The Farm Girl’s Charismatic Fortune
Chapter 220 - 216: Daylily’s Carefree Worry-Free

Chapter 220: Chapter 216: Daylily’s Carefree Worry-Free

Madam Xuanyuan smiled and said, "Do not hurry, let’s first agree on the pricing of the paper."

Ruo Xuan nodded her little head, "That’s right, we haven’t set a price yet. The paper from our workshop can’t be priced like those outside, it’s too expensive, and not many people can afford it. In the past, my brothers wouldn’t dare to use paper for their writing practice because it was so costly—they would either practice on a sand table or dip their brushes in water to write on the tabletop."

The elder Madam Xuanyuan felt a pang in her heart, gently stroked the snow-white paper in her hand, and said softly, "Then, Xuanbao, what do you think would be an appropriate price for this paper per sheet in silver?"

Ruo Shui was also deeply moved, as many students from poor families worry over the cost of a single sheet of paper, after all, he himself had worried about the same thing.

He gently touched his beloved daughter’s little head, "Let’s listen to Xuanbao. Sell it a bit cheaper; it can’t be as expensive as the paper sold outside. Make it affordable for everyone to buy paper."

Ruo Xuan didn’t know how much silver it actually took to make a sheet of paper, but she knew how her family’s bookstore set prices for each book. Her father would calculate the cost of the paper used in a book, the ink, the labor, the rent, damage, etc., and after totaling everything, they would figure out how much profit they made on each book.

She said, "How about earning fifty wen for every bundle of paper?"

Nowadays, paper is sold in bookstores by the bundle, primarily because newly made paper has uneven edges and needs trimming.

The two big paper workshops produce paper that, when trimmed, commonly amounts to one hundred sheets per bundle.

Madam Jiang couldn’t help but interject, "Wouldn’t that be too cheap? A bundle of paper contains a hundred sheets! Do we earn only fifty wen regardless of the size of the paper per bundle? That’s way too cheap, isn’t it?"

Generally, a bundle consists of a hundred sheets, though some bookstores might pass off seventy-five or eighty sheets as a full bundle.

In Xuanyuan Country, paper sold is usually from the two major workshops, so everyone defaults to the assumption that a bundle contains a hundred sheets.

The bookstores currently sell paper of various sizes, typically offering three-feet, four-feet, five-feet, six-feet, eight-feet, and twelve-feet lengths, and so on.

When Ruo Xuan proposed earning fifty wen for every bundle of paper, it meant that regardless of the paper’s size, after deducting costs, they would make only fifty wen profit per one hundred sheets.

Everyone felt that earning fifty wen per bundle was far too cheap!

Now that the paper was produced, they knew how much paper sold for outside—certainly, a hundred sheets would fetch more than a tael of silver.

By comparison, fifty wen per bundle was indeed a bargain.

However, even if everyone thought it was too cheap, they would still support Xuanbao because she and Young Master Xuanyuan had made the paper.

Madam Xuanyuan asked her little grandson, "Xiaojiu, do you think it is too cheap? Should we sell it for a higher price?"

Xuanyuan Que responded indifferently, "Let’s go with Xuanbao’s decision."

Madam Xuanyuan affectionately stroked her little grandson’s head, contentedly.

She understood her grandson; both he and Xuanbao were good children!

Xuanyuan Que frowned slightly and dodged the touch from Madam Xuanyuan.

The elder woman didn’t mind; she knew her grandson’s temperament was just like that and instead, she took Xuanbao into her arms and asked softly, "Xuanbao, can you tell us why you’ve decided on fifty wen profit for each bundle of paper? This way we will make much less silver. Don’t you want to earn more?"

Ruo Xuan, wrapping her arms around Madam Xuanyuan’s neck, nodded, "Of course! It’s foolish not to earn silver when one can. But I want paper to be affordable for everyone, so that more scholars like my elder brothers can afford to read."

