Chapter 540: Poor Young Man
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Manager Xu pointed at the sun, “Look how high the sun is already. How could she not have left yet?”
The young servant wiped the saliva off his face and silently stepped back, choosing not to respond anymore.
Manager Xu paced back and forth at the entrance of the workshop, almost wearing down a layer of the ground. Finally, amidst the anxious atmosphere, Chu Qingzhi’s figure appeared.
Manager Xu, as if seeing a long-lost relative, greeted her warmly and cordially, “Miss Chu, you finally came. I was afraid you wouldn’t come.”
Chu Qingzhi offered a polite smile, “Manager Xu, let’s go inside to talk.”
Manager Xu hurriedly agreed, “This way, Miss Chu.”
Walking into the paper mill, Chu Qingzhi briefly surveyed the area. It was quite large and looked relatively new but deserted, as if it had been out of operation for a long time.
Following Manager Xu, Chu Qingzhi entered the study.
“Please take a seat, Miss Chu,” Manager Xu invited her and then gestured to the young servant behind him, “Go and pour some tea for Miss Chu.”
Today, he was determined to sell the workshop.
Seeing others succeed in the paper business, his young master insisted on opening a paper mill, which turned out to be a costly failure. His master had given him a firm order: the mill must be sold today.
Chu Qingzhi sat down and got straight to the point, “Manager Xu, I am sincerely interested in buying the mill. Let’s not beat around the bush. How much for everything in the mill?”
Her primary reason for buying the paper mill was for her family’s food packaging.
Oil paper was expensive and lacked printing. If she could solve the packaging issue herself, it would save a lot of costs.
Moreover, besides meeting her own packaging needs, she also planned to venture into the business of daily-use paper, believing that affordable and useful paper products would be irresistible to many.
Manager Xu, seeing Chu Qingzhi’s genuine interest in buying the mill, smiled even more, “Miss, since you’re sincere in buying and I am sincere in selling, let’s agree on a fair price. A flat rate of ten thousand taels. What do you think?”
Chu Qingzhi smiled, “Ten thousand taels is a bit high. How about nine thousand taels?”
Nine thousand taels was just within his lowest acceptable range. Could this young lady read minds?
Manager Xu’s heart fluttered, “Miss, you’ve just cut down a thousand taels. That’s not a small amount. Could you increase it a bit?”
Chu Qingzhi pondered for a moment, “Nine thousand and one hundred taels, and leave me the customer information and the source of raw materials.”
Manager Xu internally praised her business acumen, “Alright, deal.”
After signing the contract, Chu Qingzhi handed over the silver notes, and Manager Xu hurriedly left with his servant.
Chu Qingzhi stepped out of the study and decided to take a tour around the mill.
The environment of the mill was quite good, with several towering trees, rows of fruit trees, and various flowers and plants. Some chrysanthemums were blooming brightly.
Suddenly, Chu Qingzhi stopped and called out sharply, “Who’s there? Come out!”
There was a rustle from the corner of the house and the wall, where a dense bush was hiding someone.
The person appeared timid, shivering for a long time before emerging from behind the bushes.
The young man, clad in gray, had his head bowed and his body trembling as if he had committed a wrongdoing and been caught red-handed.
Chu Qingzhi examined the youth, her voice tinged with sternness, “Who are you? Why are you hiding here?”
Unexpectedly, the boy was so frightened that he knelt down before Chu Qingzhi, stuttering, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hide here. 1 have nowhere else to go, so I hid here.”
“Who are you?”
The boy quickly glanced at Chu Qingzhi, then lowered his head again, “My name is Xiao Zongchao. 1 used to work in this mill. Now that it’s shut down, 1 have nowhere to go.”
Chu Qingzhi inquired, “Why can’t you go back home?”
Xiao Zongchao said in a low voice, “My home was already cramped, and now that my older brother has married, my parents told me not to come back and to find somewhere else to live.”
These parents typically showed favoritism to a certain child. Chu Qingzhi said, “Then do you have a place to stay?”
Xiao Zongchao turned and pointed to a corner, “I’ve been living in that corner.”
Chu Qingzhi didn’t know what to say.
What a pitiful person.
“What can you do?” Chu Qingzhi planned to continue employing Xiao Zongchao in the mill. Earning money would prevent him from living such a destitute life.
“I can make paper.” Xiao Zongchao’s dull eyes suddenly shone with confidence, “Even the old craftsmen here can’t make paper as good as mine.”
Was he not a stone, but a hidden gem?
Chu Qingzhi reassessed the youth before her, “What did you do in the mill before?”
“I did odd jobs.” Xiao Zongchao’s eyes dimmed, “They thought 1 was too young to make paper and wouldn’t let me into the workshop.”
Chu Qingzhi offered, “I’ll give you a chance. If you can turn wood into paper, I’ll hire you to make paper. How about that?”
Xiao Zongchao’s eyes sparkled, “Really?”
“I’m not lying to you.”
“Then 1’11 start making paper right away.” Xiao Zongchao, who had been listless until now, suddenly seemed infused with vitality and came alive with energy.
Together, they went to the workshop where Xiao Zongchao began preparing to make paper with intense focus. Chu Qingzhi leaned against the doorway, arms folded, watching him work.
While Chu Qingzhi was familiar with the paper-making process, she had never actually made paper herself and found it quite interesting.
However, as she watched, she realized something was amiss. Xiao Zongchao’s techniques were far from those of a novice; he seemed like an expert. This contradicted his claim of never having worked in the workshop. “How many times have you made paper before?” she asked.
Xiao Zongchao shook his head, “I can’t remember how many times. Ever since I understood things, I watched my grandfather make paper. I learned all this from him.”
“Was your grandfather a master papermaker?” Chu Qingzhi inquired.
Xiao Zongchao’s eyes lit up with a hint of nostalgia, “Yes, but he passed away. Otherwise, 1 wouldn’t be in such a dire situation.”
The young man indeed seemed to be living in hardship, lacking even a basic shelter. “Weren’t you working in this paper mill? What about your wages?”
Xiao Zongchao replied, “I gave them to my parents.”
Chu Qingzhi didn’t know what to say.
Her anger flared, “You gave your parents money, and they still won’t let you live at home?”
Xiao Zongchao was silent for a moment before explaining, “They had no choice. Our house is too cramped, and my older brother finally managed to get married.”
If it were her, she wouldn’t let others live in peace if she was suffering. She couldn’t understand Xiao Zongchao’s train of thought, “Are you still going to give your earnings to your parents?”
Xiao Zongchao gripped the axe handle tightly, “Yes, I have to. My brother farms the land and doesn’t make much money. If 1 don’t give them money, they might starve.”
Was this a case of a self-sacrificial personality?
Chu Qingzhi took a deep breath, “You should think more about yourself..”