Chapter 23: Oil Ink PrintingYunzuo knew that his study companion had come with the intention of taking advantage of the workshop, wanting to print a batch of his storybook for sale. Seeing the awkward silence, he spoke up on behalf of his companion and asked a couple of questions: "Master Yang, if I wanted two craftsmen to help me with a small task—printing some books—how much compensation would I need to pay?"Upon hearing this, Yang Qian wore an expression that seemed to say, "I knew it," and couldn't help but adopt a somewhat sarcastic tone: "The craftsmen in the workshops under the Ministry of Works all receive fixed monthly salaries and do not take on outside work. Whatever Your Highness wants them to make, no additional payment is required."With that, Yang Qian immediately called over a master-apprentice pair. The master, surnamed Liu, was an elderly craftsman with graying hair who appeared to be over fifty. The apprentice, surnamed Sun, was a young man no older than twenty. After bowing to Yunzuo and Fu Xuechen, they stood to the side, awaiting instructions, their eyes filled with curiosity."Master Liu has worked in the printing workshop his entire life. He is proficient in all techniques, experienced, and fully capable of handling any task Your Highness assigns. However, due to his age, he requires his apprentice's assistance with many miscellaneous tasks."Yang Qian said to Yunzuo, "With these two, no matter what Your Highness wishes to print, you may simply give them your instructions."He then turned to the master and apprentice and instructed them: "Starting today, you two will temporarily follow the Sixth Prince and carry out tasks for His Highness. For any materials or equipment needed, you may use the Sixth Prince's written order to obtain them directly from the storeroom.""Yes!" the two replied in unison. Old Master Liu remained relatively calm, while the young apprentice Sun was visibly excited.Yunzuo immediately looked at Fu Xuechen. The path had been cleared, and the storybook could now be handed over to these two craftsmen for block printing."Wait!" Fu Xuechen understood Yunzuo's meaning, but at the last moment, she hesitated. Block printing was good—she knew that—but the time required to carve the blocks was too long. She had less than a hundred days left to spend freely outside.As her thoughts raced, Fu Xuechen suddenly recalled a Republican-era drama she had watched in her previous life. In that era, slogans and leaflets filled the skies, and newspapers were published nationwide. Printing such materials back then was easy—no need for woodblocks or movable type. It was efficient and fast. How did they do it?That's right! Oil ink printing! Simple to operate, a single person could produce a large stack. Wasn't that a hundred times better than block printing?Oil ink…Fu Xuechen walked around the workshop, watching as the craftsmen first brushed ink onto the carved blocks, then placed paper over them. Using a leather roller, they pressed down firmly, and once the ink was evenly distributed, they lifted the paper—thus completing the printing of one page of a book.Fu Xuechen picked up a freshly printed page and examined the text closely. The ink was already nearly dry. When she gently ran her fingers over it, the ink did not smudge, leaving only faint traces on her fingertips.The printing ink of this era had already advanced to such a degree! Fu Xuechen was astonished and couldn't help but ask, "What kind of ink is this?"Behind her, Old Master Liu replied, "Your Excellency, this is high-quality pine oil ink.""Perfect! Perfect!" Fu Xuechen was overjoyed. The issue of ink was now resolved. The millennia of Chinese culture truly lived up to its reputation. When it came to the invention and production of ink, describing it as the pinnacle of achievement was no exaggeration."Waxed paper? Do you have waxed paper? The kind that's impregnated with wax." Fu Xuechen asked repeatedly.Waxed paper? Everyone looked at her in surprise. What did she need waxed paper for? The two craftsmen glanced helplessly at Yang Qian. The printing workshop only had standard printing paper, not waxed paper.Yang Qian frowned and said to Apprentice Sun, "Go to the bookstore next door and find Supervisor Tang. Ask him for a stack of waxed paper, just say it's under my name.""Yes, sir!" Apprentice Sun responded and left."You actually have it?" Fu Xuechen was surprised instead. Did waxed paper already exist these days?"…" Yang Qian was speechless. What kind of person was this? She asked for waxed paper but thought it wouldn't be available. If he had known earlier, he would have just said they didn't have any.Fu Xuechen continued curiously, "What is waxed paper used for?"If you don't even know what waxed paper is used for, then why do you want it? Yang Qian was even more speechless but had to explain, "It's used for mounting valuable calligraphy and paintings, sealing them on the back to prevent moisture. It's also used for other items that need moisture protection."Oh! I learned something new! Hmm, what else is needed?Fu Xuechen thought for a moment and continued making requests, "Do you have rollers? About the size of a rolling pin, wrapped in smooth leather, with a handle, the kind that can roll. Also, steel plates… well, iron or copper plates will do too. Square ones, with smooth surfaces." She gestured with her hands, indicating the size of modern A4 paper."Smooth metal plates? Hmm, we have copper ones." Yang Qian nodded, thinking of copper mirrors. Polished copper mirrors had extremely smooth surfaces. Although copper mirrors were usually round, square ones would be easy to make—just cut them to shape.So he called over another apprentice craftsman and sent him to the equipment workshop to have two square copper mirrors cut for Fu Xuechen.He didn't know what a roller was, but after hearing Fu Xuechen's description, Yang Qian thought it wouldn't be difficult to make one for her. It seemed like a carpentry task, and the printing workshop had skilled carpenters who usually made and repaired wooden frames, furniture, and other wooden items. If he called one over, the rolling pin-sized roller Fu Xuechen wanted could be made right away.Fu Xuechen grew happier and happier. Craftsmen truly were the most capable people in the country! No matter what you wanted, as long as you had a group of artisans skilled in various crafts, it was as if you had everything."Is there anything else you need?"Yang Qian took the initiative to ask. Since Fu Xuechen had been asking for various things, he no longer felt she was being unreasonable. From her confident and unwavering tone, he could tell this child had a clear plan and knew exactly what she was doing.Although he didn't understand what the child was trying to do, he was willing to support her in using various tools flexibly to bring her ideas to life.With Yang Qian's question, Fu Xuechen felt the most difficult part had arrived: "I also need an iron pen—a pen made of iron. The tip shouldn't be too sharp; it should be somewhat rounded but not too blunt. It needs to be able to carve clear marks on waxed paper without tearing it."What on earth is an iron pen?! And carving on waxed paper? Yang Qian widened his eyes in disbelief.The scene fell silent for over a dozen breaths before Master Liu, standing nearby, finally couldn't hold back and spoke up: "Um… Chief Steward, Lord Fu, this humble one has an iron awl. It's been used for so long that it's already dulled. Could it be sharpened again and fitted into a wooden handle to make a brush-like tool? Would that be acceptable?"The awl was right there in Master Liu's toolbox. He went to fetch it, and when Fu Xuechen saw it, he inwardly exclaimed in admiration.

The Prince Does Not Compete for the Throne