The Heir

Сhаpter 101: Ассоuntаbility

The grаndmоther and grаnddaughter сhаttеd hаррily, aftеr which Zhen Niang brought out the рrеpаred liquid ink.

Наving sреnt her еntirе lifе in thе ink trаde, thе old madam quiсklу grasрed the markеt potеntial of thе liquid ink uроn Zhеn Niаng’s ехplanаtiоn. She соuldn’t hеlp but bеam with dеlight, sаying, “Eхсellеnt, excеllent. This ink prоduсt is wеll-devеloped.”

“Аdditiоnаlly, wе саn inсrеаse thе shаre оf liquid ink. For thе low-end mаrket in thе futurе, wе’ll foсus оn liquid ink, whilе ink stiсks will be positiоned in the mid-to-high-end markеt,” the old madаm added.

Zhеn Niang nаturаlly nоdded in agreement, as this was precisely her idea. Once liquid ink was introduced, there would be no competition in the low-end market—it would soon dominate.

“Seventh Old Madam, how are my grandparents and my mother doing?” Zhen Niang asked again.

“They’re doing well. Your grandfather is now at the ink workshop, mentoring a few apprentices. His spirits are much better than before. Your mother and the others are all in good health. Oh, and your sister-in-law is pregnant again. Your mother is busy every day making little clothes for the baby. Also, your elder brother and Zheng Shen might come to Nanjing in a while,” Seventh Old Madam said.

Hearing that her sister-in-law was pregnant again, Zhen Niang was overjoyed. But why were her elder brother and the others coming to Nanjing? She couldn’t help but ask curiously, “What are they coming to Nanjing for?”

“Since the beginning of spring this year, the price of tung oil has dropped. Your elder brother’s oil workshop has a large stockpile of tung oil, and the ink workshop doesn’t need that much. Besides, you planted so many tung oil trees at the Luo Family’s pine field back then. The first batch of tung oil has already started to be produced. Although it’s not much for now, in the next year or two, the tung oil seeds will yield a bumper harvest. We can’t just let it all pile up at home. This year, some tung oil merchants went to Huizhou to buy tung oil, but the prices were absurdly low. If we sold at those prices, we’d suffer huge losses. So, your elder brother and the others want to come to Nanjing to try and contact tung oil merchants themselves, to find a way,” Seventh Old Madam explained.

“Yes, it’s good for them to come to Nanjing. There are more business opportunities here,” Zhen Niang nodded. As for the tung oil, it could be stored for now—there was no need to rush to sell it. However, it was necessary for her elder brother and the others to come to Nanjing. After all, there were many tung oil merchants here, and they needed to explore the market and familiarize themselves with it.

After chatting for a few more moments, they attended to the old madam as she continued to rest.

Zhen Niang then took her leave and escorted her second aunt back to her room.

Upon returning to her room, Huang Shi didn’t rush to rest. Instead, she sat down again, picked up the carving plate and ink line ink placed on the table, and asked Zhen Niang to see which areas needed improvement.

Huang Shi had been carving the ink line diagram of “Han Xizai’s Night Banquet” these past few days. Looking at the carving plate and the dark circles under her second aunt’s eyes, Zhen Niang felt somewhat apologetic. “Second Aunt, there’s no need to rush this. Take your time and be mindful of your health. This kind of work is too taxing on the mind.”

“It’s fine. I’ll just be busy for these few days. The opening isn’t too far away. For the low-end ink, you’ve come up with liquid ink, which is novel and practical. It should perform well. But for the high-end market, Li Mo has indeed been declining over the years. The original high-end market has been taken over by others. I’ve been thinking that although we’re not blindly pursuing the high-end market now, Li Mo’s reputation still exists. Additionally, with the re-blended ink, we’re not completely without a chance to compete in the high-end market.”"And since you told me the Assorted Ink Collection is excellent, I thought of carving the 'Han Xizai's Night Banquet' painting first. Then you can produce the Assorted Ink Collection of Han Xizai's Night Banquet before the opening. With the reputation of this painting, we might gain some benefit." Huang Shi rubbed her temples as she spoke.

"You've put so much thought into this, Second Aunt." Zhen Niang bowed deeply to Huang Shi.

"Silly girl, the matter of Li Mo is not yours alone. I'm happy to do my part. Go to bed now. Your Seventh Grandmother has arrived, and your Aunt and the others will come to pay their respects tomorrow. It will be busy, so rest early." Huang Shi patted Zhen Niang and urged her.

"Yes, Second Aunt, you should rest early too." Zhen Niang replied, then withdrew from her aunt's room and returned to her own to sleep.

Meanwhile, in the main room at the front.

Madam Fang tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, and nudged Li Jingming beside her.

"Hua'er's father, why do you think the Old Madam came to Nanjing so suddenly? There wasn't even a message beforehand, catching us off guard. Could it be that Zhen Niang girl complained about us to her?"

