to be an official.”

“About time,” Ji Sen muttered, feeling it was unfair Ji Yuan didn’t work.

The next morning, Ji Ming and Ji Sen set out. At the academy, they found Ji Yuan’s room but not him. Ji Ming asked someone there, “Isn’t Ji Yuan at the academy?”

Wang Lu glanced at Ji Ming with disdain but answered, “Ji Yuan’s climbed up. Why would he stay in a place like the academy?”

Ji Ming’s heart leaped. Ji Yuan had no other skills but had hooked up with the Yu family’s daughter and now someone else so soon?

“Where can we find Ji Yuan?” Ji Ming asked eagerly. If Ji Yuan had connected with someone rich, they could benefit.

“Where else? Qingfeng Tower,” Wang Lu said with a sneer.

Since Ji Yuan got close to Liu Shaonan, people didn’t dare mock him openly. The Liu family was wealthy, not less than the Yu family. But privately, they despised Ji Yuan—a Qianyuan being another Qianyuan’s plaything was shameful.

Ji Ming thanked Wang Lu and rushed to Qingfeng Tower. Their rustic clothes made the servants stop them. The tower’s high costs meant the servants knew they couldn’t afford it.

“Why are you stopping us? I’m here to find my brother, Ji Yuan,” Ji Ming said, trying to push through but was blocked.

“What Ji Yuan? Never heard of him. If you’re here to cause trouble, get out. This isn’t a place for riffraff,” the servants said arrogantly, backed by Tianxiang Tower’s influence.

“How dare you talk like that? My brother has connections,” Ji Ming said, panicking but standing firm.

The head servant waved a hand. “Enough talk. Throw them out.”

As the servants moved to toss them, Ji Sen saw Ji Yuan in the hall, dressed lavishly, and shouted, “Ji Yuan, Third Brother, help us! They’re stopping us.”

Ji Yuan vaguely heard his name, turned, and saw Ji Ming and Ji Sen blocked at the door.

He smiled apologetically to Liu Shaonan, said a few words, and walked to the entrance. “What’s going on?”

“Oh, Master Ji, these two were causing trouble. We were about to throw them out. Sorry if we disturbed you and Master Liu,” the servant said, giving Ji Yuan face because of Liu Shaonan.

Ji Yuan folded his fan and waved at the servants. “I know these two. I’ll talk to them outside. Let them go.”

“Sorry, Master Ji. We didn’t know they were here for you. Please don’t take offense,” the head servant said, smiling. They didn’t care about Ji Yuan but feared Liu Shaonan.

Ji Yuan nodded, casually waving them aside.

Ji Sen stared at Ji Yuan’s outfit—a yellow-and-white silk robe of fine material and a gold hairpin. Ji Yuan looked like a noble. Ji Sen barely recognized him.

Seeing them stare, Ji Yuan grew impatient and pointed outside. “Let’s go. Say what you need to. I’m busy.”

Ji Yuan walked out of Qingfeng Tower, with Ji Sen and Ji Ming hurrying behind.

After a short distance, Ji Yuan stopped. “Alright, say it here.”

Ji Ming looked at Ji Yuan’s clothes, rubbed his hands, and said, “Father sent us to bring you back to farm. He said you failed the child exam and have no reason to stay in the county.”

Ji Yuan’s brows furrowed tightly. “No reason? Don’t you see I’m busy with important matters every day? Tell Father and Mother I’m not going back. I’ll handle the money for studying myself. They don’t need to worry. From now on, act like I’m not their son.”

Ji Ming panicked. “Third Brother, what’s that mean? You’re successful now and want to cut ties? That won’t do. Father and Mother spent a lot on your studies. You can’t be so heartless.”

“Yeah, Third Brother, I’m counting on you to help me. I’m your brother. You can’t ignore me,” Ji Sen added.

Ji Yuan impatiently pulled a small cloth bag from his chest and tossed it to Ji Ming. “There’s a few dozen taels of silver. Take it to Father and Mother. Tell them my ties with the Ji family end here. Don’t come looking for me again, or I won’t be as polite.”

Ji Yuan left for Chunfeng Tower without another word. He wasn’t short of money, but it was only surface glamour. Liu Shaonan looked refined but played rough and extravagantly. Ji Yuan’s body could barely handle it, but he enjoyed the attention. Without Liu Shaonan, he’d be a nobody like Ji Ming and Ji Sen. He’d rather be Liu Shaonan’s plaything than return to the village as a peasant.

Ji Ming looked at the delicate money bag. “What now? Ji Yuan won’t listen.”

“Big Brother, are you dumb? We found him, so it’s fine. We got money to show Father and Mother. Later, we’ll come back for more,” Ji Sen said, eyes gleaming at the bag.

Ji Ming, fearing Ji Sen would gamble it away, tucked the money away. “This is for Father and Mother. Don’t even think about it.”

“As if I care,” Ji Sen said, but his eyes stayed on the bag.

They brought the money back to the Ji family. Ji Ming repeated Ji Yuan’s words and handed the bag to Ji Mantun.

Ji Mantun’s hands shook with anger. “He really said that? To act like he’s not our son? How can he be so heartless? Your mother and I treated him the best.”

