Chapter 68: The Pain Points on the Buttocks

In recent days, while running around, Li Xian had analyzed the current situation of the paper factory and concluded that the most suitable and promising business was toilet paper. 

In fact, there was also a personal grievance involved.

What made him most uncomfortable about this era, aside from the lack of WiFi, smartphones, PUBG, and Taobao, was the lack of modern toilets.

Since university, he had been accustomed to sitting on the toilet with his phone, enjoying the uninterrupted pleasure of browsing. But ever since coming back, each trip to the toilet had become a torment.

Indoor bathrooms were not yet common, and every household in the logging camp had makeshift outhouses made of wooden planks with a pit dug underneath. In summer, the flies and maggots in the pit, along with the overwhelming stench, made the experience deeply unpleasant.

Conditions were even worse at the Forestry Bureau, where the old-fashioned brick-built public toilets were in deplorable condition. Besides the overpowering smell and unsanitary remains left by certain individuals, the most terrifying aspect was the deep pits several meters deep.

Every time he squatted over a wobbly brick toilet, peering into the bottomless pit, he couldn't help but imagine whether he would be too ashamed to die on the spot if he fell in, or if he would have to crawl out covered in filth.

If these were just the effects of his paranoia, his deeper grievance was with toilet paper.

While toilet paper did exist, it was often the coarse, sandpaper-like kind that could stand up on its own. It didn't clean properly without applying excessive force, which could tear delicate skin. The discomfort was indescribable.

In contrast, newspaper, which was relatively soft and smooth, was a better solution.

However, two weeks ago, he saw a greasy middle-aged man in a public bath with "Increase output, contribute to the national modernization" printed on his toilet paper, and he couldn't bring himself to use it again.

If one day he accidentally ended up with something like "Deep penetration" printed on his toilet paper, would he even want to live?

Having experienced these discomforts himself, he was quite confident about the toilet paper business.

So now, facing the disdain of the factory's key employees, he calmly asked, "Old Chen, what do you think?"

Chen Shulin sat on the pulp tank, crossed his legs as usual, and waved his hand, "The Xingwang Paper Factory in the city is already producing toilet paper. Do you know how big Xingwang Paper Factory is? Back then, they said they would not only supply the local areas but also export. But now, what's the situation? Five cents per pack, not even good enough for wiping. Who around here uses that stuff? As for exports… well, that's even worse. Although they haven't shut down like us, their situation is still pitiful!"

Hearing this market analysis based on industry experience, Li Xian smiled, "The toilet paper I'm talking about is not the same as theirs."

This touched on the technical aspects. Xu Dequan, the technician, immediately asked, "Aren't all toilet papers the same? Straw pulping, dilution, dewatering, dyeing, drying – it's not much different from the burning paper we make now. How can you make something different?"

Li Xian smiled wryly and shook his head. His major in university was automation, so while he wasn't an expert in papermaking technology, he had a decent understanding.

The process Xu Dequan described was too primitive. In fact, with the 1970s Soviet-made papermaking equipment at the factory, making such paper would be a waste!

What Li Xian wanted was genuine toilet paper, the kind that was smooth and comfortable to use, just like he was used to!

Why is toilet paper rough nowadays? Because it is commonly made from grass pulp, cotton pulp, bamboo pulp, sugarcane pulp, or even straw pulp. This type of pulp is hard to bleach, resulting in dark-colored paper. To cover up the paper's unattractiveness, it is often dyed darker. Additionally, to save on costs, the filtering process is inadequate, resulting in hard and rough products.

Using such hard and rough paper inevitably leads to discomfort.

Making toilet paper softer is quite simple – just add wood pulp and increase the filtering process. However, other paper factories either lack this awareness or find the cost of wood pulp too high.

But these weren't issues for Li Xian.

The Forestry Bureau might lack many things, but it had an abundance of wood.

