Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Mud Embryo

Yangzhou, a shop in the south of the city.

Shang Yuji searched for many craftsmen in Yangzhou City and finally decided on Geng Zhi from the south of the city, who was recommended by Yang Bai.

He ran a shop that looked like it had been around for a long time. The shop was simple and looked no different from other workshops. If it weren't for the Yang family's long-standing business in Yangzhou, Yang Bai wouldn't have known that Old Carpenter Geng seemed to have connections with the Mo family.

The craftsmen were chosen, and then Shang Yuji went to the workshop to place the order.

Shang Yuji explained her needs to Geng Zhi, and said that they could only move on to the next stage after Geng Zhi had prepared the clay materials.

"Select high-quality clay, dry it in the sun, crush it, remove impurities, add water to it in a vat, stir it into a mud slurry, and then let it settle naturally."

Geng Zhi sat in the rattan chair, taking notes on the key points of the conversation.

"Drain the muddy water and wait until the mud has less water, then dig out the upper part of the mud for later use."

"Then dry the mud..." Shang Yuji looked at the branches that had not yet sprouted buds, "One method is to expose it to the sun, but it is still cold today and the sunlight is not strong enough, so we will use the second method: put the mud into a cloth bag and let the water seep out from the bag."

"This is the first stage. After that, once the clay is ready, it needs to be repeatedly pounded with a mallet to mature it, forming clay blanks of the same size, and then placed in a shady place..."

The conversation abruptly ended. Geng Zhi paused, his hand holding the pen still. After a moment, seeing that she really didn't want to talk about it anymore, he looked up and quietly put down the pen.

He could roughly guess that there were more steps to come. What she was saying now was only what he knew. The rest would require a different approach to find out.

Shang Yuji smiled and asked, "I wonder if Elder Geng would be willing to take on this job?"

“Miss Shang is too kind. I make my living by my skills. If the price is right, I will accept it.”

"Even so, I would like to make it clear beforehand that once this job is taken on, I would trouble you, Elder Geng, not to tell anyone else."

To ensure this, you will need to stay at our residence for a period of time until the matter is concluded, or alternatively, we may send someone to accompany you for some time.

Both options undoubtedly involve sending someone to monitor his actions to prevent him from leaking information.

If you want to use movable type with hard brushing, copper movable type is actually the best choice. You don't have to worry about uneven indentations or that the strokes will wear down and become unclear over time.

However, copper and iron require extremely high levels of skill, and the investment involved is substantial. With the war currently raging in Yangcheng, there isn't enough copper and iron to make weapons for the soldiers, so copper movable type was the first to be abandoned.

Then there are wooden movable type and clay movable type. Wooden movable type is easier to make and cheaper than clay movable type, but it has a limitation: it is less durable than clay movable type.

Clay is brittle but durable, while wood is less durable but cheaper. There's no need to compare which is better; rather, choose which is more suitable.

Inexpensive wooden movable type is the first choice for ordinary people, but what Shang Yuji wants to do is to print a wide variety and large number of books.

Since copper movable type couldn't be made for the time being, clay movable type became the preferred option.

At present, the imperial court and local governments mostly recommend candidates for official positions based on their filial piety and integrity. Although the aim is to enter the government based on their virtue and talent rather than their family background, the intention is to break the monopoly of aristocratic families.

However, decisions made based on subjective judgment will naturally lead to new problems of powerful clans monopolies and corruption.

Those who could get promoted through connections would naturally prefer to give the spot to someone they knew well or someone who gave them a generous gift.

At that time, the network of recommendations naturally made them allies, and they supported each other in the court, working diligently for each other.

Using their power of recommendation, they continued to expand their influence, acquiring more and more wealth and treasures, like hyenas, never satisfied.

The imperial examination system did not emphasize aristocratic families; all decisions were based on examinations. It suppressed powerful clans, centralized the power of personnel appointment, and most importantly, promoted the popularization of education.

As someone who experienced nine years of compulsory education, Shang Yuji understands all too well the importance of education.

To promote the replacement of the recommendation system with the imperial examination system, a necessary step is to enlighten the people and increase the literacy rate among the general population.

Otherwise, the powerful families who possess most of the books would, unsurprisingly, outsmart illiterate commoners in the imperial examinations, rendering the implementation of the imperial examination system futile.

If we want people to be literate, they must first have the means to learn to read.

The current practice of copying books limits both the quantity of books and the dissemination of knowledge.

The solution to this problem is, of course, to make it easier to print books and reduce the cost for ordinary people to acquire knowledge.

Of course, it is too early to talk about implementing a new system. What Shang Yuji is doing is simply taking precautions.

Once the eldest princess ascends the throne and consolidates power in the court, the imperial examination system will be able to exert its remarkable effects, and these clay movable type will play an important role.

"Old Geng, what do you think?"

Geng Zhi had heard of Shang Yuji's reputation. These lumps of clay might have been just a few simple clay embryos at this point, but who knows what they might become later?

After all, Miss Shang from Lotus Path in the west of the city is no ordinary person.

However, if he were to get involved in the court's intrigues, it would go against his desire to live a life of seclusion and detachment from worldly affairs.

As if aware of his concerns, Shang Yuji added, "This is only my personal employment and has nothing to do with anyone else. If anything goes wrong, I, Shang, am willing to take full responsibility."

At least it won't involve him.

Geng Zhi was already curious about what she was going to make with the clay, and when he heard that he wouldn't be implicated even if something happened, he was tempted.

Finally, Geng Zhi pondered, "Let me ask one more question: could this item bring disaster?"

