Fleeing from famine? Not a chance; the divine healer's wife made her fortune.

Innovation encounters obstacles but also opportunities

As Su Yunlan listened to the painter Liu's aloof and scrutinizing words, her willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed slightly, like distant mountains shrouded in mist, revealing a faint trace of worry.

Her bright eyes gleamed with a thoughtful light, as if she were quickly weighing the pros and cons.

The air was filled with the mixed scent of earth and porcelain powder, carrying a damp coolness, while the coldness in Liu's words made the atmosphere even more stagnant.

Xiao Yuhan stood calmly beside Su Yunlan, his deep eyes as calm as an ancient well, yet concealing a trace of worry for her.

He extended his broad palm and gently grasped Su Yunlan's hand, conveying silent comfort and support.

The warmth of that palm, penetrating the thin fabric, dispelled the slight irritation in Su Yunlan's heart.

She looked up and gave him a grateful look, her tense facial features softening slightly.

"Master Liu, why don't you take a look at these?" Su Yunlan steadied himself and took down a few pieces of porcelain made using a new technique from a shelf.

These porcelain shards differ from traditional porcelain; their glaze is more lustrous, and their shapes are simpler and more fluid, reflecting a faint halo in the sunlight.

Pointing to the patterns on the porcelain shards, she patiently explained, "These are some of my new ideas about porcelain. They are innovations based on tradition, which not only improve practicality but also preserve the charm of porcelain."

The painter, Liu, merely glanced at them dismissively, his tone tinged with disdain. "These patterns are utterly chaotic and lack the antique charm of porcelain. So-called innovation is nothing but sensationalism."

He stood with his hands behind his back, revealing his aloofness. "Porcelain should be based on ancient methods. Your so-called innovations will only destroy the essence of porcelain."

Su Yunlan frowned, her tone becoming somewhat forceful: "Innovation is not about abandoning tradition, but about giving tradition new life in the new era! How can porcelain develop if we always stick to the past?"

The painter Liu snorted coldly, clearly disagreeing with Su Yunlan's statement.

The two exchanged words, their tone laced with tension, and the atmosphere gradually became more strained.

In the courtyard, everyone held their breath, and no one dared to make a sound.

Young Master Xiao looked at Su Yunlan, then at Painter Liu, and anxiously rubbed his hands together.

The Song Dynasty potter stood with his arms crossed, looking on with amusement, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

Just then, a crisp sound broke the deadlock.

“Madam Su is right!” A clear voice broke the silence. Young Li stepped out from the crowd, his eyes bright and his tone firm. “Innovation is what makes porcelain better!” He walked to Su Yunlan’s side, pointed to the porcelain shards, and said excitedly, “The patterns on these shards are simple, but they look more elegant, and the feel of these shards is also more delicate and smooth.” He turned to the painter Liu, his tone carrying a hint of youthful vigor, “Painter Liu, you always say we should follow the ancient methods, but times are changing, and people’s needs are changing. If we blindly stick to the old ways, we will only fall behind in the end.”

Li Shaonian's words gave everyone present a jolt.

Su Yunlan smiled with satisfaction, her eyes filled with undisguised admiration.

She never expected that at this moment, the one who would stand up to support her would be the youngest boy, Li Shaonian.

She patted Li Shaonian on the shoulder and encouraged him, "You're absolutely right. When we make porcelain, we should not only inherit the tradition, but also innovate."

Painter Liu was rendered speechless by Li the boy's words, his face turning pale and then red.

He opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but found that he couldn't find a suitable reason.

He snorted coldly, turned and left, leaving behind a stiff silhouette.

Having solved the problem of painter Liu, Su Yunlan immediately went to seek financial support from wealthy man Zhang.

Zhang the Rich Man was obese, his face plastered with a fake smile, and his small eyes darted around, making it impossible to fathom his thoughts.

He sipped his tea as he listened to Su Yunlan's plan.

“Madam Su, your plan is quite good,” Zhang the rich man said slowly, with a hint of arrogance in his tone, “However, the risks are not small.” He paused, stretched out his fat fingers, and rubbed them together. “How about this, I can provide the funds, but I want 50% of the profits.”

Su Yunlan frowned. A 50% profit margin? That was outrageous!

She took a deep breath, trying to suppress her anger. "Mr. Zhang, 50% is too much. I can only give you 30% at most."

Zhang the rich man shook his head, a cunning smile appearing on his fat face. "Thirty percent is too little. Without fifty percent, there's no point in discussing it." He picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and...

Su Yunlan was caught in a dilemma. She urgently needed funds to support the innovation of the porcelain kiln, but Zhang the rich man's conditions were too harsh.

She bit her lip, pondering to herself, "Should I really agree to him?"

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the door...

Young Master Xiao was like a busy little bee, shuttling between the streets and alleys of the town.

His slightly immature face radiated a determination to achieve his goal.

He kept asking around, trying to find out who had some spare money and was interested in the new style of porcelain.

Persistence pays off; he actually found some small businesses willing to contribute funds to support Su Yunlan's innovation plan.

Although these small businesses didn't have much capital, their small contributions added up and helped alleviate Su Yunlan's immediate financial crisis.

When Young Master Xiao brought the good news back to the porcelain kiln, a long-lost smile finally appeared on Su Yunlan's face, like a spring breeze that instantly dispelled the gloom of the past few days.

Looking at the sweaty, panting boy in front of her, a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

She knew that although her brother-in-law was usually carefree and easygoing, he could be of great use in crucial moments.

"Twelfth Brother, we really owe you a lot this time." Su Yunlan's tone was full of gratitude. She walked up to Young Master Xiao and gently patted his shoulder, her movements gentle, as if she were treating a child who had performed a great service.

