Chapter 31

"There are two more things I need you to spearhead, Second Uncle Li." "The first is that I need to build a brick and tile workshop near the tea-frying workshop, which will require a large amount of firewood. There are no special requirements for this wood; any kind of scrap wood will do. I’ll leave the task of collecting this firewood to you. Just pay the going market rates—green wood at green wood prices, dry wood at dry wood prices." "The second task is to start preparing to purchase hardwood for charcoal production after winter sets in. And there is an even more important matter: I am handing over the operation of this brick and tile workshop to your Li Family. I’ve already asked Genshou to prepare the molds for the bricks and tiles. Right now, besides gathering firewood, another urgent task is to prepare the clay for the bricks and tiles. Once the kiln is built, I will teach both of your families the craft of firing bricks and tiles."