Chapter 543: Print on Paper
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Shopkeeper Zhou glanced at Li Changjiang and smiled apologetically. “Esteemed guest, how did our worker offend you? Tell me, and I’ll deal with him!”
Tao Zhenfeng looked around the restaurant and then pointed at Li Changjiang, “He used to be a master, once so proud and aloof. How can your little restaurant accommodate him?”
Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Zhou understood the guest’s meaning, “You’re right, but it’s not easy to make a living alone…”
“It’s not easy for others, but it’s very easy for this Chief Master Li.” Tao Zhenfeng looked at the shopkeeper and threatened, “You don’t want something to happen to your restaurant every day, right?”
At this moment, Li Changjiang took the initiative to say, “Shopkeeper, thank you for talcing care of me these days. I’ve troubled you.” With that, he left the restaurant.
Understanding the difficulties of running a business, Shopkeeper Zhou didn’t stop him and sighed silently as he let Li Changjiang go.
Chu Qingzhi, standing in a corner, witnessed the entire scene.
Xiao Zongchao rubbed his nose, not sure if it was out of empathy, but the poor kid actually started crying
Chu Qingzhi listened to the low sobbing and turned to look at him. “He was chased away. Why are you crying?”
Xiao Zongchao, wiping his tears with his sleeve, said softly, “He’s Li Changjiang, from the same alley as my house. He has a sick daughter, and his family is even worse off than mine.”
Chu Qingzhi was puzzled. “So you cried?”
Xiao Zongchao continued with a nod, “That’s right. He offended the influential people in the county and was ostracized and suppressed. It wasn’t easy for him to find a job in a restaurant, but he failed again.”
As he spoke, his tears fell again.
Chu Qingzhi didn’t know what to say.
Xiao Zongchao sniffed and said in a nasal voice, “Master Li was the best papermaker in the county. He could print flowers and birds on paper, which caused a huge sensation at the time. He was very famous, but somehow he offended a powerful person and is now being treated like this.”
Printing flowers and birds on paper? This was exactly the printing technique Chu Qingzhi was interested in, “Who did he offend?”
Xiao Zongchao pointed at Tao Zhenfeng, “Him.”
Chu Qingzhi looked over.
Xiao Zongchao seemed to be very afraid of that person. He said in the lowest voice, “He’s the county magistrate’s nephew. His business is very big, and his family also runs a papermaking workshop. Most of his paper is sold to the capital. Moreover, Master Li used to work in the Tao family’s papermaking workshop.”
“What’s Li Changjiang’s character like?” Chu Qingzhi was considering poaching him. Her paper mill desperately needed skilled craftsmen, especially in printing techniques.
Xiao Zongchao shook his head. “I’m not sure. What I know about him is all told to me by others.”
“Have you ever seen him do anything?” What a person did could reflect a person’s character.
Xiao Zongchao thought for a moment. “When I go home, I’ll pass by his house. Sometimes, I’ll see him chopping firewood. Sometimes, I’ll see him coaxing the child to drink medicine. Sometimes, I’ll see him washing clothes…”
After Chu Qingzhi heard this, she more or less had some clues about Li Changjiang’s character. Men who took good care of their family couldn’t be too bad. “Let’s go and take a look.”
Xiao Zongchao didn’t react immediately, “Where are we going?”
“To Li Changjiang’s neighborhood,” said Chu Qingzhi. “Since you live on the same alley, can you show me the way?”
“Sure.” Xiao Zongchao was obedient to Chu Qingzhi.
After bidding farewell to Shopkeeper Zhou, they headed to Wazi Alley.
Wazi Alley was where many poor families in Shuiyun County lived. The environment was a bit dirty and messy, with clotheslines everywhere.
At the end of the alley was a large piece of farmland. This was the wasteland cultivated by the people in the alley. As time passed, it became larger.
As soon as Chu Qingzhi appeared at the entrance of the alley, she drew the attention of everyone around.
A girl as beautiful and well-dressed as her was an unusual sight in this impoverished area.
The alley was small, and news spread quickly, so soon enough, people gathered around, looking at Chu Qingzhi and Xiao Zongchao with curious and somewhat peculiar gazes.
An auntie walked over and vaguely expressed her message… She thought that Chu Qingzhi was the wife that Xiao Zongchao had tricked back, and in fact, everyone thought so.
“Girl, you need to be cautious. This is not a place for a girl like you to stay.”
Chu Qingzhi, not yet understanding the auntie’s insinuations, was confused.
Seeing the situation, Xiao Zongchao, with unexpected courage, stepped in front of Chu Qingzhi to block others from approaching her. He displayed a rare manliness, “Auntie, we are here to find Master Li, please don’t misunderstand.”
When the auntie heard this, she heaved a sigh of relief and quickly pointed the way for Chu Qingzhi enthusiastically. “Master Li lives there. It’s the one with two fishes on the door.”
Chu Qingzhi nodded politely. “Thank you.” Then, she asked everyone, “Can I ask you something?”
The auntie responded eagerly, “Please go ahead.”
“What kind of person is Master Li?” Chu Qingzhi inquired.
“Master Li is a good person, very kind,” the auntie sighed, “Unfortunately, he offended someone of higher status a few years ago and his life has been getting worse ever since.”
Others joined in, praising Master Li’s character, “Indeed, when his family was doing well, he never hesitated to help us with our troubles.”
“If Master Li hadn’t paid for the doctor, my child would probably be gone.”
Hearing everyone’s high praise, Chu Qingzhi made up her mind. “Thank you for sharing this with me,” she said.
The auntie waved her hand, “No need to thank us. Why are you asking about him, if I may inquire?”
Chu Qingzhi, wanting to avoid complications, kept it vague, “I’ll let you know later. I’m going to find Master Li and talk to him first.”
The alley residents understood that the matters of the affluent were beyond their comprehension and didn’t press further. “Then you should go quickly. Master Li will be leaving for work soon.”
“Okay.”
At Master Li’s house.
Madam Li, a gentle and soft-spoken woman, was puzzled to see Li Changjiang return home so early. “Why are you back so soon today?” she asked.
“I’m not feeling well today.” Li Changjiang did not tell the truth. This family was already difficult. He was afraid that his wife would not be able to take it.
He sat by a stone table in the yard and drank three cups of tea in quick succession, maintaining a calm exterior despite the turmoil inside.
Madam Li’s expressed concern, “Should we see a doctor?”
“No need, I just need to rest,” he replied.
At that moment, their seven or eight-year-old daughter ran out of the house, happily calling out, “Daddy.”
However, midway, she suddenly spat out blood and collapsed, rolling on the ground before losing consciousness..