A few more days passed in the blink of an eye.
The pastry processing workshop's business truly exploded, and they were incredibly busy every day. Fortunately, they had urgently hired many women to help, barely managing to keep operations running. Three of the five major families had also successively partnered with Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao. The meetings were all quite similar. Afterward, there wasn't much further contact, as the other parties' businesses had also improved significantly due to the new pastries, so they weren't focusing on further meetings. After all, making money was the priority.
Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao were also happy to have some breathing room. Once the pastry shop's commercial orders were confirmed, it didn't matter if they weren't in constant contact. The contracts were signed, and the prices were set. From then on, it was just a matter of the processing workshop delivering goods and receiving payment from their shops, with no further involvement needed from the couple.
Everything proceeded smoothly. The Cheng family head's initial minor issues were resolved through Cheng Hao's communication. The pastry shop's business continued to thrive, and their earnings grew steadily. Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao then had the time to focus on printing books.
With their usual good luck and the old gentleman's letter of recommendation, the printing tool project also got off to a smooth start. The craftsman, while appearing stern, was meticulous in his work. He was receptive to their opinions and ideas, communicating thoroughly to ensure the tools met their preferences and to accurately replicate any custom aspects.
Su Miaomiao was only superficially knowledgeable about most things, understanding the general concepts but not excelling in every detail. Thus, many problems had to be addressed as they arose. The book printing endeavor would indeed take time, but the potential rewards were substantial.
To understand the printing process, the couple and the craftsman spent considerable time deliberating, finally replicating the general workflow before teaching it to the artisans. The craftsman was remarkably patient, and the blueprints were quickly finalized. The rest depended on everyone's collective effort. Fortunately, besides the craftsman himself, his apprentices were also skilled and soon began carving with great care, following the requirements.
After reviewing the work, Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao both exclaimed, "Do a good job, and we'll give you big red envelopes later!" This immediately spurred everyone to work even harder, and the craftsman's workshop was also bustling with activity.
Although their connection began through the old gentleman's letter of recommendation, the couple and the craftsman found they got along exceptionally well. The craftsman, Cao Lisong, was an unmarried man of twenty-six years in this ancient era, still without a wife. He attributed this to his romantic misfortunes and a steadfast devotion to someone else, stating he would wait for her for a lifetime. If she remained married, he was willing to remain single forever.
When Su Miaomiao heard this, she nearly choked on her tea. "My heavens, Old Cao, you're quite daring! Playing such a wild game? You're still pining for a married woman? Oh my, I can only say true love is invincible!"
As soon as she spoke, Cheng Hao, who was shelling melon seeds beside her, flicked her forehead. It wasn't a hard flick, just a gentle reminder not to speak carelessly. He explained that people like Cao Lisong were extremely rare and didn't conform to the mainstream, which naturally brought significant pressure.
Su Miaomiao immediately apologized with a smile, and the craftsman assured her he wasn't that sensitive. He was, in fact, good-natured.
A few steps away from the tea table where the couple sat, a man was working on wood, with shavings already scattered on the ground. Despite the strenuous nature of planing wood, he could chat with them effortlessly. Cao Lisong was a tall, strong man, but his physique was not coarse; rather, he had excellent proportions, was tall with long legs, and possessed well-defined, powerful muscles. He didn't appear frail like ordinary commoners in this region, nor was he an over-muscled bodybuilder. In essence, he was very handsome.
In contrast, ordinary commoners here would have been married and established by the age of twenty-six, facing immense pressure, leading to a somewhat aged appearance. However, he looked remarkably young and maintained a neat and tidy demeanor. As he worked on the wood, the thin fabric of his clothing couldn't conceal the powerful muscle lines beneath, a sight that could make one's nose bleed.
Su Miaomiao wasn't attracted to this type, but it didn't stop her from appreciating him for his character. Cheng Hao felt the same way, which was why they quickly became familiar with him. Coincidentally, as the couple were modern transplants, their mindsets were naturally more open. They only teased Cao Lisong a little about his situation, without any judgment, and it was precisely this lack of judgment that allowed them to joke with him. This was also one reason Cao Lisong didn't feel offended. Others, upon hearing his story, would avoid him or consider him eccentric, whereas the couple remained calm and didn't distance themselves. He was actually very grateful to have met two people willing to listen to him.
Kan Shu Ge