Chapter 192: Big Brother Teaches You to Play with Mud

Bangye County is an agricultural county, and it's currently the busy farming season. Young people between eighteen and twenty-five are quite a rarity at this time. So, after the announcement for the Black Pottery Association was made, very few people showed up.

This situation reached County Chief Liu Weihua, who was frustrated—how could this be acceptable?

Bangye is a poor county. Now someone wants to develop a cultural industry without needing county funds or government resources, and yet they can't solve this problem?

Liu Weihua immediately slammed the table while reporting to the head of the Labor Bureau over the phone. "Go all out! Bring people from wherever there are crowds! Even if you have to assign them forcefully or offer subsidies, get me a hundred alert people!"

Thus, the Labor Bureau, despite its tight budget, managed to allocate some funds and offered a generous subsidy of 30 yuan per month for the black pottery factory apprentices.

Only then did they manage to recruit around a hundred people.

However, a 30 yuan monthly subsidy is not particularly attractive. During the busy farming season, young laborers can earn seventy to eighty yuan, so most of these recruits were not particularly enthusiastic.

Since their arrival at the association's compound, the noisy and inexperienced Yang Shuzhen had been overwhelmed by their questions. In desperation, she asked Su Ya to fetch Li Xian to handle the situation.

When Li Xian arrived at the Black Pottery Association with Su Ya's help and understood the situation, he was both amused and exasperated.

Seeing a group of people clearly interested only in the 30 yuan monthly subsidy and asking questions about the apprenticeship period and whether it would interfere with the autumn harvest, Li Xian decided to set their mindset straight.

"Quiet!"

He shouted to the crowd, "I know why you're here—mainly to get the 30 yuan a month. You want to stay here for a bit, make some money, and then go back to do whatever, right?"

His words were met with no resistance—this was indeed the case.

Seeing that everyone had tacitly agreed, Li Xian sneered, "But I need to tell you, there won't be a long apprenticeship period. According to my plan, the apprenticeship period will only be half a month, or even less!"

The apprentices were outraged.

"What? Fifteen yuan for half a month? What are we supposed to do with that?"

"Yeah! You can earn fifty to sixty yuan in the fields in half a month. Why waste time here? I'm leaving!"

"I told you, this pottery thing is a scam. I've wasted a whole day for nothing. Hmph!"

Seeing some people already ready to leave, Li Xian paused and spoke again loudly, "The reason the apprenticeship period is so short is because we need workers who can skillfully handle pottery production soon! Behind you are the black pottery factory buildings. During your apprenticeship, the association will select a group of you based on your skill proficiency to work directly in the factory. Let me give you a preview. Once you become regular employees, your base salary will be a hundred yuan per month, plus piece rates!"

Upon hearing this, those who were about to leave immediately turned around.

"Really?"

"Are you kidding?"

"It can't be, right? Pottery isn't something that can be eaten or drunk. How long can this factory last?"

Facing their doubts, Li Xian smiled, "This black pottery factory is a crucial support for our Bangye Distillery. Let me be clear, if we weren't in urgent need of hands and unable to find pottery craftsmen quickly, we wouldn't even consider you lot who don't know anything! No more talking. If you want to learn a craft and earn money, stay. If not, feel free to leave!"

His words were blunt, but no one left!

Why?

Isn't everyone in Bangye aware of the status of the distillery?

It's no longer the bankrupt factory with unpaid wages but a thriving enterprise!

If the black pottery factory is a support for the distillery, how could it have a bleak future?

The attitude of the hundred or so people immediately became much more serious.

...

"You really have a way with people,"

Seeing the hundred or so people seated on the ground waiting for the lesson, Yang Shuzhen wiped the sweat from her forehead and said.

Li Xian smiled wryly and shook his head, "It's not really a special method. It's just about offering incentives. By the way, Aunt Yang, how do you plan to teach them?"

