Li Ruisi glanced vaguely at Jiang Chan, who was quietly observing with a calm demeanor. He hadn’t forgotten how Jiang Chan had just commanded Uncle Zhong and Li Ma to work tirelessly. Seeing this, did it need to be said who came up with the idea of printing?
But since they were keeping it a secret, why should he be the villain? Li Ruisi decided to play dumb with a knowing smile. “Jinzhi, with this move of yours, books will soon lose their value.”
Jiang Sen remained calm. “Isn’t it good that books become cheaper? This way, more people can afford them. Books used to be so expensive.”
Li Ruisi squinted. “This is a great benefit to the country and the people. It should be reported.”
Seeing that the conversation ahead was not suitable for them to hear, Jiang Chan decisively helped Lin Shi up and, along with Uncle Zhong and Wang Ma, left the hall. Lin Shi patted Jiang Chan’s hand. “Just letting your father take the credit, doesn’t it hurt?”
Jiang Chan remained very calm. “Father is capable and hardworking. Besides, he personally supervised this matter. It has nothing to do with me. I know nothing about it.”
Lin Shi couldn’t do anything about Jiang Chan’s stubborn and unpredictable nature. She tapped Jiang Chan’s head and said, “Alright, you little rascal. I’ll go to the kitchen first and see. Your dad’s friend will definitely stay for dinner today.”
With Lin Shi’s insight, she naturally understood the profound impact of the spread of movable type printing. Firstly, it would drastically reduce the price of books, significantly easing the burden on students.
Next, it allows more people to have the opportunity to come into contact with books, fostering a scholarly atmosphere that will definitely develop. Ultimately, everyone will become more rational, which is the best outcome.
Jiang Chan couldn’t wait to have some quiet time alone right now. She hadn’t expected Jiang Sen’s friends to actually come to their home. Her plan was for Jiang Sen to finish everything first and then inform his friends afterward.
But Jiang Sen had already been discovered. Fortunately, he had kept his mouth shut and hadn’t mentioned her. In such an era where women were harshly judged, Jiang Chan didn’t think gaining fame was a good thing.
Jiang Sen held no official position. If her reputation grew too large, Jiang Sen’s family wouldn’t be able to protect her. It was better to let Jiang Sen take the lead.
He was, after all, a scholar-official, with well-connected classmates as friends. His network built over the years wasn’t for naught. Besides, Jiang Sen also harbored thoughts of taking a chance. So, pinning this matter on Jiang Sen’s head would be a win-win situation for all.
Formerly, Jiang Sen was truly indifferent to fame and fortune. Now that Jiang Sen has heirs to look forward to, how could he not think about accumulating some family wealth to pass on to his sons and daughters? Jiang Chan also understands Jiang Sen’s intentions; in the past, there seemed to be no prospects, but now that there are, ambitions naturally arise in people.
Jiang Chan didn’t think that Jiang Sen’s thoughts were wrong. As the adopted daughter under Jiang Sen’s care, she believed that the better Jiang Sen did, the better off she would be herself. However, it wasn’t as if she couldn’t live without Jiang Sen’s family.
Moreover, Jiang Sen and Lin Shi treated her sincerely. If she could help Jiang Sen rise further, Jiang Chan was willing to do so. It was mutually beneficial.
Stepping back, even if the movable type printing technique could be widely promoted and bring about a slight change to the world, Jiang Chan still feels that this would be very worthwhile.
In a person’s lifetime, it’s difficult to change things; more often, one adapts to the world by changing oneself. If indeed this world has been altered even in the slightest because of oneself, it suffices to prove that one has left a mark on this world.
Yes, Jiang Chan is not afraid of death, nor is she afraid of illness. What she fears is being forgotten by others. She fears that after she has traversed this world, no one will remember her when she leaves. This is something she cannot accept.
With these jumbled thoughts in mind, Jiang Chan returned to her room. She decided to peacefully read her books. As for what was happening outside, she left it for Jiang Sen to worry about. She figured he was probably experiencing a bittersweet struggle.
Jiang Sen indeed experienced both pain and joy. In less than half a month, the county magistrate sent him a commendation. This matter was submitted through the dossier of County Magistrate Li Ruoyu, and upon receiving it, Jiang Sen was indeed greatly pleased.
Because Jiang Sen did not hold any official position, the rewards given to him included land and silver. In total, Jiang Sen was rewarded with three hundred mu of fertile land, which belonged solely to him and had no relation to the Jiang family.
Additionally, he was awarded two thousand taels of silver, which Jiang Sen immediately gave to Jiang Chan, who in turn handed it to Lin Shi. The silver ended up back in Jiang Sen’s pocket, pleasing everyone.
These were the visible rewards. The most valuable were the unseen benefits, as the promotion of movable type printing would bring lasting wealth to Jiang Sen and his descendants.
Jiang Sen ate meat while several of his friends followed by drinking soup. After all, they supplemented many small details of the printing technique, which can be said to have contributed a lot of effort.
In this way, everyone seeks virtue and obtains virtue. The crucial point is not the rewards such as money, but rather the esteemed reputation of scholars. Isn’t the reputation of scholars what people value the most?
The Jiang family, despite not receiving obvious benefits, still held a grand ancestral ceremony, with the elderly great-uncle trembling as he burned incense and prayed, informing the ancestors of this great event.
As time passed slowly, winter arrived in the blink of an eye. Lin Shi’s body grew heavier by the day, causing deep concern for Jiang Chan, who wished she could watch over the elderly doctor day and night.
Since she had grown up, she had hardly ever been so close to a pregnant woman. Watching Lin Shi’s belly swell up like a balloon really frightened Jiang Chan quite a bit.
Jiang Sen was no exception, a man who had never been a father, also tossed and turned all night in worry. Lin Shi herself was slender, and with such a large belly, she looked alarming to those who saw her.
Lin Shi was amused by the fact that these father and daughter treated everything with the utmost seriousness. Clearly, she was the one carrying the heaviest burden, but these two had managed to lose so much weight. It was a sight that stirred mixed emotions in those who saw it.
The child in Lin Shi’s belly was also quite composed. Originally, the senior doctor predicted she would give birth at the end of the year, but unexpectedly, the whole family waited anxiously until the second day of the lunar new year.
On the second day of the lunar new year, according to the usual routine of previous years, they were supposed to go to Jingye Temple to donate money for incense oil. Due to health reasons this year, they couldn’t make the trip, so Lin Shi sent Jiang Chan instead to Jingye Temple.
Little did Jiang Chan and Zhou Xing know that not long after they left home, Lin Shi made her move. It happened swiftly and naturally; within just an hour, a baby boy was born.
When Jiang Chan returned after donating money for incense oil, she learned that Lin Shi had already given birth. Looking at the wrinkled little bun lying next to Lin Shi, a hint of a smile appeared in Jiang Chan’s eyes.
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