Chapter 124: Floral scented paper

Kang He’s situation was like this: nowadays, many trades included stationery from the Luo family’s workshop, all to satisfy the most basic needs of the common folk.

Many people had started buying ordinary coarse paper and brushes, and stationery was no longer as precious as it once was. Not to mention the city dwellers, even farming households in the countryside who had literate family members could now afford a few sheets of paper and some ink, making it convenient for occasional needs.

The common people had become wealthier than before; once their most basic needs were met, they could move on to more refined pursuits, nourishing their spirits with entertainment. When the common folk saw new novelties, they liked them, and the merchants profited as well.

Among the traders in the city, competition was fierce, often resorting to price wars because there were hardly any new novelties to rely on, so they all focused on undercutting each other’s prices.

If this reliance on low prices continued for long, it would not only yield little profit, but eventually, it would be impossible to sustain.

Over time, whenever other businesses came up with routes that were difficult to imitate, their ventures would almost be at an end.

Naturally, this was only Kang He’s way of thinking; ultimately, it was not something to judge hastily.

Since the idea had arisen in his heart, to ensure all was well, he spent some time in the market observing and watching. Confirming that his own approach was not bad, he then set about putting it into practice.

That day, Kang He purchased some mugwort, mint, Chinese prickly ash, rose, osmanthus, and other flowers and herbs.

He also bought some tools for papermaking, then closed the door and began practicing his old craft in the backyard of his home.

What Kang He was actually making this time was scented flower paper.

He had visited all the stationery shops in the city, and occasionally there were some rudimentary forms of scented paper on display—papers that contained fragrances—but the designs were few, the paper coarse, and the scent didn’t last long.

Many of the scented papers lost their fragrance once taken out, and the shop owners didn’t seem to care much about these papers.

To him, this was an area with great potential for development.

Kang He had also made handmade paper twice before and remembered the steps, though it had been a long time, so he was somewhat rusty.

Before starting, he reviewed the process and recorded the production method step by step with paper and brush.

There were four known methods for making scented flower paper.

First, dyeing with flower juice. As the name suggests, petals were crushed and pressed to extract juice, then raw paper was soaked in the juice to dye and scent it, also adding color.

Second, fumigation. Similar to fumigating clothes, incense powder was burned to scent the paper; after a long time, the paper would carry the fragrance.

Third, sandwiching petals. During papermaking, flower petals were sprinkled onto the wet pulp of the extracted fibers, pressed and adhered, then a layer of pulp was brushed over to fix the petals in place.

Fourth, applying scented paste. This was similar to making medicinal candles, using honey, flower juice, and peach gum mixed with incense powder to make a scented glue, which was then applied to the paper.

Kang He had pondered these methods and found that each had its own unique advantages and disadvantages.

For example, the fumigation method did impart fragrance onto the paper, but once removed from the incense box, the scent didn’t last long. The petal sandwich method made the paper visually beautiful with petal patterns, but the unextracted petals did not have a strong scent and it was nearly impossible to smell the flower aroma.

So instead of sticking to just one method, he decided to combine their strengths, which could even produce scented paper that delighted the heart.

Kang He started with mugwort, boiling fresh mugwort to extract the fibers, smashing them, and placing them in water. Using a paper-making screen, he scooped out the pulp and dried it to make paper.

When scooping the pulp, he used the petal sandwich method, selecting well-shaped mugwort leaves to press onto the pulp.

After the paper dried, he applied the fourth method, brushing on the corresponding mugwort-scented glue.

After completing this step, he applied fumigation.

In this way, he practically used all four methods. After several complicated processes, the paper was completed.

Fan Jingshou helped on the side, occasionally following Kang He’s instructions, smashing the mugwort fibers in the stone basin.

From here and there, the two labored from morning until sunset. Fan Jingshou mostly watched Kang He work, not doing much physical labor himself, while Kang He patiently and carefully toiled for a long time.

After a full day’s hard work, the task was finally complete.

“Qing, smell it. Is there a fragrance?” Kang He held the paper, ignoring the soreness and numbness in his hands, and brought the finished paper to Fan Jingshou’s nose for him to smell.

Fan Jingshou, having smelled mugwort all day—from fresh mugwort, pulp, to mugwort incense powder—felt as if he had been suffused with mugwort scent. Yet even so, before the paper reached his nose, he could already sense a mature fragrance.

“Hm, there is.”

Kang He said, “I have experience from making medicinal candles before, soaking mugwort powder in strong liquor to release its scent. This mugwort paper will certainly hold fragrance better than those outside. With so many procedures, layering scent to reinforce it, the aroma won’t be overwhelming or choking but refined and elegant.”

Fan Jingshou nodded. He looked at the small square mugwort paper, which was a grayish-yellow color, different from ordinary paper’s plainness. There were a few spread-out mugwort leaves on it, making it rare and pleasing to the eye.

