Chapter 185 Accepting the Challenge

Chapter 185 Accepting the Challenge

Xianjin quietly lowered her head and took a sip of the now cold tea.

The Mulberry paper workshop ranked among the top in the entire Xuancheng Prefecture’s paper industry. While not number one, it was certainly among the best, renowned for its beautifully colored paper throughout the prefecture. It had carved out a niche between Heng Kee’s cooked paper and Li’s raw paper. Today, their popular products like Gongyu, Maiguang, Baihua, Bingyi, Ningshuang, Wuse, Shise, and Yinghuang were all the creations of Manager Zhao.

In recent times, the colors used in colored paper were extremely light, creating an ethereal atmosphere, so faint that they were barely noticeable. Coupled with beautiful names, these papers were widely praised among the literati of Southern Zhili.

Adding a touch of color to pure white paper to create colored paper was itself an innovation.

That day, Old Madam Qu’s mulberry tea had inspired Xianjin. She later discussed it with Li Sanshun, who laughed heartily upon hearing her idea. "You’re too late! Colored paper? Our Mulberry paper workshop has done it before! It sold very well and even sparked a trend in Xuancheng!"

Li Sanshun added, "It was the work of our Mulberry paper workshop’s Manager Zhao."

Xianjin was unconvinced. "Manager Zhao? The manager overseeing Chen’s largest workshop is surnamed Zhao?"

She smiled meaningfully. "Why not Chen or Qu?"

Although Li Sanshun held a good impression of Old Madam Qu, he also acknowledged her preference for blood relations in staffing. He squatted on the ground, smoking his water pipe, and after exhaling a few rings of smoke, he extinguished it and casually said, "…You can imagine the weight Manager Zhao carries!"

Anyone who could carve out a path in a family business filled with nepotism must have real talent.

Li Sanshun followed up with another comment, bending his index finger inward and pointing at himself. "Am I stubborn?"

Xianjin nodded. "Our shop doesn’t keep donkeys, but we might as well."

Li Sanshun slapped the back of Xianjin’s head. "Hey, little girl! You’re insulting your Master Li in a roundabout way!"

Xianjin chuckled.

Li Sanshun took another deep puff of his water pipe, squinting his eyes as if in deep thought.

An old man squatting on the ground, smoking his pipe—a scene rich with stories.

Xianjin waited for his wisdom, holding her breath. But after a long pause, Li Sanshun only said, "This water pipe isn’t as strong as tobacco."

Xianjin: …

Evaluating such harmful things shouldn’t warrant such profound expressions!

Li Sanshun took another deep drag, then patted Xianjin’s head contentedly. "Manager Zhao is even more stubborn than me, with a bad temper and a rigid personality, making him very hard to talk to.

"But—"

Li Sanshun sighed. "Zhao Dezheng truly loves making paper. Initially apprenticed to learn mulberry paper, he later married and moved to his wife’s hometown, Xuancheng, where mulberry paper couldn’t be made or sold. So he started anew, learning the art of making Xuancheng paper. This person is skilled and adaptable. When the Chens moved from Jing County to Xuancheng, they faced competition from Heng Kee and Baiji. He managed to establish a reputation with colored paper, helping Chen’s settle in Xuancheng…"

"Only those who are stubborn can make good paper. Those who take shortcuts produce paper that is loose and weak. Paper quality reflects character. If you get the chance to visit Xuancheng, you should meet him."

Isn’t this opportunity here now?

Xianjin deliberately scheduled the meeting with the Mulberry paper workshop last, both to show respect and to avoid appearing intimidated.

Xianjin reviewed several ancient books on papermaking that Qiao Shanchang had given her. Each time she read them, she gained new insights—since the Sui Dynasty, the founding of Great Wei, paper from Xuancheng became highly valued. Alongside Sichuan paper, Jin paper, and Dongdu paper, the development of raw and cooked paper continued, including various types like tribute paper, cotton paper, white paper, gold-sprinkled paper, five-color powder paper, and golden five-color paper. The evolution of Xuancheng paper never ceased.

Since it never ceased, how could she be accused of disrespecting the craft?

Xianjin lowered her eyes. "Before you entered the papermaking world, there seemed to be no colored paper either. Your innovation, my creation of coloring books, notebooks, and lanterns are all innovations. Our goals align; in the short term, to sell paper, and in the long term, to promote Xuancheng paper. Your comments seem overly—"

Xianjin paused.

"Prejudiced."

Zhao Dezheng was taken aback by Xianjin’s words.

Xianjin looked up. "Do you have a problem with me because I use tricks to sell paper, or simply because I’m a woman?"

Zhao Dezheng didn’t expect such a straightforward question. Honestly, during their first meeting today, he had a good impression of this young new shopkeeper who replaced Chen Wu.

Not because she kept praising him.

But because she spoke and acted with confidence, unswayed by others.

As a fellow stubborn mule, he found it comfortable to interact with someone like her.

Moreover, since Old Man Li approved of her, he trusted her too.

But—

She was a woman!

A young woman!

Not that he was prejudiced!

It was just that women couldn’t do this!

Cleaning and tidying, yes; but making and selling paper…

Zhao Dezheng immediately countered, "Prejudiced?! What prejudice? As a paper shop owner, you can identify raw materials, assess paper quality, and calculate accounts… but can you actually make paper? Can you handle the paper-making process? No matter how eloquently you speak, if you can’t do it yourself, it’s all zero!"

Zero… Zero nonsense…

—"I really give up," Xianjin’s variety show face·JPG.

Zero?

She is number one.

Iron number one.

The kind who carries a fire extinguisher to put out a fire at a gay bar, okay?

Xianjin scratched her face, somewhat helplessly countering, "Can Mr. Chen Wu make paper?"

Zhao Dezheng was taken aback, his face turning red as he shouted loudly, "You can't compare with the worst! Even if Mr. Chen Wu is not the best, he can still produce decent plain paper!"

Even though at least half of it is subpar in a single batch.

The definition of subpar xuan paper is quite clear; when held up to sunlight, every inch of the paper should let light through evenly and feel resilient and smooth to the touch.

But... at least he knows how!

Mr. Chen Wu grew up in the sheds where the bark was washed, steamed, and pounded. Even if he’s not an expert, he still knows how to do it!

Xianjin nodded, "So, you mean if I can make paper and produce decent white sheets, then here, my word is law, and you, Zhao Guan Shi, will follow what I say, is that right?"

Zhao Guan Shi hesitated and glanced at Li Sanshun behind Xianjin.

Li Sanshun silently looked away.

Desperate for support, Zhao Guan Shi turned to Master Gao, whom he wasn’t very familiar with but had heard about.

Master Gao was holding Chen's specially crafted bamboo screen, chuckling foolishly as a cover while his mind raced, trying to learn the craft—what does your Chen family’s internal struggle have to do with Xiaocao Village, which is downstream in the supply chain? Joking aside, each household’s paper-making technique is a secret. He had finally been allowed into Chen's workshop; there was no way he would leave without learning anything!

Zhao Guan Shi pursed his lips, receiving no useful information, and could only go along with Xianjin’s words, "Yes! If you want to be in charge of me, Zhao Dezheng, you need to have the skills! Otherwise, finding another master for me, Zhao Dezheng, wouldn’t be too difficult!"

Then, remembering something, he added hastily, "However, it needs to be soon! If you take three to five years to learn and come back to talk to me, I won’t have the time to wait."

Xianjin nodded in understanding, "Not three to five years. Ten days from now, at Jixi Workshop, you come, I’ll go, and I’ll handle the four-foot xuan paper. Will that work?"