Su Jinyun drank tea for a while, and the two chatted for a bit. She got up and stretched, then noticed the papers on the table. She walked over to the table and examined them carefully.
Qin Qianluo also got up and followed Su Jinyun to the table. She didn't stop Su Jinyun and let her look at it, since she could use the papermaking method she bought from the traveling merchant as an excuse.
Su Jinyun looked at the smooth, white paper with surprise in her eyes. The paper made using the papermaking technique that Qianluo had shown her could not yet be so smooth and white. She carefully read the beautiful characters on it. Although they were different from the current fonts, she could still make out their meanings. They seemed to be simplified characters.
A pleasant, low murmur began: "On the Love of Lotus" by Zhou Dunyi
Among the flowers of land and water, many are lovely. Tao Yuanming of the Jin Dynasty alone loved chrysanthemums. Since the Tang Dynasty, people have greatly admired peonies. I alone love the lotus, which rises from the mud unstained, is washed by clear ripples without being seductive, has a hollow stem and straight growth, does not spread or branch, its fragrance grows more pure as it spreads, stands tall and clean, and can be admired from afar but not touched.
I say that the chrysanthemum is the flower of the recluse; the peony, the flower of wealth and nobility; and the lotus, the flower of the gentleman. Alas! Few have been heard of who love the chrysanthemum since Tao Yuanming. Who shares my love for the lotus? As for the peony, it is no wonder that many love it!
Qin Qianlu wrote this in the twenty-third year of Tianxuan, in remembrance of ancient sages.
"Excellent article! Qianluo's handwriting is also beautiful. May I ask who this Zhou Dunyi is? Could Qianluo please introduce us?"
Qin Qianlu was stunned. This was a literary figure from the Northern Song Dynasty, whom she had never even met in person. How could she possibly introduce him? She blinked her beautiful eyes and glanced at Sister Su, who was waiting for her answer.
After thinking for a moment, she said, "This is an article that Qianluo found in a lost ancient book. She thought it was very beautiful, so she wrote it down. Unfortunately, the ancient book has been lost."
Upon hearing this, Su Jinyun understood. This was probably an article written by a very famous Confucian scholar in Qianluo's previous life. It was a pity that she could not meet him in person. Just by looking at the noble character expressed in the article, she knew how virtuous this person was.
Su Jinyun didn't dwell on it and easily changed the subject, picking up the neatly arranged papers next to the table: "That's a real pity. Qianluo's paper is whiter and smoother than the paper made by the Ministry of Works. I wonder how she did it?"
Qin Qianluo was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when she heard Su Jinyun no longer want to see the non-existent person from this dynasty, but then she heard Su Jinyun ask about the paper, and she was momentarily at a loss. This... she had to ask that non-existent traveling merchant to make an appearance again. Fortunately, she was prepared in advance.
Qin Qianlu coughed lightly and said with a smile, "These are several formulas that I bought from traveling merchants. I had my factory try to make them, and they worked very well."
Seeing Qin Qianluo's constantly changing expressions, Su Jinyun knew that this was taken from her spatial storage. She didn't delve into it, but simply smiled and said, "Oh? There are such powerful traveling merchants. But you mentioned several formulas, is there any difference between them?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Qianlu smiled and took out several different sheets of Xuan paper, ground some ink, placed the paper on the table on the chair, and laid out the paper she had taken out.
Su Jinyun watched her movements with gentle eyes and helped to set up the paperweight. Looking at the delicate and warm paperweight, she was also delighted, but she did not interrupt Qin Qianluo's actions.
After grinding the ink, Qin Qianluo picked up a brush and wrote her name on several different types of paper. Then she put down the brush, pointed to the characters, and looked at Su Jinyun.
"Sister Su, this is raw Xuan paper. Through experiments by craftsmen, it has been found that raw Xuan paper has better water absorption and permeability, making it more suitable for writing larger characters. Raw Xuan paper will make the characters more expressive and artistic, and it is more suitable for freehand painting, which will make the picture extend better and make the painting more beautiful."
Su Jinyun looked at the characters on the raw Xuan paper and nodded. Indeed, the ink was more beautiful, and it would probably look even better for painting. Seeing her nod, Qin Qianluo pointed to the processed Xuan paper.
"This is sized Xuan paper, which is made by adding alum to raw Xuan paper. Sized Xuan paper is a bit harder and is more suitable for writing smaller characters, like the calligraphy I wrote. Sized Xuan paper does not absorb ink very well, so it is also suitable for our usual memorials and other documents. It is also more suitable for painting in a more delicate way, requiring neat lines."
Su Jinyun nodded as she looked at the delicate handwriting on the paper, her eyes sparkling with delight. Just as Qianluo had said, the memorials and letters were suitable and wouldn't smudge. Qin Qianluo then pointed to the semi-sized Xuan paper.
"This is semi-sized Xuan paper, which is between raw and sized Xuan paper. It is not as absorbent as raw Xuan paper, nor as stiff as sized Xuan paper. It is suitable for practicing calligraphy. It can show the ink effect without bleeding. It is more suitable for smaller paintings."
As Su Jinyun listened to Qin Qianluo's introduction, her joy intensified. After hearing everything, she looked at Qin Qianluo with bright eyes and asked, "I wonder if the manufacturing method is difficult?"
Qin Qianlu smiled and shook her head: "The Ministry of Works has already mastered the papermaking method. I also plan to present the method for making these Xuan papers to the Ministry of Works at court."
Hearing that Qin Qianluo was so generous, Su Jinyun felt warm inside and rubbed her little head: "Qianluo is really generous and never holds back."
Qin Qianlu smiled and nuzzled Su Jinyun's hand: "Paper is an everyday necessity. Since Qianlu knows a better way to make it, why should she keep it to herself?"
Su Jinyun's smile widened. If it were anyone else, they would probably have guarded against it to the death, not letting outsiders know a thing. Only Qianluo would be so sincere and loving, asking for nothing in return.
Qin Qianluo collected a few sheets of paper and put them in the wastebasket. She then put the paper she had written on back on the table. Su Jinyun watched her actions, picked up the paperweight that was placed to the side, and asked with a smile, "Qianluo, this paperweight is quite unique and exquisite. I wonder what kind of material it is made of?"
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