The scent was still fragrant—herbal paper.

But when he ran his fingers over the paper, it was somewhat rough, not as fine as the medium-grade paper sold in stationery shops, more like lower-grade paper.

Kang He was aware that the paper quality wasn’t very good. He said, “The master papermakers only know these papermaking methods but lack artistry. If we taught them, the paper would be more delicate.”

“The important thing is to showcase its uniqueness.”

In the evening, Kang He gave the paper to Qingfu Shi, teaching him to write a few characters to see how it worked.

“Paper made with mugwort? It’s so fragrant!” Qingfu Shi held the paper; he had never had mugwort paper in his room before. When he took it out, the scent was even more noticeable than when Kang He and Fan Jingshou made it in the backyard.

He leaned in to smell and touched the mugwort textures on it. It was beautiful and fragrant—he liked it very much.

“Father, young master, where did such exquisite paper come from? Writing on it would be a waste!”

Seeing his eyes shining with evident fondness for the paper, Kang He smiled, “Qing, don’t be reluctant to use it. This paper isn’t bought from outside; it was made this afternoon by me and Qing in the backyard. I want you to write on it and see how it feels.”

Qingfu Shi was amazed and said, “Father and young master’s hands are so skillful!”

He then said, “Well, I’ll try it properly.”

He straightened up, picked up the brush, and wrote a line of poetry praising mugwort on the paper.

After finishing, he put down the brush and, looking at the paper, commented, “The paper is a bit rough, but the ink doesn’t bleed, and every now and then the refreshing mugwort scent wafts in, not only elegant but also uplifting.”

Kang He smiled and said, “Don’t flatter Father and young master too much.”

Qingfu Shi shook his head, “Father and young master run the business and put so much heart into making this mugwort paper. They’re not just doing it to pass the time or for leisure, but for business planning.”

“If I were to say insincere compliments, that would only do harm. This is genuine and heartfelt.”

Seeing Qingfu Shi speak so reasonably, Kang He patted his head, “That makes me more at ease.”

Qingfu Shi loved the mugwort paper more and more, especially since it was made by young master and father themselves. He couldn’t help but say, “Tomorrow the academy is closed, and there’s no literary gathering at the county school. Can I learn to make mugwort paper with Father and young master?”

“If you’re interested, then Father will do it with you. This kind of handiwork, once learned, is good for you. Besides, it lets Father’s mind rest a bit.”

Qingfu Shi happily agreed.

The next day, the whole family busied themselves in the backyard making scented paper.

The mugwort paper Kang He made yesterday was a success. Today they switched to mint paper.

Qingfu Shi was patient, following Kang He through each step, and by noon they had produced mint-scented paper.

Little Fu helped Fan Jingshou pound the fibers for papermaking and found it interesting. The little one was talkative—holding peach gum to ask what it was, then asking why it had to be brushed on the paper.

Chattering like little sparrows, time passed pleasantly.

Having grasped the method, practice made perfect. The family gradually made rose, osmanthus, Chinese prickly ash, chrysanthemum, and other scented papers.

They stacked them thickly, each with its own scent and appearance, with the later batches looking even better.

Qingfu Shi held the papers, feeling a sense of accomplishment not less than writing a brilliant article.

Like Kang He, he took two sheets and, back in his room at night, processed them again, cutting the scented paper into palm-sized pieces and carefully sewing them into a booklet with a leather cover.

A delicate little handbook was thus completed.

“Such beautiful work—won’t brother be reluctant to use it?”

Qingfu Shi heard the voice and suddenly turned around, seeing little Fu sitting cross-legged on a cool bench, apparently having been there a long time.

He put down the booklet and scolded the little one, “When did you get here? You didn’t even make a sound.”

Little Fu got down from the bench and sat next to Qingfu Shi. “I came early. Seeing Qing didn’t read or write tonight and said he wanted to talk, but I saw brother was so focused on making the scented paper, so I kept quiet.”

Qingfu Shi laughed, “Could it be you had the patience to wait that long?”

“I fell asleep for a bit,” Little Fu said. “Otherwise, I would’ve called Qing already.”

He flipped through the booklet. The mixed scents of the various scented papers made it even more fragrant, though he couldn’t distinguish which scent was which. Turning to the rose paper and sniffing closely, he could clearly smell the rose. On the osmanthus paper, the scent was osmanthus.

“Why isn’t there mint or mugwort? They’re all floral scented papers.”

Qingfu Shi noticed the boy’s attention to detail and remembered which scents were missing.

“Mint and mugwort are herbs with refreshing scents. If all the scented papers were stored together, their aromas would overpower each other. So I just made all the floral scented ones.”

Little Fu tilted his head and looked at his brother, “Are you going to give these to Qing and He Guang Gege?”

