Li Yan came out of the school building and had not gone far when she was suddenly stopped by the villagers behind her.

Li Yan stopped and turned around to ask doubtfully, "Is there something wrong, uncles?"

The villagers jostled and shoved Li Wenjian, who had spoken. Li Wenjian scratched his head sheepishly and said, "Well, I want to ask you how you made this blackboard. Isn't this for him to write and draw on in the future? I want to make a small one for my son Datou and keep it at home. I wonder if you can tell me how."

"Of course you can. I don't have any ink sticks at home. Just bring the selected piece of wood and I'll make it for you!"

Then he looked at the villagers ahead who were occasionally looking over their shoulder, and added, "If any other uncles want to make this blackboard, just bring the board to me!"

Upon hearing this, Li Wenjian thanked him repeatedly and walked back happily.

"How is it? Did the girl tell me how to make it?" a villager asked anxiously. He was also thinking of making one for his own son!

"The girl said we don't have any ink sticks at home, so if we want one, we can just take the wooden board to her house!"

The villagers were even more delighted when they heard this. This way, the children could practice calligraphy when they returned home. Who knows, after the children have learned it, they can even teach them. Apart from other things, at least they should be able to write their own names, which can be used when signing deeds when buying and selling land in the future!

After returning home, Li Yan started preparing to make paper. She first ran to the backyard and circled a piece of land on the far right, where she planned to dig a small square pond.

There is no need to hide from others when digging the pond. Just ask a few people in the village for help. If anyone asks, just say it is for watering!

Then Li Yan went to the warehouse and found an idle large vat. She put the wheat straw into it and soaked it for a while. When it was softened, she proceeded to the next step.

The process of making high-quality rice paper and bamboo paper is often the most time-consuming, often taking several months or half a year. In addition to taking a lot of time, the complicated process is also the reason why this kind of paper is so expensive!

Li Yan couldn't wait that long. Her primary goal was to make low-cost paper to supply the village school!

After soaking the raw materials for making paper, Li Yan sat in the corridor to rest, recalling the steps of papermaking in her mind.

Now that the raw materials have been soaked, the next step is to take out the soaked soft straw, add lime and cook it together, then wash, rub and kick out the impurities, and finally chop, beat, pulp, make paper with bamboo screen, press the paper and dry it in the sun.

In order to prevent herself from forgetting any of the steps, Li Yan immediately returned to her study and wrote down all the details she could think of! Then she could just follow them and try again!

Li Yan had just sorted out the papermaking matters when a villager came looking for her, carrying ten eggs and a square wooden board.

They didn't know how long it would take to make a wooden board for writing. In order not to delay their children's calligraphy training, they returned home as soon as they finished work and hurriedly brought a square wooden board from home.

In order to express their gratitude, they took some local gifts from home and hurried to Li's house, fearing that they would be a step late and be overtaken by others. There were many people who had this idea. When they met outside the door of Li's house with small wooden boards and some things, there were already many people at the door of Li's house.

Li Yan hurriedly took the small wooden board from the villagers and said that it needed to be dried in the shade after being brushed with ink. If they didn’t need it right away, they could leave the small wooden board with her first, and she would call them to take it when she had finished all the things!

As for the things brought by the villagers, Li Yan refused to accept them no matter what. Even if the villagers didn't ask for this handwriting board, Li Yan would still prepare it for the children.

"Girl, do you dislike the things we brought?" a villager asked stubbornly.

Li Yan smiled and explained, "Uncles, please don't misunderstand me. Even if you didn't ask me to make these things, I would have prepared them anyway. I can't ask the children to write on sticks! I promised not to charge the children for their education in the village school, so how can I accept your gifts now? Uncles, are you asking me to break my promise?"

The villager waved his hands after hearing this. He just wanted to show his gratitude and couldn't let the girl work in vain.

Li Yan naturally understood, and she continued, "I know the good intentions of the uncles, and I appreciate it. But if this trend of accepting gifts starts with me, won't everyone else have to spend money when something happens in the future? My original intention was to let the children come to the village to learn to read and write, not to increase the burden on the uncles' families. Please take all the things back!"

This is how gift-giving works. Once it starts, it’s easy to develop a culture of comparison. Whatever your family gives, should my family also give something similar?

The circumstances of the villagers' families are different. Ten eggs may not mean much to some families, but for those who are still poor, they are a considerable asset. They can use the copper coins they get to buy a pound and a half of brown rice, or some essential daily necessities such as oil and salt.

Li Yan didn't want to invisibly increase the burden on the villagers.

There were families who were living in poverty, and their eyes became slightly moist after hearing what Li Yan said. Everyone took things, and if they did not take anything, they would be looked down upon. If this continued, who would be willing to interact with them if they lived in the same village?

The villagers were moved by Li Yan's words. This girl was a kind and righteous person, so they didn't mention what happened just now anymore!

After sending the villagers away, Mr. Li, who had been listening to his granddaughter's words, walked over and touched her head with great satisfaction, praising her: "You did a great job on this!"

He is an old man in the village and knows the actual situation of the villagers best. This year, the village has a fermented bean curd workshop and a soy sauce business. The men in the family can carry some goods to sell, or the women can work in the fermented bean curd workshop. Life has become a little better, and this has only happened in the past few months.

In the past, everyone’s living standards were just around the poverty line. If there was a small accident, they would have to sell everything they had.

This granddaughter is winning his heart more and more. Not only is she smart and intelligent, but she is also very good at dealing with people!

It is a blessing for the Li family that they can have such a child!

Grandpa Li looked at the pile of square wooden boards in the yard, then looked up at the scorching sun. In a good mood, he said to his granddaughter, "While the weather is good, I'll help you make something!"

Li Yan nodded, ran into the study, and took out some tools. The grandfather and grandson sat under the eaves, one grinding ink and the other brushing the board. They cooperated very well!