12.

Shen Yuan's mind had been racing since he and his brother, Shen Tianzhu, returned from the coal mine a week ago. They had successfully extracted enough coal, refined it into graphite, and started producing pencils—200 in total. It was a labor-intensive process, but with Tianzhu's help, they had managed to perfect the design.

Now, Shen Yuan stood proudly in front of the neatly stacked boxes of pencils. Each one was wrapped and ready for delivery to their two main clients—Ji Zhiyu and Li Cang. The pencils were a game changer, a tool that would make writing easier and cleaner, with no need for messy ink or feather pens.

Shen Yuan knew this product would spark a new wave of demand, just like the soap had.

As he loaded the boxes onto the cart, Shen Tianzhu clapped his brother on the back. "You've really outdone yourself this time, Yuan. These pencils are incredible. I can't believe how quickly we made them."

Shen Yuan smiled, wiping the sweat from his brow. "It's just the beginning. If the scholars like these, we're going to need to ramp up production fast."

"Do you think they'll take off as quickly as the soap did?" Shen Tianzhu asked, glancing at the cart full of boxes.

"I'm sure of it," Shen Yuan replied confidently. "Pencils are practical. They don't make your hands dirty, there's no ink to spill, and anyone can use them without much effort. The scholars will love them."

Tianzhu nodded. "Well, we're about to find out. Jiuyuan and Zhen are already on their way to deliver the soap order, and now we'll get these pencils to Ji Zhiyu and Li Cang. Let's hope they appreciate the new product."

When Shen Jiuyuan and Shen Zhen arrived at the trading point later that afternoon, Li Cang was already waiting for them, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. He had been expecting the regular soap shipment, but word of a new product had piqued his curiosity.

"Ah, Shen Jiuyuan!" Li Cang greeted warmly, stepping forward as the brothers unloaded the cart. "Is this the usual soap delivery, or do you have something new for me today?"

Shen Jiuyuan smiled as he handed over a box. "You'll be pleased to know that Shen Yuan has come up with something special this time. Take a look."

Li Cang raised an eyebrow and carefully unwrapped the box, revealing rows of neatly crafted pencils. He picked one up, examining it closely, then smiled in admiration. "What are these?"

"Pencils," Shen Jiuyuan explained. "No need for ink or quills. Just write, and when it wears down, you can sharpen it. No mess, no fuss."

Li Cang's eyes widened. "This… this is brilliant! You're telling me this little thing replaces ink?"

Shen Zhen nodded. "Exactly. Shen Yuan said it'll make writing much easier. You can use it without worrying about splashing ink or smudging your work."

Li Cang tested the pencil on a piece of parchment, his hand gliding smoothly across the surface. "This is incredible. I can see how this would be useful for scholars. They'll never go back to feather pens once they try these."

At that moment, Ji Zhiyu arrived at the trading point, his attendants carrying several crates of goods behind him. He spotted the group and approached, curious about what had captured Li Cang's attention.

"What do we have here?" Ji Zhiyu asked, glancing at the pencil in Li Cang's hand.

Li Cang grinned, holding up the pencil. "Shen Yuan's latest invention—pencils. No need for ink. You just write, and when it wears down, you sharpen it."

Ji Zhiyu's eyes flickered with interest. He took a pencil from the box, feeling its weight and balance in his hand. "This will certainly make writing less tedious. The scholars will want these immediately."

Shen Zhen smiled at their reactions. "Shen Yuan only made 200 for now, but if you like them, he'll be able to produce more."

Ji Zhiyu tested the pencil on a piece of paper, his movements fluid and precise. "This will revolutionize how people write. I'll take my usual order of soap and 100 pencils."

Li Cang laughed. "I'll take the other 100 then, no point in waiting."

Shen Jiuyuan nodded, pleased with their enthusiasm. "We'll deliver more next month, just like the soap. Shen Yuan is always working on new ideas, so I'm sure this is just the beginning."

Li Cang was still admiring the pencil in his hand. "I'll send these to Tianyun Academy. The scholars there are always looking for ways to make their work easier. This pencil will sell out within hours."

Sure enough, when the pencils reached Tianyun Academy, the reaction was immediate. Lin Yuji, one of the top scholars at the academy, was the first to try them. At 23 years old, he was already well-known for his intellect and sharp wit, but his distaste for the traditional ink and feather method of writing was no secret.

Lin Yuji sat in his study, staring at the new writing tool with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "A pencil? What's wrong with ink and quills?"

But as he tested the pencil, his eyes widened in surprise. The smooth glide across the paper, the ease of use—he didn't have to stop to dip his pen or worry about smudging ink. His work sped up considerably, and his hands stayed clean.

"This… this is amazing!" Lin Yuji exclaimed, his excitement bubbling over as he rushed to find Li Cang, who had sent the pencils to the academy.

Li Cang was sipping tea in his study when Lin Yuji burst in, his eyes wide with excitement. "Li Cang, where did you get these pencils? They're perfect!"

Li Cang smirked, setting his teacup down. "My Supplier, of course. He's the same one behind the soap you've been raving about."

Lin Yuji stared at him, wide-eyed. "Can you get more? I need enough for the entire academy. These will save us so much time. The students and teachers alike will be grateful."

Li Cang shook his head, a teasing grin on his face. "I'm afraid they're in limited supply for now. I've already taken my share for this month."

Lin Yuji's face fell. "Limited? How long until you get more?"

"Next month," Li Cang replied with a chuckle. "He can only make so many at a time, and I'm first in line for the next batch."

Lin Yuji's expression turned somber as he let out a deep sigh. "I'll wait then. But please make sure to bring me as many as possible next month. These pencils are a scholar's dream."

Li Cang smiled. "I'll keep you in mind, Lin Yuji. Don't worry."

While Li Cang was enjoying his success with the new product, Gu Junli—the ever-opportunistic marshal—decided it was time for his usual raid on Li Cang's supplies. Word of the pencils had already reached him, and he couldn't pass up the opportunity to get his hands on the newest invention.

Without warning, Gu Junli appeared at Li Cang's door, his usual smirk in place. Li Cang, upon seeing him, groaned internally.

"Marshal Gu," Li Cang greeted, forcing a smile. "What brings you here today?"

Gu Junli stepped inside, looking around casually. "I heard you've got some new writing tools. Thought I'd come and see them for myself."

Li Cang chuckled nervously. "Yes, pencils. Shen Yuan made them. They're wonderful for writing, no need for ink."

Gu Junli wasted no time, walking over to Li Cang's desk where the pencils were laid out. He picked one up, inspected it briefly, then pocketed five of them without so much as asking.

"Thanks for the gift," Gu Junli said with a grin.

Li Cang opened his mouth to protest, but Gu Junli held up a hand. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you're compensated in… other ways."

Li Cang let out an exasperated sigh. "Marshal, you've taken half of my supply for the month!"

Gu Junli shrugged, pocketing two more pencils for good measure. "I'm sure your supplier can make more. You'll be fine."

Before Li Cang could argue further, Gu Junli headed for the door. "Oh, and don't forget the soap. I'll need some of that too."

"Of course you do," Li Cang muttered under his breath.

As Gu Junli left, Li Cang sat down, shaking his head. "That man will be the death of me."