Chapter 286 Taking the initiative to bite the hook
The Lu family arranged a three-story house for Master Zhan and his disciples. This house was not far from the house where Lu Mingzhi studied papermaking, and it was only a short walk away.
The two people that Master Zhan picked up on the road, Jiang Yizhou and Chen Yue, were also arranged to live in. Anyway, the house was quite big, and there were still empty rooms for them and their disciples to live in.
After a night's rest, Master Zhan and his disciples got up, had breakfast, and decided to take a walk to the house where Lu Mingzhi was.
There, Master Zhan and his two apprentices saw two types of paper: jute paper and snow-white paper. These two types of paper were now ready for mass production.
Scholars all love paper. After touching them, they felt that the quality of these two types of paper was no worse than the common yellow paper, silver paper, etc.
"Did you develop these two types of paper recently?"
"Yeah, but the recipe was bought for me by my second sister."
Zhou Congguang: "Your second sister is so nice."
"Mingzhi, you are good." Zhan Ruoshui praised.
Wei Wenqian followed suit, saying, "That's right, Mingzhi. Even if your second sister bought you the recipe, it's only a rough recipe. Turning the recipe into a real thing is not easy." This process requires strong self-control and execution. It's not easy for Junior Brother to be able to make it.
Lu Mingzhi felt a little embarrassed by the praise. "Master, two senior brothers, you are too kind. When I came here, someone took care of my food, clothing, housing and transportation. I am only responsible for continuous experiments. As for any experimental materials I need, just let me know and someone will send them to me. It's not hard work."
"I'm so busy here that I can't even do some work to change my mind. Whenever I feel tired, I just go for a walk outside."
The two brothers were envious when they heard this. They also wanted a life like this. Not having to worry about anything, just focusing on fiddling with their own things.
They spent a day in Lu Mingzhi's courtyard, and they deeply understood what it meant to have food and clothes provided for them. Whatever they needed, they just had to ask, and someone would get it. Junior Brother Lu was so happy to be here.
In the evening, Zhou Congguang and Wei Wenqian whispered to each other for a while.
After muttering, Zhou Congguang went to find Lu Mingzhi.
"Senior Brother Zhou, is there something wrong?" Lu Mingzhi asked.
Zhou Congguang was a little embarrassed to speak, and Wei Wenqian gave him an encouraging look.
So Zhou Congguang mustered up his courage and said, "Junior brother, do you know what I was researching before?"
Lu Mingzhi nodded. Actually, Senior Brother Zhou was busy with a lot of things, and he really didn't know which one he was talking about, but nodding was the right thing to do.
"Brother, you're almost there."
"Really? Then congratulations, Brother Zhou."
"What are you congratulating me for? If you want to continue the experiment, you need to get that, you know." Zhou Congguang made a money gesture.
"Didn't you ask the Master to support you?" Lu Mingzhi asked in a low voice.
"The teacher is very cold-blooded. He told me not to ask him. I begged him, but he wouldn't agree. He said it was useless even if I called him dad." Zhou Congguang felt aggrieved.
Lu Mingzhi looked at him sympathetically. He looked so pitiful, so pitiful.
Zhou Congguang also felt that he was too pitiful. He just wanted to get something out, so why not satisfy him?
Master Zhan turned his head away, as if dazzled by the flowers, pretending not to hear his disciples' murmurs. He was almost drained of blood, and had finally recovered some, but he was determined not to let his disciples waste it.
Zhou Congguang put his arm around his shoulder and said, "Let's not talk about the master anymore. Little Junior Brother, when you were in the academy, was the senior brother good to you?"
Lu Mingzhi nodded. No matter whether he had been really good to him in the past, he just nodded.
"Now, Senior Brother wants you to do him a favor."
"What can I do for you? Please tell me, I will definitely help you if I can."
"Brother, I want to ask you something."
"Ask."
"Look, if I ask my senior brother to help me get that thing, do you think she would be willing?"
Hearing this question, Lu Mingzhi looked strange. His second sister hadn't even put down the hook or bait yet, at most she had just made a nest, but Senior Brother Zhou was so anxious to hook himself?
If he lived in later generations, he would know a word called "running in both directions".
At this time, Lu Mingzhi could only sigh in his heart that his second sister was so lucky.
"Brother Zhou, I can arrange a time for you so you can ask her in person."
