Chapter 299: Chapter 299

He remembered that the eldest sister-in-law of the Li Family painted twenty pages, but it took her two days and one night to finish.

And that was painting from morning till night, without a break.

Li Yuzhu could paint fifteen books in three days?

That’s not how you boast.

He quietly tugged at Li Yuzhu’s sleeve to remind her that she was bragging, and if she couldn’t deliver, it would be embarrassing.

But Li Yuzhu ignored Li Lixing.

She accepted the advance payment from the Sang family’s steward.

After agreeing on the specific delivery time, the steward left satisfied.

As soon as he left, Li Lixing immediately shouted, "Li Yuzhu, are you crazy? Can you really paint fifteen books in three days?"

Li Yuzhu shook her head, "I can’t paint, I don’t know how to draw."

Li Lixing gasped, "You can’t draw, so why did you agree to it?"

Li Yuzhu raised the corners of her lips, giving a playful smile, "Isn’t there a book society in the city?"

"Of course there is, it’s where they sell books. Li Yuzhu, why are you asking about that?" Li Lixing asked, and suddenly it dawned on him. He widened his eyes at Li Yuzhu, "Are you thinking of buying books from the book society to sell to the Sang family? No, you can’t find such small animal illustrations in the city."

Li Yuzhu chuckled, "I’m not going to buy, I’m asking the book society for help."

Li Lixing asked curiously, "Help? What kind of help can they offer?"

Li Yuzhu smiled, "You’ll find out when the time comes."

Li Lixing scratched the back of his head, "Why so mysterious?"

Li Xing’an and Mu Yuanxiu were invited by the County Magistrate to talk in the study.

When they returned to the back courtyard, they were immediately pulled into the pavilion by Li Lixing.

"What’s the rush?" Li Xing’an glanced at Li Lixing and then asked Li Yuzhu.

Li Yuzhu sat in the pavilion, and upon seeing them, immediately stood up, "Third Brother, Yuanxiu, I need your help."

Li Lixing couldn’t wait any longer and said quickly, "Yu Zhu accepted a business deal to paint fifteen booklets in three days. Right, like the one the eldest sister-in-law painted for me; she spent two nights and a day to paint just one. Yu Zhu told people she’d complete fifteen in three days and even received fifteen hundred cash in advance. So tell me, how can this task be accomplished?"

Mu Yuanxiu asked, "Yu Zhu, whose business is it?"

Li Yuzhu smiled, "It’s from the Sang family."

Li Xing’an curiously asked, "The Sang family? Why would they need so many illustrated booklets?"

Li Yuzhu said, "They said it’s to buy for their relatives. A small booklet worth a few dozen coins isn’t too expensive for a family like theirs; they buy it to entertain children."

"Yu Zhu, have you thought of a way to finish them?" Li Xing’an knew Li Yuzhu was clever, otherwise, she wouldn’t have taken this business deal.

Li Yuzhu proudly said, "Of course. You just need to find me a book society. I’m not painting the booklets, I’m printing them. As long as the templates are carved, it won’t be a problem to deliver fifteen books in three days, or even a hundred in three days."

Only then did everyone understand.

Li Lixing laughed, "So that’s the plan. Well, well, now I’m not worried."

Li Xing’an frowned, "But those illustrations might be hard to carve."

The booklets circulated on the market were all copied a few hundred years ago.

The government even had special scribes for this purpose.

The price of booklets was also quite expensive, ten times what it is now.

As a result, there were fewer scholars.

Because ordinary people couldn’t afford books that cost hundreds of coins each.

Copied books were also prone to errors, and often the copies deviated more and more from the original with each iteration.

Later, someone invented the woodblock printing.

That is, carve the text to be printed in reverse on a mold, and ink the mold to print.

Only the accuracy of the character molds needs checking, not the proofreading of every booklet for typos.

Carving the character molds was a lengthy and meticulous process, a master could carve a hundred characters a day, but once carved, it could be used repeatedly for a very long time.

In the past, a skilled copyist at a book society could only copy a twenty-page book a day, but now, a book society could print hundreds of books a day.

The price of books also became very cheap, and everyone could afford to buy books.

Scholars were seen everywhere.

In addition to character molds, there were also illustration molds.

Carvers for illustrations were relatively few, because pictures are harder to carve than characters.

And movable character molds can be used repeated, as the characters are fixed from ancient times to now, with only a few new additions occasionally.

But illustrations are not.

Very few illustrations are repeatedly used.

Li Xing’an mentioned that illustrations are hard to carve, and Li Lixing started to worry again.

Mu Yuanxiu said, "I know someone at a book society who can carve illustrations. I’ll go find them."

Carving illustrations is a big deal, Li Yuzhu said, "I’ll go with you."

