CHAPTER 246: CHAPTER 241: UNDER YOUR NAME

Even someone as calm as Zhao Ming couldn’t help but widen his eyes slightly, then he grabbed the paper back and examined it carefully.

The paper was slightly yellow and a bit rough, but it was indeed paper. He smoothed it out and gently rubbed it with his fingertip, feeling the fibers under his touch.

He got up barefoot, not bothering to put on the boots by his side, and slipped on wooden clogs as he walked out.

Zhao Hanzhang hurriedly got up and chased after him, "Uncle, Uncle, the snow is so thick outside, be careful not to catch a cold."

Zhao Ming returned to his study with the paper, poured a bit of water into the inkstone, and began to grind ink. After dipping the brush in ink, he lightly wrote the word "Zhao" on the paper.

The ink bled slightly but quickly stabilized. His eyes brightened, finally confirming that this was a piece of writable paper.

Zhao Ming couldn’t help but laugh out loud, nodding repeatedly at Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan standing below, "Good, good, very good! Tell me, what do you want me to do?"

Zhao Hanzhang, who originally just wanted to discuss the future development of the paper mill with him, was momentarily stunned, then changed tack with a troubled look, saying, "Uncle, although the paper mill has produced paper, it is not yet at scale, especially since there’s no suitable manager in the mill. Even if I have the heart, it’s very difficult to produce paper in large quantities."

Seeing Zhao Ming’s slightly furrowed brows, Zhao Hanzhang suddenly had a stroke of insight, as if her key energy points were unblocked. She leaned forward slightly and said coquettishly, "Uncle, please help me."

Zhao Ming looked at her in surprise, "How do you want me to help?"

"I want to ask Uncle to manage the paper mill for me."

Zhao Ming looked at her steadily, and after a while, slightly curled his lips and said, "What price are you offering to hire me?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "I am willing to share the paper mill and bookshop with Uncle."

Zhao Ming lowered his eyes to meet her gaze. After a moment of mutual confrontation, Zhao Ming clenched his fingers slightly and asked, "Then you must think it through. The papermaking skills belong to you, and the craftsmen and land are also yours. It’s just missing a manager. Is it worth giving away half the paper mill just for a manager?"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and said, "As long as the paper mill can grow bigger, producing more and better paper continuously at a lower cost, then it’s worth it."

Zhao Ming lowered his eyes, pondered for a moment, and agreed in one word, "Okay."

Zhao Hanzhang was overjoyed, "Thank you, Uncle."

"And what about the third matter?"

"The third matter is the bookshop," Zhao Hanzhang tried to appear a bit distressed and sighed, "Uncle, many people in the county need to learn to read and write now, which means more books are needed, so I want to open a bookshop. But as you know, it’s hard to find printing craftsmen. I’ve already sent Ji Yuan to search for wandering craftsmen in the Luoyang area, but there’s been no news yet."

"I think Uncle’s information is more accessible, and your connections are broader than ours. Perhaps you can find some craftsmen for us?"

Zhao Ming glanced at her and said, "Start building the bookshop first, and I’ll send someone to look for craftsmen."

Zhao Hanzhang was overjoyed, couldn’t help but look at Fu Tinghan with pride. See, she said Zhao Ming was hard on the outside but soft-hearted. He would surely agree.

Fu Tinghan smiled back at her.

Zhao Ming gave her no time to bask in her triumph, and waved her off directly, "You go, I will visit the paper mill tomorrow. Make time to accompany me."

He paused and said, "Don’t publicize the matter of papermaking for now."

Zhao Hanzhang immediately said, "I’ll do as Uncle says, and Uncle has full authority over the paper mill. We will occasionally provide some technical advice."

Zhao Ming snorted coldly and dismissed them.

Having gotten the responses she wanted, Zhao Hanzhang happily pulled Fu Tinghan along as they left. Today had been a day of good things indeed, and it seemed like it was a good day.

On the way back, Fu Tinghan continuously looked at her.

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but look back and asked, "What’s wrong?"

Fu Tinghan said, "I thought you’d be reluctant, considering the future profits of the paper mill will not be low."

In his view, the paper mill’s income, whether monetary or other benefits, would definitely surpass the Glazed Workshop.

Zhao Hanzhang was riding a horse, gently stroking its neck, and smiled, "I didn’t initially think about cooperating with him. I was considering candidates from my own men for the manager, but just now I suddenly realized that my initial goal wasn’t for the paper mill to earn me much money, but because I lacked paper to use."

"Paper is precious, affecting the basic administration of the county government and also impacting education in Xiping County, so we wanted to make our own paper to control costs," Zhao Hanzhang said, "If the capacity of the paper mill under my sole control is one, and the capacity with Zhao Ming’s cooperation is ten, then why not work with him?"

Zhao Hanzhang slightly curled her lips and nudged the horse to trot, "In the future, there will be many industries like the paper mill that are profitable and important. Must I hold onto each one by myself?"

Fu Tinghan couldn’t help but laugh and lightly patted the horse’s rump to catch up with her, "You’re right."

The two of them ran back to the county seat. Zhao Hanzhang immediately wrote a letter to Ji Yuan, telling him that the paper mill had produced paper, she had obtained Zhao Ming’s support, and they should prepare to build the bookshop, currently just waiting for him to find craftsmen.

Zhao Hanzhang thought the paper mill cooperation was just between her and Zhao Ming, but unexpectedly, the next day Zhao Ming brought Zhao Qing along.

Zhao Hanzhang was slightly surprised.

Zhao Qing was from the sixth house, and by seniority, Zhao Hanzhang had to call him uncle.

Zhao Hanzhang hurriedly saluted and called out, "Uncle Qing."

Zhao Ming said, "From now on, Brother Qing will manage the paper mill."

Zhao Qing smiled at Zhao Hanzhang with a simple and honest look.

Zhao Ming showed her the drafted contract, and upon looking at it, it stipulated that the paper mill was jointly owned by Zhao Hanzhang and the Zhao Family, with Zhao Hanzhang holding a 60% share and the Zhao Family 40%. The paper mill was managed by someone from the Zhao Family, with Zhao Hanzhang providing technical support...

Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes twinkled slightly. After a moment of thought, she said, "Uncle, change my name to Ting Han’s."

Zhao Ming frowned slightly and looked at her, "Are you sure?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded with a smile, "I’m sure."

Zhao Ming quickly agreed after a brief consideration, then brought another piece of paper to redraft the contract.

After drafting the contract, Zhao Ming copied it again before signing his name on it, then handed the pen to Zhao Hanzhang, "Go get Ting Han to sign it."

Zhao Hanzhang smiled broadly as she took the pen and the contract and went to the study to find Fu Tinghan.

Fu Tinghan was drawing a diagram for a couch bed. He thought they could make a giant reaction tank, a paper pulp pool, and place the couch bed right by it, which would not only improve efficiency but also save effort for the craftsmen.

Zhao Hanzhang came over with the contract, saw he had a pen in hand, and directly handed the paper over, "Sign here."

Without a second thought, Fu Tinghan signed his name where she pointed, only realizing afterward. He examined the contract carefully and looked up at her in confusion, "You’re putting the paper mill in my name?"