Qingfu Shi was slightly startled, “Why do you say that?”

“Last time I overheard Qing talking to He Guang Gege. He Guang Gege helped Qing before, but Qing didn’t properly thank him, and he was upset. Didn’t you say you wanted to prepare a gift to thank him? I think He Guang Gege’s family is well-off, they have everything and have seen everything, so I don’t know what to give him that he’d like.”

Little Fu said, “You said before you’d copy a book that He Guang Gege likes, but after copying it, you said your handwriting wasn’t good. Now you’ve spent so much time making this fragrant booklet. Isn’t it perfect to give to He Guang Gege?”

Qingfu Shi was caught off guard, blushing. He pinched Little Fu’s nose, “You’re so clever and smart.”

Little Fu puckered his lips and huffed.

“Just not sure if he’ll like it. It’s my first time making this, my hands aren’t nimble, and the paper’s a bit rough.”

Little Fu said, “He Guang Gege loves reading and writing just like you. I’ve seen so many writings and paintings in his room. With a fragrant booklet like this, how could he not like it?”

“If he sees the paper’s rough, he’ll know it’s from you. Isn’t that better than something bought outside?”

Qingfu Shi laughed softly at Little Fu’s encouragement, comforted both in his intention to give the gift and by the knowledge that Little Fu understood that the value of a gift lies in the heart, not in price.

“All right, then. When I visit Wu Bofu tomorrow, I’ll give him the gift.”

The next day, Wu Heguang’s room had a simple box.

He opened it with anticipation, and immediately smelled a fragrance as soon as the lid was lifted.

Inside was a book. Opening a few pages, he saw Qingfu Shi’s handwriting.

Wu Heguang leaned in, feeling a floral scent from the book. He wondered if Qingfu Shi was so meticulous as to place fresh flowers in the box to scent the book.

He took the box to examine and saw that the book was accompanied by a leather-bound booklet.

Just taking out the booklet released an even stronger fragrance than the book itself, and there was nothing else in the box emitting scent—it was the booklet.

The book and the booklet were sealed together in the box, so the scent had permeated the book.

Wu Heguang flipped through slowly, growing more interested, a smile rising on his face.

“Did Fan Tongsheng really send a booklet with such heartfelt thoughtfulness?”

Gu Ge’er, who served Wu Heguang, saw his smile and asked with a grin.

Wu Heguang called Gu Ge’er over, “Look at this booklet; it contains wonders. Different pages use different flowers, and their scents correspond to the flowers—very subtle and elegant.”

“Truly so. It smells really good, very clever, something not seen outside,” Gu Ge’er said.

“Only the paper is a bit coarse. It looks like paper made by a novice, unlike the well-made ones sold in shops.”

Wu Heguang had noticed the paper’s coarseness and guessed it was made by a beginner. Hearing Gu Ge’er’s comment confirmed his suspicions and he was even more fond of the gift.

“I bet he spends all his time reading and isn’t used to handiwork. Next time I see him, I must ask where he got such a clever idea.”

Wu Heguang treasured the gift for a day, more than a set of precious jewels. After appreciating it, he locked it away in an exquisite red box, reluctant to take it out again.

Meanwhile, the scented paper was made, and Kang He went to see Luo Lang, showing him the scented paper.

Different people had different impressions of this flower-scented paper.

For studious children like Qingfu Shi and Wu Heguang, it was difficult to appreciate the elegance of flower-scented paper.

But Luo Lang, as a businessman experienced in stationery, instantly saw its value without Kang He needing to push hard.

His eyes lit up as he asked Kang He, “Where did this wonderful thing come from?”

Kang He said, “Don’t ask about the source for now. Luo brother, do you think this flower-scented paper could be sold well?”

“I’ve been around the market scene. I’d say yes, and I’m confident.”

Luo Lang said excitedly, “Such flower-scented paper is hardly seen in the market, and even those who don’t study literature like it dearly. How much more would cultured scholars and refined gentlemen appreciate it?”

Kang He nodded and shared his thoughts with Luo Lang, “Ordinary paper is affordable for most common folk. Since that’s the case, we must focus on craftsmanship and elegance, hoping to open a new path.”

“The shops selling miscellaneous goods used to have expensive but unsold scented oils. Now, they’re selling well because the common people want finer things after having enough to eat.”

“This scented paper is just an innovative twist on ordinary paper, giving people visual and spiritual pleasure—an extra level of enjoyment.”

Luo Lang said, “Brother Kang’s insight is remarkable. I secretly had similar ideas but lacked new innovations. I was only stable with buying printing tools.”

“Seeing what Brother Kang brought here is truly enlightening.”

Kang He smiled, “I brought the paper for two reasons: one, to let Brother Luo use your sharp eyes to see if this scented paper is worth selling; two, if you approve, let’s discuss doing this business together.”

