The Idle Man of Zhenguan Intercepts Wu Zetian at the Start

Wu Xu recovered his senses, his eyes still carrying a hint of disdain. He walked past Dong Yao indifferently, took out a piece of paper from the greenhouse, and in the sunlight, the paper was yellowish-brown, with some residual golden straw fibers scattered on it, which only added to the paper's antique elegance and texture.

Compared to hemp paper, this straw paper is lighter in color and has a finer texture. If used for printing books, it will be thinner and lighter after packaging. If there is any drawback, it is that hemp paper is more like cloth. Although it is strong, it is easy for ink to seep in, and it requires higher standards for ink and the writer.

Wu Xu was amazed by this masterpiece of craftsmanship. The medium for writing had gone through changes from tortoise shells and bamboo slips to cloth and hemp paper, but each change reduced the difficulty of recording and reading. The emergence of this kind of paper would never be surpassed.

Wu Shun gently traced the texture of the paper with his fingers, his eyes so tender they seemed to overflow with tears, his voice trembling slightly, filled with endless emotion:

"If this paper could truly be sold for ten coins, the number of scholars in the world would probably increase by a thousand times or even ten thousand times. The county magistrate entrusted the bookstore and school to Meiniang and supported her in making paper and printing books behind the scenes. He has indeed done a great service to Meiniang. Perhaps Meiniang will truly become the greatest Meiniang in the world..."

Wu Xu remained noncommittal, then held the paper under his nose and smelled it. It had a fresh scent of straw and rice paste mixed together. However, the recipe was in Dong Yao's hands, and he didn't know how this lecherous fellow could come up with such a method, and succeed on the first try.

As soon as Changsun Dan returned to the Plum Garden, he found the South Courtyard quiet. After feeding Chitu some beans, he rushed to the East Courtyard. Although papermaking only involved this much technology, none of Dongyao and the others had actually done it before. He had just arrived when he saw Wu Xu standing there with a stern face, holding a piece of paper.

"Sister is right. In the future, we will promote our bookstores through franchising. Our bookstores will be all over the Tang Dynasty, and all scholars will be grateful for Miss Wu's kindness."

Changsun Dan took the paper from Wu Xu's hand, pinched its thickness with his fingers, and found it to be of excellent quality. Although slightly yellowish, it was much brighter than hemp paper. He tore it open, revealing fine straw fibers at the break, indicating it would be quite durable. He smiled at Dong Yao:

"The quality of this paper has exceeded my expectations. Can you and Sister Youniang now roughly calculate the cost of one hundred sheets?"

Dongyao glanced at Wu Xu, but didn't respond. She pouted slightly and turned her head away. This was the first time Changsun Dan had seen Dongyao show such a girlish and innocent side. He guessed that she had probably had a tiff with Wu Xu. Just as he was about to tease her, Zhou Youniang smiled, walked over, and whispered:

"If we only consider the straw and labor costs, a hundred sheets of paper would cost only one coin. The cost of compost and pulp would be calculated separately by Miss Dongyao. However, I wonder how the county magistrate plans to deal with the compost residue."

Upon hearing Changsun Dan's words that if the entire Tang Dynasty joined his bookstore, Wu Xu felt a surge of pride. With his papermaking technology and significant price advantage, he could easily achieve his goal if there were no other obstacles. He suddenly realized that Changsun Dan wasn't so despicable after all. Compared to a winery, a bookstore would indeed allow him to better utilize his talents. He wanted to ask Changsun Dan how to join, but then felt it would be too embarrassing, so he turned his head away.

Changsun Dan naturally knew that papermaking would generate a lot of waste, and if it were piled up, the smell would be unbearable. He frowned and thought for a moment:

"We'll dig a big pool outside this door and pour all the unused compost into it to accumulate fertilizer. After it ferments and rots, it will produce a gas that can be used to burn as fuel and light lamps... The brightness will be like daytime, far surpassing that of candles."

