After visiting Longtan many times, Deng Kang discovered that their rice had the highest yield per mu in the entire southern region, and even in Cangwu County.
In the past two years, Longtan's strength has increased significantly. The Yu family has repeatedly tried to cause trouble but failed. The head of the Deng family firmly believes that they must still have some secret weapon in their hands.
The Deng family head was pleased with the rise of Longtan, always believing that having more friends was better than having more enemies.
"However, the paper produced by the paper mill can only last for six months, and the sugarcane will not be harvested until the end of the year. Shouldn't we implement a limited sales policy?"
Wu Xingwang was well aware of the principle that rare commodities are worth hoarding.
Once the reputation of Longtan paper is established, they will have no worries about finding a market.
Lin Yinan had already thought about this issue. Before going up the mountain, she asked Afu to give Su Yunzhi the secret recipe for making bamboo paper. She wondered how well he had figured it out.
"Uncle Wu, we'll keep the price of Longtan paper unchanged. Even without sugarcane bagasse as a raw material, we can still make paper using another material."
"What if we find alternative materials?"
Wu Xingwang's eyes lit up. He was happy as long as paper could continue to be produced. He didn't want to raise prices and ruin the reputation that Longtan had worked so hard to build.
"Yes, this stuff is everywhere in the mountains, so there's no worry about running out of stock."
"Can I go take a look?"
“Come, I will go with you.”
The paper mill and printing plant are located in the city, and Lin Yinan has no plans to move them outside the city. Last year, he also expanded his business premises.
She and Wu Xingwang came out of the county government office, and it only took them 15 minutes to walk there.
Wu Xingwang is physically strong. Even though life has gotten better in the last two years, he has not gained any weight and has maintained a healthy body. Therefore, walking this distance is nothing for him.
The two turned out of a small alley and saw three people standing in front of the Longtan Paper Mill in the distance.
Lin Yinan looked closely and saw that it was Zhu Jinhui talking to Su Yunzhi with a young woman.
“Yunzhi, Xiaofeng has come all the way from Cangwu County to see you. Why don’t you take her inside for a tour?” Zhu Jinhui occasionally gave her son meaningful glances.
Su Yunzhi ignored his mother's hint and put on a serious face.
"Mother, the paper mill is a crucial place for papermaking, and outsiders are not allowed to enter or leave at will."
"Whether you get in or not is entirely up to you," Zhu Jinhui said deliberately, wanting to show off in front of Zeng Xiaofeng.
Su Yunzhi sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation. Sometimes, when her mother got into a tirade, it was impossible to reason with her.
This woman named Zeng Xiaofeng was a matchmaker that his sister found for him in Cangwu County.
The Zeng family was once one of the most prominent families in Cangwu County, but they have declined in the last two years.
Zeng Xiaofeng was merely the second daughter of a collateral branch of the Zeng family. Her family background was naturally incomparable to that of the Deng family, but it was still considered a scholarly family. It was said that her father and brothers worked in the paper mill of the main branch for a living.
When his sister said that last time, he thought she was joking, but who knew she would actually bring the person over.
Su Yunru gave birth to the eldest son of the Deng family last year, which made her more confident and assertive. Now that Su Yunzhi is twenty-one, she and her mother Zhu Jinhui decided to make connections with the Zeng family.
Why is it a collateral branch of the Zeng family instead of the direct branch?
The main branch of the family looks down on the Su family, a small family with no support and no power.
The reason the collateral branches were interested was simply because they admired Su Yunzhi's papermaking skills.
Zeng Xiaofeng covered her lips shyly with a handkerchief and said, "Young Master Su, please don't blame Aunt Su. I've heard that Longtan is very skilled at making paper from sugarcane residue, and I was curious to go in and take a look."
She thought that since she had said all that, the other party would definitely take her in no matter what.
Unexpectedly, Su Yunzhi said gently, "It is indeed inappropriate. Our papermaking technology is a closely guarded secret, and the papermaking workshop is related to the livelihoods of so many people in Longtan. Only papermaking workers are allowed to enter. I hope Miss Zeng can understand."
Zeng Xiaofeng was speechless, her eyes wide with astonishment.
As they were talking, Lin Yinan arrived with Wu Xingwang.
Su Yunzhi hurriedly bowed to the two of them.
A shadow crossed Zhu Jinhui's face as she looked Lin Yinan up and down, who was becoming increasingly radiant and beautiful.
What are you doing here?
Lin Yinan glanced at her, her eyes instantly turning cold, showing no politeness whatsoever, "The paper mill is a strategically important location in Longtan, what are you doing here again?"
"You..." Zhu Jinhui's arrogance immediately subsided.
Lin Yinan's appearance instantly reminded her that she was in charge of the entire Longtan area, and she no longer had the right to question others.
Su Yunzhi stepped in to smooth things over. He glanced apologetically at Lin Yinan, then turned to his mother and said, "Mother, Miss Zeng, I have other things to attend to. You should go back first."
Zhu Jinhui was unwilling to accept this, as she was now losing face in front of Zeng Xiaofeng. If the marriage were to go through in the future, how could she establish her authority in front of Zeng Xiaofeng?
“But Miss Zeng came from afar, and you, this…” she was very embarrassed.
The way Zeng Xiaofeng looked at Su Yunzhi made it seem as if he were a heartless man.
Su Yunzhi was speechless. This was completely unnecessary; they had only met yesterday.
We're really not that close!
Besides, why did she insist on visiting the paper mill as soon as she arrived? He's not stupid. The reason the Zeng family valued him, this older single man, was simply because he possessed the secret formula for making cheap paper.
He stopped looking at his mother and Zeng Xiaofeng, and gestured to Lin Yinan and Wu Xingwang to invite them in.
"Lord Lin and Master Wu, please come in!"
The three of them climbed the steps. Zhu Jinhui took two steps forward, but Lin Yinan turned around and gave her a sharp look. Zhu Jinhui immediately stopped and glared at Lin Yinan's back.
The status of the Su family's four members was entirely due to Lin Yinan. Things are different now, and Zhu Jinhui dares not act recklessly.
After the group entered the paper mill, the door slammed shut. Zeng Xiaofeng suppressed her curiosity and looked at Zhu Jinhui.
"Aunt Su, how can you let a woman be in charge when there are so many talented people in Longtan?"
Zhu Jinhui didn't say anything, but kindly took her hand and said, "Come on, Xiaofeng, Aunt Su will take you for a stroll in the street."
Zeng Xiaofeng lowered her eyes, a hint of disdain flashing in them. If you want to explore, isn't Cangwu County bigger than Longtan?
Lin Yinan didn't ask about the two people outside the door. She had overheard some things when she got close.
If Zhu Jinhui still couldn't understand this by now, then she had lived in vain.
Now, Su Yunzhi can face Lin Yinan with composure. Whatever she wants, Yun Mo can do, and so can he.
He led the two to the backyard, where there were several soaking pools filled with bamboo strips about the length of a finger.
"The book says that when making paper from bamboo, it is best to choose mother bamboo that is one to two years old. These bamboos were all picked up by experienced farmers who led us up the mountain."
The bamboo in the pool had been soaking for some time, and its outer skin had turned somewhat black, emitting a sour and foul smell.
Wu Xingwang couldn't stand the smell. He covered his nose with his sleeve and pointed to the blackened bamboo strips in the pool, asking Su Yunzhi.
"Young Master Su, how long should the bamboo in the pond be soaked?"
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