Beauty and the Beasts

After spending close to an hour on the meal, Bai Qingqing finally felt relieved from her great starvation. Her stomach was so bloated that she found it hard to bend over.

Even after eating to the extent of being bloated, Bai Qingqing couldn’t just stay still. She dragged Parker out. “I wonder how the paper turned out. Come, let’s go and check it out.”

Parker was also excited and immediately replied, “En.”

Two people of similar age would be able to have fun more easily. They had long gotten used to this, but it gave Muir, who had newly joined them, quite a big blow.

He felt very envious when he saw the two of them leaving happily. Qingqing treated him very well, but there was probably no way that they’d ever be able to play around happily as she did with Parker.

Bai Qingqing only recalled that she had left Muir behind after she walked out of the door. A hint of remorse flashed on her face.

Bai Qingqing quickly stopped and turned her head, smiling as she said, “Hurry up. Don’t you want to see it too?”

Muir was stunned, showing no hint of delight. However, he felt uncontrollably elated in his heart and quickly followed after them.

“The wood pulp has already turned white,” Muir said as they made their way there. He naturally paid more attention to the things Bai Qingqing liked, so he had already noticed the change to the wood pulp in the morning.

The smile on Bai Qingqing’s face widened even more, and she dashed into the room with the wooden boards. She was instantly surrounded by the wood fragrance in the air.

The pulp on the wooden boards was already half-dried, presenting a light yellow color. They could be lifted. The wooden boards below them had absorbed some moisture and their colors deepened.

“Seems like it’s a success.” Bai Qingqing beamed brightly, stomping her feet and saying, “This can’t do. I can’t wait anymore. Let’s roast them over a fire and make one first.”

“I’ll immediately prepare it.” After saying that, Muir immediately left the room.

After seeing him leave, Parker didn’t say anything and got closer to take a whiff of the wet paper. He then suddenly smiled in amusement. “It still smells like wood.”

“Yeah.”

Bai Qingqing scratched her head. She had no idea if this was how normal paper was like, but they smelled very comfortable.

Muir quickly brought in a fire basin. Both he and Parker lifted a door and roasted it over the fire.

In order not to burn the door, they heated it very slowly and patiently. Bai Qingqing didn’t show any impatience on her face and just sat by the side, watching.

Gradually, steam started to rise from the wet paper on the doors. There was finally some effect. After heating for another half an hour, quite a lot of moisture had evaporated from the paper. They then peeled off the paper and heated it directly by the fire basin.

Bai Qingqing couldn’t hold herself back anymore. She squatted by the paper, occasionally touching it, then gradually noticed the imperfections.

After the paper had completely dried, Bai Qingqing finally ascertained the problem.

Thud thud thud.

This was the sound produced when Bai Qingqing knocked on the paper. The toughness wasn’t much softer than thin wood. If they were a bit thicker, they could be used as the cover for notebooks.

That’s true. This paper was basically made from wood material, but just had some clear water added when grinding. It’d be strange if it wasn’t hard. It was an oversight on Bai Qingqing’s part.

“It’s so hard,” Bai Qingqing said. “Let’s add in more water in the next batch.”

However, both Parker and Muir were pleasantly surprised. Parker immediately said, “It’s good, it’s good. I feel that it’s very good as it is.”

Bai Qingqing’s smile continued to be bright. “Wait a moment.”

After saying this, Bai Qingqing turned and ran off. As her legs felt weak, she almost fell. Thankfully, it was just the door frame without a door next to her, allowing her to hold herself up.

Not long later, Bai Qingqing came back with a small knife. She gestured and said, “Put the paper there. Let’s cut it up.”