Zhao Da and the school officials quickly surrounded Cao Pi and prevented him from moving forward.
Cao Pi obviously didn't expect Cao Zhang to show up with school affairs, and his expression changed slightly before he calmed down.
Cao Zhang walked up to Cao Pi, maintained basic etiquette, and saluted him: "Greetings, brother."
After Cao Pi returned the gift, he pretended to smile casually and asked: "Ziwen, you didn't go prepare for the expedition, but you brought people from the school affairs office here and surrounded me. What do you mean?"
"I have already made arrangements for the expedition, so there is no need for my brother to worry about it. Before I left, I had to arrange for people to guard the paper-making workshop and the bookstore where the "Thousand-Character Classic" was printed to prevent anyone from stealing the paper-making and printing technology. !" Cao Zhang responded coldly to Cao Zhang's question.
He knew that it was very difficult for the Sima family to protect the secrets of papermaking and printing alone.
So he came to Sikong Mansion before dawn and asked Cao Cao for orders, hoping that Cao Cao could arrange for people from the School Affairs Office to guard the safety of the papermaking workshop and printing book shop.
Cao Cao knew that this was a major matter to ensure his interests, so he naturally would not refuse, and immediately ordered Zhao Da to follow Cao Zhang's orders.
Cao Zhang asked Zhao Da to lead a team of school officials and follow him straight to Sima's paper mill. He originally planned to arrange for them to protect him, but unexpectedly, he encountered Cao Pi making trouble here.
Cao Zhang was naturally not polite and directly ordered Zhao Da to surround Cao Pi.
"Ziwen, isn't this word "stealing" too harsh? After all, I am also your brother, the eldest son of the Cao family. Don't say that I don't understand how to make paper. Even if I can understand, can I still leak the secret? " Cao Pi looked unhappy and blamed Cao Zhang.
Cao Zhang took out Cao Cao's token from his arms: "This is my father's order. Except for me and the craftsmen of the Sima family who are responsible for this, no one else is allowed to enter the papermaking workshop and printing book shop without permission!"
"Brother, if you have any doubts about father's instructions, how about we go to him to discuss it together now?"
Of course, Cao Pi would not be stupid enough to go to see Cao Cao with Cao Zhang to get scolded. He could only smile awkwardly: "My father has many things to do, so why bother him with this kind of thing. If you say you won't let me see it, I won't!"
He deliberately turned to Guo Zhao and said: "Miss Guo, please take me to the bookstore. I want to pick up some Cao Gong paper and the "Thousand Character Classic" to take back."
Although he couldn't spy on the secrets of papermaking, Cao Pi was not willing to miss this opportunity to get up close and personal with Guo Zhao.
"Young master, what kind of paper do you want to choose, including what kind of "Thousand Character Classic"? Go to the bookstore, and someone will naturally introduce you to it. I am a craftsman in the papermaking workshop, and there are many things that need to be handled here. Please forgive me for not being free. Go away!" Guo Zhao directly rejected Cao Pi.
"Brother, how about I accompany you to choose?" Cao Zhang took a few steps forward, stood in front of Guo Zhao, and looked at Cao Pi coldly.
Cao Pi felt the coldness in Cao Zhang's eyes, and naturally did not want to contact him anymore, so he waved his hand quickly: "No, you have so many things to do, I won't delay you. Since Miss Guo can't accompany me, I can just go to the bookstore by myself."
Cao Zhang pointed his finger in the direction of the paper mill gate: "Brother, please come this way!"
Cao Pi rolled his eyes at Cao Zhang and Guo Zhao angrily and strode towards the gate. Zhao Da waved his hand to signal the school officials to get out of the way and let Cao Pi pass through.
"Commander Zhao, arrange for school officials to guard the papermaking workshop and printing shop. If any random people break in in the future, they will be killed without mercy!" Cao Zhang gave Zhao Da a loud command.
"Here!" Zhao Da responded loudly.
Cao Pi understood that Cao Zhang deliberately told him. He originally wanted to contact Guo Zhao here and take a look at the papermaking and printing technology. Unexpectedly, Guo Zhao had a cold attitude towards him and was ridiculed by Cao Zhang in public, which made him lose face.
"Guo Zhao! Don't think that with Cao Zhang supporting you, I can't do anything to you. Anyway, he will leave in a few days, and I will deal with you then!" Cao Pi was resentful in his heart, but on the surface he couldn't say much. He bowed his head angrily and walked away quickly.
"Mr. Ziwen, thank you for arriving in time, otherwise I really don't know what I would have done!" Guo Zhao thanked Cao Zhang in a panic.
Cao Zhang quickly waved his hand: "Miss Guo, I have to thank you for keeping the secret of papermaking for me!"
"A civilian girl is a craftsman in a papermaking workshop. It is my duty to protect the papermaking workshop. You don't need to say thank you, sir!" Guo Zhao responded.
"Oh, I was thanking my friend just now, but you talked about my responsibilities with me. Do you mean that I am not qualified to be your friend?" Cao Zhang deliberately said to Guo Zhao.
"No, that's not what I mean by being a civilian girl. I just feel that my status is low and I am not qualified to be friends with the young master!" Guo Zhao explained in a panic.
"In my heart, I have already regarded you as the most important friend!" Cao Zhang said to Guo Zhao seriously.
At first he didn't understand the truth, but later when Sima Lang reported to him, he learned that Guo Zhao had stayed up several nights and put in a lot of effort to create Cao Gong paper.
Even a fool could understand the reason why she did this. How could Cao Zhang remain indifferent?
Cao Zhang's words and his sincere eyes made Guo Zhao feel something instantly. She looked at Cao Zhang in surprise: "Really?"
"Of course it's true, otherwise I wouldn't have come here to say goodbye to you today!" Cao Zhang said to Guo Zhao sincerely.
Guo Zhao knew that Cao Zhang was about to go on an expedition, and she originally thought that it would be difficult to see him again in a short time. Unexpectedly, he said that he had made a special trip to say goodbye, which made Guo Zhao feel indescribably warm and touched.
"I know the young master is about to go on an expedition. Unfortunately, I am a female with low martial arts skills and cannot accompany the young master to fight the enemy. I can only wish the young master a speedy victory and return!" Guo Zhao responded to Cao Zhang very sincerely.
She reached out and took off a jade pendant from her waist and handed it to Cao Zhang: "Master, this is a relic left by my mother to me. I always wear it because I think it can protect my safety. Now I give it to Here it is, if you take it with you, it will definitely keep you safe!"
Cao Zhang looked at Guo Zhao and saw the deep affection in her eyes. He immediately reached out to take it and hung it directly around his neck: "Okay, I will always wear it by my side, as if you are always with me." , I can also think of you all the time!”
Such an explicit confession made Guo Zhao's face turn red with embarrassment. He lowered his head in panic, not daring to look at Cao Zhang again, and responded in a low voice: "I understand, thank you, sir."
"You still call me Young Master? A Zhao?" Cao Zhang said softly.
Guo Zhao looked at Cao Zhang awkwardly, and finally plucked up the courage to respond in a low voice: "I know, brother Ziwen!"
A delighted smile appeared on Cao Zhang's face, and he said to Guo Zhao: "Okay, take me to see the paper mill and bookstore after we expand the scale."
Guo Zhao nodded sweetly. At this moment, she knew Cao Zhang's feelings for her, and she felt completely at ease...
