055 Experiment Commences

After over ten minutes of talking until her throat was dry, recounting everything she had copied from the science museum about paper and the brush, Lin Yan finally finished.

As soon as she stopped speaking, they began firing off a barrage of questions.

Before starting the experiment, they wanted to account for every possible variable to ensure success within the shortest time possible.

Mao Mu and Lin Yun had endless questions regarding charcoal burning, particularly concerning kiln temperatures and sealing methods.

Finally, Lin Yan spread her hands and said, "The general process and principles are just like that. As for the specific operations, we'll address any issues as they arise when you actually start working. While paper and the brush are important, we cannot neglect other matters, such as the modification of the spinning machines. Also, given how much you've all learned, take some time to think about how to innovate and improve our daily lives."

In truth, Lin Yan knew they were all full of ideas, but the severe winter had constrained them, making experimentation impossible.

Once the warm season arrived and conditions permitted, they would surely bring many surprises.

She was looking forward to it.

By the end of December, the temperature rose noticeably. The biting cold winds had vanished, replaced by a gentle, warming breeze.

The frozen earth gradually thawed, resilient plants pushed forth tender green shoots, and the time for all things to revive had arrived.

Having hibernated for three months, people changed into lighter clothing, stepped out of their houses, and welcomed the new year.

This marked the beginning of the third year of the Solar Era, and also the fourth year since Lin Yan's birth.

Ever since the houses were built and people moved out of the caves and into dwellings, two winters had passed without a single person perishing from the cold.

Under Lin Yan's advocacy, people's daily habits had gradually changed. The feeding and care of infants had become much more meticulous, raising the survival rate of the children significantly.

Although no detailed statistics had been kept, every household knew in their hearts that in past winters, people—especially fragile children—invariably died.

More people realized the benefits brought by these changes in lifestyle and recognized that Lin Yan's words were true, subconsciously following her family's example.

Whenever there was any activity at Lin Yan's house, it would quickly spark a trend, and without needing any explanation, people would consciously follow suit.

Unawares, Lin Yan had become a trendsetter in Solar City.

Therefore, as soon as the winter passed, when she took Wuisheng and the others out to gather wild grass and withered branches for experiments, people started following along before they even understood what she was doing.

When Lin Yan saw more and more people carrying baskets and cutting grass to bring home, she finally realized something was amiss. Puzzled, she asked, "Why is everyone out cutting grass? Could it be that the winter exhausted all the piles of straw stored at home?"

"Probably not. I still have plenty at home, more than enough to feed the rats and rabbits," Wuisheng said, looking equally perplexed.

"Just go and ask someone. You guys wait here, I'll go," Huang Ying said before walking over to the nearest woman.

In a short while, she returned. The grass-cutting woman had a hesitant expression on her face, unsure whether she should continue or not.

Hua Min quickly asked, "Did you find out?"

Huang Ying nodded and said, with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, "They are copying us. Over the past couple of days, everyone has been gathering wild grass everywhere, and the others just followed suit, thinking it must be of great use, so they all joined in. I just told her that we are gathering materials for experiments and they have no other use, but she's still half-in-doubt."

"People can do that?" Hua Min widened her eyes and glanced at the woman in the distance. "She doesn't seem to want to give up."

Mao Mu took a look and said, "I'll go over and tell her so everyone stops cutting grass."

When Lin Yan learned the reason, she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. If there were any actual benefits, she would have long since urged everyone to pitch in rather than acting alone.

Persuaded by Mao Mu, the woman hesitated for a long time before finally turning back and leaving.

Along the way, whenever they encountered others, they would advise them not to waste their effort following them.

The experimental materials weren't ready yet, and nobody knew what the outcome would be; gathering all this wild grass was of no immediate use. Besides, they didn't even know which kind would work best, so it would be plenty soon enough to have others join in the grass-cutting once the experimental results were out.

Five days passed. With everything ready, the group gathered in the courtyard of Lin Yan's house to begin the experiment.

They had collected more than a dozen varieties of wild grass, prepared numerous clay pots, assigned tasks to everyone, and commenced the papermaking experiment.

Because Lin Yan and Ye Cong were young and limited by their physical stature, they did not take part in the manual labor.

The remaining nine people each took charge of one or two types of wild grass. They soaked the chopped grass in clay pots—some using plain water, while others added plant ash, soil, or charcoal powder to the water.

They utilized everything they could think of that might be useful. Ever since studying chemistry and understanding its mysteries, they knew that mixing various substances could trigger diverse chemical reactions.

The papermaking experiment was precisely a process of testing, and they were unwilling to let slip any possibility.

Everyone was serious and persistent, observing the changes in the clay pots day by day.

After just a single day, some of the pots began to emit a foul stench, while others showed no change at all.

The odors were foul and mixed, and the courtyard was periodically filled with various strange smells.

Although Hua Hong knew they were conducting an experiment, she had never expected it to turn out like this.

On the third day, the smell emanating from one of the clay pots became truly unbearable, and she couldn't help asking, "What on earth are you kids doing? Why does it smell so awful? Will anyone even have an appetite to eat later?"

Lin Yan was also overwhelmed by the fumes. She had underestimated the consequences of the experiment; setting it up right in her own courtyard had been a mistake.

"Mom, bear with it for a little while. We'll find another place to do this in a few days."

Hua Hong asked, "The smell is seriously strong. Is it safe to breathe this?"

"It should be safe," Lin Yan said, feeling rather uncertain. She had completely forgotten about protective measures for the experiment and hadn't anticipated such conditions arising during the process.

"Everyone, stop for a moment and listen to me."

Those who had been buried in observation and recording turned their attention to Lin Yan. They had been coming over to observe and record during breaks from their classes.

"Lin Yan, go ahead, we're listening," Mao Mu said loudly.

The others nodded as well.

Naturally, they too had smelled the suffocating odor, but recalling what they had learned in chemistry class about the transformations caused by chemical reactions, they figured this must be normal and decided to grit their teeth and endure it.

To successfully make paper, they were willing to endure this bit of hardship.

Lin Yan suggested everyone move inside the house to talk, as the courtyard was simply no longer bearable.

Instead of leaving immediately, Wuisheng and the others conscientiously finished recording their notes and carefully sealed the clay pots before heading indoors.

Seeing that everyone was looking at her, Lin Yan coughed and said with some embarrassment, "I forgot something. Chemical experiments can be hazardous, so we need to use protective gear. Hongling, weave some cloth using the finest hemp thread to make masks for everyone."

"What do masks look like?" Hongling asked.

Using a charcoal stick, Lin Yan drew the shape of a mask on a stone slab and explained how to make it.

Hongling nodded after looking at it. "It doesn't look difficult to make. I'll make them tonight when I get back."

"I'll help you," Huang Ying told Hongling.

The others also chimed in, saying they would help make the masks. Since these were items everyone would need, they should all pitch in to make them together.