In this dynasty that valued culture over military affairs, the white paper and colored scrolls of Mingli Book Pavilion were highly sought after by scholars and writers as soon as they came out.
The texture of white paper is evenly interwoven, white in appearance, smooth in surface, and thin and impermeable, so it is described by literati as "beautiful and brilliant".
In addition to a variety of colors, colorful bamboo also has beautiful patterns. Some of the colorful bamboo has a cool and light fragrance, which is very popular among those discerning and elegant guests.
Nowadays, no one in the literati circle of Huaijing uses yellowed hemp paper anymore. Everyone is proud to use the paper from Mingli Book House. Whether it is for painting or writing, or even for making cut flowers and paper flowers, the various colored papers from Book House are very suitable, which has led to a shortage of paper. Some special colored papers are even sold out.
To be honest, if Mingli Bookstore hadn't used the Huo family's brand and let people know that it was backed by the Huo family, someone would have coveted the huge profits from the colored paper and white paper.
Huo Sanlang was thankful for his cooperation with Mingyue countless times. He originally thought that he was doing a good deed to the young lady of the Prime Minister's Mansion, but he did not expect that he would actually benefit from it and make a lot of fame and profits.
Mingyue also sighed, saying that it was a good thing that she had partnered with the Huo family. Otherwise, if the emperor knew that she only contributed movable type printing but kept the papermaking technology, he would probably be upset.
Apart from the Huo brothers and sisters, only Young Master Yun knew about the relationship between Mingli Book Pavilion and Mingyue.
Mingyue specifically asked them to keep the matter a secret, and the matter was really kept secret.
It was only because of Mingli Book Pavilion that Mingyue and Huo Sanlang inevitably became closer.
Mingyue always talks about things in the shop and always has a businesslike attitude.
However, Huo Sanlang would always stare at Mingyue's face while talking, and occasionally he would reveal a look similar to that of an infatuated man, which made Mingyue feel that he was such a trouble.
On this day, Huo Sanlang forgot the words again while speaking, and just stared at Mingyue's profile in a daze, thinking that perhaps it was time to propose marriage to her. Such a beautiful woman is so rare, and it would be better to marry her sooner so that he can feel at ease sooner.
Mingyue sighed inwardly and turned to look at him: "Yun'an, what's wrong? Is there something on my face?"
Yun'an is Huo Sanlang's pen name. The two have known each other for such a long time that they are not only partners but also friends. They have begun to call each other by their names on a daily basis.
Huo Sanlang swallowed subconsciously, coughed lightly and decided to say it now: "No, Mingyue, I just want to say, you, me, you and me, when will I propose marriage, no, I mean when will we get married?"
Huo Sanlang himself didn't know what was going on. The more he tried to explain it clearly, the more confused his mind became. In the end, he ended up asking what he wanted to say the most.
However, Mingyue raised her eyes slightly, and her face immediately darkened: "Mr. Huo, please be careful with your words."
Mingyue's words "Mr. Huo" immediately woke Huo Sanlang up and made him realize that she seemed to be unhappy.
However, Huo Sanlang had already determined that Mingyue was interested in him, so he didn't understand why she was unhappy. Could it be that she felt that he was too abrupt? Come to think of it, marriage is naturally decided by parents and matchmakers. It was indeed rude of him to speak to the young lady so bluntly, so it was no wonder that she was angry.
Huo Sanlang thought about it silently in his heart, and immediately realized his mistake. He immediately bowed to Mingyue and admitted his mistake: "Yun'an was rude. Don't worry, Mingyue, I know what you mean. I will report to my parents when I go back today, and ask someone to go to the Prime Minister's Mansion to formally..." "Wait," Mingyue found his words more and more outrageous, and finally couldn't help interrupting: "Yun'an, did you misunderstand something?"
Looking at his slightly puzzled face, Mingyue sighed and finally spoke hurtfully: "Yun'an, I feel very happy to cooperate with you, and I hope to continue to cooperate with you in the future. So I hope you know that you are just a partner to me, and you will only be a partner."
Mingyue looked serious, but Huo Sanlang looked dazed. He shook his head in disbelief, "Just a partner? How can it be just a partner? You trust me so much that you easily gave me such a valuable papermaking technique. Every time I invited you out, you agreed immediately. The way you looked at me was so gentle, how could it be just for cooperation?"
The corners of Mingyue's mouth twitched, and her palms felt itchy for a moment. No matter what era it is, creatures like Pu Xinnan make people unable to help but feel itchy.
"For me, papermaking is nothing. I have the contract as proof, so it won't affect anything even if I give it to you. Every time you invite me, it's in the name of the shop. As the other owner of the shop, it's naturally my duty. And," Mingyue paused and said strangely, "Is the gentle look in your eyes an illusion?" She was obviously very serious every time.
"So, you really have no interest in me? No good feelings at all?" Huo Sanlang looked steadily into Mingyue's eyes, his face still showing disbelief.
Mingyue did not avoid his gaze and looked at him without giving in. "Yes, I have never planned to get married in my life, let alone to fall in love with someone else."
Huo Sanlang could see that she was speaking from the heart. His head suddenly started buzzing and his face turned red. He was so embarrassed that he wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
It turns out that he had been being self-indulgent for so long.
Huo Sanlang stood up. He was too embarrassed to stay in the room any longer, so he ran out like a gust of wind.
Mingyue slowly poured herself a cup of tea and slowly exhaled.
It was better to explain it clearly. She had been enduring his clingy gaze for a long time.
Besides, he shouldn't ask her out again using the bookstore issue as an excuse, right
Things turned out just as Mingyue had expected. Huo Sanlang probably felt that he had lost face after making such a big mistake, so he hadn't come to see Mingyue for a long time. Even when he needed to contact Mingyue for something, he asked his cousin Huo Yuzhu to pass the message to Mingyue.
This made Young Master Yun smile. Whenever Huo Yuzhu came to see Mingyue, he would come over and show his face in front of Huo Yuzhu, and occasionally give her some small gifts.
After all these interactions, even Madam Yun noticed that her third son treated the girl from the Huo family differently. Every time the girl from the Huo family came to see her daughter, he would come over with a flattering attitude. It was obvious at a glance that he had other intentions.
Then, Mrs. Yun began to pay attention to Huo Yuzhu and consider the marriage of her third son.
Mingyue saw that the bookstore was on track, and started to get busy with her appointment with Feng Lingling.
(End of this chapter)