BXBX NOVEL Chapter 31: newsprint
During the Tang Dynasty, the raw materials of paper were mainly hemp, rattan, rags, bark, etc., while the main raw material for making newsprint was wood pulp, which is why Li Yin specially purchased wood grinders.
After telling these slaves the raw materials and basic methods of making newsprint, Li Yin asked the paper mill to try to produce the first batch of newsprint.
"Your Highness, this is Zhao Erniu!"
On this day, as soon as Li Yin arrived at the paper mill, Su Morer brought a young man about twenty-four years old to Li Yin.
Li Yan looked at Su More\'er puzzled, not understanding what she meant by bringing this person here.
Su Moer continued: "Your Highness, please forgive me. When he was learning papermaking, Zhao Erniu worked very hard, and the paper he produced was also the best. That\'s why this servant boldly promoted him to be the foreman of the paper workshop."
"Really?" Li Yin took a look at Zhao Erniu. His body was fairly strong, and he was facing a simple and honest face. At this time, he looked at Li Yin with some fear in his eyes, "Are you sure you can make newsprint?"
Zhao Erniu said respectfully: "Report Your Highness, the little one has already made the first one, but I don\'t know if it is right, so I report it to Steward Su!"
"Really?" Li Yin was overjoyed, "Take me to see it!"
Following Zhao Erniu, Li Yin arrived at the place where the paper was dried. Zhao Erniu uncovered a piece of yellowed paper and handed it to Li Yin.
Newsprint paper is soft and has good elasticity. It absorbs water and ink. Picking up the paper, Li Yin first tried the feel of the paper. It was already seven times as soft as a newspaper.
Nodding in satisfaction, Li Yan took a little water and splashed it on the paper, which was quickly absorbed. Various tests proved that this is a qualified newsprint.
"Zhao Erniu, you are the hero of the paper mill!" Li Min happily patted Zhao Erniu on the shoulder, which shocked Zhao Erniu. It is no longer flattering for a prince to show such affection for a slave. Such words can describe Zhao Erniu\'s mood.
Putting down the newsprint, Li Yin faced the five hundred slaves and said, "Zhao Erniu has made great contributions to the manufacture of newsprint. Starting today, Zhao Erniu\'s slave status will be revoked!"
"What!"
"How can it be!"
"..."
As soon as Li Yin\'s words fell, the slaves immediately exploded. They looked at Li Yin in disbelief, wondering if they heard it wrong. Since becoming slaves, they have lost their yearning for a better life. Living a numb life, lingering, like a walking dead.
Li Yin\'s words hit Zhao Erniu\'s already dead heart like a thunderbolt. Before he was sold into slavery, he was an honest farmer. The locust plague in the second year of Zhenguan caused him to lose his land and crops. Since the food was cut off, the four young sisters and three young brothers were hungry and cried all night. As the eldest brother, he was heartbroken. It was sold to a passing Hu businessman at the price of ten buckets of rice. Later, he was resold several times and finally came here.
"Your Highness, is this true?" Zhao Erniu said in a trembling voice.
Li Yin did not speak. At this moment, Su Morer handed a certificate of slavery to Zhao Erniu. Sometimes words are weak, and only actions have power.
"You can tear it up now!" Li Yin looked at Zhao Erniu with a smile.
After receiving the voucher, Zhao Erniu\'s hand holding the voucher trembled. This was the deed of sale that he pressed his finger prints at that time. How could he forget, how could he forget!
"Here!" As if exhausting all his strength, Zhao Erniu tore the certificate into pieces, his big eyes kept streaming down, "Thank you, Your Highness, thank you, Your Highness!" Zhao Erniu kowtowed on the ground like a madman. He fantasized about this day, but the facts again and again destroyed his fantasy, but today, after he lost hope, this extravagant hope suddenly came.
Li Yan quickly helped him up, so that if he continued to harm himself and died, he would suffer a great loss.
"You have all seen that there is still hope in life. As long as you work hard and contribute to the workshop like Zhao Erniu, you all have the hope of getting out of slavery. Not only that, but you can also marry a wife here Give birth, look at the strong man across from you, and then look at the woman across from you, don’t you have any thoughts in your mind at night?”
Li Yin was so straightforward that the slaves felt a little embarrassed. People have emotions and desires. Now these male slaves don’t want to have a wife, and the female slaves don’t want to find a man.
"Your Highness!" Su Morer also blushed and reminded Li Yin.
Li Yin was stunned for a moment, and realized that this is not the 21st century, and he was too unreserved.
Coughed a few times in embarrassment, Li Yin said: "I\'ve said everything I need to say, whether to continue to live numbly, or to fight for tomorrow, you can decide for yourself!"
Silence, after Li Yin finished speaking, the slaves were silent, but from the bright eyes of each of them, Li Yin understood that his words had an effect.
Let these slaves go back to work, Li Yin left Zhao Erniu alone, "Although you are out of slavery, you are still a person without household registration, keep working hard, and I will hand over a Chang\'an household registration to you in five years\' time , and starting today, you can receive a monthly salary of 200 wen, you can take one day off every six days, and you can go to places outside the workshop, but you won’t blame me for not applying for your household registration right now!”