At that moment, Li Jingming was also wide awake, staring blankly at the canopy in the dark. He seemed lost in thought and only snapped out of it when Madam Fang nudged him. Hearing her question, he replied calmly, "Stay calm. Since she's already here, we'll just wait and see."

After muttering something, he turned on his side, clearly not interested in continuing the conversation.

Left with no choice, Madam Fang counted sheep all night and truly didn't sleep a wink.

And Li Jingming, who usually snored loudly, was unusually quiet that night.

Early in the morning, Zhen Niang rose as usual and first made a round at the Ink Workshop. After Seventh Grandmother woke up, she tidied herself and went to pay her respects. Soon after, Li Jingming and his family also came one by one to greet her.

The Old Madam was very happy, beaming as she chatted with Hua'er for a while. Madam Ge's gift was also generous—a piece of Guanyin Ink.

Looking at the ink, Zhen Niang estimated it was at least a hundred years old, likely one of the few remaining fine pieces of Li Mo. However, Madam Ge didn't seem to recognize its value. To her, ink was far less appealing than gold or silver. When Madam Ge received the ink, she subtly curled her lip.

Afterward, everyone had breakfast together.

Once breakfast was over, Han Yigui brought his family to pay their respects. Another round of greetings ensued.

When Seventh Old Madam saw Madam Han Li, her expression turned cold. She glanced at her disdainfully and asked sharply, "As I recall, the last time you returned to Huizhou to borrow money, you said it was to buy land for mulberry planting?"

"Yes," Madam Han Li replied nervously, seeing the Old Madam's displeasure.

"Do you need that much land for mulberry planting? How many silkworms do you plan to raise? How many workers do you intend to hire? Have you calculated all these follow-up costs?" The Old Madam raised her voice angrily.

"No... Later, I bought so much land because several official wives wanted to speculate on land and used me as a front. So, the additional land was mainly for speculation, not for mulberry planting." Madam Han Li had never seen her mother so angry before and lowered her head, answering honestly."Why did they come to you instead of someone else? Families like theirs, which one doesn't have a few merchant relatives? For matters involving such interests, would they really need to ask for your help?" The old madam pressed on, one question after another.

"I... I..." Madam Han Li was left speechless by her mother's interrogation.

On the side, Huang Shi and Zhen Niang, seeing the old madam like this, both wanted to intervene, but the old madam waved her hand at them, signaling them not to speak, and continued.

"Can't answer, can you? I, an old woman, understand clearly—you became greedy. You saw how quickly money could be made by hoarding land, and you grew envious. That envy blinded you, making you unable to see the risks involved. As for those official wives, rather than saying they sought you out, it would be more accurate to say you sought them out. You also knew the risks of this land venture, so you wanted to tie everyone together using yourself. But have you ever considered whether you can handle this mess? To conspire with tigers, you need the ability to fight them. Do you have that?" Seventh Old Madam asked, enunciating each word clearly. This time, she showed no mercy to Madam Han Li, speaking bluntly in front of everyone. The truth was, the matter Madam Han Li had stirred up this time carried far too great a risk.

If not for that final desperate move, if not for sheer luck, not only would the Han family's entire fortune have been lost, but even the Li family would have inevitably suffered losses.

"Mother, your daughter was too arrogant," Madam Han Li said, her face flushed with shame.

"Mother-in-law, it is my fault for failing to manage the household properly," Han Yigui spoke up from the side. He was well aware of his wife's flaws, which was why he had remained silent earlier when the old madam reprimanded her, allowing her to come to her senses. However, when it came to taking responsibility, it was his duty to shoulder it. After all, he was the head of the Han family.

"Hmm." Seeing Han Yigui step forward, the old madam nodded and refrained from further scolding. She continued, "Of course, this cannot be entirely blamed on you. Merchants pursue profit—it is their nature. But I tell you, remember this well: no one in this world is a fool, and money is not so easily earned. Things that seem like windfalls often come with immense risks. So, at the start of any endeavor or decision, you must ask yourself: can you bear the consequences of failure? If you can, then go ahead. If you cannot, then give it up. This is fundamental. Do you understand?" Old Madam Li spoke with a stern expression.

"Yes, I understand," Madam Han Li replied, her eyes reddening from the old madam's words.

Beside her, Han Yigui also bowed and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Old Madam."

"Enough, you two. Stop echoing each other, husband following wife. In any case, I will only say these words once today. From now on, do as you please—out of sight, out of mind," Old Madam Li scolded with a hint of laughter.

This lighthearted scolding eased the tension somewhat.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

But the old madam was not finished. She called Zhen Niang to her side and said, "Zhen Niang, Seventh Grandmother also has a few words for you. What you did this time was far too risky. I am pleased that you acted with such concern for your aunt's family. But have you considered that this time, you were simply lucky? What if Hai Rui had actually come? Have you thought about how you would have handled the situation?"

