Researching Papermaking

Riz starts his day by running around the mansion. As lazy as he wants to be, he still realizes that this is not the modern era.

Strength means a lot here. If you are weak then you be trampled by others. It's survival of the fittest.

He didn't have the slightest intention of taking a common path of entering the army as most of the second and third sons of nobles do.

He still needs to strengthen himself just in case he encounters danger. The things he hates the most are being thrown into a helpless situation.

Riz runs several rounds more than usual today because he is happy. First, Robert started his journey to go back to the army at the border city, Dunston. It looks like the Principality of Barlia is getting restless. Riz didn't feel worried at all since all those things happen in the northeastern part of the kingdom.

Second, his father also gave him permission and support for his endeavour. Now he needs to think about what he wants to sell. He needs to make enough preparation so as not to waste any money. Riz know that even if he doesn't have enough money, his father would be happy to give him some more.

Since this is his first business, he should at least show his father how capable he is and increase his father's confidence in him or else he might be forced to enter the army.

As an ordinary person from modern times, he absolutely doesn't want that to happen.

After finishing his running routine, he returned to his room.

While cooling down his body, Riz grabs the bell beside his bed and rings it.

"Ting....ting....ting"

"Tutt...tutt...tutt....tutt", Riz hears the footsteps hastily approaching his room. Then he hears a knocking sound.

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

"Come in"

"Did you call me, young master?" Charlotte asks as she enters the room.

"Yes, Charlotte. You go to Edward and ask him how much money I have", Riz ordered.

"Yes, young master".

....

After a while, Charlotte returns and Riz immediately asks her.

"So how much did I have?"

"According to Sir Edward, Young Master started to receive an allowance of 500 Ros every month since Young Master turns eleven years old. The total money that young master has up until last month is 19,500 Ros."

"That's a lot. Did I never use my allowance?", Riz asked. Know that the annual income of the commoner is around 100-150 Ros.

"You never use your money at all young master. Previously, the one who keeps your's allowance is your mother however since your mother has passed away, under the lord's order, Sir Edward is entrusted to keep your money safe".

That's how things work in this family. The father gives the allowance to the children through their mother. Everybody knows just how strictly a mother controls their children's money. In Riz's case, he actually lucky to get his own money easily.

"Okay, got it. You can go now"

....

After Charlotte left, Riz was at his desk and starts writing down the steps of making paper.

Yes, he decided to make a paper.

It's an innovative product that will definitely sell well. The process of making it is not so complex, you can even make it at home. Furthermore, he doesn't need to worry about the raw material since there is a forest south of the city.

The forest where he first arrives in this world.

To make paper, he needs to find a suitable wood as raw material. After finding a suitable wood, it will be chopped into smaller pieces. Peel off its outer bark and take the inner one. Then, pour it into a basin filled with water and beat it until they become pulp. This may take several hours since there is no machinery.

After several hours of beating, check the consistency of the pulp. If it is okay then it can proceed to the next step, if not then continue the beating.

Then, the wooden mould will be plunged into the pulp. Lift it and shake the wooden mould to even out the pulp to get the water out leaving only fibres on the mould surface. Transfer the fibre from the mould and put it on top of the fabric. Repeat the process with each sheet of paper separated by the fabric to prevent it from sticking together. Then, slowly apply pressure on the top of the stack of paper to draw the excess water out. Finally, hang the paper to dry.

After roughly summarising the process of papermaking, and making a detailed drawing of the tools he needed. Riz decided to go to the town to find a suitable place to set up his paper factory preferably near the river in the southern part of the city. He wants to find a place which is not too small and not too big to set up his factory. In the future, he wants to build an assembly line to mass-produce his paper.

Before that, he decided to do it on a small scale just to make sure there is nothing wrong in the process. He also needs to find a wood workshop to make the necessary tools.

Riz then called Charlotte.

"Get ready, we're going to the town"

"Yes, young master"

····

"May I ask what our purpose is for heading to the town?", Charlotte asks soon after they start moving to the town.

"I want to find a property to buy. Where should I go?", Riz ask.

"Buy a property!?, What are you going to do, young master?", Charlotte was shocked.

"I'm going to start a business", said Riz nonchalantly

"Business? Did master know about this?"

"Yes, he knows and I have already gotten his permission. Now stop asking so many questions", Riz start to feel irritated.

Charlotte stops asking and said, "If that is the case, we should go to the town hall. They are the ones that handle matters regarding property in Bideford"

"Alright, let's go"

....

After walking for a while, they finally arrive at the town hall. It is the largest public building in the town. The town hall has many rooms for various purposes. Aside from property management, it is also the place where the trial was done to solve disputes. It also has a public library but of course, it can't compare to the library in the Ryntum mansion.

Riz take a peek inside the library, it only has several books. It can hardly be called a library. The library itself looks deserted. There are not many people who are literate and the majority who are literate is nobles and rich merchant. The literacy rate in Bideford is below twenty per cent.

Once again Riz is grateful for being transmigrated as a noble. He can get access to knowledge whenever he wants.

Charlotte leads Riz to the clerk responsible for property matters.

"Yes, how can I help you?", ask the clerk

"I would like to buy a property preferably in the southern part of the town. The place should not be too small"

She looks a little shocked since most people prefer to rent. The price between renting and buying is completely different. After looking through various documents, there are three potential places that matched Riz's requirements.

After visiting all the places shown by her, Riz decided to go with the second choice. It is located in the area between the river right and the main road left. The place is also located near the south gate making it easier to go to the forest to get the raw material.

The place is a little big than what Riz initially wanted but that's okay.

Riz and Charlotte return to the town hall to finish the transaction. Riz need to fill up some details in a form. The clerk has a surprised look on her face when seeing Riz's full name. Riz saw this but he just ignore it.

"It's really an eye-opener to find out the process is quite systematic", Riz says to Charlotte after handing over the form to the clerk. Riz thought it would be a complicated and tiring process since he is in the medieval era.

"This process was implemented during Lord Renault's era. He wants to make this place a safe and easy place to conduct business. Since Bideford's population is only around 20,000 people, not much the lord can get from income tax alone. So, Lord Renault aim at the business tax", Charlotte explained.

"I see"

"Milord", the clerk called. "The price of the property is 11,000 Ros". Riz struggle to hand the money over. The price is almost sixty per cent of his entire saving.

The clerk then handed Riz the document, something like a certificate of ownership.

Riz then leave the town hall and ask Charlotte to lead him to a good wood workshop. He wants to order the equipment.

There, Riz meets an old man named Arnold, the owner of the workshop. Riz handed over the details drawing to Arnold and explained to him the specifics he wants.

He then pays Arnold 100 Ros as a deposit and another 150 Ros after Arnold finishes the job.