The middle-aged man in luxurious attire beside him, namely Kevin Foster's father, the wealthy merchant of Yanshen Town, Benjamin Foster, let out a cold laugh. “Do you think a three-foot painted vase is so easy to produce? For decades, only the The Brooks Family kiln in Yanshen Town managed to fire a pair of three-foot painted vases, making them nearly unique. Hmph—your The Clark Family likely doesn’t have such skill. Even if you manage to make them, they’ll be unsightly rejects. Magistrate, the The Clark Family has failed to live up to the county lord’s high expectations and trust, and should be severely punished!”

Ethan Clark finally understood after hearing this. So, the official task of making the three-foot painted vases was a deliberate difficulty set for the The Clark Family kiln by the The Foster Family through County Magistrate Brooks. They knew full well that, with current techniques in Yanshen Town, it would be extremely hard to complete such large and exquisite pieces, yet still insisted the The Clark Family do it. The intent was as clear as day. Their goal was nothing more than to take advantage of Ethan Clark's previous reputation for idleness and incompetence, and attempt to seize the The Clark Family kiln for themselves. The reason County Magistrate Brooks came to collect the goods before the deadline today was likely also due to the The Foster Family's instigation.

“Of course. The Prince of Qi’s birthday is approaching. If the congratulatory gift for the prince is delayed, even I cannot bear the responsibility. Ethan Clark, do you admit your guilt?” Andrew Brooks gave a sinister smile.

“Magistrate, I do not know what crime I have committed. The county lord ordered the firing of the three-foot painted vases, and there are still two days left before the deadline he set. Heh. However, in just a little while, a pair of three-foot painted vases will be ready to come out of the kiln. My lord, perhaps you could wait a bit.” Ethan Clark cupped his hands, a cold glint flashing in his eyes as he glanced at Kevin Foster, then led Old Morgan and the others into the kiln courtyard.

Andrew Brooks sneered, casting a contemptuous glance at Ethan Clark, and led the group into the courtyard as well. At this moment, the veiled Emily Lane also stepped down from her sedan chair, following behind Liam Young and Lucy Young. Some kiln owners and craftsmen who had come to watch nearby also followed, whispering among themselves.

Looking up at the sky, Ethan Clark let out a long sigh and shouted, “Old Morgan, open the kiln! Bring out the wares!”

Old Morgan was startled, leaned in, and whispered, “Young master, according to tradition, we must first worship the kiln god before opening the kiln!”

Ethan Clark was taken aback. So, in ancient times, there was such a troublesome custom for opening the kiln? He smiled, “Very well, you handle it.”

Old Morgan was already prepared. He stepped back slightly and shouted, “Brothers, invite the kiln god!”

Dong! Dong! Dong! After three thunderous drumbeats, two craftsmen slowly carried over a life-sized wooden statue of a god. It was an unnamed deity, wearing a crown and armor, standing atop a qilin-like beast gazing up at the moon. On the beast’s back were two lines of small characters: “Refining metal and earth, shaping the five elements to perfect creation; feasting on virtue and harmony, worshipped for a thousand years with ritual vessels.”

The two craftsmen respectfully placed the statue at the kiln entrance, then lit three sticks of incense in a large censer and set out a freshly slaughtered pig’s head.

Then, Old Morgan led several craftsmen in kneeling and praying in low voices. After a while, Old Morgan stood up and shouted, “Kiln god bless us, flames soaring to the sky, water and wood merging with earth, boundless fortune!”

“Send off the kiln god! Extinguish the fire!” The two craftsmen carried the kiln god statue several meters away from the kiln entrance, then, hands trembling, gripped iron rods and began prying open the bricks sealing the kiln door.

……

The temperature inside the kiln gradually dropped. Only then did Old Morgan send people to carefully and gently pull the finished vases from the kiln with special iron hooks. The crowd had already grown impatient, and some even began to jeer.

Old Morgan felt as if the iron hook in his hand weighed a thousand pounds. He stared nervously into the kiln, then glanced back at Ethan Clark. Ethan Clark gave him a gentle smile. “Old Morgan, go ahead. I’m here.”

Gritting his teeth, Old Morgan exchanged a look with another craftsman, and together they carefully hooked the two finished vases out of the kiln.

The setting sun cast a thin golden glow, and the two three-foot painted vases, with a pale blue-white base, dazzling colors, and exquisite shapes, bathed in golden sunlight, were revealed before everyone’s eyes.

Ah! Exclamations of amazement echoed throughout the scene.

The vase mouths were about five inches high, vertical and rounded. Below the mouth, the symmetrically oval bodies tapered gracefully down to the base. The glaze shone brilliantly, flawless. On the body, pine trees were painted in lush green, cranes craned their necks northward, and auspicious cloud patterns set off the scene, exuding an air of wealth and good fortune. On the back, two lines of vigorous birthday wishes, as if dragons and phoenixes sang in harmony, added an indescribable grandeur to the vases.

On the base was a clearly legible inscription: Made by Ethan Clark of Yanshen Town.

Liam Young, Lucy Young, Old Clark, and the others, including Old Morgan and those who participated in the making, were all so astonished their mouths hung open. They had thought producing even one qualified piece would be a stroke of luck, but unexpectedly, they had created a masterpiece of the highest order.

Emily Lane began to tremble with excitement, her veiled scarf quivering. She stepped forward and actually grabbed Ethan Clark's hand, softly calling, “Husband!”

A fragrant breeze wafted by, the beauty as radiant as jade. Ethan Clark's heart fluttered, and he quickly turned his face away, looking toward Andrew Brooks.

Magistrate Andrew Brooks was utterly stunned. Such exquisite, giant vases—this was his first time seeing them. Whether in form, painting technique, or glaze work, they were truly peerless masterpieces!