"Miss," Bai Fu called from outside the door during the silence. "The Song family's carriage has arrived at the back gate."
Ever since Song Yiqing bought the papermaking technique, he had been busy preparing all kinds of raw materials non - stop. He sent someone to pass a message yesterday, saying that all the materials were ready, and he was just waiting for Bai Zheng to go to the workshop today to teach the papermaking technique.
By now, the front gate of the Song Mansion was so crowded that no one could get in. Bai Zheng had no choice but to leave through the back gate in the carriage.
The carriage drove out of the main city of Yongding all the way, winding through several mountain roads before finally arriving in front of a heavily - guarded mansion.
Song Yiqing, dressed in a flamboyant and gorgeous robe, was already waiting at the mansion gate.
Seeing Bai Zheng getting off the carriage, he quickly stepped forward, opened his paper fan with a "snap" and fanned the wind for Bai Zheng flatteringly. "Miss Bai, you've had a hard journey."
"I thought that after our last meeting, Young Master Song would never want to see me again in his life," Bai Zheng said teasingly with a smile. Her peach - pink dress made her fair cheeks look even more delicate. The hair ornaments on her head swayed gently, making her look extremely vivid.
Song Yiqing just gave a carefree laugh. "I was just a bit muddle - headed that day and offended Miss Bai. Please don't take it to heart, Miss Bai."
Actually, he had already figured it out because of Feng Linyuan's words. After the imperial edict to increase the tax was issued, he felt even more grateful to Bai Zheng.
If the Song family hadn't just spent 200,000 taels of silver on the papermaking technique, according to the new tax calculation, they would probably have to pay at least 100,000 taels more.
Bai Zheng naturally understood what he meant. She smiled faintly and stepped into the mansion gate.
This mansion didn't seem very big, and there weren't many people in the yard. But there were ten huge vats, and the ground was covered with reed stalks, wheat straw, rice straw and sorghum stalks, all the materials needed for papermaking.
"Are there any mistakes in the materials?" Song Yiqing asked carefully.
Bai Zheng didn't say a word. She stepped forward and inspected them carefully, picking up the wheat straw on the ground from time to time to take a look. Finally, she nodded in satisfaction. "Young Master Song has prepared everything very comprehensively. The materials are even better than I expected."
Song Yiqing showed his bright white teeth and smiled proudly. He clapped his hands, and a dozen or so craftsmen gathered from all directions.
"These people are all born and raised in the Song family. They will be responsible for papermaking later. Please trouble Miss Bai to teach them all the papermaking techniques."
Bai Zheng nodded. Her gaze suddenly fell behind the vats, and she saw that there were several square wooden boards there.
Following Bai Zheng's gaze, Song Yiqing smiled even more brightly. "As for the method of printing characters on books... Could Miss Bai teach it to us as well?"
Bai Zheng frowned slightly, looking very embarrassed. "Young Master Song only bought the papermaking technique for 200,000 taels. As for the printing technique... If the price is right, I naturally won't hold back."
Song Yiqing's smile instantly froze on his face. "Miss Bai, the Song family doesn't have another 200,000 taels for you to extort!"
Bai Zheng smiled slightly. "Of course, if the Song family can cooperate with me further on the basis of the papermaking technique, then I don't mind using the printing technique as a sign of good faith for our future cooperation."
Song Yiqing's frozen smile gradually warmed up with Bai Zheng's words. "How does Miss Bai want to cooperate?"
"I've heard that the pottery and porcelain fired in the Song Kiln are not only popular in the whole Great Zhou, but also well - loved in the Western Liang, Southern Shu and other neighboring small countries. I'd like to borrow a kiln and a few craftsmen from the Song family to learn some skills."
"The skills of the Song Kiln were developed by the Song family after searching for craftsmen and researching for more than twenty years to achieve today's success. Miss Bai asks for this skill of the Song family as soon as she opens her mouth..."
Song Yiqing dragged out his voice and didn't finish his sentence, but the embarrassed expression on his face was self - evident.
Bai Zheng saw his reluctance. She smiled charmingly, picked up a handful of wheat straw on the ground and said, "It seems that Young Master Song thinks that his family's porcelain is already good enough and doesn't need to be more delicate."
If it weren't for the fact that she was currently focused on food and was in the limelight of being vied for in marriage, it wouldn't be too troublesome for her to make porcelain by herself with the 10,000 taels of silver she had just extorted.
Song Yiqing looked at Bai Zheng in confusion. He pondered over her words and suddenly understood something. He quickly asked, "Miss Bai means... you want to borrow my family's kiln to make better porcelain?"
"It doesn't matter if Young Master Song is not willing. After all, the Bai family still has enough money to buy a kiln," Bai Zheng said indifferently.
Seeing this, Song Yiqing shook his head repeatedly. Just as he was about to accept the deal proposed by Bai Zheng, a clear and melodious voice sounded.
"If Young Master Song is not willing to buy, this Marquis would be very happy to share Miss Bai's burden."
Feng Linyuan was dressed in a green robe. His appearance was still handsome and delicate. There was a moon - white jade hairpin in his black hair crown, making him look gentle and elegant. The half - mask on his face didn't seem out of place at all, as if it was meant to be there.
There was a pure - white wolf standing beside him. Its black eyes were looking at them vigorously. When it saw Bai Zheng, there was even a hint of vigilance in its eyes.
Song Yiqing was stunned for a moment. Then he reacted. He rolled up his sleeves and shouted, "You shameless guy! You're actually robbing business right in front of me!" and was about to rush forward.
Before he could get close, he was pushed back three steps by the white wolf that suddenly rushed forward.
"Liufeng! What do you mean?" Song Yiqing shouted.
Liufeng ignored the dissatisfied Song Yiqing. Its tall body circled around Feng Linyuan once, as if declaring its sovereignty and not allowing anyone to invade.
Bai Zheng was a bit dazed. She didn't expect to meet him here.
This young hero was so talented that even God was jealous of him.
Although she knew at Jizhen Tower last time that this man had a close relationship with Song Yiqing, she didn't expect that they were so close that they could even share the papermaking technique that cost 200,000 taels.
Feng Linyuan rubbed Liufeng's head. There was an apologetic look on his gentle face. "It's rare to come out. Liufeng is just overreacting. I hope it didn't scare Miss Bai."
Bai Zheng came back to her senses and quickly curtsied. "Of course not. Greetings to the Marquis of Dingyuan."
"I'm the one who was scared! Why don't you apologize to me!" Song Yiqing complained angrily. After glaring at Liufeng fiercely, he quickly turned to Bai Zheng. "Miss Bai, just tell me how big a kiln you want!"
Bai Zheng rolled her eyes and glanced at him sideways. "So Young Master Song agrees?"
"Of course I agree!" Song Yiqing nodded like a pounding garlic.
As if afraid that Bai Zheng would go back on her word, he even ran to carry a wooden board over himself. "Besides carving characters on the wooden board, does this printing technique need any other materials? Miss Bai, please tell me earlier so that I can make preparations earlier."
Feng Linyuan smiled faintly and walked to sit beside a ginkgo tree. Liufeng obediently lay down beside him, and Feng Linyuan leaned on it.
Bai Zheng noticed Feng Linyuan's movements from the corner of her eye. Seeing that he didn't leave and Song Yiqing didn't mind his lack of avoidance, she immediately had a new understanding of the relationship between the two.
She looked at Song Yiqing with a complicated expression and replied, "If you carve characters on a wooden board and make a mistake, the whole board will be wasted. I suggest..."