Chapter 1524: Chapter 1523 Papermaking_1

Having received a hundred cattle and sheep, Qiao Xiaomai ordered them to be taken to the breeding site of Extreme Flavors Residence to be raised.

From now on, the Extreme Flavors Residence wouldn’t need to purchase cow’s milk and sheep’s milk for making its products.

When Shopkeeper Hong heard about this, he specifically came to her, knowing that Qiao Xiaomai was good at raising livestock. He suggested that Qiao Xiaomai should do the raising herself, as the milk produced would certainly be better.

Qiao Xiaomai quickly refused; she was so busy every day that she had no time to take care of these animals.

However, the amount of cow’s milk and sheep’s milk produced at her manor each day was a bit excessive. After sending a portion to the Palace, she still had more left than she could consume.

The surplus could be sold.

At that time, the cow’s milk and sheep’s milk would be sold at sky-high prices, first come first serve, and those who were late would miss out.

Upon this idea being raised, Tong Sanlang couldn’t help but laugh, “Before you were worried that profiteering might offend people, and now you’ve come up with another new idea to offend people.”

“It’s just a bucket of milk, it won’t sell for a sky-high price. A little shank meat is still meat after all.”

“Then send someone to invite Shopkeeper Hong to discuss this,” said Tong Sanlang.

Qiao Xiaomai nodded, just about to send someone to invite him when a little eunuch arrived from the manor.

The little eunuch came from the East Palace, sent by Feng Huihui. Feng Huihui had given birth to a boy and was extremely precious about him. She originally disliked drinking cow’s milk and sheep’s milk, but after hearing that it was beneficial for breast milk production, she sent someone to fetch it.

Well, there went the opportunity to sell it.

Qiao Xiaomai agreed, instructing the little eunuch to come to collect the milk every day.

A small matter of cow’s milk and sheep’s milk was no big deal; she quickly pushed the matter to the back of her mind.

In April, news came from the manor: Shen Bai had made paper from bamboo and wheat straw.

The paper-making methods currently used were inherited from the past, using tree bark, old cloth, old fishing nets, and similar materials. Shen Bai, with nothing to do in the manor, inadvertently made paper from bamboo and wheat straw.

Bamboo paper was smooth and flexible, with good quality, even and white sheets, and the ink dried quickly when writing, lasting a long time without fading, in short, it had many advantages.

Bamboo was not grown in the north, but there were many bamboo forests in the south, growing in large areas on the mountains, unmanaged by anyone.

These mountains were public property of Daqi, and the bamboo growing there naturally belonged to the public property of Daqi. Using these bamboos for paper-making would mean cheap materials and low costs.

However, first, the bamboo had to be transported to the north. If transportation costs were added, the price could no longer be called low, as the official roads in the prefectures where bamboo grew had not yet been built with bluestone, hindering transportation.

After receiving this news, Qiao Xiaomai hurriedly entered the Palace.

Yang Wenxiao also received the news, which was reported to him by Fan Linong. When Qiao Xiaomai arrived, he was carefully examining the bamboo paper made by Shen Bai.

“Why have you come?” Yang Wenxiao motioned for her to sit wherever she liked.

Qiao Xiaomai pursed her lips, sat down on a chair, and upon seeing the paper in Yang Wenxiao’s hands, she cautiously asked, “You’ve also seen this paper?”

“Mhm, it’s quite good,” Yang Wenxiao praised.

“This Shen Bai, his mind is quite brilliant,” Qiao Xiaomai laughed awkwardly.

On the day Shen Chenghao rebelled, it was Tong Sanlang who helped suppress it. Afterwards, Shen Bai went to the manor. In the first few days, he was always lying in the backyard sleeping, not even eating, with a look of having no more expectations from life.

Unexpectedly, half a year later, he had made paper from bamboo.

All this while, Tong Sanlang kept talking about making paper, but it was delayed due to various reasons. Now, Shen Bai took the initiative and managed to make it, truly a twist of fate.