After mooching a lavish lunch, Russell headed to the nearby Pottery Kiln Factory and met the potter Wai Maozi William.
"Young Master Russell, it's not time yet. Slag bricks, like pottery, aren't so easy to fire." Wai Maozi William knocked his pipe against the wall, then pushed forward a young man in his prime. "Look, I brought Little William over. He'll be specifically responsible for firing the slag bricks."
Little William was Wai Maozi William's son and also the manager Russell had chosen for the Brick Kiln Factory.
The moment he saw Russell, he immediately knelt and kowtowed. "Little William pays respects to my lord."
"A sharp young man. Rise, no need for such formalities." Russell raised his hand, signaling for Little William to stand.
Although he was only sixteen, probably ten years younger than Little William, he spoke with the tone of an old man, and no one present found anything strange about it—his noble status gave Russell a position above everyone else.
"How far along are the slag bricks now?"
"They've just entered the kiln for pre-firing." Little William explained, "Earlier, we made more than ten types of brick blanks using different materials. The blanks only dried over the past few days, so we're pre-firing them first. Once that's done, we'll begin the actual firing."
"What is pre-firing?" Russell asked.
"Because the brick blanks contain moisture. If they're fired directly, the water will evaporate and create pores in the slag bricks, rough surfaces, and other problems. Pre-firing improves the slag bricks' strength, hardness, and appearance," Little William said. "These are all necessary steps in firing pottery."
"I see." Russell indicated that he understood, but quickly asked in return, "But slag bricks don't need the beauty of pottery. Honestly, I don't care whether they have pores or uneven surfaces,