112 It’s Better to Break Than Be Unclean
“Cleaning paper?”
Everyone had heard of many kinds of expensive paper, but they had never heard of “cleaning paper”.
Yang Quanzi thought for a moment, stroked his beard, and said solemnly, “Fine dust should not be stained, one should remain pure and white. What a good name! Madam must want to use the broken paper to remind us that it’s better to break than be unclean!”
Everyone came to a realization. So that was what Bai Wutong meant. They all echoed Yang Quanzi and praised, “Madam is a role model for us!”
Bai Wutong was speechless.
‘They really think too much.’
She simply wanted to make some toilet paper.
Bai Wutong did not explain directly. Instead, she waited for all the paper in the evaporating bucket to evaporate and lose all its moisture. She opened the evaporating bucket and took out one of the rolls. Then, she got someone to bring over a table and chair and paper ink.
Yang Quanzi stroked his beard again and said, “Madam Bai must be intending to try the ink. If the ink is not easily stained on paper, it will be an excellent writing paper! If ordinary wood shavings can be used to make high-quality writing paper, the cost of printing books with characters will be even lower. It will be easier for it to be popularized to thousands of ordinary families! Madam’s talent is the blessing of the people, and also our blessing!”
Everyone nodded and praised again, “Madam, you’re so talented!”
Bai Wutong took a deep look at Yang Quanzi, who was stroking his beard and thought that he had seen through everything. She sighed in her heart. As expected of someone who could be called a great scholar. Yang Quanzi’s imagination and flattery skills were far from what ordinary people could compare to.
Bai Wutong dipped her brush in ink, and everyone’s expectant gazes landed on the narrow piece of paper.
Sheng Huaixuan also looked at it expectantly. If Bai Wutong really made a good piece of paper that was not easily smudged, then the wood shavings under their feet would be akin to a mountain of gold. If she did not make a good piece of paper that was not easily smudged, it would also be a mountain of silver.
It could be used as to wrap a snack or as ink painting paper. It could also be sold to poor people to practice calligraphy. No matter what, it could fetch money.
Sheng Huaixuan’s eyes shone as his mind was filled with images of silver falling from the sky.
Bai Wutong exerted a little force. As soon as the tip of the pen touched the paper, a large area was instantly dyed.
Its ability to absorb water was too strong. When the ink stained it, the paper directly shattered without any resistance.
It was impossible to use it as a book. If it was sold to a poor family to practice calligraphy, they would probably not be fooled a second time. It was a little difficult to be used to wrap snacks.
When everyone saw this, they could not help but feel a little disappointed.
Yang Quanzi quickly reacted and comforted Bai Wutong, “There must have been a small mistake. Madam Bai is already making paper that looks like something. If she tries a few more times, she will definitely be able to make a perfect cleaning paper!”
Cui Lingyi also comforted her. “Little Phoenix, let’s try again. We can definitely succeed.”
Lin Yue looked at Sheng Huaixuan and said softly, “Madam Bai must be very sad that such white paper can’t be used to write.”
Sheng Huaixuan smiled. “Since Madam has already created a complete paper, it won’t be long before you can create a paper that can be written on. Unfortunately…”
Lin Yue saw the regret in Sheng Huaixuan’s eyes and his eyes suddenly lit up. He rushed to say, “It’s a pity that we can’t do a profitable business!” He even looked at Sheng Huaixuan to ask if he said it right.
Sheng Huaixuan glanced at him and chuckled. It wasn’t difficult to do the business too.
Everyone looked at Bai Wutong comfortingly, but she looked at the paper that had become tattered after a few strokes and suddenly smiled brightly.
She had succeeded on her first try at toilet paper!
This softness! Even if it was flushed down a modern toilet, it would definitely not block the sewers.
Bai Wutong was not sad at all. Instead, she picked up the paper and smiled. Everyone immediately sighed. As expected of Madam, her temperament was worlds apart from ordinary people.
Madam Bai did not need their comfort at all.
Bai Wutong tested the absorbency of the paper and tugged at it, testing its elasticity and softness to see if it would scratch her bottom.
She exerted a little force with her hand, and the paper shattered after two tries.
Everyone shook their heads regretfully. It was so easy to tear. They wondered how many more rounds of trying it would take to make paper that could be written.
The Wang family head of the 30 families of Qinghe suggested, “Madam Bai, we can try it with good wood and bamboo. We might succeed immediately.”
He felt that if they had listened to him just now, instead of using wood shavings but good materials, they might have made good writing paper.
Bai Wutong didn’t listen to what he had to say. She touched it with her hand and rubbed the paper. Good, it wouldn’t crumble easily.
After Bai Wutong had checked, the toilet paper she made was not bad in all aspects except for the softness compared to modern toilet paper. It was a thousand times better than the bamboo pieces!
She no longer had to worry about what to do without the toilet paper in her space.
Eager to share her joy, she looked up and said happily, “It’s not for writing. It’s for wiping your hands and mouth. It’s for daily cleaning and using the toilet.”
‘Wiping your hands and mouth with paper and for toilet?’
After hearing Bai Wutong’s words, everyone looked shocked.
Paper was so precious. It was the moral integrity of a scholar. How could it be used to wipe one’s hands and mouth?
There were three main types of material that would be used in the toilet in this era.
The first was the silk used by the royal relatives of the prestigious families. After they were used, they would be cleaned and used again.
The second type was the common bamboo pieces or hemp rope. One had to scrape the front and back with the bamboo. Whether it was clean depended on one’s skills. The hemp rope tested one’s skills even more. One had to wear it from the front to the back and repeatedly pull it up and down. It might be clean but it was also possible to get one’s hands dirty or to strangle it into one’s crotch.
The third was to grab a handful of clean grass and rub against it when there was really nothing to use.
Bai Wutong could accept the first option, but the cost was too high, so the rich families had to use it repeatedly.
She completely could not accept the second and third options. She might as well use a basin of water to dip a cloth and clean herself with it.
After Bai Wutong finished speaking, Sheng Huaixuan was the first to react.
He stepped forward quickly and picked up a roll of cleaning paper. He pulled a section and felt it in his hand.
After a while, his clear gaze became excited. He said with the certainty of a successful businessman, “Sister-in-law, the cleaning paper you developed will definitely become a tribute paper to the palace!”
Bai Wutong had spent effort to develop it for herself, not to please the emperor.
She smiled. “With it, everyone will be much cleaner after using the toilet in the future.”
Cui Lingyi also stepped forward and touched it curiously. When she touched it, she looked surprised. “Little Phoenix, how did you think of that! You’re so smart!”
...
She wanted to try it after touching it.
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