“It’s fine, Father. If he won’t come back, he can send money regularly. Check the bag. There’s a lot,” Ji Sen said, eyes bright.

Ji Mantun scolded Ji Sen for only caring about money but opened the bag eagerly. He poured out five ten-tael silver ingots and over ten taels in loose silver. His eyes widened. He hadn’t expected Ji Yuan to give so much.

“This much? So Ji Yuan’s really made it?” Ji Mantun’s face lit up.

“Definitely, Father. Third Brother’s impressive. Even Qingfeng Tower’s servants call him Master Ji. He’s a big deal now,” Ji Sen bragged.

“But he doesn’t acknowledge me as his father,” Ji Mantun said, his joy fading.

“So what? If he won’t acknowledge us, we’ll all go to his doorstep. He won’t dare keep us out,” Ji Sen said, already planning. With a rich family member, he wanted to cash in, his hands itching.

“Ji Sen’s got a point,” Liu Fengmei nodded. The family began plotting to get money from Ji Yuan.

Meanwhile, Ji Huan had slept nearly all day yesterday. She woke early, ate breakfast, and went to the backyard. The kiln had cooled enough. Rubbing her hands, she prepared to open it.

This firing had taken all her effort, costing seven or eight days. The results were in the kiln, determining if her hard work paid off.

Ji Huan took a few deep breaths and opened the kiln door, pulling out stacks of saggers.

Opening saggers was easy—just tap the joint with a knife lightly, and they’d separate.

Many modern short-video platforms faked kiln openings for attention.

Ji Huan grabbed a sickle from the woodpile and tapped a sagger. It opened easily. Inside was a teacup with a black glaze outside and silver flecks inside, like countless silver needles arranged irregularly yet harmoniously.

“It worked!” Ji Qiao’s eyes lit up as she leaned in.

Ji Huan examined the teacup. It had tiny crystal bubbles inside, and glaze had spilled below the seal line, staining some areas black. To her, it was a clear defective piece. In the past, she’d have smashed it.

She sighed, held the teacup, and studied it. It wasn’t too bad. Wood firing made controlling the kiln’s temperature hard, so each teacup’s color varied.

Seeing Ji Huan sigh, Jiang Yubai asked, “Sister, isn’t it good? Why sigh?”

“Look, glaze leaked below the seal line, and there are too many bubbles at the bottom. The color’s okay, but it’s defective. Set it aside,” Ji Huan said, handing it to Jiang Yubai.

Jiang Yubai had never seen a teacup with such intricate patterns. The silver needles against the black glaze were unique.

Ji Huan tapped the second sagger. This teacup was worse—the glaze hadn’t melted fully, and the walls stuck to the sagger, completely ruined.

“This one’s even worse,” Ji Huan said, undeterred, and kept tapping. The third teacup appeared.

Compared to the first two, this one was nearly perfect. Ji Huan inspected it. The inside had golden oil-drop patterns on a blue-black base, giving a grand, elegant feel.

She checked the walls. The colors matched the interior—golden oil drops on blue-black, with an even seal line and no obvious bubbles. It was a proper finished piece.

Ji Huan carefully picked it up, wiped it with a cloth, and the golden oil drops shone brighter. “Look at this teacup. This is a finished product.”

Smiling, she handed it to Jiang Yubai, who was stunned. She’d seen Ji Huan glaze the teacups with red clay glaze, yet the fired colors were all different.

“Sister, how do the colors change?” Jiang Yubai compared the two teacups, amazed.

Ji Huan smiled and explained softly, “The clay and glaze have high iron content. Iron and other minerals react at high heat. I add firewood constantly, and the temperature fluctuates, changing the kiln’s atmosphere. That’s why Jian ware teacups are said to enter the kiln one color and come out a thousand colors.”

Jiang Yubai and Ji Qiao were confused but thought Ji Huan was amazing.

Ji Huan continued opening saggers slowly, like opening blind boxes, never knowing if the next teacup was good or bad.

Her luck was decent. She got eight finished teacups and nineteen with minor flaws. The remaining forty-six were either stuck to the sagger or had unmelted glaze—major defects Ji Huan smashed.

Looking at the teacups, Ji Huan felt greatly relieved. Eight finished teacups under such basic conditions satisfied her. She didn’t plan to sell these eight casually. She’d test the market with the nineteen flawed ones.

She had few connections in the county and knew little about The Great Liang Kingdom. Introducing a new teacup without backing could make her a target. She needed a stronger ally than the Yu family. Thinking of Yu Bin, she said to Jiang Yubai and Ji Qiao, “I’m going to the county this afternoon to figure out how to sell these teacups.”

“Okay. I’ll prepare food. Sister, can these teacups sell for a lot?” Ji Qiao asked, eyes bright.

Ji Huan nodded. “If all goes well, they should.”

With a partner, she could expand the kiln, maybe build a dragon kiln like in the Northern Song Dynasty. Preparation work could be delegated, producing more teacups, but she needed a reliable partner first.

Planning the sales, Ji Huan ate lunch and hurried to town. Less than an hour after she left, Li Yunzheng, absent for days, came to Dongniu Village to find Jiang Yubai.

He’d been drinking heavily with county classmates, now a scholar. Even if he failed the juren exam, his scholar status could secure a job in the county. Li Yunzheng was already riding high.