Chapter 186 Benefiting Poor Students
The little cub liked the bicycle that Shen Xiangwan gave him very much. He didn't even take a nap at noon. He rode it around the yard after dinner. His cheerful laughter filled the whole house. When he rode out, he received a lot of envy from his friends. Not only children, but many adults couldn't help but look at him secretly, with curiosity in their eyes.

"I don't know what Cheng Yi is doing right now."

In the small study, Shen Xiangwan lay on the desk and muttered softly, "It's the first day my husband left, I miss him!"

"Madam, are you missing the Second Master?"

Yuan Ying, who was accompanying her, asked tentatively, "It shouldn't be that serious, right?" Usually, she and the Second Master were busy with their own things, and they could only see each other during meals.

"Can't you?"

Looking up at her, Shen Xiangwan asked weakly.

"Forehead···"

Okay, why not?
You two are a serious couple!
Unexpectedly, she really missed the Second Master. Yuan Ying's mouth twitched, and after a moment, she suggested: "Madam, how about you make a purse for the Second Master, and we'll have someone send it to him?"

If she wasn't given something to do, she would probably be depressed for a long time.

"What hatred do we have? Why do you want to hurt me like this?"

Sitting up suddenly, Shen Xiangwan accused seriously.

"what?"

She just wanted to find something for her to do, how could you say you wanted to harm her?
Yuan Ying was suddenly confused and had no idea what was going on in her train of thought.

"Do you think I look like someone who can play with a needlepoint needle?"

Spreading out his hand to show her, Shen Xiangwan asked confidently, "She and the embroidery needle have a natural grudge, okay? Asking her to be a purse, isn't that just to harm her!"

"···"

So, madam can’t do embroidery?

Yuanying realized it belatedly and her forehead was covered with black lines. She really didn't know!

"Madam, Zhou Changqing and Gu Yunzheng are here."

Just when Yuanying was thinking about how to make amends, Yuanyue walked in from outside. She had been confirming the matter of the men in black with Yuanxiu, so she did not accompany her.

"Let them in."

Nodding, Shen Xiangwan restrained her playful expression, leaned back in her chair and squinted her eyes. The problems she found in the bookstore automatically emerged in her mind. The reason why books were so expensive was that the pens, ink, paper and inkstone were too expensive. She asked the shopkeeper, and thirty sheets of the worst yellow paper would cost one hundred coins, not to mention the better ones. In any case, it was definitely not something ordinary people could afford.

In addition, all the books in the bookstore were handwritten, which increased the cost of books. The storybooks she bought were just something to kill time, but they cost one and a half taels of silver each. Some more precious books even cost several taels of silver each. The cheapest one was the Three Character Classic for children's enlightenment, which cost one tael of silver each. No wonder ordinary people couldn't read and write, the cost was really too high, and how many ordinary people could afford such expensive expenses?

"Mrs. Wei."

Not long after, Zhou Changqing and Gu Yunzheng walked in from outside one after another. After a period of recuperation, their complexions had improved a lot, especially Zhou Changqing. His illness had been cured, and his face was no longer as pale as before, but had a little more color. However, his body was still very thin and he looked a little frail.

"sit."

Casually pointing to the chair opposite, Shen Xiangwan took out a booklet from his sleeve pocket and handed it to Zhou Changqing: "There is something I need you to do. It records papermaking and movable type printing. The former, as the name suggests, is papermaking. As for the latter, as long as it is made, we can print all books indefinitely. Find someone to make the mold as soon as possible. I have someone build a factory opposite. When the time comes, we can build a papermaking and book printing workshop to reduce the expensive prices of paper and books."

If she wants to change the current situation where children from poor families cannot afford to go to school, she must solve the problem from the root. She wants to replace handwritten books with printed books so that everyone can afford books and benefit all poor students.

“This… can actually be done this way…”

When he saw the contents of the booklet clearly, Zhou Changqing's eyes widened in disbelief, and his hand holding the booklet could not help but tremble slightly. Papermaking was indeed precious, but movable type printing was undoubtedly more powerful. If it could really be realized, all the people who could support themselves would be able to afford books in the future, and the number of students from poor families would increase explosively. It would undoubtedly be a great achievement for the court, and it would not be impossible to leave a name in history.

Typography?
Seems like something very powerful?
Seeing how excited he was, Gu Yunzheng also became interested. She couldn't help but stretch her neck to see clearly what was written in the booklet. Unfortunately, she could only vaguely see a few words and couldn't read it clearly.

Knowing that he needed time to read and understand, Shen Xiangwan did not rush him. She picked up the cold tea on the table and sipped it. She knew very well how shocking it was to suddenly see movable type printing in an era when there was no woodblock printing. It was not that she did not want to take it step by step, but since there were better and more convenient options, why should she settle for something that was destined to be eliminated?
"Mrs. Wei, please leave this matter to me."

I don't know how long it took, but after reading all the contents in the booklet, Zhou Changqing was so excited that his voice was a little unstable. This movable type printing technology completely overturned his cognition. If it was done well, maybe the court would pardon them or even confer them a title.

"Well, papermaking is easy. As long as you master the method, it's basically not difficult. Movable type printing requires a carved template, and it's best to use bronze carving. How long will it take you to make it?"

Shen Xiangwan was serious, shaking off his usual laziness. This matter was not only beneficial to them, but also concerned all the poor students in the world. Since they had decided to do it, they had to do their best.

"It takes time to carve the template, at least two or three months."

Trying to suppress his excitement, Zhou Changqing said after a moment of hesitation.

"Um···"

Shen Xiangwan did not respond immediately, but lowered his eyes and pondered, tapping his fingers on the table rhythmically. After a long while, he said, "Two or three months is too long. My school will open in August at the latest. Before that, I need a lot of paper and a batch of enlightenment books. Yuanyue, take him to find Yuanxiu later and ask him to help find a carving craftsman."

"Yes."

Yuan Yue, who was named, bowed and responded. Shen Xiangwan continued, "I will have people speed up the construction of the factory in the next few days. You should set up the papermaking workshop first. If you need people, go to the village chief. He should be happy to help you arrange it. You can refer to the price I hire for strong laborers in the village for wages. In addition, all printed copies must be printed with my Wei family's family emblem. I believe that with your intelligence, you should be able to think of how much hidden income the appearance of printed copies will bring. I am not the kind of good person who does good things without leaving a name."

Once printed versions appear, not only will the expensive prices of existing books be brought down, allowing more people to afford books, but they will also win the respect of scholars all over the world. Don't underestimate this point. If they start an uprising in the future, with the help of scholars, not only will their reputation be much better, but they will also be able to achieve twice the result with half the effort in winning the hearts of the people.

【End of this chapter】

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