Chapter 140 It’s Not Easy to Find a Master
Xiao Yongyan was watching from the side in amazement. His wife's little head was thinking of these money-making tricks one after another.
"Let's take a rest today. I have things to do tomorrow." Lin Xi said.
Feng Miao handed over the information she had prepared in advance, "Madam, the young master has already instructed in advance that this is the list of people in Xucheng who know the art of papermaking."
Lin Xi was stunned. She didn't expect that Xiao Yongyan had already prepared all these in advance. No wonder he wanted to follow.
There were four or five names and addresses written on the paper. Lin Xi decided to visit them one by one tomorrow.
…
Xucheng is not a place famous for papermaking, so it is not easy to find a qualified papermaking master.
Often those who are experienced are deeply bound to the host family, and even if they are found, it is quite difficult to invite them out.
Lin Xi and Xiao Yongyan went to four places in the morning, and were rejected by all of them without exception.
"Oh, if this afternoon doesn't work, do we have to go somewhere farther to look for it?" Lin Xi felt a little melancholy.
Xiao Yongyan comforted him, "It doesn't matter if we go a little further. As long as we are willing to pay, we don't have to worry about no one coming."
After a quick lunch, the two rushed to the last restaurant.
When the man heard that the two wanted to recruit him to work in the papermaking industry, his reaction was exactly the same as the four people in the morning. "I have a contract with the boss. If I leave, I will have to pay compensation."
Lin Xi's heart had already sunk to the bottom. Could it be that they were really going to run somewhere farther away?
"Well, Master, do you know anyone here? We can negotiate any price." Lin Xi asked casually.
Unexpectedly, the man paused and said, "I do know someone, but I can't guarantee whether he is willing to go. That guy has a very bad temper."
In an instant, Lin Xi felt that hope had returned.
"Please tell us your name and address, we will be there right away." Lin Xi said anxiously.
"That man is my former senior brother. His name is Zhang Chengye and he lives in the fifteenth household on East Street," the man said.
Lin Xi thanked him quickly and took Xiao Yongyan straight here.
When he reached the door, Lin Xi thought for a moment that he had come to the wrong place.
Xiao Yongyan frowned and pulled out a lot of weeds on the steps in front of the door and put them under Lin Xi's feet. "This place is too dirty. I'm so careful."
Lin Xi looked at the half-open door and peered inside with some suspicion. This house was so dirty, was there really anyone at home?
At this moment, someone suddenly walked out hurriedly, opened the door with a bang, and bumped into Lin Xi who was about to come in.
The man had messy hair, cloudy eyes, and looked listless. When he passed by Lin Xi, he didn't even look at her and rushed out.
Lin Xi stood there, speechless for a long time.
If she hadn't told him he was a resident, she would have thought he was a homeless person.
Although the hygiene awareness of ancient people was indeed poor, only a few were as bad as his.
"That person is probably Zhang Chengye." Xiao Yongyan said.
Lin Xi's eyes went dark. This guy didn't look like someone who could work. Was he really being cheated?
But since she was already here, she just resigned herself to her fate and walked in.
As soon as they arrived in the yard, they heard a violent cough coming from the room, and a childish voice said, "Grandma, Daddy is going to buy medicine, you hold on a little longer."
Lin Xi finally understood. No wonder the man went out in a hurry. It turned out that he was going to buy medicine.
Soon, an old voice said, "Silly boy, hurry up and chase him. There is no money to buy medicine at home. I am afraid he will have to buy on credit again. My old bones are not worth his money."
Lin Xi and the other man looked at each other and immediately followed the direction the man left.
After walking for a while, they saw the beggar-like man at the door of a pharmacy.
"Zhang Chengye, let me tell you, our boss feels sorry for you and has waived your medicine fees twice. You can't be greedy and ask for more!" The clerk in the pharmacy had a very bad look on his face. It was obvious that Zhang Chengye had come here more than once.
As the saying goes, help in times of emergency, not in times of poverty. Lin Xi quickly stepped forward and took out some silver. "I'll pay for his medicine."
As he said this, he handed two taels of silver to the waiter, and the waiter's face immediately changed, "Madam, his medicine doesn't cost that much money."
"Then keep it first, and deduct it from it when you come to get medicine later." Lin Xi said.
Zhang Chengye looked at Lin Xi in confusion, probably wondering why this stranger woman wanted to help him.
Lin Xi smiled at him, and in return he said, "What's your name? I will definitely pay you back the money I owe you."
It turned out to be exactly as that person said, with a very bad temper.
"You will know who I am later. The important thing right now is to get the medicine, right?" Lin Xi said.
Zhang Chengye pursed his lips without saying anything, took the medicine bag handed to him by the waiter, turned around and went back home.
As soon as he walked to the door, he saw a little boy stepping out of the door. When Zhang Chengye saw him, he immediately scolded him, "Didn't I ask you to stay at home and take good care of your grandma? Where are you running to?"
After being yelled at by Zhang Chengye, the child looked at the other person tremblingly.
Inside the house, the old man said, "Chengye, I was the one who asked him to find you. There is no money left at home, and there is nothing I can do to heal my old bones."
Zhang Chengye walked into the house, "Mom, what did you say? I have already bought the medicine."
Lin Xi followed him in and saw an old man lying on the bed in the dim room. He looked haggard and about to die.
"Where do you get the money to buy medicine?" asked the old man.
Zhang Chengye looked back at Lin Xi and said nothing.
The old man was a little surprised when he saw Lin Xi and Xiao Yongyan, "Who are you?"
"Madam," Lin Xi walked forward with a smile on her face, "I am from Taoli Village. My family wants to start a rice paper business. I heard that your son knows about this, so I want to invite him over."
After hearing this, the old man smiled, his eyes sparkling with pride, and even his voice sounded a little more powerful. "My son has no other skills, but he is first-rate in papermaking. If it weren't for my poor health, he would still be working in the paper mill now."
Zhang Chengye didn't seem to like what the old woman said, "Mom, your health is not well yet, I won't go anywhere."
"You kid," the old woman said anxiously, "what nonsense are you talking about? Mom is half buried in the ground, how can she be cured? Dabao is still young, you can't just ignore him."
Zhang Chengye wanted to refute, but after a few words, he said nothing.
Lin Xi glanced around and it was obvious that although Zhang Chengye had a bad temper, he had one thing in common - he was filial and would not object to the old lady's words.
"Auntie," Lin Xi held the old lady's hand, "I don't know how to make paper, so I want to hire a papermaker. But everyone else in Xucheng has signed a contract with the boss, and only your son is still free. As long as he is willing to go, I can pay him ten taels of silver a month."
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