The Heir

Chaрtеr 110: Саsuаl Talk of Маrriage

Аlthough Li Fuquan аnd his wifе nоw hеld а diffеrent status, it hаd not been long, and theу still rеtainеd their hоnеst аnd dutiful nаture. Еаrlу in thе mоrning, theу saw Secоnd Yоung Mаster Tian drаgging his broken lеg to aроlоgizе tо thеm.

Аt heart, thеу harbоrеd littlе resеntment. Моreovеr, Тian Еr had alreаdy comреnsаted thеm with a hundred taеls оf silvеr that dау, аnd nоw hе wаs aсting this wаy—sо the рast grievаncеs dissiраted likе smоkе.

Аt this moment, Li Fuquan rеpeatedly wаved his hand. "Forgеt it, forget it. It's аll in the раst. Just be mоre careful in the future and don't kick people recklessly. It would be terrible if someone lost their life."

"Shopkeeper Li is right," Tian Er said through gritted teeth—not out of defiance, but from pain.

"Alright, alright, no need for formalities. Young lady, quickly take your second brother to find a physician," Madam Fuquan chimed in, frowning. Women couldn't bear the sight of such bloody scenes.

"Yes, I'll take my second brother right away. Thank you, Madam Shopkeeper," Tian Ronghua hurriedly replied.

Then, the siblings let out a long sigh, bid farewell, and a group of assistants carried Tian Er to the medical clinic.

"You don't need to follow. Go back," Tian Er snapped hatefully at Tian Ronghua as soon as they entered the clinic. His face was still pale with pain, and he resented his sister for her harsh actions, so he naturally showed her no kindness.

"Second Brother, let me stay. Your leg is inconvenient, and there are still matters I need to handle," Tian Ronghua replied. She understood that her second brother now held a grudge against her.

"I don't need your crocodile tears and false sympathy. I think you'd be happiest if I died," Tian Rongchang said bitterly.

"Second Brother, why say such things? I am your own sister by blood. Do you think I don't feel heartache for breaking your leg? But think about it—Elder Brother knew about your last incident of kicking someone. Father and Elder Brother are already dissatisfied with you. This time, you were able to take charge of the Nanjing branch because Second Mother pleaded for you in front of Father. If this matter isn't resolved properly, how will you explain yourself to Father and Elder Brother? If you're sent back, not only will you be considered useless for life, but how will Second Mother ever hold her head high again? Besides, if this isn't settled this way, with the status of Fuxian Pavilion, they could easily find an excuse to ruin you without you even knowing how you died. Which is heavier, losing your life or breaking a leg? Can't you weigh that?" Tian Ronghua said. She and Tian Rongchang were siblings from the same mother, but neither was born to Madam Tian. They were the children of Old Master Tian's concubine.

Fortunately, Old Master Tian favored their Second Mother, which was why they got this opportunity. It could be said that this chance was extremely hard-won.

And precisely because Tian Er was somewhat unreliable, coupled with the gossip surrounding Tian Ronghua's marriage arrangement with the Luo Family, Second Mother had her leave Huizhou to accompany her second brother to Nanjing—partly to supervise him and partly to avoid the endless rumors in Huizhou.

In this regard, she was quite similar to Li Zhenniang.

Only Li Zhenniang was luckier. Not only did Eighth Master Li and Elder Brother Li support her, but even Seventh Madam of the main branch and the Ninth House fully backed her. For a woman to come to Nanjing and take charge—this was truly rare.

To be honest, Tian Ronghua somewhat envied Li Zhenniang. As for herself, she could only do her best to help her second brother. In truth, in Tian Ronghua's view, her second brother was really not cut out for leadership. She could only strive to manage everything as best she could."Alright, alright, enough with the nagging. I told you to go back because the shop can't be left unattended. Now that the Li family's Liquid Ink has gained a reputation, you need to keep an eye on things and see what new tricks they're up to. We have to come up with a plan to deal with it as soon as possible. Don't worry, I have the clerks here to look after things." Tian Er waved his hand impatiently.

He really didn’t want his sister to stay; she would inevitably start lecturing him again, and he found it annoying.

"Fine, then I’ll head back first." Tian Ronghua found Tian Er’s reasoning sound. She called the clerks over to give them a few more instructions, left some silver behind, and then took her leave to return to the shop.

