The young couple paid no mind to the Cheng family head and his wife's vexing affairs.
They were focused on their own matters.
Once things outside settled down a bit, they went out to busy themselves with the printing.
Cao Lishong's craftsmanship was truly beyond reproach, and his apprentices were very capable.
The carving for the printing was done perfectly.
As a result, the printed books were clear, neat, and beautiful.
Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao were astonished when they received the first printed book and flipped through it.
"No wonder you've managed to establish yourselves in this vast Quezhou City in such a short time. With such skill, are you worried about not having business?"
Cheng Hao exclaimed in admiration.
One couldn't help but be impressed.
Craftsmen are always admirable, no matter the era.
Su Miaomiao was also stunned. "I originally thought that achieving sixty to seventy percent of the original book's quality would be good. Especially since I have these illustrations, I was worried about causing you trouble. I never imagined your skills would be far beyond what we two imagined. You've made them so lifelike, you've truly carved life into them!"
She couldn't stop praising them either.
She thought it was incredibly impressive!
The apprentices below were also very excited. It was the first time they had produced such a significant printed book from their own hands, one that could truly elevate the quality of books here and lower their prices in the future. They felt honored to be part of such a momentous undertaking.
Thus, under the repeated thanks from Cheng Hao and Su Miaomiao, they in turn thanked them, saying they weren't tired. It was precisely because of their suggestions that everyone could experience this feeling, and all the effort put in was worthwhile, a precious experience and lesson.
The apprentices were thus grateful, and more so, respectful of them.
They naturally respected those who could bring about such powerful reforms a hundredfold, and throughout the process, they continuously discussed the key points of printing with the young couple.
The young couple, without any reservation, generously shared everything with them.
Cao Lishong brought tea for everyone and then sat down nearby. After listening for a while, he just nodded. For everyone involved, this was indeed a rare opportunity to participate in such meticulous work.
It was quite a good way to train oneself.
They chatted pleasantly, but the money was paid as it should be.
Cao Lishong initially refused payment.
His exact words were, "It's rare to meet such congenial companions. Forget this small sum. Furthermore, it's a good chance for my apprentices to practice some fine detail work, to keep them from just seeking out large jobs to earn money. Any fool can take on that kind of work; it's just a matter of a few wooden boards!"
Although his apprentices looked not much younger than him, they were all quite afraid of him.
Being lectured by their master.
One by one, they hunched their necks, lowered their heads, and became like quails.
They lost all the liveliness they had shown in front of the young couple, completely wilting.
Su Miaomiao found it amusing but knew how sincerely Cao Lishong treated these children, truly teaching them hand in hand, one by one.
These children all had tragic backgrounds. In short, Cao Lishong was indeed a good person.
After the matters were concluded.
The two parties completed the transaction, exchanging money for printing tools, and it went very smoothly.
The carpenters were only responsible for helping to make the tools. They were too busy for printing itself. The young couple didn't want to bother them further and decided to hire their own people for printing, preparing to build this first printing house.
This was how they planned to quickly earn a large sum of money. While earning, they would hoard supplies. If necessary, a large portion could be stored in their space. In the end, with provisions in hand and money in their pockets, they wouldn't truly feel anxious.