Anyway, I already owe someone a favor, so I might as well use the money. I can just pay Gu Yun back with some interest later.
Yu Zhizhou glanced at the banknotes in the envelope, his narrow double eyelids slightly raised, his eyes bright, it seemed that he was making money as a merchant.
Yu Jiao put the banknote away. Gu Yun also mentioned in the letter that he had returned to Beijing. If there was anything else she needed to find him for in the future, she could just ask Manager Zhou to arrange for someone to send a letter to him in Beijing.
The imperial court has also appointed an official from the Ministry of Revenue to serve as governor-general, who will soon go to the north to provide disaster relief.
This news means that the grain shop’s business will not last long.
It cannot be said that it will not last long, but once the grain from the imperial court arrives for disaster relief, the grain shop’s business will inevitably be affected, and the price of grain will also be affected.
Yu Jiao agreed to sign employment contracts to provide food rations for so many families. The grain shipped from the river could not be sold all at once. Once the batch of grain shipped to Danzhou by Manager Zhou was sold out, there would be no need to open the grain shop in Danzhou anymore.
The suitable sowing period for Chinese cabbage is from September to November, but it can only be harvested in May of the following year. There is a growing period of nearly half a year in between, and you have to find something else to do during this half-year break.
Yu Jiao raised her eyes to look at Yu Zhizhou, who immediately sat up straight. Yu Jiao chuckled and asked, "Third brother, how is the sales of the flowered paper you mentioned earlier in the academy?"
"Flower-shaped paper is elegant and gorgeous. There are many people in the academy who pretend to be cultured, and many people are willing to buy it. I guess girls will like it more." Yu Zhizhou replied.
Yu Jiao thought for a moment and then asked, "Has Third Brother ever heard of Xue Tao's letter?"
Yu Zhizhou shook his head blankly. "Forgive my ignorance, but I have never heard of it. Is it also a piece of paper? It sounds like a person's name."
Xue Tao paper is extremely famous in history. Firstly, it is famous for Xue Tao's poems, and secondly, ordinary rice paper is too large in size, while Xue Tao paper is exquisite, small, colorful, and easy to carry, making it perfect for writing eight-line regulated verse.
Throughout history, it has always been easier to make money from women.
Opening a paper mill, specializing in producing high-quality exquisite stationery, and selling it to the ladies in the boudoirs of wealthy families would be a good business.
Stationery can not only be used to write poems, but also to write letters.
In just a moment, Yu Jiao had made up her mind. After the hucai was sown, she would concentrate on studying paper. She not only wanted to make flowery paper, but also imitate Xue Tao's paper, make colored paper, and scented paper.
Ladies and young women in the boudoir love to use perfume the most. If we could create writing paper with perfume added to it and the fragrance lasted for a long time, it would probably be very popular.
"Third brother, I want to open a paper mill." Yu Jiao said slowly, "Would you like to partner with me?"
Yu Zhizhou was stunned for a moment. "I... Can I do it? Didn't you say you wanted to open an oil press? Why do you suddenly want to make paper? Xuanzhou Prefecture produces very good paper. The Xuan paper we use is all produced in Xuanzhou. If we rashly make paper, I'm afraid it won't be easy to sell..."
Xuan paper is tribute paper, famous throughout the world. It is made with sophisticated craftsmanship. All scholars in the world use Xuan paper. Apart from this, there is rough jute paper, which is occasionally used by some people because of its low price.
Moreover, without the papermaking skills inherited from his ancestors, how could he replace Xuan paper? Although Yu Zhizhou also wanted to do something big, it was too unrealistic to rashly open a paper mill, and he was afraid that he would lose all his money.
Seeing that he misunderstood, Yu Jiao explained, "I don't want to compete with Xuan paper. We only make paper and sell it to boudoir girls. Girls from wealthy families are all quite talented. If we can make paper that suits their taste, we will definitely have no worries about sales. Our paper mill is not to welcome customers from all over the world. Our target is the boudoir girls from wealthy families."
With a clear target customer group, Yu Jiao is not worried about the sales of the paper. She continued, "We don't even need to make paper. We can just buy rice paper and process it into flower paper."
Yu Zhizhou was suddenly enlightened by her words, "I was too narrow-minded. Now that you put it that way, I think it's feasible. But none of us know how to make flower paper."
"That's fine. I know some tricks. Flower paper is made by carving landscapes and flowers. Five-color paper needs to be colored. Scented paper needs to have a variety of spices added during papermaking. The craft of making scented paper is a bit more complicated."
Listening to Yu Jiao's eloquent talk, Yu Zhizhou couldn't help but admire her. "Sister Yu Jiao knows so much. I, a scholar, am really ashamed of myself."
Yu Jiao smiled faintly, "Third brother reads classics, history, and literature, and I mostly read leisure books." She took a sip of tea and continued, "Nothing is difficult in the world if you are determined. I believe that as long as we study hard, we will be able to make stationery."
Yu Zhizhou had already been convinced by her. Yu Jiao just sat there quietly, and her slow and leisurely narration actually gave him the feeling of giving orders.
What was originally an uncertain task now made him want to do it immediately.
He stood up and said sincerely, "Sister Yu Jiao is right. From now on, I will do whatever you say."
Yu Jiao smiled and said, "It was my third brother who mentioned the paper mill. That's when I had this idea. I'll really have to trouble you to take care of this."
Yu Zhizhou sat down on the chair and said with a spirited look on his face, "Sister Yu Jiao, just give me your orders."
"Although we can directly purchase Xuan paper to make paper, we still need to learn the papermaking skills. What is the flower paper in Jiangnan like? Are there other papers from other places? We need to understand all these in person." Simply put, we have to do a market research, analyze competing products, and learn other people's skills.
Yu Zhizhou nodded repeatedly after hearing this.
Yu Jiao continued, "I need to keep an eye on the hucai planting and cannot spare the time, so I'll have to trouble Third Brother to do these things."
Yu Zhizhou asked, "Sister, do you want me to go to Jiangnan and Xuanzhou?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
