Even someone as composed as Zhao Ming couldn’t help but widen his eyes slightly. He snatched the paper back and examined it carefully in his hands.

The paper was slightly yellow and somewhat rough, but it was indeed paper. He smoothed it out and carefully rubbed it with his fingertips, feeling the fibers beneath them.

He rose barefoot, not bothering with the boots beside him, and slipped directly into wooden clogs before walking outside.

Zhao Hanzhang hurriedly climbed up and chased after him. “Uncle, Uncle, the snow is so thick outside—be careful not to catch a chill.”

Zhao Ming returned to his study, poured a bit of water into the inkstone, and began grinding ink. He dipped his brush in the ink and lightly wrote the character “Zhao” on the paper.

The ink spread slightly but quickly settled. His eyes brightened considerably as he finally confirmed this was paper suitable for writing.

Zhao Ming couldn’t help but laugh toward the sky, looking down at Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan standing below and nodding repeatedly. “Good, good, excellent! Speak then—what do you want me to do?”

Zhao Hanzhang, who had only wanted to discuss the paper workshop’s future development with him, was momentarily stunned. She then changed her tune with a troubled expression: “Uncle, although the paper workshop has successfully produced paper, it hasn’t reached scale yet. Most importantly, there’s no suitable manager for the workshop. Even with all my dedication, it’s difficult to produce paper in large quantities.”

Watching Zhao Ming’s slightly furrowed brow, Zhao Hanzhang suddenly had an epiphany, as if her governing meridians had been opened. She leaned forward slightly and acted coquettishly: “Uncle, please help me.”

Zhao Ming looked at her in surprise. “How do you want me to help?”

“I’d like to ask Uncle to manage the paper workshop for me.”

Zhao Ming stared at her steadily. After a long moment, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “What price are you willing to pay for my help?”

Zhao Hanzhang replied: “I’m willing to share ownership of the paper workshop and printing house with Uncle.”

Zhao Ming lowered his eyes to meet her gaze. The two stared at each other unflinchingly for a moment. Zhao Ming’s fingers tightened slightly as he asked: “Have you thought this through? The papermaking technique belongs to you two, as do the craftsmen and land. You’re only lacking a manager—is it worth giving up half the paper workshop for one manager?”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled slightly. “As long as the paper workshop can grow larger and continuously produce more, better, and cheaper paper, then it’s worth it.”

Zhao Ming lowered his eyes in thought for a moment before agreeing with one word: “Fine.”

Zhao Hanzhang was overjoyed. “Thank you, Uncle.”

“And what about the third matter?”

“The third matter is the printing house,” Zhao Hanzhang worked hard to appear more sorrowful, sighing. “Uncle, the county now needs many people who can read and write, which means we need many books. So I want to open a printing house, but as you know, printing craftsmen are hard to find. I’ve already had Ji Yuan send people to search around Luoyang for displaced craftsmen, but there’s been no news yet.”

“I thought Uncle, with your well-informed connections and broader network than ours, might be able to recruit some craftsmen?”

Zhao Ming glanced at her and said: “You start having people build the printing house first. I’ll have people search for craftsmen.”

Zhao Hanzhang was delighted and couldn’t help but look smugly at Fu Tinghan. See? She told him—Zhao Ming was tough on the outside but soft inside. He would definitely agree.

Fu Tinghan smiled at her.

Zhao Ming didn’t give her time to feel smug. He immediately waved his hand to dismiss them. “You may go. Tomorrow I’ll inspect the paper workshop—make sure you’re available to accompany me.”

He paused before adding: “Don’t publicize the papermaking matter for now.”

Zhao Hanzhang immediately replied: “I’ll follow Uncle’s lead in everything. Uncle will have full authority over the paper workshop. We’ll just occasionally offer some small technical suggestions.”

Zhao Ming snorted coldly and told them to leave.

Having received the answer she wanted, Zhao Hanzhang happily pulled Fu Tinghan along. Today had been one good thing after another—it must be an auspicious day.

On the way back, Fu Tinghan kept glancing at her.

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but turn to look back. “What’s wrong?”

Fu Tinghan said: “I thought you’d be reluctant. After all, the paper workshop’s future profits won’t be insignificant.”

In his view, the paper workshop’s returns—whether monetary or otherwise—would certainly surpass the glass workshop.

Zhao Hanzhang sat on her horse, gently stroking its neck, and smiled: “At first, I didn’t consider partnering with him either. When thinking about manager candidates, I was only looking among my own people. But just now, I suddenly realized that my original purpose wasn’t to have the paper workshop earn me money, but because I lacked paper to use.”

“Paper is expensive, which greatly affects the county office’s basic administration and also impacts education in Xiping County. That’s why we wanted to make paper ourselves and control costs,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “If my sole control of the paper workshop’s output capacity is one, but partnering with Zhao Ming makes it ten, then why not cooperate with him?”

Zhao Hanzhang’s lips curved upward as she kicked her horse’s belly, making it trot. “In the future, there will be many profitable and important industries like the paper workshop. Must I grip them all in my hands one by one?”

Fu Tinghan couldn’t help but smile as well. He lightly patted his horse’s rear and caught up with her. “You’re right.”

The two rode back to the county town. Zhao Hanzhang immediately wrote to Ji Yuan, telling him the paper workshop had successfully produced paper and she had gained Zhao Ming’s support. She was preparing to build the printing house and was now just waiting for him to find craftsmen.

Zhao Hanzhang thought the paper workshop was a partnership between her and Zhao Ming, but the next day, Zhao Ming brought Zhao Qing along.

Zhao Hanzhang was slightly surprised.

Zhao Qing belonged to the sixth branch. By generation, Zhao Hanzhang had to call him “Uncle.”

Zhao Hanzhang quickly bowed. “Uncle Qing.”

Zhao Ming said: “From now on, Elder Brother Qing will manage the paper workshop.”

Zhao Qing smiled warmly at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Ming showed her the drafted contract. Zhao Hanzhang took it and saw it stipulated that the paper workshop would be jointly owned by Zhao Hanzhang and the Zhao clan, with Zhao Hanzhang holding a sixty percent share and the Zhao clan forty percent. The workshop would be managed by Zhao clan appointees, with technical support provided by Zhao Hanzhang…

Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes flickered. After thinking for a moment, she said: “Uncle, please change my name to Tinghan’s.”

Zhao Ming frowned slightly and looked at her. “Are you certain?”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and nodded. “I’m certain.”

After brief consideration, Zhao Ming agreed. He took another sheet of paper and redrafted the contract.

Once the contract was drafted, Zhao Ming copied it again, then picked up his brush to sign his name before handing the brush to Zhao Hanzhang. “Go find Tinghan to sign.”

Zhao Hanzhang cheerfully accepted the brush, taking the contract to find Fu Tinghan in the study.

Fu Tinghan was drawing diagrams for curtain beds. He thought they could build a large reaction pool and a pulp pool, with the curtain bed placed beside the pulp pool. This would not only improve efficiency but also save the craftsmen effort.

Zhao Hanzhang arrived with the contract. Seeing he had a brush in hand, she simply held out the paper. “Sign here.”

Fu Tinghan signed his name where she indicated without thinking. Only after signing did he react. He examined the contract carefully, then looked up in confusion. “Put the paper workshop under my name?”

—