NFBE Chapter 566 Meticulous Preparations to Welcome Double Happiness
Chapter 566 Meticulous Preparations to Welcome Double Happiness
With ten days to go until the Osmanthus Festival, Qinglongpo is completely immersed in a busy and enthusiastic atmosphere.
Before the morning mist had dissipated, the soft clanging of tools could be heard from the archaeological site. Gu Fanxing was adjusting the simulated kiln site in the archaeological experience area with Ling Jiu'er.
They used fine sand and clay to recreate a small section of the artisan's living area, and buried pre-fired imitation Song Dynasty pottery shards inside. These shards were made by Lin Xiao in scale based on the actual cultural relics, with clear patterns but no cultural value, thus ensuring both the experiential aspect and preventing damage to the precious relics.
"The pottery shards here need to be buried shallowly, about five centimeters deep. Most tourists are ordinary people, and if they are buried too deep, they won't be interested because they won't be able to dig them out."
Gu Fanxing squatted on the ground, carefully adjusting the thickness of the sand layer with a small shovel.
"We also need to put up a wooden sign next to it, with the words 'Dig and brush gently, simulate archaeology requires patience' written in calligraphy. The font should be round and easy to read. We also need to provide a magnifying glass stand so that everyone can see the diagonal kiln patterns and intertwined branches on the pottery shards."
Ling Jiu'er nodded and distributed the pre-printed experience manuals to the villagers who were helping.
"The manual not only includes instructions on how to use the tools, but I've also added a 'Mini-Lesson on Pottery Shard Patterns,' which marks the pattern characteristics of different periods in the Qingning Kiln. This way, after digging up pottery shards, everyone can compare and identify the era, making the experience more engaging."
When Gu Fanxing got up, she saw Old Zhang, a villager, looking worried with an old brush in his hand.
"Little Star, the bristles on this brush are too stiff. Won't it damage the imitation ceramic shards?"
She took the brush and tried it out. It was indeed a bit stiff. She immediately said, "I remember there's some soft cloth left over from making cloth shoes in the village. Let's cut it out and sew it onto the wooden handle to make a few soft-bristled brushes. They're soft, won't damage the pottery shards, and can make good use of waste."
Ling Jiu'er immediately chimed in, "I'll go get the scissors and needles and thread. Let's start making them now. We need exactly twenty, enough for the experience area."
In the nearby porcelain workshop, craftsman Chen and Lin Xiao were busy firing celadon souvenirs exclusively for their wedding.
The potter's wheel hummed as Lin Xiao held the clay with both hands, slowly shaping it as the machine turned, feeling the delicate texture of the clay.
Craftsman Chen stared intently at the porcelain blank: "The rim of the cup should be rounded, and the diameter should be controlled at eight centimeters; when engraving the characters on the bottom, the force should be even, and the three characters 'Qingning Kiln' should be shallow and clear."
Lin Xiao nodded, picked up the fine carving knife, and carefully carved "Pei Luonan & Gu Fanxing" and the date on the bottom of the cup. Her movements were much more skillful than before. Beads of sweat trickled down her cheeks from her forehead, but she didn't bother to wipe them away.
"Master, the first batch of cups for testing the glaze is ready. What do you think of the glaze color?" Lin Xiao held up a freshly fired celadon cup, its body a pale bluish-gray with slight unevenness.
Craftsman Chen took the cup and examined it by turning it upside down in the light.
"The glaze color is too dark because the proportion of pine branch ash is half a percent too high. In the second kiln, we adjusted the formula, reduced the pine branch ash and increased the proportion of Eagle Beak Cliff clay, and the result was close to the texture of 'sky blue after rain'."
He paused and added.
"We also need to hurry up with the tableware for the wedding. The rims of the bowls should be thin, with a thickness of only two millimeters, so that the soup won't be too hot to handle. The plates should be engraved with osmanthus patterns, with each petal spaced evenly, to echo the wedding theme."
Lin Xiao immediately took out her notebook and wrote it down.
"Don't worry, Master. I've marked the dimensions on the drawings. We'll fire one kiln a day, shaping it during the day and glazing it at night. We'll definitely be able to finish before the Osmanthus Festival."
Pei Luonan was busy connecting with the media and guests, while also taking care of all the big and small matters in the village.
He sat at the stone table in the kiln shed, checking the guest list on the computer.
"Professor Li's itinerary has been confirmed. He will arrive two days in advance. The guesthouse needs to arrange a south-facing room on the first floor so that he can easily access the materials."