After clarifying these points, the three key employees were still apprehensive. According to Li Xian's plan, using wood pulp and cotton pulp as primary materials, along with bleaching and filtering, would make the paper's cost high.

Li Xian didn't want to produce low-end cheap products. Hearing the concerns of the three, he smiled, "We don't even need whole logs to make paper. The sawdust and wood chips produced by processing logs at various wood storage and timber factories are the best raw materials. These materials are not very costly."

Even so, this did not convince the three. Seeing that he couldn't persuade them any other way, Li Xian had no choice but to be authoritarian. Since democracy wasn't working, he had to resort to dictatorship.

Seeing the young factory manager insist on his way, the three didn't have much to say. Anyway, they just wanted to ensure that wages would be paid.

With the aroma of pork and noodles in the air, the factory cleaning work progressed quickly. Although the factory now had equipment, the raw materials were exhausted. Zhang Dagong organized the factory, while Li Xian, accompanied by the procurement team, went to collect materials according to the production plan set with Xu Dequan.

After working hard until late afternoon, spending all the money earned by the renovation team, he finally returned to the rest house.

Li You, who had been recuperating at the rest house for two days, had resignedly accepted the fact that his son had gone into debt with the factory. He left with a remark, "Just do whatever you want," and returned to the logging camp.

Meanwhile, Li Daoyun, having enjoyed conversations with old cadres at the bureau, was retained by Wu Shengli and others.

When he returned to the rest house, the old man was giving Old Wu a fortune-telling.

"Your fate is really too bad, with a so-called 'Flaming Sun' destiny. Fire is too strong, causing harm to loved ones. First affecting the wife, then the child. The spiritual banner is empty, destined to be lonely and miserable."

Listening to the fortune-telling, Old Wu looked sorrowful, "Uncle, you're so accurate. My wife passed away at thirty-five, and my son also left a few years ago. In the end… I died without even someone to hold the ceremonial banner… sigh."

"And me? What about me?" Zheng Weishi asked eagerly.

Li Daoyun looked at the three copper coins on the ground, "You are much better. The sun and moon are in harmony, especially favorable. This destiny is called 'Sun and Moon Radiance.' However, you are slightly off-center, destined to be a supporting role rather than a leader in your career. But you have good fortune. If you accumulate virtue and do good in your later years, your children will meet benefactors, ensuring a life of great wealth and honor."

Hearing this fortune, Zheng Weishi happily handed over a steaming tea cup, "Uncle, this is fine tea brought by An Hui. Please have a taste."

Li Daoyun put down his smoking pipe, took the tea cup with an imposing demeanor, sipped it, and didn't even raise his eyes, "Hmm, not bad."

The old man's demeanor made Wang Lin and others uncomfortable. Since this so-called fortune-teller arrived, he had become the boss of the rest house in just a few days. Watching a group of bureau officials fawn over him, Wang Lin was upset.

Having followed materialism all his life, how could he be so muddled in old age?

"Superstitious nonsense," he snorted disdainfully from his recliner.

"Hey," hearing the mockery, Li Daoyun didn't look at him but patted the dejected Wu Shengli, "Little Wu, don't be upset. Your fate may be harmful to close relatives, but it's good for foster children. By adopting a godson, this 'Flaming Sun' fate can bring prosperity and longevity to yourself, and you'll have descendants to carry on your line. Unlike some people who, despite having many descendants, still end up lonely and miserable."

Hearing this, Wu Shengli was overjoyed and slapped his thigh, "That's right! Why didn't I think of adopting a godson?"

Excited, he began pacing back and forth, envisioning a smiling young man.

On the other hand, Wang Lin's face turned dark as he grumbled and retreated back into the house.

At this moment, Li Xian parked his motorcycle and entered the courtyard. Seeing the large tea cup in Li Daoyun's hand, he snatched it and drank it in one go.

"Ah!" He wiped his mouth, "Finally, things are looking up. The factory will open the day after tomorrow! Let me tell you, I'll be handling the opening, so you all better contribute!"