Chapter 90

Chapter 90: The Contradiction of Yan Lingji, Which is Stronger, Fire or Water?

In this era, written communication is mainly dependent on bamboo tablets.

Some are even carved in bricks and tiles!

Only a small amount is written on cloth.

Although cloth is more portable than bamboo tablets, it’s expensive!

At that time, cloths were used as hard currency in trade. Think about how valuable that cloth is!

Writing on cloth is equivalent to writing on paper money in later times.

Unless one has a mine at home, who would dare to waste that much effort!

Paper first appeared in the Western Han Dynasty.

But the quality was rough, easily damaged, and costly.

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Cai Lun invented and improved the papermaking technique, greatly reducing costs while also increasing the quality of paper.

The written records began to shift from bamboo slips to paper. What is the carrier of cultural heritage? It is words!

The appearance of paper increased the speed and efficiency of cultural information dissemination, allowing books and documents to be more widely circulated and preserved. This is a remarkable invention!

Inside the house, several people listened with partial understanding. It seems like they understand, but not completely. Li Mo’s point is that “books” are not the main way to make money. It is papermaking and moveable type printing!

“Books” are just used by him to expand publicity, to let more people know about the existence of paper and printing! Imagine.

When you are buried in a pile of heavy scrolls at home, studying hard. Your classmates carry a few thin paper books in their arms, reading about the virtuous while enjoying the scenery. How would you feel?

Like someone using a smartphone, not only can play games but also has powerful features. And you can only use a bulky mobile phone that can’t even play Snake. How would you feel then?

Zhang Liang and Han Fei’s eyes lit up after hearing the explanation. If that’s the case, once paper and printing appear, won’t they replace the scrolls?

Nongyu also blinked with surprise.

According to Li Mo, if the paper is really that convenient. Then when she goes to collect accounts in the future, she won’t need to carry back so many heavy bamboo slips anymore?

Just thinking about it, the several people are already filled with anticipation! And inseparable from paper is printing technology!

Printing technology is divided into block printing and moveable type printing. Li Mo, of course, is talking about moveable type printing!

Block printing is troublesome and expensive. A carefully engraved block can only print one type of content. But moveable type printing can be flexibly reused!

First, make single character molds, then select the characters according to the manuscript. Arrange them in a typecase, apply ink and print. After using these molds, they can be removed and kept for the next time to set in a different order when printing different content!

Once these two things appear, they will surely become popular in a short time. At that time, not only the common people but even the royal family will strive to use them first!

They can earn money not only from paper but also from printing. Talk is cheap, so Li Mo started making samples the day after he returned. There are many materials for papermaking.

Papers made from different materials have a significant difference in texture. And this is also an extremely complex craftsmanship. Depending on the different uses of paper, it is also divided into refined method and coarse method. Li Mo chose bamboo as the main raw material. Selecting young bamboo, cutting it into pieces.

Then soaking the bamboo in lime water to de-grease, disperse fibers, and bleach. Then take it out, pound it, and wash away the pulp and impurities. Then pour it into a prepared trough to beat the pulp evenly!

At this time, the paper fiber will float in the paper trough. Using a pre-prepared sheet mold to scoop up the pulp and shake it evenly, stack it together, squeeze out the water, then place it in a ventilated place to dry.

Finally, remove the dried paper, and a sheet of paper is made. If following strict production methods, it will take about ten days to several tens or even more days.

However, Li Mo saves time wherever possible. Seven days later, he placed the paper in the yard to dry. Of course, he couldn’t just make one sheet. The ones he made this time directly filled the entire yard.

Yan Ling Ji curiously looked at the pure white objects in the yard. Li Mo was startled by her eyes that occasionally glanced around. Yan Ling Ji’s gaze is quite dangerous!

“From now on, playing with fire is prohibited in the house.”

Lighting fires for you is quick, but this is the result of my hard work for so many days!

Don’t burn everything at once!

He didn’t say anything, but when Yan Ling Ji’s eyes lit up after he mentioned it! A fiery figure passed through each drying rack and came to Li Mo, who was sitting in a chair, overseeing her.

Expressionally sadly, she said, “Oh, I have a problem since I was young.”

Li Mo nodded, “Hmm, whether you have a problem or not, I know.”

Yan Ling Ji: “…”

“If you mention this again, I will really burn everything in the yard for you!”

She rubbed her fingertips against the flames, reaching out to Li Mo to let him feel her passion.

She couldn’t figure it out after thinking about it for so many days.

How did this person know such private things about herself?

He couldn’t see it, nor did he touch it, how could he possibly know?

“Okay, okay, let’s not mention this matter. Just continue, what illness do you have?” Li Mo just casually said a sentence, unexpectedly evoking such a big reaction from Yan Lingji.

Quite shy!

Yan Lingji extinguished the flames on her hand and looked at him with a pair of sapphire blue eyes like gemstones, rolling her eyes at him.

Touching her fair little hand gently, she said slowly, “Once I have something on my mind, I easily become distracted.”

“Once I get distracted, the fire in my body is likely to get out of control.”

“If by any chance I lose control and burn things in your yard, what should I do?” She blinked her big eyes, looking at Li Mo innocently.

The implication was, I don’t want to, but I can’t control myself!

Li Mo smiled slightly, pointing to the well in the middle of the yard.

“If by any chance you lose control, I’ll throw you in there to see if your fire is powerful, or if the water inside is powerful.”

Yan Lingji: “…….”

Can’t you have a decent conversation?

Suddenly, Li Mo frowned.

“Can your whole body emit fire?” Yan Lingji raised her eyebrows, “Of course.”