After discussing with a dozen artisans, Yang Shuzhen had devised a preliminary teaching method. Although Li Xian's plan was to train specialists for each step of the pottery process, considering the attendees' varying levels of pottery knowledge, Yang Shuzhen decided to start with a simple yet systematic demonstration of the pottery process over the first three days to give them a basic understanding of the black pottery craft.

She would then divide them into groups based on their performance and interests.

Li Xian didn't understand much about this but saw that Yang Shuzhen had her own ideas and didn't interfere. After chatting briefly, he let Yang Shuzhen start.

Li Xian himself took a seat on a small stool in the courtyard, watching the scene with amusement.

Yang Shuzhen was initially a bit embarrassed in front of so many people, but she adjusted quickly.

After explaining the heritage and characteristics of black pottery, she began a live demonstration with clay. To help the students become familiar with the material, she gave each of them some black clay to work with.

Curious, Li Xian also took a large chunk of clay. Noticing Su Ya watching eagerly, he smiled and broke the large piece in half, handing one part to her.

"Here, little sister, let big brother teach you how to play with mud."

Su Ya took the clay with a pout. She walked over to where her handmade black pottery bottle was placed and set it in front of Li Xian, raising her eyebrows and tapping her chest.

Seeing the somewhat clumsy bottle, Li Xian was surprised, "Did you make this?"

Su Ya nodded proudly, indicating, "I'm amazing, right?"

Li Xian couldn't help but scoff, "It's ugly. Look at how misshapen this bottle is. Clay isn't played with like this. Come, sit here properly, and I'll teach you."

Su Ya frowned and stuck her tongue out, brushing her finger across his face.

Seeing the little girl's dismissive attitude, Li Xian chuckled and began molding the clay.

While Li Xian was no expert in pottery, he was confident in his ability to shape clay, having played with model figures during college.

As he kneaded the clay and carefully watched Su Ya, he shaped the clay into a chibi version of Su Ya's face.

Soon, with Su Ya's wide-eyed attention, he quickly added a similar ponytail and a disproportionately small body to the figure.

In no time, a cute little figure resembling Su Ya appeared.

"See? This is black pottery! I'll have Aunt Yang fire it in the kiln for you, and this one is for you to keep. If you have any questions, come to my room for a consultation in the evening."

Standing with a masterly air, Li Xian proudly left, "Remember, I mean after nine o'clock in the evening, and come alone."

Su Ya disdainfully threw the figure onto the small table and stuck out her tongue in mockery.

After being put in his place once more, Li Xian shook his head and left—the courtyard was too hot.

As soon as he left, Su Ya picked up the figure and cradled it in her hands.

Looking at the figure that resembled her expression so closely, she couldn't help but smile and curl her lips.

Meanwhile, Zhu Juan, who had been watching a pair of people in the back of the house, snorted coldly.

"Mom! I want to learn too!"

As Yang Shuzhen was explaining the clay's properties to everyone, Zhu Juan walked over with determination.

Seeing her daughter, who had shown no interest in black pottery before, suddenly change her mind, Yang Shuzhen was thrilled. She quickly set up a small stool for Zhu Juan and had her sit in front of her.

Zhu Juan sat silently, playing with a piece of black clay without listening to the lesson.

Two hours later.

After class, the students gathered around Zhu Juan.

Having decided to learn the craft properly and work at the factory, the students were now trying to impress Zhu Juan, who was the master's eldest apprentice.

"Wow! Master's sister is amazing. Look at that monkey she made! It's quite impressive!"

"Yeah! You can't make something like that without ten or eight years of experience!"

Hearing the surrounding people praise her work, Zhu Juan's fists clenched tightly, and her face nearly wrinkled with anger.

"Hey? Master's sister, why does your face look yellow? Are you feeling unwell? Come inside and get some shade!"

Zhu Juan pushed away the arms of those trying to help her.

"It's cold, and it's the wax," she said through gritted teeth, looking at the "monkeys" on the small table.