The Rise of Primitive Tribes Farming

Chapter 36 Building a Kiln and Firing Pottery
Firing pottery requires a very high temperature. If it is fired in the open air, even if it is successfully fired in the end, it will become a defective product due to insufficient temperature.

Therefore, a good clay kiln is very important.

Thanks to the experience of his previous life, Chen Bei knows how to build a good kiln.

Because of the need for long-term use, Chenbei did not just use yellow mud to make earthen kilns, but clay.

Earth kilns made of clay are less prone to cracking than yellow mud, are much more airtight, and are naturally stronger and more durable.

The first step, and mud.

"Whoa!"

A bucket of water was poured into the pit in the middle of a pile of clay, and Chen Bei kept stirring it with a stone hoe to make the clay evenly wet after being wet.

Afterwards, he even went in barefoot and stepped on the clay with his feet until he stepped on a large pile of clay until it was as resilient as dough.

Then, Chen Bei dug a rectangular earth pit at the place where the clay kiln was planned to be built, and then started to build the kiln with clay.

"Snapped!"

A large ball of mud was slapped beside the pit. Chen Bei kneaded it into a square shape with his hands, and then continued to add another ball of mud.

After lumps of mud were piled up, an oval earthen kiln slowly took shape.

On the top, Chenbei added many branches, and then sealed the top with clay, leaving only a chimney behind.

The chimney is much higher than the stove, so that when the fire is lit, the air circulation will be accelerated and the fire will be more powerful.

On the side of the earthen kiln, Chenbei opened an opening for placing the pottery mud. After the clay is placed, the opening will be sealed with mud, and it will not be opened until it is fired.

It took Chenbei a whole day to build the kiln.

He didn't rush to light the fire, but let the kiln dry first.

If the mud is still wet, direct fire will cause the earthen kiln to crack, and there will be air leakage everywhere when the pottery is fired, requiring constant repairs.

A week after the kiln was built, Chenbei felt that the kiln was almost dry, and was ready to start firing the kiln.

A piece of pottery was put into the center of the kiln, and then, Chenbei sent people to find a large number of dry pine trees.

The pine tree contains rosin, which is very flammable and durable, making it an ideal fuel.

"Okay, light the fire!"

Under the expectant gaze of the Mang tribe, Chen Bei used a torch to ignite the firewood piled under the kiln.

The pine needles were first ignited, then the small branches were also ignited, and finally the big branches were also ignited, and the inside of the kiln was burning red.

"Huhuhu..."

After the earthen kiln is heated, the internal air expands and rises up the chimney, and new air is sucked in from the bottom of the kiln, forming a cycle, and the flames grow higher and higher, just like a blower is installed.

"Boss, how long will it take to burn?" Lie asked nervously.

While staring at the kiln fire, Chen Bei replied, "Fire the pottery red until it is fully cooked."

"Leader, why don't I light the fire? Go to the side and have a rest."

"Okay, if you want to burn it, let you burn it."

Lie volunteered to light the fire, but Chen Bei didn't refuse, went to the nearby dead tree and sat down, staring at Lie's fire.

Burning fire is also a technical task. If it is not well burned, it will only emit thick smoke and even go out. If it is well burned, there will be less smoke and the flame will be very strong.

Lie was obviously experienced. He stacked the branches together and burned them, and used sticks to hollow out the bottom of the branches to allow the air to circulate smoothly, and the fire in the kiln burned very vigorously.

Firing a kiln is a time-consuming and boring task. From the time of lighting the kiln fire, for most of the day, you just keep adding firewood and observing the state of the pottery in the earthen kiln from time to time.

When it was getting dark, Chen Bei observed the pottery mud in the earthen kiln again, and found that all the pottery mud was completely burnt red and thoroughly burned.

"Okay, no need to light the fire."

Chen Bei asked Lie to stop burning the fire, then sealed the kiln mouth with stones and smeared it with mud, even the chimney was blocked with stones.

"You don't have to watch it anymore, let's all go back, and come back when the kiln is cold tomorrow."

After Chen Bei finished speaking, he took the lead to go back. He was quite tired after guarding the kiln fire for a whole day.

Chen Bei was gone, and the others had no choice but to leave, especially Lie, who almost walked three steps and looked back, looking at that posture, wishing he could stay here at night.

Chen Bei didn't worry too much about gains and losses, because he was confident that most of the pottery in this kiln must be fine, and individual cracks were unavoidable.

There was nothing to say all night, and early the next morning, the side of the kiln was once again full of people.

"Open the kiln, open the kiln!"

Chen Bei stood beside the earthen kiln, rubbed his hands together, and then used a stone knife to poke off the mud blocked from the opening reserved on the side of the earthen kiln.

After the layer of mud on the surface was poked off, the inside was a big lump of mud that was as complete as a big brick, and Chen Bei unloaded it whole.