When she uttered the words "handled the situation," the old madam's tone grew particularly severe.

When she first heard yesterday about the great feat Zhen Niang had accomplished, the old madam had been delighted.

But last night, after carefully reflecting on the entire matter, Old Madam Li realized just how perilous it had been.Zhen Niang and Han Yigui's deduction was indeed sound, but what if it wasn't? What if Hai Rui truly came to investigate the land matter? The Han family had entered the game twice, and with so much land in their hands, they would be the first target of Hai Rui's blade.

When it came to land and lawsuits, there was no such thing as stopping halfway. By then, not only would the Han family face ruin and possibly lose their lives, but even the Li family would be dragged down with them.

This outcome was something neither the Li nor the Han family could bear. That night, the more Old Madam Li thought about it, the more her back broke out in a cold sweat. Hence, the admonishment this morning.

Listening to the old madam's words, Zhen Niang's heart tightened. Because she knew history and understood that Hai Rui would not come, she had never considered the possibility of what would happen if he actually did.

Now that the old madam had brought it up, she couldn't help but think: if Hai Rui truly came to Nanjing this time to investigate the land issue, then the Han family would meet the same fate as the Xu family three years later. No, they couldn't even compare to the Xu family. Xu Jie had countless disciples and former officials, yet he only managed to save himself—his three sons were all convicted.

If this happened to the Han family, they would truly be doomed beyond redemption. As for the Li family, not only would they lose their assets in Nanjing, but even their interests in Huizhou might be implicated. This was a consequence neither the Han nor the Li family could withstand.

Thus, in this entire affair, if Madam Han Li had acted out of greed and recklessness, then she, Li Zhenniang, was nothing short of a gambler. The only difference was that a gambler lacked foresight, while she, due to her knowledge of history, possessed some insight.

Yet a tiny error could lead to a thousand-mile deviation. History was written by people and was inevitably prone to mistakes and omissions. Who could guarantee anything?

"Old Madam, Zhen Niang was wrong." At this moment, Zhen Niang knelt before the old madam, her forehead beaded with sweat.

"It's good that you understand. As I said before, before planning for victory, plan for defeat. If you can bear the consequences of failure, then act boldly. Otherwise, give up. Rise now." The old madam gestured with her hand. Zhen Niang was perceptive; once enlightened, she would know how to proceed in the future. The old madam said no more.

Huang Shi stood up and helped Zhen Niang to her feet, seating her beside her.

Meanwhile, Madam Fang was still worried about how the old madam would deal with her. Unexpectedly, she saw the old madam admonishing her elder sister-in-law and Li Zhenniang first thing in the morning.

Surprised, she was overjoyed—it seemed the old madam's visit wasn't solely targeting her family.

However, before her heart could settle, she heard the old madam say, "Jingming and Jingming's wife..."

Madam Fang's heart trembled. So the old madam intended to catch everyone in one net this morning. She couldn't help but force a bitter smile and replied alongside Li Jingming, "Old Madam..."

"Why call me 'Old Madam'? We are family. Call me Seventh Aunt." The old madam smiled.

"Yes, Seventh Aunt." Madam Fang quickly responded.

"I came all the way from Huizhou not to scold Zhen Niang and the others, but because there is something weighing on my mind. If I didn't make this trip, I fear I wouldn't rest easy even in death." Old Madam Li addressed Li Jingming and Madam Fang.

"Old Madam, you speak too gravely." Li Jingming remained relatively calm, but Madam Fang's face had already turned pale. She thought to herself, "It's over, it's over. The old madam is here to settle accounts with our family."

Though she had once justified her greed with confidence, now her heart was filled with guilt."Not at all, not at all, Jingming's wife, do you remember that plea for help you sent back to the main family all those years ago?" Old Madam Li asked.

"How could I ever forget?" Hearing Old Madam Li bring this up, Madam Fang replied with a trembling voice. It wasn't fear, but resentment.

"I am ashamed. Back then, when I received your letter, because Jingquan and Zhengxuan had just had their accident, I couldn't attend to the matter right away. Later, when Steward Shao came to Nanjing and saw you were all well, I didn't think much of it. It was only recently that I learned Jingming nearly lost his life back then, and that your family left your hometown and stayed in Nanjing all for the sake of our main family's property. Yet I failed you. That is why I came to Nanjing this time—to apologize to you. This is the explanation you deserve." As she spoke, Old Madam Li stood up and walked over to the stunned Li Jingming and his wife, bowing to them.

"Seventh Aunt, how can this be?" Li Jingming knelt down as if toppling a mountain, his voice choked with emotion.

"Yes, Seventh Aunt, this won't do, it won't do." Madam Fang's eyes reddened, tears falling as soon as she spoke. Years of grievances seemed to pour out with Old Madam Li's words.

Beside them, Li Zhengping, Madam Ge, and Hua'er knelt down as well.