"Walter's mother messed with Falk?"
"What the hell is this?"
In the courtyard, Fusu suppressed laughter.
Cao Xiu looked at Hu Hai and was furious.
"Is this what you do?"
"I did as you told me!"
Hu Hai is also very convincing.
Qin Shihuang stood nearby, glanced at the pile of obscene clothes, and said, "Xiu'er has really become famous this time. The whole Peixian County knows that you are a friend of widows, and you like to collect women's obscene clothes, even widows are not allowed to leave." But they all said you were a lewd woman."
"I bother!!!"
Cao Xiu hated it so much that his teeth itched.
It's all Widow Cao's fault!
At that time, Hu Hai was collecting rags, but she also took out the worn-out obscene clothes and refused to accept the payment, saying that it was all because of her wishes. Hu Hai, that little bastard, is also stubborn. After putting away the obscene clothes, he stuffs them underneath, but he insists on putting them on top.
When other women saw it and asked him, he confidently said that it was Cao Xiu's order and that the obscene clothes were specially prepared for Cao Xiu because of the wishes of Widow Cao.
? ? ?
As a result, the entire Peixian County exploded.
"By the way, why does Mr. Cao want to expose his clothes?"
"Whoever mentions obscene clothes again will be killed by me!"
"It's urgent, Mr. Cao is urgent."
"..."
Cao Xiu was too lazy to talk to them anymore and waved his hand: "Old Zhou, you collect all these and transport them to the newly built workshop of my sworn brother Xiao He. The craftsmen should have arrived and they can start operations today. "
"only!"
Zhou Bo is the only normal person in the family.
Hu Hai curled his lips and said, "Xiu'er can't lie to me. You said it was very interesting, but you lied to me to buy you some obscene clothes outside?"
"Don't worry, we can just go there now."
"Let's go together!"
Qin Shihuang was also eager to try.
Everything Cao Xiu did had a purpose.
Today I suddenly had to collect scraps of fishing nets and rags, probably for the purpose of making paper. These are useless discarded items. In Xianyang, the ministers and concubines of some noble houses wear silk and satin, but only the heads of Guizhou can wear clothes made of kudzu. As for the rags, only the poor households in Luzuo keep them.
Therefore, Qin Shihuang was also very interested.
He wanted to know how Cao Xiu turned waste into treasure?
"In this case, I will ride over in an ox cart." Cao Xiu looked at the others again, "You follow behind and walk over on your own."
"Isn't this... inappropriate?"
Fusu couldn't help but speak.
"Hey, it does sound bad when you say it." Cao Xiu slapped her forehead, "In this case, Azheng, Xiaozhu and Jian will get in the car. As for Xiao Su, you can go alone."
"Why?!"
"They are young. How old are you?"
"I……"
Fusu cried completely.
"Cao Jun, don't you have a horse?"
"You don't have a mother!"
"I'm talking about soldiers and horses. If it doesn't work, you can also use horses."
"Oh, that's true."
Cao Xiu has always adhered to the principle of "preferring to be lacking rather than being excessive". His previous title and official position were not enough, so even if he spent money to buy a horse, it could only be a short horse. If he rode it, he would be a dwarf.
In addition, since he can't ride a horse, he can only ride in a horse-drawn carriage after buying it, and he might as well ride in an ox-cart. After all, raising cattle is much cheaper than raising horses. In addition to driving carts, they can also cultivate land.
"It's just two steps, can't you walk?"
"Let's go..."
The emperor had spoken, and Fusu nodded immediately.
"That's it, let's go!"
…
…
Ten miles south of Surabaya.
Smoke curled up from the cooking pots, filling the air with a pungent smell.
Not far from the Wangling Salt Making Workshop, there is also the Xiao family's private residence. It looks like a mansion to the outside world, but it is also a workshop. Construction here officially started a few days ago, but now bamboo is used to make paper instead of kudzu.
These bamboos are all carefully selected by Cao Xiu and soaked in the pond for hundreds of days. After taking it out, they immediately beat it vigorously to remove the green shell and bamboo skin in order to soften the bamboo.
"Brother, step-brother, you guys came so early."
"Haha, just waiting for you."
Cao Shen stroked his beard and smiled heartily.
"Today is the first test, so naturally we have to come here in advance to watch. Since you are here, check it from beginning to end. If there are no problems, we will follow these steps to make paper in the future."
"become."
Cao Shen glanced at Fusu and others.
"Are these people going in too?"
"It does not matter."
Cao Xiu smiled and waved.
Either you don't do this deal, or you do it, it's a big deal, and it will definitely attract the attention of many nobles and powerful people. It is very likely that it will eventually develop into a government-owned enterprise. Without permission, no private construction is allowed. Besides, he was ready to hand it over to Qin in exchange for a title and official position, so there was no need to hide it.
Besides, Su Zidu is the only outsider here. This guy's pass test is still in his hands, and he has nowhere to run if he wants to. As for Li Hai, this guy doesn't look down on him at all. In his eyes, tens of thousands of dollars are just small change.
"Xiao Su, you will write down everything I said later, and then compile it into a book and give it to Cao'er to copy."
"..."
Fusu was breathing heavily, his back was wet with sweat. He had just walked through a journey of more than ten miles. If Cao Xiu doesn't use him to death, he will use him to death!
There is no way, he is the most suitable here. The handwriting is beautiful, and the writing is fast and accurate. It has the style of Taishi's shorthand.
Cao Xiu walked in front, talking as he walked.
"Today is a fire test, using the most complicated bamboo. The so-called paper, you can actually understand it as silk, but it is made more fine and dense through means. Bamboo paper is more troublesome to make, but the quality is also better. Mulberry bark, hemp bark or even straw can be used, and the cost is almost the same.”
Fusu held the bamboo slips and quickly wrote down.
"So that's it..." Qin Shihuang suddenly realized, "So you soaked bamboo in the pond earlier just to make paper? Just like making linen clothes, you also retting and degumming first?"
"Smart!" Cao Xiu nodded in approval, "Add chicken drumsticks to Azheng tonight! Little pig, you should also take a look at Azheng. He is younger than you, but he knows much more than you. Aren't you ashamed? "
Everything you said is right!
Hu Hai lowered his head and refused to refute.
His father understands nature much more than he does.
“If hemp is used to make paper, is it possible to degumm it?”
"Yes, of course."
"Isn't that similar to cloth making?"
"The front is similar, but the back is different."
Qin Shihuang's brows furrowed slightly.
Now, he probably has some understanding in his mind. For example, hemp paper may be similar to linen. And linen can also be used for writing. For example, when a soldier was seriously injured on the battlefield, he simply tore the linen open and wrote a letter in blood.
"What about next?"
Qin Shihuang couldn't help but ask. He is famously impatient, and if he can finish it in three seconds, he will never delay it for half an hour.
"Come on, this is it."
Cao Xiu stopped.
There is a large stove in front of it. There are people below who are responsible for watching the fire, and there are people beside them who are blowing air with a spade. There is a giant wooden barrel placed on the stove. From time to time, someone pours lime into it with the help of a wooden ladder, and then stirs it with a bamboo pole.
"This...is this?"
"The essence of the second step of papermaking lies in one word: boil!"