Since Li Mo had launched their Liquid Ink, the sales of Tian Ink’s ordinary ink had slowed down. They really needed to think of a way to turn things around.

Lost in thought, Tian Ronghua made her way back to the Tian Ink Manor. As she passed by the Li Ink Manor, she glanced inside and happened to meet Zhen Niang’s gaze. Both of them nodded faintly and smiled.

Of course, the sense of rivalry between them was palpable.

Watching Tian Ronghua’s retreating figure, Zhen Niang thought to herself that the Tian family must have overcome another hurdle.

"Zhen Niang, your family’s Liquid Ink is wonderful. Before, whenever my Bao’er practiced calligraphy and ground the ink, he’d always get his sleeves stained black. They couldn’t be washed clean for days, and it ruined so many clothes. But now, with this Liquid Ink, after a whole day of lessons, his clothes are still spotless. It’s saved me so much trouble."

Just then, Madam Gong, the wife of the neighboring Hui Chun Medicine Hall’s proprietor, noticed Zhen Niang standing at the entrance of the Li Ink Manor and walked over to chat.

Hearing Madam Gong’s words, Zhen Niang couldn’t help but feel secretly amused. She hadn’t considered that Liquid Ink would have such a benefit. However, with the loose sleeves of traditional clothing, it was perfectly normal for children to stain their sleeves while grinding ink. She smiled and replied, "That must be a relief for you, Madam Gong."

"Not just a relief—a huge relief!" Madam Gong laughed heartily.

Zhen Niang added, "But Madam Gong, you shouldn’t let Bao’er use only Liquid Ink just for your own convenience. Actually, for children’s studies, it’s better to use ink sticks."

"Why do you say that?" Madam Gong asked, looking curious.

"Children are restless. Before studying, they need to calm their minds and think. Grinding ink, with its rhythmic motion, helps people settle down quickly. You could say that grinding ink is a process of calming and contemplation, while writing with a brush is about putting those thoughts onto paper. So, for daily study, it’s better to let children use ink sticks. Liquid Ink is more convenient for tasks like bookkeeping or when Doctor Gong goes out on house calls."

Doctor Gong was both a physician and the proprietor. It was said that his medical skills had been guided by the renowned Doctor Li, so his expertise was quite good, and his business was thriving.

"Oh, hearing you say that, Zhen Niang, it really makes sense. When I grind ink, I also feel like I can calm down quickly. It seems I should still let Bao’er use ink sticks. By the way, Zhen Niang, could you recommend a suitable ink stick from your shop for Bao’er?"

"Well, Li Mo has a product called 'Path to the Clouds.' Although it’s an ordinary ink, its production method and materials are no worse than mid-grade ink. Plus, 'Path to the Clouds' has a nice auspicious meaning. If Bao’er uses it, he’ll be treading the path to success." Zhen Niang introduced.

"That sounds perfect. I’ll take that one. How much per catty?" Madam Gong asked, beaming with delight."One tael per catty," Zhen Niang replied. In truth, this type of ink would sell for one tael and one mace per catty in Huizhou. However, after arriving in Nanjing, the Tian family had disrupted the market, forcing her to lower the price slightly during the final pricing.

"Why so expensive? The Tian family has a Three Honors ink, meaning 'triple success in imperial examinations,' and they even carry the Tribute Ink label. It only costs seven mace per catty." Madam Gong frowned. Paying three mace more per catty was something she found hard to accept.

"Madam Gong, don’t rush to buy just yet. We have a trial ink event for our opening. You can take two inksticks for free to try. As the saying goes, 'the uninitiated fear not knowing the goods, but the goods fear comparison.' After you’ve used it, you’ll naturally understand that our Li family’s ink at one tael per catty is actually quite affordable." As she spoke, Zhen Niang instructed Hua'er to fetch two inksticks and hand them to Madam Gong.

If the Tian family’s ink was truly sold at seven mace per catty according to the rules, it would essentially be a loss-making venture, something the Tian family would never agree to. Ever since the incident involving the pine resin, when the Tian family had asked the Li family to produce Re-blended Ink, the Li family had taken advantage of the situation to charge them a hefty sum. Moreover, although the Tribute Ink title was prestigious, the Ink Affairs Bureau was not particularly prompt in paying for it. As a result, the Tian family had to bear the costs of supplying the tribute ink, leaving their cash flow tight. How could they possibly afford to operate at a loss?

