Chapter 34

Old Master Huang excitedly took the Qin crossbow and carefully took it apart to study it.

"So that's how it is! Why didn't I think of this before? My grandson-in-law is truly clever!"

"The wisdom of the ancients should not be underestimated either!"

Then, he skillfully reassembled it and even tried shooting a few arrows.

Finally, he couldn't help but praise it loudly: "Good! Good! Good! My wish has finally been fulfilled. Now, I can die without regrets!"

"Father! What nonsense are you spouting?"

Upon hearing this, Su Mu immediately scolded him reproachfully: "You will definitely live to be a hundred. What is this talk of dying? It’s so unlucky! You are not allowed to say such things again!"

"Your daughter hasn't even properly fulfilled her filial duties to you yet!"

"Haha! Good! I won't say it! I won't! Haha!"

Old Master Huang laughed heartily and gently patted Su Mu's shoulder to soothe her.

Then, he beckoned to Su Xuan: "Good grandson, come with me! Everyone else, go to the main hall!"

"Yes!"

Su Xuan hurriedly followed.

He followed Old Master Huang into a large study.

PS: New book uploaded, seeking collections, flowers, and ratings!

"Click, click, click!"

Su Xuan watched as Old Master Huang fiddled with several mechanisms.

The bookshelf automatically moved aside, and a doorway opened in the wall behind it.

"Whoosh!"

Inside the doorway, torches on both sides lit up automatically.

Old Master Huang walked in, and before long, he came out carrying a mechanical wooden box about fifty centimeters long and thirty centimeters wide.

With a solemn expression, he handed the mechanical box to Su Xuan and instructed: "Inside this is the entire inheritance of my Huang family's Mohist mechanical arts!"

"It contains not only ancient texts but also the research notes of my Huang family's ancestors."

"Open it and take a look! I have already unlocked the mechanism on it."

"Yes!"

Su Xuan hurriedly opened the box.

He saw that, apart from a row of ancient bamboo slips at the bottom, everything else was on parchment or animal hide.

They were filled with various knowledge, information, and diagrams.

Su Xuan couldn't help but take them out one by one and began to read through them at high speed.

Seeing how fast he was reading, Old Master Huang was a bit puzzled but didn't stop him. Instead, he smiled and asked: "This is paper, right?"

"It's different from Cai Hou paper; it’s very smooth, writing on it is fluid, and it absorbs ink moderately. Is this a paper you improved?"

As Old Master Huang spoke, he took out the Qin crossbow diagram Su Xuan had previously given him to illustrate.

"That's right!"

Su Xuan nodded without looking up: "I felt that bamboo slips were too inconvenient—bulky, expensive, and unable to record much text, let alone diagrams."

"Since Cai Hou paper wasn't suitable, I improved the papermaking process and created several types of paper for different uses."

"The kind you have in your hand is specifically for writing and drafting!"

"Even the pen isn't a traditional brush; it's a charcoal pencil."

Brushes aren't convenient to carry around, after all!

If he ever had a flash of inspiration, using a charcoal pencil and this paper made it easy to record it at any time.

He was used to it.

Although, with his comprehension and memory, he wouldn't forget even if he didn't record it.

"Oh? A great idea!"

Old Master Huang nodded in satisfaction and then asked: "What is the cost of this paper? Is it difficult to produce?"

"Also, are you not planning to promote it?"

Su Xuan shook his head: "The production process isn't complicated. With a sample, I believe you could figure out a thing or two after studying it for a while."

"Once scaled up, the production cost is extremely low—less than one-thousandth that of bamboo slips."

"But it's not the right time to promote it. The interests involved are too great. Neither my Su family nor your Huang family can handle it yet. It's better to wait."

"We'll talk about it when the time is ripe!"

Paper is a powerful tool for gaining prestige and winning over scholars!

How could he not understand the benefits of promoting it?

Unfortunately, no matter how you look at it, he wasn't qualified enough yet.

"I was muddled!"

Old Master Huang realized this, patted his head, nodded firmly, and said solemnly: "Don't worry, Grandfather will keep your secret. I will also instruct everyone who saw the paper today never to leak it."

"You are a good child with your own ideas and opinions. Proceed at your own pace."

"This old man won't interfere!"

When it came to the safety of Su Xuan's family, Old Master Huang knew what was at stake.

"Actually, there's no need to be so careful!"

Su Xuan smiled and shook his head: "As long as outsiders don't know the production process and cost, even if they know such paper exists, it won't be a problem."

If it doesn't affect others' interests, there won't be any danger.

Nor will it invite covetousness.

"That's true!"

Old Master Huang nodded in realization: "I overreacted. That is indeed the logic."

"How are you doing with the reading? You're flipping through these quite fast!"

"Don't rush! You can take these back and read them slowly!"

"You can even make a copy; consider it a reward from me."

"Once you've finished copying, just return the originals."

Clearly, Old Master Huang sincerely wanted to give a full copy of the inheritance to Su Xuan.

[You have read a large number of Mohist fragments, research notes, and classics, gaining much. You conducted deep deduction and refinement, restored parts of the Mohist mechanical arts, and combined them with your own insights and memories from your past life to create your own unique mechanical arts.]

Just then, Su Xuan had finished reading and had gained a great deal of insight.

His mind was filled with a vast amount of technical knowledge and insights regarding mechanical arts and carpentry.

Hearing Old Master Huang's words, he put down the last bamboo slip, looked up, smiled, and shook his head: "That won't be necessary! You can put these away, Grandfather. I have finished reading them all and have memorized them."

"What?"

Old Master Huang was stunned and incredulous: "You memorized them all? How is that possible? Is your memory really that good?"

"Mhm!"

Su Xuan nodded proudly: "Didn't I have an epiphany? My comprehension and memory have both improved by a little bit!"

As Su Xuan spoke, he gestured with his fingers to indicate a tiny amount.

Unfortunately, Old Master Huang didn't understand the reference, but he was still deeply shocked.

After a long while, he took a deep breath in amazement and said in a daze: "No wonder you were able to perfect and create a real Qin crossbow after looking at mine just once. So your comprehension and memory have already reached such a level."

"I underestimated you!"

Having said this, Old Master Huang paused, patted Su Xuan on the shoulder, and said earnestly: "In the future, remember to learn to hide your light. The tree that stands tallest in the forest is the first to be broken by the wind. Remember this, remember this!"

"Yes!"

Su Xuan nodded obediently and smiled: "Your grandson will remember."

"Good!"

Afterward, Su Xuan stayed with the Huang family for three days.

During this time, he spent much time discussing and researching various mechanical and carpentry knowledge with Old Master Huang, Su Mu, and Huang Huang Chengyan.

Everyone gained a great deal.

At the same time, Huang Huang Chengyan and Old Master Huang fully realized just how monstrous Su Xuan's comprehension truly was.