Putting the large lump of mud beside him, Chen Bei glanced inside, and saw that in the earthen kiln, pieces of mud were burned into dark red pottery, lying quietly in the ashes.

Chen Bei reached in, first took out the nearest pottery bowl, and checked it carefully, no cracks were found, obviously the firing was successful.

"Pottery bowl, fired successfully!"

Following Chen Bei's announcement, Ya jumped up excitedly in the crowd.

"Mine, mine, there are animal teeth carved by me on it!"

Chen Bei smiled and handed the pottery bowl to Ya, saying: "After taking it back, wash it well, and be careful when using it, don't break it."

"Thank you leader, I will be careful."

Ya's face was full of smiles, and he held the pottery bowl high, attracting many envious eyes.

Chen Bei took out another pottery pot, which was one of the few pottery pottery he made with his own hands. It was also engraved with bluegrass, which was very conspicuous.

"Claypot, fired successfully!"

As Chen Bei took out pieces of pottery, the crowd burst into cheers. Anyone who participated in the making of pottery basically got their own pottery.

Of course, there are also some people who failed to fire pottery.

For example, a pottery bucket made by Yun was relatively large, but it was not pinched well enough. When it was fired, cracks appeared on the bottom.

Yun held the cracked pottery bucket in his hands in despair. He originally wanted to make a big pottery, but he failed.

Chen Bei patted him on the shoulder, and said: "Don't be so depressed, this time you didn't burn successfully, next time you burn a few more, it will definitely succeed."

Yun nodded, but he was still in a bad mood, especially since everyone around him was showing off their pottery.

In the crowd, Lie became more and more nervous, because he hadn't taken out his clay pot. Although he made two pots for safety, he was still in a panic.

"Boss, is my clay pot successful?" Lie couldn't help asking.

Chen Bei said: "Don't worry, the pottery has to be taken out one by one, and it will be in your clay pot soon."

Chen Bei took out a few more pieces of pottery, and there were only two pots left in the kiln.

Chen Bei pulled one of the pots out a little, and then took it out with both hands.

The pottery basin is dark red in color, and it is not rough to start with. Because Lie made it with great care, after firing, there is no crack or deformation on it.

"The ceramic basin has been fired successfully! Lie, congratulations, you have your son's gift."

With a smile on his face, Chen Bei handed the clay basin to Lie.

Lie took the pot excitedly. On the side of the pot, there was a word "fish" carved by him, which was his son's name.

"Thank you leader, thank you leader..."

Lie repeatedly thanked him, a big and strong man, at this moment, he was so excited that tears welled up in his eyes.

"Don't worry, there's one more."

Chen Bei took out the last piece of pottery from the kiln, it was still a pottery basin, almost exactly the same as the one in Lie's hands.

Chen Bei stacked the pottery with the pot in Lie's hand, and said with a smile: "Good things come in pairs."

Lie thanked again and again, then carefully carried the two pots home and went home. He wanted to share the news with his wife and children.

"Okay, that's the end of firing pottery this time. If you don't succeed in firing, don't be discouraged. Be more careful next time you fire, and you will definitely be able to make pottery you like."

The crowd gradually dispersed, and Chen Bei took home three pots and six pots in a rattan basket, all made by himself.

After returning home, Chen Bei kept two clay bowls and a clay pot for himself, and then sent two clay bowls and a clay pot to the elder.

There was one pottery pot and two pottery bowls left, and Chen Bei gave them to Qingzhu.

"Wu, this clay pot can be used to hold medicine and has a lid on it. The clay bowl can be used for eating, which is much better than wooden bowls."

Chen Bei put the pots and bowls on the table.

Qingzhu picked up the clay pot and observed it carefully. A plant of orchid grass was engraved on it with a few simple strokes. Although it is simple, it makes people feel at ease.

Qingzhu looked at the pottery bowl again, which was also engraved with orchid grass, which was very distinctive.

Girls are more delicate in their thoughts, and these details can make them pay more attention and move them.

"It's very good, I like it very much, thank you leader."

Chen Bei smiled and said: "It's good if you like it. Next time, if you need other pottery, you can tell me, and I will burn a few more. If there is nothing else, I will go back first."

Chen Bei turned around and walked outside.

"and many more……"

Qing Zhu stopped Chen Bei.

Chen Bei turned his head, looked at Qingzhu suspiciously, and said, "Is there anything else?"

"Wait a minute, I have something for you."

Qingzhu hurriedly turned around and went into the back room, took a small bamboo tube and walked out, stuffing it into Chen Bei's hand.

"This is the best healing medicine I have prepared, and you should take your self-defense with you."

"Okay, thank you Wu."

Chen Bei held the small bamboo tube, nodded, turned and left, feeling warm in his heart.

(End of this chapter)