Li Xing’an pressed Mu Yuanxiu’s shoulder, "Mu Yuanxiu, the Lord County Magistrate has often been looking for you lately. He must have some tasks for you, right? Leave the matter of finding someone to me. Just give me an address." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹•𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒•𝙣𝙚𝙩

Mu Yuanxiu said, "The Lord County Magistrate didn’t assign me anything today. You were there too just now. He said it was hot and told me not to go to the front hall. He’s resting in the back hall."

Li Xing’an, "..." He gritted his teeth secretly. He just didn’t believe he couldn’t get rid of this brat! "I think it’s better if I take care of my sister’s matters. Isn’t it a bit inappropriate for an outsider like you to always get involved?"

Li Yuzhu was speechless, here we go again!

"Third Brother, how about we go together?" To avoid quarrels.

Li Xing’an waved his hand, "Third Sister, we can go together. Isn’t it just finding someone?"

"What if the person has a bad temper and only wants to talk to Mu Yuanxiu?" Li Yuzhu asked.

Mu Yuanxiu glanced at Li Yuzhu, a slight smile at the corner of his lips, "Yes, I’ve dealt with him twice. His temper is indeed strange."

Li Xing’an said grudgingly, "Alright, luckily Li Lixing’s carriage is wide enough to sit."

Li Lixing said, "Have you all made up your minds? I’ll go too."

Li Yuzhu shook her head, "You stay home and draw some illustrations for us to carve molds from."

Li Lixing had no choice but to nod, "Alright."

The steward of the County Magistrate Mansion, knowing they were going out, arranged for a government official to drive the carriage to send them off.

Once Li Yuzhu and the others left, Li Lixing happily ran into the inner courtyard to tell the County Magistrate’s Wife about the Sang family coming to request an illustrated book.

Aunt Tian was full of praise for Li Lixing’s skills.

The County Magistrate’s Wife was also very pleased, lavishly praising him.

"There’s no time to lose, draw more so that Yuzhu and the others can print them out." After praising her son, the County Magistrate’s Wife urged him to hurry and paint.

"Got it, I’m going to paint now." Li Lixing, delighted, lifted his robe and hurried off to work.

Aunt Tian laughed and said to the County Magistrate’s Wife, "Madam, when the matter of the illustrated book spreads, let’s see who will dare say our young master is uneducated."

The County Magistrate’s Wife sighed with a nod, "Having everyone’s affirmation has given him more confidence." After a pause, she said to Aunt Tian, "Quickly inform the master so he can share the joy."

Aunt Tian laughed, "Yes, Madam."

The County Magistrate, reading documents in the study, was overjoyed upon hearing Aunt Tian’s report.

With a successful son, it brought pride to his face.

The County Magistrate put down the documents, smiling as he said, "I’ll go see the Madam."

Aunt Tian laughed, "The Madam is eager to talk to you too."

The County Magistrate followed Aunt Tian to the County Magistrate’s Wife’s chamber.

The County Magistrate’s Wife’s health improved day by day. Though still thin, her complexion had greatly improved.

The once pale face gradually acquired a healthy flush.

Entering the room, the County Magistrate praised how the County Magistrate’s Wife looked more charming than yesterday and how well she’d taught their son.

The County Magistrate’s Wife smiled on the outside but secretly thought, last month, the County Magistrate didn’t speak to her, saying she was ugly and stupid, just like their son.

However, it was all in the past. If couples kept dwelling on past grievances, life would be unbearable.

She smiled along, not taking the credit, saying it was the County Magistrate who had taught the son well, "I’ve been sick, how could I teach him? It’s all the master’s doing."

Both husband and wife laughed, exchanging pleasantries, making Aunt Tian’s heart full of delight.

Li Yuzhu, Li Xing’an, and Mu Yuanxiu took the carriage to a street market in town.

Mu Yuanxiu said the book society was in the alley.

The carriage couldn’t enter, so they got off and walked into the alley.

The alley had small shops selling oil cakes, shoe insoles, and incense paper money.

The shops were small, and business didn’t seem too great.

Halfway through the alley, Mu Yuanxiu said, "That’s it." He pointed to a place about ten paces ahead.

Li Yuzhu looked up and saw a slightly larger shop with two open doors, a dark blue canvas awning above.

Four large words were written on it, Qianwen Book Studio.

The three walked over.

An old man came out of the shop, asking them, "Are you here to buy books? The shop has printed some new volumes recently."

Mu Yuanxiu bowed to him and said, "Old Sir, we’re here to find someone. Is Uncle Cheng here?"

The old man shook his head and sighed, "Oh, old Uncle Cheng passed away last month."

"Ah? How unfortunate!" Li Xing’an sighed.

Li Yuzhu asked, "He engraved prints. Is there anyone else here who can do that work?"

The old man said, "His son learned the craft from him but lately, Xiao Chengzi encountered some trouble, so he probably won’t see anyone."

Mu Yuanxiu asked, "Old Sir, what trouble did he encounter?"

"Oh, that boy," the old man scoffed, "Saw something he shouldn’t have, and his eyes suffered retribution, something grew on them."