"Your Highness is so kind to your servant, and I dare not ask for too much. In the past, Er Niu\'s status was the same as that of a beast, but today he has truly become a human being. From now on, His Highness will do whatever he says, even if he sacrificed his life for His Highness, I, Zhao Erniu didn\'t even frown!" Zhao Erniu said firmly.
"Let\'s keep your life for yourself. The next step is mass production of newsprint, and the output can\'t keep up. Let\'s see how I deal with you!" Li Yin\'s expression changed, and he whispered to Zhao Erniu: "Is there any?" The girl you like, I will make you a matchmaker!"
"Hey..." Zhao Erniu immediately smirked.
After the brainwashing, Li Yin and Su Morer discussed a set of reward and punishment regulations for the workshop, and established a point system under Li Yin\'s suggestion. For example, if a major contribution is made, the points can be increased for model workers every month. If the points reach the standard, the slaves can be cancelled. Like Zhao Erniu, he became a hired worker in the workshop. On the contrary, those who are passive and sabotage, the workshop will resell them.
"Your Highness\'s innovative ideas make Mo\'er feel inferior!" After the discussion, Su Moer sighed, "Mo\'er admires His Highness\'s kindness even more!"
"Okay! You girl, you have learned how to flatter!" Li Yin deliberately teased her, "If you really admire me, why don\'t you give me a kiss!" Li Yin pointed to his face.
Su Morer said angrily, "Your Highness is really bad!"
"Hehe..." Li Yin stopped when enough was enough. Su Morer has a ladylike personality and is not as bold and enthusiastic as Yun\'er. Thinking of Yun\'er, Li Yin suddenly realized that he hadn\'t seen her for five or six days, so he couldn\'t help asking: "Yes." Why haven\'t you seen Yun\'er recently?"
Su Mo\'er looked secretly and said: "Sister Yun\'er came to the palace to replace her sick cousin. A few days ago, Mo\'er\'s cousin came to the palace and replaced Mo\'er."
"Oh!" Li Yin was suddenly disappointed, "This girl left without saying hello to me!"
Su Mo\'er and Yun\'er have a very good relationship, she explained: "Originally, Yun\'er wanted to say goodbye to His Highness, but His Highness was busy practicing equestrianism for a few days, and Yun\'er\'s cousin came suddenly that day, so we didn\'t see each other. your turn!"
"I ignored it!" Speaking of which, Li Yin still likes Yun\'er\'s character, unlike other maidservants who saw Li Yin and the mouse met the cat, they couldn\'t talk a word, except serving tea. To pour water is to stand like a wooden man.
Back to the palace, the maidservant who came to serve Li Min was indeed replaced by another person, whose face was somewhat similar to Yun\'er, probably her cousin.
"Is Yun\'er your cousin?" Li Yin asked.
This young girl was about sixteen or seventeen years old. She had served Li Yin before, and her impression of Li Yin was still in the past. Seeing Li Yin\'s displeasure, she knelt down in fright and said, "Your Highness, forgive me, my servant is sick. , so that the cousin will replace the servant for a period of time!"
"Where is Yun\'er now?" Li Yin wasn\'t targeting her, it was just that he was a little uncomfortable without a close person around him.
"His Royal Highness, Yun\'er is not from Chang\'an, she just came to stay at my house for a while. A few days ago, my aunt was going to go back, and my illness was cured, so I changed her back. Yun\'er didn\'t serve her well. If His Highness blames the servants, please blame them!"
"No, she served very well!" Li Yin sighed.
On the official road from Chang\'an to Gyeongju, a young girl and a middle-aged woman were walking side by side, and the postmen passing by on horses frequently raised waves of dust, causing the old and the young to cover their noses from time to time.
The girl was fourteen or fifteen years old, and she was wearing a linen shirt with patches on her arms and knees, but even such clothes were washed clean.
"The food in the palace is to support people. Our Yun\'er has only been a few months old, and now she is not only white, but also beautiful. No wonder the girls in Chang\'an rushed to those noble lords!" After walking for a while, the woman I found a place to sit down and rest on the side of the road, looked at the outstanding beauty of my daughter, and said: "Just based on the appearance of our daughter, it is not a sure thing to find a rich family to be a concubine." After finishing speaking, the woman was happy. She laughed softly. In her opinion, it is a blessing to be a concubine of a rich family without worrying about food and drink.
There was a wry smile on the corner of the girl\'s mouth, and she didn\'t answer her mother\'s words. She just looked in the direction of Chang\'an, and she was insane for a while!
(Sorry, there is only one chapter tonight. Speaking of this book, when it was more than 20,000 words, I came to the website to sign the contract with a short notice, but I was really lazy, and I dragged it until today to contact the editor, print the contract, and toss It’s been a long time, and the number of code words has been delayed. I’m sorry here. In addition, I’ve been embarrassed to ask for tickets. I’m willing to go all out today. Everyone, can you reward some recommended tickets?)