Luo Lang’s heart throbbed heavily. Kang He bringing such a good thing and wanting to partner with him—how could he not be happy?

If it weren’t for family ties, he would cherish this opportunity even more.

The two carefully negotiated. Kang He contributed the craftsmanship; Luo Lang provided manpower and handled production and sales. After deducting costs, profits would be split evenly.

Though working with relatives, they drew up a written agreement clearly outlining terms, each signing and keeping a copy.

Though this seemed formal and distant, it was the best protection for both parties’ rights.

Like borrowing money among friends and relatives: good times, everything’s fine and no IOU is needed; but when trouble comes and interests collide, you realize empty words mean nothing.

Both Kang He and Luo Lang were calm and rational businessmen, knowing that working with relatives called for even greater caution than with outsiders.

Because relatives are closer than strangers, but if problems arise, it’s harder to resolve.

It took five or six days to sort out the terms. Then within ten days, they taught master papermakers to handle scented paper production and produced some finished samples.

Kang He and Luo Lang ran around selecting high-quality materials and negotiating prices; all in all, a month of hard work.

Fan Jingshou saw Kang He leave at dawn and return late every day, exhausted enough to fall asleep immediately at night.

Such busy scenes were nothing new; whenever there was a new venture, this was always the process.

Before, Kang He and Fan Jingshou handled the family business alone, but now with Luo family’s experience in stationery, the two of them sufficed. Fan Jingshou stayed home to look after the business.

At night, Kang He lay on the bed and said to Fan Jingshou, “This scented paper business is really lucky to have Luo Lang involved; it’s saved us a lot of trouble. If this paper business develops into stationery, it would be like making dumplings with a single spoonful of vinegar.”

“Finding good papermakers and craftsmen, sourcing bamboo and wood, renting shops and setting up… it’s truly a mountain of tasks. Without a year or more, it’s impossible to get the business going.”

As summer passed and autumn came, the weather quietly cooled down, finally escaping the summer’s stifling heat.

Fan Jingshou told Kang He about Luo Lang’s business trips that day, then took out a folding fan from the foot of the bed and gently fanned himself.

Summing up, he said, “Since we’re splitting profits fifty-fifty, it’s only natural to save effort and worry. Otherwise, we might as well do everything ourselves.”

Kang He laughed, “Exactly. Luckily, we’d been doing business with the He family, so we had some experience. Now with Luo Lang running the business, it’s not so unfamiliar.”

Speaking of the He family, Fan Jingshou said, “Today, Zhang Shili and Xiao Qiu brought their two children to the shop to play for a while. Little Fu came over, and the three kids were quite happy.”

“Those two little ones are really adorable. When I first saw them learning to walk, they imitated the geese at home, waddling in a funny circle—very amusing.”

Fan Jingshou chuckled softly.

Seeing this, Kang He couldn’t help but lean over and kiss the corner of his mouth.

“Qing, why do you look so beautiful when you smile like that?”

Fan Jingshou, seeing Kang He’s burning gaze, covered his face with the folding fan, “What century is this to say things like that?”

Kang He lifted the fan and tossed it to the foot of the bed, “I’m telling the truth. Who told you to smile so rarely? Don’t let me enjoy it fully even once.”

As he spoke, his hand reached for the hem of Fan Jingshou’s knee-length shorts.

Fan Jingshou caught Kang He’s hand, “Isn’t there still that matter of negotiating and placing orders in two far-off places tomorrow? You have to get up before dawn, and now you say you’re tired.”

Kang He smiled mischievously, thinking that if he didn’t say such things, how could he coax Fan Jingshou while massaging his back and fanning him?

He rolled over, pinning Fan Jingshou down, “A man’s tired, but not from this kind of thing. If you really care about me and I have to run errands tomorrow, it’s better to be proactive. If you try to stop me, I’ll end up not sleeping all night.”

Fan Jingshou didn’t understand how he could spin such twisted logic and pushed him away, “That thing is gone.”

Kang He’s brow twitched, “You used it and didn’t wash it? Didn’t you dry it and put it away?”

Fan Jingshou kicked him, “Why keep it if it’s broken?”

Only then did Kang He remember it was indeed damaged, his face flushing. He’d been meaning to mend it but got too busy with the scented paper business and neglected it.

Feeling guilty, he gently stroked Fan Jingshou’s waist, “Sorry, I’ve really neglected you lately.”

Fan Jingshou glanced at him sideways, “Stop with the dirty talk.”

Kang He pressed close and asked where was the dirty talk.

They laughed and played on the bed for a while, finally falling asleep late.

On September 12, the Luo family’s stationery shop loudly announced their new scented paper, inviting scholars and readers to come and see.

Early that morning, the shop front was bustling with activity.