When Xu Qing and Xiao Ruxue came to a check-in room next to the courtyard of Guoshangyuan that was specially used to receive guests, they saw a tall and thin man. The man looked to be in his thirties.
However, although this man is a bit thin, he is lean and strong, and his lower body is very stable. He should be a martial artist, and he seems to have good martial arts skills.
This surprised Xu Qing. Are all the craftsmen working in the papermaking workshops so involuntarily?
Pastries and fragrant tea had already been placed on the table next to him, but he didn't move a word. He just kept pacing back and forth in the guest room, seeming very anxious.
When the tall and thin man noticed someone coming in, he turned his head and came to Xu Qing's side in a few steps.
Xu Qing looked at him and said, "Is this gentleman the craftsman who made the softened paper?"
Xiao Ruxue nodded and said, "Yeah, that's him."
The tall and thin man nodded quickly and said: "Reporting to Sir, you are just a villain."
With that said, the tall and thin man picked up the paper on the table next to him and handed it to Xu Qingqing for Xu Qing to read.
Xu Qing picked up the paper. It felt soft and smooth, and it only had a fairly thick layer. Although it couldn't be compared with the toilet paper of later generations, if you use this kind of paper, it will be much more comfortable than using the kind of paper you usually write on.
More!
This is all foreseeable!
The only drawback is that the paper is too big and is made according to the specifications of writing paper, so it may have to be cut out when used.
But this is a trivial matter and not a problem.
Xu Qing said: "Well, this paper is soft and smooth. It is exactly the paper I want. Sir, you are a great talent!"
Xu Qing still wanted to speak, but the tall and thin man spoke first: "Sir, the notice you posted outside said that anyone who makes soft paper will be given a thousand taels of silver. Can you give the reward first?
Villain..."
Xu Qing smiled and said: "Sir, are you so anxious? Are you afraid that I will break my promise?"
The tall and thin man shook his head quickly and said: "I don't dare, I don't dare... It's just that my wife is seriously ill and urgently needs money to save her life. The doctor said that it will take one thousand taels of silver to cure my wife's illness, so I am so anxious."
"
After hearing this, Xu Qing said: "Since you are so anxious today, I won't keep you here any longer. Come with me, sir. I will take you to get the money right now."
Xu Qing took the tall and thin man to the Finance Department of the Guoshang Academy, took out a thousand taels of silver, and handed it to the tall and thin man.
It wasn't until Xu Qing handed the banknote to the tall, thin man that the man took out a stack of drawings from his arms and handed them to Xu Qing. On them were instructions on how to make softened paper and improved utensils.
Moreover, both the drawings and handwriting are standard and rigorous. This stack of drawings all demonstrates the profound knowledge of this tall and thin man in drawing drawings.
Xu Qing looked at the tall and thin man's leaving figure and couldn't help but marvel in his heart: This man is a talent.
This kind of talent must be firmly grasped!
Such a standard drawing, the method of making softened paper is recorded so concisely, and the handwriting is beautiful.
No matter how you look at it, he is not a simple character!
Such an extraordinary person is willing to be a craftsman in a paper-making workshop. Although the salary of the paper-making workshop of Guoshang Academy is relatively generous, it is far from worthy of this person's talent.
If Xu Qing guessed correctly, such a character must have a mysterious and unknown past.
I found a treasure today.
He couldn't figure out how to make softened paper in this era, but the craftsmen in this papermaking workshop made it so easily.
It’s only been less than three months since notices asking for huge sums of money were posted around the capital, right?
Xu Qing couldn't help but think that if he could make a method to soften paper in three months, wouldn't it mean that as long as he retains this talent, he can create more miracles?!
The salary and conditions are whatever he wants, even a thousand taels of silver a month is fine!
Such talents are hard to find!
Moreover, the employees of the GuoShang Yuan all benefited from the public accounts of the GuoShang Yuan, and it was not his share of private money. He himself had no losses, so what was he afraid of?
Besides, this person is in such need of money now that he has no reason to refuse the opportunity for promotion and salary increase that is presented to him.
Xu Qing felt that now was the time to send a wave of warmth to this talented person.
Thinking of this, Xu Qing quickly called Xiao Ruxue, bought a lot of supplements and asked two servants to carry them towards this talented person's home.
As for why you know his home address?
Anding County Government found out soon after conducting an investigation?
Even without the help of the government, many people in the papermaking workshop knew where he lived.
…
Many important large workshops of the Guoshang Academy are located in Anding County, a county on the outskirts of the capital.
As for why it is located here?
Land in the capital is so expensive... How can one buy a street of shops in the capital to use as a workshop?
Anyone who dares to do this is either a fool or a big dog.
Xu Qing doesn’t want to be a big dog owner.
Anyone who has studied geography knows that the center is the commercial area; then there are the residential areas; and the outermost areas away from the city center, where the land is the cheapest and suitable for large-scale purchases and construction of factories, are the industrial areas.
…
The opening of the Guoshang Academy brought cheap paper to major bookstores in the capital, and then the price of books was further reduced due to competition. Scholars in the capital were all grateful for the greatness of the Guoshang Academy.
This is exactly the same as the scene of the scholars in Yongzhou City back then, but they don’t know who to thank. They only know that the price of books has dropped due to competition from major bookstores...
However, not everyone will feel grateful to the Guoshang Yuan after the price of paper has been significantly reduced, just as several families who made their fortunes in papermaking resented the Guoshang Yuan.
Cutting off people's wealth is like killing their parents!
But they dare to be angry but dare not speak out, and it is useless to speak out.
People use their strength to drive down the price of paper. What can they do?
Just sue, there is no place to sue and there is no crime to sue!
Use your power to overwhelm others... The power of the Guoshang Yuan is greater than all of them combined...
To use force is to seek death...
The market is all about survival of the fittest. Who can blame you if you can't improve paper?
Fortunately, those who could open a paper mill in the capital and make it big were not stupid people. Seeing that the paper mill had no profits, they immediately changed their minds.
After closing the paper mill, the caravan started walking.
Large quantities of paper were purchased from the Guoshangyuan, and then resold to Zhou and Zhao, and the middlemen made huge profits by earning the price difference.
As for why there is no Chu State...
Because the GuoShang Yuan has already started its layout in Chu State, how come the GuoShang Yuan can't see the benefits they can see?
If you can't compete with the National Business Institute, just sell the paper to further places.
…
At this time, Xu Qing and Xiao Ruxue had already arrived at the door of the talented person's house, but they heard an angry voice.
"Quack doctor! How dare you lie to me! Didn't you say that a thousand taels can cure the disease?!"