"No, it can even be said to bring blessings to all people and benefit future generations."

With no lingering concerns, Geng Zhi made the final decision and signed Shang Yuji's order.

After the contract was signed, Geng Zhi hurriedly asked, "Miss, could you tell me what this thing is for?"

Shang Yuji carefully put away the contract, smiling brightly, but said, "It's not possible yet. When the time is right, Elder Geng will know."

This only fueled Geng Zhi's curiosity even more!

On the way back to the mansion, Shang Yuji felt completely relieved after resolving yet another difficult matter.

Passing by the candied hawthorns, Shang Yuji mentally estimated the number of people in the mansion, then glanced at the candied hawthorn skewers on the straw bundle, decisively took out her money pouch, and bought all the remaining candied hawthorns.

Seeing that she couldn't carry all the candied hawthorns in one hand, the old man decided to take her back to his residence and let her ask someone at her residence to take the candied hawthorns away.

After thinking it over, Shang Yuji spent another twenty coins to buy the straw bundles for holding the candied hawthorns as well.

And so, Shang Yuji carried the not-too-heavy bundle of straw all the way back to her residence.

When she arrived at the mansion, she took out a handkerchief embroidered with pear blossoms to cover her face, revealing only her eyebrows and eyes. She then placed the bundle of grass aside and quietly waited for the destined person to come to her door.

Before long, Jiang Xi, who had returned from Fu Lai Inn with his clothes covered in mud and dust, also went back to his residence.

Today, at Lin Mingshan's invitation, he brought the fine long whip given to him by his master and fought with Lin Mingshan again.

Although she fought in a sorry state, it didn't stop Jiang Xi from buying the signature dish of Fu Lai Inn before returning to her residence.

He walked quickly, steadily carrying the food box as he went.

He was thinking that once Aji returned to the manor, he could eat the signature squirrel-shaped mandarin fish at Fulai Inn. As he was thinking about it, a person stood gracefully in front of the manor gate. Judging from her figure, he immediately recognized her.

—Ah Ji!

Jiang Xi quickened her pace, almost lunging forward.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a figure hurrying over. The veiled candied hawthorn vendor waved and called out, "Young man, don't miss out! Would you like to buy a skewer of candied hawthorn?"

His flowing long hair was tied in a black jade hair crown. He stopped walking, his long hair still swaying in his hair.

"How much...how much?" Jiang Xi asked, slightly out of breath.

The peddler squinted, looking every bit like a shady vendor, and demanded an exorbitant price: "One tael of silver per string!"

"Wait a minute..." Jiang Xi, carrying a food box in one hand, took out a money pouch from his sleeve and presented it to her. "There are still five taels in there. I want five skewers."

"..." The peddler rarely encountered a customer who left her speechless. She pulled off the handkerchief covering her face and poked his shoulder with exasperation. "Do you know you've been ripped off? Ten coins a skewer of candied hawthorns, it shouldn't be one tael a skewer, and you only have five taels. You spent it all on candied hawthorns, how are you going to make a living?"

“Yunxiao…” Jiang Xiqu smiled, her eyes crinkling, “…only Yunxiao will be slaughtered.”

His laughter was too childish, so Shang Yuji poked his lips again: "Alright, take the money back and go back to the manor first."

Afterwards, Jiang Xi followed closely behind her, carrying a bundle of straw in one hand and a food box in the other. He listened to her nagging about being smart when traveling and not being cheated by unscrupulous merchants, and he agreed to each and every word.

They gave the food box containing the squirrel-shaped mandarin fish to Zhao Sao, and the two of them began distributing candied hawthorns to the people in the mansion.

After dividing the candied hawthorns, there were exactly two skewers left. Each of them took one skewer, and Jiang Xi praised, "Yun Xiao is amazing. She bought just enough candied hawthorns for each of us."

"That's natural."

Remembering the direction he came from, Shang Yuji glanced at him and asked, "Are you not seriously injured?"

Even with his extraordinary talent, defeating Lin Mingshan is not something he can do right now.

She didn't know where he was injured this time. If she applied medicine to him, and accidentally triggered the Gu poison, it might backfire.

She didn't want to be forced into another battle while still injured.

She couldn't help apply the medicine, but she could cook him a nourishing soup to help him recover faster.

Jiang Xi shook her head: "I tried my best to dodge it. I'm not badly injured. I'll be fine the day after tomorrow."

She didn't ask about the result; otherwise, she would have been extremely surprised to learn that it was a draw.

Shang Yuji took out the Dingsheng cake that she had hidden all the way. It was light red in color, fragrant and soft. Jiang Xi took it blankly and forgot to do anything for a moment.

She raised her chin: "Here you go. One day you'll be able to beat him."

"Yunxiao...is this for me?" Jiang Xi carefully held it in her hands, incredulous.

Like candied hawthorns, when Ah Ji went shopping, he would often bring other people from the household with him. He knew that this was all because Ah Ji was kind and always thought of everyone.

But this "victory cake" is only for him.

Shang Yuji crossed her arms, leaned closer, looked up at him with a smile, and said in a low voice, "Of course it's yours, only for you, don't tell anyone else."

Why are you crying again?

He seemed to have lost all his strength, collapsing limply against her, and whispered in close proximity, "Ah Ji... you're so good..."

"I'm absolutely the best."

"Yes! Ah Ji is the best person in the world!"

Seeing the tears welling up in his eyes, making him look so pitiful, yet still affirming her words, Shang Yuji smiled and wiped away his tears, which fell like dewdrops on a lotus leaf.

"Alright, eating pastries when you're crying is bitter."