"Master Han says, ’Without learning, one cannot become skilled, and it is talent that forms the foundation of a flourishing and strong nation.’ To broaden talents is not only to have individuals acquire more knowledge and skills but also to ensure that more people have abilities."

"Master Han became a teacher with the hope that more people would become talented and capable because talented and capable people can bring prosperity to a family and a nation. A country with many capable people will grow rich and powerful much faster. But learning costs so much silver, not to mention tutors’ fees, expensive books, and costly paper, many cannot afford it. Therefore, if the price of our paper is cheaper, books will become less expensive, and many more people will afford to read, preventing many talents from being wasted. Wouldn’t this then fulfill Master Han’s wish?"

Master Han could only feel his weathered, cold heart enveloped in warmth as if wrapped in sunlight~!

He spent his life teaching countless disciples, yet many who came to seek instruction did so out of a desire for fame and profit. Among them were those learned and talented, but few held a heart tethered to the welfare of the world.

Therefore, in his lifetime, aside from The Emperor, he never formally took on a disciple. Even serving as the Imperial Tutor was merely due to The Emperor’s governance over the world’s populace.

Unexpectedly, as his old age approached, a child recognized the aspirations in his heart and even wished to help him achieve them.

In this life as a teacher, having taught thousands, having such a disciple is enough, surpassing the multitude!

He truly did not lavish his affection on this child in vain!

Madam Xuanyuan, appearing benevolent, gently stroked Ruo Xuan’s little head, her heart also filled with excitement.

Xuanyuan Country was something she, the late emperor, and countless soldiers had exchanged their lives for, and achieving this current peace was not easy.

Since ancient times, conquering a territory has been easy, but defending it, difficult.

Yet the future of Xuanyuan Country, with children like Xiaojiu and Xuanbao around, couldn’t go wrong!

Ruo Shui, too, was moved by Ruo Xuan’s magnanimity, and he declared loudly, "Alright, let’s follow Xuanbao’s advice and only profit fifty wen per sheet of paper!"

Ruo Jiang also declared loudly, "Well done, Xuanbao! Your second uncle is shamed! Earning only fifty wen per sheet of paper is very good, truly excellent!"

Ruo Shui originally was a scholar, and most scholars harbor grand ambitions. They wish to take the imperial examinations and pursue official careers, harboring the welfare of the world in heart and seeking to bring blessings to the people through their governance.

At least that was the initial aspiration of many scholars, though many forgot their original resolve along the way.

Madam Jiang’s expression was somewhat awkward; she really had been shortsighted.

Just when everyone was touched by Xuanbao’s speech, Ruo Xuan surprisingly said:

"Moreover, I think, even if we lower the price of paper, I can still earn silver. If more people buy, then won’t I earn more? It won’t be less! I might even earn more! The paper can be a bit cheaper, but I still have the Rouge Workshop! Those products shouldn’t be cheap; I must sell them for a bit more, because the silver from women who love beauty is the easiest to earn."

A group of moved people were once again touched!

Madam Xuanyuan couldn’t help but laugh, "Xuanbao is right, this should indeed be priced a little higher!"

Rouge and powder have nothing to do with basic daily needs; only rich ladies and misses have the leisure to buy them for amusement. Those who use makeup daily are not lacking in silver, so what’s the harm in a higher price?

Madam Xuanyuan was growing ever fonder of Xuanbao. Despite her young age, she distinguished right from wrong, understood righteousness, and harbored a sincere heart.

Thinking about her letter to Capital City, she felt that such a reward might belittle Xuanbao, yet glancing at her young grandson beside her, she decided to let it be. A higher reward would not be appropriate.

It would be better to leave it, so her grandson could compensate Xuanbao more in the future.

Madam Xuanyuan then said, "The paper workshop has been built, but it hasn’t been named yet. What name would be good for this paper workshop? Xuanbao, have you thought of a name?"

Ruo Xuan shook her head. "Let Brother Xuanyuan think of it!"

She couldn’t be bothered to think.

Xuanyuan Que: "Wuyou Paper Workshop."

The ’wuyou’ of carefree grasses.