I was chased by my sickly junior brother who had two lives

Since the firing of glazed tiles was completed, and glazed utensils and decorations became popular in Qing Kingdom, Chen Jia's workshop was crowded with customers all day long. The dignitaries competed to bid for a unique glazed ornament, the wealthy merchants ordered glazed vessels in bulk to decorate their mansions and entertain guests, and even ordinary people were willing to buy one or two small and exquisite glazed jewelry on special days to add a touch of color to their lives.

On this day, Chen Jia, who had been busy all morning, had just had some free time. She sat on a stone bench in the backyard of the workshop, holding a cup of fragrant tea in her hand, looking at the piles of orders not far away, her heart was filled with joy, but also a little worried. Chen Jue came in after handling the affairs outside, and saw what his wife was thinking at a glance. He sat down next to Chen Jia and asked softly, "My wife, you look worried, are you facing any problems with the workshop?"

Chen Jia sighed softly, put down the teacup, and said, "My husband, you see that the orders are getting more and more. Although our current craftsmanship can handle it, I always think in my heart that we can't limit ourselves to this. I was reading ancient books recently and I had a new idea. Do you think we can make colored glaze into window glass, or even build a fully transparent sun room? If successful, it will not only let in light and keep warm in winter, but also allow people in the house to enjoy the sunshine. It must be a wonderful thing, but the skills involved are really difficult for me."

Chen Jue's eyes flashed with surprise, and then he smiled in appreciation: "Madam, your ideas are always so bold and advanced! However, since we have a direction, we might as well give it a try. Are there any clues in the ancient books?"

Chen Jia frowned slightly and shook her head, saying, "There are very few ancient books that mention the light transmittance of colored glaze. They only say that the production process needs to be extremely delicate and the purity of the raw materials must be extremely high. I think this must be very different from the way we make glazed tiles and utensils."

Chen Jue thought for a moment, then stood up and said, "My lady, don't worry. I heard that there are several old craftsmen living in seclusion in the western suburbs of the capital. They are said to have studied the characteristics of various materials in depth. Perhaps we can go visit them and ask for their advice. Maybe we can find a breakthrough."

Chen Jia's eyes lit up, and she stood up and took Chen Jue's hand: "Husband, this is a very good plan, let's set off now."

After a little preparation, the two headed straight to the western suburbs. The western suburbs were densely forested and the path was rugged. After many twists and turns, they finally found a quiet courtyard. After knocking on the wooden door, an old man with white hair but vigorous spirit opened the door and came out. Chen Jue bowed respectfully and explained his purpose. The old man nodded slightly and led the two into the house.

The room was filled with all kinds of strange-shaped ores and tools, and the walls were covered with dense drawings. The old man picked up a crystal stone and said, "I know something about what you two are looking for. The key to making glass for windows is the selection and purification of raw materials. Ordinary quartz sand has too many impurities and needs to be repeatedly washed and calcined to reach the required purity." He pointed to a pile of white powder in the corner, "This is the quartz powder I have purified for many days, which can be used as a basis."

Chen Jia asked anxiously, "Father, how do we control the firing temperature and shaping? Most of the glassware we fired before were small pieces. The window glass area is large, and it will deform and crack if we are not careful."

The old man twirled his beard and smiled, "Don't be impatient, young lady. The heat must be steady and even. The temperature should not be raised too quickly in the early stage, so that the raw materials can be slowly integrated. When shaping, a special mold is needed, and when the glass is half solidified, use tools to carefully press it to remove bubbles and ensure it is flat and smooth."

Chen Jia and Chen Jue listened carefully, nodding and taking notes from time to time. After bidding farewell to the old man, the two returned to the workshop with a lot of harvest and immediately started the experiment.

In the workshop, the craftsmen mixed the raw materials according to the new formula and carefully poured them into the special molds. Chen Jia stood by the kiln, staring at the temperature without blinking, with beads of sweat on his forehead. Chen Jue assisted from the side, reminding the craftsmen to pay attention to details from time to time.

"Raise the temperature a little more, slowly, yes, that's it..." Chen Jia commanded softly.

However, the first test was not smooth. The glass was either full of bubbles or uneven in thickness, and could not be used as a window. The craftsmen looked frustrated, but Chen Jia encouraged them: "Don't be discouraged. This is just the beginning. We can improve when there are problems. My father-in-law said that making glass is difficult. Let's try a few more times and we will succeed."

In the following days, Chen Jia and Chen Jue lived and ate in the workshop, repeatedly adjusting the raw material ratio, firing time and shaping techniques. One day, when they were preparing for a new round of firing, the prince heard that the two were studying new techniques and came to inspect.

"Madam Chen, Duke Chen, I heard that you were tinkering with new gadgets again, so I came here to take a look." The prince walked into the workshop with a smile.

Chen Jia came forward to greet them and told them their ideas and progress. After listening, the prince's eyes were full of expectation: "Madam Chen, if this transparent glass can really be made and used for windows and sun rooms, the palace can save a lot of charcoal in winter and have better lighting. It is really a blessing. You can just go ahead and do it. If there are any difficulties, I will definitely support you with all my strength."

With the prince's encouragement, everyone worked harder. After several hard tests, they finally succeeded in firing a crystal clear, smooth glass sample. The sun shone through it and formed a bright spot on the ground, which was extremely clear and without any impurities.

"It's done! It's done!" Chen Jia jumped up excitedly, tears in her eyes, and hugged Chen Jue tightly. The craftsmen also cheered, and their months of hard work finally paid off.

But problems followed one after another. Although the glass was made, installation was another big problem. Chen Jia and Chen Jue searched for skilled craftsmen everywhere and finally found a master who was good at carpentry and construction.

The old master came to the workshop, looked at the glass sample, stroked his beard and thought for a moment, then said: "To install the glass, a special window frame is needed. It must be stable to support the weight of the glass and ensure sealing, so that it is windproof and rainproof. You can use a wooden frame with mortise and tenon structure, cut grooves on the inside, embed the glass, and then use tung oil and lime to seal the gap."

Chen Jia asked worriedly, "Master, can this installation withstand wind and rain? If the glass breaks, it will be troublesome to replace it."

The old master smiled and said, "Madam, rest assured. The wooden frame must be made of excellent materials and treated with anti-corrosion and moisture-proofing. After the glass is embedded, protective strips will be installed on the outside to ensure that there will be no accidents."

Under the guidance of the master craftsman, the craftsmen began to make window frames and install glass. Chen Jia supervised the whole process and did not miss any details.

When the first window with glass installed was displayed in the workshop, everyone was amazed. The bright light penetrated into the house without any hindrance, and the house instantly became brighter and warmer.

As the news spread, the common people and dignitaries in the capital came to visit and place orders. A noble lady stood in front of the window, looking at the scenery outside the window clearly presented through the glass, and she was amazed: "This glass window is simply amazing! In winter, we can enjoy the snow without being cold. Madam Chen, you are really a blessing to everyone."

A scholar also shook his head and sighed: "With this glass, it seems as if the indoor and outdoor are integrated into one, and the lighting is excellent. It is really a good companion for scholars to read and paint. It is wonderful!"

As orders came in like snowflakes, Chen Jia and Chen Jue's workshop became busier and busier. They not only brought light and warmth to thousands of households in Qingguo, but also passed on the glass making and installation skills to more people.