Young Master Xiao chuckled, scratched his head, and said apologetically, "Sister-in-law, this is what I should do, you don't need to thank me. I just hope that your new porcelain can be made soon, so that I can also benefit from it."

Su Yunlan laughed out loud at his joke, and her mood brightened up.

She knew that with these people who genuinely supported her, she would be able to continue on her path of innovation.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yuhan was not idle either.

He knew Su Yunlan's situation well and understood that if she wanted her new porcelain to be accepted, having funds alone was not enough; she also needed to gain the approval of more porcelain kiln masters.

He put aside his work and personally visited several old kiln workers in the town, having a heart-to-heart talk with them.

Unlike Su Yunlan, Xiao Yuhan did not directly promote the advantages of the new porcelain. Instead, he listened carefully to the thoughts of the old kiln workers, understanding their adherence to traditional craftsmanship and their concerns about new things.

His calm voice carried a convincing power; his firm gaze and earnest words made the veteran kiln workers feel his love for porcelain and his respect for them.

He patiently explained the principles of the new process, making the veteran kiln workers understand that the new process was not about completely abandoning tradition, but about improving upon tradition so that porcelain could better adapt to the needs of the times.

His sincerity and patience gradually won the trust of the veteran kiln workers.

Some veteran kiln workers have begun to try new techniques, while others have expressed their willingness to wait and see, no longer as resistant as before.

Su Yunlan looked at Xiao Yuhan from afar. He stood tall and straight, like a vigorous pine tree, and wherever he went, he became the focus of everyone's attention.

Every movement and every glance of his exudes the charm of a mature man.

She looked at him, and an indescribable feeling of love and pride welled up in her heart.

Her husband was not only a towering warrior, but also a man who understood her, supported her, and silently gave everything for her.

She walked to his side, gently took his hand, and their fingertips shared each other's warmth.

Xiao Yuhan felt her touch, turned his head, his deep eyes filled with tenderness, and the corners of his mouth slightly turned up, forming a beautiful arc.

"Thank you, my husband," Su Yunlan said softly, her voice gentle and tinged with a hint of shyness.

“Silly girl, we’re family, no need to thank me,” Xiao Yuhan replied, his voice deep and magnetic, reassuring to those around him.

He tightened his grip on Su Yunlan's hand, his palm conveying warmth.

Just then, a Song Dynasty potter looked at them with complicated expressions, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated to speak.

His rough fingers gripped the hem of his clothes tightly, and his expression was unpredictable.

In the end, he didn't say anything, but turned around and silently walked towards the kiln in the distance.

The Song Dynasty potter stood in front of the kiln, looking at the raging flames, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

He recalled that when he was young, he was just as passionate as Su Yunlan, wanting to make the best porcelain.

However, after experiencing too many failures, his enthusiasm gradually faded, and he became stubborn and conservative, unwilling to try anything new.

He secretly observed Su Yunlan, this young woman who exuded an indomitable spirit. Her eyes were firm, her smile confident, as if nothing could defeat her.

Her love for porcelain was no less than his, and perhaps even more intense.

He recalled what Su Yunlan had said before: "Innovation is not about abandoning tradition, but about giving tradition a new lease on life in the new era!" These words were like a lightning bolt, piercing through the gloom that had lingered in his heart for many years.

He began to reflect on himself, wondering if he had really made a mistake.

He watched Su Yunlan and Xiao Yuhan standing side by side, their tacit understanding and affection filling him with envy.

When he was young, he also had a beloved woman, but later, for various reasons, the two were unable to be together.

He sighed, his heart filled with regret.

He no longer strongly opposed Su Yunlan's reform plan, but simply said he would wait and see.

Su Yunlan felt gratified to see the changes in him.

She knew that the experience and skills of Song Dynasty potters were crucial to the innovation of porcelain kilns.

“Master Song, I’m very happy that you’re willing to observe.” Su Yunlan walked to the Song kiln worker’s side and said sincerely, “I believe you will definitely see the advantages of the new technology.”

The Song kiln worker didn't speak, but simply nodded, which was taken as tacit agreement with Su Yunlan's words.

His gaze fell on the flames burning in the kiln, and he silently prayed that the firing would be successful.

The first firing of new porcelain has begun.

There was tension in the air.

Su Yunlan, Xiao Yuhan, Young Master Xiao the Twelfth, and the other kiln workers gathered in front of the kiln, anxiously awaiting the results.

The flames inside the kiln grew stronger and stronger, and the temperature rose higher and higher.

Suddenly, a loud bang shattered the silence, followed by a plume of thick smoke billowing from the kiln.

"What's going on?" Su Yunlan's expression changed drastically, and an ominous premonition welled up in her heart.

"Oh no! The kiln has exploded!" a kiln worker shouted in terror, his voice filled with despair.

Xiao Yuhan grabbed Su Yunlan's hand and pulled her behind him, his voice steady, "Don't be afraid, I'll go take a look."

He strode toward the kiln, but was forced back by a wave of heat.

He squinted and, through the thick smoke, saw a crack appear on the top of the kiln, from which flames shot out like a fire dragon, raging through the air.

"Quick! Go put out the fire!" Young Master Xiao shouted, his voice hoarse.

The crowd was in chaos; some went to fetch water, while others went to find tools to put out the fire.

The scene was chaotic, and the air was filled with a strong smell of burning.

"Go quickly and inform the madam!" a kiln worker shouted to the apprentice beside him, "Just say...just say..."

He was interrupted by a violent cough before he could finish speaking.

He covered his mouth, his face pale.

"Cough cough...Quick...Run..." he said haltingly, "The kiln...the kiln is about to collapse..."