"I need to put a set of archaeology books in the room, and also prepare some osmanthus honey; he said last time he liked sweet tea." Pei Luonan muttered to himself while making notes in his memo.
Suddenly, the village chief hurried over, holding a piece of paper in his hand.
"Luonan, the cultural and creative company just sent a message saying that the wooden handle of the mini archaeological tool model in the cultural and creative gift package is a bit loose, and they asked if we need to rework it."
Pei Luonan immediately picked up his phone and dialed the number of the cultural and creative company.
"It must be reworked. The wooden handle must be fixed with mortise and tenon joints, not glue. Otherwise it will easily break when tourists experience it, which will affect our reputation."
Tell them I need to see the sample tomorrow morning; if there are no problems, then we can start mass production.
After hanging up the phone, he turned to the village chief and said, "Please ask the villagers to clear the weeds in the osmanthus grove again, especially around the ceremony platform. Also, please lay a layer of bluestone slabs on both sides of the path to prevent tourists from trampling on the lawn."
Gu Fanxing walked over with a cup of hot ginger tea and gently wiped the grass leaves off Pei Luonan's sleeve.
"Don't overwork yourself. There's no need to rush things with the media. The key is to let them experience the cultural atmosphere of Qingning Kiln. By the way, have the samples of the cultural and creative gift packs been completed? I'd like to see how the archaeological tool models are doing."
Pei Luonan smiled and opened his phone's photo album: "I just received the sample photos before the rework. The mini brushes and shovels are made very exquisitely, and they even come with a small wooden storage box with the words 'Qingning Kiln Archaeology + Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival' engraved on it."
As the two were talking, Aunt Zhang brought over freshly baked sesame cakes.
Gu Fanxing took a bite of the sesame cake, and the sweet flavor spread in her mouth.
"Thank you for your hard work, Aunt Zhang."
Aunt Zhang smiled broadly: "It's no trouble at all. It's my honor to be able to do what I can for you."
In the afternoon, Pei Luonan and Gu Fanxing went to the Osmanthus Grove to check out the wedding venue.
"Two display shelves should be placed next to the ceremonial platform. One should hold pottery shards, from the Neolithic period to the Song Dynasty, with several pieces on it, and a sky-blue velvet lining."
Another display features celadon tableware made by Master Chen, allowing guests to directly experience our passion.
Gu Fanxing pointed to the center of the field.
"We need to put a large projection screen here, and play a short film about how we protect Qingning Kiln together and a blessing video during the wedding, along with close-ups of the kiln fire of Qingning Kiln, to symbolize the continuous inheritance."
Pei Luonan held her hand tightly, his gaze tender.
"I also want to plant a row of small osmanthus trees on both sides of the ceremony platform, twelve in total, to represent the twelve months of the year and wish for peace and safety year after year."
Gu Fanxing nodded with a smile: "That's a great idea! I'll ask the village chief to help me contact some saplings tomorrow, and choose the kind that are already in bloom, so we can smell the fragrance of flowers on the wedding day."
In the evening, Pei Luochuan suddenly made a video call. He was holding up a clay brick, and several young friends were standing behind him.
"Sister-in-law, brother, look at the gift I made! It's a celadon piece shaped like a pottery shard, and I've already engraved 'Qingning Kiln Heritage' on it. I've also added a small kiln pattern next to it. Isn't it beautiful?"
Gu Fanxing smiled and said, "They're so beautiful! Luo Chuan, you've improved so quickly. Once they're fired, we'll put them on the display rack at the wedding."
After hanging up the phone, Gu Fanxing leaned on Pei Luonan's shoulder, watching the kiln fire gradually light up in the distance, its orange-red flames illuminating half the sky. "Time flies so fast. The wedding is in ten days. It feels like there's still so much to do."
She spoke softly, her voice tinged with trepidation.
Pei Luonan gently patted her back, his voice steady.
"Don't rush, we'll take it one step at a time. With the help of the villagers and the support of our friends, we'll definitely be able to complete it smoothly. Most importantly, we can be together, protect Qingning Kiln, and promote archaeology. That's enough."
As night deepens, the kiln fires in the porcelain workshop remain bright, the lights in the archaeological experience area flicker gently, and the lanterns in the osmanthus grove are already lit. The entire Qinglongpo district is busy preparing for the upcoming double celebration.
Gu Fanxing and Pei Luonan walked side by side on their way home, holding each other's hands, their hearts filled with anticipation—anticipation for the wedding that incorporated love and heritage, anticipation for more people to know the story of Qingning Kiln, and anticipation for their future, like the kiln fire, to be forever warm and bright.