Green Mountain
Chapter 121 - 90, The Apricot Tree Is Red

Chapter 121: 90, The Apricot Tree Is Red

The Princely Heir and Bai Li took people to gather the strong men.

Only Chen Ji and Chen Wenzong stood side by side at the entrance of the kiln factory. One was covered in dust; a mere shake of his head would see a cloud of it falling, like a mud-covered dog.

The other was dressed in white as snow, like the protagonist of all stories.

Chen Wenzong frowned and looked at the cheerfully smiling Chen Ji, not understanding what his bastard brother found so joyful, "Chen Ji, I see that you organize things in an orderly manner, with clear thoughts. You’re actually a very intelligent person, so why are you content to mingle with this mud?"

Chen Ji, while patting dust off himself, responded with an unconcerned smile, "I’m very happy today. You all look down on this run-down kiln factory and this grubby livelihood, but the more I see it, the more I like it."

Because, at this moment, for the first time in this world, Chen Ji had something that belonged to himself.

"Do you want to make some money?" Chen Wenzong misunderstood his intention, "Although a bastard cannot inherit the family’s business, when the family divides, I will surely allocate some livelihood to you. As long as you’re willing to return to the right path and study hard, participate in the imperial examination, how could I possibly sit by and watch you starve?"

Chen Ji cheerfully patted Chen Wenzong’s shoulder, leaving a black handprint on his white robe, and teased, "Elder brother, you’re actually a good person, but I’m really not cut out for studying the classics. I’m more suited to honest labor, to farming and kiln burning."

Chen Wenzong stepped to the left to avoid it, but still couldn’t avoid the dark handprint. He frowned and said, "The Master said, ’If so, people from all four directions will carry their children on their backs to him. Why would there be a need for farming?’"

Chen Ji paused, "What does that mean?"

Chen Wenzong explained, "The revered sage meant that if the rulers adhere to proper rites and trustworthiness, the common people will naturally bring their children to support them. Why would there be a need to farm themselves? It’s a last resort to work the land personally; we scholars ought to become role models for the world, naturally gaining many followers."

Chen Ji silently watched Chen Wenzong. His understanding of Confucian culture was not deep, so he didn’t know how to refute his brother’s thoughts with the classics.

At that moment, Bai Li’s voice came from a distance, "Chen Ji, I’ve found people who can alter the kiln. They said they built all of the Liu Family Village’s kilns themselves, and they can help us."

But behind Bai Li followed a hunched old man with a long smoking pipe affixed at his waist, his tobacco pouch swinging by his side like a lotus bag.

Behind the old man were seven robust men.

As they approached, the hunched old man stood at the entrance of the kiln factory, pressing tobacco into his pipe and looking at Chen Ji, "Are you the person in charge here?"

"Yes, I am," said Chen Ji calmly.

The hunched old man spoke leisurely, "We of the Liu Family built all the kilns in Liu Family Village. We can build a kiln, no problem, but first, we need two hundred taels of silver. During the building period, four catties of white flour and one catty of meat every day, plus two catties of good wine."

"What?" The Princely Heir’s eyes widened.

The hunched old man looked up at him, expressionless, "That’s the rule for doing business in Liu Family Village. Besides the Liu Family, no one has the skill to build an inverted flame kiln, nor dare they build a kiln for you."

Chen Ji asked doubtfully, "People from Official Liu’s family?"

A sturdy man from behind the old man laughed, "Somewhat insightful."

Chen Ji pondered for a moment. "Please return, sirs. We really don’t have that much money on us. We’ve almost spent all our savings acquiring this kiln factory."

Without another word, the hunched old man turned and left, "If you change your mind, you’re always welcome to find me."

Chen Ji watched his receding figure. "No wonder Old Zhou was so eager to sell this kiln factory. No wonder his broken place only had a simple Ascending Flame Furnace. To do some business these days, the local tyrants peel one layer, and then the government peels another."

Bai Li said with difficulty, "So what do we do? I’m sorry I didn’t know they were the local tyrants here, raising the price. I shouldn’t have brought them over."

Chen Ji said calmly, "We’ll do it ourselves if they won’t help. If they can build a semi-inverted flame kiln, then I’ll build a fully inverted kiln."

To give them a little shock.

The group walked towards the kiln, but Chen Ji suddenly turned back to look at Chen Wenzong, "Elder brother, we’re short of hands. Would you like to lend a hand?"

Chen Wenzong stood silently for a long while, looking at the group covered in dirt and ashes and then at the earth kiln behind them. He took a silver ingot from his sleeve and handed it to Chen Ji, "I apologize, but the Autumn Imperial Examination is the day after tomorrow, and I can’t stay here too long. I didn’t bring much money with me when I left, so I can only offer you this for now. If it is not enough, I will send more with my servant tomorrow."

Chen Ji pushed the silver ingot back into Chen Wenzong’s hand, took a step back and bowed, "Then I wish Elder Brother every success and to top the list as the top scorer!"

With that, he led the Princely Heir and the Commandery Princess away to dismantle the kiln without looking back.

Chen Wenzong looked down at the silver ingot in his hand, not knowing what to say.

After a long silence, he tucked the silver ingot back into his sleeve, turned, and left the yard. He mounted his horse and headed back, the words of apology he intended to say left unuttered.

Amidst the breaking sounds of dismantling the kiln, the white horse trotted away.

...

...

Liang Mao’er put in great effort, swinging the hammer with such ease that it tore apart the old kiln as if it were rotting wood. Chen Ji cleared the building debris while admiring, "Brother Mao’er hasn’t been eating his fill for nothing!"

Liang Mao’er looked embarrassed, "The saying goes, ’train a soldier for a thousand days to use him for a moment’ – I’m just putting my strength to use."

Chen Ji looked at the Princely Heir and the Commandery Princess, "I’m a bit curious, why are the Princely Heir and the Commandery Princess willing to do this dirty and tiring work? Look, my elder brother doesn’t want to get involved with these things."