Changsun Dan's words were so shocking that even Wu Xu's ears perked up. Dong Yao knew that the young master always had some amazing abilities, but to say that this gas could be used to start a fire and light a lamp was unheard of. She couldn't help but turn her head and stare intently at the young master with her big eyes.

Wu Shun inexplicably believed that since his brother-in-law could say it, he must be able to do it, after all, he could even make better paper from straw than hemp paper.

Zhou Youniang stammered and asked:

"This putrid stench, besides being unseen and intangible, how can it be burned..."

Changsun Dan smiled:

"Sister Youniang, have you ever heard that in some places where coal is mined, cracks are often struck by lightning, and flames that will never go out will emerge? Even bubbles rising from deep mountain swamps can ignite and cause wildfires when struck by lightning? It's the same principle, except that we learn from the power of nature and then artificially create this kind of environment."

Everyone understood what Changsun Dan was saying, because mines often experienced such inexplicable fires, and wildfires caused by deep mountain swamps were even more common. But whenever such a thing happened, even the government would only think that someone had disobeyed the way of heaven and was being punished by heaven. They would usually deal with it by slaughtering pigs and sheep to worship the gods. Why would this county magistrate think that he could create such a miracle with human power?

Seeing that these people were all staring blankly, Changsun Dan knew that he couldn't explain it to them unless they saw the truth with their own eyes, so he helplessly scratched his face:

"I will write down the blueprints and materials tonight, and have Uncle Fu arrange for someone to dig a deep well outside the door. As for lighting the fire and lamps, you will understand in time."

There was no cement in the Tang Dynasty, and I have never thought of making cement from a biogas well. The simplest way now is to use cooked glutinous rice, lime, and gravel to solidify and waterproof it. It is more expensive, but it can really keep it from decaying for thousands of years.

Wu Xu realized that he was not just talking. After thinking about it carefully, he knew that what this scoundrel said made a lot of sense. Why did the gods only punish coal mines?

These paper-making workers were mostly the elderly, weak, women, and children of Dunhuafang. Seeing the county officials arrive, they worked even harder, filling the scene with laughter and joy. Even the farmers who had sold their straw were reluctant to leave, crowding around to watch them dry the paper. Changsun Dan felt a little superfluous and chuckled, tugging at Dongyao's sleeve.

"Let's go. I wonder if something's happened to Chun Chan and the others. Normally, the wine would be sold out by now."

Wu Xu was furious. Changsun Dan completely ignored him, not only arguing with the servants but also not asking a single question about his departure.

Changsun Dan seemed to have seen through Wu Xu's thoughts. He had already walked onto the covered bridge first, but then turned back and said with a smile:

"If Miss Wu is comfortable here, then don't leave. On the day of the wedding, I will send someone to bring your mother over. There are many rooms in Plum Garden, and my mother will also move in then. You two can then make a mahjong table."

Wu Xu was already following behind him, and since this scoundrel spoke first, it showed he had some conscience. But what did he mean by "gathering for a mahjong game"? Knowing he wouldn't say anything nice to him, Wu Xu immediately put on a cold face:

"What is Mahjong?"

Seeing that the young master only asked her to leave together, Dongyao's anger subsided considerably. Four people to a table—wasn't that the same as the wooden plaques he'd taught her before? She immediately tilted her head and asked:

"Is it another new gambling game?"

Changsun Dan only wanted Wu Zetian to let her own boundless ambition fade away. Whether in school or playing mahjong, he hoped she could find inner peace. He smiled and casually made up a story:

"Dongyao is the smartest. But this mahjong is more fun. Once you all learn it, we can promote it and open a few mahjong parlors in Chang'an. It wouldn't be a bad idea to win back all the money from the noble ladies of Chang'an."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Daniu ran and shouted:

"Your Excellency, His Majesty has just sent someone to deliver an imperial decree, ordering you to come to the palace immediately!"