Chapter 711: A Piece of Oil Paper

Translator: Henyee Translations | Editor: Henyee Translations

Chu Qingzhi divided some fish balls into two portions: one to freeze and the other to soak in water for dinner. “Jinghong, I’m going to the paper mill. Do you want to come with me?”

Tang Jinghong nodded, “I haven’t been there in a while. It’s a good opportunity to see how the workshop has changed.”

“Let’s go,” Chu Qingzhi informed her family, then led the waiting workers at the entrance of the courtyard to the paper mill.

Upon arrival, she found Li Changjiang, “Master Li, I’ve brought people for you.”

Li Changjiang glanced at them. They were all in their twenties or thirties. Not bad. “Good.”

Chu Qingzhi addressed the workers, “From now on, Master Li is in charge here. He is your master. Listen to him, work hard, and the workshop will not treat you unfairly.”

“Yes.”

Li Changjiang nodded at Chu Qingzhi, then led the workers to the papermaking area. After a few steps, he returned, somewhat nervously, “Miss, my family would like to invite you for a meal. Would you honor us with your presence?” Chu Qingzhi understood his gesture and, considering Li Yunqing had recently given her a purse, saw it as an opportunity to return the favor. “Sure.”

Li Changjiang was delighted, “Then please come to my house for dinner tomorrow. You must come.”

Chu Qingzhinodded. “Okay.”

After Li Changjiang and the workers left, Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong headed to the storeroom, only to be stopped by Xiao Zongchao.

He nervously clutched his sleeves, “Miss, I heard today is your birthday, so I’ve prepared a birthday gift for you.”

Chu Qingzhi smiled, “I appreciate the thought, but you don’t need to give me a gift.”

“I insist. Wait here. I’ll go get it.” He ran off towards his quarters.

Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong waited.

Tang Jinghong said, “He has changed quite a lot.”

Chu Qingzhi agreed. “He’s much more outgoing.”

The two of them chatted for a while before Xiao Zongchao ran over with an exquisite cardboard box. This cardboard box was made from Li Changjiang’s experimental product. It was very exquisite and beautiful.

He handed the box to Chu Qingzhi. “Miss, I handmade them myself.”

Handmade? Chu Qingzhi was a little interested. She took the cardboard box over and placed it on the flower bed. She opened the lid…

A box of paper cranes!

The paper was colored, and the paper crane was strung with thread. It looked colorful and lively.

Chu Qingzhi was pleasantly surprised, “Did you fold all these?”

Xiao Zongchao nodded in embarrassment. “A total of 999. Do you like them?”

Chu Qingzhi said, “I like it. Thank you.”

Xiao Zongchao was very happy. “It’s good that you like it. I was afraid that you wouldn’t like it.” While he was happy, the young man didn’t forget his business. “Miss, I have something to tell you.”

Chu Qingzhi said, “Go ahead.”

Xiao Zongchao said, “Yesterday, a guest came over and wanted to buy oil paper from our workshop. I said we don’t have it, so he left regretfully. Miss, why don’t we make oil paper too?”

Chu Qingzhi thought about it. After some of the products at home were replaced with wrappers, the demand for oil paper was still very high. If she made it herself, the cost could be reduced a little. She could consider it. “Do you know a master who knows how to make oil paper?”

Xiao Zongchao nodded. “Yes, but he works in another workshop and is already a master.”

Chu Qingzhi thought for a moment and called Chu Feng over. “Go and paste a job recruitment notice. Say that the workshop will hire a master who knows how to make oil paper. The treatment will be excellent.”

Chu Feng said, “I’ll go immediately.”

He returned to his study, quickly drafted a recruitment notice for Chu Qingzhi’s review. Once Chu Qingzhi approved, he posted it on the wall at the entrance of the workshop.

There were many people looking for work in the Chu’s paper mill. When they saw the recruitment notice, they immediately came over.

The workshop had a monthly budget of ten taels of silver. Chu Feng proclaimed loudly, “Our workshop is hiring masters skilled in making oil paper. Whoever can help find such a person, I will reward with ten copper coins.”

“Is there really a reward?”

“Do you really think my workshop can’t afford ten copper coins? Rest assured, as long as the master you find is hired, the money will definitely be yours.”

Chu Feng thought to himself, news should arrive very soon now.

Half an hour later, a wealthy-looking young master appeared before Chu Qingzhi.

Chu Qingzhi glanced at Chu Feng, then said to the young master, “Our workshop is looking for a master in making oil paper, you…”

Yu Zihui interrupted Chu Qingzhi, somewhat indignantly asking, “Do you judge people by their appearance, miss?

Chu Qingzhi didn’t know what to say.

Tang Jinghong sized up Yu Zihui. Dressed in fine clothes and with clean, fair skin, he clearly looked like a rich young master. “Tell us, what steps are needed to make oil paper?”

Yu Zihui confidently explained the process in detail and proficiently, with the flair of an experienced master.

Chu Qingzhi thought to herself, she indeed judged by appearance earlier, “You don’t look like you need to find work. Why are you taking on jobs?”

“I have my difficulties.” Yu Zihui’s expression changed from relaxed to solemn.

At the age of ten, his life changed after his father remarried.

The stepmother, unlike others who mistreated the children of the first wife, spoiled him. She gave him the best of everything, indulged him without limits or rules…

Fortunately, he had a good nanny who secretly guided and advised him correctly, allowing him to avoid the stepmother’s schemes, though he still behaved frivolously and recklessly on the surface.

After the stepmother entered the family, the nanny was driven away. The nanny’s husband was a master in making oil paper. Seeing the stepmother’s sinister intentions, she had her husband secretly pass the craft to him. If anything happened in the future, he would have a skill and wouldn’t starve.

His skill came from the nanny’s husband.

Despite his polished appearance, he didn’t have a penny to his name. He wanted to earn his own money, buy a small courtyard, and move out.

He was tired of living with a mask every day.

Seeing the other party’s reaction, Chu Qingzhi did not ask further. As long as he did his job well in the workshop, nothing else mattered.

She told Chu Feng, “Go procure the tools for making oil paper and let this young master try making some.”

“Yes.”

Chu Feng quickly bought all the necessary tools for making oil paper and prepared the workspace. “All set, young master, please.”

The workshop was spacious, with many unused areas, now finally coming to good use.

Yu Zihui donned sleeve protectors and an apron, requested two assistants, and began the process of making oil paper.

Chu Qingzhi didn’t bother him, continuing her work of tallying the inventory of wrapping paper.