Thus, if the Tian family wanted to make a profit, they would naturally cut corners on materials and craftsmanship. The quality of their ink, therefore, was easy to imagine.

"How can I accept this?" Madam Gong took the inksticks, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

"It’s nothing. This is part of our opening event. Please take them and try them. If you find them truly good, come back to buy. It’s just a business tactic," Zhen Niang explained.

"Alright then, I’ll give them a try first." Madam Gong nodded.

Holding the inksticks, Madam Gong smiled and studied Zhen Niang for a moment. Since Miss Li had arrived in Nanjing some time ago, they had interacted frequently over the rental of the shopfront. This Miss Li conducted herself with integrity, and more importantly, she was extremely trustworthy.

After all, running a Medicine Hall was also a business, and Madam Gong understood the principles of trade: you get what you pay for, and there’s no such thing as a seller making a mistake in pricing. The Li family’s ink at one tael per catty was likely worth the price, while the Tian family’s seven-mace ink seemed rather unreliable upon reflection.

All in all, over this period, she had come to understand Li Zhenniang’s character quite well. More importantly, no matter what she did, she displayed a tenacious spirit, which was no easy feat. She was truly skilled at managing household affairs.

"Zhen Niang, you’re sixteen this year, aren’t you? Has your family arranged a marriage for you?" Madam Gong asked with a smile.

"There was an engagement once, but it was later broken off," Zhen Niang replied calmly. The news of her broken engagement with the Tian family had long been spread far and wide by that fellow Tian Er, and she knew well that the neighbors were curious, probing for gossip in a roundabout way. When people were curious about something, hiding it would only lead to misunderstandings. So, Zhen Niang spoke openly and frankly.

"It was with the eldest son of the Tian family, wasn’t it? I’ve heard all the rumors. It’s nothing. Clearly, it was the Tian eldest son who met with an accident—what does that have to do with you?" The Gong family had practiced medicine for generations and understood such matters thoroughly, so Madam Gong paid it no mind."Thank you, Madam Gong," Zhen Niang replied. Madam Gong's words warmed her heart. In truth, everyone understood this reasoning, yet people always clung to the mindset of "better safe than sorry." As a result, they only reinforced the reputation that Zhen Niang was a husband-killer—a label she found deeply unjust.

"No need for thanks," Madam Gong waved her hand dismissively, then lowered her voice. "Zhen Niang, I have a nephew from Shaoxing who holds the rank of xiucai. His father was a private secretary. Whether or not he passes the provincial exams in the future, with his father's connections, finding him a patron won't be a problem. He'd be a stable support..."

Just as Madam Gong was about to ask if Zhen Niang was interested, Yao Niangzi, the owner's wife of the cloth shop next door, stepped forward and interrupted her. "Madam Gong, I must say you're mistaken in thinking this way. Look at Zhen Niang now—she's the chief manager of Li Mo. For the sake of Li Mo's development, there's no doubt the Li family will want Zhen Niang to take a husband who will marry into their family."

After saying this, Yao Niangzi turned to Zhen Niang. "Zhen Niang, I have a cousin. His father was also a private secretary, and now he works in a pawnshop. He may not have mastered all of his father's skills, but he's learned sixty to seventy percent. His family has many siblings, so they don't mind him marrying into another family. He'd be an excellent helper. What do you think?"

Zhen Niang felt both amused and exasperated. However, since these were neighbors and such matters were delicate, she couldn't refuse outright. Instead, she said, "Madams, how could I possibly decide such an important matter as marriage on my own?"

Hearing this, both Madam Gong and Yao Niangzi slapped their foreheads in unison. "How foolish of us! We really shouldn't have asked you. Look how confused we've become."

In truth, it wasn't that Madam Gong and Yao Niangzi were truly confused. It was mainly because Zhen Niang was the head of Nanjing's Ink Manor, so the two ladies naturally treated her as an equal and spoke candidly. They had overlooked the fact that Zhen Niang was still a junior, and such matters were certainly not hers to decide.

Standing nearby, Zhen Niang smiled somewhat awkwardly. Seeing the knowing looks on the faces of Madam Gong and Yao Niangzi, she understood that they would surely go to her second aunt to discuss these matters.

Marriage—what a troublesome affair.