After dinner, Li Yan talked with her father about the village school.
"Since your uncle is looking for someone for you, I'll put my own search on hold until I hear back from your uncle!"
"Okay!" Li Yan agreed.
"I have some enlightenment books in my study. If you need them, go get them yourself. I'll copy some for you when I have time!"
Li Yan shook her head. "I asked Master Qin to buy some woodblocks. I want to make my own copies of these enlightenment books."
After hearing what his daughter said, Li Erlang couldn't help but look at her. He knew that his daughter would not do such a strenuous thing for no reason.
Seeing her father waiting for her explanation, Li Yan thought for a moment and said, "Dad, I seem to vaguely remember some methods of making paper from wheat straw and tree bark. Although I can't remember the details, I still remember the general process. Besides, these things are everywhere in the village and are very easy to get. Even if I fail, it won't be a big loss. It just takes some effort. If I succeed, our village will have freedom in using paper!"
There is another point that Li Yan doesn't need to say, Li Erlang can naturally think of it.
He had studied for so many years and knew how expensive writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstone were. If common people wanted to cultivate a scholar, they would often have to mobilize the entire family to barely support the cause. In addition to not being able to pay the tuition, most people were also blocked by the cost of paper and ink.
Li Yan continued to lobby, "Dad, I want to give it a try. If it succeeds, with so many children in our village, we won't have to share one book. Even if they come home from school and remember a word they don't know how to write, they can just flip through the book and memorize it without having to wait until the next day!"
Li Erlang was moved by his daughter's words, but the papermaking matter was of great importance. Now their Lijia Village had become the talk of the town in Rongcheng.
Although the food shop and the soy sauce shop made money, they did not really shake the interests of the powerful. If his daughter could make paper, and make extremely cheap paper, Li Erlang didn't dare to think about how many people would want to harm his daughter!
With his current status, how can he protect his daughter?
Even if you have the general's support behind you, it is useless. There are too many ways to make someone disappear quietly.
They were a family of common people and had no power to fight back!
Besides, the timing is not right. If the emperor could control the government and the court officials were clean and honest, Li Erlang might dare to let his daughter give it a try. But in this situation, she absolutely cannot let her daughter take any risk.
Li Erlang looked at his daughter's expectant eyes, pondered for a moment and said, "Don't rush this matter. Our family has already been pushed to the forefront in Rongcheng. It would not be a good thing to be in the spotlight again!"
Li Yan blinked. "Dad, do you mean this? Maybe it will be possible in the future?"
Li Erlang rubbed his daughter's furry head with amusement and nodded, and the girl actually understood the hidden meaning of his words.
He came from humble beginnings and naturally knew the difficulties faced by students from poor families. If there was a way to resolve the obstacles these students faced on their road to education, he would naturally be willing to do it!
It's just that the timing is not right now!
Li Yan felt a little disappointed at this moment. She had a ready-made method to make cheap paper. Now she was asked to go to the bookstore to buy paper that cost more than 20 cents a piece. How frustrating that would be!
Li Yan thought about it and changed her words, "Then Dad, I can just make paper secretly in my backyard without letting anyone else know, right?"
She doesn't sell paper, so as long as she closes the door, who knows where her paper comes from?
"Then you need to be more careful!" Finally, under his daughter's burning gaze, Li Erlang compromised.
Li Yan nodded obediently, as if to say, "I promise to be obedient." Lin, who was listening to their conversation, couldn't help but shake his head and laugh!
This child may seem obedient, but he's actually quite resourceful! Then she asked, "You're asking your cousin to substitute teach. Who are you going to hire to run the shop? Have you thought about it?" Lin asked.
Li Yan nodded. "I'll take Xiu'er to the shop tomorrow to get used to it for a few days. I'll let the two sisters take care of her first. There shouldn't be any problems!"
Lin nodded. Xiu'er is a capable child. It is appropriate to have her help Daya.
After a dreamless night, Li Yan woke up dazed the next morning and learned from her mother that Xiu'er had been waiting outside the door since early morning.
Li Yan hurried to the door and saw Xiu'er, who was dressed neatly and waiting for the group to depart with great anticipation.
Because she was chosen by Li Yan to look after the shop, she was excited most of the night before. She got up early in the morning and put on clothes that she usually didn't want to wear.
Although this summer shirt was something she was reluctant to wear, it was made from her mother's old clothes, and the pattern and style looked a bit old!
The second grandmother saw that her granddaughter only had this one complete piece of clothing, and the rest of her clothes were either patched at the cuffs or at the elbows. It was definitely not okay for her to wear it to visit the shop.
Fortunately, the family now had some spare money, so she planned to wait until tomorrow to go to the market and ask a village woman who had gone to the city to bring back a piece of cloth so that she could make a dress for her granddaughter.
"Why are you here so early? If there's nothing important, we usually leave at the beginning of the morning."
Xiu'er nodded shyly, "I just wanted to see if there's anything I can do to help!"
Li Yan waved her and called her into the house, "Have you eaten? Sit and wait for a while. We still have to wait for half an incense stick of time before we leave." After that, she brought a small stool and asked her to sit under the eaves and wait!
Xiu'er followed Li Yan into the yard and said, "I came out after eating. You can go and do your own thing. You don't need to greet me!"
Li Yan watched her sit down, then hurried to fetch water to wash and pack.
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