"Okay." Zhou Congguang felt that it was not a big problem.
My junior brother's second sister is very generous and magnanimous.
As soon as they moved into the courtyard, all the necessary daily necessities were delivered to them, including new wooden tubs, thin bedding, rattan mats, etc. It was very thoughtful.
The Cheng Yi I promised to give her before was also delivered last night, totaling one thousand taels. She was really generous and thoughtful. She was not like those people who would play dumb when it came to fulfilling their promises and giving benefits.
The Master received the silver and laughed so hard that his beard trembled. Even the Master, who seldom praised others, praised the Lu family for their generosity.
Zhan Ruoshui heard everything they said, but he did not stop them.
His young apprentice's second sister, Lu Songli, doesn't talk much, but she leaves a good impression on him.
They all knew about Lu Songli's identity. She was the sixth wife of the Qin family and was exiled to Liaodong County with her husband's family.
Seeing her at the County Magistrate's Mansion yesterday wasn't surprising. Her father had been exiled here, and since she was the County Magistrate, it was normal for her to have some freedom and authority.
But it was wrong for her to have so much money at her disposal.
Lu Mingzhi had to mention the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce to him in a subtle way.
This was also what his second sister asked him to say. His second sister's original words were, if his teacher asked, then he should say it, and if his teacher didn't ask, then he didn't have to say it.
Now that he knew where the money came from, Zhan Ruoshui didn't want to think about other things. At least for now, his second sister didn't see anything wrong with his little apprentice.
When Lu Songli learned that Zhou Congguang and others had sent a message through Lu Mingzhi that they wanted to meet her, she took some time to meet them.
After the greetings, Lu Songli got straight to the point.
"Brother Zhou, if you need anything or have any difficulties, just tell me. You are Mingzhi's senior brother, and I will definitely help if I can." Lu Songli encouraged him with a smile, and he looked very amiable.
Zhou Congguang felt embarrassed. When they arrived in Liaodong County, their food and lodging were all paid for. Before they even left, they had already paid them the return fare. Now he had to cheat them out of their money, and the thought of it made his conscience pang.
"Brother Zhou, since Madam Qin Liu has said so, just tell her directly." After Wei Wenqian finished speaking, he mouthed to him, "Think about your experiment."
Zhou Congguang knew that his experiment was just one step away from success, so he made up his mind and said, "Madam Qin Liu, it's like this..." He began to introduce what he was going to make.
Lu Songli listened carefully. Isn’t this the principle of a spin dryer?
It’s good to bring your own projects.
Lu Songli glanced at Zhan Ruoshui and others, wondering if they also had their own projects?
"Mrs. Qin Liu, don't worry. I am very confident this time. I will succeed soon and it won't cost a lot of money. Can you - help me buy some materials?" Zhou Congguang said the rest of the words in a low voice.
But Lu Songli agreed immediately, "Okay!"
Her straightforwardness and easygoing nature astonished Zhou Congguang, his apprentice, and the other two. She agreed without even asking how much it would cost? And she didn't have any requirements?
Only Lu Mingzhi, who was standing by, had expected this and was not surprised.
Lu Songli immediately got into the swing of things and made arrangements. "Can your testing site also be set up in the four-courtyard building in the north district? It'll be in the courtyard next to Mingzhi's. I'll also assign you a steward, just like Steward Yao in Mingzhi's courtyard, to take care of all your needs. If you need anything for testing later, just tell him, and he'll get it back to you as soon as possible."
"Oh, okay, everything is fine, you arrange it." Zhou Congguang felt dizzy. Is this it?
"Is there anything going on with Master Zhan and Senior Brother Wei?"
Mr. Zhan shook his head hesitantly.
Wei Wenqian is the same. He is a cautious person and wants to wait and see before making a decision.
"Madam Qin Liu, I will definitely get it done quickly and won't let you waste too much money." Zhou Congguang said excitedly.
Lu Songli likes people like Zhou Congguang. Not only can they paint a rosy picture for themselves, but they can also paint a rosy picture for their boss. They don't need their boss to paint a rosy picture for them or to cheer them up.
"I believe in you, do your best! Buy the necessary materials and don't be afraid to spend money."
Zhou Congguang was deeply moved. This was the first time someone didn't despise him for spending too much money when he was messing around. He swore in his heart that from now on, his junior brother's second sister would be his real sister!
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