Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life-Chapter 59: Accepting the Whole Pocket

"Second Brother, come over here."

In the corner of the backyard, the large cauldron was still set up, with a pile of processed bamboo materials stacked beside it. This was where the two brothers had started their paper-making journey.

"Xiao Ming, what's this about, so mysterious?" Su Yang wiped his sweat, asking curiously.

Su Ming didn't answer directly. Instead, he picked up a bundle of already pounded bamboo fibers and pointed at the large wooden barrel beside it. "Second Brother, let me ask you, why must the bamboo fibers be soaked in the plant ash water for a full three days?"

"Uh..." Su Yang was stumped. "Didn't you say that? That's what the recipe in the book said."

"Then why, when boiling the pulp, must the heat start high and then turn low, simmering slowly without rushing?"

"This... didn't you say that too?" Su Yang was even more confused.

Su Ming smiled and pulled out a piece of paper from his robe. This paper was made from the best quality he had produced himself, densely covered with symbols and characters.

"Second Brother, what I taught you before was just the method of paper-making. But I didn't tell you why we do it this way."

He handed the paper to Su Yang. "This contains the complete paper-making technique I saw in that old book."

Su Yang took the paper, looking utterly bewildered. He couldn't recognize all the characters, let alone those strange diagrams.

"Xiao Ming, you..."

"Second Brother, I'm going on a long journey, who knows when I'll return. This craft is the foundation of our Su family. I must leave it behind, complete and intact."

Su Ming's expression turned extremely serious.

"Soaking is to use the alkaline water from the plant ash to corrode the useless lignin in the bamboo, leaving only the purest fibers. If the time is too short, the soaking is incomplete, and the paper becomes brittle. If too long, the fibers rot, and the paper loses its toughness."

"Boiling the pulp is to further separate and soften the fibers. If the fire is too strong, it's easy to scorch, ruining the pulp. If too weak, it won't cook properly, and the fibers won't become pulp."

"And about paper forming... I only taught you to use a broken sieve before. Actually, the real useful tool is called a 'paper mold,' woven from fine bamboo strips and horsetail hair. Paper formed with that comes out even in thickness..."

Su Ming explained the complete, improved paper-making process taught by Lin Yu to Su Yang without reservation, breaking down every detail from the principles to the specific operations, making it as clear as possible.

He explained meticulously, and Su Yang listened attentively.

From raw material selection, alkaline water ratio, soaking duration, boiling heat control, to how to make a proper paper-forming mold, how to press out the water, how to perform the final "paper drying"... A complete paper-making process far surpassing the level of ordinary small workshops of this era unfolded clearly between the two brothers through their questions and answers.

The more Su Yang listened, the more astonished he became, feeling the paper in his hand grow heavier by the thousand catties. Only now did he understand that what they had produced before was merely the most superficial layer of this craft!

"Xiao Ming... you... why didn't you tell me earlier..." Su Yang's voice was somewhat hoarse.

"Because the timing wasn't right." Su Ming looked into his second brother's eyes. "This craft is our family's heirloom, but also a potential death warrant. Revealing it earlier would only invite disaster. Now that I'm leaving, I must pass on this livelihood-sustaining skill to you. Second Brother, remember this: the complete craft must not be known by a fourth person! Even Father, Mother, and Eldest Brother should only know that we can make it better than before. There's no need to explain it this thoroughly."

Su Yang nodded heavily. He wasn't a fool and instantly understood the stakes involved.

"Don't worry!" He carefully folded the paper and tucked it close to his chest, as if carrying a monumental secret. "As long as I have breath in me, I will never let this recipe leak out! I will take good care of Father and Mother, guard this home, and wait for you... wait for you to pass the imperial examinations and return with honor!"

Su Ming smiled and patted his second brother's shoulder.

Lin Yu muttered to himself, "Hmm, the severance package and technology transfer are settled. Giving them a sustainable gold-egg-laying goose is much safer than leaving a pile of dead money. This way, the Su family's economic foundation is secure. That old fox Zhao Dequan will have to think twice before trying to manipulate them. My disciple finally shows some strategic vision."

Inside the ring, Lin Yu gave Su Ming's performance high praise.

"Master," Su Ming called out in his mind.

"What is it?"

"Why are we taking the imperial examination path? With your abilities, teaching me a couple of magical techniques would be faster than a decade of hard study, wouldn't it?" This had been Su Ming's lingering doubt.

Lin Yu's voice carried a hint of leisurely amusement. "Silly boy, what do you think cultivation is? Fighting, killing, indulging in personal vendettas? That's just storybook tales."

"True cultivation is contending with heaven, contending with earth, contending with others, and most of all, contending with yourself! Every step is like treading on thin ice. With your current meager skills, thrown out there, you wouldn't even make a splash."

"The imperial examinations are the best 'shield.'"

"Think about it. A scholar with an official title is protected by the dynasty's fortune. Ordinary demons, ghosts, evil cultivators, and the like wouldn't dare to easily taint such a person, or they would suffer the backlash of that fortune. That's the first layer of protection."

"Secondly, once you hold an official position, even if it's just a minor clerk, you gain the qualification to access local county records, prefecture records, even internal court archives. Do you think all those strange tales and legends are baseless? Many traces of ancient cultivators, their hidden dwellings, strange occurrences, are recorded as 'anomalies' in these old documents. This is our 'map' for seeking opportunities!"

"Thirdly, and most importantly. This path allows you to access the true upper echelons of this world. Do you think those high-ranking officials, nobles, princes, and generals really have no extraordinary individuals or immortal practitioners by their side? When you stand high enough, you'll naturally see vistas ordinary people never witness in their lifetime and access the circles we wish to enter."

"This is called 'cultivation within the mundane world.' Using the mortal realm as a springboard, the dynasty as a ladder, advancing steadily and securely. Compared to those wandering cultivators who practice bitterly in the mountains and forests, constantly getting chased down for their treasures, how much safer is this? A hundred times over, at least!"

(Inner thoughts: "Just kidding, I don't have the ability to directly teach you cultivation either! We definitely need to get you an identity that can access the cultivation circles first, then plan the next steps.")

Su Ming listened, his mind stirred, feeling as if a grand and magnificent scroll was unfurling before his eyes. So, the path of cultivation could involve such intricate and far-reaching planning!

"Your disciple has been enlightened," he said sincerely.

However, just as Su Ming was planning for the future and the Su family was fully preparing for his distant journey, an uninvited guest disrupted this peace.

That afternoon, while Su Ming was helping chop firewood in the yard, a familiar, robust cough came from outside the courtyard gate.

"Ahem! Brother Su Shan, are you home?"