Farhod was a merchant from a small village called Samarkind in Uzbekistan. He was a traveler and trader, making his way from one city to another on the Silk Road, always on the lookout for something new and exciting. One day as he was passing through the city of Lei-Yang in China, approximately 3400 kilometers from his home, Farhod stumbled upon something that would change his life forever.
It was a small, unassuming building, made of mud and straw, with a thatched roof. Farhod was intrigued by the sight of the building, and he decided to take a closer look. As he approached, he noticed the building was a workshop, and there were several people inside, busily working at large tables.
Farhod approached one of the workers and asked, “What are you making here?”
The worker, Liu, looked up at him and said, “We are making paper, sir.”
Farhod was taken aback. He had heard of paper before, of course, but he had never seen it being made. He asked Liu to explain the process, and Liu obliged, happy to have someone interested in his work.
“Well, sir” Liu said, “we start by gathering the fibers of various plants, such as bamboo, cotton, or hemp. We soak the fibers in water and then beat them to a pulp. The pulp is then spread out on a flat surface and left to dry. Once it is dry, we have paper.”
Farhod was fascinated by the process. He had never seen anything like it before. He asked Liu if he could try making some paper himself, and Liu, eager to share his knowledge, agreed.
Farhod spent the next several hours in the workshop, learning the ins and outs of papermaking. He was a quick learner and soon he was able to produce sheets of paper that were almost as good as the ones the workers were making.
As the day drew to a close, Farhod thanked the workers for their help and time, and he headed back to his tent. As he was sitting by the fire, he thought about the potential of paper. He realized it had countless uses, from writing letters and keeping records, to making maps and creating art. He knew that paper would be valuable, and he decided to take the knowledge he had learned and start his own paper making business.
The next day Farhod set out to gather the materials he would need to make paper. He traveled from village to village, gathering fibers and trading goods with the locals. He learned more about the different types of fibers and their properties, and he soon became an expert in the field of paper making.
Years passed, and Farhod’s business flourished. He became known throughout the Silk Road as the man who discovered paper making, and his paper was sought after by merchants and scholars alike. He built a large workshop and he hired workers to help him keep up with the demand.
One day, as he was sitting in his workshop, surrounded by stacks of paper, a man approached him. The man was a scholar and he was looking for a special type of paper that could withstand the harsh conditions of the desert.
Farhod listened carefully to the scholar's request and said, “I think I can help you, sir. I have been working on a paper that combines the barks of the mulberry and fig trees as the base elements. However, more is required and it is a time consuming process but I think the results will be worth it. The paper so far is durable and strong, and it should work well for your needs when fully completed.”
The scholar was impressed and asked Farhod to show him the fibers. Farhod led the scholar to a corner of the workshop, where he had been experimenting with a type of cactus that grew in the desert. He discovered that the fibers from the cactus, combined with the other fibers, made a strong and durable paper, perfect for the scholar's needs.
The scholar was overjoyed, and he said to Farhod, “This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for your knowledge and expertise.”
Farhod smiled and replied, “It’s my pleasure, sir. I’m glad I could help.” The scholar placed an order and received the paper after many days. He told Farhod, “I will spread the word of your excellent paper making skills.” Farhod thanked the scholar.
And so, Farhod continued to travel the Silk Road, trading goods and making paper. He became a legend in his own time, known as the man who had discovered the art of paper making and brought it to the world.
Years later, as Farhod grew old and retired, he looked back on his life with pride. He had been a successful merchant, a respected member of the community, and a pioneering paper maker. And he knew his legacy would live on.
Bio
Concetta Pipia is retired from environmental design, law, and businesses. She turned to writing and founded the Aspiring Writers’ Society and its e-zine, the AWS e-zine where she is co-editor. Her poetry has been published in various anthologies and literary magazines. Ms. Pipia is a certified well life coach. She loves horticulture and dogs.
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