“Sir, it was the Wang and Liu families who led the charge. I did my best with the military provisions, but for some reason, they agreed to everything a few days ago, but on the day I met with the prefect, they changed their minds.”

Steward Xu bowed to the man seated at the head of the table in the main hall of the Xu family residence. The man appeared to be around forty years old, dressed in a dark blue robe of fine texture and soft sheen. Embroidered on the robe were auspicious clouds resembling the bright moon, flowing like drifting clouds.

He picked up the teacup on the table and said...

"The Hou family's paper mill is doing very well. Our paper business just broke even in the first ten days of the month. I heard that their family is based in Pingyang County. Did we find out anything this time?"

Xu Zheng knew that his daughter could not marry Xiao Lanyi. But from another perspective, if it were really that simple, General Xiao wouldn't still be unmarried.

Butler Xu shook his head and said

"No, the Hou family has surrounded the paper mill like an iron barrel, and everyone who comes to work inside only knows what they need to do; no one else knows anything about it."

"Where's the paper mill manager? Did you manage to get through to him?"

"No... I've been in Pingyang for so long, I haven't been able to find out where the manager is."

"The manager doesn't even show his face? This paper mill is something else."

Liu Xu and Ru Yi didn't have time to visit the paper mill every day. Every month, someone would deliver the account books to them. The two girls had to practice their skills every day, and when they were in the mood, they would sing a little tune and play the zither.

"Go find someone and get their prescriptions over here," Xu Zheng said, putting down his sandalwood teacup.

"Shall we use the same method as before, sir?"

The man nodded and waved, signaling Butler Xu to leave.

The paper business accounts for 20% of the Xu family's income. The richer people are, the stingier they are, and Xu Zheng doesn't want to give up even a little profit. The Hou family's paper sells for the same price as his family's papermaking costs. If he gets the formula, the Xu family can expand their paper business to the entire Great Yan. At that time, it won't just be 20%; it could almost take the Xu family to another level.

Imperial merchants are not enough.

"Miss Liuxu, some outsiders have recently come to the paper mill."

"outsider?"

The person who came to deliver the account books to Liuxu and Ruyi told them that outsiders had come to both paper mills at the same time, which was no small matter.

"Yes, their accent doesn't sound like someone from the border town."

"Did you flee from the south?" the two young girls asked, sitting comfortably with their legs crossed in the spring sunshine in the main hall of the Fengyue Tower.

"No, it's not that, the accent doesn't sound right."

"So you're here to figure out the formula!" Huo Xiaolong was on his day off today and was bored after finishing his training when the little dumpling suddenly jumped up to the two of them and blurted out.

"Isn't it a bit cramped?" Liu Xu said, picking her up and sitting her on her lap.

"Yeah, let's talk it over openly and honestly. If the price is right, wouldn't it be better for everyone to make money together?"

"They're greedy; they feel bad when they see others eating meat."

"Ladies, what do you think we should do with these people?"

Liu Xu raised an eyebrow and pinched Huo Xiaolong's cheek, saying...

"Give them their wages, and pay them half."

"Then sprinkle lots and lots of salt into their food!" Huo Xiaolong stammered, still trying to come up with a dirty trick even while being teased.

Ruyi flicked the little dumpling on the forehead and said...

"No, salt is too expensive."

“Let’s give them a hard time. Let them go chop wood and do the hardest and most tiring work.”

"yes."

The Fengyue Pavilion was unusually quiet today. Hua Luan was hosting a banquet for the ladies at the government office, and they all brought their daughters to the banquet. Ruyi and Liuxu carried Huo Xiaolong back to her room, intending to coax her to sleep for a while.

"Sister, I don't want to sleep, I want to go to the paper mill to watch the excitement," the little dumpling said to Liu Xu, her face slightly flushed.

Do we really have to go?

"Oh, I want to go, sis!"

Liu Xu looked at Huo Xiaolong, who was lying on the bed like a magpie, and stroked her forehead twice before saying...

"Okay, I'll take you there."

The girl asked Miao Cuifang to prepare a carriage so she could take her to the village's paper mill.

"Can't it just be the two of us?" the Miao youth whispered to Liu Xu.

"No, Long'er wants to go."

Do we really have to bring her along?

"right."

The man took a deep breath and resignedly went to tell Cen Ang about it. The main issue was that it wouldn't matter if Huo Xiaolong went alone; the important thing was that the county school was closed today, and he figured the two young ladies from the Hou and Wang families would probably come along too.

The three of them together are too noisy. Wang Dani is alright, but Huo Xiaolong and Hou Xiangxiang could lift the roof off the carriage.

As the Miao youth walked out of the back door, he indeed saw that the Hou family's carriage was ready. Madam Hou didn't have time to fool around with her, so she specially asked the wet nurse to accompany Hou Xiangxiang.

"Sister Long'er, come on up quickly, let the three of us ride in one carriage."

"You two are coming with me too."

"Yes, Aunt Cen sent Ah Cai to call us."

“Okay, let me tell you two, I heard that someone came to steal the formula from the paper mill. It should be quite interesting. I’ve never seen a business war before!” Huo Xiaolong said to his girlfriends with great interest.

Hou Xiangxiang said disdainfully

"What's the big deal? There was a guy from Jiangnan who dressed up as a woman to learn needlework from my family before. They all know my embroidery workshop is all women, so why can't we just send a woman over?"

"I heard from Sister Liuxu that the women in Jiangnan can hardly go out. It's terrible. They're probably afraid that if the women sent here find out how good it is to be self-reliant, they won't go back."

Da Nier nodded.

I think so too.

Miao Cuifang sat expressionlessly outside the carriage, listening to the three children's nonsense. It was so annoying; he wanted to ride in the same carriage as Liu Xu. But these three troublemakers couldn't be left alone.

"Master Miao, has anyone been secretly learning your family's martial arts?" Huo Xiaolong asked, lifting the carriage curtain and leaning out.

"Going back isn't safe." The young man reached out and pressed Huo Xiaolong, who was leaning out, back inside.

"Is there, Master Miao?"

"No, my family's martial arts must be learned from a young age. Even if they come, they won't be able to find where my family is, and even if they do, they won't be able to endure the hardship."

All members of the Miao ethnic group start practicing martial arts from a young age. The teaching method is simple and brutal: they directly apply poison or venom to their bodies, and then their elders undo the poison. After doing this several times, they become immune to all poisons.

The man suddenly realized that he hadn't treated Liu Xu like this since the day he met her. He had initially planned to let her adjust, but now…

I can't bear to let her go through the hardships I've endured.

The weather had been rather hot these past few days, and Miao Cuifang, wearing the spring clothes Liu Xu had bought for him, was covered in a thin layer of sweat. Thinking of that kiss under the city wall, the Miao youth still blushed slightly.

He didn't know how to bring it up with her. According to Miao custom, he had to stay at the brothel for a few years to let the elders see his performance. Only when Cen's mother agreed could he take her back to the Miao tribe for a while before they could get married.

That's how it is in their Miao ethnic group; the man has to live with the woman's family. Lu Wangji said that this is called "marrying into the woman's family," which is considered shameful in the Central Plains.

Fortunately, he wasn't from the Central Plains.

Hehe~